Chapter 60: Qiao Weidong's Gift

"He Chen, you are so amazing!"

While the other students were either staying behind for self-study, gossiping on the playground about the passionate moment just now, or returning to their respective classrooms, Deng Xiaoqi hurried to catch up with He Chen, walking side by side with him toward the school exit, her eyes filled with undisguised adoration.

"It's nothing much!" He Chen genuinely didn't think it was a big deal.

The two martial arts manuals bestowed by the system were both from Wudang, and the "Cloud-Shattering Step"—where you step on your left foot with your right and soar into the air, making walking effortlessly light—was also a Wudang technique.

Compared to all that, everything he had done just now was just basic operation.

Crane Roaring in the Nine Heavens, Divine Turtle Carrying the Heavens—both his speed and strength were at the absolute peak.

"Can I become your apprentice?" Deng Xiaoqi asked impulsively.

"No." He Chen shook his head, refusing flatly.

"Why?" Deng Xiaoqi hadn't truly expected to learn anything from He Chen; she just wanted to close the distance between them. Seeing him refuse so decisively, she couldn't help feeling very disappointed.

"Because it's not suitable!" He Chen chuckled. "Let me ask you, how did Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü get together?"

"Ah?" Deng Xiaoqi froze, then blushed, yet she still couldn't help stealing glances at He Chen.

How did they get together?

Wasn't it through learning martial arts as master and apprentice?!

With things like pressure-point seizing and swordplay between a young man and woman—especially when they were both attractive—reaching out to poke and prod each other's bodies during practice, practicing sword techniques would inevitably turn into flirtatious glances. It would be stranger if they didn't end up together.

Setting aside ancient times and fictional wuxia worlds, just look at modern dance halls, gyms, driving schools, or even hair salons with their Tony teachers—why are there so many suggestive rumors and jokes about opposite-sex teachers and students?

It's just that there's nothing new under the sun!

Now, she had audaciously wanted to take He Chen as her master and let him teach her martial arts hand-to-hand. Wasn't that just a blatant, direct display of ambiguity?

Although she hadn't thought it through to that level, her words were a comical twist of fate that accidentally revealed her true feelings.

It was just a pity that He Chen rejected everyone as usual.

Naturally aware of Deng Xiaoqi's little thoughts, He Chen gave no response. Upon reaching the bicycle shed, he retrieved his bicycle, hopped on, and bade her farewell before heading back to the Countryside Garden residential complex.

As soon as he arrived, he spotted a familiar, comical face wandering around the neighborhood. He Chen chuckled and slid his bike to a stop right beside the man. "Uncle Qiao, this is Countryside Garden, not the Tongfu Inn, nor the East Sea Dragon King's Palace, and certainly not的书香雅苑. What are you doing here?"

"You brat, talking nonsense again!" Seeing the person he was waiting for, Qiao Weidong's face lit up with joy. Hearing He Chen's teasing—though he had no idea what references like的书香雅苑 and the East Sea Dragon King's Palace were, he certainly knew all about the Tongfu Inn—he rolled his eyes at He Chen.

Yet, involuntarily flashing across his mind was Lin Miaomiao's mother, whom he had seen at the college entrance exam oath-taking ceremony. He thought to himself: *Could she be living in this community too? If so, I'd better not come here next time unless necessary, lest something unnecessary happens and ruins things.*

Immediately afterward, he mentally cursed himself. With this brat living here, he was absolutely unwilling to come back!

"Little He, my boy, your uncle is here to thank you!" Qiao Weidong pushed aside these distracting thoughts and complaints, forcing a smile. "I didn't sleep a wink last night, thinking about what you warned me about. You were right, it's really hard to say!

Even if the probability of such a thing happening is only one in ten thousand, if it falls on your uncle, it's a ten-thousand-percent unacceptable outcome!

So your uncle has to thank you!

And thank you properly!

Come with me!"

"Don't tell me you're taking me to see goldfish," He Chen joked, but he still followed Qiao Weidong to the car parked in the neighborhood, watching him pop the trunk and pull out a large case.

"Whoa!" He Chen looked at the gift in surprise. "Uncle Qiao, is this for me? Aren't you afraid Qiao Yingzi will get jealous?

This is even more expensive than the 'study aids' and 'rocket boosters'—those super big surprises you got her!"

"Compared to the peace of mind you gave me regarding my precious daughter, what is this professional-grade astronomical telescope?" Seeing that He Chen knew his stuff, Qiao Weidong spared himself the trouble of an introduction. Moreover, his trust in He Chen grew a fraction higher, knowing he hadn't deliberately gone to the planetarium just to trick his daughter. His smile blossomed into an even more celebratory, 'Old Bai-style' joy.

"Your uncle knows that, just like Yingzi, you love looking at the stars! Take a look, do you like it?"

"I love it!" He Chen looked at the domestic astronomical telescope worth over ten thousand yuan, and indeed, he was very fond of it. "Observing the stars is great! With this telescope, I can gaze at the starry sky at night, ponder the vastness of the universe, and contemplate the infinity of spacetime!

What are humans?

What are Qiao Yingzi and Song Qian? Nothing more than ants and specks of dust!"

At this point, he cast a half-smiling, half-mocking glance at Qiao Weidong, whose smile had grown awkward. "Except, Uncle Qiao, unless you plan to gift me both the observatory and the planetarium, I'll still have to go there anyway. So are you sure you still want to give this to me?"

"..." Qiao Weidong felt thoroughly awkward.

Hearing He Chen drop the names of his precious daughter and ex-wife earlier, he had vaguely guessed that his little schemes couldn't possibly be hidden from He Chen. Hearing him now made him even more certain of just how sharp He Chen really was.

That's right!

His gift did indeed carry the intention of thanking He Chen.

But even more so, he had hoped that by giving this gift, He Chen could stay home and gaze at the stars and moon without having to constantly run to the planetarium and interact too much with his daughter.

For the sake of this goal, never mind spending over ten thousand yuan—even fifty or a hundred thousand would have been worth it to him!

"Little He, don't be mad!" Seeing that He Chen had seen right through him, Qiao Weidong stopped hiding it and put on a candid expression. "Uncle has no problem with you, and I think you're very exceptional, truly!

Every time I look at you, it's like seeing myself when I was young!

In one word:

We click!"

"But～" He Chen chimed in to provide the turning point.

"..." Qiao Weidong's mouth twitched, but he had no choice but to continue. "But, you guys are in your third year of high school right now—the most crucial year.

Yes!

You're right!

Yingzi has the family assets we've accumulated; she doesn't need to push herself so hard.

But you don't know her; deep down, she's also a fiercely proud person!

Once her mind gets cluttered and her grades drop, she won't be able to handle it!

So Uncle is begging you, try your best not to let Yingzi's mind wander. This final year of high school is also a vital year in life—let her focus entirely on her studies so she won't have regrets in the future.

Of course!

Whether you agree or not, your uncle bought this gift for you willingly, and you must accept it!

It's just a token of my gratitude.

Let's exchange contact information so we can stay in touch. If you ever need Uncle's help with anything in the future, don't be polite. Whatever Uncle can do, I will definitely not refuse!"

"Then thank you very much, Uncle Qiao!" He Chen didn't turn down Qiao Weidong's kind gesture. Besides, he genuinely liked the gift, and at this stage, it was very practical—it would aid him in his turtle-breathing cultivation.

Otherwise, an item this expensive would have been genuinely hard for him to ask Auntie Ruan to buy.

"You're welcome, you're welcome!" Seeing that He Chen not only understood everything but was also willing to accept his goodwill—which meant He Chen was effectively agreeing to his request—Qiao Weidong beamed with joy. He pulled out his phone and eagerly prepared to exchange contact info with He Chen.

He Chen didn't refuse either. After adding each other on WeChat, he smiled and said, "However, Uncle Qiao should also see this: I can only guarantee that I will keep my hands raised high and refuse to respond. As for what Qiao Yingzi thinks or does, that's a matter between her and you parents!"

Imagining his own little cabbage daring to boldly pounce on He Chen right in front of them, Qiao Weidong's smile instantly froze on his face. "..."