Chapter 46 This Little Fish Cares

After chatting for a while, the two stepped outside, only to be surprised by an unexpected guest in the courtyard—Little Fatty Fan, who was clutching a small basket in his arms.

The morning lecture had just concluded, and the children had swarmed out after bidding farewell to Xie Tingjun. Unlike the other children, who were accompanied by their elders, Little Fatty Fan stood beside a proud-looking Xie Yanzhi.

Xie Tingjun cast a calm, observant look at Xie Yanzhi and then at Little Fatty Fan. Little Fatty Fan’s lips moved as he spoke with a hint of shyness, "Master Xie, may I come here to attend your lectures from now on? These are ten eggs."

Xie Tingjun gave Xie Yanzhi a deep, complex look, though his face remained impassive. He softened his voice—that unique, gentle tone he reserved for his students—and bent down. "Of course you may. Come this afternoon and join the others. You have missed a few days, so you may be behind, but if you are willing, you may stay after class, and I will provide you with extra tutoring."

"Thank you, Master Xie. My name is Fan Yu." Little Fatty Fan looked grateful, bowed several times, and then turned happily toward Xie Yanzhi. "Thank you so much, Brother Xie."

Xie Yanzhi tilted his head away with a proud air and waved his hand dismissively.

Xie Tingjun handed the eggs to Cheng Yuan and blocked Xie Yanzhi, who was trying to retreat to his room. His gaze swept over the boy’s bandaged hand, and he frowned. "Explain yourself. What is going on?"

Cheng Yuan stashed the eggs in the kitchen and quickly returned. The two of them leaned against the door, secretly watching the confrontation in the courtyard.

"It has nothing to do with you. Just focus on your teaching." Unlike his usual conciliatory and obedient self, Xie Yanzhi stiffened his neck and glared at Xie Tingjun. Recalling something, his expression turned cold, and he attempted to bypass his father.

"Have you been working as a laborer in secret?" Seeing this, Xie Tingjun’s face turned icy as well. He grabbed the boy’s wrist, his eyes dark with gathering fury. "Did I exhaust my heart and soul raising you just so you could use these hands for manual labor? You should be at home studying! Look at the state you’re in!"

"What 'state'? What kind of state would satisfy you!" As if a sensitive nerve had been touched, Xie Yanzhi suddenly exploded, like a balloon bursting, releasing all his pent-up resentment. "All you ever wanted was a son who could bring you glory! I am not a child anymore; I will do as I please. If you aren't willing to help me, I will find my own way. Don't you dare interfere!"

Xie Yanzhi violently pulled away and brushed past the stunned Xie Tingjun. His face, already flushed with anger, turned an even deeper shade of red as he passed the two people at the door. He slammed the door shut, and finally, the world fell silent.

Cheng Yuan and Xie Changzhi exchanged glances. She caught a glimpse of the lonely figure sitting in the courtyard and said, "Aren't you going to check on your father?"

Xie Changzhi raised an eyebrow. "What does the quarrel between father and son have to do with me?"

Cheng Yuan murmured an "oh," and as she walked toward her room, she whispered, "I didn't expect Xie Yanzhi to be so warm-hearted."

The day she met Little Fatty Fan, she had only heard in passing that his family was poor and could barely afford to eat. Yet now, here he was, bringing eggs to seek an education. Putting that together with Xie Yanzhi’s habit of leaving early and returning late these past few days, along with the injury on his hand, it was clear he had been working as a laborer to cover the costs and encourage Fan to study.

Cheng Yuan felt a surge of emotion. This "young master" didn't care for his own studies, but he loved encouraging others to learn, even stooping to manual labor to make it possible.

"Is Sister Yuan thinking about someone else so intently?" Xie Changzhi’s aggrieved voice sounded in her ear. Cheng Yuan snapped back to reality, finding him twirling a strand of her hair, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes.

For some reason, Cheng Yuan felt a twinge of guilt. There was no need to explain, but she couldn't help saying, "I was just thinking about the complexity of people; it made me feel a bit sentimental."

A shadow crossed Xie Changzhi’s eyes, but he smiled again. "Sister Yuan, let's not dwell on that. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway. Shall we think about how to handle that plot of land?"

Reminded by Xie Changzhi, Cheng Yuan recalled her original plan and hurriedly pulled him into the room. She looked grave, staring at him for a long moment.

Just as Xie Changzhi was about to ask what was wrong, his vision blurred, and suddenly, a pile of unfamiliar objects appeared on the empty floor.

"This is..." Xie Changzhi was thoroughly astonished.

"This is what I intend to use on the land, but because it involves... well, you understand, right?" Cheng Yuan looked at him, and seeing his clear eyes, she lowered her voice. "This is why only the two of us can do this, in private."

*...The two of us alone...*

Xie Changzhi blinked, suppressing the joy in his heart, and spoke cautiously. "Sister Yuan, you are telling me so much—aren't you afraid..."

"If you suspect someone, don't use them; if you use them, don't suspect them." Cheng Yuan smiled, like a flower blooming in spring, dazzling him. "Besides, I’ve already poisoned you. You don't want to die young, do you?"

It was a teasing remark, yet Xie Changzhi blushed slightly. He clenched his fists, pressed his lips together, and looked up at her, saying with great solemnity, "Sister Yuan, rest assured. I will never betray you."

They locked eyes, and for some reason, they remained silent for a long time. Xie Changzhi’s fists tightened, his heart hammered against his ribs, and his throat felt parched.

Suddenly, Cheng Yuan chuckled, a sound that seemed to slip right into Xie Changzhi’s heart—like the fireworks he had looked up to see when he was huddled in that dilapidated mansion years ago.

She didn't say anything more after laughing, simply crouching down to begin arranging the pile of items.

Xie Changzhi pursed his lips and hovered for a long while before finally shuffling over. He stole a glance at her profile, his heart rate, which had just begun to slow, spiraling out of control once more.

—

Xie Yanzhi slammed the door and threw himself onto the bed, getting angrier the more he thought about it.

The injury on his wrist, which had gone numb in the biting cold, began to throb with a pain that seemed to radiate deep into his very bones now that he was in the warmth.

*Damn that hypocritical old fool!*

If he didn't want to help, he could understand—he was just being lazy! But he had managed to help on his own, through his own hard work. Not only did the old man refuse to praise him, but if it weren't for the need to maintain his dignified image in public, he probably would have grabbed a stick and beaten him!

His face felt damp. Xie Yanzhi froze and looked up, but the roof was intact and not leaking. He touched his cheek and realized, *Oh, I’m crying.*

He wiped the tears away fiercely, his eyes bloodshot. A true man never cries; he only bleeds.

If that old fool didn't want him to do it, he would do it all the more!

The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every man. He might not be able to help every poor child in the Great Yong Empire get an education, but he could help one at a time.

A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Xie Yanzhi’s mouth. *Damn it,* when had he become the very thing he once hated most—a foolish, saintly do-gooder?

But...

That little fish cared, and this little fish cared too.