Chapter 36: Teacher Xiaolu

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In the small restaurant whose facade was blackened by the smoke and fire, a few diners were sparsely seated.

Lu Xin slowly picked the green vegetable noodles in front of him with his chopsticks while looking towards the counter.

Two fat chickens roasted till golden-brown and dripping with fat were hanging behind the greasy glass cover at the counter. Their curves were full of temptation. Every inch was smooth and shiny, as though the pores were oozing the skin of the most primitive desire. They seemed to be teasing Lu Xin bit by bit and inch by inch, stimulating that urge in his heart that was tormenting his body and soul and that he was unable to hold back…

When was the last time I had meat?

Lu Xin was almost unable to answer that question.

Although many restaurants today also sold some meat, they were all ridiculously expensive.

Taking these two roasted chicken, a whole chicken cost almost 70 yuan. Just one chicken drumstick cost 20 yuan…

Twenty yuan!

Usually, Lu Xin wouldn’t even look at them. But now that he had made a huge sum of money, his ego was inflated.

So, although he always reminded himself in his heart not to think about these extravagant things, he now couldn’t suppress that hook in his heart. This caused him to look towards the glass cover frequently and the vegetable noodles in front of him to become tasteless…

“Sigh…”

After more than ten minutes of internal struggle, Lu Xin stopped resisting.

He finally got up slowly, moved his feet stiffly, and walked to the glass cover.

“Give me a drumstick!” he spoke with difficulty.

Then, for the sake of his dignity, he added, “A smaller one!”

“Okay…”

The boss behind the glass cover seemed to be laughing at the fact that Lu Xin succumbed to the temptation of his two big trump cards in the end and weighed the drumstick on the electronic scale full of oil stains in delight. Then, he quoted the price: “17.50 yuan…”

Lu Xin returned to his seat with the drumstick wrapped in oil paper and slowly dipped it into the vegetable noodles.

That way, the soup and noodles could have some sauce too.

Lu Xin took half an hour to finish the meal and then walked out full of guilt.

He then resisted the pain and spent a coin to take the bus, taking a shaky journey to Red Moon Elementary School in the east of the city.

Seeing that Lu Xin came over again so quickly, the old man in the security booth gave him a look, but he didn’t say anything. He still lowered his head to read the newspaper. Lu Xin walked into the elementary school with familiarity, and then came to the only classroom.

Looking inside, he saw ten-over children copying the multiplication table of nine on the blackboard attentively.

Lu Xin looked around and did not see Teacher Xiaolu. He didn’t know what she was doing now.

Thinking for a while, he took out the thick paper bag he had tucked in his arms and stuffed it into the rusty mailbox.

After stuffing the paper bag, he turned around to take a look. While the old security guard was not looking, he pulled a bunch of flowers and pressed it on top.

Then, he heaved a sigh of relief, walked lightly, and prepared to leave.

“Lu Xin!”

A gentle voice sounded behind him.

Lu Xin’s body stiffened. He pretended not to hear and walked quickly toward the door.

“Lu Xin, stand down!”

The voice behind him was a little anxious and was approaching quickly.

Lu Xin immediately accelerated, walking faster and faster, and soon he was already out of the school gate.

“Mr. Sun, stop him…”

The voice behind him sounded. But after the old man in the security post heard it, he just flipped his newspaper calmly.

“Don’t run…”

That voice became more and more anxious.

But how could she catch up with Lu Xin? The voice became further and further away.

“Ouch…”

Also at this time, there was a sudden cry of pain, as well as the sound of a wheelchair hitting something.

Lu Xin was taken aback and hurriedly turned around.

Then, he saw Teacher Xiaolu hitting her wheelchair forcefully while shouting, making the sound of a wheelchair hitting something. Meanwhile, she had a smile on her face as she turned to look at Lu Xin, looking slightly smug.

When their gazes met, Lu Xin lost and could no longer escape.

Then, Xiaolu moved her wheelchair, slowly came before Lu Xin, and raised her head to look at him.

Lu Xin could only look at her now. Teacher Xiaolu had a pretty oval face, and her hair was soft and tied up in a refreshing ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a light yellow sweater with a lying and rolling cat printed on it, jeans, and a pair of clean sneakers. Compared to the gloomy tones of the world, she always looked bright and warm.

“Are you bullying me because my two wheels can’t catch up to your two legs?”

When she came in front of Lu Xin, Teacher Xiaolu looked at him angrily and said in a somewhat depressed tone.

“No, no, I didn’t hear you just now…”

Lu Xin could only smile and explain awkwardly. Then, he wanted to walk behind her and help her push the wheelchair.

“So, you’re saying my voice is too soft?”

Teacher Xiaolu pulled his hand and led him in front of her again, raising her head to look at him.

“No…”

Lu Xin scratched his head with some awkwardness and drew his hand back.

“Ok, let’s not talk about this. Did you bring me money again?”

Teacher Xiaolu turned her head to look in the direction of the envelope and asked, “How much is it this time?”

“Not much…” Lu Xin replied somewhat awkwardly. He was unwilling to talk directly about this matter.

“It has only been a few days since the last time you brought money. And how did you bring so much last time?”

Teacher Xiaolu’s face became somewhat serious. She even looked at Lu Xin’s eyes sternly as she asked him softly, “Did you do something bad?”

“Hmm?”

Lu Xin reacted for a moment before he understood why she asked that.

He quickly shook his head and explained, “No, I didn’t…”

Teacher Xiaolu looked at him suspiciously. She sized him up and looked a little shocked. “Do you still have your kidneys?”

“Of course, I still have both of them!”

Lu Xin froze for a moment and hurriedly explained, “I just found a part-time job recently. The boss is very generous, and the money I gave you is just the subsidy!”

Teacher Xiaolu furrowed her eyebrows. “Has that boss’s head been squeezed by a door? He gave you so much money!”

Lu Xin thought of Chen Jing’s pretty head and thought that it hadn’t been squeezed by a door. So, he could only shake his head and reply, “No. You don’t need to worry. I really didn’t do anything bad. This part-time job pays pretty well, and they’re very legitimate. Their headquarters is in the main city, and my base salary every month at this time is more than 5,000. They also have a lot of bonuses. I’ve only given you a small portion…”

As Teacher Xiaolu listened to Lu Xin, she looked slightly shocked and suddenly asked, “You joined the scavenging team outside the city?”

Lu Xin quickly shook his head. “No, don’t worry. It’s very safe…”

He hesitated in his heart. He wanted to tell Teacher Xiaolu about this, but he remembered the document said not to tell outsiders about the Special Corruption Cleanup Department until absolutely necessary so as not to cause unnecessary panic. Moreover, even those in Qin Ran’s company who were involved in the special corruption incident for some reason, sometimes had their relevant memories erased.

On the other hand, Teacher Xiaolu looked attentively and closely at Lu Xin’s face.

From Lu Xin’s face, she couldn’t see anything that would make her feel worried.

Then, she slowly nodded and said, “I believe you. Never do those bad things…”

Lu Xin nodded. “Definitely not. I remember the old dean’s words!”

Teacher Xiaolu went silent for a moment before saying, “Ok, push me back!”

Lu Xin turned behind her obediently, pushed her wheelchair, and slowly walked toward the school. When he passed the security post, the old man in the booth laughed and flipped the newspaper, deliberately lifting it to cover his smile.