Chapter 100 - A friend
Xiong Zhi entered her classroom and was expecting for Song Xuantin's big grin and wave.
However, it was only the silver-haired boy who waved at her and greeted her.
Xiong Zhi greeted Lu Yin Ze as well.
"Where is she?" She asked Lu Yin Zhe while she checked if Song Xuantin's belongings were on her chair. But there's nothing on the chair.
"She wasn't here yet." And I hope she's absent.
Lu Yin Ze really wished to have his ears take a rest today.
Xiong Zhi just raised her brow. It was unlikely for Song Xuantin to be late. She looked at Gu Zhen's chair. Gu Zhen was typing non stop on his laptop. But then he would check his phone from time to time.
The teacher entered and start to discuss the class.
Xiong Zhi felt like she was responsible to contact Song Xuantin. As she was about to call her. The door opened and Song Xuantin entered. She apologized then run at the back.
"Hi, guys. " Song Xuantin just waved at them. She took her laptop and started typing on it.
The two at the side just started at Song Xuantin in astonishment.
For the first time, Song Xuantin was silent in the class.
The teacher also noticed this. He did not bother if Song Xuantin was not listening and playing on her laptop. That was much better than having her talk at the back and made him distracted so much. At least aside from keyboard pressing from the two students. Everything was silent.
Song Xuantin was like this until the lunch break.
"You guys head out first. I'll be finishing this quickly." Song Xuantin told them without looking back.
Xiong Zhi and Lu Yin Ze just started at her dumbfoundedly. Even the favorite time of Song Xuantin, which was the one-hour lunch break was being ignored.
What the heck was she doing in her laptop?
Xiong Zhi looked at Gu Zhen's spot. He was also typing madly on his laptop. It looks like he doesn't have a plan to leave the room yet.
After regaining his composure, Lu Yin Ze nodded at Song Xuantin.
"Alright. Take your time." Lu Yin Ze head out with Xiong Zhi.
In lunch, the usual noisy table was silent.
Lu Yin Ze and Xiong Zhi were eating together. It was quiet. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful without Song Xuantin around.
Lu Yin Ze still has the habit of sharing all his things with Xiong Zhi.
Xiong Zhi was already full. So she refused some of the food. If Song Xuantin were here, they could finish the luxurious food that Lu Yin Ze brought.
"Xiong Zhi, are you free this weekend?"
They already finish eating. Both were silent until Lu Yin Ze broke the silence with this question.
Xiong Zhi would be busy this weekend.
So she shook her head.
"Oh." Lu Yin Ze's silver eyes looked a little disappointed. It took him a lot of courage to ask that. Too bad though, she was not free.
Lu Yin Ze looked down and his being was screaming silent sadness. He just stared silently at the table.
The students who had been watching the two at lunchtime as their habit witnesses this and could not help but comforted the silver boy in their minds.
Xiong Zhi finally noticed this when the silence and awkwardness reigned in their table.
So she looked at Lu Yin Ze and noticed the boy was silently looking at the table. His silver eyes were sad.
Xiong Zhi could not help but wonder that this guy was really transparent. You can easily read him.
"What is it?" She felt responsible to ask.
Lu Yin Ze looked back at her. After a moment, he cheered up.
"Nothing. If you're busy I can invite you next time." He smiled. Xiong Zhi must have responsibilities. He doesn't want to be a burden to her. Even though he prepared so much for this weekend, the guest should not be burden to come.
Even though he felt like without Xiong Zhi around, that event would be not happy as he initially thought it would be.
It's fine. He'd been celebrating it by himself since he was six. Sometimes, he even forgot about it. This year was the first year he gained freedom. He must not be greedy to ask too much this year. As he already got what he wants the most.
So he cheered up. He would ask her again next year.
Xiong Zhi doesn't think too much about it.
Silent reigned again.
Xiong Zhi fell in deep thoughts regarding her trial. She was still thinking of the possible solutions for ArtWorld. Creating ArtWorld would be her additional plan. She was still waiting for Fang Dien's report. For sure, she would have some confirmation once she saw the report. IHZI has many lands. But what was time-consuming was looking for an appropriate land for ArtWorld. And modifying the Artworld for that land. If there's a lot of difference in the land, they might start from scratch. It would take a lot of time and resources.
If they have 'that' land everything would be smooth. But it's too bad it was now owned by Lu's.
Xiong Zhi suddenly halted her thoughts. Her eyes looked in front. Specifically to the person in front of her.
Lu Yin Ze was now holding a book and was planning to read it when he felt eyes on him.
He looked up and came across with Xiong Zhi's inquiring eyes.
"What is it?" He asked a little baffled. He was used to people who accidentally stared at him except for Xiong Zhi. Xiong Zhi does not look at him a lot.
Xiong Zhi realized she was staring too much.
But she answered.
"I wanted to ask you about business matters. If it's too confidential, you don't need to answer."
Lu Yin Ze was not familiar with business. He grows up in the hospital. So he doesn't think it would be a big matter and consider it a small favor.
"It's okay. Though, I don't know a lot in Lu Empire. " He answered truthfully.
Xiong Zhi was really curious. She could not investigate the Lu. But she wants to know what will happen in that land and who was in charge of it.
"Do you know about the land that Lu's acquired recently? I mean, it's been owned by Lu some time ago but they just discreetly mentioned it was theirs last month."
Lu Yin Ze was baffled. Lu Empire was a big empire and it owned a lot of lands. How could he know it from that description only?
But he wants to give an answer to Xiong Zhi
"I think there are many lands like that. Could you be more specific so I could look into it?"
Xiong Zhi then realized she was too brazen.
How could Lu Yin Ze who had been living his whole life in the four walls know about it? He had to look into it. It's not his responsibility. He would be giving important information to his family 's business rival. Xiong Zhi knew it was too much to ask. It felt like she was taking advantage of Lu Yin Ze's friendship.
So she takes it back.
"Nah. I'm just wondering. No need for you to look for it."
Lu Yin Ze was willing to help. It was the first time his friend want to ask something from him. As a good friend, he should help her. Besides, it was just a piece of information.
"It's okay. I'll be looking into it. If it's too confidential then I won't give you the details." Lu Yin Ze said this to ease Xiong Zhi's guilt.
It was really fine to him.
Xiong Zhu thought deeper. With or without this information, she would not make a move against the Lu's in this matter. It was just to only satisfy her curiosity and to have a clear image of her plan.
Since Lu Yin Ze wants to help, she would not be too polite to reject it again.
"Thank you. If it's really confidential, you don't have to tell me. I'll feel better if I don't burden someone. In exchange, I'll help you out as well in the future."
"It's okay. What are friends for?" Lu Yin Ze was so happy to say this line.
Xiong Zhi was taken aback.
historical
She looked at Lu Yin Ze who had a smile on his lips. He was clearly happy to help his friend.
Xiong Zhi repeated the words Lu Yin Ze had said in her mind.
What are friends for?
Yeah. She had her friends. She looks at Song Xuantin's usual spot in their table.
It's not about exchanging information and benefits. It's about sincere help. No matter if it's big or not.
Xiong Zhi could not help but feel warm. She liked this feeling. It's not bad to have these people help her sincerely. Slowly, she was learning the true meaning of friends in this lifetime.
Suddenly they heard Song Xuantin's shout.
"You're done eating already?! You should have eaten slow." Song Xuantin sat on her chair. She put down her plate and pouted.
"You're too late." Lu Yin Ze answered and gave the remaining food that he had bought to Song Xuantin. He always brings a large portion because of this Song Xuantin. She ate more than Xiong Zhi. This girl was so petite yet a big eater.
Song Xuantin did not answer them and just ate and ate. She needs to finish eating soon. But there's a lot of delicious food.
Lu Yin Ze looked at her stomach.
'How in the world all the food fit in her stomach?'
Lu Yin Ze wondered if there's a creature in Song Xuantin's stomach that ate all the food.
"What have you been busying about?" Xiong Zhi finally asked.
She was curious about what makes Song Xuantin so silent aside from Gu Zhen.
"Ish jushh shephing SzjuZhjen in jhis prowjshe-"
"Nevermind. Just eat."
Xiong Zhi and Lu Yin Ze had the same contorted expression in this bizarre action of Song Xuantin.
However, deep in their hearts, they are feeling more peaceful and calmer than earlier.