After finishing the laundry, Lin Feng decided to head out to earn some money.
Just then, a pink Wuling Mini pulled up along the rough gravel path outside the house.
Out of the car stepped a young woman dressed in a floral outfit with light makeup.
She looked about eighteen or nineteen, wearing a white dress and black stockings, with a youthful energy and charm that made her look like a delicate porcelain doll.
Her name was Li Xiaoke, a high school classmate of Lin Yunyao's.
Li Xiaoke glanced curiously at Lin Feng, who was standing by the door, then called loudly toward the cottage,
"Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao, are you home?"
Inside, Lin Yunyao heard the familiar voice. Quickly wiping away her tears, she ran out and asked,
"Xiaoke, what brings you here?"
"Xiao Yao, were you just crying?"
Li Xiaoke noticed her red eyes and immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Then, as if realizing something, she shot a wary look at Lin Feng, who was standing not far away.
"This guy doesn't look like a good person. Did he bully you?"
"No, I just accidentally fell a moment ago," Lin Yunyao said, shaking her head, then pulled Li Xiaoke into the house.
Lin Feng tried to follow, but after he had only taken two steps, the door shut firmly with a loud "bang."
"She's probably Xiao Yao's friend… With her friend around, Xiao Yao's emotions might settle down a bit," Lin Feng muttered to himself as he stood outside.
It didn't really matter whether he went in or not. With his heightened senses, he could hear every sound from inside the house clearly. What truly unsettled him was the contrast—Li Xiaoke dressed as brightly as a little princess, while his own sister looked like a Cinderella in comparison.
"Judging by what Xiao Yao said, it seems this place is scheduled for demolition. But it's unrealistic to rely on the demolition compensation coming through anytime soon. I really need to start making money quickly," Lin Feng thought, then crouched near the wall, listening to the conversation inside.
…
Inside the cramped room, there was only an old, worn-out bed and a desk piled high with books.
The two girls sat on the bed, whispering to each other, completely unaware that every word was being overheard by Lin Feng crouched at the wall outside. If Li Xiaoke knew, her fiery temper would have surely led to a storm of scolding.
"Xiao Yao, who's that scruffy guy? He's all unkempt with that long hair—looks like a complete creep."
"I don't know, probably some scavenger who came by to… well, take care of business."
"That explains it... No wonder he gives off such a weird vibe. A grown man living like that—how embarrassing!"
Lin Feng, crouched by the wall: ???
Sensing that Li Xiaoke's remarks were getting a bit harsh, Lin Yunyao quickly changed the subject,
"Xiaoke, what brings you here today?"
"Right! It's been a month since the semester started! The counselor asked me when you plan to report to school. If you don't go soon, the school will consider it a voluntary withdrawal," Li Xiaoke said quickly.
Hearing this, Lin Yunyao bit her lip, remaining silent.
"Is it because of the tuition fees?" Li Xiaoke glanced around the modest room, then continued,
"You can apply for a student loan! Getting into Jinling University wasn't easy. Are you really going to give it up just like that?"
"It's not that I want to give up, but I can't get the loan approved," Lin Yunyao said with a bitter smile.
"Why not?"
"Because my poverty certification didn't pass the review."
"What?! That's outrageous! If even you don't qualify as poor, what kind of person does? Why would they deny your application? That's just too much!" Li Xiaoke's face flushed with indignation.
Lin Yunyao gave a faint, bitter smile without responding. She knew that explaining wouldn't help. Li Xiaoke's family was also ordinary, and getting entangled with certain people could spell disaster for them. She couldn't bear to let Li Xiaoke go through what she had faced the previous night.
As for going to the police? She had already tried that. Right after she reported it, two thugs had shown up that night to abduct her. She couldn't believe it was just a coincidence.
"Is it because of the demolition? Are they trying to force you to sell the property at a low price?" Li Xiaoke asked in a lowered voice, her intuition sharp.
Lin Yunyao nodded silently.
Li Xiaoke gritted her teeth in anger.
"Those damn bastards! They only pick on you because you're a girl. If there was a man in your family, let's see if they'd dare to mess with you!"
For some reason, Lin Yunyao felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
In truth, things had escalated to a point where even having a man around wouldn't necessarily solve anything.
"Forget it! I'm not planning on going to college anymore. It doesn't mean much to me. I'm just one person—if I'm fed, no one in my family goes hungry. I'll live my life day by day as best as I can."
"No way! If it comes down to it, I'll talk to the counselor and organize a fundraiser among our classmates for you!"
"Xiaoke! I can't rely on others forever! Besides, going to college isn't the only way. I'm thinking of going out to work; it might even be better for me to see the world a bit." Lin Yunyao forced a small smile.
Just then...
"Bang!"
The door was suddenly and forcefully pushed open from the outside as Lin Feng strode in.
This scene left the two girls in the room stunned.
"No way! Xiao Yao, you have to go to college! Don't worry about the money—I'll handle it!" Lin Feng's face was dark with anger, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He never imagined that his sister would consider giving up college just because she couldn't afford it.
His own sister, the sister of a Golden Core stage cultivator, practically invincible in the mortal world, was unable to go to school due to lack of money?
Lin Feng felt his heart breaking. If he hadn't overheard this conversation, he might have never known!
And the poverty certification? Who was blocking his sister from getting it? Trying to bully his sister, were they? They were dead!
At that moment, Lin Feng had a nearly uncontrollable urge to kill, to tear apart every person who had dared to mistreat his sister!
Even the guard dogs at those places would deserve a beating, and every egg would be shaken until the yolks broke!
"You're out of your mind, aren't you? Breaking into someone's house is illegal!" Li Xiaoke quickly moved to shield Lin Yunyao, glaring warily at the scruffy Lin Feng.
"I'm Xiao Yao's brother," Lin Feng replied calmly.
"Brother?" Li Xiaoke looked at him skeptically, then turned to Lin Yunyao for confirmation.
*Didn't you just say this guy was a scavenger who came here to… do his business?*
"My brother died ten years ago. This guy is probably just some crazy person," Lin Yunyao responded expressionlessly.
"You heard her! Get lost, you lunatic! Don't think you can bully us just because we're two girls!" Li Xiaoke shouted, choosing to believe her friend.
Lin Feng took a long, steadying breath and replied,
"Xiao Yao, whether you acknowledge me or not, you're going to college."
"And as for you, Xiaoke… I'm heading out to earn some money for the tuition. I should be back before dark. Please keep an eye on Xiao Yao for me. I don't want her doing anything reckless."
With that, Lin Feng turned and left, quickly disappearing from their view.
Li Xiaoke stared in disbelief, completely baffled.
*Jinling University's tuition is over five thousand a year. A guy who can't even afford new clothes thinks he can make five thousand in a few hours?*
"Definitely a nutcase! I heard that crazy people don't get charged for murder—thank goodness he left on his own."
Li Xiaoke patted her ample chest, still feeling a lingering sense of fear.
"Thank goodness he left on his own," she muttered, still a bit shaken.
Lin Yunyao's face, however, was filled with complicated emotions as she remained silent.
She had assumed he'd returned to claim the demolition compensation, yet something about his demeanor didn't quite fit that assumption.
*Could it be that he really had no choice back then?*
And if he actually came back with the five thousand yuan for her tuition… would she accept it?
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Lin Yunyao's gaze gradually unfocused, lost in the memories of her childhood…