Cheng Xing's father was one of five siblings: an older brother, an older sister, and two younger sisters. Despite their poverty, his grandparents cherished their large family—a common practice among their generation. Most families had three or four children, but his second grandfather had ten. Originally, his grandparents had six children, but the eldest had tragically passed away in infancy. Limited medical care and resources made infant mortality all too common back then.
With such a large family, Cheng Xing naturally grew up surrounded by cousins. Among them, his closest was Cheng Wen.
When Cheng Xing's parents were struggling financially, they sent him to live with his grandparents in the countryside, where he attended elementary school. Cheng Wen, then in middle school in town, would bring him snacks every weekend when she returned home from her boarding school. Despite their family's hardships, those years were the happiest of Cheng Xing's childhood.
Later, Cheng Xing's parents achieved financial success and moved to the city.
Cheng Wen was an exceptional student. Cheng Xing often heard his teacher, Zheng Hua, praise her brilliance, unaware that they were cousins. Now a senior at Fudan University in Haicheng, Cheng Wen remained the gold standard of achievement in their family.
Cheng Xing's parents constantly compared him to his cousin. Every time he brought home a poor grade, they would say, "If only you were half as smart as Wenwen." Though Cheng Wen generously offered to tutor him during her breaks, Cheng Xing's playful nature made him avoid studying altogether.
However, Cheng Xing had a plan. He knew Jiang Luxi excelled academically, and if Cheng Wen vouched for her abilities, his parents would approve of her as his tutor. Otherwise, they might suspect he had romantic intentions—Jiang Luxi was undeniably beautiful, after all.
Cheng Xing couldn't risk leaving this to chance. If Jiang Luxi failed to impress his parents, they might refuse to hire her. Worse, they might question his motives.
At Sunset Internet Cafe
After stepping outside, Cheng Xing called Zhou Yuan.
"Hey, Zhou Yuan."
"What's up?"
"Meet me at Sunset Internet Cafe in ten minutes."
"I'm already here," Zhou Yuan replied casually.
Cheng Xing: "…"
He hailed a taxi. "Driver, to Sunset Internet Cafe."
"Got it," the driver replied.
Cheng Xing decided to stay out of the house for now. If Jiang Luxi saw him, she might think he had ulterior motives for hiring her, which could complicate everything.
At the internet cafe, Zhou Yuan was already engrossed in CrossFire, playing Search & Destroy mode with an AN-94 rifle. In this mode, the Black List team had to plant and detonate a bomb or eliminate the Global Risk players, while the Global Risk team had to either defuse the bomb or eliminate their opponents.
"Brother Cheng, want to play a round?" Zhou Yuan asked without looking up.
"No, I'm going Zombie Apocalypse Mode," Cheng Xing replied.
Search & Destroy wasn't Cheng Xing's style. He preferred the chaotic fun of Zombie Apocalypse Mode. Logging into his account, he noticed his arsenal was packed with golden weapons and premium items purchased over a year of spending. Seeing it all reminded him how much money he had poured into the game.
Jiang Luxi Meets Cheng Wen
Meanwhile, Jiang Luxi followed Cheng Wen for about ten minutes before they turned off the main road into a small alley. Soon, a well-maintained two-story building came into view. It had a large front yard with a few cars parked in it.
The two-story building, though modest in height, was a testament to wealth. Cars lined the driveway, and a sprawling yard stretched out before it. Such a property was unheard of in a poorer area like Pinghu. In a more affluent part of the city, it was undoubtedly a significant investment. But then, those who could afford private tutors were typically well-off, so Jiang Luxi saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Moreover, she felt that she would be able to own such things in the future.
Cheng Wen opened the gate and turned back when she noticed Jiang Luxi had stopped.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Wen asked.
"My bike…" Jiang Luxi hesitated. She wasn't sure if it was appropriate to bring it into the yard, but leaving it outside risked theft. Her bicycle had been stolen once during her junior year of high school, a memory that still stung.
"Just wheel it in and leave it in the yard," Cheng Wen reassured her with a warm smile.
Cheng Wen found herself liking Jiang Luxi more and more. The girl's thin and frail frame spoke volumes about the hardships she had endured. Looking closely, beneath her glasses and the stray bangs framing her face, was an astonishing beauty. Even Cheng Wen, as a girl, couldn't help but admire her.
No wonder that stinky Cheng Xing wanted her as his tutor.
But Cheng Wen doubted her cousin's sincerity. He rarely showed any interest in improving his grades. Did he truly want to study? If so, why hadn't he asked for her help instead?
Cheng Wen's family was far from wealthy. She studied diligently, dreaming of a brighter future for herself and her parents. She could deeply empathize with Jiang Luxi's struggles. That's why she warned Cheng Xing that he might have a chance with Chen Qing, but definitely not Jiang Luxi. Such a talented and determined girl, not interested in distractions like romance, would likely reject his advances. Pursuing her would only cause unnecessary complications.
Yet, every coin has two sides. If Jiang Luxi took the job, it could bring her some much-needed income. University life demanded far more financial resources than high school, and Cheng Wen knew how crucial this opportunity could be for her.
Hopefully, Cheng Xing doesn't mess this up, Cheng Wen thought, leading Jiang Luxi into the house.