"Bro, I've got enough money to get by, but you need this for your own living expenses," Lin Yang said sincerely.
He wasn't lying. After receiving the system's rewards, even after covering the hospital fees, he still had over 220,000 yuan in savings. While it wasn't an astronomical sum, it was more than enough to get by for now. Besides, the system would continue to provide new rewards, so money wasn't a pressing concern for him.
On the other hand, Wang Chao had just graduated, and this was a critical time for him to find a job. He'd need money for rent, food, and other expenses. Coming from a modest family, it was clear that this sum must've been a significant portion of Wang Chao's savings. Lin Yang appreciated the gesture but couldn't bring himself to accept it.
"Are you looking down on me?" Wang Chao said with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Yang-ge, I may not have much, but in times like this, I can still step up to help. If you don't accept this, it's like you're saying my effort means nothing."
Seeing Wang Chao's determination, Lin Yang had no choice but to compromise.
"Alright, I'll take it for now. But if you ever find yourself in need, you have to let me know, okay?"
"Deal! One day, when you're rich and famous, don't forget to throw me a bone," Wang Chao joked, flashing a cheeky grin.
Meanwhile, Shu Mengyao silently observed their interaction from the side, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. Lin Yang seemed to have a natural gift for connecting with people, earning the kind of friendship that would go to such lengths for him. By contrast, she'd always been socially anxious, with few friends to rely on.
Her own lack of close connections was part of why she had felt so helpless during her hospital stay. Left with no other choice, she'd had to muster up the courage to call Lin Yang.
Perhaps this was the difference between them.
Wang Chao was still playing with the babies when Lin Yang's phone rang again. This time, it was a call from his university advisor.
His advisor, Chen Tingting, was in her late twenties, newly appointed, and well-liked by students. Friendly and approachable, she had a knack for making people feel at ease. Lin Yang couldn't help but wonder why she was calling him.
"Lin Yang, why didn't you show up for the graduation photoshoot? We had everything arranged, and it was supposed to be a chance for everyone to come together one last time," Chen Tingting said, her voice tinged with mild reproach.
"Sorry, Professor Chen. My kids were just born, and I couldn't make it," Lin Yang replied honestly.
"You have kids? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me about such a big event?" she exclaimed, completely taken aback.
"Which hospital are you at? I'm coming over to see you and the babies!"
Lin Yang gave her the address, and after ending the call, turned to Shu Mengyao.
"Yaoyao, my advisor wants to come by to visit us and meet the kids. Don't worry; she's just stopping by to say hi," he said gently.
Wang Chao, who had been quietly observing, couldn't hold back anymore.
"This is too much! Could you two at least tone it down a bit? Single people have feelings too, you know. Maybe throw me a bone here and there?"
"What did we even do?" Lin Yang asked, feigning innocence.
"Ugh, just… let me leave first before you continue being lovey-dovey. I can't handle this anymore," Wang Chao groaned dramatically, earning laughs from both Lin Yang and Shu Mengyao.
Not long after, Chen Tingting arrived at the hospital. She made her way to Room 12 and spotted Wang Chao sitting there.
"Professor Chen, you're here! Finally, someone else to share this torment with. The PDA in this room is unbearable," Wang Chao joked, pretending to be aggrieved.
"Get lost! Who's sharing anything with you? I'm a proud single aristocrat, not a single dog!" Chen Tingting shot back, rolling her eyes.
Her attention then shifted to Shu Mengyao.
"Lin Yang, you sly dog. Not only do you have kids, but you also managed to marry the campus goddess? I underestimated you!"
Even as a faculty member, Chen Tingting had heard of Shu Mengyao. The school's "Most Beautiful Girl" for four consecutive years, Shu Mengyao's fame extended beyond their university, even drawing admirers from neighboring schools. To think Lin Yang had managed to win her over!
"Just lucky, I guess," Lin Yang replied sheepishly.
"Oh, by the way, I brought a baby stroller for your little one. It's not much, but it's my way of saying congratulations," Chen Tingting said, pushing a brand-new stroller into the room.
It was then that she noticed something odd—there were two cribs beside the hospital bed.
"Wait, are these twins?" she asked, her eyes widening.
"Yep! Dragon and phoenix twins, actually. The boy is Lin Yunhe, and the girl is Lin Xingluo," Lin Yang said proudly.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Now I've only brought one stroller! How are they supposed to share?" Chen Tingting said, flustered.
"Wait here—I'll run out and buy another one!"
"It's fine, Professor Chen. Really, this is more than enough," Lin Yang said quickly, trying to stop her.
"No way! I can't play favorites," she insisted, only to be interrupted by a phone call summoning her back to campus for a meeting.
"Alright, consider this a rain check. I owe the other baby a proper gift," she said before leaving. "Oh, and Lin Yang—don't forget about your graduation thesis! Photos are optional, but that paper is mandatory!"
As soon as she left, Wang Chao suddenly jumped to his feet, his face pale.
"Crap! My thesis! I still have a 70% plagiarism rate! I need to go fix it right now. Good luck, Yang-ge! Congrats again!" he yelled, bolting out of the room.