Chapter 59 Invitation[Part 1]

"It's fine, I've arranged to live off-campus," Zhou Yi explained after taking a sip of water.

Jing Wen asked, slightly puzzled, "Didn't your teacher refuse when you tried before?"

"Sister Wen, there's actually something I need to confess."

The sudden shift in topic caught Jing Wen off guard. The word "confess" made her tense up—what could possibly be so serious?

"Go on," she said cautiously.

"I found my parents. And… I inherited a huge fortune."

Surprise flickered across Jing Wen's beautiful eyes, quickly followed by concern. "Are you sure about this? It might be a scam. You should be careful."

Zhou Yi smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Sister Wen. It's real. My mom even called our homeroom teacher to arrange for me to live off-campus."

Overwhelmed with joy, Jing Wen's eyes welled up with tears. She hugged him tightly, patting his back as her voice trembled, "I've watched you struggle every step of the way until now. You've worked so hard all by yourself, and finally, things are looking up for you."

"I'm so happy for you, Xiao Yi. From now on, you won't be alone anymore. You have parents who will love and care for you."

For Jing Wen, it wasn't the amount of wealth that mattered—it was the fact that Zhou Yi had found his family. A child with parents would no longer feel abandoned. She hoped they could make up for all the love he'd missed over the years.

Zhou Yi knew her happiness was genuine.

He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, resting his head against her chest. Her faint, soothing scent brought him comfort.

"Sister Wen, I know you're truly happy for me. That's why I've only told you about this."

"Yes, it's better that way," she replied. "It's dangerous for someone your age to have too much money. The fewer people who know, the safer it is."

"Then let me open a shop for you," Zhou Yi suggested.

"What? For me?" Jing Wen looked surprised.

Zhou Yi pulled her down to sit beside him, his expression earnest. "You should move your shop to the city center. Here, there isn't enough foot traffic—it's a waste."

"Xiao Yi, I know you want to help, but I'm not cut out for running a big business. This small shop suits me just fine."

Jing Wen didn't want Zhou Yi spending so much money on her. The more he did, the more she felt indebted to him.

Gently holding her hand, Zhou Yi stroked it as if it were something precious. "Sister Wen, don't worry about the money. To me, it's nothing."

"If you're worried about managing it, I can hire staff to help. You'd only need to check in occasionally."

"I don't want to see you exhausted every time I come back. It breaks my heart."

Moved by his thoughtfulness, Jing Wen's eyes grew misty. Smiling through her tears, she didn't know how to thank him.

[Jing Wen's Affection Points +2.]

"System, what's Sister Wen's affection level now?"

"92. She might be the first to reach full points."

"It's hard to imagine what 100% affection looks like."

"Just look at how Jing Wen looks at you."

Zhou Yi studied her carefully. Even without makeup, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Time hadn't touched her; she still looked youthful and radiant.

She gently ran her fingers through his hair, her gaze soft and tender. She seemed calmer, gentler, somehow transformed by love. Perhaps a woman surrounded by care does change. Zhou Yi thought she looked even more stunning under the light.

"Xiao Yi, you've made me realize something."

"What's that?"

"When someone gives you even a small kindness, you should repay them with everything you've got. That's the kind of person you are, Xiao Yi. I believe you'll achieve great things one day."

"No matter what happens in the future, Sister Wen will always be Sister Wen, and I'll always be me. Some things never change because they're carved into our hearts."

Sometimes, fate works in mysterious ways. Xia Qiuzhi's bad temper pushed Zhou Yi away, but then he met Jing Wen, who reached out to him. Without her, he wouldn't have finished high school.

A debt of gratitude must be repaid tenfold. He owed her that much.

Holding her hand, Zhou Yi said shyly, "Sister Wen, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since school ended."

Jing Wen stood up quickly. "Let me make you something. Have some cold dishes while you wait."

"No need to go to all that trouble. Just a bowl of noodles will do. I love anything you make."

Jing Wen tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, flustered. "Xiao Yi, you've become such a smooth talker."

Zhou Yi tilted his head. "No, I'm just telling the truth. Don't accuse me wrongly, Sister Wen."

From the kitchen, Jing Wen brought out some cold dishes. "Alright, let's eat. Don't starve yourself."

As she cooked noodles in the kitchen, Zhou Yi leaned against the doorway, watching her silhouette. Even the simplest act, like cooking, became mesmerizing when done by someone so graceful.

Her figure was stunning—slim where it should be, curvaceous where it mattered. Her hips, snug in jeans, looked perfectly rounded, contrasting with her delicate waist. Truly, she lived up to her name: a beauty.

Jing Wen could feel his eyes on her and nearly dropped the seasoning bottle in embarrassment.

"Don't be nervous, Sister Wen. I'm not testing your cooking skills."

Zhou Yi's teasing remark earned him a glare—but there was no anger in it, only an unspoken warmth.

After finishing the cold dishes, Zhou Yi washed the plates while Jing Wen served steaming bowls of noodles. "Try this. It's Yangchun noodles, famous from my hometown."

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. It had been ages since she last made these noodles—had her skills gotten rusty?

Zhou Yi took a bite and immediately gave a thumbs-up. "Delicious! Sister Wen, you're incredible. No one makes noodles like you!"

Jing Wen knew he was just trying to cheer her up.

As they ate and chatted, time flew by unnoticed. Before they realized it, it was already 10 PM.

"How is it already 10?" Jing Wen sighed regretfully. "It feels like we've only just started talking."

"You have school tomorrow. Go to bed early. Let's leave it here for today."

"Alright. Remember to test the new phone. If you run into any issues, ask me."

"Hmm… Are you heading back there later?"

Jing Wen lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting shadows. Nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt, she hesitated.

She knew asking such a question was inappropriate—but she wanted to spend more time with him, to see him every moment.

Was she being too greedy?

Zhou Yi rested his chin on his hand and smiled. "Wherever you tell me to go, Sister Wen, I'll go."