Chapter 79 Become A Hot Topic[Part 1]

Are you finished eating? Let's head out.

Xia Qiuzhi hadn't touched her food; her appetite had completely disappeared, yet she still obediently stood up and trailed after Zhou Yi.

Her eyes brimming with tears, she carefully tried to reach for Zhou Yi's sleeve, but he subtly shifted away before she could touch him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Xia Qiuzhi's tears began streaming down her face.

With an impassive expression, Zhou Yi asked, "Why are you crying?"

"You're ignoring me... sniff..."

In the past, Zhou Yi would never have let her shed a single tear.

Zhou Yi paused and looked at her. "Do you really care about me?"

Xia Qiuzhi seemed confused by his question.

Without hesitation, she replied, "Of course I do! You're my only—" Only what?

Saying "friend" didn't feel right, nor did "brother."

Zhou Yi gave a mocking smirk. "Your only lapdog, is that it?"

The girl quickly shook her head in denial. "No… That's not what I meant. I just wanted to tell you how important you are to me."

"Do you honestly believe that? Look at your actions—has anything you've done shown you truly care? Think about it."

[Xia Qiuzhi's regret value +10.]

Zhou Yi turned and strode ahead.

"I'm here today to see the director, not to reminisce with you."

Xia Qiuzhi hurried to catch up with him.

"But didn't you say we'd have lunch together later—with Wang Xuan too?"

"I didn't say I wasn't coming."

"Then why… why are you being so cold toward me?"

"Ah-Zhi, I just want you to understand—I won't treat you the way I used to. Some things are Wang Xuan's responsibility now, not mine."

The implication was clear: they could remain acquaintances on the surface, but as far as him being her lapdog? No chance.

Xia Qiuzhi grew frantic, unsure how to explain herself, while Zhou Yi walked so quickly that they soon arrived at the orphanage.

The director, a woman in her fifties with streaks of gray hair, looked like someone who had spent years worrying over the children under her care.

When she saw Zhou Yi and Xia Qiuzhi return, she sat up from her sickbed and shuffled over to pour them some water.

Glancing at Zhou Yi beside her, Xia Qiuzhi asked softly, "Director-Mama, do you know who this is standing next to me?"

The woman chuckled warmly. "Isn't that Xiao Yi?"

Even Zhou Yi was taken aback. It seemed she was the only one who recognized him since he came here to rebuild himself.

"How did you figure it out? Hasn't Yi-Gege changed a lot?"

The director smiled affectionately as she gazed at them.

"He has changed, yes—but who else would be standing next to you if not Xiao Yi?"

"Back then, among all the kids, the two of you were inseparable, always glued together like twins."

"Ah-Zhi, take good care of your Yi-Gege. He's endured so much because of you."

Xia Qiuzhi's nose stung, and she bit her lip hard, holding back the tears pooling in her eyes.

She knew she had made mistakes, but it felt impossible to undo them now.

Neither Zhou Yi nor Xia Qiuzhi mentioned their earlier argument. They chatted casually with the director as usual and checked on her health.

Thankfully, it was only a cold—but for someone her age, even a cold wasn't trivial.

Finally, Zhou Yi briefly explained the purpose of his visit.

"Director, I'd like to make a donation to the orphanage."

Zhou Yi was serious. This was the main reason he had come.

Watching Zhou Yi's straight-backed figure, Xia Qiuzhi felt moved.

Perhaps Yi-Gege hadn't changed after all. He still remembered where he came from and hadn't forgotten the past.

[Xia Qiuzhi's affection value +10.]

The director hesitated, surprised.

"What? But aren't you still in school? Keep your money for your education. Don't worry about us here."

"Here, have an apple."

Her hands, peeling the fruit, were calloused and frail, testament to years of hard work.

She knew Zhou Yi meant well, but it was a child's money—how could she accept it? She was aware of his struggles in the past, and now that he was in college, every penny likely mattered. How could she take it?

Zhou Yi accepted the apple and spoke gravely.

"Director, I've found my birth parents. This donation is their wish as well. Please don't refuse."

At this, the director brightened up. Clutching Zhou Yi's hand, she asked excitedly, "You've found your parents? That's wonderful! So wonderful..."

"But even with the donation, you should only give what you can afford. What does your family plan to contribute?"

"We're planning to donate five hundred thousand. Would that work?"

The director's eyes widened slightly. "Five hundred thousand? That's no small amount!"

Xia Qiuzhi chimed in. "His family is very well-off. Please accept it."

The director nervously wrung her hands, then repeatedly thanked them, saying she hoped to meet his parents someday.

Zhou Yi deflected, explaining they were abroad on business.

Afterward, the director led them on a tour of the orphanage.

The buildings were old, and the children's belongings were worn, with no means to replace them.

There were many orphanages in Huaihai, and most donations went to the more prominent ones—not this remote place called Xingxing Orphanage.

Zhou Yi was one of the few major donors in recent years, and his youthful presence quickly drew the attention of the children.

A group of kids gathered around them, chatting excitedly. Little girls practically surrounded Zhou Yi.

"Brother Yi, you're so handsome!"

"Brother Yi, you're the best-looking person I've ever seen!"

These were the phrases repeated most often.

Seeing the scene, the director smiled warmly and led Zhou Yi to the front of the orphanage's main building.

"Come, let's take a photo with the children. Reporters will be interviewing you shortly, so prepare yourself."

"Interview?"

Yes, there's usually an interview segment. But it's been ages since anyone donated here.

Typically, such donations were covered by reporters for local news outlets.

Though it was just a local story, it was still a charitable act, and neither reporters nor news stations would pass up the opportunity.

Soon, TV crews arrived—initially just two stations and a couple of reporters.

Just as Zhou Yi thought the interviews were over, another station rushed in to stop him for another round.

Puzzled, Zhou Yi nonetheless agreed.

A short while later, more TV crews showed up, leaving Zhou Yi bewildered.

Until he overheard a reporter on the phone.

"At Xingxing Orphanage, there's a tall, rich, and handsome guy donating five hundred thousand. The clicks are going to explode!"

"He's insanely attractive—like, drop-dead gorgeous! Guaranteed front-page material!"

"Hurry up, or he'll leave."

She knew that putting Zhou Yi's face in the news would be a guaranteed headline—a surefire knockout.

Zhou Yi's five-hundred-thousand- donation to Xingxing Orphanage quickly made headlines and trended on social media.

The main reason? His strikingly handsome face—described as "death-defying photography"—was so captivating that even the high-definition lenses of Huaihai TV couldn't dim its allure.