Chapter 94
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Chapter 94: Zhang Yu’s Temptation
At Purple Cloud High School, a photo was currently displayed on Le Mulan’s phone screen.
The image showed Zhang Yu smiling broadly, standing outside a general store and giving a thumbs-up to the camera.
The caption below the photo read, “Gaofeng Stationery, the best stationery shop near Songyang High School. The owner is super nice and the products are of great value. I highly recommend checking it out.”
Two slender fingers pinched the screen, stretching and enlarging the photo until Zhang Yu’s face filled the entire display.
After a long moment, a finger swiped and a new set of photos appeared.
She tapped open the first photo. It showed Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen with their arms around each other’s shoulders, posing for a selfie in front of the main gate of Bailong High School.
The second photo depicted Bai Zhenzhen holding an enormous bottle filled with an energy drink.
The third photo showed Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen sitting back-to-back, surrounded by a circle of drink bottles. At the edge of the frame, Song Hailong stood with an utterly speechless expression.
The caption beneath it said, “Back at Bailong High School again. The energy drinks here are seriously potent and delicious. Every time I come, I have to bring back a few barrels. I’m practically a Bailong monthly subscriber. DM me if you want me to grab some for you.”
Her slender fingers once again zoomed in on each photo of Zhang Yu, lingering for a long time before she moved on to the next set.
This series of photos captured the night skyline of Songyang City, seemingly taken from a large building in the suburbs.
At the center of the frame stood the towering Central Tower, its spire piercing the clouds as if reaching for the heavens. Nearby, the Oasis Tower rose while still under construction, and the surrounding area glimmered with neon-lit skyscrapers. The view faded from the bright city center to the dimness of the suburban outskirts, tracing the contours of Songyang City’s nighttime landscape.
The caption read that at four in the morning in Songyang, you could choose to coast for three years or you could choose to suffer for three years. If you coasted, you might have to suffer for over a hundred years afterward. But if you choose to suffer for three years, get into a university, and successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, then you could look forward to suffering for another two hundred years.
With a soft chuckle, her slender fingers continued scrolling through Zhang Yu’s social media feed. Just then, a new message popped up at the top of the screen.
It was from Lian Tianji. “Sacred First Place, are you kidding me? What exactly do you want me to buy from Zhang Yu?”
Her slender fingers tapped quickly on the screen as she began her reply.
“I’m serious. Please, I’ll pay you extra.”
A transfer of 2,000.
Transfer of 2,000 accepted.
Lian Tianji replied, “This isn’t about the money. Besides, you could just ask him yourself. Why do you need me to do it?”
Le Mulan typed back, “If you don’t want to, I’ll just have to step on your head every day in class.”
Lian Tianji’s next message came instantly. “Should I send it by courier or deliver it personally?”
Reading Lian Tianji’s reply on the screen, Le Mulan nodded slightly. When dealing with classmates who have lower scores than me, being firm really is more effective.
She returned to scrolling through Zhang Yu’s feed and murmured, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen… Those two poor kids are truly inseparable.
She did not mind, however, as it was just an idle thought she had while browsing his posts.
Under the glow of the phone screen, a satisfied smile gradually spread across Le Mulan’s face as she continued looking through Zhang Yu’s photos.
All my hard work these past few days wasn’t for nothing. Looking at Zhang Yu’s pictures now barely affects me.
Next, I just have to wait for Lian Tianji to deliver Zhang Yu’s clothes.
Once I’ve grown accustomed to the clothes, it shouldn’t be so agonizing when I run into Zhang Yu.
Le Mulan thought to herself that the time was coming to face the pauper Zhang Yu head-on and completely conquer the weakness in her heart.
***
In the cafeteria.
Bai Zhenzhen’s mind was still replaying the message Lian Tianji had just sent to Zhang Yu.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu brought his newly purchased meal over to Bai Zhenzhen, his mind already turning to how he might broach the subject of illegal tutoring with A-Zhen.
He failed to notice the peculiar look in Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes as she watched him.
After they finished eating, Zhang Yu said to Bai Zhenzhen, “A-Zhen, come with me to the rooftop. I have something to tell you.”
So, the two of them went to the rooftop.
This was one of their secret training grounds on campus. Over the past several days, they had poured countless hours of sweaty effort into their training here and had witnessed each other’s growth.
Arriving there again today, Zhang Yu spoke first. “A-Zhen, there’s something I need to tell you. You’ve probably noticed I’ve been making a little money lately, right?”
It’s not that I’ve “noticed.” I actually saw the message your client sent you!
Listening to Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen’s expression turned slightly pained and her heart skipped a beat. Is Yu Zi going to tell me the secret of how he’s making money? His secret with Lian Tianji?
Bai Zhenzhen knew that every year, some high school students were driven down this path by financial pressure.
Some people looked down on students who sold themselves to pursue the Path to Immortality, thinking, What business do the poor have with cultivation? Others admired them for their unwavering Dao Heart in the pursuit of immortality.
But Bai Zhenzhen never imagined Zhang Yu would take this path, let alone end up before Lian Tianji.
Yu Zi, you’ve gone too far. I can’t keep up with you.
And if you were going to do this, why Lian Tianji? He only made it to the quarterfinals in the Martial Arts Tournament. He’s not worthy of you at all.
Couldn’t you have found a real Top Student? Even Song Hailong would have been a better choice. No, wait, Song Hailong’s physical strength is too high. The money you’d earn might not even cover the medical bills.
If Le Mulan were the one paying, your ‘mom’ here would find it much more acceptable!
Though a storm of thoughts flashed through her mind, Bai Zhenzhen quickly regained her composure.
Doing her best to control her expression, she said slowly, “So what you’re trying to say… this is related to how you’ve been making money recently?”
Zhang Yu nodded. “Yeah. I found a way to make money and I want to bring you along. The place is in the far suburbs. I’ve been there several times already and it seems fine…”
Bai Zhenzhen’s expression changed dramatically, her face wrinkling like a gourd as she stared at Zhang Yu. Is Yu Zi trying to drag me down this path too?
In that moment, Bai Zhenzhen realized she was completely unprepared for this. Her first instinct was to refuse.
As this thought occurred to her, a flicker of admiration entered her gaze as she looked at Zhang Yu.
Yu Zi’s grades are already better than mine, yet he’s still earning money on other tracks after school and going to Lian Tianji for ‘extra lessons’ to save up cultivation resources. I have to admit my Dao Heart is no match for yours. You’re on another level.
She took a deep breath and patted Zhang Yu on the shoulder. “Thanks, my friend, but there’s really no need. You should enjoy such a lucrative opportunity yourself. I’m just not at that point yet.”
“Lian Tianji’s physical strength is formidable too. Be careful not to get injured and end up in a clinic.”
Zhang Yu looked puzzled. “What does Lian Tianji have to do with this?”
Bai Zhenzhen sighed softly and turned her head away with an exasperated expression. “I… accidentally saw the message Lian Tianji sent you at lunchtime today.”
“But don’t worry, I turned off your phone screen. Only I saw it. Qian Shen, Zhao Tianxing… they don’t have any idea.”
“I’ll keep this secret for you.”
Zhang Yu frowned as he pulled out his phone. The moment he saw Lian Tianji’s message, he wanted to smash the device into pieces.
That animal! What an absolute bastard! I considered Lian Tianji a friend, and he’s trying to take advantage of me?
Then Zhang Yu remembered Bai Zhenzhen’s earlier reaction and hastily clarified, “Nothing happened between us!”
He held up his phone to show Bai Zhenzhen his chat history with Lian Tianji. “See? It’s completely innocent. Nothing happened.”
Bai Zhenzhen unconsciously sighed in relief, then asked curiously, “Then why does Lian Tianji want to buy clothes you’ve worn?”
“Who the hell knows what’s going on in that guy’s head?” Zhang Yu growled, furiously typing a reply. “First, I’ll ask him what he’s offering. My response will depend on the price.”
Without realizing it, Zhang Yu had grown increasingly accustomed to Kunxu’s lifestyle and had developed a habit of reacting differently depending on the numbers involved.
Bai Zhenzhen watched curiously from the side.
On the phone screen, Zhang Yu had typed, What’s your offer?
Lian Tianji replied, Any piece of clothing you’ve worn will do. 2000 yuan.
Bai Zhenzhen suggested from the side, “Try asking for 5000.”
After a moment’s wait, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen saw a reply from Lian Tianji agreeing to the price.
Bai Zhenzhen chuckled beside him. “Haha, you can make 5000 that easily?”
But Zhang Yu still felt uncomfortable. “What in the world does he want with my clothes?”
Bai Zhenzhen patted his shoulder and said, “He’s paying 5000 yuan for one of your shirts. Who cares what he plans to do with it?”
Zhang Yu’s gaze flickered. “Right, I almost forgot what I was going to tell you. I wanted to introduce you to a way to make money today.”
Just then, the doll that had been resting quietly against Zhang Yu’s chest, disguised as black prayer beads, suddenly spoke.
The doll’s voice entered Zhang Yu’s mind with a warning. 「Zhang Yu, I’ve told you before. In this line of work, the most important rule is to trust no one. A son might even betray his own father. Are you sure you want to tell this woman?”」
Yet Zhang Yu turned to Bai Zhenzhen without the slightest hesitation. “A-Zhen, have you ever heard of the Dark Tutoring World?”
Only after Zhang Yu’s explanation did Bai Zhenzhen finally understand that all the money he had earned recently had come from tutoring.
For a moment, Bai Zhenzhen’s expression grew complicated.
The good news was that her son had not sold his body.
The bad news was that he had joined a gang and taken a job even more dangerous than robbery.
Bai Zhenzhen was, after all, a respectable but poor top student from a Key High School. She respected copyright, and a reverence for the corporations had been ingrained in her since childhood.
Hearing that Zhang Yu wanted to involve her in gang activities, she grew nervous. “Is this really not dangerous? If the companies finds out, we might be captured and forced to be work slaves for the rest of our lives.”
Zhang Yu explained, “I had the same worries at first, but after joining, I realized the Shadow Study Gang is a legitimate, tax-paying organization that worships the deities. As part-time members, we only need to focus on tutoring. Combat and murder are not our concern.”
“Besides, the pay is incredible. I earn 6,500 per hour there.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu paused, then continued with a hint of resignation. “And in Kunxu, it’s incredibly difficult for us poor people to make a decent living through legitimate work. The Dark Tutoring World is one of the few places that can offer us a relatively decent income, giving us a better chance of getting into one of the top ten universities.”
When Bai Zhenzhen heard the hourly rate of 6,500, her heart raced. She suddenly understood why people would join gangs.
Hearing Zhang Yu’s final remark, she nodded in agreement, thinking to herself, He’s right. For poor souls like us, how can we ever climb the ladder without taking on some life-threatening work?
So Bai Zhenzhen nodded firmly and said, “Alright, I believe you. Just tell me what you need me to do.”
