Chapter 39: Le Zhenglan’s Gratitude

Lin Xiao, at this moment, was somewhat astonished as he gazed at the beautiful woman in front of him, brimming with feminine allure.

When he had previously driven her and her brother to the hospital following a car accident, she had appeared quite disheveled despite her lack of serious injuries. She was far from the radiant figure she presented now.

However, Lin Xiao did not dwell on this. He had halted his car to rescue people, not enticed by the woman’s beauty.

“Hello, let’s introduce ourselves formally. My name is Le Zhenglan.”

Once Lin Xiao took his seat, the mature and beautiful woman stood up and introduced herself earnestly.

“I’m Lin Xiao.”

After the introductions, both sat down. Le Zhenglan’s face was filled with gratitude. “Thank you, thank you for saving my brother.”

“It’s nothing, merely a small effort,” Lin Xiao waved his hand dismissively. “By the way, how is his condition now?”

“The doctor said that his condition has stabilized, and there’s no major concern. He just needs to stay in the hospital for around ten days before he can be discharged,” Le Zhenglan said.

“That’s good to hear.”

“By the way,” Le Zhenglan reached into her bag and extracted a bank card, which she placed on the table, sliding it towards Lin Xiao. “This is a modest token of my gratitude. There is one million in it. Although I know it’s quite ordinary, I truly don’t know any other way to express my deep gratitude.”

Lin Xiao glanced at the bank card on the table, his brows furrowing slightly. He did not save lives for a reward. Despite his current dire need for money, there were lines that a gentleman must not cross. He couldn’t accept this money.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this money. Please take it back,” Lin Xiao firmly refused.

Lin Xiao’s refusal caught Le Zhenglan off guard. She initially thought Lin Xiao found the sum inadequate.

At first, she planned to present Lin Xiao with an expensive luxury item as a token of gratitude, not money. After all, the car he had stopped to help her that day was a Rolls-Royce, suggesting he was far from financially constrained.

But after seeing Lin Xiao’s current attire and recalling his formal wear from that day, she had a change of heart. She thought that the car might not have been Lin Xiao’s, and so she decided to offer money as a gesture of apology.

Luxury items, after all, were of little use to ordinary people.

However, she hadn’t anticipated Lin Xiao’s refusal. This was somewhat beyond her expectations. After all, one million was no small amount.

Yet, seeing Lin Xiao’s indifferent demeanor, she realized that she had been too presumptuous. There truly were good people in the world who offered help without expecting anything in return.

Seeing the unwavering determination on Lin Xiao’s face, she knew her words of persuasion would fall on deaf ears. So, she pocketed the bank card on the table. “I was being overly pragmatic. Since you won’t take this money, I won’t force it on you. However, I do hold a certain status here in Jinghai City. Should you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. That’s a promise.”

“Alright,” Lin Xiao nodded.

Though Lin Xiao didn’t know much about luxury brands, spending time with Wan Caixuan over the past few days had taught him enough. At the very least, he could now recognize the high-end labels she wore—and the ones on Le Zhenglan were just as upscale.

Le Zhenglan was adorned with several pieces from the same luxury brand.

What Lin Xiao was unaware of, though, was that Le Zhenglan’s status was even more complex than he imagined.

For someone of Le Zhenglan’s stature, it was rare to make such a promise. If Lin Xiao hadn’t refused the million, she wouldn’t have offered her assistance. At most, she would have just lent him a hand in the future.

Because Lin Xiao had turned down the money, she felt that she owed him a favor. His character impressed her, leading her to make this commitment.

At that moment, the dishes Le Zhenglan had ordered arrived, and they began to eat while conversing. Due to their respective personalities, Le Zhenglan dominated the conversation, while Lin Xiao focused on his meal.

The East Lake Hotel, indeed, lived up to its reputation as the leading hotel in the East Lake District. Despite its high prices, the food was undeniably delicious.

They finished their meal and left the restaurant around half past one.

“Why don’t I drive you home? I hope you won’t say no.”

From their earlier conversation, Le Zhenglan knew Lin Xiao was staying in Yongnan District, a considerable distance away, hence her offer.

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment, then agreed, “Alright then.”

Just then, Lin Xiao’s phone rang. He picked it up, looked at the caller ID, and answered the call.

“What’s the matter, little Yu?”

“Brother… Big Brother Lin… I… where are you?” Yuan Yu’s voice came through, sobbing.

“What’s wrong, little Yu?” Lin Xiao’s face took on a worried expression as he hurriedly asked.

“I… I’m at school… I… sob…” Yuan Yu’s voice broke into sobs over the phone.

Lin Xiao felt an overwhelming sense of urgency and panic.

“Little Yu, you… Don’t cry. What exactly happened?”

It took a moment for Yuan Yu to calm down enough to speak. “Big Brother Lin… could you come to school if you’re free?”

“Of course, I’ll be there right away.”

After ending the call, Le Zhenglan looked at the visibly distressed Lin Xiao and inquired, “What’s going on?”

Despite not knowing each other for long, Le Zhenglan had learned that Lin Xiao was typically a calm and collected individual. His current state of anxiety indicated something serious must have transpired.

“Change of plans. Instead of going back to Yongnan District, could you drive me to Guanglai High School?” Lin Xiao pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.

“Sure, no problem,” Le Zhenglan agreed instantly, although a hint of unease flashed in her eyes at the mention of Guanglai High School.

With that, the car sped off in the direction of the school.

“Don’t fret, Guanglai High School might be a private institution, but it’s also a prominent provincial school. Nothing major should have happened,” Le Zhenglan assured him, trying to soothe his nerves.

“Thank you.”

His gratitude was sincere, but the fleeting look of worry in his eyes gave away his unsettled state of mind.

“Why are you so worked up? What happened?” she ventured further.

“I’m not entirely sure, but my younger sister was the one who called,” Lin Xiao admitted with a shake of his head.

“You’re certainly a good brother to your sister,” Le Zhenglan remarked.

Lin Xiao simply nodded, his thoughts preoccupied with Yuan Yu. His sole focus was to get to the school as quickly as possible to understand the situation.

Observing Lin Xiao’s anxious demeanor, Le Zhenglan decided not to pry further. She hit the accelerator, urging the car to move faster.

***

Back at Guanglai High School, the students of Class 3-1 were engaged in lively conversations, their chatter filling the room.

“Who would have thought she’s that kind of person?”

“I know, right? She’s a total disgrace to Guanglai High School.”

“I lost something last time too. Could she be the thief?”

Whispers and speculations filled the room, each word piercing Yuan Yu’s heart. She sat there, looking pale and lost amidst her classmates, who seemed all too familiar yet strikingly distant.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the doorway of the classroom.

“Yuan Yu, come with me to the office,” the voice directed toward the stupefied girl.