Huayu: Brother, I'm having such a great time!

Chapter 51 Xu Zi encourages learning

Xu Jingxing really didn't know what to say.

Running away won't solve the problem; it will only delay your studies.

"Does your mother know?" Xu Jingxing asked.

Mao Xiaotong shook her head vigorously. "She definitely won't agree."

Xu Jingxing looked at Mao Xiaotong and his heart softened.

She must have felt that this was the only way to protect her mother.

Xu Jingxing sighed, "But your dad still found you."

Mao Xiaotong lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before suddenly raising her head and stubbornly saying, "At worst, I'll just run away again!"

Looking at her reddened eyes and slightly trembling chin, Xu Jingxing felt a mix of emotions.

She was so young; she shouldn't have had to endure all this.

But because of her family of origin, which she could not choose, this small body has to bear far too much.

"But you should think about your mother." Xu Jingxing looked at her meaningfully. "She has worked so hard all these years, she must want you to succeed in your studies."

Mao Xiaotong bit her lip and remained silent.

"You're not solving anything by acting like this."

"You know absolutely nothing!" Mao Xiaotong suddenly raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes again. "Why do you think I ran away? Do you think I'm ignorant, that I don't know how hard my mother works?"

Mao Xiaotong wiped away her tears forcefully, her voice trembling slightly, "I know she gets up at five in the morning, I know she works three jobs a day, I know she's poured all her money into me. But it's precisely because I know all this that I don't want her to waste half her life's savings on me again."

Xu Jingxing slowly squatted down to be at eye level with Mao Xiaotong, "Then you absolutely can't run anymore."

She picked up a tissue and wiped away Mao Xiaotong's tears, saying earnestly, "If you run away, all your mother's efforts in this life will have been meaningless."

Mao Xiaotong stared at him blankly, some tears still lingering on her face, her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't utter a word.

Xu Jingxing softened his tone: "Your mother has worked so hard all these years, not so that you would drop out of school halfway through and go to work."

"She said..." Mao Xiaotong said, "She said that when she was young, no one helped her, which is why she suffered so much. She said she didn't want me to go through the same thing."

"That's why I don't want to be a burden to her anymore. I'm out earning money now, at least..."

"At least what?" Xu Jingxing interrupted her. "At least you can have peace of mind? Do you think your mother will have peace of mind?"

Mao Xiaotong was speechless at his words, and her hand gripping her shirt trembled slightly.

After a long while, Mao Xiaotong finally spoke, "Then tell me... what should I do? My dad won't let this go. My mom and I can't fight him at all."

"Don't think about anything right now. Go back and study hard to prepare for the college entrance exam." Xu Jingxing straightened up. "Go back to class first. Your father's situation is not something a child like you can handle."

"But he..."

"You must trust the government and trust the Party."

Xu Jingxing put his arm around Mao Xiaotong's shoulder and said, "Your mother and father are divorced. They have no relationship anymore. If he dares to do anything outrageous again, the government will not let him off the hook."

He looked into Mao Xiaotong's eyes and said earnestly, "Study hard and get into a good university in the future. That will be the greatest reward you can give her."

Mao Xiaotong bit her lip, neither nodding nor shaking her head.

Xu Jingxing stood up and looked at his reflection in the glass beside the bed. The light shone on him, and he instantly felt that the heroic and righteous figures in the movies had been given a concrete expression at this moment.

I will definitely be among this year's outstanding youth!

Mao Xiaotong's eyes gradually hardened. "Then I'll go back after I finish this month."

"Everything I just said was bullshit, right?"

Xu Jingxing said helplessly, "What are you waiting for? Pack your things and go back to school by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

"If you don't work a full month, you don't get paid."

How much does it cost per month?

"1500".

"I'll give it to you!"

With filming nearing its end, the start-up and progress payments had been received, and Xu Jingxing had an extra 48,000 yuan in his account, giving him extra confidence in his words.

"How can I accept your money?" Mao Xiaotong refused repeatedly.

"I'm not giving it to you, I'm lending it to you."

Xu Jingxing counted the money he had just withdrawn that day from his wallet—a total of 20 red bills—and handed them all to Mao Xiaotong. "I'll round it up. Take this money first, buy your train ticket, and then buy some things for your mother to take back—clothes, local specialties, and things like that. Go back and apologize to her properly."

He turned his head and looked at his reflection in the window again.

Xu Jingxing smiled slightly, already preparing his acceptance speech for the Outstanding Young Person Award in his mind.

"I......"

"Stop with the 'you' and 'me' stuff. Now is not the time to worry about these things. Take the money, go back to school and study hard. Once you get into university, you can do part-time jobs, and no one will stop you then."

Before Mao Xiaotong could refuse, Xu Jingxing put all the money under her pillow.

"Brother Jingxing, thank you." Mao Xiaotong's eyes were firm, and the light that had been scattered returned. "I will definitely pay you back, with interest."

"I believe in you." Xu Jingxing gave Mao Xiaotong two thumbs up.

"But..." Xu Jingxing pointed to his own clothes in Mao Xiaotong's hand, "Are you going to wash my clothes or not?"

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I forgot. I'll go right now."

Mao Xiaotong quickly got up and ran towards the bathroom.

Xu Jingxing got up and went to the bedside, intending to enjoy the night view, but suddenly saw a familiar figure pacing back and forth downstairs through the window.

"That old Deng, he's really persistent."

Xu Jingxing's eyes flickered, and he already had an idea in mind.

When Mao Xiaotong came out of the bathroom and was about to use a hairdryer, Xu Jingxing snatched the clothes from her hands and put them on.

"Brother Jingxing, it's not dry yet!" Mao Xiaotong exclaimed.

"It's okay, it's hot, you'll dry off after a while outside." Xu Jingxing pushed open the door and told Mao Xiaotong before leaving, "Don't overthink it, get some sleep, I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow night to see you off."

"Oh, by the way, remember to ask Mei Youji to resign tomorrow."

"I understand, Brother Jingxing."

Having received Mao Xiaotong's affirmative reply, Xu Jingxing left the room with peace of mind.

Back in his room, Xu Jingxing first found a white, opaque plastic bag he had bought at the supermarket the day before, then put it over his head to check its size.

He then left the room, satisfied.

When I got downstairs, I found the spot directly opposite Mao Xiaotong's window. The person who had been pacing back and forth downstairs was still there, but now he was squatting on the ground smoking.

This person is none other than Mao Xiaotong's scumbag father, Li Chao.

I glanced around and made sure there were no security cameras.

Xu Jingxing quietly walked past him from behind, suddenly shoved the white plastic bag he was holding over Li Chao's head, and then kicked him hard.

"Ouch!"

"Who the hell is it?!"

"WCNM!"

"..."

"Big brother, stop hitting him."

"Please, please stop hitting me."

"..."

This Joseon Dynasty is really spineless; it's so easily defeated that it begged for mercy right away.

Still not satisfied, Xu Jingxing kicked him a few more times.

He turned to run away, but suddenly saw a small, transparent bag containing white flour fall out of Li Chao's shirt pocket.

Without a second thought, Xu Jingxing shoved Li Chao into the flowerbed and then fled the scene at lightning speed.

Xu Jingxing didn't run back to the hotel, since the hotel was full of surveillance cameras. Instead, he turned around and ran towards the crowded food street.