Rebirth of the Best Businesswoman at School Chapter 4

After a moment, Jian Yu emerged with two bowls of soy milk, placing them gently on their table. "Drink it while it's hot. I’ve added sugar," he said.

Guan Tao smiled, her eyes crinkling as she responded, "Thank you, Brother Yu." She then shifted, intending to display her gums in a happy gesture.

"Don't stand on ceremony," Jian Yu replied, pulling up a stool to sit beside Jian Ai. He then reached into his pocket, retrieving a rolled ten-yuan note. Handing it to Jian Ai, he said, "Xiao Ai, have some good food at school."

Jian Ai paused her drinking, her gaze falling upon the ten-yuan bill. She blinked, then replied, "I have money. Brother, keep it for yourself."

Upon entering high school, her mother provided her with two hundred yuan as living expenses at the start of each month. While this sum might suffice for an ordinary high school, at Erzhong, a typical lunch cost around five yuan. To enjoy a good meal every few days would deplete the two hundred yuan before the month's end.

Fortunately, her brother would secretly give her half of his earnings each month, a fact their mother was unaware of. She always believed her brother kept half as pocket money, but in reality, he gave it all to Jian Ai. He understood the nature of Erzhong and feared she might be looked down upon by her classmates.

This arrangement ensured Jian Ai had a monthly allowance of five to six hundred yuan, more than adequate for an average high school student. However, Jian Ai did not indulge in frivolous spending. She consistently chose the cheapest lunch option and discreetly saved the remaining money.

"Take it. I'll receive my salary tomorrow," Jian Yu insisted, pressing the money into Jian Ai's hands. Before she could protest, he stood up, stating, "Finish your food and head to school. I need to get busy."

"Oh my, Big Brother Yu is just too good to you!" Guan Tao exclaimed, her eyes forming hearts, her expression exaggerated. "When I grow up, I absolutely must marry a man like Big Brother Yu."

"Stop that!" Jian Ai interjected, looking at Guan Tao. "You can like anyone you want, just not my brother!"

Jian Ai's words seemed to douse Guan Tao's enthusiasm. "I know, I know! If I can't, then so be it. Who are you trying to scare?" she retorted.

Observing Guan Tao's reaction, Jian Ai felt a smile tug at her lips. She hadn't meant to be harsh. It was simply that Guan Tao's life in her previous existence had been smooth sailing, and Jian Ai wished to spare her friend any further heartache by diverting her affections away from her elder brother, thus saving her from potential detours.

Erzhong was situated at the boundary connecting Zhonglou District and Haicheng District. Each morning, they would board a bus from the stop at the street entrance, reaching the school approximately half an hour later.

At this hour, students were thronging to enter the school. Jian Ai joined the flow of people, passing through Erzhong's main gate. As she observed the familiar surroundings of her past, she strived for a natural demeanor, yet an undercurrent of excitement and nervousness was undeniable.

"Look, isn't that Jian Ai?"

"Ah? Really? Didn't she drown?"

"Don't talk nonsense. She was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment."

"How many days has it been? Why is she back so soon?"

The moment she stepped onto campus, murmurs and whispers began to surround her. Despite the speakers intentionally keeping their distance and lowering their voices, Jian Ai could still discern their words. Perhaps this heightened awareness was a result of her mental cultivation techniques.

Yet, Jian Ai appeared unfazed by the hushed discussions. The specifics of her near-drowning incident remained unclear to her. Guan Tao had mentioned Li Yunmei's involvement, but the underlying reasons for the incident were details she planned to uncover gradually.