Qin Yi didn’t wait for Lin’s mother to reply. He bluntly stated his reason.

“If we live together, I can take care of her both at school and at home. I’ll also help her with her studies.”

Lin’s mother furrowed her delicate brows. “Do you even know how to take care of a girl?”

“Not much, but I’ll learn,” Qin Yi answered honestly.

Lin’s mother pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. For a three-bedroom apartment, since more of us live at my place, my family will cover the rent.”

“No, I’ll pay.”

“You’ll pay?” Lin’s mother was taken aback. “Do you have money?”

“After the high school entrance exam, County No.1 High gave me twenty thousand in cash. I also have another hundred thousand saved up in my ICBC card. That’s enough for a year’s rent.”

As he spoke calmly, her heart thundered like a storm.

Lin Hanzhang had raised Lin Jin through hardships. After repaying twenty thousand yuan to Qin Yi’s grandmother, Fang Qijun, she’d scrimped for five years to barely save sixty thousand. Yet this teenager, the same age as her child, casually pulled out over a hundred thousand.

Lin Hanzhang gained a new understanding of Qin Yi’s family background.

But Lin’s mother was strong-willed. Having received too many favors from Qin Yi’s grandmother’s family, she couldn’t possibly let a junior pay.

“How can that be? There are two of us—my daughter and me—but only one of you. By any calculation, it shouldn’t be your responsibility to pay everything.” She patted Qin Yi’s shoulder. “I know you’re worried about Xiao Jin, but I’m not so poor that I need others to raise my daughter.”

“No, you misunderstood me,” Qin Yi paused. “It’s Lin Jin who will live with me, not you and Lin Jin renting an apartment together with me.”

Lin Hanzhang froze. Her expression instantly turned serious, her eyes no longer playful. “Xiao Yi, are you serious?”

“Serious.”

“Do you know her current situation?”

“I’m fully aware.”

“She is a girl now.”

“I couldn’t be happier about that.”

“What the hell ‘couldn’t be happier’?” Lin Hanzhang’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

Qin Yi’s response was so decisive; he’d clearly prepared in advance. She finally grasped his meaning.

“You must understand, you’re both minors, and in puberty…”

“Don’t worry, I know. I’ll save my first time for after marriage.”

Huh???

M…m…m…marriage?????

Lin’s mother’s mind short-circuited. She’d been worried about puppy love and Lin Jin’s gender identity issues. She never expected Qin Yi to jump straight to marriage and children.

And “first time”… Do kids these days know so much?

Qin Yi, oh Qin Yi. I never expected you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes…

Lin’s mother glared at the boy before her, exasperated. No, “boy” didn’t fit anymore; “man” seemed more appropriate.