The door to the media room was gently knocked on. Chu Xiaodong’s voice came from outside.

“Am I disturbing you? Little Lu, are you free? I have something to discuss with you.”

At last, the real show was starting.

The matter with Auntie Chu and the Dumb Goose could only count as an appetizer. The person who truly wanted to speak with him was probably Chu Xiaodong.

Lu Li said goodbye to the class monitor for the moment, then left the media room with Chu Xiaodong. He followed him into the study and sat on the sofa at the Chuanhai City Prime Minister’s gesture.

Still, he couldn’t quite settle his rear on the cushion.

Chu Xiaodong’s study was extremely simple. Three rows of bookshelves stood packed with books. There was a desk, a computer connected to three external monitors, and a genuine leather sofa.

With his sharp eyes, Lu Li spotted a small photo frame beside the computer. It showed a happy family of three.

Clearly, Chu Xiaodong was a good man who cared about his family.

Chu Xiaodong didn’t put on airs, either. He casually sat beside Lu Li and asked in the tone of a friend making conversation, “Little Lu, how old are you this year?”

“Sixteen. I’ll turn seventeen next month.” His birthday was in October.

“Hehe, don’t be so nervous. We’re just having a casual chat.”

Of course you’re not nervous. How could I, a poor student, not be nervous?

Lu Li’s household registration was tied to his student records. Legally, he was considered a person with limited capacity for civil conduct.

Aside from his education, he had no corresponding legal rights in any social affairs.

In other words, a single word from Chu Xiaodong could turn Lu Li from a student into an undocumented resident.

That was also why Lu Li couldn’t apply for a student loan.

“How long have you known Yibao?”

So that’s what you parents call the class monitor in private?

It was pretty fitting, though. The Dumb Goose was as pure as purified water. Every now and then, she even did something stupid in the most adorable way.

Yibao suited her perfectly.

“We were assigned to the same class last year, but we weren’t especially close during that whole year.”

Chu Xiaodong smiled calmly. There was no sign of any emotional change.

People like him were the most frightening kind in real life. They had deep schemes, yet they could still smile generously while stabbing you in the back.

Lu Li finally understood why Chu Xiaodong always narrowed his eyes when he smiled.

That way, nobody could see his eyes. It was like lowering a curtain and locking all his emotions behind them.

“I heard from Yibao that your guardian ran away. Why didn’t you report the situation to the government? It must’ve been difficult, getting by alone all these years.”

“I didn’t have many chances to come into contact with government officials.”

That was a lie.

When he was little, Sister Yamen had taken him to wait outside a government building for an entire day. In the end, an official had casually told them, “Your documents aren’t complete. Go finish them, then come back.”

After that came an endless game of passing the buck.

Two children had been sent running back and forth between four or five relevant departments. In the end, both the young Lu Li and little Zou Yamen had collapsed onto the roadside, bawling their eyes out.

That was when they had truly felt the malice of the world.

That was why he hated bureaucracy.

It represented his helplessness, his sorrow, and his despair.

Chu Xiaodong might never have imagined the detached fury seven-year-old Lu Li had felt after crying on that roadside.

For a moment, it had seemed as if he weren’t even part of this world.

Chu Xiaodong seemed to notice that Lu Li’s mood had taken a turn. He chuckled and said, “The main reason I wanted to talk with you is this matter.”

“I know our grassroots work in Chuanhai City hasn’t been ideal. The higher-ups issue policies, and the people below find ways around them. There are some things even those of us giving orders can’t control.”

“How about this? Help your uncle with a small favor. Make a list of every underage resident in your low-rent district who has no guardian, along with the reasons.”

“That way, we freeloaders can at least make some amends. What do you say?”

The only thought that appeared in Lu Li’s mind was:

Why me? What exactly does Chu Xiaodong mean?

“You’re personally involved in this matter, Little Lu. I’ll feel more at ease leaving it to you.”

“But I have to attend school every day. I might not have much time…”

“You can do it on the weekends.”

Chu Xiaodong winked at him. This time, he didn’t deliberately hide the emotion in his eyes.

“Well?”

Now Lu Li understood.

Chu Xiaodong was getting revenge on him.

He was taking revenge because Lu Li had ordered his daughter around like a servant.

What a petty man.

Still, Lu Li genuinely wanted to agree. With Chu Xiaodong’s promise, life would become much easier for the minors in their low-rent district.

“Okay. I’ll do everything I can.”

“Organize the information into electronic files and send them to me. By the way, you have a computer, right?”

Chu Xiaodong suddenly slapped his forehead. When he saw Lu Li’s blank expression, he gave him an apologetic smile.

“How about this? I’ll lend you a laptop for work. That’ll make things more convenient for us.”

He walked to the desk and took a brand-new laptop bag from a drawer.

Clearly, this old fox had been prepared long ago.

Lu Li accepted the heavy computer bag without checking inside. He lowered his head and said, “Thank you, Uncle Chu.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble you with this, Little Lu.”

Chu Xiaodong patted him on the shoulder.

“I heard you came first in your grade this time. Your grades are excellent. Do you have a target university?”

In his previous life, Lu Li had attended an art university far from home. He had chosen the cheapest tuition bracket.

“I don’t have a target yet.”

“Your uncle suggests that you consider Chuanhai University of Political Science and Law. It’s suitable for a young man like you.”

He spoke with an obvious implication. Lu Li’s brows tightened slightly.

Chuanhai University of Political Science and Law had once been the Chuanhai City Youth Cadre Training Center.

Its ranking wasn’t especially high, but within political circles, it was one of the legendary “Three Gates and Six Schools.”

More than half of Chuanhai City’s bureaucrats had graduated from Chuanhai Political and Law.

Of course, online, people called it the University of Corruption.

This wasn’t an ordinary university you could enter just by paying tuition. Without a political background, you weren’t even qualified to undergo Chuanhai Political and Law’s review process.

Was Chu Xiaodong encouraging him to enter politics?

Unfortunately, Chu Xiaodong didn’t say anything more.

He cheerfully chatted about a few other household matters. When lunchtime approached, he insisted that Lu Li stay for a meal.

Lu Li was honestly a little overwhelmed by the honor. He declined several times, but Chu Xiaodong eventually put on a stern face.

Only then did Lu Li helplessly agree.

At the dining table, everyone was in a different mood.

The happiest person wasn’t the Dumb Goose. It was Auntie Chu.

She was inexplicably delighted and kept piling food into Lu Li’s bowl.

The second happiest was Chu Jingyi. The girl seemed especially excited to have her best friend at the dining table.

During the meal, she kept glancing at Lu Li, either intentionally or otherwise. Whenever he caught her, she would bare her teeth and flash him a foolish grin.

Lu Li was absolutely certain that Chu Jingyi had no romantic feelings for him.

It was only friendship.

She wasn’t old enough to understand love yet. She was simply the late-blooming type.

After that came Chu Xiaodong, who kept smiling.

Even with Lu Li’s life experience, he still couldn’t see through what that old fox was thinking.

Once the strange lunch was over, Lu Li couldn’t stay any longer.

He grabbed the computer bag, offered a flustered farewell, and left Chu Xiaodong’s home. He looked very much like he was fleeing for his life.

The one who saw him out was Young Miss Chu Jingyi.

The smile never left the Dumb Goose’s face. She skipped along ahead of Lu Li, like a pale-yellow butterfly dancing through the air.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Lu Li felt that the Dumb Goose was especially stupid today.

She was already dumb enough on a normal day. Today, she was practically brainless.

She nearly walked into a wooden post. If she had, some unknown hunter might’ve caught her, and the story of waiting by a tree for a rabbit would’ve been born.

“Are you really that happy? You look like you’re about to fly,” Lu Li teased.

“Hey, watch where you’re going. Don’t trip.”

“Do I?” The Dumb Goose hadn’t noticed at all. “I think I’m in an average mood today~”

Could you learn from your father before saying that? Don’t show your teeth when you smile.

Those bright front teeth are blinding me.

That was what Lu Li thought.

“Maybe I am a tiny bit happy.”

The Dumb Goose brought her thumb and index finger close together, leaving only a tiny gap between them.

“It’s because my parents like you so much. Whenever I invited friends over before, they always looked so serious that they scared everyone away.”

“You’ve invited male friends over?”

“No. Why would you ask that?”

Lu Li couldn’t help rubbing his chin.

This was bad.

Had the Chu family misunderstood something?

He’d already thought the couple’s attitude was a little strange. Could they have mistaken him for some freeloader trying to marry into their family?

He didn’t know what Chu Xiaodong and his wife were thinking, so he couldn’t jump to conclusions.

He could only remind the class monitor, “Dumb Hea—cough, class monitor, An Baili and I have a complicated relationship.”

That was close.

He had almost said what he was really thinking.

“I know.”

Chu Jingyi looked at him like he was an idiot.

“Why are you bringing up something everyone knows?”

“Right. Then you should head back. I’ll take a car home myself.”

The moment he finished speaking, he was slapped in the face by reality.

Secretary Long’s sedan had already been waiting at the entrance of the residential compound for quite some time.

So they were even providing door-to-door transportation?

Chu Jingyi had no choice but to stop.

The reluctance on her little face was so thick it nearly melted into tears.

“Oh.”

At the very end, she suddenly added, “I’ll revise the piece until it’s absolutely perfect.”

“Mm.”

Lu Li’s thoughts weren’t on the Dumb Goose at all. He answered somewhat perfunctorily.

Chu Jingyi puffed out her cheeks.

“I’ll make it so amazing that you won’t be able to find a single flaw!”

“Mm-hm. Mm-hm. Mm-hm.”

“I’ll definitely make you completely eat your words!”

Her voice suddenly rose. Lu Li had no choice but to look at her properly.

What was wrong with this girl?

Chu Jingyi clasped her hands behind her back and said quietly, “Come visit again next time.”

There’s going to be a next time?

Please, no.

Lu Li smiled and said, “If I get the chance, I will.”

She suddenly held out her little finger.

“What are you doing?”

“Pinky promise.”

“We’re not children anymore.”

“Are you doing it or not?”

“No.”

The Dumb Goose’s eyes turned red.

Lu Li hurriedly changed his answer. “I am, I am!”

This girl was seriously impossible to deal with.

Under the warm sunlight, the boy’s and girl’s little fingers intertwined.

From a distance, Secretary Long smiled and shook his head.

“Ah, youth.”