“Shaohua, are you looking at stocks?” The dorm leader glanced at the red and green numbers on Ye Shaohua’s computer. “Didn’t you say before that stocks were too risky?”
“Just trying it out. What if I strike it rich overnight?” Ye Shaohua poured herself a glass of water.
Hearing this, the dorm leader was momentarily stunned, then patted Ye Shaohua’s shoulder. “Have you raised the money yet? Tomorrow after work, I’ll go with you to visit your mom.”
The image of Ye Shaohua’s disheveled appearance when she picked her up at the train station was still fresh in the dorm leader’s mind.
“Money?” Ye Shaohua spoke calmly. “I’ve already borrowed it. Don’t worry.”
Seeing her so composed, the dorm leader opened her mouth to ask something but ultimately decided against it, feeling it was too personal. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder how an undergraduate student like Ye Shaohua had managed to raise such a large sum of money.
She ended up recommending a few stocks to Ye Shaohua, who in turn suggested two stocks that were likely to rise. The dorm leader didn’t take it too seriously but didn’t want to dampen Ye Shaohua’s confidence either, so she bought a small amount just for the sake of it. It wasn’t like she’d lose much.
Her family wasn’t as wealthy as the elite in the capital, but they were comfortably well-off.
Ye Shaohua quit all her miscellaneous part-time jobs, keeping only her internship at the company.
Considering Ye Shaohua’s situation, the dorm leader didn’t bring fruits or gifts for Ye’s mother. Instead, she pragmatically gave her some cash.
“Here, you two eat. These are fresh fruits,” Ye’s mother said, lying in the hospital bed. Perhaps due to a lifetime of hardship, she looked much older than her age, which was not yet fifty.
When Ye Shaohua returned after seeing the dorm leader off, she noticed the worry in her mother’s eyes. “Shaohua, don’t keep buying such expensive fruits for me. I don’t like them. You should buy yourself some decent clothes instead.”
Ye’s mother knew her daughter didn’t have much savings. She wasn’t sure exactly how much her surgery had cost, but she knew staying in the hospital even for a day was incredibly expensive.
Seeing Ye Shaohua’s faded jeans, she turned her head away, holding back tears.
“Mom, just focus on recovering. I’ll come to see you every day from now on. Oh, and I’ve hired a caregiver for you. If you need anything during the day while I’m at work, just ask her. You need to rest and heal properly.” Ye Shaohua cut the apple into small pieces and fed them to her mother.
“Why are you wasting money like this? I can manage on my own!” Ye’s mother chided, though her mind was already calculating whether the caregiver could be canceled and if there would be a penalty.
She knew the caregiver for the old lady next door cost five hundred a day.
“Mom, you know I study finance. Recently, I joined an investment company and have been helping people with stocks. I’ve earned quite a bit in commissions. You’ve worked hard all these years. It’s time for you to enjoy life.” Ye Shaohua handed her mother a bank card. “There’s twenty thousand here. Use it for now. If Second Uncle or anyone else asks you for money, just let me know.”
The Ye family had its share of troubles. After Ye’s father passed away in a car accident, Ye’s mother had brought Ye Shaohua to the capital to start anew.
The Ye relatives were like leeches. Knowing Ye’s mother was in the capital, they constantly harassed them for money.
The day Ye Shaohua transmigrated into this world, her second uncle had come to demand money from the original host. Yu Zhehan happened to witness this and, seeing that Ye Shaohua had a wealthy friend, shamelessly asked him for money.
This incident further deepened Yu Zhehan and his friends’ disdain for the original host.
Only after Ye Shaohua left did Ye’s mother rub her reddened eyes.
The old lady in the neighboring bed looked at Ye’s mother with envy. “Xiao Ye is truly filial. I’ve been here for over ten days, and my own children haven’t visited once. Unlike Xiao Ye, who even helps you wash up without a hint of disgust. Young people like her are rare these days.”
Hearing this, Ye’s mother felt a surge of pride. Back then, so many in the family had thought raising a daughter was a burden. But now, she no longer feared those relatives.
Her daughter was both outstanding and filial—a blessing they could never hope to achieve in eight lifetimes.
After a lifetime of caution and hardship, only now did a glimmer of pride shine on her face.
After leaving the hospital, Ye Shaohua didn’t go anywhere else. Instead, she called Liu Yizhou, got his location, and went to meet him.
Liu Yizhou was, as usual, at a bar.
By the time Ye Shaohua arrived, he had already had quite a bit to drink, but his gaze was still sharp.
The moment she entered the private room, Liu Yizhou looked at her. His gaze was deep, the same way he had looked at the original host. But Ye Shaohua could tell he was seeing someone else through her face.
Seeing Ye Shaohua, Liu Yizhou’s friends exchanged teasing glances.
Their eyes held a hint of mockery. “Oh, it’s Miss Ye.”
Their voices carried a subtle sarcasm.
“Come, sit.” Liu Yizhou beckoned her over. In the dim light, Ye Shaohua’s face did bear some resemblance to that person.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol—Ye Shaohua’s least favorite scents.
She shook her head. “Yizhou, I came today to talk about the two hundred thousand…”
Hearing her mention money, Liu Yizhou let out a scoff. But it was just that—a resemblance. The two were worlds apart.
Ye Shaohua carried a certain mundanity about her. Liu Yizhou thought back to their limited interactions. Most of the time, she had brought up money.
Recently, he had learned she had some insight into finance and had even taken her out a few times. It seemed he had truly mistaken her for Yijun.
How crazy was he to think someone like her could resemble her?
The two were as different as heaven and earth.
“Did you spend all two hundred thousand already?” Perhaps because of the alcohol, Liu Yizhou’s voice was heavier than usual. “I never thought you’d be such a spender. So, how much do you need this time?”
