Pei Yaru's eyes also reddened.
She knew Chen Nian's family circumstances all too well.
The boy had been doing fairly well academically in his first year of high school, but during his second year, Grandma Chen fell ill. With the family struggling financially, Chen Nian decided to drop out and find work.
Later, Pei Yaru made trip after trip to the Chen household, persuading them in every way possible and even helping cover medical expenses, until she finally convinced Chen Nian to abandon his plan to quit school.
Yet even after Chen Nian obediently returned to class, his attitude toward studying was never the same. He spent his days fooling around with Ji Zhouye—sleeping in class, playing games after school. A once-promising student had given up on himself, turning in blank exam papers and sinking to the bottom of the class rankings.
Now, at last, that promising student was back on track.
The Ji family's establishment of a financial aid program for underprivileged students had made an enormous difference in motivating these kids.
Just as Pei Yaru was lost in thought, a mocking voice sounded beside her.
Teacher Yang remarked, "Moving up ten places from last place still leaves him near the bottom. He might not even get into a vocational college—I don’t know what you’re so happy about, Teacher Pei."
Pei Yaru lifted her gaze calmly. "There’s still over half a year until the college entrance exams. If he makes steady progress each month, the cumulative improvement could lead to a qualitative leap. How can you be so sure he won’t make it?"
Teacher Yang shook her head with a scornful laugh.
In this class of underachievers, only the top three stood a chance—maybe even at prestigious universities.
The rest? They’d be lucky to end up as factory workers tightening screws for a living.
After the parent-teacher meeting ended, Grandma Chen pulled Chen Nian aside, tears mixing with laughter. "You’ve finally improved! Keep studying hard, aim for university, and bring honor to our Chen family. Make that mother of yours regret abandoning us, understand?"
Chen Nian scratched his head. "I got it, Grandma."
Grandma Chen didn’t linger.
The meeting hall was littered with empty water bottles—each worth five cents. With so many, she could make dozens of yuan.
Holding a woven plastic sack, she bent down, picking them up one by one.
Seeing this, Chen Nian hurried to help.
Ji Zhouye watched with mixed emotions before calling out cheerfully, "Grandma Chen, a lot of these still have water in them. Let me grab a bucket."
Since Rong Yu had nothing else to do, she joined in collecting bottles.
The class monitor, the study committee head, and the group leader—somehow, these three had started following Rong Yu’s lead. Seeing her gather bottles, they pitched in too, treating it like a game.
With the top students of Class 20 setting the example, the rest of the students exchanged glances before all jumping in.
Hundreds of plastic bottles were no match for so many hands. In just over ten minutes, every one had been crushed and tossed into the sack.
Grandma Chen was deeply moved. "Good kids, all of you. You didn’t look down on our Chen Nian, and you even helped an old woman like me..."
Steward Yu knew Chen Nian was Young Master Ji’s closest friend.
After some thought, he suggested, "Miss Rong, perhaps we could invite Grandma Chen to work as a gardener at Hibiscus Manor? It’s light work, and the pay is good..."
Rong Yu shook her head. "Zhouye and Chen Nian are friends. If Zhouye’s family employed Chen Nian’s grandmother, their friendship could easily become strained. It’d be better if—" She paused before continuing, "Grandma Chen could collect recyclables like cardboard from the Ji Corporation instead."
Steward Yu smiled. "As always, Miss Rong has the best solutions."
Once the cleanup was done, the group dispersed.
Ji Zhouye grinned shamelessly. "I made such a big improvement on my exams—don’t I deserve a reward?"
Rong Yu arched a brow. "What kind of reward are you after? Don’t think I don’t know you just swindled a few million from your second brother. What, still short on cash?"
Ji Zhouye: "..."
Well, it seems he didn’t need his great-grandmother’s reward after all.
That amount of money was enough to last him a long time.
Steward Yu smiled and suggested, "This Wednesday is the Fifth Young Master’s eighteenth birthday. As per tradition, we should throw a party. How about Miss Rong rewards him by organizing a grand coming-of-age celebration?"
Eighteen was indeed a significant milestone.
Rong Yu couldn’t help but think of her own eighteenth birthday.
Back then, she was studying abroad across the ocean.
That day had been so lively—many of her fellow countrymen had gathered to congratulate her and bring gifts. At the height of her joy, that man had knelt on one knee and proposed to her.
She wasn’t the type to prioritize love above all else.
But in that moment, her heart had truly skipped a beat.
After graduation, surrounded by a crowd of fellow international students, she had married him. Later, she became pregnant with Yingbao.
But before Yingbao was even born, he had sacrificed himself…
Rong Yu quickly pulled herself together and nodded in agreement.
Steward Yu smiled and asked, "Where would the Fifth Young Master like to hold the party, and whom should we invite?"
Ji Zhouye rubbed his hands excitedly. "Let’s just do it at my villa. Invite all my childhood friends, and maybe a few models or minor celebrities to liven things up—bikinis, swimming, drinking, games. I can’t even imagine how much fun it’ll be!"
Steward Yu’s smile vanished.
"Fun? Fun my foot!" Rong Yu smacked the back of his head. "On second thought, maybe we shouldn’t have a party at all."
Ji Zhouye flinched.
Wasn’t this how all the rich second-generation kids threw parties? And he hadn’t even mentioned the wilder stuff!
But with his great-grandmother around, he had to rein in his wild ideas. Clearing his throat, he amended, "Fine, let’s just invite my classmates from Class Twenty. We’ll have champagne, cake, and talk about life and dreams. How’s that?"
"Much better," Steward Yu beamed. "Leave the arrangements to me."
Within a day or two, the online buzz about Rong Yu was buried under other trending topics.
Netizens were fickle—one day they were cursing her out, and the next, they’d already forgotten who she was.
Early Wednesday morning, Ji Zhouye handed out birthday invitations to all fifty of his classmates.
"Bro Ji, what kind of family are you from to throw a birthday party?" one of his lackeys exclaimed in awe. "And at a villa? That’s some serious money!"
Chen Nian, who was close to Ji Zhouye, knew the truth. Though Ji Zhouye had lost both parents, he had several older brothers who were already working, so money wasn’t really an issue.
With each brother chipping in, throwing a party was no problem.
Ji Zhouye thumped his chest proudly. "Tonight at eight, everyone better show up. You’ve got to give me face!"
The class monitor asked Rong Yu, "Are you going?"
Rong Yu nodded.
After all, he was her flesh and blood—her great-grandson. His eighteenth birthday party? Of course she’d go to join the fun.
Since Rong Yu was attending, the class monitor would too.
And if the monitor was going, the rest of the class, swayed by peer pressure, naturally agreed to be there on time.
By evening, Steward Yu was already making preparations.
Old Master Ji wandered around the villa, gifted Ji Zhouye a luxury watch worth millions as a birthday present, and then left.
As an old man, he knew his presence would make the youngsters uncomfortable.
Besides, with his mother keeping an eye on things, he was sure Ji Zhouye wouldn’t dare cause any trouble.
As night fell, the villa's lights flickered on one by one, casting a warm glow. Soft music played in the background, while the swimming pool shimmered with ripples. Balloons danced gently in the breeze, and the sweet aroma of pastries filled the air.
