Yu Xiaxing’s anger flared instantly.
Yu Zhining had actually used his unnecessary medical knowledge to ruin her path to riches!
From this moment on, Yu Xiaxing was switching targets.
Instead of focusing her main attacks on Yu Lingyi, she would now make Yu Zhining her primary target!
Yu Xiaxing yanked her hand back and stared at him in shock. “Yu Zhining! Why were you touching my hand? You pervert!”
Yu Zhining: “…? What’s wrong with you now?”
Yu Xiaxing clutched her chest in anguish. “I’m your own cousin! And you actually tried to make a move on me!”
Yu Zhining’s perpetually expressionless face slowly filled with shock.
Yu Xiaxing immediately pulled Yu Zheng in front of her as a shield. Shaking her hand with an expression of disgust, she complained, “Brother, Third Brother is terrifying! He actually wants to commit incest with me! He’s so twisted and deformed!”
Yu Zheng instantly got into the spirit of things. Ever happy to watch the spectacle unfold, he looked at Yu Zhining with equal disdain. “You pervert! You and Xingxing are close relatives within three generations, and you still have the nerve to make a move on her?”
Yu Zhining’s throat bobbed. “Are you two sick?”
Yu Xiaxing poked her head out from behind Yu Zheng. “Look! He’s getting defensive! He’s getting defensive! He’s getting defensive!”
Protecting his little sister, Yu Zheng even added solemnly, “Yu Zhining, you’re a medical student yourself. Do I really need to explain why close relatives can’t get together? If you want to pursue my sister, get yourself sterilized first!”
Yu Zhining: “…???”
So, did that mean he could pursue her as long as they didn’t have children?
No, wait! Who wanted to pursue his sister?!
The elevator chimed as it reached the floor.
Yu Xiaxing and Yu Zheng immediately left.
Only then did Yu Zhining remember to fire back, “The two of you should go see a psychiatrist together!”
Outside the elevator, Yu Xiaxing and Yu Zheng had already walked away, bickering noisily.
Inside, only Yu Lingyi and Yu Zhining remained.
Looking at their retreating figures, Yu Lingyi smiled. “All right, Brother. Don’t be angry. Everyone in the Yu family knows that Third Uncle and Third Aunt are two bodhisattvas who somehow gave birth to two little devils. They were just deliberately provoking you. Don’t take it to heart.”
Yu Zhining stepped out of the elevator as well, his expression cold. “I won’t.”
Walking beside him, Yu Lingyi chatted casually. “Speaking of which, you used to like Xingxing quite a lot when you were little.”
Yu Zhining fell silent.
Yu Lingyi continued, “Back in school, you never protected me, your actual sister. You only protected her.”
“Especially after Yu Zheng was sent abroad. Her parents were overseas too, so she was always either coming to our house for meals or going to our aunt’s place.”
“Whenever she got into trouble at school and the teachers asked her parents to come in, she didn’t dare tell our aunt or our parents. She always told you instead. And you covered for her every time.”
“Back then, I thought you were going to spoil her forever.”
She turned her head to look at Yu Zhining.
“Why did the two of you suddenly fall out later? Was it because of… Mianmian?”
Yu Zhining lowered his head slightly, his expression indifferent.
Suddenly, scenes from many years ago rose in his mind.
The reason he had liked Yu Xiaxing so much as a child was actually rather childish: she gave him a chance to enjoy being a big brother.
Yu Lingyi had been taught by their parents from an early age to be mature and graceful. There had never been much she needed from him as her older brother.
His other younger sister, Yu Suisui, was also spoiled and overbearing, but she had her parents by her side to take care of her.
Only Yu Xiaxing had become completely dependent on him after Yu Zheng left.
She also looked exactly the way he liked—round eyes and a perfect face.
Her personality suited his tastes just as well. She was cheeky and entertaining to tease…
But then something happened.
It had been an argument between children. They had gotten into a fight.
Yu Xiaxing had said some very hurtful things, and of course, he hadn’t let her off the hook either…
But once he had calmed down, he realized that they had only been words spoken in anger.
At the time, he had decided that the next time his little sister came over for dinner, as long as she said one word to him first, they would make up.
But after that day, she never came over again.
Whenever she got into trouble at school, she went to their aunt instead. She never came to him again.
Her temper had always been so stubborn. Once she decided to cut ties, she really meant it.
She no longer relied on him as her big brother.
Looking back now, it did seem rather childish.
When Yu Lingyi saw that he still wasn’t saying anything, she asked, “Why are you being quiet? I’m asking you—why did you and Xingxing suddenly stop getting along?”
Yu Zhining answered coldly, “Because that’s just my personality. I don’t get along with anyone.”
Yu Lingyi had to admit that was true…
He and Xingxing were like needles against wheat.
The two of them reached the parking lot. Yu Lingyi said, “I’m heading back. The third task should be coming down soon, and it probably won’t be as simple as the first two. I also still have to deal with the aftermath of Su Hao and Qiao Tang.”
Yu Zhining gave a quiet hum.
—
By the time Yu Xiaxing returned to Saint De from the hospital, the few trending topics were still hanging around online.
They were all about how the Yu Corporation was throwing its weight around and monopolizing the market, acting like some overbearing CEO in a melodramatic romance novel—bankrupting anyone they disliked and leaving ordinary training institutions with no chance of survival.
The more Yu Xiaxing read, the more satisfied she became.
When Yu Xiaxing entered the school board chairman’s office, her footsteps were practically light with joy.
Lu Yanzhao was already waiting for her inside.
He held a document in his hand, standing straight-backed with a calm expression.
When he saw her enter, he raised his eyes and said, “Director Yu, the arts-exam prep program is basically ready. We can start classes soon.”
Yu Xiaxing sat down in the chair and asked, “How much have we spent?”
Lu Yanzhao replied, “At present, we’ve established classes for acting, broadcasting, fine arts, and vocal music. The expenses already incurred include three external acting instructors. One is Shen Zhi, another is a retired veteran actor from the first generation who has been rehired. The six-month course fees come to eight hundred and sixty thousand yuan. There’s also another—”
Yu Xiaxing had no patience to listen to the details. “You don’t need to go into all that. Just tell me how much we’ve spent in total and how much we have left.”
Lu Yanzhao said, “Including the venue and equipment costs, we’ve spent 4.71 million yuan so far. Another 4.13 million yuan has been contracted and is awaiting payment. That leaves approximately 1.16 million yuan in funds we can allocate freely.”
Yu Xiaxing felt that the results were acceptable.
The 4.13 million yuan awaiting payment could only be paid after the classes started.
After all, they couldn’t pay the instructors a full year’s salary before they had even taught a single lesson.
They had to get the classes started as soon as possible!
Right then, Lu Yanzhao asked, “When should we begin enrollment?”
Yu Xiaxing said, “The sooner the better. We need to launch the program while the online buzz is still high.”
Everyone was currently criticizing them for monopolizing the market and calling on students not to sign up. Enrollment was bound to face obstacles.
Besides, they needed to get the classes running before they could lose money.
If they didn’t start now, when would they?
Lu Yanzhao made a note. “All right. Today is Friday. We’ll begin warming up the publicity this afternoon, release the first batch of course details tonight, and officially open registration next Monday.”
Yu Xiaxing waved a hand. “Fine.”
Lu Yanzhao asked another question. “What should we set the registration fees at?”
As he spoke, he handed her a market research report containing the prices charged by other institutions in the area.
