Chapter 52: Classmate, you must stay strong

Having women on both sides was out of the question, but he could at least daydream about it; after all, who hadn't envied that guy with the messy hair?

Being caught staring blankly at her caused Lin Mo to feel a bit embarrassed. How was this any different from that classmate Xiao Huang drooling over the "Iron-Lungs Little Diva"?

He quickly feigned a cough to ease the awkwardness, then took out the box containing the nautilus and placed it on the table.

"Ahem, Sister Ru Yan, I didn't know the price of this watch yesterday. It's too precious. How about we just forget it? You already bought me clothes anyway."

Looking at the box on the table, the smile on Liu Ru Yan's face didn't fade. Instead, she asked, "Do you not like it? Or should I take you to pick one out yourself?"

"No, no, no, I mean, it's too expensive. My classmate told me this watch is worth at least 400,000 yuan. What I have isn't worth that much."

Although Lin Mo had a bit of money in hand now, he still possessed a poor man's mindset, feeling that he couldn't afford something so costly.

Hearing this, Liu Ru Yan pursed her lips. She propped her chin up with one hand while the other hand held a spoon, gently stirring her Lafite. Her hands were slender—a dream for hand enthusiasts—but Lin Mo's attention was elsewhere.

"You know I'm not short on money, Sister. Besides, that thing of yours doesn't have a fixed price. Yuanyuan just threw out a random number. To be honest, I think she undercharged you. You're underestimating how much that thing attracts women."

In truth, Lin Mo knew the item was valuable in the eyes of certain people, but poverty had limited his imagination; their consumption levels were simply on different planes.

"But Sister Yuan, she..."

Before he could finish, Liu Ru Yan waved him off. "Yuanyuan is Yuanyuan, and I am me. We keep our dealings separate. But do you really not want it? This is a men's model; I can't wear it, and it's non-refundable. If you don't take it, you'll be the one losing out even more."

Lin Mo felt conflicted. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "How about this... I have over 200,000 yuan left. If I count the item I gave you, can we call it a purchase?"

"Giggle..." Hearing this, Liu Ru Yan shook with laughter. She then reached out to open the watch box, took his hand, and put the watch on him again. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. You're too sensitive. Look at that petty attitude just now. It's just a watch. Since I'm giving it as a gift, do you really think I'd take your money?

However... that little expression you just made was quite cute. Keep it up!"

Lin Mo:...

He didn't know what he looked like in her eyes, but calling him "cute" felt a bit disrespectful. He felt like challenging her to a duel at Xuanwu Gate just to prove a point.

After a moment of thought, Lin Mo reached into his pocket and placed three items on the table: two bottles and an envelope. The bottles were the small porcelain ones he had used for facial cleanser last time; one contained ten Poria throat lozenges, the other contained Tujia honey, and the third was a pair of scar removal patches.

"What is this? Is it the same as last time?" Seeing the small porcelain jars, Liu Ru Yan felt a surge of pleasant surprise, thinking it might be his secret formula again.

"Not quite. One is Poria throat lozenges to clear phlegm and lungs; one is honey to drink with water daily for detoxification and digestion; and the last is scar removal patches. All three work quite well—I've tested them myself. Consider them a thank-you for the watch," Lin Mo said, gesturing toward the nautilus on his wrist.

He had planned this from the start. If Liu Ru Yan refused to accept the watch, he would offer these items in exchange. He felt these things were quite valuable.

Especially the Poria lozenges; he had already consumed some and had more than half a bottle left. He planned to bring some home for his parents, as his father was a heavy smoker.

As for why he didn't mail them, these things could be bought elsewhere, but the effectiveness was worlds apart. He was afraid his parents would treat them like ordinary junk and throw them away.

Liu Ru Yan looked at him with some surprise, then opened them one by one to inspect. Finding they weren't the same as last time, she looked slightly disappointed.

Looking at Lin Mo's determined expression, Liu Ru Yan picked up the envelope and smiled. "I'll accept this. Scar removal patches—sounds good. As for the other two, never mind. My family already has honey."

Lin Mo nodded. He could tell that Liu Ru Yan didn't truly care about the items; accepting the scar patches was merely a polite gesture to acknowledge his sincerity.

As she said, her family was wealthy, and their honey was high-grade. As for the loose Poria lozenges, to put it bluntly, they were medicine.

Forget the wealthy and powerful; even an ordinary person wouldn't consume unbranded medicine without reason. What if it made them sick? It was a normal way to think.

Accepting the scar patches was likely just because they weren't ingested, were easy to handle, and easy to store.

Since Liu Ru Yan hadn't seen the effects with her own eyes, he didn't force the issue. If he gave it and she refused, it wasn't his fault.

After accepting the envelope, both were satisfied. Lin Mo then treated her to a simple lunch at a restaurant downstairs from the company; he couldn't exactly promise a meal and then break his word.

By the time he returned to school, it was already two in the afternoon. Lin Mo bought some fruit at the supermarket near the back gate to take back to his dorm.

Just as he reached the bottom of his building and prepared to head up, he heard someone calling him.

"Student! Student!"

Lin Mo turned around to find the dormitory matron calling him softly from the entrance of the duty room, her eyes darting around nervously.

"What is it, Auntie? Is something wrong?" Lin Mo asked.

The matron stepped forward, pulled him outside the dormitory building, and whispered with hesitation

"Student, I don't know how to say this... you have to stay strong!"

As she spoke, her gaze toward him was filled with pity.

Lin Mo:???

"What happened to me? What do you mean, Auntie?"

He was truly baffled. Why did he need to "stay strong"?

"Normally, this shouldn't be my business, and I wouldn't usually press you about bringing a girlfriend into the dorm, but I just can't stand to watch this. Your little girlfriend... she's been with another male student in the dorm behind your back. The two of them are getting intimate in the room right now. They're playing quite hard," the matron said with a troubled expression.

"Huh?" Lin Mo gasped.

Seeing this, the matron hurriedly urged, "Child, listen to me. Don't be impulsive. If it comes to this, just break up. Don't resort to violence! She's not worth it!

Yesterday, when you two fought, I thought you were in the wrong. But now it seems you must have discovered something. I was wrong; you should have given her a proper lesson."

Lin Mo:...

He had already guessed the situation. Finally, the matron accompanied him upstairs, fearing he might act impulsively and cause an irreversible scene.

Just as they reached the dormitory door, a familiar voice—that of Manager Wang—drifted from inside

"Baby, you smell so good!"

Lin Mo:...

The Matron: →_→ (See? I told you.)

(End of Chapter)