On campus.

Dr. Liang stepped out of a Jetta, using the window as a mirror to quickly neaten her appearance.

Her slender high heels and glossy black stockings were especially eye-catching.

Many of the male students were sneaking glances, and Xue Rui was no exception. He, however, stared openly and even went up to greet her.

"Morning, Dr. Liang," Xue Rui said with a smile.

"Morning, Dr. Liang," Ren Jun greeted her as well.

"Morning~" Dr. Liang smiled at Xue Rui.

She deliberately threw a flirtatious wink at the roguish boy, intending to tease him a little.

But in response, Xue Rui just winked and waggled his eyebrows right back at her.

Dr. Liang was left speechless by Xue Rui’s thick skin. She turned and headed for the infirmary.

"What are you saying hi for? You know her?" Xue Rui shot Ren Jun a sidelong glance.

Just moments before, Ren Jun had been staring intently at her legs.

"Nope," Ren Jun shook his head. ’How could I know a school doctor this young?’

"How about I introduce you? You guys could go out for a meal?" Xue Rui asked casually.

"Okay," Ren Jun agreed in a heartbeat, but then his eyelid twitched and he quickly backpedaled. "Actually... I don’t think that’s necessary."

He realized Xue Rui was testing him. For something like this, even if he was eager, he had to refuse verbally. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"You like the black stockings?" Xue Rui asked with a grin.

"I do," Ren Jun admitted freely. But just to be safe, he added, "But if Xiaying wore them, she’d definitely look even better."

"You two haven’t even gotten started, and you’re already calling her ’Xiaying’ so casually."

Xue Rui laughed in exasperation, thinking Ren Jun was a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh.

However, now that Ren Jun had mentioned it, he found himself genuinely looking forward to seeing what his aunt would look like in black stockings.

"What if I could get my aunt to wear black stockings?" Xue Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Then I’ll call you ’uncle’," Ren Jun said with a completely serious expression.

"Get lost. What would I want with that? Just help me run some errands from now on, like you did today. That’s enough," Xue Rui said, annoyed.

He spent most of his time at school, so if he needed anything done, he had to find someone to help. Ren Jun was obviously a perfect fit.

Because Ren Jun didn’t have a proper job, he could be called upon anytime.

"No problem. If you can pull it off, I’ll run errands for you every day," Ren Jun immediately agreed.

He figured that hanging out with Xue Rui, he could not only learn a thing or two but also get a little closer to Xue Xiaying. It was far more rewarding than drinking with his degenerate friends.

Still, he was skeptical. ’Get Xue Xiaying to wear black stockings? Can Xue Rui really do that?’

The two of them arrived at the teachers’ office, and Xue Rui waved to Xue Xiaying from the window.

Xue Xiaying shot Xue Rui a glare and went back to preparing her lesson. But when she caught sight of Ren Jun out of the corner of her eye, she took off her glasses and walked out.

Ren Jun swallowed hard. "She looks so classy with glasses on."

"Ren Jun, what brings you to school?" Xue Xiaying smiled and nodded a greeting at him.

Secretly, she pinched Xue Rui’s waist.

’She figured Xue Rui was up to no good, probably trying to find a way to skip class.’

She had also heard from her sister-in-law, Ren Qunfang, that Ren Jun wasn’t exactly a respectable person.

But she felt Ren Qunfang was being too one-sided. Anyone who would sponsor a student in need couldn’t be a bad person, at the very least.

"Xiaorui told me to come to the school to take Lin Ruoxi and her grandmother to the hospital for a full check-up," Ren Jun said with a serious expression, his usual goofy grin gone.

"You’re... a really good person." Xue Xiaying was a little surprised. Lin Ruoxi had told her that morning that she needed to take leave, and she had planned on going with her later.

She was worried Lin Ruoxi might not know the way and get lost, but with Ren Jun here, she didn’t have to worry so much. Besides, she had a class this morning.

"Alright, go on then. I’ll write you a permission slip."

Xue Xiaying gave Ren Jun another look. ’This man is so considerate,’ she thought, ’he’s even accompanying them for something like this.’

’Lin Ruoxi has nothing to do with him. Even if it was a request from his nephew, most people would never go to such lengths.’

Her impression of Ren Jun improved a little more. The stereotype of him being a "drifter" that Ren Qunfang had drilled into her head began to fade.

"Heh heh," Ren Jun just kept grinning foolishly.

Xue Xiaying glanced at him strangely through the glass. ’Why does Ren Jun keep staring and smiling at me?’

"Let’s go. You’re so damn embarrassing," Xue Rui muttered, taking the permission slip.

He knew Ren Jun was putting on an act.

"You’re not suited for acting like some simple, honest guy. Life is a long road. You think you can keep this act up forever?" Xue Rui said sarcastically.

He had only mentioned offhand that Xue Xiaying liked honest personality types, and he didn’t expect Ren Jun to put it into practice immediately.

Besides, when he said honest, he meant honest in character, not a damn fool.

Ren Jun had misunderstood.

"Fine," Ren Jun clicked his tongue, thinking Xue Rui had a point.

And so, his eyes began to rove wantonly over the female students again.

"I didn’t tell you to reveal your true nature!" Xue Rui said through clenched teeth.

"You’re so picky." Ren Jun looked impatient. As they passed Class One, he suddenly took a few steps back, his eyes glued to Gu Muxue.

"Holy crap! What’s my sister doing going to school here?" Ren Jun couldn’t help but curse.

What was he seeing?

His sister, Ren Qunfang, had gotten younger and was wearing a school uniform?

"You’ve got the wrong person. She’s a student who just looks like my mom," Xue Rui said, pulling Ren Jun away.

"How could you tell right away that she looks just like my mom when she was young?" Xue Rui asked curiously.

His mother now didn’t really look that much like Gu Muxue.

One was a beautiful married woman, the other a beautiful young girl; their auras were worlds apart.

"In my eyes, your mom always looks the same." As he spoke of Ren Qunfang, the corner of Ren Jun’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

Xue Rui gave a helpless smile. He walked to the back door of the Class Two classroom and gestured to Lin Ruoxi. "Lin Ruoxi, come out."

Lin Ruoxi obediently stood up from her seat.

"Class Monitor, here’s the permission slip. I have to go out for a bit." Xue Rui showed the slip to Guo Qingqing.

Guo Qingqing grunted a displeased "Oh."

Since their homeroom teacher had already approved it, she had no reason to stop them.

"We’re going to the hospital to take an elderly person to the doctor, so don’t get the wrong idea," Xue Rui explained deliberately in a loud voice so everyone could hear.

Because if he didn’t say that, given the gossiping tendencies of teenagers their age, there was no telling what stories they’d make up about him behind his back.

If that happened, wouldn’t Gu Muxue flip out?

"Un... Uncle?" Lin Ruoxi called out softly.

"Call me Uncle," Ren Jun said shamelessly.

"Oh... Uncle," Lin Ruoxi nodded. ’Ren Jun and Xue Rui are so alike,’ she thought. ’They both speak in a tone that brooks no refusal.’

In reality, the two of them were only like that with her.

As they were walking out the school gate, a young security guard greeted Xue Rui.

Xue Rui pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered it to the guard, even though he didn’t know him well.

"Oh, I couldn’t..." The guard repeatedly refused. ’This kid must have connections with the school administration,’ he thought.

But Xue Rui didn’t know that; he was just thinking about getting on the guard’s good side so it would be easier for Lin Ruoxi to get in and out of the school later.

After all, running a "business" as a day student wasn’t so easy.

The school had a lot of rules, and if the guards didn’t turn a blind eye, there were many things you couldn’t bring in at all.

And he couldn’t possibly have Lin Ruoxi crawling through a doggy door.

So, the best way was to bribe the guard.

"It’s nothing. I’ve got plenty at home. Take them and have a smoke."

Xue Rui gave a casual wave and strode out of the school gate.

Ren Jun had come in a cargo van. Xue Rui wasn’t picky, and Lin Ruoxi wouldn’t mind either.

The group went to pick up the old lady and headed straight for the municipal hospital.

When they reached the entrance, they got out and walked in.

The municipal hospital building was very new. The gleaming outpatient building stood tall and looked very modern.

But because it was a hospital, the more luxurious it looked, the more of an intangible pressure it exuded.

Lin Ruoxi looked up at the tall building, clearly nervous, not even knowing where to put her hands.

"Actually, the bigger the hospital, the cheaper it is," Xue Rui explained in a low voice.

He guessed that Lin Ruoxi was probably worried about the cost.

But what he said was true. The bigger the city, the bigger the subsidies.

The more famous the hospital, the more transparent the fees.

All in all, it was much cheaper than in a small county town.

As for the downside... getting an appointment was harder.

"Mm... thank you..." Lin Ruoxi answered softly, a lump forming in her throat.

She knew big hospitals were better, but if Xue Rui hadn’t been by her side, she never would have had the courage to come to a place like this.

"I already spoke with my eldest uncle. We don’t need an appointment; we can go straight in. Let’s go."