Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Fishing for Sympathy

"I really had no choice. If I had another way, I wouldn’t have thought about stealing the things you prepared for Baozi," Zhang Mengdi said, as a last resort. Since she already had a falling out with the people from Room 305, if she could earn their sympathy now, there might just be an earth-shattering change.

"I had bad intentions that morning, but I regretted them, so I returned the item at that time," Zhang Mengdi said, her head lowered, choking up. "I’m sorry, I’m a bad person and was afraid you’d despise me, so I didn’t admit it."

Zhang Mengdi spoke sincerely, and Yu Cuiyu felt a bit of compassion stirring in her. After all, her own daughter was frail, and she could deeply relate.

"You should speak truthfully; we’re all classmates. If you encounter real difficulties, we’re committed to helping as much as we can. What you did by engaging in theft is wrong, and you must not repeat it," said Yu Cuiyu, and then invited her into the dormitory.

Zhang Mengdi knew that she had gained sympathy and thanked her as she followed inside.

Raising her head, Zhang Mengdi met Yi Roujing’s eyes, which lacked the sympathy Yu Cuiyu had in her own moments ago. They were exceedingly calm, as if what she had just said was trivial and insignificant.

"Roujing, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have taken Baozi’s things without permission..."

Yi Roujing raised her hand to stop Zhang Mengdi’s words, "Zhang Mengdi, the person you should apologize to isn’t me, as the items you took were prepared by the leader along with everyone else, and have nothing to do with me." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"What you should apologize to me for is taking my bed without my consent," Yi Roujing said, looking at Zhang Mengdi.

Zhang Mengdi clenched her hands tightly, confirming she would be the hardest to win over, especially since she knew about her issues back home.

Thinking about the affairs back home, Zhang Mengdi looked at Yi Roujing with eyes filled with dread, wondering if she knew about Zhang Mengtian and Zhang Mengdi’s issues.

It shouldn’t be possible; it shouldn’t be possible. The matter wasn’t clear even among their villagers, so how could she possibly know.

"Sorry Roujing, to be honest, I’m just jealous of you. I feel you have a good family, a good husband, a good son; everything you have—the food, clothes, and usage—is all top-notch." Zhang Mengdi confessed, biting her lip.

"But the reason I wanted to sleep in your bed was because your blankets are warm. I’ve used my bed’s blankets for so many years, the cotton is stiff, and I shouldn’t have slept in your bed without your permission. I hope you can forgive me," Zhang Mengdi deeply bowed to Yi Roujing.

"I’ve heard your apology, though I won’t choose to forgive, but I won’t bring up the matter again before you or others, rest assured," Yi Roujing said as she closed the Chapter on it, and Zhang Mengdi understood. They won’t be on good terms, but this outcome was acceptable.

"Is Mili alright, what illness does she have?" Yu Cuiyu asked with concern.

Zhang Mengdi was taken aback by the question, as she hadn’t asked, "She’s naturally weak and requires proper care; might need surgery, she was just admitted today, and we’ll have to wait for the doctor’s instructions on treatment." Zhang Mengdi spoke coherently, showing off her intelligence.

"I don’t have much left," Yu Cuiyu took out her handkerchief where she kept some money. She’d just bought milk powder today, sent half home after receiving the subsidy upon school enrollment, leaving only three yuan. "I still need to eat, can only lend you a yuan and a half at most."

"I’m lending because I think of my Xiaocao; you don’t have to do the same, whether to lend or not is voluntary," Yu Cuiyu said earnestly to Yi Roujing and the others.

"I didn’t bring money today, let’s talk tomorrow," Yi Roujing didn’t promise immediately, causing Zhang Mengdi to clench her hand tightly, a trace of harshness in her lowered eyes.

Ren Xuejuan and others, for the sake of Yu Cuiyu, each took out a yuan and a half to lend to Zhang Mengdi, even Rong Junxi joined in, and the dorm collected ten yuan and five cents, which was a sizeable sum.

"To say something that might not be pleasant, borrowing money is better with an IOU," Yi Roujing said to Zhang Mengdi as she accepted all the money from Yu Cuiyu.

Zhang Mengdi pursed her lips, and seeing no objection from Yu Cuiyu and the others, she initiated, "An IOU should indeed be written; next month after receiving the grant, I’ll return it to you."

Zhang Mengdi went out with the money, her heart filled with rage, yet all her emotions showed only after she turned around, unseen by Yu Cuiyu and the others.

"Roujing, did Zhang Mengdi do something bad back home?" Yu Cuiyu, the leader, asked, otherwise, with Yi Roujing’s personality, if it were truly for the child’s treatment, she wouldn’t have disagreed to lend money.

"Zhang Mengdi’s character isn’t great, but the connection to this matter still needs clarification. I plan to investigate, because if I help, I also want to see that child personally," Yi Roujing said.

"I’ll go with you," Yu Cuiyu agreed, "If Zhang Mengdi doesn’t spend this money for the child’s treatment, I won’t let her off easily."

Yi Roujing waited for Xu Ancheng after class in the afternoon to go back together.

"When you’re investigating Zhang Mengdi, did you learn anything about her family’s situation?" Yi Roujing asked.

"Didn’t get a detailed understanding, just heard some things, like they love to take advantage and are lazy by nature, but their little girl is diligent, nothing much beyond that," Xu Ancheng replied. "What’s the matter, did something happen?"

"I find it odd; considering Zhang Mengdi’s cold-hearted nature, how could she be generous enough to use her subsidy for her sister’s child’s treatment? There must be some issue," Yi Roujing analyzed. "I observed Zhang Mengdi when she saw her sister, it was like she had seen a ghost—extremely fearful. There must be something her sister holds against her."

"I know she’s been divorced twice and didn’t act this terrified; I wonder what colossal issue it could be."

"I’ll call and inquire; I know the police officer at the county’s public security bureau," Xu Ancheng proposed.

On April 1st, Saturday, Yi Roujing and Yu Cuiyu agreed to visit Beijing City Central Hospital, bringing along a bag of brown sugar and a bag of red dates. Upon asking the nurse, they managed to locate the ward for Zhang Mengtian and her daughter Mili.

Just as they were about to enter the ward, they almost bumped into Zhang Mengtian, who was coming out with a hot water bottle.

"Big sister," Zhang Mengtian recognized Yu Cuiyu and Yi Roujing at once, surprised by their arrival. "Are you here to see Mili?"

Yu Cuiyu smiled as she handed over the items, "For the child to nourish. After hearing from Zhang Mengdi, we came to check. Is the child alright?"

"Mommy—" The girl sitting on the bed near the door sweetly called out to Zhang Mengtian.

Yu Cuiyu’s maternal instincts immediately surged.

"Be good, Mili; Mommy is going to fetch hot water," Zhang Mengtian gently spoke to the child, "Big sister, you two sit for a while, I’ll be back quickly."

"Mili, what are you looking at?" Yu Cuiyu made conversation with the child, smiling as she saw the notebook in the child’s hands.

"Mommy made this literacy book for me," Mili proudly displayed it for Yu Cuiyu and Yi Roujing, her face beaming with pride.