0151: Three Ponytails

"Shi-sauce, are you going to school today?"

"Yeah, I have to go to work, at least sign in before slipping away. By the way, what even is 'Shi-sauce'?"

"It's just a nickname. I think it sounds nice."

"Whatever you say. Besides, Xu Lin, I believe in you. I trust you won't let me down."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like!"

Chu Fengyi spoke as she reached behind her, gathering her hair into a bunch, and Xu Lin hurriedly stepped behind her to tie it up for her.

"I want twin ponytails. This is just a single ponytail."

"A single ponytail looks good too. You can't wear twin ponytails every single day."

To be honest, although they looked nice, he was getting a bit tired of the aesthetic, and he really wanted to see a single ponytail for a change.

"Fine. Are you confident you can do my hair properly?"

"Don't worry, I know how to do a single ponytail."

Although Xu Lin wasn't skilled in hairstyling, he had loved tying his mother's ponytail for her when he was little. After entering middle school, he got busy with studies and gradually forgot how.

Xu Lin smoothed out her locks and styled them into a high ponytail. Chu Fengyi took out her phone, glanced at the reflection in the screen, and nodded.

"Not bad at all. So practiced—who did you learn this from?"

"I used to comb my mom's hair all the time, but after starting high school, I stopped."

"Is that so? When I was little, I also... By the way, did you get that shop sorted out?"

"All sorted. A free shop space, usable for a full year."

"Oh, you didn't sign any contract, did you?"

"Mm-hmm."

"If you fall into a trap, remember to call me to fish you out."

Chu Fengyi remarked, having seen countless people who thought pies were falling from the sky, only to find out they were falling iron blocks.

"I trust this Boss Cui. A provincial agency—it shouldn't be a scam."

"Rich people are too idle; anything is possible. But it's just a small shop anyway, the worst I can do is buy it for you. Other situations I can handle too."

"That's why I dared to be bold. Once my business takes off, I plan to buy a storefront of my own."

"Buy what?" At that moment, Ji Yun and Chu Qingchan also walked in from outside, carrying two bags.

"We were talking about a shop. By the way, I bought breakfast. I woke up a bit late today, so I didn't come over to make it for you guys."

Xu Lin felt a bit apologetic, though situations like this would probably happen more often. After all, there were only a few girls around him right now; if all twelve of them were hovering around him...

He suddenly felt that unless he didn't need to sleep twenty-four hours a day, there was simply no way he could cater to every single girl.

"It's fine. We bought rice paste and soy milk. No staple foods—eating carbs in the morning makes your stomach bloat."

"Got it. Then I'll take the steamed buns back home; Mom and Dad like eating them."

"Alright, go back and change your clothes, and then we'll head out." Chu Qingchan seemed rather bubbly, which left Xu Lin bewildered.

「You big superstar, what's gotten into you? Every time, you're the one complaining about being too exhausted, so why the sudden change of heart today?"

"Mr. Xu, this morning I weighed myself and successfully dropped from 110 to 106 [jin]. It's very effective."

"Actually, you aren't fat. I told you to exercise so you could build up your physical health."

"I know, I know—and lose weight along the way."

*Sigh*~ Weighing 106 jin at a height of 169 centimeters is really nothing. Or rather, you're already quite slim, considering your height.

Xu Lin scoffed at those internet sayings claiming a woman shouldn't weigh over 100 jin! When you get too thin, you lose weight everywhere, and those beautiful legs of his needed to maintain just this look.

"Then I'll go back and change. Are none of you going to eat the buns?"

"Nope."

"Shi-sauce, are you working out with us?"

As Xu Lin walked to the doorway, he asked offhandedly, realizing he didn't think he had ever seen Chu Fengyi work out.

He often saw her practicing martial arts, but actual fitness training? He really hadn't seen any. As an expert, she didn't have the habit of morning exercise?

"I practiced enough back in the day, but going for a walk with you guys today is fine."

"Chu Fengyi, that single ponytail looks good on you." Chu Qingchan had also noticed her younger sister's changing hairstyle at that moment.

"Mm-hmm, Xu Lin did it for me," Chu Fengyi replied, her tone carrying a hint of a boast.

Chu Qingchan instantly wore a cold expression as she looked over at him. Although she usually maintained a cold expression on a regular day, he could sense her slight displeasure.

"What's wrong?"

"Tie my hair too before we go."

"I only know how to do a high ponytail. I learned it from combing my mom's hair, I don't know anything else."

"Just a high ponytail. Give me one too."

"Me too!" Ji Yun put down what she was holding and raised her hand, looking just like a student being called on during roll call.

"Class Monitor Ji, don't stir up trouble."

"You're treating us differently~" Ji Yun proved surprisingly persistent. Xu Lin smiled helplessly and walked back.

"It's just hair, seriously. Have a seat, sit down!"

A dozen minutes later, Xu Lin looked at the three high ponytails around him and almost burst out laughing.

It wasn't that they didn't look good, but the uniform technique—a neat row of ponytails—was quite eye-catching.

It instantly attracted the gaze of many passersby, even though both Chu Qingchan and Chu Fengyi were wearing face masks.

"Taking you guys out on the street always gives me so much pressure."

"If you lived the life of Wei Xiaobao, would you still feel pressured?"

"I'm not as smart or capable as Wei Xiaobao. Besides, his story is fiction while I'm living in reality. I can only dream about it in my sleep."

"Oh, so you *have* been dreaming about it?"

"Come on, a man has to speak the truth. Like you said, one must be honest."

"Then you can just keep having your daydreams."

With Chu Fengyi joining them this time, the four of them running together increased their pace quite a bit, and they reached the west gate of the school in twenty minutes.

Xu Lin covered his face, feeling a burning sensation because he was right in the middle, with Chu Qingchan and Ji Yun flanking him on his left and right.

As a result, the two ponytails kept whipping frantically across his face. At first it just tickled, then it started stinging, and the final conclusion was that his skin simply wasn't thick enough.

Then, as per routine, Chu Qingchan took the bus home to take a shower and head to the studio, while the three of them went straight into the school grounds.

"By the way, Ji Yun, how much does your dad make in a month?"

Chu Fengyi, who usually never paid attention to these miscellaneous trivial matters, suddenly asked.

"It depends. Aside from the daily customer traffic, it also depends on the hours. He makes around five thousand a month."

Five thousand yuan could be considered a pretty good salary in Linshui nowadays, or even in the future—after all, Linshui was only a small city.

Though its development was decent, it was still a minor, third-tier city. In 2020, when he time-traveled from, the average salary was only around three to four thousand anyway, so five thousand was genuinely a lot.

"But the workdays are quite long, right? Ten hours a day?"

"Excluding the lunch break, it's probably twelve hours."

Thinking of how her father had spent over a decade earning money day in and day out just to support the family, Ji Yun felt deeply moved and heartbroken for him.

That was why she always studied hard, striving to be able to earn money herself while still in university so she could help her family.

Yet, seeing that Xu Lin had recently started his own shop, she suddenly felt as though she only knew how to study, whereas Xu Lin was already capable of making his own money.

"Then have your dad come drive for me."

"Sister Fengyi, have my dad drive for you? He has never driven a sports car!"

"It's not a sports car. I recently bought a commercial van to make going places a bit more convenient."

"However, I personally don't like driving that kind of vehicle myself, and I don't want to pull someone from the company. I think your dad would be suitable."

"No, no, no! He's just an ordinary driver; he's never been anyone's private chauffeur!"

Ji Yun waved her hands frantically. She understood that it had nothing to do with whether he had been a private driver before—it was just that Sister Fengyi would undoubtedly offer a very high salary.

"Don't worry, I'll pay him a standard market wage. Wouldn't it be better to let your father have a slightly easier time? I'm not deliberately looking for a driver just for the sake of it, I genuinely need one."

"This..."

"Ji Yun, she needs someone over here, just let your uncle go," Xu Lin advised Ji Yun as well, guessing what she was thinking.

This girl simply overthought things. Someone as carefree as Chu Fengyi did things purely on impulse; she wouldn't do something merely to grant someone a favor or anything of the sort.

"I'll think about it. I'll ask my dad first."

"Alright, but my new car is arriving in a few days, so you'll have to give me an answer by then."

"Mm-hmm, thank you, Sister Fengyi."

"You silly girl, why are you being so formal with me? I have to go to the office; you two go to your morning classes."

"Okay."

Chu Fengyi sighed, took a turn, and walked upstairs. At that moment, a gentle, black-haired beauty happened to be walking down the stairs toward her.

"Hello, Teacher Su."

"Hello, Teacher Chu. Is Xu Lin here?"

"He's here. Is there something you need him for?"

"There are some study-related matters."

"Study-related matters~ He went to the classroom." Chu Fengyi smiled, but the smile gave Su Qingwan a shudder down her spine.

What did that smile mean? Was it really about study-related matters? The last time she and I met, didn't I act completely like a stranger?

I must be overthinking it. Let me go find Xu Lin first—his recent English grades are dragging my class down again!