Chapter 19 — Just How Much Do You Love to Eat?

"Hey, Xiaoshu says the noodles you cooked for us were really good." Shen Yushu turned back and took the cup of water Wei Zhao was holding out, then shot him a glare that meant: don't you dare run your mouth.

"Oh..." Wei Zhao nodded woodenly, taking her meaning. To himself he thought: I haven't even had my fill yet. Had I known, I would have cooked a little more.

"What are you standing there for? With you standing there I can't eat a thing." Gu Mengyao had not noticed the little exchange between Wei Zhao and Shen Yushu; seeing him linger, she frowned at once. Gu Mengyao was not in the habit of letting a man watch her eat.

Wei Zhao turned and left the dining room, heading for his own room. There was no point in losing his temper at a young lady like that. Shen Yushu, for all her odd little tricks, was far easier to talk to than Gu Mengyao.

Wei Zhao meant to go tidy his backpack. He had long since taught himself the entire high school curriculum, but it was his first day of school, after all — he ought at least to keep up appearances.

"So good! Is there any more?" Gu Mengyao had finished an entire large bowl of plain noodles, not leaving so much as a drop of soup.

"All gone. If you want more, get Brother Shield to make you some." Shen Yushu was thoroughly puzzled: how was it that Gu Mengyao ate and ate and never gained an ounce? Every time she ate more than Shen Yushu, yet she weighed several catties less.

In truth Shen Yushu was not fat either; she was simply shorter than Gu Mengyao, which made her look a little fuller. Fortunately, the extra flesh had gone to her chest and hips, a fact in which she took a small private pride.

"Don't mention him." Still greedy, Gu Mengyao licked the broth off her chopsticks, a little regretful. Ask Wei Zhao for a favor? In her dreams.

At that, several more black lines popped out on Shen Yushu's forehead. She thought: Yaoyao, why are you so fond of Wei Zhao's saliva?

Once the two girls had finished their noodles, they ran upstairs to wash up and change. Wei Zhao went to the dining room and cleared the bowls and chopsticks from the table. Of course, he did not yet know that this was not his work to do — every day, Uncle Qing sent servants to clean the villa. But Wei Zhao had grown used to such chores at home, and saw nothing amiss in it.

While Wei Zhao was washing the dishes, General Mighty slipped into the kitchen. At the sight of Wei Zhao he widened his eyes with a touch of hostility and watched him warily. Wei Zhao could not be bothered with him. Seeing himself ignored, General Mighty found the whole thing a bore; after glaring at Wei Zhao a while, he turned and trotted off.

It must be said that dogs are remarkably sensitive creatures, keenly aware of any dangerous presence stronger than themselves. But since Wei Zhao made no aggressive move, General Mighty did not dare provoke him lightly either.

He quickly washed the bowls and chopsticks clean and put them in the sterilizing cabinet. By then Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu had finished washing up and changed out of their house clothes into pretty outfits.

Though the school required students to wear uniforms unless there was some special reason, few actually obeyed the rule; high schoolers especially had minds of their own, not nearly so docile as primary school children.

There were exceptions, of course — Wei Zhao, for one. Feeling the fabric of the uniform, he was delighted: the quality was really quite good, far better than the few clothes he had brought with him. To Wei Zhao, this was the finest garment he owned.

It was true that on his training journeys with Old Man Wei he had worn plenty of fine clothes, but Old Man Wei always said those were rented, and they were returned afterward.

At seven sharp, Uncle Qing's car pulled up at the villa gate. Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu came out carrying their cute little backpacks, Wei Zhao trailing behind them.

Wei Zhao again took the passenger seat, with Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu in the back. Uncle Qing started the car slowly, then asked Wei Zhao beside him, "Well? Settling in all right?"

"Not bad," Wei Zhao said with a nod.

"He's fine, but I'm not." Before Uncle Qing could speak, Gu Mengyao objected: "I'm calling Daddy right now."

"Mr. Gu flew to Xingang City for a meeting this morning; he's on the plane now," Uncle Qing said. "Miss Gu, Mr. Gu gave instructions before he left. He said that while he is away, Wei Zhao is to look after you."

"Him? Look after me?" Gu Mengyao's eyes went wide. "Uncle Qing, look at him — how could he possibly look after me?"

"I am only repeating what Mr. Gu said. Mr. Gu trusts Mr. Wei Zhao a great deal." In truth Uncle Qing could not fathom what was so special about Wei Zhao either, but as one of Gu Pengzhan's trusted men, he supported Gu Pengzhan's decisions without question.

Gu Mengyao pursed her lips. She knew Uncle Qing was merely her father's mouthpiece and would never act against his decisions. And her father was on a plane now and certainly could not take a call. At that thought, she could only swallow it for the time being. She would put up with this bastard for a few days, and settle matters once her father returned.

By then she would deploy her full arsenal of coaxing and wheedling — surely she could drive Wei Zhao off. At that thought, Gu Mengyao felt somewhat lighter.

Wei Zhao had in fact long wanted to taste campus life, but in the little mountain village where he lived there was no school at all, and not even many literate people.

Apart from Old Man Wei, there was only Ah Hu in the village — and Ah Hu's literacy had been taught by Wei Zhao himself. Thinking of Ah Hu, Wei Zhao found he rather missed him. He wondered how the boy was doing now.

The car arrived before the gates of No. 1 High School. Uncle Qing parked, and Wei Zhao was just about to get out when Gu Mengyao stopped him: "Wait."

"Hm?" Wei Zhao blinked, looking at her in confusion. It was rare for Gu Mengyao to speak to him of her own accord.

"Don't get out yet. Wait until Xiaoshu and I have gone into the school, then you get out — otherwise people will get the wrong idea." Gu Mengyao spoke with great imperiousness.

"Fine." Wei Zhao saw nothing unreasonable in her request. You're the young lady; whatever you say, I do.

"Heh, the young lady's temper is just like that — very willful. Don't take offense, Mr. Lin." Uncle Qing was rather helpless about how things stood; he too could see that Gu Mengyao was quite hostile toward Wei Zhao.

"It's nothing." Wei Zhao shook his head. "Uncle Qing, let's not talk in riddles. I've seen it plainly enough: my being here is entirely dispensable, and Gu Mengyao has no need of a study companion like me. Can you tell me the truth — what exactly did Mr. Gu hire me for, at such a price? Surely he didn't bring me here to be Gu Mengyao's shield, to swat away the flies around her?"

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