Tomorrow was moving day. After washing the dishes, Zhang Yichen scrubbed down the kitchen until it was spotless.
The apartment had been clean when he moved in, and he intended to leave it just as clean for the landlord.
That was one of his life principles.
Once the kitchen was done, he boiled medicine for Chen Xiaoxi. While it simmered, he began packing his belongings.
He had always lived alone, so he didn't own much. Other than his bedding and guitar, he didn't even have enough to fill a suitcase.
Watching him pack, Chen Xiaoxi's heart ached.
When she had first met him, hadn't he been the same—carrying his solitude like a second skin?
That kind of loneliness was something she understood all too well.
She tugged lightly at his sleeve, her voice soft.
"Ah Chen, you really don't have much. Shouldn't we buy you some things tomorrow?"
Zhang Yichen turned, smiling faintly.
"No need. These are my essentials. Anything more would just be a burden."
"But…" Xiaoxi bit her lip, her eyes glimmering with pain. "At the very least, you should buy some clothes."
From the side, Li Yue cut in.
"Didn't you want hype? Easy fix—add a headline: 'Famous singer spotted shopping for clothes with her boy toy.'
"And don't forget, for those 'candid' photos you can't look shabby. Plus, you've got a performance on Monday—you can't show up looking like that."
"…Fair enough." Zhang Yichen thought for a moment, then nodded. "We'll shop after moving tomorrow."
After all, once Xiaoxi returned to the spotlight, there would be press conferences and public appearances. If he showed up in rags, wouldn't that embarrass her?
"Do you two have enough money? If not, I'll sponsor you." Li Yue pulled out her phone, ready to transfer funds, her eyes full of concern.
"No need. I'm not short on cash." Zhang Yichen waved her off, tone calm. "I'll spend where I should, but I won't waste where I shouldn't."
"Not short? Please." Li Yue arched a brow. "Don't tell me you're just putting on a front. You had five million in scholarship money, gave three million to the orphanage, and the other two million went into the company. What's left—are you planning to embezzle?"
"Ah Chen… are you out of money?" Chen Xiaoxi grew anxious. She hurriedly pulled out a bank card. "Take this—300,000. Please."
"Who told you I only had five million?" Zhang Yichen chuckled.
"…Wasn't it?"
"Of course not. Between the school and the government, I was awarded a total of ten million. I've still got five million left—that'll last plenty long."
He quickly laid out the numbers for them.
"…Oh." Li Yue blinked, then pouted dramatically. "We never got top scorer, so how were we supposed to know it came with that much money?"
But then she frowned, suspicion flashing in her eyes.
"Wait—does that mean you've already spent five million? And not on the orphanage? Where did it go?"
"You're too nosy." Zhang Yichen curled his lip, clearly unwilling to answer.
"Alright, enough." Chen Xiaoxi broke in with a laugh, smoothing things over. "Ah Chen gave me 300,000 pocket money, and the rest—he spent 600,000 on me."
"…Excuse me, what?" Li Yue gaped. "You only got here last night, he was at school this afternoon, and somehow the two of you blew through 600,000 in half a day? Where's all the stuff?"
To her, 900,000 wasn't a fortune—but it was still a sizable sum. Yet this apartment looked no different than before.
"He said I'll need to hold up appearances once I return. So he bought me clothes, bags, jewelry…" Xiaoxi's lips curved into a gentle smile as she pointed to the corner. "There wasn't space here, so I packed them in that suitcase."
The zipper was half-open, revealing neatly folded clothes inside. A hint of lace and silk peeked out, soft and exquisite.
Li Yue followed her gaze, crouched down, and peeked in. Her eyes widened, then she grinned.
"Well, well… someone went all out. The suitcase is about to explode."
She shifted a dress aside and caught sight of a sparkling necklace and bracelet beneath. The diamonds glittered so brightly under the light she had to squint.
"Now that's quality."
Leaning casually against the wall, Zhang Yichen's lips curved in a nonchalant smile.
"If it's for her comeback, we can't cut corners. She'll need them sooner or later—I'm just getting prepared in advance."
"Oh sure—necklaces and bracelets, huh? Sounds like someone's motives aren't so pure." Yue shot him a teasing look. "But really, the way you spend money is terrifying. Six hundred thousand ron in one morning—you're even worse than me."
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm pure." His voice was calm, not a flicker of guilt. "Besides, money spent on the right things isn't wasteful. As long as Sister Xiaoxi's return goes smoothly, what's 600,000 ron?"
"Yes, yes, Boss Zhang. Pure as can be. So pure you became a father at twenty-two."
The words landed like a stone in still water.
Xiaoxi stiffened, her face paling slightly. Her fingers tightened on her sleeve, her eyes darting to Zhang Yichen as if testing his reaction.
But Zhang Yichen only raised an eyebrow, the smile on his lips unchanged—if anything, tinged with playful mockery.
"Twenty-two and already a father? That's called skill. Are you envious? Or jealous?"
He spoke lazily, a teasing lilt in his tone. "You're twenty-six now, aren't you? Got a boyfriend yet?"
"…None of your business!" Li Yue rolled her eyes, but his words had struck a nerve.
She and Xiaoxi had once been known as the two campus goddesses of Shanghai Music Academy, surpassing even the school belles.
As the eldest daughter of the Li family, she had inherited over two billion when the assets were divided. She had the looks, the wealth, the cars, the mansion—even her personality was good.
So why, with all that, could she not find a boyfriend?
It was her one sore spot.
"Seriously. I suggest you find one soon. It might even help with your endocrine imbalance."
In truth, Zhang Yichen had noticed for a while. Her hormonal issues were serious—if untreated, they might even lead to infertility.
"…You're the one with an endocrine imbalance!" Li Yue snapped, though her eyes flickered guiltily.
"Yue, Ah Chen's medical skills are excellent. Let him take your pulse," Xiaoxi urged softly, worry in her tone.
"I…" Li Yue hesitated. Having a young man feel her pulse like that felt awkward.
"If you don't deal with it, you really might become infertile. Think it over." Zhang Yichen turned away, heading into the kitchen to check the medicine—giving Xiaoxi time to persuade her friend.