Chapter 12: Chapter 12 She's Actually So Outstanding!
After Li Yiran packed up her stall, Zhang Jingdong handed her a slip of paper.
"Here's my number. Give me a call after you've made 10 buns."
Li Yiran nodded and took the paper.
Zhang Jingdong then pulled out his wallet and counted out 1000 yuan for her: "This is the payment for these buns. If it's too much, the rest is an advance!"
"And can I borrow this bag you use for the buns?"
Li Yiran hesitated a bit, then said, "You helped me out today and even got hurt... these buns... consider them my thanks. I don't want the money!"
Zhang Jingdong thought to himself, this lass is indeed generous.
But money is easy for him to come by, while for her, it's quite precious, so he must give her this money.
However, by the look on her face, she clearly wanted to repay a favor. If he directly said that he didn't need the money, it might hurt her pride.
How should he handle this?
Zhang Jingdong quickly thought it over, then suddenly came up with a twisted logic.
He then said, "I know your intentions, but the thing is, I helped you out because I wanted to do a good deed, to earn some karma. It had nothing to do with you!"
"If you don't take this money, then my good deed today will be only half-done, and my injury will have been for nothing, not gaining any karma!"
"So, for the sake of my karma, you must take this money. Otherwise, you'd really be too unkind!"
Li Yiran was instantly flustered!
"But... as human beings, we must show gratitude..."
Zhang Jingdong interrupted her: "You're young and there are things you don't understand. In this world, no principle is absolutely right or wrong!"
"Everything is based on specific issues. We analyze them individually and then find the right approach and underlying principle."
"Coming back to us, I helped you, so shouldn't you help me too?"
"And if you really want to help me, shouldn't it be in the correct way, which is the way I want?"
"Now, the most important thing for me is to gain some karma. Only if you take this money can you really help me earn it!"
"Now you understand, right? If you truly want to show gratitude, then you must take this money!"
Seeing Li Yiran still hesitating, Zhang Jingdong decided to bring out the big guns: "I've explained so much already, why don't you understand? Hurry up and take the money, or I'll get angry!"
Seeing Zhang Jingdong genuinely make a stern face, Li Yiran reluctantly nodded, "Alright, don't be mad. I... I'll listen to you!"
Seeing her finally agree, Zhang Jingdong quickly placed the money in her hand: "That's more like it. Alright, put down those buns and go home. Call me later."
This time Li Yiran shook her head: "No, I have to go with you to the hospital. You've been injured because of me. I can't..."
Zhang Jingdong sighed and said, "Did you forget what I just said? Hurry up, be obedient, go ahead!"
"I'm really fine, it was just a bit of shock earlier, but now I'm totally okay. Besides, I still have things to do!"
But this time Li Yiran didn't comply so easily, saying seriously, "Let's just go to the hospital and make sure you're alright."
Maybe it was her earnest gaze that seemed so pitiable, or maybe it was the impact of her words.
Zhang Jingdong was unexpectedly struck in the heart.
And seeing her nearly in tears from worry, Zhang Jingdong inevitably softened: "Alright... I promise you... let's go."
Zhang Jingdong said this and then hailed a taxi by the roadside, and both of them went to the Medical University Affiliated Hospital.
After getting out of the car, Zhang Jingdong handed the driver 200 yuan: "Master, I'm chartering your car today. Here's the deposit of 200. Once the job is done, I'll give you another 200. Any problems?"
The driver was initially surprised, then quickly nodded: "No problem, no problem... Thank you, boss!"
Upon entering the hospital, Zhang Jingdong knew he was actually fine, with just some minor external wounds.
He went straight to the general surgery department to have his wounds disinfected and treated.
Although none of the wounds were deep, they covered a sizable area, especially the abrasion on his leg.
It made Li Yiran feel a pang of sympathy, her eyes turning a bit red.
Seeing this, Zhang Jingdong quickly comforted her: "Don't worry, I'm a big guy, what's this little scratch? It will be healed in a day or two!"
Upon hearing his words, Li Yiran was even more deeply moved from the bottom of her heart.
After all, we were just strangers who happened to meet. Yesterday Zhang Jingdong helped me earn quite a bit of money, and then today when I faced danger, he stepped forward to save me.
Because he got hurt for my sake, while I felt sorry for him, I also couldn't help but develop a strange emotion towards Zhang Jingdong.
"Congratulations to the Host for successfully gaining 10 points of goodwill from the target character, rewarded with 20,000 yuan!"
Zhang Jingdong's heart leapt with joy at that moment. This girl is really so naive!
With just a little effort on my part, I managed to swindle so much goodwill from her, tsk tsk, indeed true kindness in the world is rewarded, a good deed always pays off!
But looking at this girl with her pitiful appearance right now and thinking about her as a high school student having to set up a stall every day and face all kinds of difficulties,
especially today when those two thugs were harassing her, her helpless and scared expression.
Zhang Jingdong couldn't help but feel a surge of chivalrous tenderness in his heart.
After dressing the wounds, they took the receipt and went downstairs.
When it came time to pay the bill, Zhang Jingdong originally wanted to pay, but Li Yiran insisted on paying herself.
In the end, Zhang Jingdong couldn't prevail over her determination.
Having left the hospital, they got into the taxi that had been waiting for them.
Zhang Jingdong turned to Li Yiran and said, "I'll take you home first, where do you live?"
Li Yiran hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Just drop me off at the entrance of No. 3 High School."
"You're going back to school?"
Li Yiran nodded her head: "Yes."
Zhang Jingdong told the driver, "Master, please go to No. 3 High School," then, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "What year are you in high school now?"
"Senior year."
"Senior year!?" Zhang Jingdong was instantly shocked: "So that means in less than three months, you have your college entrance examination?"
"Yes."
"At this critical time, you're not studying at school and instead you're doing business here?"
"Even if you really need money, you must prioritize properly, everything else can wait until after the college entrance examination!"
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Li Yiran pursed her lips: "My academic performance is still okay..."
"And at this stage, the teachers have stopped teaching new material, I just need to go back to school to do some test papers every day!"
Zhang Jingdong hesitantly asked, "How many points did you score in your most recent mock exam?"
"...689!"
Zhang Jingdong was caught a bit off guard, momentarily dumbstruck!
Good heavens, she's actually an academic superstar!
He said, "I understand now, you indeed have the ability to do this!"
"Then, you're doing business... to experience life?"
This time Li Yiran shook her head: "Something happened at home... I really need money now."
Although this situation would absolutely be a huge difficulty for any other high school student, at this moment, her face was very calm, lacking any hint of sadness.
Zhang Jingdong nodded thoughtfully: "I understand."
In his mind, he also secretly gave her extra points.
First of all, she had her studies under control, and then when there was a problem at home, she didn't complain, instead, she took the initiative to earn money herself.
Not to mention anything else, just this courage and responsibility alone were enough to earn one's utmost respect.
Half an hour later, the car slowly pulled up in front of No. 3 High School.
Li Yiran turned to Zhang Jingdong and said with gratitude, "I really thank you for today, I will definitely..."
Zhang Jingdong raised his hand to interrupt her, "The gratitude expressed in the first half of your sentence is enough. If you truly want to thank me, study well, take care of your stall, and protect yourself, understand?"
Li Yiran felt a warmth in her heart and nodded her head.
"Alright, go on, cheer up!"
Li Yiran took a deep look at Zhang Jingdong, then got out of the car.