A Winner in Life since Kindergarten

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Feifei?" Mom's voice from outside the bedroom startled Xu Feifei, and she hurriedly hid the jacket behind her back.

But then she immediately wondered—why was she even hiding it?

Subconscious and conscious minds clashed.

"What is it, Mom?"

"May I come in?"

"Mm."

Xu Feifei's mom pushed open the door and saw her daughter sitting on the bed, holding a boy's jacket in her hands. "You haven't returned this jacket to Liu Wenjie?"

Xu Feifei gave a soft "Mm," her face still faintly shy. "He said it's a gift. From now on it's mine."

Mom laughed, not quite sure why. "He gave it to you? I've never seen such a gift before. By the way, what happened at school today—I never imagined you and Liu Wenjie could be so impressive. You investigated everything so thoroughly."

Xu Feifei grinned proudly. "After all, I'm Mom and Dad's daughter! Of course I'm amazing!"

Mom stroked her daughter's head. "Your dad and I were talking—before long we'll definitely have to visit Uncle Liu's house to thank them. Also, about what your dad asked you yesterday—have you thought it over?"

Only then did Xu Feifei remember; she'd actually forgotten because she'd been thinking about Jiang Rao. Annoyed, she said, "Sorry, Mom! I forgot to ask Liu Wenjie. I'll ask him first thing tomorrow morning!"

Early the next morning.

Little Xia Ying once again arrived with Liu Wenjie, dropped off by Liu Yingjun, who gave his customary reminder: "You two behave at school. I'm off."

Liu Wenjie nodded. "Drive safely, Dad."

Little Xia Ying's voice was gentle. "Goodbye, Uncle."

Backpacks on their shoulders, the two of them walked side by side. Little Xia Ying's steps were slow, both small hands gripping her shoulder straps. "Older Brother Wenjie, I heard something happened in your class yesterday? Lots of parents went to the office."

Liu Wenjie answered, "It wasn't an incident—it was the results. It's related to—" Before he could finish, Liu Wenjie spotted from afar at the school gate a certain twin-ponytailed tsundere brat.

She was standing there again, blocking the entrance, idly kicking pebbles at the roadside, occasionally looking up.

The moment she saw Liu Wenjie, she broke into a bright smile, waving energetically: "Liu Wenjie!"

Liu Wenjie was genuinely curious what this brat wanted now—hadn't everything already ended?

Little Xia Ying also heard the voice and looked over blankly.

It's Xu Feifei again...

Xu Feifei jogged up quickly. "Good morning, Liu Wenjie! Why do you look so awful again?"

Liu Wenjie muttered offhandedly, "I was in a great mood—until I saw you."

Xu Feifei gave an indignant little huff, too lazy to argue. Having convinced herself that the girl beside him was Liu Wenjie's real little sister, she greeted her warmly:

"Hello! My name is Xu Feifei, I'm in the same class as your older brother Liu Wenjie. If you're ever bored, come find me and we can hang out." She opened her backpack and pulled out a delicate pink stationery item. "I even brought you a gift. I didn't know what you'd like, so I bought you a pretty ballpoint pen! From now on we're good friends."

Little Xia Ying, faced with such enthusiastic Xu Feifei, instinctively blushed faintly. "Hello, my name is Xia Ying."

She waved her hand. "I can't accept the gift. Grandpa says I mustn't take things from others casually."

Xu Feifei remained enthusiastic. "No problem! I give gifts to people all the time—just take it." She stretched her hand forward again.

Unexpectedly, little Xia Ying instinctively took half a step back.

Xu Feifei and little Xia Ying looked at each other. Suddenly the two girls fell silent for a moment—an indescribable feeling in the air.

Liu Wenjie interjected, "If Xia Ying doesn't want it, let it go. She's different from other people—she really won't take things from others on her own initiative."

Since Liu Wenjie had said so, Xu Feifei had no choice but to put the pen away.

Laughing, she said, "No worries! Anyway, I'm in the same class as your older brother. If you ever want to find me or need help, just come to me—Xu Feifei. I'm always unconditionally good to my close friends!"

Liu Wenjie knew that among Xu Feifei's friends the hierarchy was crystal clear: those she barely knew were regular friends, and only those she was very close to were called "good friends."

Looks like she quite likes Xia Ying.

Little Xia Ying smiled as well, but unexpectedly asked, "When you say my older brother, which older brother do you mean?"

"Isn't your older brother Liu Wenjie? I heard you call him Older Brother Wenjie."

Though that was what she usually called him, it was the first time little Xia Ying had realized that an "older brother" from Xu Feifei's mouth felt different from the "older brother" Aunt Lin or Grandpa would mention.

She didn't know how to explain, so she simply nodded slowly.

"Mm."

Liu Wenjie asked Xu Feifei, "Are you here to find Xia Ying today or to find me?"

Xu Feifei answered immediately, "Of course I'm here to find you!" She added shyly, "And also to make friends with your little sister." She turned to business. "But I really do have something important to discuss—something my dad told me, about my dad's factory."

"Huh? Your dad's factory? What does that have to do with me?"

How could Xu Feifei's dad's factory be connected with him?

Liu Wenjie turned to Xia Ying. "Go back to the classroom first. I'll chat with this brat for a bit."

Xu Feifei blinked. "Brat?" Realizing, she waved her tiny fists. "Who are you calling a brat!"

Xia Ying answered, "All right, then I'll be off, Older Brother Wenjie."

"Go on."

Little Xia Ying watched as Xu Feifei cheerfully explained her question to Liu Wenjie.

She couldn't hear clearly, nor did she understand what it was about, but as she walked away she had a faint feeling:

She and Xu Feifei probably wouldn't become friends.

She couldn't say exactly why—she just felt that Xu Feifei was different from other girls; when she spoke with Older Brother Wenjie she stood too close.

After Liu Wenjie finished listening to Xu Feifei's brief description, he understood.

"You're saying your dad had you draw lots, and you're asking me which option to choose?"

Xu Feifei gave an "Mm." "I think you're smarter—your choice has to be better than mine."

Liu Wenjie wanted to laugh. "Someone's finally admitting she's dumb."

Xu Feifei bared her teeth, awkwardly clenching her tiny fists. "When did I ever admit that! I'm just dumber compared to you." She turned her flushed face away. "After all, you're some kind of alien—who could be as smart as you?"

"If he's not going to keep selling Universal Chargers, what's he switching to?"

Xu Feifei repeated her father's exact words; she felt this matter must be important.

"Something about partnering with some company called Huaxiaowei? I don't know what they do—I didn't understand." She stretched out both hands as if weighing options. "Anyway, Dad has to choose between keeping the Universal Charger business or selling something else."

"Hua...xiaowei..." The moment Liu Wenjie heard those three syllables, he realized something.

This annoying little brat in front of him might actually become a genuine, bona-fide rich heiress in the future.

The kind with so much money she couldn't spend it all.

And the key turning point was actually going to be decided by him.

Xu Feifei offered her own opinion. "I think Dad should keep selling Universal Chargers, because that's how he's always made money. If it were me, I'd definitely pick that. What about you? What do you say?"

Liu Wenjie broke into a cold sweat and muttered to himself, "Xu Feifei, do you know? The luckiest thing that will ever happen to you in your life is running into me right now and asking me this question."

"Huh?" She blinked foolishly, completely unaware of the weight of this moment.

Liu Wenjie sighed. "Suddenly remembered you still owe me two favors. I was planning to use them casually, but now it looks like they're actually worth quite a bit."

"What are you mumbling about, Liu Wenjie?"

Liu Wenjie turned toward the school. "Pick the second option—have your dad partner with whatever Huaxiaowei is."

Xu Feifei was astonished and hurried after him, her twin ponytails swaying with each step.

"Why? Don't you want to think it over? I think continuing to sell Universal Chargers is pretty good."

Liu Wenjie shot Xu Feifei a speechless sidelong glance.

"Good my foot! Trust me—pick the second option! Also, Student Xu Feifei, if you're ever lucky enough to inherit your dad's company, my advice is: never just do whatever pops into your head—consult more people."

Xu Feifei felt Liu Wenjie was too smart; every word he said sounded so professional she could only half understand it.

She answered from the bottom of her heart, "Then from now on, whenever there's something like this, you decide for me—I'll listen to you."

"No way." Liu Wenjie answered instantly. "You think I'm free? My words are expensive."

Xu Feifei protested, "I wouldn't ask you for free! When I grow up and inherit the company, I'll hire you. I'll be the big boss and you'll be the second boss."

"Still no."

Xu Feifei puffed out her cheeks in anger. "Then you be the big boss and I'll be the little boss—how's that?!"

"If your dad heard you say that, he'd drop dead on the spot, you dummy Xu Feifei."