Chapter 272: Meeting a collaborator by chance

That night, she stayed in her room, eating dried fruit and leisurely video-chatting with Mu Zilin. "How come you have time to chat with me?" Zilin asked.

Zilin continued, "You're probably hopping around France. Was it fun?" He was annoyed that he wasn't allowed to go out during the holiday because of Shuishui. His parents saw Shuishui's current report card and compared his grades to Shuishui's. As a result, they became stricter with him.

Shuishui had already received awards after winning two major competitions. Zilin knew his capabilities and knew he could not be as good as Shuishui. Even he worked hard, he wouldn't be able to reach her level or surpass her. Shuishui had her own way of learning, and her method was simply impossible for him. It was simply too difficult. Shuishui was a diligent student who would not stop solving a question until she knew the answer. He simply wasn't like that.

"But we'll talk about those things when you come back. When you return, take a look at my test results. I think you would be able to see where I went wrong. Eh, take care of yourself. Remember to bring me a postcard. What about my brother? I feel like you don't spend much time together anymore," Zilin continued. He was concerned about Qian Shuishui and his brother's relationship. He felt like they weren't really in love. Their relationship was plain. Besides, they were still so young. Was it appropriate for them to act like an old married couple?

Shuishui lay down and held her phone up high. "Actually, I won't be able to tell where you went wrong even if I looked at your test papers. You just have to improve on your foundation and master the basics. As for your brother and I, we're getting along pretty well now. We don't have any problems. I can't say for sure how our relationship will work out in the future, but everything is fine for now."

"I see. Anyway, hurry up and come back. It feels like we're in different schools. We don't hang out anymore. Why don't you transfer schools next semester? I'm serious." He had gotten to know quite a few people there. However, he was not really friends with many of them. None could top the friendship he had with Shuishui. He recalled the days when they would fool around and hang out. Their friendship had its own ups and downs, but they remained the closest of friends.

They were quite rebellious at the time. They would quickly reconcile after they quarreled. He understood her lack of love, and she understood his frustrations. "Ever since you and my brother became a couple, we have been going out less and less," Zilin complained.

"Why are you so talkative today?" Shuishui felt that he was being very sentimental, and she kept trying to change the topic.

"Uh, I realized it just now. Actually, it's almost morning here. I just can't sleep. I'll tell you the truth. I met someone recently, and I have a very good impression of her. We met online, and I found that our personalities are compatible. I'm courting her now. She has always felt inferior, but in fact, she's quite outstanding in all aspects. However, she doesn't really come from a wealthy family. Shuishui, how do you think I should pursue her?" Mu Zilin was becoming more serious. "I was thinking of buying her something. I'm not sure if she would appreciate it if I gave her something cheap, but I also think she won't accept it if it's expensive."

"How did you pursue a girl before?" Shuishui asked back. She never found out how Zilin had courted his former girlfriends.

Zilin was very infatuated with the girl he had just met. "Just like that. A lot of women have been coming after me. I feel that she's different from other girls. She's neither materialistic nor vain."

Shuishui thought for a while and said, "If she's neither materialistic nor vain, you can actually give her small gifts. If she's a girl who likes to read, you can give her a book card with a few hundred yuan in it. I think it's better than buying her other things that cost a few hundred yuan. She can use it to buy study materials, and she can also buy books and necklaces that she likes. However, she can't even wear such necklaces to school. If you want to buy her the high-quality ones, they will cost you a lot."

Mu Zilin agreed with Shuishui. "En en, yes, that's good. She likes to read. I often see her going to the library to borrow books."

"If she does not really come from a wealthy family, do you think she will choose to go to university first or will she want to buy more clothes and simply look good?" Shuishui continued to ask.

"She'd want to go to university first. She once told me that she wants to go to a key university. After graduation, she intends to find a good job to support her family."

"That's right. If that's the case, the book card is a great idea. Study materials are expensive these day. It will help with some of her expenses. I think that it will suit her. Of course, if she is a materialistic woman, she would not appreciate that," Shuishui said bluntly. Book purchase cards were non-refundable and could not be exchanged for money.

"What else?" Mu Zilin continued to ask.

"Actually, there's nothing special about it. If she's thin and weak, you can occasionally buy her breakfast, just like you did for me before when you bought my milk and breakfast. She will be very touched rather than if you bought her necklaces and purses," Shuishui said.

Mu Zilin turned around and leaned against the bedside. "Oh ,right. I forgot. Actually, my pocket money is now controlled by my parents. They only give me 1,500 a month, saying that I have a meal card and don't spend money at school. If I go out to eat, I will need more money. I have to show proof that I need more money. Do you think they want to control me?"

"Uh, I don't understand, but they must have their reasons for doing so. Anyway, I only give Anzhi one thousand yuan a month. He has everything he needs anyway. It's enough for his daily expenses. If he runs out of money, he can ask for more from me. But I would also need to know what he needs more money for." Shuishui was reasonable and would give Anzhi more money if he told her he needed extra. She just hoped that Anzhi would be more responsible with his expenses and would learn to spend money wisely.

Zilin didn't think much of it anymore. He occasionally felt that he didn't have enough money. He couldn't go and spoil someone he liked by buying her everything she would want to have. He also didn't have the nerve to tell his parents that he needed more money to buy gifts for a girl.

They were silent for a moment. Shuishui couldn't help but laugh. "Actually, you don't have to worry too much. If that girl really isn't materialistic and is well-behaved, you can give her a book card and buy her breakfast every day. Occasionally, you can give her a bottle of juice or water on hot days. You can Take her out to watch a movie and eat. It's better to keep things simple."

Shuishui threw her phone aside and got up to pour herself a cup of warm water. "Moreover, relationships should be relatively simple. I don't think you would want to be in a complicated relationship," she said.

"Yes, yes, you're right. What I want is a pure and simple relationship. I hope I get this right. I feel that she has a good impression of me. I won't allow her to feel inferior to me. Everyone is equal. My family doesn't represent me personally." Zilin suddenly felt confident. He agreed with Shuishui. "I want her to feel more at ease. If she really does like me, then she probably won't care about anything else."

"Just work hard. What if this girl likes you because of your material possessions? I feel that no matter how much you like her, you can't get too close to her. If she realizes that you're not the type who will shower her with earthly possessions, she might leave you. Even if she really loves you, she might love material possessions more," Shuishui said to Zilin gently. "I can tell you that Li Xue loved my father. But when my father had nothing and was in debt, she left my father because of her love for material things. What she wanted, my father could no longer afford, so she left him."

"Although I can't say for sure what kind of girl she is, I'm sure she knows about your family. You can talk to me about it any time. I hope you will be happy. If there's anything you need help with, feel free to contact me. I will be your backup. If she is a useless woman and doesn't deserve you, I'll definitely tell you straight to your face. Don't worry." Shuishui sounded very serious.

Mu Zilin was very touched with what Shuishui said. "Shuishui, I'm really lucky to be friends with you. If she isn't suitable for me, I trust you to get rid of her! Don't worry. I believe in you. However, I feel that since I'm so stubborn, you might not succeed."

"All right, just leave that to me. If she is really good for you, then you have to cherish her." She had never met the girl Zilin was talking about, so she couldn't give her opinions just yet.

Mu Zilin had already made up his mind. He turned off his phone and went to sleep.

Shuishui laughed and then called Qian Anzhi. "Are you back?"

"Yes, I'm back. I just took a shower. I was going to knock on your door after I showered. I'm coming over now." Qian Anzhi knocked on Shuishui's door.

Shuishui hung up and went to open the door. "Come in. I made tea. Do you want some?"

"Okay, Sis. We visited a castle today, and we visited the surrounding areas. I bought you a macaron." Anzhi had already eaten the other macarons because he found them delicious. He left a few for Shuishui.

Shuishui took a pink macaron and took a small bite. "It tastes sweet, and it's not greasy. Thank you. I like it very much," she said.

She took more. Slowly, she ate up the whole box.

Qian Anzhi drank the tea. He didn't like the dessert very much, but he was contented that he got to try it. It was just too sweet for him.

"Where are we going tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Let's go to the aquarium," Shuishui suggested.

"Aquarium? Interesting. Shall we go there earlier?" Qian Anzhi had never been to an aquarium.

"Then wake up early so we can go there earlier. There wouldn't be so many people if we go early. Just bring your small bag tomorrow. We need to buy water bottles before we go because those sold inside are more expensive than those sold in convenience stores. Also, should wear thicker clothes. It should be colder there." She could wake up early. She looked at the time. It was only ten o'clock. "Then you go to bed earlier. I'll rest earlier today," she said to Anzhi.

"I'll go back to my room. I've been walking all day. I'm so tired." Qian Anzhi stood up and twisted his neck. Shuishui heard a cracking sound. Anzhi looked so relieved. He then left Shuishui's room.

Shuishui was restless in her room, though she wanted to rest early. She thought of going to the 24-hour convenience store across the hotel to buy something.

At night, there were fewer people around the area. After all, she was in a bustling city center. Shuishui walked to the convenience store and bought the things she wanted. She slowly left the convenience store, walked outside, and waited to cross the road.

Shuishui waited for the car to pass and jogged across the road.

"Miss Qian." Shuishui turned around. She saw the window of the car roll down, revealing a familiar face. "Hm? Mr. Cheng, what a coincidence."

"Yeah. We're going to watch a competition. Are you interested?" Cheng Le thought he had seen Shuishui, though he wasn't sure it was her. When Qian Shuishui crossed the road, he saw her face up close and quickly called out to her. After all, it was a fateful day for them to have met again.

Shuishui shook her head. "Forget it. I'm not familiar with this place, and it's getting late."

"You''re not going to bed this early, are you? It'll be over at about one o'clock in the morning. It's okay. I'm familiar with this place. It's an interesting competition, and it only happens during this period of time. It would be a pity to miss it. Besides, we're business partners. You don't have to be afraid of me, right?" He opened the door and let Shuishui in.

She was going to leave, but Cheng Le urged her to go with them. "Quickly get in the car. The cars behind are waiting."

Shuishui had no choice but to get in the car. Indeed, she wouldn't go to bed so early because she was still jet-lagged.

Shuishui found a bit of comfort in the fact that Mr. Cheng had proven his identity to be true. Besides, they were business partner. "Mr. Cheng, what kind of competition is it? I'm curious."

"It's underground boxing, which is held this month every year." Cheng Le enjoyed the thrill of boxing, and he was excited by the prospect of either winning or losing. "I know someone who is really good at it. I bet ten thousand euros on him for entertainment. If you're interested, choose a boxer and bet on him. If you lose, no need to pay me. If you win, the money is yours."

Shuishui shook her head. "Uh, I am not very interested, and I can't tell who has a better chance of winning." Shuishui did not want to spend using other people's money. She had never seen an underground boxing match, but she knew that it was quite dangerous. However, she was also curious about it.

She was curious but a bit hesitant because she had no idea what to expect. She had gone with Mu Zilin in racing competitions, but it was an informal competition. It was simply organized by a group of rich teenagers who had plenty of time on their hands.

"What kind of boxing is it?" Shuishui asked.

"Basically, they're boxers from different countries. Some participate for entertainment, some for money, and some for honor," Mr. Cheng answered.

Shuishui answered, "Money, fame, and fortune."

"Yes. I have a question. I wonder if Miss Qian can answer it for me." He smiled faintly.

Shuishui looked at him and shrugged. "Anything."

"The age on your ID . . . is it your real age?" Mr. Cheng had his lawyer verify the validity of Shuishui's passport. Apparently, everything stated in her documents was true and correct. He had seen her other personal information, but he felt that something was off. He felt strange about it.

Shuishui's gaze met Cheng Le's. "Yes. It is indeed my real age, but I don't think they have anything to do with the business deal we made. We can still work together, right? I don't think my age reflects my experience and abilities," Shuishui answered frankly.