21 Chapter Twenty One(Meeting Liang Zhong Zemin Again)

Zhou Hua Fan looks down at the new phone her grandfather gifted her after hearing she wanted to do stuff on her own without his help. He was adamant about her having a new phone since he felt her old phone was an unreliable model, she knew it was an excuse to pamper her so she did not say much and accepted the gift with a faint smile. The only person with her this day was driver Yang, since he was the only one she currently trusted to not tell her grandfather anything without her permission. She stood outside of a college campus waiting under the black umbrella driver Yang held above her head. The umbrella blocks snow from landing on her hair and shoulders. Many college students curiously walk past the girl who was as still as stone waiting outside the gates. "Is she waiting for a relative?" "Who knows, I saw her standing there since this morning. Maybe she admires someone from this college."

"Such a cute little girl! Maybe her older brother goes to classes here!" Driver Yang hands the girl a new handwarmer and worriedly looks over the girl's fragile state. He tries to convince her to go back again "Miss Zhou, maybe he already left for the Chinese new year. Old master will worry if he heard you have been standing out in the cold for so long." Not to mention if the old master heard that he had indulged the young miss and allowed her to do this. He would be flogged and then fired on spot! Hua Fan was stubborn but she gave driver Yang a side glance and answers him patiently without reprimanding the man for speaking out of turn. "He will come out, trust me." He murmurs after a while, seeming troubled by her confidence.

"Young miss even if he does come out, this campus belongs to the university that specializes in modern medicine. That boy, should he not be studying in law school as his father did?" Hua Fan smiles briefly but did not say anything to help clarify for him. Instead, she held her breath after spotting the person she was waiting for. She ran out from under the umbrella's protection towards the handsome young man with eyes bright. "Brother Liang!" Liang Zhong Zemin was startled to hear someone call his name, for a moment he froze in step before recovering after reassuring himself that the person must be calling for someone else. Besides, no one but he and his close friends knew he came to this college. At least, that's what he told himself. But he was soon proven wrong, as an adorable girl dressed in furry white mittens, earmuffs, and a fluffy jacket.

Resembling an adorable wolf pup stood in front of him stopping him from leaving and staring up at him with admiration and familiarity. Hua Fan's large eyes and loveable face were used at max as the aura around her practically glowed with childish joy. Liang Zhong Zemin was stunned into place and could only look down at the ball of fur in his way with semi-wide eyes. The young man seemed to be speechless and bewildered by the appearance of such a lovely child. Seeing her honest-looking expression he hesitates to brush her off and walk around her as he didn't know if she was lost or not.

Looking around for help he could only see teasing smiles from his fellow classmates, no one offered to help him thinking he knew the girl. He bit his tongue and reluctantly looks back toward the girl who was still patiently standing in front of him not giving an inch. So, helplessly he could only put on a wary smile and bend over to meet her eye level. "Little girl, perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else." Hua Fan's eyes blink cutely as she tilts her head seeming confused. "Aren't you Liang Zhong Zemin?" He jerks back, a bit startled having those chocolate eyes gaze at him with such steady conviction. Seeing she had caught him hesitating Hua Fan unhurriedly pulls out a wrinkled piece of paper to show him. In the end, he could only look on bitterly and with slight annoyance when seeing what was on it. She even slyly peeks around the piece of paper at him. He could see a twinkle of amusement and mischievousness in her eyes. "Brother Liang shouldn't lie to little girls, you are Liang Zhong Zemin."

Indeed, the paper had his face, name, birthdate, even his home address, his relatives, and even his small accomplishments in the past. Seeing he had underestimated his opponent the young man stood back up to look down at her coldly making Hua Fan smile even wider. His tone was no longer welcoming and he seemed to even take on the form of an intimidating adult man. "Who are you?" Hua Fan beams at him seemingly happy he had asked "I am Zhou Hua Fan. And from today onwards, I'm the student you will be tutoring until I graduate high school." Hearing the name, Liang Zhong Zemin narrows his eyes at her. "I did not send in that application." Hua Fan gave a tiny laugh and understood the hidden meaning in his words.

She took on a benevolent expression as if she were doing him a favor by ignoring his claims "Brother Liang, you may have not sent this in but in the end, you will tutor me." Her tone of voice was very clear to him, it practically bragged outright  "You have no choice but to accept." directly to his face. Indeed, if his father and the Zhou elders got involved he would have no choice but to tutor the girl. He may even get disowned for declining her request since this was an opportunity to gain prestige and a stable connection with the future Zhou heiress. But still, he was reluctant to admit defeat to a child so he said patiently. "Miss Zhou, perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. As you can see I am in no position to tutor you since I'm still a college student my hands are already full with my own assignments."

"-I'm afraid that if I take on this job Miss Zhou will become dissatisfied with me since I cannot give Miss Zhou my full attention and dedication." Hua Fan was endlessly patient with this person since she actually liked him a lot so she said in return towards his roundabout refusal. "Brother Liang, do you want to make a bet?" He was still wary of her tricks and did not accept right away only looking down at her with more suspicion. She went on unconcerned with his obvious wariness, her tone soft and placating. "If I win this bet you will tutor me. If I lose I will leave you alone and never pressure you again."

"I will even have my grandfather find you the best resources and position for you to continue your studies and build your career." Hearing her offer he was still cautious but when he heard her promise of resources and support from Chairman Zhou. Zhong Zemin was shocked and momentarily befuddled. No one dared to use Chairman Zhou's name so carelessly. Even Zhou Feng Meng was wary of his own father. But this little girl actually promised the Chairman's help so confidently. Was she insane or was she actually serious? He couldn't tell by looking at her calm appearance like she was discussing the weather whether she was lying or not. "You may have heard but recently my father has taken in a mistress's child. And my grandfather has taken in me directly afterward. They're in disagreement right now on who should become heir. Being as smart as you are. From our conversation just now you can understand how that will end up in the end yes?" Zhong Zemin scowls impatiently when he saw the truth in her eyes, also knowing the habit of Zhou Jian Kong who valued family over benefits since it was a well-known fact in he circle. "What is the bet?"

He did not question whether she had the ability or not. At her age, with her wit and ability to blackmail those older than her so fearlessly. There was no doubt in his mind what the girl said she would do she would get done no matter who stood in her way. Hua Fan enjoyed his directness "Simple. I bet that when you tell your parents about what you have been secretly studying all these years instead of law." She smiles sweetly "-They will disown you and even throw you out on the streets without a single penny." The handsome young man's face turned red out of anger as his whole body tensed. This-! Did she think she can so casually butt into other people's business without permission?! What does she know about my family?! Even if she is the Zhou family heiress he would not take such blatant insults so willingly.

However, deep down in his heart, he felt anxious and uncomfortable with her large eyes staring at him so seriously as if she had already seen the future. Like she could see right past his anger and see his hesitation and doubts. But even if he had doubts, his parents always loved and respected him. Though they were strict they still raised him and gave him the best of the best so how could the words of one little girl waver his stance? "Don't be ridiculous! Although my family has old money and traditions they would never disown me. Don't compare my family to yours who would fight with one another over illegitimate children."

Hua Fan his gaze without flinching despite his outburst while from the corner of his vision, he saw a man holding an umbrella hesitating on whether to walk up or not. Even the man was anxious for her but the girl, she continued to stare up at Zhong Zemin fearlessly who had just reprimanded and scolded her to her face. There were dull lights in her eyes he realized were just the reflections of the falling snow and his own face. Like glass balls that merely reflect what they saw instead of carrying their own image and light. There was no emotion in them, she may make many faces. She even laughed and the tone of her voice always fluctuates with her needs and desires. But he could not see any sincerity in her eyes or emphasis in them like a normal human whose eyes reflect everything in their hearts and minds. Zhong Zemin's anger died out as if being snuffed like a tiny flame by her large eyes that were so clear yet dense they were terrifying.

Seeing his anger had faded after his small outburst Hua Fan smiles at him again. Zhong Zemin you and I both know that our families are more alike than you would think. Duty and love can never cross paths with the responsibilities we bear. "Dare to make this bet with me? Let me remind you, Liang Zhong Zemin. You can continue to take the hard path to your dream, clawing your way through the thicket and coming out full of scars. And with those scars is shadows following behind you that haunt your every step. Or, you can easily take the hand offered to you and directly ascend to heaven after falling only once. You are the only one I, Zhou Hua Fan, will personally offer sanctuary and endless support to in this life." Her eyes curve with her pretty smile "-We are the most similar in this city full of deceit and broken dreams. Kindred souls should look out for each other. Don't you think?"