078

Gu Muxi firmly clamped his legs and then grabbed his right arm, biting down hard.

"Ow!" Yi Feng cried out in pain, quickly tickling her waist with his left hand.

Gu Muxi, who was ticklish, was forced to let go, laughing uncontrollably.

"Stop, stop, it's so ticklish!"

"Still dare to bite me?"

"Stinky Yi Feng, I'm going to fight you!" The two tickled each other, laughing and wrestling.

Yi Feng tickled her, and she tried to fend him off with her hands.

Suddenly, she pulled Yi Feng's hand upward, right onto her chest…

"Hmm?" Yi Feng paused.

Why is it so soft? He looked down.

Gu Muxi felt the mischievous hand and also looked down.

For a moment, both froze…

Gu Muxi was stunned for a moment, then her cheeks flushed red as apples.

"Stinky—Yi—Feng!"

"Gu Muxi, listen to my excuse, no, listen to my explanation!"

"Bang!" Yi Feng was kicked off the bed.

Gu Muxi, with her face flushed, stood up indignantly, ready to finish Yi Feng on the spot.

Naturally, Yi Feng wouldn't just wait to die; he quickly got up and shielded himself with a chair.

"Gu Muxi, calm down, I really didn't do it on purpose!"

Gu Muxi rubbed her fists, "My fists won't be accidental either, explain it to them!"

Yi Feng tugged at the corner of his mouth, thinking if not now, then when?

"Gu Muxi, it's getting late, I should head back! Bye, see you tomorrow!"

After saying this, Yi Feng opened the door and dashed out, swiftly closing it behind him.

Gu Muxi bit her lip, her face flushed to the neck.

"Damn it, I let Yi Feng take advantage of me again!"

"Hmm? Why did I say 'again'?"

She then remembered the scene where Yi Feng kissed her in public a while ago, her cheeks burning even hotter.

"Stinky Yi Feng, wait till I get my hands on you tomorrow! Hmph~"

She huffed pretentiously, lay back on the bed, staring at the white ceiling, her heart inexplicably racing.

She turned her head to see the pink pig plush on the bedside table, grabbed it, and started kneading the plush's face vigorously, molding it into various shapes.

"I'll crush you, stinky Yi Feng, always bullying me!"

"I'll crush you!"

No matter how much she kneaded, the plush pig's face always wore a smile, which now seemed somewhat smug to her.

Gu Muxi angrily tried to pull its face.

"Still smiling?"

"Damn it!"

…

Meanwhile, Yi Feng escaped from Gu Muxi's house, planning to head home. Just as he reached his doorstep, he noticed the door was ajar, hearing voices inside.

Were mom and dad back?

Yi Feng was about to enter when he suddenly heard his father, Yi Jianbing's, deep voice.

"My child's aunt, you know our family's situation, we… we really have no money."

"My wife has been in the hospital recently, spending quite a bit, and we still owe a lot in medical bills."

"Could you… could you lend us some?"

Yi Feng stood frozen, shocked by the revelation.

Mom is sick?!

Then, a sharp, harsh voice responded.

"Brother-in-law, where would I have money? Don't look at me owning two clothing stores, but I hardly make any money each month!"

"I really don't have money to lend you."

Yi Feng peeked through the door crack and recognized the middle-aged woman speaking as his aunt.

Her family owned clothing stores and was the wealthiest among the relatives, having already bought a house in the city and driving a Volkswagen.

However, the money to start her business years ago was pooled by several relatives, including a significant amount from Yi Feng's father, totaling two thousand yuan.

That two thousand was all the savings they had at the time. Although his mother occasionally complained, she didn't say much after the money was lent.

After the aunt's business took off and she repaid the loan, contact with relatives dwindled, only seeing her during holidays at their hometown.

Since becoming successful, she distanced herself from relatives and never mentioned the loan again.

Inside, Yi Jianbing, upon hearing her refusal, looked visibly upset but continued to plead softly, "Aunt, we really don't have the money for Xiaoyun's treatment to continue."

"I'm begging you!"

Meng Tingmei crossed her arms, slightly raising her chin, "Begging me is useless, I really don't have money to lend you."

"Although I sympathize with my cousin's situation, times are tough for everyone."

"Besides… lending you money, you probably can't pay it back."

"You're asking for twenty thousand, but with your salary, and a family member who's a financial burden, how can you save any money throughout the year?"

"Isn't this just giving money away?"

Yi Jianbing's face grew even more distressed, "No, no, if you lend me the money, I'll work two jobs to ensure I can repay you."

"When Yi Feng goes to college, he can also work part-time to earn some money. I believe we can pay you back soon."

"We just can't get over this hurdle, I'm really begging you, for the sake of our years of kinship, and for the help I've given you in the past, please!"

Yi Feng, standing at the door, trembled, clenching his fists.

His father had always been proud, never begging anyone like this.

His father's words pierced his heart like a knife.

Meng Tingmei raised an eyebrow, "You only lent me two thousand back then, and I've already repaid you. I owe your family nothing."

"And as for Feng, he's not the brightest, and his studies are mediocre. Can he even get into university?"

"Even if he does, he won't get into a good school, let alone earn enough to cover his tuition."

"Being able to pay his own tuition would be a miracle!"

Yi Jianbing sighed deeply, "Really, you can't lend anything? Even a little would help."

"I'm begging you, just this once."

Meng Tingmei was cold, "I really don't have money to lend you."

"Alright, it's getting late, I should be going."

"I'm usually busy with work and have a lot on my plate, so please don't call me unless it's necessary. I might not have time to answer."

"That's all."

She got up to leave without finishing her sentence.

Meng Tingmei muttered as she approached the door.

"Borrow my ass, even if I had money, I wouldn't lend it to you!"

Just as she opened the door, she was startled to see someone standing there.

"Hmm? Feng?"

Yi Feng looked at her calmly, "Aunt, leaving so soon? Won't you stay a bit longer?"

"Oh, I have something else to do. Another time." Meng Tingmei glanced at Yi Feng and walked straight past him, downstairs, and out of the house.

Yi Feng turned to look at her, shaking his head.

There was no hope of getting help from such a materialistic relative.

He walked back into the house.

"Dad, I'm back."

Yi Jianjun's troubled face managed to force a faint smile. "Son's back. How was your studies today?"

Yi Feng looked at him and sighed.

"Dad, why did you keep it from me?"

"Uh, what? Keep what from you?" Yi Jianjun's eyes showed a hint of panic.

"Why didn't you tell me about mom's illness?" Yi Feng asked calmly, with no hint of blame in his tone.

Because he knew his parents had sacrificed too much for this family.

His father's shoulders carried the weight of the entire family.

For his mother's sake, he, with all his pride, had set aside his dignity to beg others for help.

Yi Feng didn't blame them at all; he felt nothing but pain.

He only hated himself for not sharing any of their burdens.

Yi Jianjun was taken aback.

Father and son looked at each other in silence for a long time.

The atmosphere was heavy, as if a thick cloud were enveloping them both.

"You already know?"

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