A timely gift

Jiang Yang sent Ye Qingwei back.

The girl lingered reluctantly, but his mind was already planning the next day's moves.

Xiao Wan had also gotten him what he needed and temporarily modified the hotel.

A mountain of supplies—mostly long-lasting provisions—plus some armor and weapons, just homemade crossbows and such. He'd have loved some guns, but couldn't get them, and Xiao Wan wouldn't agree to it anyway.

"Stocking up like this, you planning for the apocalypse?"

Xiao Wan was dressed tightly this time, which disappointed Jiang Yang a little.

"You bet. Food, drink, and a beauty—we could survive ten months here."

"Why ten months?"

"Ten months to make a baby."

Xiao Wan's face flushed, and she shot him a glare. "Get serious. I'll tattle on you, you know."

Oh? She was playing hard to get.

Jiang Yang pulled her straight into his arms. "How do you know Mom and Dad didn't pick you out as my child bride?"

The original host had fought plenty of battles but never gotten anywhere with Xiao Wan. After all, he had the constitution to drop dead from overwork—couldn't beat her in a fight, couldn't talk her around either, since she was practically a half-sister.

The only way was to make Xiao Wan give herself up.

What you can't have is always the best. If he got the chance, Jiang Yang wouldn't mind fulfilling the original host's unachieved dreams.

The next day, Jiang Yang arrived early at Linjiang Hospital.

When Ye Qingwei saw him, she lit up like a fan spotting their idol, unable to hide her smile.

Jiang Yang had already handled her discharge, claiming the company was providing her with a place to stay.

Which was really just his hotel.

"Anything else to pack?"

Jiang Yang pushed Ye Qingwei, catching a faint fragrance in the air—she'd freshened up.

"No, are we heading straight to the company?"

Ye Qingwei smoothed her hair, her long lashes fluttering. She didn't know why, but facing Brother Jiang alone now made her more nervous than their first meeting.

Afraid he'd notice something wrong with her.

"What's the rush? I heard Miss Ye is also from Linjiang University. How about we take a stroll there?"

Jiang Yang lifted her straight into the car. According to her info, she'd been admitted to Linjiang University too, but never attended because of her illness.

School had always been a little dream of hers, and at this moment, Ye Qingwei's fondness for Jiang Yang ticked up a notch.

At Linjiang University, Jiang Yang pushed her around, chatting about everything under the sun.

Soon, his wit and charm had eased Ye Qingwei's nerves.

Then a jarring voice cut in nearby.

"Well, well, if it isn't Class President Ye."

A flashy guy in head-to-toe designer labels walked over, his eyes locked on Ye Qingwei in her wheelchair.

Ye Qingwei said nothing, her face paling slightly, as if recalling something she'd rather forget.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Yang felt a spark of glee.

As the saying goes, when luck's on your side, pillows come when you're sleepy; when it's not, even cold water sticks in your teeth.

"You know each other?"

Jiang Yang gently smoothed Ye Qingwei's hair, his gaze fixed on the flashy guy. When he spotted the hostility rising in the other's eyes, he knew today's bonus points were in the bag.

"I... I don't know him." Ye Qingwei turned and whispered nervously in Jiang Yang's ear. "Brother Jiang, let's go."

"Whatever you say."

Jiang Yang turned the wheelchair to leave.

The flashy guy wasn't having it. "Class President Ye, we were classmates after all. How about a little catch-up?"

As he spoke, he strode toward them.

Flashy guy, my ass... Ye Qingwei would never forget that jerk!

His name was Gu Tao, a minor rich second-generation.

He'd once pursued her, even tried to force himself on her, but Ye Fan showed up in time.

What she couldn't forget was that she'd dragged Ye Fan into it, getting him beaten up so badly he spent a week in the hospital before he could get out of bed.

Thinking of Ye Fan's misery, she was determined not to let the same happen to Brother Jiang.

Summoning her courage, she said to Jiang Yang, "Brother Jiang, you go first. He's bad news. Don't worry, he wouldn't dare touch me..."

"Oh? Class President Ye's still that confident, huh. I'm not some clueless kid anymore. Let's catch up—at a hotel..."

Before Gu Tao could finish, Jiang Yang had already struck without warning.

No, it was a kick.

"What the hell are you saying? Screw you! If you ate shit, go home and rinse your mouth."

Jiang Yang kicked Gu Tao flying several meters away.

To be honest, it was a good thing the apocalypse was still some time off.

Otherwise, Gu Tao would already be dead.

"Fuck! You... you're insane!"

Gu Tao gritted his teeth in pain. He'd lived this long and never seen someone kick him without a word of explanation.

If you had a problem with someone, at least throw out a few insults first.

No warning at all!

He barely managed to climb to his feet and said coldly, "Kid, just you wait."

With that, he limped away as fast as he could.

Though Gu Tao was seething inside, he'd hit a wall and could only flee in defeat.

Ye Qingwei recalled how pathetic Ye Fan had been back then... Now, Brother Jiang handled this in a matter of minutes.

An unprecedented sense of safety rippled through Ye Qingwei's heart...

At the same time, while she was shocked by Jiang Yang's fighting ability, she felt even more guilt.

"Sorry, Brother Jiang, I dragged you into this..."

"What are you saying, silly girl? With me here, no one dares to lay a hand on you."

Jiang Yang smiled slightly, inwardly grateful to Gu Tao for the perfect opportunity.

"Brother Jiang, thank you... you're so good to me."

Ye Qingwei's heart warmed at Jiang Yang's smile, her eyes full of admiration.

In a small company five kilometers from Linjiang University, Ye Fan handed over a nearly blank resume.

"Um, the offer says ten thousand a month, with room and board. Is that true?"

Ye Fan could hardly believe it. The company was too shabby to offer such a high salary, and the work was extremely simple.

Just reviewing materials and checking documents every day.

To Ye Fan, this job felt like picking up free money, but he didn't know someone was deliberately letting him pick it up.

"That's right. If you perform well these two months, there'll be extra bonuses too."

"Really? Thank you!"

After getting the HR's confirmation, Ye Fan cheerfully headed to the company-provided dormitory, not forgetting to send Tang Ya a celebratory message.

But he got no reply.

The dormitory was excellent too—an apartment, and he had it all to himself!

Right now, Ye Fan wondered if he'd stepped in dog shit without noticing to land such a great job.

If he rented a place like this on a platform, it would cost at least seven thousand a month.

His apartment was on the thirteenth floor, right in the middle, which would push the rent up another two thousand. And this prime spot was given to him as a company dorm.

While Ye Fan was overjoyed, Jiang Yang was almost done on his end.