Pu Yu took a deep breath, making her lie sound as natural as the truth.
"Grandma twisted her ankle at home yesterday."
Her voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of worry. "The doctor said she didn't hurt any bones, but I'm still worried. I want to take her to a bigger hospital in the city to have her back injury checked again, so I won't be able to visit you in Rinzhou over winter break..."
She was lying.
Every word was a lie.
Grandma was in excellent health, and at her last follow-up, the doctor had said she was recovering well.
But she had to tell this lie...
Only then could Yuan Su focus on his own problems without worrying over why she wasn't coming.
Seeing how upset she looked, Yuan Su's heart ached.
"Is it serious?" he asked with a frown. "Has she had an X-ray at the hospital?"
"No, she just has trouble getting around and needs someone to look after her." Pu Yu sniffled and forced a smile. "Don't worry. I can handle it."
"Okay."
Almost instinctively, Yuan Su asked, "Do you have enough money?"
Pu Yu felt a needle pierce her heart.
He could barely keep himself afloat. He was trapped in a desperate situation.
Yet his first instinct was still to ask whether she had enough money.
"I do." Pu Yu clenched her hand and forced a smile that curved her eyes into crescents. "My writing payment came through two days ago. Two thousand yuan! And I've saved up all sorts of scholarship money. Pu Yu is super, super rich, you know."
Yuan Su looked at her radiant smile without speaking.
A few seconds later, Pu Yu's phone vibrated.
An orange transfer notification appeared at the top of the screen.
``` [Yuan Su