Chapter 94: Zhang Yu's Temptation

At Ziyun High School, a photo was currently displayed on Le Mulan’s phone screen.

The photo showed Zhang Yu, smiling broadly, standing at the entrance of a convenience store, giving a thumbs-up towards the camera.

The caption below the photo read: “Gaofeng Stationery Store, the best stationery store outside Songyang High School. The owner is incredibly nice, and the products are excellent value for money. Highly recommend everyone check it out.”

Two slender fingers stretched across the screen, zooming in on the photo until Zhang Yu’s likeness filled the entire phone display.

After a long moment, as her fingers swiped, a new set of photos appeared.

Tapping the first photo, it revealed Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen with their arms around each other, taking a selfie in front of the Bailong High School gate.

The second photo showed Bai Zhenzhen holding an oversized bottle, filled with energy drinks.

The third photo depicted Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen sitting back-to-back, surrounded by a circle of empty drink bottles, with Song Hailong looking speechless at the edge of the frame.

The accompanying text said: “Back at Bailong High School! The energy drinks here are truly potent and delicious. Every time I come, I have to take several full buckets. I’m a Bailong monthly subscriber. Anyone interested in bulk orders, contact me directly.”

The slender fingers once again zoomed in on each image of Zhang Yu, and only after a long pause did she swipe to the next set of photos.

This set of photos, however, captured the night view of Songyang City, seemingly taken from a building in the suburbs.

The camera’s focus was on the towering Central Tower in the very center, reaching as if to the heavens. Not far away was the Oasis Tower, currently under construction, surrounded by various neon-lit skyscrapers, extending outwards to the suburban areas... From bright to dark, the photos outlined the night scenery of Songyang City.

The text below read: “Songyang at 4 AM: You can choose to mess around for 3 years, or work hard for 3 years. If you mess around for 3 years, you might suffer for over 100 years later. But if you choose to work hard for 3 years, get into university, and successfully build your foundation, then you’ll get to suffer for another 200 years.”

With a soft chuckle, the slender fingers continued to scroll down Zhang Yu’s Moments feed. Just then, a message popped up at the top of the screen.

Lian Tianji: Holy first place, are you kidding me? What do you want me to buy from Zhang Yu???

The slender fingers quickly tapped on the phone screen, beginning a reply.

Le Mulan: I’m not kidding, please. I can give you more money.

Transfer 2000

Transfer of 2000 accepted.

Lian Tianji: It’s not about the money. And you can ask him yourself, why do you want me to go to him?

Le Mulan: If you don’t want to, I’ll step on your head every day during class.

Lian Tianji: Do you need it delivered by courier or should I bring it myself?

Seeing Lian Tianji’s reply on the screen, Le Mulan nodded slightly. “It really is more effective to be firm when talking to classmates whose scores are lower than mine,” she mused.

Returning to Zhang Yu’s Moments, Le Mulan murmured, “Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, those two poor people are truly inseparable.”

However, she didn’t dwell on it, merely making the observation while scrolling through Zhang Yu’s feed.

Under the glow of the phone screen, Le Mulan, continually swiping through Zhang Yu’s photos, gradually revealed a satisfied smile.

“My hard work these past few days wasn’t in vain. Now when I look at Zhang Yu’s photos, I barely feel anything.”

“Next, I’ll just wait for Lian Tianji to deliver Zhang Yu’s clothes.”

“Once I’ve adapted to the clothes, I shouldn’t feel so uncomfortable when I encounter Zhang Yu anymore.”

*When that time comes*, Le Mulan thought to herself, *it will be the moment to confront Zhang Yu, the poor person, directly and completely overcome my weakness.*

In the cafeteria.

Bai Zhenzhen’s mind kept replaying the message Lian Tianji had just sent to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu placed the freshly bought meal in front of Bai Zhenzhen, his mind again on discussing the illicit tutoring business with A-Zhen.

He didn’t notice the strange look Bai Zhenzhen kept giving him.

After eating, Zhang Yu said to Bai Zhenzhen, “A-Zhen, come with me to the rooftop. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

So, the two went to the rooftop.

This was one of their secret training spots on campus. Over the past few days, they had poured countless hours of effort here, witnessing each other’s growth.

Arriving here again today, Zhang Yu began, “A-Zhen, there’s something I want to tell you. You’ve probably noticed I’ve been making a bit of money lately, right?”

*I don’t just feel it, I saw the damn message your client sent you!*

Hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Bai Zhenzhen’s face subtly tightened, and her heart sank. *Is Yu-zi going to tell me about his recent money-making secret? His secret with Lian Tianji?*

Bai Zhenzhen knew that every year, high school students, under financial pressure, chose this path.

Some looked down on these students who were willing to “sell themselves” for the sake of cultivating immortality, thinking, *Why would a poor person cultivate immortality?* Others admired them, believing they possessed a strong dao heart for pursuing immortality.

But Bai Zhenzhen never expected Zhang Yu to also take this route, and even with Lian Tianji of all people.

*Yu-zi, you’ve gone too far down this road, I can’t keep up.*

*And if you’re going to do it, why Lian Tianji? He only made it to the top eight in the martial arts competition; he’s completely unworthy of you.*

*Couldn’t you find some actual top students? Even Song Hailong would be better... No, wait, Song Hailong’s physical strength is too high, the medical bills might not even cover it.*

*If it were Le Mulan paying, even I, your “mother,” would find it more acceptable!*

Though her mind raced with thoughts, Bai Zhenzhen quickly regained her composure.

She tried her best to control her expression and slowly said, “So what you want to talk about... is related to your recent earnings?”

Zhang Yu nodded and replied, “Yes, I have a way to make money, and I want to take you with me. It’s in the distant suburbs. I’ve been there many times, and I don’t feel there are any problems...”

Bai Zhenzhen’s face suddenly changed, her expression scrunching up like a squashed gourd as she looked at Zhang Yu. *Yu-zi wants to drag me into this path too?* she thought.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen realized she was completely unprepared for this. Her first reaction was to refuse.

Thinking this, a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes as she looked at Zhang Yu.

*Yu-zi, your grades are already better than mine, and after school, you’re still making money on other “tracks,” going to Lian Tianji for “tutoring,” working hard to accumulate resources for cultivation. I admit my dao heart is not as strong as yours. You’re impressive this time.*

She took a deep breath, patted Zhang Yu’s shoulder, and said, “Thanks, bro, but really, it’s not necessary. A money-making path this good, you just enjoy it yourself. I’m not at that stage yet.”

“Lian Tianji’s physical strength isn’t low either. Be careful not to get injured and end up at the clinic.”

Zhang Yu, perplexed, asked, “What does this have to do with Lian Tianji?”

Bai Zhenzhen sighed softly, turned her head, and said with a helpless expression, “I accidentally saw the message Lian Tianji sent you at noon today.”

“But don’t worry, I helped you turn off your phone screen. Only I saw it; Qian Shen, Zhao Tianxing, none of them know.”

“I’ll keep this secret safe for you.”

Zhang Yu frowned as he pulled out his phone. The moment he saw Lian Tianji’s message, he wanted to smash the device.

“You bastard! This bastard! I considered Lian Tianji a friend! And he’s trying to scheme against me?”

Then, thinking of Bai Zhenzhen’s previous reaction, Zhang Yu quickly explained, “Nothing happened between him and me!”

He held up his phone screen, showing Bai Zhenzhen his chat history with Lian Tianji. “See? It’s all innocent, nothing happened.”

Bai Zhenzhen instinctively breathed a sigh of relief, then curiously asked, “Then why does Lian Tianji want to buy your worn clothes?”

“Who the hell knows what’s going on in his mind?” Zhang Yu growled, picking up his phone and starting to reply. “I’ll ask him what his price is first, and then decide my next move based on that.”

Unconsciously, Zhang Yu had grown increasingly accustomed to the lifestyle of Kunxu, developing a habit of reacting differently to different figures.

Bai Zhenzhen watched curiously from the side.

On the phone screen, Zhang Yu’s message read: “What’s the price?”

Lian Tianji: Any worn item of your clothing will do, 2000 yuan.

Bai Zhenzhen suggested from the side, “Try replying with 5000.”

After Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen waited for a moment, Lian Tianji sent a reply agreeing.

Bai Zhenzhen laughed from the side. “Haha, you can earn 5000 so easily?”

But Zhang Yu still felt awkward. “What does he even want my clothes for?”

Bai Zhenzhen patted Zhang Yu’s shoulder and said, “It’s 5000 yuan for a piece of your clothing. Why do you care what he wants it for?”

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. “Right, I completely forgot what I was just telling you! Today, I wanted to introduce you to a way to make money.”

Just then, the doll, which had been quietly resting against Zhang Yu’s chest, disguised as a black prayer bead, spoke up.

The doll’s voice entered Zhang Yu’s mind, warning him, “Zhang Yu, I’ve warned you that in this line of work, the most important thing is to trust no one. Even a son can betray his father. Are you sure you want to tell this woman in front of you?”

Zhang Yu, however, spoke to Bai Zhenzhen without hesitation: “A-Zhen, do you know about the Dark Tutoring World?”

After Zhang Yu’s explanation, Bai Zhenzhen finally understood that the money he had been earning lately came from tutoring.

For a moment, Bai Zhenzhen’s expression became complex.

Good news: her “son” didn’t sell his body.

Bad news: her “son” joined a gang and was doing work more dangerous than robbery.

Bai Zhenzhen, after all, was a genuinely poor but high-achieving student from a prestigious high school. She not only respected intellectual property but also held a deep-seated reverence for corporations, instilled in her since childhood.

Hearing that Zhang Yu wanted to bring her into a gang, she became somewhat nervous. “Is this really not dangerous? If the company finds out, won’t we be caught and forced into a lifetime of labor slavery?”

Zhang Yu explained, “At first, I was worried like you, but after going there, I found out that the Dark Study Gang is a legitimate, large gang that pays taxes according to the law and worships gods collectively. If you’re doing part-time work, you just need to focus on teaching. We don’t have to worry about fighting, killing, or anything like that.”

“And the pay is really good. I can get an hourly wage of 6500 there.”

At this point, Zhang Yu paused, then added with a hint of helplessness, “And here in Kunxu... it’s too hard for us poor people to make money in legitimate professions. Only places like the Dark Tutoring World can offer us a relatively decent income, giving us a better chance of getting into the top ten universities.”

When Bai Zhenzhen heard the hourly wage of 6500, her heart quickened. She instantly understood why some people joined gangs.

And when she heard Zhang Yu’s final lament, she nodded in agreement, thinking to herself, *Yes, for poor devils like us, if we don’t do something risky... how can we climb higher?*

So Bai Zhenzhen nodded firmly and said, “Okay, I trust you. Just tell me what to do.”