A Maybach on a rainy night? Talk to my Levadin!

"Given your abilities, I've decided to have you and Senior Brother Chu jointly lead the algorithm work related to drones. Complete this part as soon as possible; it's a demanding task with a lot of work. Please feel free to offer any suggestions you may have."

"I have no objection," Xia Mi shook her head.

"Okay, now that we've covered the job details, let's talk about the benefits. We're working on a research project, so naturally we can't let you work for free. The monthly salary is 5000, including three meals a day, afternoon tea, and late-night snacks. Airfare is covered for competitions in other cities, and there's a company car for transportation. Competition prize money is split equally. If the project succeeds, you'll receive equity based on your contribution. Considering your physical condition each month, I'll also provide some extra injury and illness allowance, but the amount definitely won't be large, so don't get your hopes up too high."

"is it acceptable?"

When Zhao Zizhan mentioned a salary of 5000, Xia Mi's eyes lit up. With each additional item, her eyes shone even brighter. In the end, it was as if Xia Mi had ignited golden pupils, her gaze so intense it could burn.

"Senior brother, is it really true? You mean it?"

Aren't you from Beijing?

"I'm so excited! Are all these conditions true?!"

Xia Mi grabbed Zhao Zizhan's hand immediately. At that moment, Zhao Zizhan seemed to be shining like a saint in Xia Mi's eyes!

"Of course it's all true. Why would I lie to you?"

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

With a thud, Xia Mi knelt on one knee: "Mi, I have wandered for half my life, and I only regret that I have not met a wise ruler. If you do not abandon me, I am willing to become your godfather!"

"Alright," Zhao Zizhan chuckled, turning to look at Chu Zihang: "From now on, we'll each call each other by our own names. I'll call you 'brother,' and you'll call me 'dad.'"

PS: Considering that everyone said the short chapters weren't enough, I'll make them longer chapters.

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Persuasion.

After a brief interview, Zhao Zizhan led the new members to the activity room.

"I had Lu Mingfei order food for us, so we can all eat together," Zhao Zizhan said with a smile as he opened the door to the activity room. The computer in the room was on, displaying a failure screen, while Lu Mingfei lay sprawled on the floor below, unconscious.

"My grass!"

Just as Zhao Zizhan cried out in surprise, a figure flashed out beside him—it was Chu Zihang.

He first checked Lu Mingfei's nose and breathed a sigh of relief after finding that he was still breathing. Then, he placed a large hand directly on Lu Mingfei's philtrum.

“Ugh…!!”

Seemingly because he had been pinched in pain, Lu Mingfei woke up flailing his arms and legs.

"you're awake?"

Opening his eyes, Lu Mingfei saw Chu Zihang's handsome face. He struggled to sit down with Chu Zihang's help. Zhao Zizhan pulled out a chair and came forward, asking, "What happened? We came in and saw you lying on the floor?"

"I heard you haven't been feeling well at school. You even fainted during the day. This is more than just not good. What were you doing last night?"

"Huh? I...I'm fine...I probably slept too late last night, so I dozed off?"

Lu Mingfei answered somewhat haltingly.

He didn't know why he didn't tell the truth; perhaps the boy's warning had worked.

"Is it really okay?"

Zhao Zizhan glanced at Lu Mingfei. How much could a teenager's face hide? It was obvious at a glance that this kid wasn't telling the truth.

"It's nothing... I just... I just had a dream."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, his shoulders slumped, glanced at Chu Zihang and Zhao Zizhan beside him, and the tiny Xia Mi behind him, and then quickly jumped up.

"Oh no, I... I forgot to order, I'll go right now..."

"Why would you go anywhere else?"

Zhao Zizhan shoved Lu Mingfei into a chair: "Come on, give me your hand."

Lu Mingfei reached out his hand, not understanding why, but Zhao Zizhan grabbed his pulse and began to take his pulse with his eyes closed.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you also know traditional Chinese medicine?"

Xia Mi curiously came closer.

“Yes, it’s specifically for those who brag,” Zhao Zizhan replied with his eyes closed.

Xia Mi stuck out her tongue. It's really nice to have a senior brother who can always catch your jokes.

She glanced at the cold-faced man beside her; he was nothing like that blockhead!

In reality, he was using blood magic to sense Lu Mingfei's physical condition, pretending that he could diagnose pulses.

"Malnutrition, neurasthenia, come on, open your mouth so I can see your tongue coating."

"what……"

"Hmm...a vitamin deficiency."

Zhao Zizhan withdrew his hand: "It's not a big problem. Just pay attention to your diet and keep exercising."

"Wow, senior brother, you really know how!"

Lu Mingfei withdrew his arm, somewhat surprised: "How many more surprises do you have that I don't know about?"

"Yes, I can also read faces. Would you like to have your face read?"

“I want it!!”

Lu Mingfei nodded vigorously.

"You are a hardworking and ambitious person, but you are held back by your surroundings. You don't have much in common with the people around you, but you will adapt and cater to them. These past few years have been a bit tough for you, but once you get over this hurdle, you will have a bright future."

"Wow, that's so accurate, senior brother!"

"You're kidding me! When you're old, I'll specifically ask you to sell me health supplements!"

Zhao Zizhan replied irritably, clapping his hands: "Alright, this kid didn't order anything, and we have a new member joining our group, let's celebrate and go out for a meal."

"Great!!!"

Xia Mi was naturally lively and could quickly become friends with everyone. Lu Mingfei was also a master of rambling. The two of them strangely clicked on the same wavelength and soon started chatting.

Soon, Xia Mi brought up the question she had been concerned about since they first met: "Lu Mingfei, why are you malnourished? Don't you eat well?"

Compared to Zhao Zizhan and Chu Zihang, those two rich bastards, Xia Mi felt that she and Lu Mingfei should be comrades-in-arms in the same trench.

Lu Mingfei found it difficult to speak. Faced with such a beautiful girl's question, the girl in front of him was too outstanding, and the senior brother beside him was too outstanding. Everything made him feel ashamed. Although it was already very thin, the remaining male pride made him reluctant to answer the question directly.

“His family situation is similar to yours, but there are some differences,” Zhao Zizhan replied.

Xia Mi looked at Lu Mingfei: "So you're an orphan too."

"Cough cough cough..."

Xia Mi's words made Lu Mingfei cough, speechless: "No, they just went to a very far place."

"Aren't they orphans?"

"I didn't realize you were such a materialist," Zhao Zizhan couldn't help but retort.

"Hehe, it's actually okay, because I'm an orphan too," Xia Mi said quite nonchalantly.

Chu Zihang sat between the three babbling gurus, seemingly aloof and independent, like a snow lotus on an iceberg, but in reality, his ears were perked up and his eyes were shining brightly.

Zhao Zizhan felt a chill run down his spine. "Dude, you can actually eat this? You really don't discriminate against anything!"

"No, my parents just went to participate in archaeological work. They will still send money back regularly..."

Lu Mingfei's voice grew softer and softer, increasingly lacking confidence.

"Do your parents send back very little money? It seems like they work very hard."

"It's...not bad...not a small amount," Lu Mingfei couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

“Not a small amount, but quite a lot,” Zhao Zizhan joined the hunt.

"Ten...one hundred thousand dollars"

"Young Master Duo!?"

Xia Mi almost cracked her voice. One hundred thousand! US dollars!! And it was a regular deposit!! She had never seen so much money in her life!

"Well, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, I thought you were one of us, a fellow worker and peasant. Turns out you're a rich scoundrel too!"

Xia Mi suddenly felt betrayed, but she quickly realized something was wrong.

"Wait a minute, your family gives you so much money, why are you dressed like me and look malnourished?"

Where did the money go?

"..."

Lu Mingfei lowered his head and fell silent.

“Lu Mingfei lives with his uncle and aunt’s family. The money was also sent there. His uncle’s child weighs 160 jin,” Zhao Zizhan added, stirring up trouble again.

Just hearing this data, everyone here can understand what the situation is.

"Huh? This...this is too much!"

Xia Mi stared, mouth agape, at Lu Mingfei, who was looking ashamed and dejected, and exclaimed angrily, "How could anyone be so wicked?!"

That's a hundred thousand US dollars!!! For Xia Mi, who was almost desperate for money, the thought of someone swallowing such a large sum of money would drive her insane!!

We absolutely have to give him two good punches!

"That's really going too far." Chu Zihang wasn't some pampered young master who didn't care about material possessions. He had also come from a poor family, and he and his mother had remarried into a new family, so he had a very deep understanding of the hardships of living under someone else's roof.

Zhao Zizhan was an orphan in his past life, Xia Mi was an orphan, Chu Zihang pretended to be an orphan, and Lu Mingfei was half an orphan. This Azure Dragon Study Group can be considered a meeting of orphans.

Everyone present felt a certain resonance with Lu Mingfei.

"Then, haven't you thought about getting the money back?"

"...How can I get it? They are my guardians, and I can't contact my parents either," Lu Mingfei said with a tone of self-abandonment.

“It is indeed troublesome,” Chu Zihang frowned.

Even the most upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes. In China, such family conflicts are usually resolved with a little persuasion. Unless you are prepared to fight to the death, it is virtually impossible to break the deadlock.

But Lu Mingfei clearly didn't have that mindset.

"Actually... my uncle is quite good to me, and he's had a tough time too..."

┅澪一弍２/３○⑼㈧

Although my aunt was always extremely mean and exploitative, my uncle was always good to me: "My allowance was all given to me by my uncle from his cigarette money..."

His somewhat feeble explanation seemed to be trying to convince everyone, or perhaps it was trying to convince himself.

Zhao Zizhan's blood pressure started to rise. Seriously, he was furious at the little brat's lack of ambition in the story, but now he felt an overwhelming burning heat in person. He brought this up today to resolve it, otherwise he wouldn't have interrupted so many times. He could have just glossed over the topic with Lu Mingfei. But now that things had come to this, how could he possibly let it slide?

"Then let me ask you, since your uncle has been good to you, has he ever attended your parent-teacher conferences?"

"……No"

"When your aunt embarrassed you at school, did your uncle try to persuade her to stop?"

"..."

Lu Mingfei lowered his head even further.

“One hundred thousand US dollars is no small sum, Lu Mingfei,” Zhao Zizhan said, looking at him. “If this money were invested in a project, our project could take off immediately.”

"The tangible benefits this money brings are enough to keep someone silent. One's position determines one's perspective; he might feel some pity for you losing money, but as the actual beneficiary, he won't fight for more fairness for you."

An unspoken silence fell over the cabin.

"Lu Mingfei, when you joined us, you knelt down and acknowledged me as your godfather. Does that still count?"

"what?"

Lu Mingfei looked up, a Mortis-like expression on his face: "Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

"As your godfather, how can I stand idly by while my son is in trouble? I ask you, do you want your parents' property back?"

"I...I don't know..."

His parents even returned their old house. It's been years, and the phone number is no longer reachable. Do they still really love him?

he does not know.

Does their money still have any meaning for them?