Chapter 841 - 841: So Angry My Teeth Hurt

"Why can't I come?" Xiao Feng retorted, "Is this your house?"

"Longjiao isn't here," Zhao Ce replied impatiently, clearly unwilling to say more than necessary.

But just as he finished speaking, Xiao Feng let out a soft chuckle, "Who told you she's not here?

Jiaojiao, come over!"

He gestured to the right as he spoke.

Nie Longjiao appeared at the front door, showing no objection to the nickname; after all, she owed him a huge favor, and it wasn't appropriate to embarrass him publicly.

She hadn't realized that deep down, she didn't mind Xiao Feng calling her so affectionately.

"Longjiao, you..." Zhao Ce looked at the pair at the door in disbelief.

Previously, he'd only heard Nie Longjiao had gone out but didn't know she was with Xiao Feng.

In that instant, Zhao Ce nearly lost his composure.

He took a deep breath and tried to remain calm, "Thank you for bringing Longjiao back. If there's nothing else..."

Xiao Feng interrupted, "There's no need to thank me. Or rather, what right do you have to thank me?

Who are you to Nie Longjiao?

I brought her back; what does that have to do with you?"

"The kids are about to start class. During class time, non-staff are prohibited from entering, as per the rule set by Longjiao herself," Zhao Ce said sternly.

Nie Longjiao spoke up, "Notify everyone; afternoon classes are suspended for an important matter."

"What's the important matter?" Zhao Ce asked.

Xiao Feng grinned, "I have some friends coming over; to be blunt, they're here to donate to the welfare center."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ce's expression grew even worse. He looked at Nie Longjiao, "Longjiao, come over. I need to talk to you privately."

Nie Longjiao didn't hesitate and followed him.

Stopping by the stone table, Zhao Ce's face showed urgency as he said, "Longjiao, can't you see?

That rich kid clearly has ulterior motives; his intentions are not pure."

"Not pure? Then where do you think his intentions lie?"

"Do you really need to ask? It's clearly about you; he has designs on you.

Listen to me: no matter how much he offers, we shouldn't take a dime. We survived just fine without this guy before, didn't we?"

Nie Longjiao firmly replied, "Regardless of ulterior motives, this is good for the children and the welfare center; there's no reason to turn it down."

"It's a good deed, sure, but you can't..."

Zhao Ce's words were cut off as Nie Longjiao interrupted, "I've already decided. Go gather the children."

Several times, Zhao Ce opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

He knew Nie Longjiao's character well; once her mind was made up, not even nine oxen could deter her—the more you discourage her, the more resolved she becomes.

Thus, further words were pointless and futile.

With a clenched fist, he turned and went toward the children's dormitory.

When he brought the children out, he was dumbfounded.

"These... are all your friends?"

Zhao Ce looked at the crowd filling the yard and more people continuously entering, his eyes full of disbelief.

"All of them!" Xiao Feng nodded, furrowing his brows, "I can't help it; I have great connections, which sometimes is a hassle for me."

"..." Zhao Ce.

The expression and tone were really infuriating!

Briefly, Zhao Ce moved aside, focusing on "Xiao Feng's friends" in the courtyard.

Worried that if he kept conversing with Xiao Feng, he might really lose his temper and hit someone.

However, with over a hundred people on the other side.

The welfare center, counting both children and adults, couldn't match even half their number.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Ce's mood didn't improve; it grew even more discontented.

The reason was simple.

In the courtyard, focusing on any individual revealed "shine" all over them.

Either decked out in designer clothes or wearing luxury watches.

The only one who seemed low-key ended up flashing his cigarette pack, which was worth two months of Zhao Ce's salary, and beyond.

"Mr. Zhao, are you alright?" A perceptive little boy looked up at Zhao Ce in concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No."

"Then why are you gritting your teeth, and your face is purple—is it a toothache?"

Zhao Ce remained silent for a while, merely pondering whether Nie Longjiao could handle this kind of sugar-coated bullet.

The more he thought about it, the less optimistic he felt, and oddly enough, he actually started having a toothache, perhaps from clenching his teeth too hard.

He strode into the crowd.

A child's voice again emerged from behind, "Mr. Zhao, where are you going?"

"I have a toothache. I'm going to get some painkillers."

Watching everyone entering, Xiao Feng cleared his throat, "Um..."

But before he could finish, a middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle pointed at the wobbly car and ping-pong table and said, "These facilities are too outdated. I specialize in toys.

Here's the deal: I'll supply one set of all toys from my company and also donate one hundred thousand yuan as a personal gesture."

Nie Longjiao was immediately stunned; she hadn't even introduced the situation, yet here was someone willing to donate a hundred thousand?

Xiao Feng also didn't expect this.

The original plan was for him to give a welcoming speech, then hand the topic over to Nie Longjiao.

But plans often derail; before they could proceed according to plan, donations began to roll in.

The toy company's slick-haired owner handed Xiao Feng a business card, saying, "I'm Qi Daire, and this is my card. Do get in touch if needed, and please provide the bank account for the transfer right now."

Xiao Feng accepted the card and nudged Nie Longjiao, "What are you spacing out for? Quickly give him the account number."

"Oh, right." Coming to her senses, Nie Longjiao provided the account information.

After transferring the money, Qi Daire said to Xiao Feng, "May I have one of your business cards too?"

Checking his pockets, Xiao Feng realized he had none.

Business cards were a thing of the past, back when he was a logistics manager at Lanyue Group.

"I didn't bring business cards. How about we start a group chat?" Xiao Feng suggested.

Someone immediately agreed, "Great idea, let's do a group chat."

Xiao Feng quickly created a WeChat group and had the people in the front circle join first, then pull others in. Within five minutes, all hundred or so people had joined.

"Um..." Xiao Feng cleared his throat again, intending to proceed with the original plan.

He was interrupted by a rotund man wearing a large gold ring, who laughed heartily, "This building looks worn; I actually run a construction company.

This year won't work, but I'll fund refurbishing the center next spring and will first donate two hundred thousand. Please provide the account."

Nie Longjiao was utterly stunned, feeling it might be necessary to get a sign displaying the account number and place it in the yard.

Otherwise, repeating the account would be bothersome.