Chapter 22: Rumors

After returning home, Yuan Xiao saw Feng Mei preparing many dishes that she liked.

"Mom, how did you know that I got first place again? You prepared so much delicious food!" Yuan Xiao said to Feng Mei as she took off her shoes.

"Ah? Xiao Xiao got first place again! Old Shen, come out quickly. Look at how hardworking our Xiao Xiao is!" Feng Mei, who was in the kitchen, could not leave and hurriedly shouted into the room.

"Xiao Xiao, you got first place again?" Shen Hai came out of his room and took Yuan Xiao's bag, his eyes filled with joy.

"Yes, this is for Dad. This is the prize money. The prize money this time is much more than the last math competition!" Yuan Xiao handed the thick brown paper bag in her bag to Shen Hai.

"There's no need, Xiao Xiao. Your mother and I just want to tell you some good news today!" Shen Hai pulled Xiao Xiao to sit on the sofa. "The small restaurant your mother and I opened is great. The daily operating profit is more than what we used to earn in a week!"

Looking at Shen Hai, who looked much better than when they first met, Yuan Xiao was very happy.

Shen Hai and Feng Mei were just ordinary workers. They could barely maintain their families by working non-stop.

Yuan Xiao had experienced a life of wealth and no worries about food and clothing to a life of poverty. Only then did she understand that some people were born into good families and had a smooth life without any worries. However, there were also some people who came from poor backgrounds and had already done their best just to survive. They had long forgotten what happiness felt like.

"That's good. Dad, Mom, we'll get richer and richer in the future!"

Looking at his sensible daughter in front of him, Shen Hai was glad. It was Yuan Xiao's appearance that made his exhausted heart see color again. It was also Yuan Xiao's appearance that improved their lives bit by bit.

"Xiao Xiao, keep this money for yourself. Spend it however you want!" Shen Hai looked at his daughter's eyes. They were somewhat similar to his when he was young.

"That's right, Xiao Xiao. In the future, you can spend the money yourself. If it's not enough, ask your father for it. A customer called your father 'Boss' today. He was so happy," Feng Mei said with a smile as she placed the dishes on the dining table.

"Don't just talk about me. Aren't you happy too? It's your mother's first time receiving money into her pocket. She's so happy that the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears."

Looking at the couple bickering in front of her, Yuan Xiao felt that the scene in front of her was so blissful that it was unreal. If not for the opportunity to be reborn, she would definitely not be able to feel the warmth of a family.

Thank you, Little 7.

[You're welcome, Host.]

When they arrived at the school, Yuan Xiao felt that the gazes she received were even stronger. Unlike the envious and admiring gazes of her classmates in the past, the gazes of the surrounding students today were filled with mockery and criticism.

"Xiao Xiao!" Li Chang hurriedly ran towards Yuan Xiao.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" Yuan Xiao looked at Li Chang, whose forehead was sweating, and had a bad feeling.

"Haven't you seen the school forum?" Li Chang saw that there were many students around, so she brought Yuan Xiao to a long corridor with fewer people. She turned on her cell phone and said to Yuan Xiao seriously, "Look, the news about you and Fang Yao has already spread!"

"Me and Fang Yao? What happened between me and Fang Yao?" Yuan Xiao took the phone and saw the anonymous post on the forum.

"This… phototography is quite skilled." Yuan Xiao looked at the 'intimate photos' of her and Fang Yao and smiled helplessly. "The angle of these photos is so good that I almost think I'm with Fang Yao."

"You're not dating Fang Yao?" Li Chang looked surprised.

"Really? Even you believe it? You're with me every day. How does it look like I'm with Fang Yao?" Yuan Xiao admitted that she had a good relationship with Fang Yao and had a vaguely good impression of him. However, she could not say that they were already together. After all, she and Fang Yao did not even know that.

"But Fang Yao picks you up from school every day." Li Chang frowned.

Seeing that Yuan Xiao's attitude towards Jiang Yan had suddenly changed, she naturally thought that Yuan Xiao had found a boyfriend and wanted to keep a distance from Jiang Yan.

"We're going the same way!" Yuan Xiao replied.

"But other than you, there has never been a girl around Fang Yao. He even threw the confession letter that the girl gave him into the trash can. Everyone thinks that he's especially difficult to get close to." Li Chang was still suspicious. "If you two are together, tell me. Although Fang Yao is a little fierce, I think he's not bad. He's much better than that Jiang Yan."