https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-342-He-Hangguang-s-Untimely-Death/12576714/
Chapter 343: Winter Vacation
Chapter 343: Winter Vacation
Time flew by, and soon it was time for the winter break. Lu Jiaxin had not eased up for a moment during the past six months, with tutoring sessions filling her evenings and weekends. Her diligence paid off, and she managed to complete a year's worth of curriculum within that time.
Nie Zhan was initially unaware of this until he overheard Zong Jinghua mentioning it casually one day. With a pained expression, he asked, "You silly girl, why are you pushing yourself so hard?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "When it's time to study, I study hard. And when it's time for a break, I'll relax properly. I'm heading back to the mainland tomorrow, and after I take care of some matters there, I'll be flying directly to the Maldives. If you have the time, join me there."
While the temperature in the city was frigid during this time of the year, often dipping below minus ten degrees Celsius in December, the Maldives boasted a tropical climate that remained warm and humid throughout the year, making it an ideal sunny escape.
"Do you want me to accompany you back?" Nie Zhan offered.
Lu Jiaxin shook her head. "When my father gave me his collection, he made a request that I buy him a house. I promised, and I intend to keep my word."
He Bin was efficient, and within less than half a month of arriving in the city, he had purchased the house. Then, according to Lu Jiaxin's instructions, he hired people to renovate the two houses. Due to the fresh paint, Lu Jiaxin asked them to wait before moving in.
Nie Zhan frowned. "I heard from Su Heyuan that your father has remarried and that his new wife has five children. Now that he's asking for a house from you, he'll definitely be asking for money in the future. If you give in now, the amounts he'll demand will only increase."
Listening to his insightful analysis, Lu Jiaxin asked, "Has your mother been asking you for money?"
Nie Zhan had no qualms about sharing his family matters. "Before I started working and earning money, she didn't give me a single cent. Then, one day after I started working, she suddenly called and said she urgently needed money, asking me to transfer her 100,000 yuan."
"Did you give it to her?" Lu Jiaxin inquired.
Nie Zhan nodded. "She said it was urgent, and I thought something had happened, so I transferred the money. Later, I found out that she had her eye on an antique car but didn't have enough money. When she asked my grandfather and aunt, they refused, so she turned to me."
"And six months later, she asked for money again, this time for 200,000 yuan, but I didn't give it to her," he added.
"Didn't you give in? What did she do then?" Lu Jiaxin asked, curious about the outcome.
Nie Zhan shook his head. "She didn't scold me, but she complained about how difficult her life was. Her hardships weren't caused by me; on the contrary, her irresponsibility deprived me of a mother's companionship during my childhood."
Lu Jiaxin felt a twinge of pity for the wealthy young lady, thinking that her situation had turned rather unfortunate. "Doesn't your grandfather provide her with a living allowance?"
"He does," Nie Zhan replied. "He gives her 2 million Hong Kong dollars every year as living expenses, but she squanders it away. Eventually, they started giving her the money in monthly installments."
Lu Jiaxin felt that the woman was wasting her own emotions. Complaining about having a hard life with an annual income of 2 million was purely self-inflicted and not worthy of sympathy.
She asked, "If something happens to your grandfather, will you be the one providing her living expenses from then on?"
Nie Zhan shook his head firmly. "No, she'll receive it from the family fund. If she falls ill in the future, I'll hire the best doctors and provide her with the best medicine, but I won't give her another cent of my money."
When he had worked as a trader, he hadn't earned much. His starting salary had only been a few thousand yuan. The money he gave to Nie Manlin had come from his allowance. As a child, he received 10,000 yuan per month, then 30,000 yuan per month in middle school, and 50,000 yuan per month after entering university. However, he hadn't spent any of it and had instead invested it all.
While 100,000 yuan wasn't a small sum, it was the knowledge of how his mother intended to use the money that angered him, and he vowed never to give her another cent.
Lu Jiaxin felt that this decision was for the best. "I'm different from you. He doted on me when I was little and provided me with a comfortable life. Even now, he's handed over most of his collection to me. So I can't just ignore him. But we've already signed an agreement. For the house that I buy, I hold the ownership, and he only has the right to reside there. Additionally, we'll hire an auntie to take care of his daily needs, and he'll be responsible for his own living expenses, as well as medical fees, which I'll cover."
Nie Zhan nodded. "Yes, ensuring their well-being and providing for their medical treatment in their old age is enough. We absolutely must not give them money."
He would rather donate the money to charity than give her a single cent. Of course, he wouldn't interfere with the money provided by the family fund.
Lu Jiaxin smiled wryly. "Then we're truly birds of a feather."
Nie Zhan disagreed with her sentiment. "You shouldn't think like that. Neither of us is pitiable; it's them who are. Selfish people will eventually have to pay the price for their actions."
Lu Jiaxin gave him a thumbs-up. Only someone with a strong mind could say such things. She lacked in that aspect and had much to learn from Nie Zhan.
The next day, Lu Jiaxin first went to buy bird's nest and other health supplements before heading to Gu's residence. She informed Gu Xiuxiu and Gu Haifan that she would be returning to Sichuan-Jiang City.
Gu Haifan was reluctant to let her go and asked, "Sister Jiaxin, when will you come back?"
Lu Jiaxin didn't mention her plan to go on a vacation abroad and only said that she would be back before the Lantern Festival and would celebrate it with them.
Gu Xiuxiu thought that she was going back to spend the New Year with Lu Hongjun. She couldn't help but sigh. No matter his faults, he was still her father, and now that her anger had subsided, she had forgiven him. "Jiaxin, take care and stay safe on the road."
Lu Jiaxin nodded. "Auntie, why don't you come to Sichuan-Jiang City in April next year? The mansion that you bought for me was renovated back in September. I also asked He Bin to buy furniture and appliances, and the air conditioners have been installed."
"If you ever feel bored at home, you can have Mei Auntie and the others take you to the nearby parks. Many of the parks in Sichuan-Jiang City used to be royal gardens, and they're very beautiful."
Gu Xiuxiu, who had rarely left the house, was quite tempted by the idea. She hesitated and asked, "But won't it be inconvenient for me to see a doctor and get my medicine there?"
"It's very convenient to see a doctor there," Lu Jiaxin assured her. "The place we live in isn't far from the hospital. It's a quick drive. As for medicine, just ask the doctor to prescribe more so you can take it with you."
There weren't many cars in the inland areas, so they didn't have to worry about traffic jams. It was very convenient.
"I'll consider it," said Gu Xiuxiu.
Lu Jiaxin smiled. "There's no rush. You still have three months to think about it."
Gu Haifan pulled on Lu Jiaxin's arm, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Sister Jiaxin, when can I come to your place to play?"
Lu Jiaxin patted his shoulder. "The place I'm living in now is rented, and there's nothing much to see. Wait till I've bought a new place and settled in. I'll come and pick you and Auntie up. If you like it there, you two can stay for a few days."
It was impossible for them to live together long-term. Their lifestyles, eating habits, and thoughts were too different. Moreover, Gu Xiuxiu often lost her sanity, and while Lu Jiaxin could tolerate it for a few days, she wouldn't be able to stand it for an extended period.
Gu Haifan happily agreed.
Hearing this, Gu Xiuxiu's mood also improved. It showed that Jiaxin didn't hold a grudge against her for what had happened before.
(End of Chapter)
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