Chapter 38: The Zhao Siblings

"Xia Yu, Wu Yaozu."

Zhao Ruohan looked at Xia Yu and the chubby Wu with a mix of surprise and shyness, yet she still greeted them.

Zhao Ruohan was a classmate of theirs. Standing at 1.78 meters tall, she was taller than many of the boys. With her excellent academic record, she was considered a goddess by many of her male peers. Unlike most girls in Xishu Province who possessed fiery temperaments, she was gentle and reserved, often blushing even when speaking to others. This made her an outlier in the region, which ironically led many boys to tease her just to see her blush and get flustered.

Xia Yu, however, was not one for such trivial games. He and Zhao Ruohan were not particularly close; their only real interaction had been as dance partners during a class event. After all, with a height of 1.90 meters, he was one of the few boys tall enough to match her.

He knew that Zhao Ruohan’s family background was difficult. In recent months, her father had fallen severely ill and had been hospitalized, incurring massive medical bills. The school had once organized a fundraiser, and Xia Yu had contributed a thousand yuan—not a fortune, but a gesture of goodwill.

The person currently at the grill was her older brother, Zhao Ruoxuan. Since their father’s illness, the family’s sole source of income had vanished. To pay for the treatment, the siblings had exhausted their savings. With summer vacation underway, they had decided to run a barbecue stall to make ends meet, with Zhao Ruohan helping out. Unfortunately, business was poor; they were newcomers without regulars, and Zhao Ruoxuan’s cooking lacked the refined touch of the nearby stalls.

"What would you like to eat?" Zhao Ruohan asked, standing before them. Her height made the chubby Wu feel somewhat pressured.

Her gaze lingered on Xia Yu. At school, he was highly popular—tall, handsome, and consistently ranked in the top three academically. He had no scandals, his father was the master of the Starlight City Gym, and his brother was the master of the Red Lotus City Gym. These factors had made him the center of attention since freshman year. Though she rarely joined in the gossip, their dance had made her feel slightly more familiar with him, and she hadn't expected to run into him here.

She wore an apron over her jeans and a pair of worn-out white sneakers, yet this did not diminish her beauty; instead, it gave her a fresh, ethereal charm.

"What do you want to eat, Fatty?" Xia Yu turned to ask.

"Whatever's fine."

"Then let's do this: two skewers of everything, both meat and vegetable." They had eaten not long ago and couldn't possibly finish it all, but seeing a classmate in need, Xia Yu wanted to help within his means.

"Ah, you won't be able to eat all that. It’ll be a waste," Zhao Ruohan said, concerned.

Xia Yu chuckled. Most vendors wanted customers to order as much as possible, but she was the opposite. "It's fine, Fatty eats a lot."

Wu Yaozu: "???"

"Alright then," Zhao Ruohan nodded and went to prepare the skewers.

"Damn it, Xia Yu, I can't eat that much," Wu whispered once she was out of earshot.

"I believe in you. Just think of it as charity. Her family is in a tough spot, so just eat up," Xia Yu replied. "If we can't finish, we'll pack it to go."

"That's more like it."

As they spoke, Zhao Ruoxuan’s phone rang. He walked away to answer, his voice low and desperate: "Yes, yes, I’ll bring the money tomorrow, Dr. Li. Please, I beg you, my father cannot be discharged. Please find a way. We will definitely bring the money tomorrow, I promise, no delays. Please, don't worry."

Hearing the humility in the brother’s voice, Xia Yu and Wu felt a pang of discomfort. Wu, despite his lecherous nature, was fundamentally kind-hearted. "Xia Yu, shouldn't we help out?"

"How?" Xia Yu tilted his head.

"Give them money," Wu said simply. Both of their families were well-off; if she needed money, they could just provide it.

Xia Yu shook his head with a smile. "And then what? What if his illness is chronic and requires long-term medication? Can you keep paying forever? And if another classmate’s family member gets sick, will you pay for them too?"

Xia Yu thought further ahead. Unless it was a loved one or someone he owed a debt of gratitude to, he avoided simply handing over cash. Giving a man a fish was not as good as teaching him to fish; once you start, the nature of the relationship changes. If you help once, they may come to expect it. If you eventually refuse, they might forget your past kindness and grow resentful.

"Then what do you suggest?" Wu asked, deflated.

"We'll see," Xia Yu replied. He hadn't yet figured out how to help, but he admired Zhao Ruohan’s diligence. She deserved a future in university, on a bigger stage.

The skewers arrived. To be honest, the food was mediocre and lacked any distinct flavor.

"How does it taste?" Zhao Ruohan asked curiously. Since there were no other customers, she stayed by their table like a personal server.

"Not bad," Wu said, pretending to enjoy it. He hated to hurt anyone's feelings.

"It's not great," Xia Yu said bluntly. "The flavor is lacking; it tastes like a beginner's work."

Zhao Ruohan looked saddened. "I’m sorry... my brother only started the stall a few days ago. He’s not very skilled yet."

"How about this? Have your brother stand by me and watch. I'll teach you."

"You know how to grill?" Wu asked, skeptical.

"We'll see. Zhao, you don't mind if I try, do you?" Xia Yu smiled.

"I... I need to ask my brother," she whispered.

Xia Yu stood up and walked to the stall. His 1.90-meter frame startled Zhao Ruoxuan, who feared trouble. After his sister explained, Zhao Ruoxuan understood. He had already noticed the two boys; their clothes and shoes were expensive, marking them as rich kids. He was wary of them, especially the handsome, wealthy Xia Yu, fearing he might lead his sister astray.

"Brother Zhao, how much do you earn a day?" Xia Yu asked.

"Business is slow, but we make about seven or eight hundred," Zhao Ruoxuan answered honestly.

"How much is still owed for your father's medical bills?"

"Twelve hundred."

"Alright, I have an idea. I'll give you the twelve hundred now. I'll take over the stall for the night, and I guarantee you'll get that amount regardless of how much we sell. But if we make more than that, I take ninety percent of the profit, and you two have to act as my assistants. How about it?"

"Of course, no problem. Please, take my spot," Zhao Ruoxuan agreed immediately, not about to turn down the money.

"Good. Fatty, pay the man."

"???"