Moving Out

Jiang Xizhi had already told her parents about Zhou Yining, so when the two of them returned, Liang Jing and Jiang Yueyi weren’t surprised.

“Yining, feel free to stay here.

We have so much space in this house, stay as long as you like.

I’ve already had someone prepare a room for you, right next to Zhizhi’s room,” Liang Jing said with a smile.

“Thank you, Auntie. I’m sorry for the intrusion,” Zhou Yining politely thanked her.

“No trouble at all, no trouble.

Go put your luggage away and settle in.

Zhizhi, go with Yining,” Liang Jing said with a smile.

“Okay, Mom, you don’t have to worry about it.

I’ll take care of Zhou Zhou from now on,” Jiang Xizhi said, her face full of smiles.

She was so happy that Zhou Yining was coming to stay.

“Let’s go, let’s put away your luggage,” Jiang Xizhi said, pulling Zhou Yining upstairs.

Zhou Yining opened the door to the room next to Jiang Xizhi’s.

The room was fully furnished; she didn’t need to prepare anything else.

“Zhou Zhou, see if there’s anything missing. Should I have them buy it tomorrow?” Jiang Xizhi asked.

“No need, it’s already very good.” Zhou Yining released the suitcase and reached out to hug Jiang Xizhi.

“I’m so glad I have you. Otherwise, I would have had to stay in a hotel for the next few days.”

“I wouldn’t let you stay in a hotel. Wherever I am, you’ll be there,” Jiang Xizhi said, nuzzling Zhou Yining’s chest.

Zhou Yining reached out and patted her lower back.

“Okay, I have to unpack first. You should go settle in too. It’s almost ten o’clock.”

“Okay, then I’ll go take a shower first, and then come find you in a bit.”

“Okay,” Zhou Yining said, starting to unpack her suitcase.

Jiang Xizhi went back to take a shower and changed into her nightgown.

Before going to find Zhou Yining, she went to see Jiang Yueyi again, asking her to find a lawyer to help Zhou Yining sue her parents.

After saying that, Jiang Xizhi planned to leave Jiang Yueyi’s room.

As she was leaving, Jiang Yueyi said, “I feel like you’re really happy that Zhou Yining has cut ties with her family.”

“Of course! Zhou Zhou’s family are all wolves and tigers, and she’s just a little lamb.

Now that the little lamb has escaped from the wolves’ mouths, of course I’m happy for her,” Jiang Xizhi said with a straight face.

“I feel like there’s another reason,” Jiang Yueyi said, looking at Jiang Xizhi.

“What reason?”

Jiang Yueyi pursed her lips and shook her head.

“Never mind, you should go back. It’s so late, you have to go to school tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Jiang Xizhi replied, leaving in a very good mood.

When she went to Zhou Yining’s room, Zhou Yining wasn’t there.

There was the sound of water in the bathroom.

Jiang Xizhi guessed that Zhou Yining had gone to take a shower.

She lay down on the large bed.

The mattress on this bed was the same as the one in her room; it was soft and comfortable.

Jiang Xizhi simply lay down on the bed, covered herself with the quilt, and waited for Zhou Yining to come out.

Since Zhou Zhou was staying at her house, of course, she would sleep with Zhou Zhou.

Sure enough, when Zhou Yining came out of the bathroom, she saw that Jiang Xizhi was already lying in bed.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

“Want to sleep together?”

Jiang Xizhi quickly nodded.

“Yes, definitely.”

“Okay, let’s sleep together.” Zhou Yining didn’t mind.

She quickly got into bed.

It was almost 11 o’clock.

After Zhou Yining got into bed, Jiang Xizhi quickly rolled into her arms.

Zhou Yining held her close, her eyes curving.

The little fox was still so cute.

Jiang Xizhi nuzzled her neck and commanded, “Zhou Zhou, turn off the big light.”

“Okay.” Zhou Yining put one arm around Jiang Xizhi’s back and used the other to turn off the light.

Only the bedside lamp remained on in the room.

Zhou Yining seemed to have thought of something and asked, “By the way, have you finished your homework?”

Jiang Xizhi sighed in Zhou Yining’s arms and reached out to pinch the soft flesh on Zhou Yining’s waist.

Zhou Yining gasped.

“What are you doing?”

“Hmph, all you know is studying.

Stop saying such boring things.

I finished my homework a long time ago,” Jiang Xizhi muttered.

Zhou Yining chuckled and pulled her closer.

“Okay, okay, I asked too much.

Let’s go to sleep.

We have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Jiang Xizhi replied, adjusting her posture and lying obediently in Zhou Yining’s arms without moving.

Zhou Yining turned off the bedside lamp and set the alarm.

In the following days, she and Jiang Xizhi went to and from school together.

After several consecutive days, Shi Yuanyuan and Si Yaqing noticed something was off.

After dinner on Friday night, Shi Yuanyuan tentatively asked, “Zhizhi, are you and Zhou Yining living together?”

Jiang Xizhi hadn’t finished drinking a mouthful of water.
Hearing this, she choked on the water and coughed several times before recovering.
“Living together?”

“I mean, we’ve seen you go to and from school together these past few days.”

“Yeah, she’s staying at my house now, but the term ‘living together’ sounds weird.
What’s wrong?” Jiang Xizhi asked, puzzled.

Shi Yuanyuan pursed her lips and complained about Jiang Xizhi eight hundred times in her heart.

They were so lovey-dovey; who would believe they weren’t a couple?

Zhou Yining received the 50,000 yuan prize money from the essay contest.

However, she didn’t have time to look for a house, so she simply scheduled a visit with the real estate agent for Sunday.

Zhou Yining also told Chen Yitong that she had the money for the lawyer’s fees for her and Lin Shaohui’s case, which was still in progress.

After running laps, Zhou Yining went to the teachers’ office to find Chen Yitong.

When Chen Yitong saw her coming, she asked, “What’s up?”

“Teacher, I have the money for the lawyer’s fees now.
I

thought I’d pay you back now,” Zhou Yining said.

“Did you receive the prize money from the essay contest?” Chen Yitong asked.

Zhou Yining nodded.

“Yes, it arrived this morning.”

“The money for the lawyer isn’t urgent.

You can pay me back when you’re older.

You still need to use the 50,000 yuan for studying and living expenses.

You’ve left home now, and you’ll need money for many things in the future.”

“Teacher Chen, don’t worry.

I have other money besides this 50,000 yuan.

You really don’t have to worry about money for me.

I don’t like owing people money.

If you don’t accept it, I’ll be thinking about it all the time, and I’ll feel even worse.”

Zhou Yining was telling the truth.
She planned to pay back Chen Yitong first, and then save up her royalties to pay back Jiang Xizhi.

“Where would a student like you get other money?

You’re still in your third year of high school.

Don’t go out and work part-time again.

It’s too tiring.”

“Teacher, it’s really okay. Please just take the money, or I won’t be able to sleep at night,” Zhou Yining continued.

Seeing her so insistent on returning the money, Chen Yitong had no choice but to compromise.

“Then just give me 2,000 yuan.”

“Teacher! I’m not a child.

A case with such a long timeline can’t be that cheap.

I think 20,000 yuan is probably more like it,” Zhou Yining guessed.

Chen Yitong pursed her lips.

Zhou Yining was right on the money.

However, Chen Yitong was using a lawyer from her own company, so there weren’t really any fees.

“It’s not that expensive. Then make it 5,000 yuan.”

“Teacher, I’ve looked up how much similar cases cost online.

I’ve transferred the money to you on WeChat. Please accept it,” Zhou Yining said, transferring 20,000 yuan to Chen Yitong.

Chen Yitong looked at the transfer and sighed.

“Do you really have enough money yourself?”

Zhou Yining nodded.

“Yes, don’t worry, Teacher.

I really have enough.

Please accept it quickly.”

Seeing that she insisted on her accepting it, Chen Yitong had no choice but to click “Accept.”

“Accepted it. Are you satisfied now?” Chen Yitong smiled helplessly at her.

Zhou Yining nodded.

“Thank you, Teacher. Then I’ll go back to class.”

“Okay, go,” Chen Yitong said, watching Zhou Yining’s departing figure, slightly relieved.

She had been paying close attention to Zhou Yining these past few days, afraid that Zhou Yining wouldn’t be able to think things through.

Now it seemed that she had been overthinking.

Zhou Yining didn’t seem to have any attachment to that family at all, which was good.

On Sunday morning, Zhou Yining looked at a few apartments with the real estate agent.

In the end, she chose an elevator apartment near the school.

The apartment wasn’t large, only a little over 30 square meters, but it was newly renovated and perfect for someone to move in with just their bags.

Zhou Yining simply settled on this one.

The rent was 900 yuan per month, and she paid a year’s rent in advance, plus a 2,000 yuan security deposit.

She also paid the real estate agent a 1,000 yuan commission fee.

All at once, Zhou Yining spent 13,800 yuan.

Adding the 20,000 yuan she returned to Chen Yitong, Zhou Yining only had a little over 16,000 yuan left from the 50,000 yuan prize money.

However, she also had over 3,000 yuan from the previous compensation money and royalties.

In total, she had almost 20,000 yuan.

This money definitely wasn’t enough, especially since she hadn’t paid back Jiang Xizhi’s lawyer’s fees yet.

However, Zhou Yining was still relieved.

After getting the keys, she reset the password for the electronic lock before leaving.

Zhou Yining went back for lunch.

In the afternoon, she went to Zhong Yumo’s house to tutor her in math, staying busy until after dinner before returning to Jiang Xizhi’s house to pack her things.

While Zhou Yining was packing, Jiang Xizhi looked at her pitifully.

“You really rented an apartment?”

“Yeah, I really rented one. If you don’t want to go home for lunch tomorrow, you can go to my place.

The apartment complex I rented is right next to the school,” Zhou Yining said with a smile while packing her things.

“Okay then.” Seeing that she was determined to leave, Jiang Xizhi didn’t say anything else.

However, when Zhou Yining left, Jiang Xizhi insisted on having the driver take her there.

Zhou Yining was carrying a suitcase and didn’t want to refuse, so she didn’t decline.

After she got home, she put her luggage back and went downstairs to buy daily necessities.

There was a supermarket near the school that usually closed at 9 PM.

Zhou Yining simply wandered around inside.

She needed to buy toothbrushes, towels, and slippers.

There were also no comforters or sheets here.

Zhou Yining bought a full shopping cart of things.

After Zhou Yining got home, she organized everything from 8 PM to 10 PM before taking a shower.

After showering, Zhou Yining opened her computer and started saving drafts, writing until 12 AM before going to bed.

After she lay down, she only felt a sense of relief.

Although she had been staying with Jiang Xizhi, it wasn’t as comfortable as having her own private space.

Zhou Yining felt that today was the happiest day since she had transmigrated.

She had handled all the bad things she had encountered pretty well.

She had also escaped from her toxic family and now had a new apartment.

Next, she could focus on making money in her own little home!

Thinking this, Zhou Yining closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.