Chapter 957: Calculating Scholar 12

Tang Wan was no longer the original owner—how could she possibly let this scumbag look at her feet?

She quickly shook her head, her expression turning slightly embarrassed. “No… my feet are rubbed raw. They don’t look good.”

Hearing this, Li Fuze assumed she was worried he might find them unsightly. His expression immediately softened, and he said in a doting tone, “What are you afraid of? I wouldn’t dislike you.”

If it had been the original Tang Wan, she would have felt shy and touched upon hearing this. But now, Tang Wan only felt a wave of disgust rise in her stomach.

“I know Brother Afu wouldn’t dislike me, but I dislike it myself,” she replied calmly. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back inside to rest. Don’t you still need to study? You shouldn’t stay here too long.”

It was a clear dismissal.

Hearing this, Li Fuze’s expression immediately turned dejected, followed by a bitter smile. “Actually… I’m not planning to study anymore.”

In his mind, he was already calculating. Tang Wan liked him—once she heard this, she would surely ask why. Then he could bring up the issue of money, and she would become even more anxious than he was, perhaps even offering help on her own.

But what he didn’t expect was—

“Really? That’s great!” Tang Wan said with a bright smile.

Li Fuze froze.

Great?

Had he heard that right?

“Wan Wan… what did you just say?” he asked, staring at her as if he hadn’t caught it clearly.

Seeing his reaction, Tang Wan repeated cheerfully, “I said that’s great! Didn’t you just say you’re not going to study anymore, Brother Afu?”

“Yes… but why do you think that’s a good thing?” Li Fuze asked, unconsciously tightening his grip on the fruit and ointment in his hands.

Tang Wan immediately spoke with a happy expression. “Because continuing to study costs a lot of money. Uncle and Auntie are already getting older—how can they keep supporting you like that? Besides, you’re already a xiucai. You can find a decent job in town.”

She paused slightly, her expression gradually turning shy, as if hinting at something. “And… you’re already at the age where you should be getting married…”

To an outsider, it looked like a bashful suggestion.

But after hearing her words, Li Fuze’s heart sank, and his eyes turned cold.

As expected—short-sighted.

What did she know? Being a mere xiucai was nothing. He was destined to become the top scholar and rise to the pinnacle of power!

Suppressing his irritation, he forced a reluctant expression onto his face. “What you said makes sense, but… I’m still unwilling to give up. If my family’s conditions were better, perhaps I could continue studying. When I succeed in the future, whether for my family or for you… everything would be better.”

Inwardly, he thought: Now she should bring up ways to raise money.

But once again, Tang Wan didn’t follow his script.

Instead, she tilted her head and looked at him with a puzzled expression. “So… do you actually want to continue studying or not?”

Without waiting, she added earnestly, “Honestly, being a xiucai is already impressive. It doesn’t matter if you continue or not. You can’t just think about yourself—Uncle and Auntie work very hard to earn money.”

Her tone was sincere, as if she truly believed he was already doing well enough.

But inwardly, she sneered.

What does your success have to do with me?

Dreaming big is easy—but I’m not the one who’s going to pay for it.