C17 The Little Brother Is a Rich Man

As they entered the villa, they were immediately struck by the stark contrast in decor compared to their ordinary dormitory. The villa was far more opulent and luxurious, the kind of place Zhang Heng had always envied.

Yet, upon entering, Zhang Heng couldn't muster any joy. The thought of returning to his tiny dormitory weighed heavily on him, and his mounting debts did little to lift his spirits.

Guo Yuan noticed his friend's mood almost immediately. "Zhang Heng, do you not like it here? You seem down as soon as you walked in. Is it not to your liking?" he asked with genuine concern.

Zhang Heng's mood soured further at the question. How could he, who lived in a crowded dormitory, dare to find fault with someone else's villa? He replied, "No, that's not it. I actually quite like it here. It's just that today has been overwhelming, so I'm not really in the mood to enjoy it. Please, don't take it personally."

"That makes sense; a lot has happened today. Still, I hope you'll consider letting me be your right-hand man," Guo Yuan said, his smile undimmed.

Suddenly, a maid appeared. "Is there anything I can assist you with?" she inquired.

"No, thank you. Take the day off. I'll handle everything for Zhang Heng today. You go on home and rest," Guo Yuan told her.

Zhang Heng hadn't realized that his limited means had also limited his imagination. He had thought this was as good as it got, never expecting the luxury of having a nanny to manage household chores.

"No need to go to any trouble on my account," Zhang Heng said, feeling awkward.

"It's no trouble at all. After all, I aim to be your loyal follower in the future. Why would I mind such tasks?" Guo Yuan replied with a modest grin.

"I never said I'd definitely agree to have you as my 'little brother,'" Zhang Heng pointed out.

"That's exactly why I'm trying so hard to get your approval. Tell me what you want me to do. I'm ready to serve you in any way, even if it means pouring tea," Guo Yuan offered eagerly.

"I never asked you to pour tea for me," Zhang Heng clarified.

"Then tell me, is there anything you desire? I'm willing to provide it for you," Guo Yuan persisted.

Zhang Heng chuckled to himself, "You're going to give me everything? Who do you think you are, some kind of tycoon?" But then, a sense of unease crept over him.

"Everything?" He pondered internally.

He decided to probe further.

"What exactly can you give me?"

Sensing an opportunity, Guo Yuan eagerly responded.

"What do you desire? A car, a house, money, or perhaps Spirit Stones? I can provide any of these for you."

Zhang Heng could hardly contain his excitement. He had been fretting over his tuition and compensation fees, yet here was a fool ready to foot the bill.

"I have no need for a car or a house. I just want to get through school unscathed," Zhang Heng stated.

"Oh, so you still refuse to take me on as your disciple?" Guo Yuan asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.

But Zhang Heng had no such intention; his comment was merely a ploy to have Guo Yuan clear his debts and cover his tuition.

"You can be my disciple, but I don't have anything to teach you. Think it over carefully," Zhang Heng clarified.

"Absolutely, absolutely. As long as you let me be your disciple, I'm okay with anything. It doesn't matter if you don't teach me anything," Guo Yuan replied with fervor.

"Now that I've agreed, could you do me one favor? Cover the medical expenses..."

"No problem at all, it's a trivial matter. I'll handle the medical fees," Guo Yuan assured him without hesitation.

Zhang Heng mused silently.

A six-figure medical bill was just a 'trivial matter'? His own poverty had truly limited his imagination!

And then it hit him, "There's also the tuition fees..."

"That's even less of a concern. Don't worry, as long as I'm around, you won't go hungry. Whatever you want to do or buy, I've got it covered. Money is the least of my worries," Guo Yuan declared.

Zhang Heng was ecstatic. He hadn't expected that a fight would earn him a disciple who acted like a walking ATM, ready to support whatever he wanted to do. Suddenly, all his worries seemed to vanish.

Today was shaping up to be the happiest day of his life.

"Since that's the case, I'll have to trouble you. If you need any help, feel free to come and find me," Zhang Heng said with appreciation.

"No problem at all. Taking me under your wing is a big deal; these are just minor things in comparison."

"So, do you plan to live around here from now on?" Zhang Heng inquired, puzzled.

Normally, student housing should be quite close to the campus. Yet, there's a villa that's a bit of a distance from the school. It's manageable, but still somewhat far.

"I've been living here for nearly three years, but after meeting you, I've been thinking about switching dorms."

"Oh?"

"Your current dorm room number isn't great, right? Why not move in with me? I've already done you a big favor, and I know there's a two-person dorm available. We could move in together," Guo Yuan suggested.

"A two-person dorm?"

Zhang Heng suddenly recalled that when he first arrived, the dormitory supervisor mentioned the school had admitted more students than usual, leading to a housing crunch. Even the normally vacant Room 444 had been assigned. It seemed unlikely there would be a two-person dorm available.

"Yes, exactly. There's a two-person dorm that's free. Let's move in together," Guo Yuan said cheerfully.

"Whatever you say," Zhang Heng replied.

Truthfully, Zhang Heng wasn't keen on staying in his current dorm, not because of superstitions, but because he had already managed to offend three out of the five roommates. He feared things wouldn't be pleasant for him there moving forward.

Besides, he preferred to keep to himself, so it made sense to accept Guo Yuan's offer.

Still, he suspected that Guo Yuan must have displaced quite a few people to secure that dorm.

"Money really does talk," Zhang Heng mused silently.

"Let's check out our new dorm tomorrow. I've moved my stuff in already. Do you have anything to bring? I can have someone help you with it tomorrow," Guo Yuan offered.

"Not much, really. I didn't bring many belongings to the school. I planned to buy what I needed once I got here," Zhang Heng responded.

"That would be perfect. We can go shopping for clothes together whenever we find the time. I've been meaning to pick up a few new pieces myself," Guo Yuan said with a smile.