Chapter 435 — A Delicate Mind

"I don't mind treating you. What is it you want?" Wei Zhao asked.

"I want shark meat. When are you taking me shark fishing again?" Shen Yushu still could not get shark meat out of her head.

"That... when the chance comes..." Wei Zhao was sweating. Shark meat was not even good, so why was this girl Chen so fixated on it?

This was a group activity second only to the spring outing and the arts festival. Since entering their senior year, extracurricular activities had visibly dwindled, so most students were quite looking forward to this tree-planting outing.

At school, Wei Zhao naturally could not get too close to Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu. After handing them the willow saplings and explaining a few things to mind while planting, he went to find Tang Zhi.

Tang Zhi had brought an elm sapling. The elm was one of the easiest trees to keep alive, much like Wei Zhao's willow.

Tang Zhi brightened when she saw Wei Zhao walk over, though she also hesitated. She had accepted Wei Zhao in her heart, but at school, walking beside him in front of so many classmates still made her a little self-conscious.

"Let's... go over there. There are fewer people over there..." Tang Zhi pointed at a sparsely populated patch of open ground not far away.

"All right." Wei Zhao nodded and reached for Tang Zhi's hand.

Tang Zhi was startled, darting aside like a rabbit trying to flee, but afraid of upsetting Wei Zhao, she shuffled back, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and only then put her small hand in his.

"Heh..." Wei Zhao could not help but find her timidity amusing, yet at the same time it stirred in him a stronger urge to protect her. She was a lovely girl.

"Let me carry that for you." Seeing the shovel and sapling in Tang Zhi's hands, Wei Zhao simply took them and carried them himself. That little weight was nothing to him, but it was rather heavy for Tang Zhi.

Finding a quiet spot, Wei Zhao set the sapling on the ground and got ready to dig.

"This... this seems to be Zou Ruoming's territory. He used to plant trees around here, and he wouldn't let anyone else plant here..." Tang Zhi looked around and said to Wei Zhao.

"I was wondering why there were so few people here. This will do." At the mention of Zou Ruoming's territory, Wei Zhao decided to make use of it.

Tang Zhi covered her mouth and laughed softly at his words. In the past she had been afraid of Zou Ruoming and could not get away from him fast enough, so how would she ever dare to go near? Now, of all things, they had come to plant trees right on his territory!

"Ming, isn't that your territory? Why has someone taken it over?" Yun Lingxi was carrying saplings on his shoulder when he looked up and found that the spot that had always been theirs had been occupied.

"Someone dares to plant trees on my territory? In a bit we'll dig up their trees and throw them out!" Zou Ruoming was furious at Yun Lingxi's words and made to run over, but he had gone only halfway when he stopped dead. "Huh? Is that Wei Zhao?"

"Uh... so are we still going to chase them off..." Yun Lingxi asked cautiously.

"Chase off, my eye! Let's go help!" How would Zou Ruoming dare provoke Wei Zhao? He hastily put on a smiling face and scurried over eagerly. "Boss Wei Zhao, you're here planting trees with Sister-in-law?"

"I hear I'm on your territory? Want me to move somewhere else?" Wei Zhao glanced at Zou Ruoming and asked mildly.

"Boss Wei Zhao, what are you saying? This is all school grounds. How could it be mine? Sure, I planted a few trees around here, but those aren't mine either... And I'll go on planting more next year and the year after, with you and Sister-in-law's trees protected in the middle. I'll be a tree guardian!" Zou Ruoming said fawningly.

"Oh, you've planted quite a lot of trees. Seems you've been here a good few years!" Wei Zhao remarked with a touch of mockery.

"Ha, that's right. Look, all over this hill, several of these trees are mine!" Zou Ruoming said proudly. "This year I mean to plant fruit trees. By next year we can eat the fruit. Will you come back with Sister-in-law then and have some, Boss Wei Zhao?"

"We'll see when there's time." Wei Zhao was utterly speechless. Did Zou Ruoming intend to stay in high school forever and never graduate?

Tang Zhi laughed so hard her whole body shook, and paired with that bright, vivid little face of hers, she had a certain charm of a flower trembling on its branch.

Zou Ruoming stared, dazed for a moment, but he did not dare look long. He knew that the Tang Zhi of today was no longer the Tang Zhi of before; if he still harbored any improper thoughts, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Lingxi, come, let's help Wei Zhao by taking the lead and digging the pits!" Zou Ruoming rolled up his sleeves and made ready to work. In the past he had always found some laborer to do this sort of thing, but today he had no choice but to go into battle himself!

What he wanted now was to calm Wei Zhao's anger as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if Wei Zhao came looking for his family, the whole family would be finished! Even Uncle Yan was no match for Wei Zhao—so what was he?

"All right, we don't need you. Go stand over there." Watching Zou Ruoming's clumsy efforts, Wei Zhao could not help frowning. "From now on, just stay far away from me and Tang Zhi! Don't worry, I generally can't be bothered to squabble with small fry."

"Yes, yes, then I'll be going..." Hearing Wei Zhao's words, Zou Ruoming was overjoyed. Now his personal safety was assured. Even if Wei Zhao regarded him as a small fry—or even as an ant—so long as Wei Zhao did not come looking for trouble, he would accept it!

After Zou Ruoming left, Wei Zhao dug the two pits in a few quick, efficient motions. This sort of thing was simplicity itself for Wei Zhao, and he did it far more neatly than Zou Ruoming.

A flicker of surprise also passed through Tang Zhi's eyes. Only now did she understand: Wei Zhao was no young master at all. Like her, he had endured no small amount of hardship, but his achievements today were entirely the fruit of his own efforts!

Yet the more she saw this, the more uneasy Tang Zhi felt. Wei Zhao was too outstanding, and it left her with no sense of security. She feared that one day Wei Zhao might abandon her and transfer his affections to another!

The only thing Tang Zhi felt any confidence in was her pretty looks—but what use were those? Was Guan Xin not pretty? And her grandfather was Dr. Guan, who was a great help in Wei Zhao's career. Wei Zhao and Guan Xin together—that would be a proper match...

Tang Zhi sighed, shook her head secretly, and forced herself not to think of such things. Wei Zhao surely would not abandon her...

A young girl's thoughts are always delicate and prone to melancholy. Before, she had wished Wei Zhao would stay away from her and stop pestering her; but now she was afraid that Wei Zhao might leave her...