"One hundred yuan? That's so much. I wonder what your husband does to earn so much money," Cao Yanyan feigned surprise.
Cheng Tao was very pleased with her surprised expression, which greatly satisfied her vanity.
"My husband is a businessman. In the past, many people looked down on those who did business. But look, this watch I'm wearing was bought in Shanghai, it cost over two hundred."
Fang Yunbao was a bit speechless. This was a school, not a place for showing off.
As if anyone didn't know she only got in because of money.
"You're so rich, yet you treat us to a meal. You must have a kind heart. Cheng Tao, you're truly wonderful. Those classmates who can't afford to eat are not as lucky as we are," Cao Yanyan sighed repeatedly, as if genuinely pitying the students who couldn't afford meals.
Cheng You, who was buried in her food, suddenly chimed in, "Doesn't our school have poverty grants?"
Fang Yunbao nodded, "Yes, but I heard the school is short on funds."
Cao Yanyan chimed in with them, "If only some rich person could donate a sum of money to support poor students. Perhaps they'd be recognized as an outstanding alumnus later?"
Cheng You nodded seriously, "Definitely! Maybe some rich person will really come and donate money. After all, rich people now love to earn a good reputation."
The three chatted like this. Cheng Tao always felt they were talking to her, but neither of them spoke to her directly.
After the meal, the group got up to return to their dormitories to rest.
Cheng Tao was a transfer student and the school hadn't assigned her a dormitory. She wanted to go back with them to rest, but Fang Yunbao refused, "We're not used to sleeping with people we don't know well."
Cheng Tao was a bit angry, "I just treated you to a meal!"
Fang Yunbao was unapologetic, "You chose to treat us, we didn't force you to."
"You!"
Cheng Tao glared at her. Treating them to a meal was worse than donating the money to the school to help poor students!
As soon as they returned to the dormitory, Fang Yunbao couldn't help but ask, "Cheng You, do you have a grudge against her?"
Cheng You didn't know how to explain to them that she wasn't holding a grudge, she simply found her disgusting.
"Her mother and my father remarried," she replied after some thought.
One sentence couldn't convey the complexity of the situation; it was difficult to explain the twists and turns to them.
Fang Yunbao hadn't expected this, "You're sisters with her? No wonder her surname is also Cheng."
Cheng You shook her head, unwilling to say more.
"Yunbao, let's go to sleep," Cao Yanyan reminded her.
After they woke up from their nap, Cheng Tao had already spoken with the teacher about sponsoring poor students. Su Jinwen's impression of her had improved slightly. While her academic performance wasn't great, she was a kind-hearted person.
"On behalf of the students of this school, I thank you."
Cheng Tao raised her head with a sense of pride, "Teacher, shouldn't this good deed be announced to the classmates?"
Su Jinwen was surprised, "Yes, I'll announce it shortly." Donating two thousand yuan at once to help classmates was no small sum.
Hearing Su Jinwen announce the matter in front of the whole class, Fang Yunbao couldn't help but give Cheng You a thumbs-up. Successful manipulation.
This Cheng Tao was clearly foolish and rich. On her first day at school, she had already spent two thousand yuan. She wondered what her husband would think. But she clearly didn't consider that. Her vanity was greatly satisfied by the surprised glances of her classmates.
"Cheng You, if you ever run out of money for meals in the future, you can come to me. After all, I'm your sister, and it's only right for me to help you."
Cheng You let out a scoff, "Thanks, but I don't need it. However, since you're so kind-hearted, I'm sure you'd be willing to sponsor some money for everyone each month, right? Tens of yuan are not too little, and hundreds are not too much. It would be enough for those poor students to have something to eat. After all, your monthly food expenses are a hundred yuan."
Hearing Cheng You's words, many people looked over.
"A hundred yuan?"
"She must be from a wealthy family!"
"What does Cheng Tao's family do? They're so rich."
"No wonder she could donate two thousand yuan at once. She's incredibly wealthy."
"..."
Cheng Tao felt a swell of pride, being praised higher and higher by everyone. Carried away, she generously declared, "In that case, I will donate an additional two hundred yuan each month to subsidize the poor students in our class."
The crowd gasped. Truly a grand gesture. Fang Yunbao covered her mouth and secretly chuckled. Cheng You was too heartless.
Since Su Jinwen was also present, the matter was settled.
After the excitement subsided, Cheng Tao's heart ached faintly. That was two hundred yuan! It was enough for her to buy a new watch. How could she have given it away like that? But with so many people watching, she had no room for regret.
When she returned home after school, the nanny brought the child forward.
"Cheng Tao, how was your first day at school?"
Cheng Tao forced a smile, "It was okay."
When Zhao Yunlin came out from inside, she told him about the events at school that day. After all, the two thousand yuan had only been mentioned to the teacher and hadn't been donated yet.
Zhao Yunlin's face darkened after listening.
"Two thousand yuan, and you just gave it away!"
Cheng Tao mumbled, "Those students were too pitiful. I felt a surge of sympathy and donated two thousand. This is the only time, I promise it won't happen again!"
Zhao Yunlin's face turned ashen, "I've already spent two thousand on your schooling. The savings account only has four thousand yuan left. That's not even enough to buy a decent house, and you've just given away two thousand. Are you out of your mind?" Although he earned well, Cheng Tao had been poor for too long and was now extravagant. Renting a house, hiring a nanny, supporting his wife and child – all these added up to a considerable expense.
Cheng Tao shrunk her neck. She didn't know what had gotten into her at the time.
"Since I've already said it, you can't make me go back on my word, right? Cheng You is in the same class as me. If I don't give the money, she'll think you're incapable."
Zhao Yunlin's face stiffened, "What did you say? Cheng You is in the same class as you?"
"Yes, I treated them to lunch today. Her life doesn't seem that good either."
Cheng Tao was extremely satisfied. She firmly believed her judgment was correct; Zhao Yunlin was the future richest man.
Zhao Yunlin's expression softened slightly. He, like Cheng Tao, began to feel proud and complacent. If Cheng You had married him back then, she wouldn't be living like this now. He had already imagined Cheng You stretching every penny.
"Cheng You is watching. I just wanted her to see how capable my man is now and make her regret it," Cheng Tao understood his mindset.
Zhao Yunlin nodded, "Alright then. It's a good deed, after all. Who can blame us for being rich? But this is a one-time thing. If you ever promise to spend money again, I won't be responsible for you."
Cheng Tao nodded repeatedly, secretly lamenting. She absolutely dared not tell him that she had also agreed to donate two hundred yuan every month. This meant she would have to find a way to cover that two hundred yuan herself.