AD (QT) Chapter 87

Liu Qianliu rushed upstairs in a panic, leaving Xiao Locheng staring after her in frustration. She was annoyed that her “drama-loving” stepmother had eavesdropped on her private conversation with Han Doudou. Knowing Liu Qianliu, she was definitely heading upstairs to stir up trouble with Uncle Han.

Xiao Locheng groaned, feeling like she had accidentally sabotaged Han Doudou. She quickly sent a text to warn her and apologize: My mom was home and heard everything. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know she was listening!

When Han Doudou received the text, her heart skipped a beat. She knew adults—especially her mother—tended to blow things out of proportion. If this wasn’t handled correctly, it might even negatively affect He Lan.

After tossing and turning in bed, Han Doudou decided to take the initiative. Since it was late and her roommates were asleep, she hid under her blanket and texted Han Ze, asking if her mother had called to say anything ridiculous. She followed up with a firm promise: Dad, don’t believe her. I am not in a relationship.

Han Ze, who had been lying awake after Liu Qianliu’s frantic call, replied almost instantly: “The Daughter’s Code says no early dating. I believe that since you made a promise to me, you will keep your word. You won’t break it.”

Han Doudou stared at the screen, her eyes stinging. “Dad, you really believe me?”

“My daughter? Of course I believe you.”

Seeing those words, Han Doudou felt a surge of relief and a strange sense of heartache. She sniffed and replied: “Dad, thank you!”

When Han Doudou shared the news with Xiao Locheng, her stepsister was skeptical. “Is Uncle Han just saying he believes you to lower your guard? A psychological tactic?”

Han Doudou rolled her eyes and texted back: “No way. We have the Rulebooks. I’m bound by the rules, and he trusts the rules.” She then spent several minutes explaining the mutual “Dad’s Code” and “Daughter’s Code” to her friend.

Xiao Locheng was deeply impressed. “You two are really interesting. It sounds unreliable, but if it actually works to constrain you both, it’s a great method. Maybe my dad should learn from Uncle Han.”

…

When the mid-term results were posted, Han Doudou had jumped from 20th place to 12th in the class. The teacher praised her specifically for her rapid improvement. Han Doudou felt empowered; she realized that “hard work pays off” wasn’t just a cliché—she had truly put in the effort, ignoring the distractions of Xu Yining’s expensive clothes and shoes.

Meanwhile, Xu Yining’s grades had plummeted. Once a top-five student in the grade, she had fallen out of the top ten, ranking only fifth even within their own class. Her face turned pale when she heard the teacher praising Han Doudou’s progress.

After class, Han Doudou turned to He Lan. “Teacher He, thanks to your tutoring and supervision, my grades improved so much. To show my gratitude, I’d like to treat you to dinner.”

Xu Yining’s fake smile finally cracked. Before He Lan could answer, she interrupted: “Doudou, He Lan helped you out of classmate spirit. If you treat him to dinner, won’t it look like he only helped you for a meal? Don’t underestimate him; given his family background, does he really need you to buy him dinner?”

He Lan shot a sharp, piercing look at Xu Yining. She felt a twinge of guilt but quickly brushed it off. What could Han Doudou possibly afford with her meager 200–300 yuan weekly allowance? A cheap stall? Why would He Lan care about a meal worth a few dozen yuan?

Han Doudou didn’t know anything about He Lan’s family background. “It’s the thought that counts,” she said, scratching her head. “I might not have much, but I can afford a meal.”

Actually, Han Doudou had saved up quite a bit. Between her mother’s frequent “guilt” money and the 2,000 yuan Uncle Xiao had given her, she had nearly 3,000 yuan in her pocket.

“Fine. I accept,” He Lan said.

Since it was Friday and there was no evening study session, Han Doudou called Han Ze to report her grades and ask for permission to stay out for dinner. “Dad, I want to treat the classmate who helped me study. It’s a male classmate.”

Han Ze laughed. “You don’t have to be so blunt. I trust you.”

“Thanks, Dad! I’ll come straight home after eating.”

When Doudou hung up and shared that her father agreed, Xu Yining’s voice turned shrill. “Your dad is okay with you eating alone with a boy? He’s very open-minded.”

“It’s because he knows I won’t do anything inappropriate,” Doudou replied. “It’s the trust between us.”

“Are you sure you won’t do anything inappropriate? Or start a relationship?” Xu Yining pressed aggressively.

Doudou frowned. “I won’t date until I get into college, at least.” She looked at Yining curiously. “Yining, you seem more worried about my dating life than my dad is.”

Xu Yining quickly covered. “I just don’t want your grades to drop again. We’re friends, after all.”

“I see,” Doudou said. Then, she dropped a bomb: “Yining, your grades dropped quite a bit this time. Was it because you’re dating Pan Hao?”

“What are you talking about?!” Yining shrieked, her voice sharp and panicked. She looked at He Lan, but he had already turned back to his work. “Doudou, don’t talk nonsense! Pan Hao and I are just childhood friends. He’s the one who likes you and confessed to you!”

“I don’t like Pan Hao,” Doudou said firmly.

She watched as Yining tried to forcefully pair her with Pan Hao again. For the first time, Han Doudou was genuinely suspicious. What exactly is Xu Yining’s goal here?