Yu Hang asked Chiang Xiao, "Which one do you like?"
Chiang Xiao headed straight for the ice room on the left that seemed brighter.
As they entered, it was as if they brought a ray of sunshine with them, drawing many glances their way.
Two stylish boys who were both quite handsome and a very pretty girl made for a combination that was simply too eye-catching.
However, the trio paid no attention to the stares of others.
They found a seat by the window and settled down.
"What would you like to eat? Red Bean Ice?" Yu Hang pushed a laminated menu with black print on white paper towards Chiang Xiao.
"Then Red Bean Ice," Chiang Xiao said without bothering to look further.
Yu Hang smiled and replied, "I’ll have Red Bean Ice too." Then, pushing the menu to Xi Minghui, he added, "Don’t get Red Bean Ice. You choose something else."
Xi Minghui gave him an annoyed glance and said, "Oh wow, the dynamic duo. I’m so scared."
He ordered Green Bean Ice.
The orders were delivered swiftly, and although the ice treats were not as varied as they would become in the future, in this scorching afternoon heat, the simple, cool, and sweet delights were already very popular.
After a couple of bites, Chiang Xiao asked, "What’s up? Spit it out."
Yu Hang and Xi Minghui exchanged a glance; Xi Minghui put down his spoon, leaned in a bit closer, and asked Chiang Xiao, "You are Xiao Chiang, right? The one who won first prize at the art competition?"
Since they had already come out and asked this directly, they must have confirmed it beforehand and were now looking for the final affirmation.
Chiang Xiao did not plan to conceal her identity in this matter and simply nodded, "Yes, it’s me."
Yu Hang and Xi Minghui looked at each other again, both with a hint of surprise in their eyes.
They both looked at Chiang Xiao and then Yu Hang pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and slid it across to Chiang Xiao.
"An agreement," said Yu Hang, his expression more serious than ever. "Take a look."
Chiang Xiao unfolded the paper to reveal Yu Hang’s handwriting. Having shared a desk with him for a month and a half, she recognized his script.
Yu Hang had very nice handwriting.
He was likely the kind of perfect school hunk you read about in novels: tall, handsome, a top student, great at sports, with beautiful handwriting. No wonder he had already received over a dozen love letters just a month and a half after starting school.
Within half a month, Chiang Xiao would paint four pictures for them, and they would pay her one thousand yuan for each. If one of the paintings fulfilled their purpose, they’d give her an additional five thousand yuan. However, they could only provide an initial deposit of one thousand yuan, and the rest would be paid off within the next two years.
"So you’re saying, you want to buy four paintings from me for a thousand yuan each, and you need them within half a month?" After reading the agreement, Chiang Xiao felt speechless and quite puzzled.
What did they want her paintings for?
And according to what Fu Mingfeng had said, they should be well off. If her work really met their expectations, couldn’t they afford the total of nine thousand yuan?
Hearing her rhetorical question, Xi Minghui’s face showed a trace of embarrassment. His eyes shifted away as if he felt it was a disgrace and was too ashamed to meet her gaze again.
A thousand yuan for four paintings and needing two years to pay off nine thousand yuan; it really was a loss of face for the Xi Family.
Yu Hang, on the other hand, met her eyes unabashedly. "Yes, that’s the idea, which is why we’re asking for your help."
If they had the full amount, it would have simply been a sale.
Chiang Xiao leaned back, "And the reason is?"