"No money," Mu Bai shook her head.

"Uh..." Lin Chuan looked baffled and said, "How can you not have money? Didn't I give you five million?"

"That's for building the school." Mu Bai frowned, then added, "That money isn't mine..."

At this point, Mu Bai suddenly froze and blurted out, "Lin Chuan, you don't think I bought this car with your money, do you?"

"No." Lin Chuan shook his head and said, "I know you're not that kind of person, but I want to tell you that you are totally free to use the money as you wish."

"The five million is your money, meant for building the school." Mu Bai spoke firmly, "Money meant for the children in poverty, I will definitely not misuse it."

Lin Chuan felt a tiny bit of emotion stirring within him, surprised that this girl was actually so kind, so righteous, so just.

Lin Chuan's face softened with emotion as he looked up at Mu Bai, amazed that she had never even considered using the five million for herself. Instead, she was solely focused on how to put this money to good use, on how to spend it on those children living in poverty.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Mu Bai knitted her brows.

"Because I suddenly find you very beautiful," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Hmph, I've always been naturally beautiful," Mu Bai huffed lightly and then said, "Do I need your compliments?"

"Haha, I'm not flattering you," Lin Chuan laughed heartily.

Mu Bai glared at Lin Chuan, then immediately drove off in the car, an old model Santana with a flat design and manual transmission.

In Lin Chuan's view, a woman who can drive a manual car is a very strong woman. Any woman who can handle a manual car is someone with a strong inner self. And if she can smoothly take the car out on the road, that makes her an even more remarkable woman.

"Mu Bai, why do you dislike me so much?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"Not at all," Mu Bai shook her head, "You're my boss now, how dare I dislike you?"

"But your attitude towards me isn't good!" Lin Chuan protested.

"Just because you're my boss, should I be groveling at your feet?" Mu Bai raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that's not necessary," Lin Chuan said with a smile: "In fact, when you're with me, you could show a little smile. You look the most beautiful when you're smiling."

"I have no time to smile," said Mu Bai as she deftly took a sharp turn, skillfully shifting gears and quickly speeding off.

This time, the dinner was set at the Sheraton Hotel. Despite the high cost, Mu Bai felt it was worth spending more when hosting those retired teachers. After all, they had worked hard all their lives and hadn't received much. Wasn't it only proper to treat them to a pricier dinner? Besides, if this dinner went smoothly, they would be contributing their efforts to the Hope Primary School in the future. If she wasn't willing to spend money on them, then who would be worth the expense?

When they arrived at the Sheraton Hotel, several retired teachers had already reached the hotel entrance by public transit.

"Teacher Deng, Mr. Liu, you're all here," Mu Bai hurried over to greet them.

"Haha, Mu Bai, you've finally arrived," the somewhat older Teacher Deng laughed, "We've been waiting for a while for you."

"I'm really sorry, I've just gone to pick up the donor," Mu Bai quickly pulled Lin Chuan along and said to the teachers, "This is my boss, and also the donor for the Hope Primary School."

"Wow, such a young age, so promising," Teacher Deng looked at Lin Chuan in surprise. Lin Chuan was younger than expected; the fact that someone so young had donated five million was truly astonishing.

"Not at all," Lin Chuan hurriedly shook hands with several teachers, saying, "What's my donation compared to your lifetimes of contribution? You have dedicated your youth entirely to teaching, that's truly admirable. You are our great people's educators."

"Haha…" The teachers seemed very pleased with these words, each one of them beaming with joy.

"Dear teachers, please, this way," Mu Bai quickly said.

"Sure, let's go inside," everyone eagerly nodded.

In the Sheraton Hotel, Mu Bai had organized a nice private room. Along with Lin Chuan and Mu Bai, there were seven people in total, five of whom were the retired teachers Mu Bai had invited. They were all very competent and experienced.

Mu Bai had already ordered a table full of dishes, and as soon as everyone had arrived, the food was swiftly served.

Mu Bai quickly raised her glass and said, "Lin Chuan, to all the teachers, let's hope that our Hope Primary School will be built soon."

"Let's have it built soon!" The teachers nodded in agreement.

After the first glass of wine, Mu Bai raised her glass for a second time, and, looking at Lin Chuan, she said, "This glass is in honor of Lin Chuan, to thank Boss Lin for his generous donation. On behalf of those impoverished students, I express my profound respect for Lin Chuan."

"Exactly, exactly." Several veteran teachers also raised their glasses in agreement.

"You're too kind, too kind," Lin Chuan chuckled.

After a round of toasts, everyone began to eat. Sitting next to Lin Chuan, Mu Bai smiled and said, "Teachers, this time, the planning of Hope Primary School is entirely our own initiative. I've already spoken with the education department, and they support our action. So, I want to ask, for this iteration of Hope Primary School, should we build our own teaching building or should we rent one?"

"Each has its pros and cons," Teacher Deng began. "Building anew would be good, of course, but it takes time, and the renovation may not be healthy for the children. Renting a teaching building, on the other hand, is quite nice. Work can start immediately, and it aligns with the enrollment in September. Additionally, the costs are relatively cheaper."

"Then... let's go with renting," Mu Bai said with a smile.

"That sounds good, good indeed!" Mr. Liu nodded in agreement.

"Renting a teaching building will save us a significant amount of money, and we can help even more impoverished children go to school," Mu Bai stated with a serious face.

Lin Chuan was moved by Mu Bai's earnest attitude. Indeed, this woman was a powerhouse—maintaining serious, proactive, and responsible work ethics, no matter what her role was. This kind of attitude was very touching.

"I have a suggestion," Lin Chuan suddenly said.

"What is it?" Mu Bai asked curiously.

"You can temporarily rent a teaching building, and I will have someone start the site selection and construction of a new teaching building. In about two years, you can move in," Lin Chuan said with a smile: "That way we won't miss a beat."

"Really?" Mu Bai was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Of course, it's true. When have I ever lied to you?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.

"Hmph." Mu Bai snorted softly. She really wanted to say, 'Haven't you already swindled away my chastity?' Yet, with so many people around, it wouldn't do to speak of such things, so she silently kept it to herself. Mu Bai earnestly asked, "Lin Chuan, do you mean what you just said?"

"Of course, I mean it," Lin Chuan declared, patting his chest: "I'm a man who stands by his word."

Snicker...

Mu Bai burst into laughter, her face turning red as she said, "I didn't say you were someone who squats."

"Hehe..." Lin Chuan chuckled.

As the wine flowed freely and the teachers became somewhat excited, one after another they began to express their innermost feelings. They shared desires and dreams long concealed in their hearts. Alas, as the saying goes, 'Feng Tang is old, and Li Guang has difficulty getting rewarded.' Time had shifted the constellations, and these elders, who once harbored deep dreams, were gradually aging; the stage of their era had been taken over by the younger people like Lin Chuan.

"To the teachers, this glass is for you," Lin Chuan continued to urge them to drink, saying, "Thank you for igniting yourselves to light the way for others. You are the greatest engineers of humanity."

"Oh, that's an overstatement," Teacher Deng, with flushed cheeks, said: "Back in my prime college days, I was sent to the countryside with a simple gesture from the great leader. Upon returning, I faced dark times, being paraded and criticized... It took over a decade to clear my name and finally step onto the three-foot podium to become a teacher. Actually, I never liked being a teacher, I preferred to be a poet, wandering to different places, writing the poetry of my heart..."

A dream is, after all, a dream; humans are fragile, and so is life. A slight action could affect one's entire life.

Being born in that dark era, many people's futures were delayed, many lives were destroyed.

Perhaps it was destined by the heavens, or maybe it was karma created by the heavens.

Now, as times have improved, these elders who've lived through dark times can finally stand tall, look up at the sun in the sky, and accept the grace of heaven's dew. For them, it is both the best of times and the worst of times.

After much discussion, the decision was final.

Five veteran teachers became rehired as the school's senior staff, receiving their salaries from Feixiang Company's financial accounts, as did Mu Bai. Thus, Hope Primary School became affiliated with Feixiang Company. In this manner, Mu Bai and the veteran teachers immediately became members of the company.

Leaving the Sheraton Hotel, the five veteran teachers were tipsy, all red-faced and flushed. As Lin Chuan helped them out, they were still animatedly discussing past events. That society was unforgettable for them; it was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.

Lin Chuan helped them into a taxi, which then took the veteran teachers home.

"Mu Bai, what are you doing tonight?" Lin Chuan asked while picking his teeth.

"None of your business?" Mu Bai retorted with a snort.

"How can it not be my business?" Lin Chuan immediately became anxious, looking at Mu Bai and saying, "Don't forget, you are my woman."

"You... what nonsense are you talking about?" Mu Bai glared at Lin Chuan, saying, "When did I become your woman?"

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