SED ### Chapter 5: Don't Need Your Charity

" 'The cart will find its way around the hill, the boat will straighten when it reaches the bridge'? Who came up with that saying? I've never heard it before, but it makes a lot of sense," Fatty Su muttered.

"By the way, speaking of the graduation ceremony," Song Qingshan interjected, "our department is doing something new this time. After the graduation ceremony, there will be a performance showcase for all the graduates from our class of 2010. The best performance will win a prize of 200,000 yuan."

"Is that for real?" Fatty Su jumped up, "200,000 yuan? Are you sure it's not the school but our department giving out the money?"

"It's not from our department," Bai Liansheng chimed in. "This showcase is sponsored by Senior Sister Liu Qiqi. She came to our department to select roles for her MV but couldn't find suitable ones. Since she happened to be here for our graduation ceremony, she suggested we hold a showcase to promote our department and to cast for her MV."

"Liu Qiqi!" Fatty Su's eyes lit up. "She's a big star from our drama academy, who became a top singer in just two years. Is she really coming to our school for casting?"

"Fatty, why are you so excited?" Liu Zixia felt a bit nauseated, "Liu Qiqi is coming to our department to select people. What's it got to do with you?"

"Why not?" Fatty Su puffed up his round belly, "If she doesn't pick me as the lead in her MV, it's her loss. You'll see, Senior Sister will definitely choose me. By then..."

"Forget it, you don't even qualify for the showcase!" Song Qingshan interrupted him unceremoniously, "I think this is a great opportunity for Old Third. Plus, with the 200,000 yuan, you wouldn't have to worry about money for a while."

"Yeah, Old Third, you should sign up!" Bai Liansheng's eyes lit up, "In our department, whether it's acting, singing, or dancing, you're top-notch! The prize is substantial, and there's a chance to shoot an MV. You should give it a try, even for Xiaoyue's sake!"

Hearing his friends' words, Liu Zixia was moved. With his vast knowledge of Earth's entertainment content, winning first place in the showcase would be a piece of cake!

Most importantly, the money could be quickly used to solve his urgent financial problems.

Thinking of this, Liu Zixia gently stroked Xiaoyue's hair, "Xiaoyue, do you want to perform with Daddy?"

"Can I?" Xiaoyue was stunned, and seeing Liu Zixia's affirmative nod, she clapped her hands in delight, "Great! Great! I can perform with Daddy!"

...

Liu Zixia had already graduated, and taking care of Xiaoyue on campus was inconvenient, so he asked Bai Liansheng, a local in Jinghua, to help him find a place off-campus.

Bai Liansheng didn't disappoint. He quickly found a place for Liu Zixia in a neighborhood called Jialin, not far from the Huaxia Drama Academy. It was a two-bedroom apartment, with a rent of 5,000 yuan per month, paid one month in advance and one month as a deposit.

This rent was discounted because the apartment belonged to Bai Liansheng's cousin. Otherwise, such a school district apartment would cost at least 10,000 yuan a month.

Paying the rent left Liu Zixia nearly broke.

With a week left until the showcase and the prize money not yet in hand, Liu Zixia started thinking about how to make quick money.

Previously, Liu Zixia thought he wouldn't need to worry about money.

After all, this parallel world lacked the classic works from Earth—novels, songs, movies, TV shows, comics... none of these existed!

Of course, this wasn't the source of Liu Zixia's confidence.

What made him happy was that, for some reason, all the works he had seen and heard on Earth were stored in his mind like a computer. He could recall them clearly whenever he wanted.

The classics from Earth, even the worst ones, couldn't be too bad here.

As Liu Zixia was designing several money-making schemes, his phone rang with a clear ringtone.

A strange number?

He glanced at the phone and frowned instinctively, "Hello?"

"Is this Liu Zixia?" A cold voice came through.

The voice sounded familiar, so Liu Zixia replied politely, "Yes, this is Liu Zixia. Who is this?"

"I'm Li Mengyi," the cold voice continued.

"Oh." Liu Zixia's tone quickly turned indifferent, "What do you want?"

"I heard from Xiaoyue that you've been making her delicious food every day. She's been very happy these past few days. Thank you," Li Mengyi said.

"No need to thank me. Xiaoyue is my daughter; it's what I should do," Liu Zixia said impatiently, "Do you have anything else? If not, I'll hang up."

"Hey, don't hang up." Li Mengyi sounded anxious, "Why are you like this? Fine, I won't waste words with you. Give me a bank account number, and I'll transfer some money to you."

"Who do you think you're looking down on?" Liu Zixia frowned, "I, Liu Zixia, have hands and feet and don't need your charity!"

"What do you mean charity?" Li Mengyi had hired a private detective to investigate Liu Zixia and knew that besides being stubborn, he was nearly perfect. Otherwise, she wouldn't have entrusted Xiaoyue to him.

"Stop flattering yourself. This money isn't for you; it's for Xiaoyue's living expenses. I want Xiaoyue to have everything she wants and be happy, not to suffer with you."

"Li Mengyi, don't talk so high and mighty," Liu Zixia felt his pride was insulted, "Being with you is happiness, and being with me is suffering? Let me tell you, if Xiaoyue had been with me from the start, she'd be much happier than with you!"

"Liu Zixia, I don't have time to argue with you," Li Mengyi's voice rose in anger, "Give me the account number. I want to send money to my daughter!"

"If you want to give money, bring it to Xiaoyue yourself!" Liu Zixia couldn't be bothered with her anymore and hung up.

"Daddy, was that Mommy?" At this moment, Xiaoyue, dressed in a pink princess dress and playing with a bunny toy, ran over, "I think I heard Mommy's voice!"

"Yes, it was Mommy." Liu Zixia's expression softened, and he smiled again.

"What did Mommy say?" Xiaoyue tilted her head, blinking her big eyes adorably.

"Mommy said she misses you very much!" Liu Zixia picked Xiaoyue up and kissed her on the cheek.

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