Returning Home in Glory Is Not Like Walking in Embroidered Clothes at Night

After Yara Qu came in, Lucy Lu—though a bit unhappy inside—didn't show it at all. Instead, she gently told Yara to go sit on the sofa and watch some TV for a while.

Yara, looking like a porcelain doll, went to the sofa. The moment she saw Evan Lin, her eyes lit up and she quietly asked if she could tell Nina Pei that he was back. Evan didn’t refuse. Yara then looked at Lynn Chen, who, faced with Yara’s big, watery eyes, couldn’t bring herself to say no and reluctantly agreed.

That made Yara really happy. She bounced off to the side to make a call, her face full of excitement as she told Nina Pei the news. Seeing how thrilled she was, Lynn Chen felt extremely frustrated inside—her carefully imagined one-on-one time with Evan was now totally ruined.

Nina Pei, who had been lying on her bed like a lump of mud, shot up the moment she got the call. She grabbed her backpack, swept up a pile of practice papers, and dashed out the door like a whirlwind.

"Nina said she’ll come to Minghai this afternoon. Sorry for the trouble!"

Yara Qu bowed to Lynn Chen.

"It’s no trouble at all! You’re all seniors, and if you can improve your grades in these final days, that’s the best thing. The more people, the livelier—it’s definitely not a bother."

Lucy Lu smiled as she spoke, then glanced at Charles Chen, who was sitting nearby pretending to be deep in thought, and said coldly, "What are you sitting there for? Go wash the vegetables!"

"Okay, okay!"

Charles Chen jumped in surprise, quickly got up from his seat, and hurried into the kitchen with a sheepish grin.

Zheng Jiayun couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding before her.

After dinner, Evan Lin, Lynn Chen, and Yara Qu headed upstairs to the study. Lucy Lu, after checking with Zheng Jiayun, went out to play mahjong with her friends, leaving Charles Chen stuck doing the dishes alone, looking thoroughly miserable.

In the study, Yara Qu was clearly well prepared—she cozied up next to Evan, pulling out question after question, her thirst for knowledge on full display.

Evan answered patiently, never arrogant or rushed. Whenever Yara hit a roadblock, he calmly guided her thinking forward, helping her tackle the tough problems one step at a time.

At first, Lynn Chen pretended to be reserved, not wanting to look too close to Evan in front of Yara. But eventually, she couldn't help herself and joined in with her own questions.

Around three or four in the afternoon, tall Nina Pei arrived in a whirlwind, backpack slung over her shoulder.

As she walked in, she handed Lynn Chen a gift—five different shades of YSL lipstick. The gesture left Lynn stunned for a moment, before she remembered to thank Nina, and the hostility between them eased considerably.

The four of them—three girls and one boy—spent the whole afternoon together in the cozy study.

After dinner that night, at Charles Chen's suggestion, the four of them took a few laps around the neighborhood.

When they passed by the villa where Victor Su used to stay, Evan instinctively glanced up at the second-floor balcony. It was empty now—no sign of Molly Su—and clearly hadn't been visited in ages.

Over at Thousand-Saints Mountain, crowds of hikers came and went, snapping photos and lingering. The legendary duel between Master Lin from Seacrest and Master Morgan was still the talk of the town, drawing endless visitors.

Nina Pei mostly sided with Yara Qu, occasionally helping her talk to Evan Lin. Lynn Chen refused to be outdone, racking her brain for topics to join in.

Plenty of guys passing by couldn't help but envy Evan, surrounded by three girls.

After half an hour of wandering outside, they headed back to the study.

Helping the girls with their questions was a breeze for Evan—barely took any effort at all.

Around ten at night, Evan stood up and told Yara and the others to take some time to digest what they'd learned. Then he slipped out alone.

Leaving Brightsea Garden Court, Evan headed to a secluded street corner and made a call. Soon, a black Mercedes pulled up.

Big Tank hopped out of the driver's seat and rushed to open the door for Evan.

"Young Lord, I missed you like crazy! Happy New Year!" Big Tank gushed.

Driving along, Big Tank was practically bursting with joy: "Thanks to you, this year I rolled home with the brothers in a dozen luxury cars. We flattened the muddy road at the east end of the village! Everyone says our ancestors are smiling down on us—I finally made it!"

"Back in the day, my folks almost got driven to despair by all the gossip. After all these years, I finally got to hold my head high! Even the village beauty, who never gave me the time of day, is throwing herself at me now—she'd jump right into my bed if I'd let her!"

Big Tank was so excited he was practically spitting, slapping the steering wheel as he talked.

"If you get rich but don't go home in glory, it's like walking at night in fancy clothes—no one sees it."

Evan smiled at his antics. "With all that cash, you didn't think to pave a proper road for the village?"

"That money's yours, not mine! I'm just your manager, I wouldn't dare touch it." Big Tank laughed. "I used to be a street punk, always fighting and guarding club doors. Now that I'm with you, I've finally got some class and respect."

"I may not be book-smart, but I know how to repay kindness. I'd never overstep—your money, I wouldn't dare spend it without asking."

Big Tank looked genuinely earnest.

"When you get a chance, go ahead and spend some money to pave the road. That's the kind of expense I approve."

Evan nodded. He didn't care much about money—if Big Tank had spent it, Evan wouldn't have minded. But Big Tank's restraint earned him a bit more respect in Evan's eyes.

"Got it!"

Big Tank's grin grew even wider, his happiness plain to see.

In the car, Evan thought for a moment and called Summer Mu.

"I need one person."

"Yeah, have him come to Minghai now. Once he's here, someone will get in touch."

Evan hung up and stretched out in the back seat.

"Young Lord, Miss Zhong has been working like crazy lately—barely took a break for the holiday. On New Year's Eve, I took the liberty of giving Old Man Zhong a day off from cleaning toilets." Big Tank reported carefully.

Big Tank gave his report with extra caution.

"Stop the car."

Evan spoke up, and Big Tank hit the brakes.

They pulled up right in front of a small food stall on snack street.

Evan got out, ordered two bowls of dumplings, and when they were ready, took out a Nourishing Spirit Pill, split it in half, and mixed each half into a bowl.