TMLSG -Chapter 70 A Lucky Thing

111: 【“Ahhhhhhh!”】

Tang Zhen’s palms were slightly sweaty at that line. She struggled to calm her racing heartbeat and said seriously, “That’s not good.”

The dazzling lights of the event reflected in her eyes, making them shimmer like flowing gold.

It was a very bright light.

Ren Yanjing liked staring into her eyes—they were so clear, so pure. “Why not good?”

Tang Zhen pressed her lips together. “Because if I do that, I’ll get greedier and greedier.”

She would start wanting many things that weren’t originally hers.

Ren Yanjing smiled softly at that. “Baby,” he whispered in her ear, “you can be greedy.”

That would give him more motivation.

In the past, he wouldn’t have participated in an event like this.

He certainly wouldn’t compete with another girl for a prize.

He wasn’t interested in any of it.

But what could he do?

He had met Tang Zhen, and the wheels of fate had started turning.

Everything was different now.

Tang Zhen’s ears suddenly rang.

She couldn’t hear what anyone else was saying.

She couldn’t hear 111 screaming.

All she heard was that one sentence: “You can be greedy.”

Was that right?

111: 【Right, right, Zhen. Don’t overthink it. Everything is being maintained by the plot!】

After a moment, Tang Zhen finally heard the host speaking on stage: “This apple will be contested in a different way than the previous round.”

“Everyone knows that even today, in some remote areas, there are still many children who can’t go to school.”

“To help these children get an education, we’ve decided to auction this apple. All the proceeds will be donated in full to children in need.”

“Oh, Senior Tang is here. Come on, let the designer of the Christmas apple say a few words.”

Senior Tang looked somewhat serene. She didn’t speak much; when she took the microphone, she only said, “I hope the ‘Four Seasons Apple’ I designed can bring hope to more children.”

Then she stepped aside.

The host took the microphone again. “This apple starts at 100 yuan. Each bid must increase by at least 10 yuan.”

“We will share the full details of every transaction with the winning bidder to ensure that the money truly goes toward helping children who cannot attend school.”

These words elevated the meaning of tonight’s Christmas Eve event.

Many students rubbed their hands together, eager to contribute a little to help children in need.

The host said, “Then, starting bid: 100!”

Once the bidding started, others quickly raised their offers:

110, 120, 130… and soon the bid reached 5,000.

After the price hit 5,000, the pace of bidding slowed.

Li Ran was calculating how much pocket money she had.

Her parents were highly educated, but her monthly allowance wasn’t very generous.

Besides meals, she occasionally went shopping, traveled, and shopped online, so her monthly expenses weren’t low.

Thus, she didn’t have much disposable cash.

Lu Yu’s family was relatively ordinary, so they couldn’t provide financial support either.

Li Ran thought: as long as the final price stayed below 7,000, she could give it a try.

She really liked this Four Seasons Apple.

On this apple, she felt the warmth of all four seasons. Spring, summer, autumn, or winter—it seemed that Senior Tang had infused each with charm.

She wanted it.

She wanted to have it.

When the pace slowed, Li Ran officially joined the bidding.

“5,080.”

After Li Ran’s bid, no one responded immediately.

Spending so much money on a single beautiful apple—though the event was meaningful—was beyond most students’ budgets.

“5,080 once.”

The host began the countdown.

Just as Li Ran thought she had it in the bag, Ren Yanjing bid, “10,000.”

A ripple of surprise ran through the crowd.

From 5,080 to 10,000 in one jump—it was almost double.

Li Ran’s frustration and embarrassment peaked.

Why?

Why did Ren Yanjing only bid after she did?

Did he really not want her to get a Christmas apple?

In fact, Ren Yanjing hadn’t overthought it.

He could have started with a high bid from the beginning, but there was no need. He also wanted to give the other students a sense of participation.

As for why he bid specifically after Li Ran—well, after her bid, no one else followed. That meant the competition had narrowed down, and the final contest would likely be just him and Li Ran.

But he didn’t want to waste time.

He might as well just state his true price.

The host raised the volume slightly. “10,000! Anyone else want to bid?”

“10,000, second bid!”

“10,000, third bid!”

“Congratulations to the person in the white suit for successfully winning the ‘Four Seasons Apple.’ May you and your family and friends enjoy peace throughout the year! And thank you for helping children who cannot attend school!”

Hearing this, Senior Tang on stage visibly relaxed.

It was clear she was very satisfied with the final bid.

This money might just change the fate of more than one child who had lost access to education.

—

Tang Zhen was still a little dazed when she received the “Four Seasons Apple.”

She had just gotten two beautiful Christmas apples?

As the designer, Senior Tang walked over to Tang Zhen and said simply, “Congratulations.”

Tang Zhen gave her a sweet smile. “Thank you.”

Senior Tang: “Merry Christmas Eve.”

Tang Zhen: “Merry Christmas Eve, Senior Tang.”

Many people had wanted these two apples tonight, but now, both were in Tang Zhen’s hands.

With the main event settled, the Christmas Eve masquerade was almost over.

Tang Zhen and Ren Yanjing left early to join Shen Quanli and the others.

Tonight, they had brought apples, as well as peanuts, oranges, sweet potatoes, and other snacks.

When the two arrived at the gathering spot, the grill was already loaded with food.

Ren Yanjing peeled a roasted orange for Tang Zhen.

He chose a peanut for himself.

Word of what had happened at the Christmas Eve masquerade had obviously spread.

Zhang Mian teased, “I heard our captain spent 10,000 tonight to buy an apple?”

Ren Yanjing: “Contributing to charity.”

Shen Quanli smirked, “Oh~~~ I thought it was because your wife wanted it.”

Ren Yanjing smiled, “Those two don’t conflict.”

Helping her get it and supporting charity could happen at the same time.

Everyone laughed and joked.

At some point, someone brought up a topic: “The year’s almost over. Did anything happen this year that you’re proud of or consider lucky?”

Shen Quanli answered first, enthusiastically: “The thing I’m most proud of this year is winning a spot in the performance competition over that little rascal Shen Qi! Of course, it wasn’t just me—it was everyone’s effort!”

Zhang Mian was next: “Being publicly praised by three junior classmates, does that count?”

“Of course it counts! How could it not?!”

“Yo yo yo, three of them!”

After they answered, it was Ren Yanjing’s turn.

He put his arm around Tang Zhen’s shoulders and smiled lightly. “The luckiest thing that happened to me this year was meeting my girlfriend.”

And with that—Fate began to shine brilliantly.