Chapter 4: You Will Be Even Greater Than Me!

Lin Yi glanced at Zhao Xin for a moment, then looked at his parents before lowering his head in thought.

In his previous life, after the car accident, Zhao Xin had not fled immediately but had instead taken him to the hospital herself. The medical expenses afterward, as his parents told him, had been entirely borne by her. When he graduated from university and began job hunting, she had helped him a great deal—not openly, but behind the scenes.

At that time, he was filled with bitterness and despair toward life. Repeating his final year hadn't gotten him into a good university. Once enrolled, he studied a major he didn’t like. After graduation, finding work was a constant struggle. A colleague had let slip that his employment at the company was thanks to a woman who had been helping him.

A woman? It was almost certainly the woman before him.

Their chance encounter at the company only strengthened his conviction that the one helping him was Zhao Xin—the same woman who had hit him with her car.

“No need, you can take it back,” Lin Yi said seriously, raising his head.

“Uh…” Zhao Xin was momentarily stunned. Did he think the money was too little?

Perhaps.

Realizing this, she hastily pulled a silver card from her bag and offered it toward Lin Yi. “There’s two million on this.”

Lin Yi was speechless.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m saying, you keep the card. I don’t want your money.” As someone who had been given a second chance at life, Lin Yi truly did not believe he couldn’t earn even tens of thousands on his own.

Money was important, of course, but some money, when accepted, only brings guilt and unease.

Zhao Xin had helped him far beyond what any responsible party should bear.

“Ah?” Zhao Xin was at a loss for a moment.

He didn’t want the money? Why not?

If Lin Yi didn’t want it, she felt uneasy. If he and his family took it, she might feel better. But since they wouldn’t take it...

Her guilt deepened.

Seeing Zhao Xin’s expression, Lin Yi pondered for a moment before saying, “You can just cover the medical expenses.”

“But…” Zhao Xin started to protest but was cut off by Lin Yi.

“Dad, take me home.”

“Alright.”

“Uncle, auntie, could you leave a phone number so I can contact you?” Zhao Xin suddenly remembered something and hurried over.

Lin Yi’s parents looked at him once more.

“No need,” Lin Yi turned back to Zhao Xin with a slight smile, then was helped away by his parents.

Watching Lin Yi’s departing figure, Zhao Xin felt a wave of bewilderment.

Back at home,

Lin Yi quickly prepared two bowls of rice and then asked his mother to help him into his room.

---

From 3:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon, he had his math exam.

As a liberal arts student and a young man, his math skills were relatively strong. But that didn’t mean he could be careless.

He still had to study.

With that in mind, Lin Yi sat quietly at his desk, recalling the math exam questions from the 2012 college entrance exam.

Focused, attentive, and dedicated.

The 2012 math exam questions gradually emerged in his mind.

Time is money.

Lin Yi wasted no time, using his old second-hand phone to search for answers, flip through textbooks, and find similar problems.

Before the college entrance exam, every point was like money.

Who could resist money so easily gained?

Certainly not Lin Yi.

He recalled how, back then, he had memorized classical Chinese texts and ancient poems to earn those precious points in Chinese dictation.

Looking back, it was all tears.

Money—no, scores—aren’t easy to earn!

Time passed slowly.

Outside the room,

Lin Yi’s father, Lin Chen, sat quietly on the sofa smoking, while his mother, Wang Xin, sat restlessly. She got up and cautiously opened Lin Yi’s door. Seeing him studying diligently, her anxious heart finally settled.

“Smoke less, it’s bad for your health,” Wang Xin said as she returned to the sofa, wrinkling her brow at the strong smell.

Lin Chen paused, then stubbed out his cigarette.

Rough hands touched his weathered face as his gaze turned toward Lin Yi’s room. He asked in a low voice, “Son… is he okay?”

“He’s fine. He’s studying in his room. Don’t worry too much. He’s already eighteen, an adult,” Wang Xin comforted him.

“Good! Good! Good!” Lin Chen’s face lit with a relieved smile.

After a while, the living room fell silent again.

“Do you want to go to the hospital to check on him?” Wang Xin looked at her husband, struggling inwardly before asking.

“No! Why waste money on the hospital? I can go to the clinic. We need to save the money for our son’s education,” Lin Chen waved his hand firmly, refusing his wife’s suggestion.

Silence returned to the living room.

After a moment, a deep voice said, “I’ll take our son to his exam later.”

“Alright. You both be careful.”

“Okay.”

“Ah—” Lin Yi yawned, stretching lazily.

No nap, feeling a bit tired.

He glanced at the clock on the desk—2:10.

Time for the exam.

He quickly packed his things, making sure to bring his 2B pencil, eraser, black pen, and admission ticket. Grabbing his cane, he hobbled out of the room.

In the living room,

His parents sat on the sofa.

Seeing Lin Yi come out, Wang Xin asked, “Son, did you bring everything?”

“Yes, everything’s here.”

“That’s good. Your dad will take you.”

“Okay.”

Riding his father’s motorcycle, Lin Yi looked at his father’s graying hair, emotions swelling in his eyes.

Life, like an unforgiving chisel, had carved the father’s appearance.

“Dad.”

“Hm?”

“I’ll sing a song for you.”

“Alright.”

Always asking from you, never saying thank you,

Only when I grew up did I understand how hard it was for you.

Every time I left, I pretended to be at ease,

Smiling as I said goodbye, tears wet behind my eyes.

How I long to hold your warm hand again as before,

But you’re not here beside me, so I entrust the breeze to send you my wishes.

Time, please slow down, don’t let you grow old any faster.

I’d trade everything I have just to keep you young forever...

Hearing his son’s song, Lin Chen’s eyes reddened. A smile appeared on his rough, tanned face.

In his mind, his father’s image became clearer.

Though gone, he had never truly disappeared.

“Dad,” Lin Yi sobbed, hot tears streaming down.

“Mm.”

“Thank you for holding up the whole family.”

“Mm.”

The motorcycle stopped near Mingyu High School.

A traffic officer saw Lin Yi and pulled his vehicle alongside.

Watching his son get into the officer’s car, Lin Chen gathered himself and suddenly shouted, “Son, keep going! I believe you can do it! You’ll be stronger than me!”

Lin Yi turned back, tears streaming as he waved to his father.

“Father, I won’t let you down. I will be stronger than you! Even more outstanding!” he clenched his fist, silently vowing.

His father, with little education, only a middle school diploma, worked in a small factory, enduring hardships to raise him, saving tens of thousands of his wife’s money while living frugally himself.

In the end, he had little happiness before passing on.

In his previous life, Lin Yi had lived a life far worse than his father’s.

A salary just over two thousand a month, rent, electricity, food, and various expenses left no savings.

Sometimes, he even had to ask his family for money.

A pitiful life!

(A bit sentimental, apologies.)