Before Lu Liang’s contact, Lu Ansheng, could bring his men over, Lu Liang caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the bustling street from the corner of his eye.
“Bai Wanqing? Why is she here?”
Bai Wanqing was dressed head to toe in a tightly buttoned student uniform, her head bowed like a little quail as she stared at the ground.
Still, the side of her face that peeked out was delicate and beautiful, her misty peach blossom eyes enough to make hearts ache and easily arouse a man’s urge to protect.
No matter how rustic the school uniform, it could not hide her innate beauty, instead adding a lively sense of youth.
A bespectacled boy hovered near her, also clad in the school uniform, fussing over Bai Wanqing with a look of concern.
Was this… Bai Wanqing’s boyfriend?
A sliver of doubt flashed through Lu Liang’s mind, but he soon let it go.
Whether she had a boyfriend or not was Bai Wanqing’s own business, and had nothing to do with him as a mere stranger.
Still, after thinking for a moment, he decided to go over and take a look.
After all, from Bai Wanqing’s expression, she didn’t seem all that willing.
“Little Bai, you haven’t been to school these days, I’ve been really worried about you. If there’s anything troubling you, just tell us. Everyone will help you share the burden.”
The boy with glasses was named Xu Qing, Bai Wanqing’s class monitor.
He walked right next to Bai Wanqing, matching her step for step, his gaze intense.
“My family had something come up these past few days…”
Bai Wanqing murmured softly.
Ever since Bai Wanqing received the 1,200 yuan from Lu Liang to cover her tuition, she’d resumed her learning career. The ancient style beauty had returned to campus, and several suitors now clung to her like taffy, with Xu Qing among them.
“Little Bai, that’s not right of you. No matter what’s going on, you can’t skip school. The class is a collective, everyone is an essential part of it. If you’re not here, everyone will be sad. I’ll be sad too.”
Xu Qing put special emphasis on the word “I.”
“I’m sorry.”
Realizing she’d troubled others, Bai Wanqing apologized instinctively, though she herself didn’t quite understand why simply not coming to school would bother anyone else. In fact, after she returned, the way the other girls in class looked at her was full of hostility, hardly like they were sad…
But the poverty of her family background had taught Bai Wanqing from a young age to be easily pua’d.
Seeing Bai Wanqing’s compliant look, Xu Qing felt secretly pleased.
Since Bai Wanqing’s recent absence, a rumor had spread at school—no one knew who started it.
Supposedly, Bai Wanqing didn’t come to school because she couldn’t afford the tuition.
With the “poor girl” filter, the formerly aloof flower on the hill suddenly seemed approachable. Boys who once didn’t dare say a word to her now crowded in like starving wolves.
Now, after a few simple words with Bai Wanqing, Xu Qing realized she was actually quite easy to pua.
This suited Xu Qing’s desires perfectly—being weak in expression meant it was all too easy for the person involved to fall for it.
No wonder Xu Qing kept close behind Bai Wanqing, waiting for a chance to “accidentally” meet her alone:
“It’s okay, I don’t mind. Tomorrow, just apologize to everyone with me, and I’ll go with you.”
Xu Qing felt very pleased with himself:
“Little Bai, where are you heading now?”
“Home… for a meal.”
“That’s perfect, I’m headed the same way. Let’s go together.”
Xu Qing smiled faintly, reaching out his hand to Bai Wanqing.
Bai Wanqing hesitated, staring at Xu Qing’s outstretched hand. As naïve as she was, even she could sense something off.
For instance, why was Xu Qing being so nice to her for no reason? How did Xu Qing know where her home was? And from the very start, Xu Qing’s gaze had made her uncomfortable.
That unrestrained, beast-like look—even if the person tried to hide it, Bai Wanqing could sense it.
It was just like the look Night Owl had when he tried to assault her in the sewer.
Utterly… vile and disgusting.
The unpleasant memory made Bai Wanqing instinctively distance herself from Xu Qing. When Xu Qing saw this, he grew anxious, and habitually tried to pua her again:
“Little Bai, take my hand, otherwise it’s so awkward for me to just hold it out here.”
“I…”
Bai Wanqing took a few steps back, her eyes pleading as she looked around, as if searching for help.
And indeed, in the crowd, she caught sight of a familiar figure.
“Lu Liang…”
She called out blankly, and Xu Qing, waiting nearby, froze when he heard his beloved goddess utter that name.
Lu Liang?
Who was Lu Liang?
He soon found out.
“Hey! Silly Bai!”
Lu Liang waved at Bai Wanqing. She felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
When Lu Liang came up to her, Bai Wanqing pouted slightly, as if protesting what Lu Liang had called her, and whispered,
“I… I’m not silly, I’m not Silly Bai.”
Lu Liang heard her and felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to tease her:
“Not silly? Hm? You’re not silly?”
Lu Liang squeezed Little Bai’s cheeks, kneading them like dough until they turned rosy. Bai Wanqing struggled to escape, tears brimming in her eyes as she said,
“Lu… Lu Liang, you, you’re bullying me again.”
“Silly Bai, I’m not bullying you.”
“Eh? Not, not bullying?” Bai Wanqing paused, thought for a moment, then argued earnestly,
“You’re totally bullying me.”
“Oh? Still talking back?”
Lu Liang was surprised she dared to argue, so he raised his hand threateningly, scaring Bai Wanqing into hiding—only to hide behind Lu Liang himself.
Lu Liang chuckled.
Heh, so silly. She can’t even hide properly and still claims she’s not silly!
Xu Qing stood frozen, hand outstretched, his smile stiff, his body as rigid as a statue. It took him a long moment to snap back to reality.
Watching as the once untouchable flower was now being pinched and teased by a delinquent-looking boy—without a hint of resistance—while he himself only tried to hold her hand and got pushed away…
Xu Qing felt as if his heart was roasting on a fire, smoldering with irritation.
Still, he forced himself to stay calm, and asked,
“Who are you? What are you doing to Little Bai? Can’t you see she’s not willing?”
Hearing that, Lu Liang paused and turned to ask Bai Wanqing,
“Your boyfriend?”
“No, no… I don’t have a boyfriend.” Bai Wanqing shook her head, her shy, simple nature only allowing her to wave her hands anxiously to refuse. Her voice was still soft,
“Ju-just a classmate, and… and actually, I wasn’t all that unwilling.”
The last part was aimed at Xu Qing. After hearing it, Xu Qing’s face paled, but he forced himself to stay composed:
“That, that’s still not right. The teacher said, students should focus on their studies. All improper relationships must be stopped. As your classmate, I have a duty to keep you from going astray—especially with people like him.”
That was just pointless nonsense. Lu Liang had seen it all: the greasy smile Xu Qing had the whole time—if there weren’t so many people around, he’d probably be glued to Bai Wanqing already.
Lu Liang had been a student himself—he knew all too well the tricks and petty thoughts of these bratty kids.
But he wasn’t angry, nor interested in playing games. He’d outgrown the age of pretending to be impressive. Besides, Lu Liang was only here to check if Bai Wanqing was in any trouble. Since nothing was wrong, there was no need to cause more problems for her.
So, Lu Liang extended his hand in a friendly gesture:
“Hello, I’m Lu Liang, a friend of Bai Wanqing’s.”
This was an olive branch, also giving Xu Qing a way out.
After all, Bai Wanqing hadn’t taken Xu Qing’s hand, and he’d been stuck with his hand out—students are sensitive, and it feels awkward to be ignored by the one you like.
Xu Qing glanced at Lu Liang’s hand, seemed to get the hint, and redirected his own outstretched hand toward Lu Liang.
“Hello.”
But just as he was about to touch Lu Liang’s hand, he suddenly pulled it back, giving Lu Liang a provocative look:
“I don’t shake hands with shady people.”
Now that was just asking for it.
Lu Liang sighed inwardly. He usually wouldn’t stoop to arguing with kids—so long as the other party had sense. But now, seeing the other so shameless, he saw no need to keep up appearances.
Before Xu Qing could pull his hand back, Lu Liang grabbed it and gave a hard yank.
Thud.
Xu Qing, nowhere near as strong as Lu Liang, was instantly thrown to the ground, seeing stars as his glasses flew off and landed in the mud.
“Oops, my bad. I’m exactly the opposite.”
Patting the hand he’d just grabbed, Lu Liang grinned.