Chapter 24: Get Out

Cao Xun pulled Li Yifei outside, and the two found a teahouse, requested a private room, and began discussing strategies to deal with Yang Le. Half an hour later, Cao Xun, Li Yifei, Zhou Meng, and their followers left the teahouse together. The two walked ahead, chatting and laughing, already fast friends.

Meanwhile, Yang Le sat restlessly in the classroom, as if on pins and needles. Fang Jing kept chatting with him, while Song Feier, on the other side, often glanced his way. If he chatted with Fang Jing, he feared angering Song Feier. If he didn’t, Fang Jing would chatter incessantly. It was a dilemma, but Yang Le devised a solution: he simply lay his head on the desk and pretended to sleep.

Wang Peng and Shen Zixuan, on the other hand, were happily engrossed in conversation. Yet Shen Zixuan’s topic always revolved around Yang Le, repeatedly asking about his situation.

“I heard Yang Le was dumped by his girlfriend. Is that true?”

“Yes! Back then, Yang Le had no money, and his girlfriend, Xia Tingting, heartlessly abandoned him.”

“How did Yang Le suddenly come into money?”

“He won the lottery, and even treated us to a feast.”

Shen Zixuan now knew about Yang Le’s past and realized he had spoken the truth. Her doubts were dispelled, and she finally felt reassured about him. Once she’d asked everything she wanted, she stopped talking with Wang Peng and started playing games with Fang Jing.

“This jungler is so annoying! Always coming to gank me!” Fang Jing, when playing games, liked to shout.

“Classmates, wake up! I have good news—after school, Cao Xun is treating us to a night out at the bar!” Li Yifei announced as he entered the classroom.

Hearing this, many classmates sighed. Senior year was demanding, and it was only Monday—who had time to go out? If they went to the bar tonight, they’d never get up tomorrow.

Li Yifei heard their sighs and immediately understood. He, too, wanted revenge, so the sooner the better, but hadn’t considered this point when discussing with Cao Xun. He quickly turned to consult Cao Xun, then announced again, “I was careless just now. After talking with Cao Xun, we’ve decided to move it to Friday night, so everyone will have time.”

Li Yifei worried that Yang Le might refuse to go tonight, which would make all their plans futile. So he and Cao Xun agreed to set the date for Friday.

Once Li Yifei said this, the atmosphere in the class became lively. The pressure of studies was immense, especially in senior year. Friday night was perfect for relaxation, and most importantly, someone else was footing the bill—why not go? It would be a waste not to, especially since it was Cao Xun’s treat.

Yang Le saw Li Yifei and Cao Xun walking together and didn’t pay much mind. He understood the principle that birds of a feather flock together. If Li Yifei weren’t with Cao Xun, that would strike him as odd.

After a round of laughter, the bell rang, and everyone plunged into intense study.

The afternoon passed quickly.

As soon as school let out, Yang Le’s phone rang. Seeing it was Song Yiming, Yang Le hesitated to answer, worried Song Yiming would invite him to dinner again.

Despite his reluctance, he had no choice but to answer.

As soon as he picked up, Song Yiming’s voice came through, “Yang Le! I’m busy today, so how about you bring Feier home?”

“Uh…”

Yang Le didn’t know how to respond. If he took Song Feier home, he feared Song Yiming might insist he stay; if he didn’t, he couldn’t find a reason to refuse.

“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to dinner. Just bring Feier home, that’s all,” Song Yiming assured him. Seeing Yang Le hesitate, he explained further.

Truthfully, Song Yiming no longer dared to force Yang Le to stay. He couldn’t risk offending his precious daughter. He wasn’t really busy; he simply wanted Yang Le to bring Feier home. He’d thought it through: if Yang Le escorted Feier every day, their relationship would naturally progress.

“Alright,” Yang Le replied readily, relieved he wouldn’t be invited to dinner.

“I’ve thought it over. I’ll be busy with work, so in the mornings I can take Feier to school, but after school she’ll be your responsibility,” Song Yiming added, giving himself an excuse not to pick Feier up in the afternoons.

“Okay,” Yang Le couldn’t think of a reason to refuse, so he agreed.

“That settles it. I have things to do, so I’ll hang up now,” Song Yiming said, ending the call, and Yang Le put his phone away.

“Yang Le, go home and cook. The food outside is terrible,” Fang Jing said as she saw him finish the call.

“I have something to do first. You two go ahead, I’ll be back soon to cook,” Yang Le replied, since he’d promised to take Song Feier home.

“Off to your father-in-law’s again? I’ll give you an hour,” Fang Jing had no objections. She knew Yang Le and Song Feier liked each other; it was only natural for him to escort her, especially since her father approved of them. Fang Jing had no other motives—she just wanted Yang Le to cook for her.

Seeing Fang Jing wasn’t holding him back, Yang Le hurried out to catch up with Song Feier.

“Feier, Uncle Song can’t make it today. Let me take you home,” he called after her.

Song Feier already knew her father wouldn’t come. That morning, Song Yiming had said he wouldn’t pick her up after school anymore, and that he’d notify Yang Le to escort her. When Yang Le got a call at school, she guessed it was her father talking to him.

She’d lingered in the classroom on purpose, waiting for Yang Le to offer to take her home, but he’d started chatting with Fang Jing. Frustrated, Song Feier left the classroom on her own, planning to take the bus.

“Alright,” Song Feier replied softly, feeling much better now that Yang Le had come after her and offered to take her home.

“Maitreya, you’re amazing—you’ve won over our class president!” Wang Peng suddenly appeared, joking loudly about Yang Le and Song Feier.

Yang Le turned to glare at Wang Peng, who quickly covered his mouth.

Song Feier’s face turned as red as an apple, but she said nothing.

At the school gate, Yang Le asked Song Feier to wait. He needed to go to his rented apartment complex to fetch his car.

Song Feier agreed obediently. Wang Peng, hearing Yang Le mention his car, insisted on riding with him. Yang Le had no choice but to let him wait as well.

Having explained everything, Yang Le hurried away to get his car.

Before Yang Le returned, Cao Xun’s car pulled up in front of Song Feier. He drove a BMW M3, which had cost over a million yuan. He’d seen Yang Le leave Song Feier alone at the school gate and thought it was his chance. In fact, he’d been following Yang Le and Song Feier in his car, and when Yang Le walked away, he pulled up beside Song Feier, got out, and said, “Feier, let me take you home.”

Cao Xun spoke with confidence—after all, his car was worth over a million. He didn’t believe Song Feier would refuse.

“I’m waiting for Yang Le,” Song Feier replied, unimpressed. Even if Yang Le’s car wasn’t as nice as Cao Xun’s, she preferred him to take her home.

“Yang Le? What could he possibly drive? At most, a car worth a few hundred thousand! Mine cost well over a million,” Cao Xun boasted, his car being his pride.

Many classmates gathered to watch the scene unfold.

Several girls envied Song Feier, though others thought she was pretending to be aloof.

The boys envied Cao Xun, wishing they could trade places with him.

Li Yifei hadn’t told Cao Xun about Yang Le’s car. Although they were working together, Li Yifei didn’t want to share his own embarrassing story.

Li Yifei wasn’t with Cao Xun at the moment. Had he been, he might have warned him.

“Look at that car—who’s driving it? It looks like Yang Le,” Wang Peng said, spotting a super luxury car approaching and peering at the driver’s seat.

Everyone followed his gaze.

Good heavens, that car looked even more lavish than Cao Xun’s BMW! How were so many luxury cars suddenly appearing at school?

“The driver really does look like Yang Le. When did he start driving such a fancy car?”

“Yang Le? The one who got dumped by his girlfriend for being broke at the start of term?”

“That’s him. I happened to witness it back then.”

“I saw it too—Pan Xiang drove Xia Tingting to school, and it just so happened Yang Le was there. Xia Tingting got out, told Yang Le she was breaking up with him.”

“I didn’t see it myself, but I heard about it.”

“I bet Xia Tingting regrets it now.”

The crowd chattered, discussing Yang Le and Xia Tingting.

Yang Le’s car pulled up, and after stopping, he stepped out and walked over to Cao Xun.

Cao Xun, seeing Yang Le’s car, was utterly humiliated. He wished he could dig a hole and crawl inside.