Rumors

“You still haven’t told me what kind of relationship Liu Yunqi has with the Yang family,” Zhong Yun said, eager to steer the conversation away from its current topic.

“Liu Yunqi is the little princess of the Yang family—their heiress, the real daughter of Yang Bingchang. She just took her mother’s last name,” Chen Wen explained.

“So she’s a princess in every sense of the word,” Tian Hai sighed.

The room fell silent. Each of the three sank into their own thoughts.

After two minutes, Tian Hai suddenly asked, “Is the Yang family wealthy?”

“Wealthy?” Chen Wen gave a low whistle. “Few could claim to be rich in front of the Yangs. Ever heard of Colossus Machinery Group?”

Tian Hai cut in, “Who hasn’t? It’s the third-largest company in the country.”

“That’s theirs,” Chen Wen continued. “How about Ellemay Cosmetics?”

This time, Tian Hai’s voice trembled, “That’s the biggest cosmetics company in the country.”

“That’s also theirs. And what about Ankang Group?”

Tian Hai, too flustered to interrupt, could only stammer, “The... the...”

“Yes, the largest health supplement company nationwide. Also the Yangs’.”

Finally, Chen Wen shot Tian Hai a sidelong glance. “So, do you think the Yangs are rich?”

“Rich… beyond rich!” Tian Hai leapt to his feet, his face flushed with excitement, as if he’d just won the lottery.

Zhong Yun and Chen Wen exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what had gotten into him.

Suddenly, Tian Hai grabbed Zhong Yun’s arm and shook it wildly. “Ah Yun, you’ve struck gold! You’re rich… you’re rich!”

Dizzy from the shaking, Zhong Yun broke free and stared at him in bewilderment. “What are you talking about? The Yangs’ money has nothing to do with you.”

“It’s not about me,” Tian Hai giggled foolishly, “but it’s all about you. Just think—if you ever become their son-in-law, you’ll be set for life! You could buy any model you want, any figurine. Two of each—open one, toss the other…”

Tian Hai grew more and more excited, ending with a manic laugh, drooling on the floor.

As his imagination ran wilder, Zhong Yun couldn’t help but give him a sharp kick. “Damn it, are you saying I’d just be a freeloader?”

Tian Hai clutched where he’d been kicked, indignantly protesting, “How can you put it so crudely? That’s an insult to your pure love with Liu Yunqi.”

“You’re still going?” Zhong Yun lunged at him, threatening to strike.

As chaos broke out, Tian Hai’s phone rang. Thankful for the rescue, he cried, “Phone! My phone’s ringing!”

Zhong Yun finally let him go.

Muttering, Tian Hai grumbled, “No need for such violence just because you’re embarrassed.” Zhong Yun ignored him.

He answered the call. On the screen appeared the face of a young girl—Zhong Yun recognized her as Xiao Fen, Xiao Ruo’s roommate.

“Tian Hai, come over! We bought a lot of good food.”

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Zhong Yun felt Xiao Fen glanced at him, intentionally or not.

“I’ll be right there!” Tian Hai snapped his fingers, hung up, and turned around.

“Don’t look at me. I’m not going,” Zhong Yun said, standing up to stretch. “I’m exhausted. I’m going for a shower.”

Seeing him slip away, neither Tian Hai nor Chen Wen insisted—one less person made no difference.

The following days passed by uneventfully.

Tian Hai and Chen Wen rushed from place to place—model shops, anime figure stores, TV filming sets—trying to cram everything in, wishing they could split themselves in two. Six days were far from enough.

Zhong Yun and Liu Yunqi explored a different spot each day, never just skimming the sights. They took their time at each location, rarely taking photos—just ten in total over six days, and only one of them together.

Most students paired off, making the most of their rare vacation.

Of course, some weren’t so lucky. Niu Ben, for instance, suffered a serious injury after Zhong Yun threw him over his shoulder, landing him in the hospital and ruining his holiday.

Then there was Xiao Ruo. After that incident the other night, she hadn’t left her room, using illness as an excuse to cancel all her plans. Her friend Xiao Fen grew increasingly worried, and for the last two days stayed by her side instead of going out.

Xiao Ruo lost interest in food, often staring blankly into space, her mind adrift, losing focus even when speaking. Watching her grow more wan by the day, Xiao Fen could stand it no longer.

As the saying goes, the one who tied the knot must untie it. On the last night, when the farewell party was underway, Xiao Fen sought out Zhong Yun in his room.

She burst in with righteous fury, stunning the dozen or so boys loitering in the corridor. Like an enraged lioness, she stormed inside.

She ran straight into Tian Hai, who had just emerged from the bathroom in nothing but his underwear. They locked eyes for two seconds before Tian Hai, defeated, yelped and scurried back into the shower.

“Zhong!”

Hands on her hips, eyes blazing, Xiao Fen barked, “How long are you planning to hide? Are you even a man?”

Still reeling from her sudden entrance, Zhong Yun was thoroughly scolded, his face burning with embarrassment. “What are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about?” Xiao Fen’s anger only grew at his feigned ignorance. She jabbed a finger at him, nearly poking his nose. “You know exactly what you did! Or are you going to deny it now?”

By the end, her eyes were rimmed with tears.

By now, a crowd of male students had gathered outside, eager for gossip. Spotting trouble, Chen Wen hurriedly cleared them out and slammed the door.

But Xiao Fen’s last words had already been overheard, and with her teary face, everyone caught a whiff of scandal.

Gossip is human nature, and the boys were no exception. Judging by today’s events, it was clear to them that something was going on between Zhong Yun and Xiao Fen.

Imaginations ran wild, constructing a backstory of seduction and abandonment.

What surprised them more was that quiet, unremarkable Zhong Yun apparently had some skill with girls. Xiao Fen was quite a catch, and yet here she was, ensnared by him.

Had they known it was actually Xiao Ruo whom Zhong Yun had “captured,” their mood would have been very different.

There was no doubt that Liu Yunqi was the class beauty, her stunning presence eclipsing every other girl in the school. But to ordinary boys, she was unattainable, an object of distant admiration.

Second to her was Xiao Ruo—lovely and gentle, a beacon in a sea of brash, wild girls. Many boys secretly nursed a crush on her.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such a rush to join “Amu’s House” as soon as Xiao Ruo founded it.

Unfortunately, Xiao Ruo already had someone she liked.

And the worst part? Her chosen one was the universally acknowledged school heartthrob.

It was enough to break hearts and leave them resigned. Most boys, knowing they couldn’t hope to compete in looks, gave up.

But if rumors spread that plain, underachieving Zhong Yun was involved with Xiao Ruo, there would be no shortage of boys wanting to settle the score.

Damn it, it’s one thing to lose out to someone better than me—but you? An even worse student? Who do you think you are?