Chapter 12

Many people in the mathematics department look like great minds, but of course this also results in there being only a few girls in their class.

Xue Xiaochen and Qiao are among the few.

Qiao Ye has strong athletic ability. If she hadn't always hit the teacher's bottom line in weekly tests, the teacher wouldn't have noticed this seemingly ordinary girl.

Qiao also stood lazily in front of the teacher, listening to her words in one ear and out the other.

"Qiao Ye, I looked at your admission score. Your grades were just above the passing line. We're all just above the passing line, so it's not too..."

"Teacher, it's okay. I won't fail." She looked out the window. There were no leaves on the trees outside.

Apparently, autumn has arrived.

But she was still wearing a short-sleeved shirt with a jacket draped over her shoulders, looking rather sloppy.

Seeing her like this, the counselor opened his mouth but finally said nothing: "I just hope you can spend these four years in school safely."

"Then don't bring up your grades. I know why you asked me to come, but you don't have to worry too much. My father won't say anything. Even if he does, I'll be there to protect him."

After saying that, Qiao turned and left.

In fact, no matter where she is, she cannot escape the shadow of her father.

Because no matter what she does, she will be praised by others: "That's great, you are worthy of being Mr. Qiao's daughter, you have quite the grace and elegance of Mr. Qiao when he was young."

Or: "You are really like your father when he was young. Just as good, with the same style."

She seemed to be a replica of her father.

Later, when she heard these words, she would become inexplicably irritable.

So much so that they started to give up and did everything just enough, not more, not less, just right.

This was especially true when she was in high school. Apart from committing crimes, there was almost nothing she didn't do.

Later, the look in their eyes when they looked at her changed from "expectation" to "How did Mr. Qiao's daughter become like this?"

If it weren't for her mother's disappointed look before the college entrance examination, she might never have reflected on herself.

As for her father?

She snorted mockingly in her heart, what a kind-hearted person who did nothing but donate money to others.

She had no idea what there was to respect about that man.

Should we thank him just because he invested in this school?

Joe also walked downstairs.

She doesn't know what to do now, so why not play games?

A voice in her heart said, let's experience the thrill of fighting in the virtual world.

She thought this was a good idea.

But when she walked to the school gate, she saw a banner that read: "Law School Debate Competition."

Then I suddenly remembered that I had promised Pei Qing that I would go to watch her debate competition.

He turned and walked towards another campus of University A.

The law school debate competition was held in the conference room.

Quite a few people have gathered here.

Compared to the friendly matches at that time, there were very few people here.

Either they are boys debating with their girlfriends, or they are students from the same college.

Sitting next to her was a girl, probably from the same college.

"Eh? Classmate, you're not from our college, are you?"

Qiao also raised his head and looked at her, "Ah, no, I live next door."

The girl nodded, and although she didn't say anything, she still looked at her frequently.

Finally, he couldn't help himself and asked cautiously, "Classmate, are you the Qiao Ye who played basketball in the fraternity game earlier?"

"Ah." Joe also paused, "Yeah. What's the matter?"

"Nothing, nothing... I'm just surprised. After all, the School of Mathematics is quite far from our Law School..." The other party smiled.

"Oh." Qiao turned his head expressionlessly, lay down on the table and started to sleep again.

Just as Pei Qing didn't understand basketball at first, she couldn't understand the meaning of their debate.

Sitting here is just one more lullaby. I stayed up all night last night, so I can take this opportunity to get some sleep.

When she was called, there was no one in the entire conference room.

Only not far from her, there was a person sitting with his head down, as if he was reading a book.

Noticing movement behind her, she turned around and looked at her, "Awake?"

Joe also stretched and yawned: "Are you guys done with the debate?"

"It's been over for three hours."

"Oh. Then why didn't you call me?"

"You were sleeping so soundly, so I couldn't bear to interrupt your sweet dream."

"..." Qiao Ye paused for a moment as he stretched his hand, then put it down. "Actually, you don't have to think about me like that. If you think it's going to take too long, you can just wake me up."

Pei Qing shook his head. "It's okay. This is just the preliminary round anyway. There's still the finals to come."

Qiao Ye: "...Then I should come again in the finals."

Pei Qing: "Why do you say that?"

Qiao Ye: "Because you only watched my game once. I'm returning the favor by watching you once."

Pei Qing: “…”

She looked at her speechlessly.

"Okay. If there's nothing else, I'll go back first."

Hearing her voice, Qiao also raised an eyebrow, "Are you going to leave me in your law school like this?"

"Then what else do you want to do?" Pei Qing looked at her with some confusion.

She had never interacted with other people, so she didn't know what to say now.

Qiao didn't plan to ask her to do anything. She came here today just to repay her for the friendship she had shown her by going to the friendly game.

Although she might be overthinking it, after all, there were a lot of people watching the friendly match. If she really wanted to be serious, she would have to repay everyone's favor.

But she didn't want to do that in her heart.

Maybe deep down in her heart, Pei Qing is special.

Qiao also bought a lollipop from a small shop opposite the school and walked out with the candy in his mouth.

Pei Qing had already walked in another direction.

Judging from the direction she was heading, it should be Fatty Xia’s Internet cafe.

She wasn't very worried as long as Fatty Xia was around.

After all, although this fat man is flattering and bullies the weak and fears the strong, he still does what he should do.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a sneaky figure following Pei Qing quietly.

She paused, then put on her hat to cover her cheeks.

I took a taxi and followed them.

She didn't know the people in the law school very well, and she couldn't say she knew Pei Qing very well, but at least she knew that her personality was prone to causing trouble.

The driver parked the car on the side of the road across the alley.

Qiao also scanned five hundred yuan and said, "Today is a day deal."

The driver, who was about to drive the passenger away, immediately smiled and said, "Okay, okay. If you need anything, just tell me directly."

Joe also sat in the back seat, his long legs crossed, looking out the window absentmindedly.

The driver's window film is concealed enough that it is difficult to see inside from the outside, but it is easy to see outside from the inside.

Joe also watched the movements in the alley.

The fat man’s Internet cafe is at the very end of this alley. The alley is winding and you probably can’t see anything just by standing here.

Joe also supported his chin with one hand and tapped rhythmically on the bottom of the car window with the other hand.

Like a patient hunter, she waited quietly for the perfect opportunity.

Time passed minute by minute, and when the hands pointed to one o'clock in the morning, her cell phone lit up in the dark.

Looking down, it was a message from Xue Xiaochen: "Aren't you coming back tonight?"

"Um."

"Then be careful about your whereabouts. Don't let your aunt find you."

"good."

This is why she can play with Xue Xiaochen until now.

The other party always knows exactly what she wants to do and has a plan for her.

Soon a girl came out.

The girl lowered her head, and her slightly long hair covered her face, making it impossible to see her expression.

But judging by the way she hurried away and the way she kept looking back every few steps, one could not help but wonder if she had done something that made her feel guilty.

Qiao did not get out of the car immediately. Instead, she waited until the other party completely disappeared from her sight before she calmly found Fatty Xia's phone number and called him.

The environment the other party was in was a bit noisy, causing the heavy metal sound to irritate people's ears through the mobile phone.

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line, and then it was quiet.

Obviously, Fatty Xia walked to a quiet place.

Then there was a "click" sound, and the other party lit a cigarette. "Hello? What's up, Mr. Qiao? Any instructions?"

"A girl just left your Internet cafe. She must have taken some photos. Remember to deal with it." Qiao Ye's indifferent voice sounded.

Hearing this, Fatty Xia frowned and said, "What's there to film here? I'm a law-abiding citizen. What kind of crime could I possibly commit?"

Joe also looked into the darkness in the distance. "I mean, she might have taken a picture of 'something'."

She deliberately emphasized the word "photo", and Fatty Xia didn't react for a moment to what she wanted to express.

It wasn't until the little brother next to him nudged him with his elbow and raised his head to signal him to look at the girl pouring wine not far away that he instantly understood something.

"Don't worry, Mr. Qiao. Leave the matter to me, you can rest assured." Fatty Xia patted his chest and said with assurance.

"I don't want to hear rumors about it at school then."

"Don't worry. I won't let a word get out."

After hanging up the phone, Qiao rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, put one arm on the window, and watched the cigarette between his fingers slowly burn.

The air was filled with a faint smell of nicotine.

The driver saw this and couldn't help but say, "What's the point of a little girl imitating others to smoke? They're all harmful."

Joe also smiled, flicked the ash on the ground, and said indifferently: "But sometimes nicotine is a good medicine. It can make people forget the pain for a short time."

"Then you should smoke less."

"Got it. Let's go to this place." Joe also left an address. "No need to pay for the taxi fare. Thank you for your help."