Chapter 24 Return

Zhen Qiuyue was so excited that she felt dizzy.

Yet she felt an unprecedented sense of determination and clarity. She had been confused, watching her mother get ready to sell vegetables before dawn every day, her father's back becoming more and more hunched each year, their legs with swollen veins, making it seem like they were struggling to walk, but they never stopped moving forward.

And what about myself?

When they received their admission notices from Jingyun University, they were overjoyed. Zhen Qiuyue had never seen her parents so radiant and happy.

But during Jingyun's school years, there were many people who were more outstanding than her, and many who were confident and flamboyant.

She could only tell herself again and again to study hard and get into a good university.

But what happened next? She couldn't imagine.

Lian Yi's words were blunt, full of superiority and sarcasm from a high position, but they made Zhen Qiuyue sober up in that instant.

She thought she had found her goal for the future.

She wanted to be someone who could speak up for the weak, and that voice had to be powerful, compelling, and resounding, not just someone who stood there like a block of wood, stubbornly complaining about how unfair the world was.

Having figured all this out, Zhen Qiuyue looked at Lian Yi again with gratitude and a hint of guilt in her eyes.

Although Lian Yi spoke with a sarcastic tone, Zhen Qiuyue knew that Lian Yi didn't need to explain these principles to her. Moreover, those people originally had no intention of giving her the money.

At least in their minds, she was insignificant.

It was Lian Yi who specifically brought it up and demanded that they also compensate her, clearly because she was aware of her family's financial situation and was doing this on purpose.

If it were really as she mocked, why would she bother to say it like that?

Zhen Qiuyue gradually understood and felt increasingly guilty.

She's such an awkward... but also a kind person.

Zhen Qiuyue decided not to express her gratitude to Lian Yi anymore. She knew that, more than nice words, the other party would definitely want to see her growth.

"..."

Finally, the school bus arrived, and Lian Yi jumped onto it in a few steps. Her gaze fell on the other side of the window, and she couldn't stand not seeing it.

Ever since Zhen Qiuyue finished speaking, she has been staring at her with a strange smile, which even Lian Yi could hardly resist.

It's really creepy.

Sitting on the school bus, Lian Yi rubbed her arms and began to miss her life in Yunhai.

At least no one there would smile at her like that, which gave her a terrible feeling that her retirement plans were in jeopardy.

…

After getting out of the car, Lian Yi walked for a while before reaching the parking area planned by Jing Yun.

The Pagani was parked ostentatiously among a group of cars, but the most eye-catching thing was the young man casually leaning against the sports car.

It wasn't because of his outstanding appearance. Although the combination of a luxury car and a handsome man is certainly eye-catching, what subconsciously draws attention is that he is holding a soy milk in one hand and a bag of xiaolongbao in the other.

With a sour face, he kept stuffing a steamed bun into his mouth and taking a sip of soy milk, as if these two things had somehow offended him.

This scene was clearly not what everyone expected.

If he's lounging lazily next to a sports car, head down smoking, with an indifferent look that suggests he's tired of the world, then that's the right way to go.

"Why are you only eating this? Come on, I'll take you to get something good to eat. I found some money on the street today, it's on me!"

Lian Yi walked over, showing no awareness of leaving him stranded outside the school for half a day. She patted Chen Jingze on the back in a very natural manner and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, not bad! You've been working out quite well lately!"

Unfortunately, it's January now, and he's wearing too many clothes, so you can only barely make out his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

Chen Jingze almost choked on a steamed bun because of her words. He finished his soy milk in one gulp, crushed the plastic cup, and finally couldn't hold back.

"You've kept me waiting here for ages, and instead of saying anything nice, you come here and start acting like a scoundrel?"

Lian Yi smiled nonchalantly and said, "Praising your training results is not bad, how is that being a hooligan? Okay, okay, I was wrong."

"Oh."

Chen Jingze sneered and got into the car. After Lian Yi sat in the passenger seat, he started the car and said with a smirk, "You're really something, Lian Yi. Now you treat me like an outsider?"

Ignoring her obviously perfunctory attitude in admitting her mistake, he turned the steering wheel and said coldly, "If I didn't have a cell phone and know how to use the internet, I probably wouldn't know about this."

"Hey, you know I've always been a low-key person."

Lian Yi said, "Do you think I need to tell you this just because I did a good deed, and also ask you to bring over some firecrackers and banners to celebrate?"

“You know that’s not what I meant.” Chen Jingze frowned and said, “Sometimes even a powerful dragon can’t suppress a local snake. If this weren’t at school, and you stood up for yourself in this situation, they might not be afraid of your status.”

"...Although you're at most a shameless snake."

Lian Yi narrowed her eyes and gave him a threatening look. "Chen Jingze, if it weren't for the fact that you were driving, and that I value my life, I would have already slapped this hand on your face."

"Really?" Chen Jingze raised an eyebrow and smiled, then turned the car around and drove onto a straight line. "You have a get-out-of-jail-free card, huh? Well then, I guess I have to say a few more things."

Forget it.

Lian Yi snorted coldly, propping her face up with her hand on the car door. "You don't need to get involved in everything. You're not a child anymore. You're the only heir in the Chen family. The old man should have already given you an ultimatum, right?"

"Since you're going to take over the family business, stop being so reckless and act like a proper heir to a wealthy family."

It's crystal clear in their circle who is being groomed as an heir and who is just a second-generation rich kid who only needs to learn how to eat, drink, have fun, and spend money.

People like Lian Yi and Chen Jingze, who are clearly only children, are eighteen and twenty years old respectively, yet they still haven't learned to wear formal attire, show the right appropriate smile, or have a few honors on their person, making them seem like rare animals.

Lian Yi was spoiled, while Chen Jingze was simply reckless.

Surprisingly, Chen Jingze didn't respond to her question. After a moment of silence, he said, "Uncle Lian should know you're in Hecheng, right? When will he summon you back this time?"

"Tonight," Lian Yi said.

"Heh. You've really made quite a stir with this." Chen Jingze chuckled.

He knew all too well that every time Lian Yi got into trouble in recent years, no matter where she was, Lian Decheng would recall her, but unlike other parents, he wouldn't directly put her in confinement.

It's purely to show the outside world that I've called my daughter back and disciplined her, and that's enough.

As for when she should go home, it often depends on how big the commotion gets.

This is the kind of thing that happened when someone single-handedly dragged a high school's reputation down to the lowest level in the public's mind. If she weren't Lian Decheng's daughter, this matter would have been really hard to handle.

Since its founding nearly fifty years ago, Jingyun School has produced countless students. Regardless of their family background or subsequent achievements, these individuals wield considerable influence in society.

Regardless of one's level of affection for their alma mater, high school, everyone should uphold the collective honor out of consideration for the network of alumni.

However, because of Lian Yi's family background, she was able to remain perfectly hidden in the final outcome of this matter.

Everyone, whether they knew it or not, tacitly pretended not to know.

Although Lian Yi generously offered to treat everyone, the sports car ended up being parked outside an alley, and the restaurant was a few steps further in.

Chen Jingze is very good at discovering these delicious little shops, and every time he does, he amazes Lian Yi. Does he spend all his time wandering around the streets and alleys of Hecheng? He would be quite suitable to be a shop-exploring blogger.

This small shop serves congee hot pot. A clay pot is placed on a charcoal stove. Chen Jingze ordered the dishes skillfully and then came back to sit down.

Lian Yi then noticed that although he had changed his clothes, his baseball cap was still firmly on his head, as if it were welded on.

While disassembling the chopsticks, he complained, "Are you bald? Why are you wearing a hat all the time, trying to look cool?"

Chen Jingze paused slightly as he opened the drink, and the expression on his face, which was hidden in the shadow cast by the brim of his hat, changed.

He glanced at Lian Yi secretly, and seeing that she looked normal, he lowered his eyes and thought for a while, as if he was struggling with something inside. He remained silent for a long time, and even the action of unpacking the disposable chopsticks became slow.

Lian Yi had only mentioned it casually, but upon noticing the other party's reaction, she was somewhat shocked and her eyes widened slightly.

"Really bald?"

"……no."

Chen Jingze rarely appeared so weak and subdued. After denying it, he pursed his lips slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"Lian Yi, if... I mean if."

"Just say what you have to say. Fill out the form to borrow money." Seeing his hesitation, Lian Yi lost patience and picked up a peanut with her chopsticks.

"never mind."

Chen Jingze took a deep breath. He knew Lian Yi's personality; she never liked to speak in such roundabout ways. Getting her to press for answers would be harder than climbing to heaven.

He raised his hand and touched the brim of his black baseball cap.

Finally, as if making a firm decision, he took off his hat.

Chen Jingze has regular facial features, bright black eyes, and a clear jawline, making him look like a person who can give people a sense of security. His slightly dark skin adds a touch of wildness and sharpness.

However, his slightly evasive gaze at this moment weakened the sharpness of his gaze considerably.

His previously casual hair was now shaved into a buzz cut.

"..."

Lian Yi glanced at it, puzzled, and commented, "This hairstyle suits you quite well, why are you wearing a hat to cover it up?"

"I'll shave this head."

Chen Jingze paused, and seeing that she still didn't understand, he stared at her with his dark eyes. "It's to prepare for what's to come. I'm going to join the army, Lian Yi."

Suddenly, the chopsticks couldn't hold the smooth peanuts, and the crispy fried peanuts fell onto the table, rolled a distance, and wobbled back and forth before finally coming to a stop.

Lian Yi closed her eyes. She was indeed surprised, and for a moment she had a lot to say.

But when she caught a glimpse of Chen Jingze staring at her silently, she gradually calmed down, said "Oh," and continued to reach for the peanuts in the small dish with her chopsticks.

This reaction...

Chen Jingze felt a little flustered. Even if Lian Yi, in her usual manner, made a few sarcastic remarks to him, he would be fine.

"Don't you have anything you want to ask?" He couldn't help but lean forward slightly and stare intently at Lian Yi as he asked.

"No, do whatever you want." Lian Yi smiled at him, chewing on peanuts, her attention already drawn to the plates of dishes that needed to be cooked in broth.

Chen Jingze touched his slightly prickly head, his thin lips pressed tightly together, "Do you think I'm joking?"

Why do you say that?

Lian Yi poured a plate of beef into the casserole and said in surprise, "To be honest, I'm quite surprised that you only decided to do this now. I thought you did it when you turned eighteen."

The previous generation of the Chen family is all dead.

Such a seemingly casual sentence carries the weight of how several brilliant lives came to an abrupt end.

The old man is a bit old-fashioned. There is an ancestral hall in the old Chen family house, and on an offering table, there are still three First-Class Merits. Not many people actually know about this.

One reason is that they sacrificed themselves while carrying out a secret mission, and the other is that the old man, a parent who had lost their child, was in a pain he could never let go of. Therefore, no one dared to provoke the old man's inner turmoil.

Chen Jingze's mother was a medical researcher who was attending an exchange meeting abroad at the time.

Upon learning the news, she immediately took the nearest flight back to China, but that plane crashed.

In an instant, the Chen family, which was originally quite lively, was reduced to just an old man and a child.

Lian Yi had almost never seen Chen Jingze vulnerable. Even on their first meeting, he was stubborn and refused to back down.

The only time this happened was when a small wooden gun he had locked in a safe got moldy because a servant neglected to adjust the temperature and humidity when he was fourteen.

This young master of the Chen family, who never seemed to have any demands on life, was completely unpretentious, and only learned that unruly attitude from Lian Yi, stared blankly at the wooden gun for several days without eating or drinking.

It was on that occasion that Lian Yi was invited to Hecheng by the old man's private jet. She flew all the way over and kicked him twice to wake him up.

Afterwards, Lian Yi learned some of what had happened from the old man's calm, storytelling words.

Over the years, Chen Jingze has indulged in all sorts of pleasures, but Lian Yi could tell that he always had something on his mind. She knew this, and so did Old Master Chen.

She doesn't speak up because she has no interest in interfering in other people's lives.

Grandpa Chen didn't mention it because he didn't want to lose his only grandson. Even if such a thought seemed selfish, he simply couldn't bear any more possibility.

So in recent years, the relationship between the grandfather and grandson has become increasingly strained.

“I know.” Chen Jingze paused. “My decision was impulsive, and many people may think it’s stupid. I also let my grandfather down and made him sad.”

"But so many years have passed."

Chen Jingze took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I will always remember how proud they were back then, and I remember how my dad and uncle lifted me up and how the badge shone brightly."

“I just don’t want to live such a mediocre life. Although I know they don’t need me, and it’s very possible that even if I stay inside for a few years, I won’t even be qualified to walk the same path they walked back then.”

"But I just want to go and see what their unwavering belief in sacrificing themselves for is like."

The porridge in the clay pot was bubbling away. There weren't many people in the shop yet, and the rising steam created a white mist.

Through the white mist, Chen Jingze's rugged and handsome face seemed slightly blurred.

Lian Yi sighed, "You know me. If you want me to say something supportive, I can't."

From a rational perspective, Chen Jingze's decision was not only idealistic, but also an irrational form of idealism.

But people are often contradictory and conflicted individuals.

Who would understand him? This story sounds like a spoiled young master who is oblivious to the hardships of life, relying on his family background and the indulgence of his parents to play the game of pursuing his dreams.

Even his entry there was only due to the legacy of the previous generation.

But isn't it often through this irrational idealism that we get through those desperate moments?

Lian Yi poked at the slightly overcooked beef and lowered her eyes, saying, "But I won't say anything to discourage you. You are making your own decisions about your life. As long as you are prepared to face any outcome, I certainly have no reason to stop you."

"I knew you'd say that."

Chen Jingze's expression relaxed slightly, and the corners of his mouth turned up a little. He began to play the role of the laborer he had been doing while eating with Lian Yi, picking up food and rinsing it.

When are you leaving?

"After the New Year."

Lian Yi chuckled, "Well, you're quite filial, at least you know to spend the New Year with the old man."

"What kind of talk is that?" Chen Jingze clicked his tongue, his smile casual. "I'm not going to jail. I have a leave of absence. It's not like I'm never coming back."

Lian Yi paused slightly as she picked up the meat, glancing at him.

"OK!"

Chen Jingze was the first to surrender, saying, "If I say something wrong, I'll be punished by having to eat all the overcooked beef."

"Tch." Lian Yi lowered her eyes.

It's good that this guy is detained. In her retirement plan, Chen Jingze is the most unstable factor. Although he usually seems unreliable, he can be as stubborn as an ox when he gets angry.

Lian Yi knew that although her group of friends were supposedly loyal, they were really useless when it mattered, which was why she felt comfortable hanging out with them.

When the real heiress returns, they'll at most play the role of cannon fodder villains, accompanying her in her arrogance for a few rounds before being thoroughly humiliated and ultimately confined to her home for a while.

When they get old, they'll still have to rely on their families for food and drink. They're a bunch of people who are better off squandering their money than starting a business, so what right do they have to speak out?

But Chen Jingze is different. He is the only heir of the Chen family, and even if he is completely rotten, that fact cannot be changed.

Over the years, he and she have been the best partners in their wicked schemes. Lian Yi understands his personality well; he is protective of his own and indeed has the ability to do so.

If it really came to that, Lian Yi was not without worry that Chen Jingze might bring the entire Chen family to support her.

The two gradually fell silent as they ate.

Suddenly, Lian Yi said, "Be more careful in the future, so you don't really sacrifice yourself, otherwise I'll have to come to Hecheng every year to offer incense for you."

"Lian Xiaoyi, can't you say something nice?"

Chen Jingze's hand holding the spoon wobbled, and he almost laughed in exasperation. "Don't worry, evil people live a long life. Someone like me will probably live to be a hundred. Besides, what era are we living in? Where are there so many dangers?"

"Um."

Lian Yi did not deny what he said.

The connections left by his ancestors allowed him to accomplish this, but they wouldn't actually let the only bloodline of the Chen family be harmed. Logically and emotionally, Chen Jingze would only stay for a few years before returning to take over the family business and become his CEO.

"Remember to help me out when you've made it big!" Lian Yi waited for him to pour the cooked meat onto the plate before slowly reaching for it with her chopsticks.

Chen Jingze chuckled and said, "You're being too polite. Who will you be then? The head of the Lian family. Whether I'll still be qualified to serve you like this at meals is another matter."

“That’s true.” Lian Yi nodded in agreement.

He chuckled and shook his head, continuing his work of serving this ancestor meals.

After eating and drinking her fill, Lian Yi leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat lazy, her eyes slightly narrowed, her expression so languid it seemed boneless.

These moments are truly relaxing—a friend you know well, a hearty meal, no pretense, and no annoying pretentious faces.

She made no comment on Chen Jingze's decision because she understood and trusted him.

Just as the other party can take action without questioning right or wrong based on a single sentence she says, demonstrating their trust and understanding.

You're the first person to know about this.

When Chen Jingze returned after paying the bill, he paused as he picked up his baseball cap, and suddenly said something to Lian Yi.

"Oh..." Lian Yi responded lazily.

Then, looking up and seeing the other person's serious expression, she smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly, and said in a playful tone, "If Brother Jingze says that, Grandpa Chen won't be angry, will he?"

"..."

Chen Jingze's thin lips, which had been pressed into a straight line, curled slightly as he chuckled and scolded, "Go to hell."

He relaxed and picked up his coat, which was draped over the back of the chair.

"Even if I can't receive your messages in time, if something really happens to you, don't let me be the last to know, like today, unless you really don't consider me a friend."

Chen Jingze tapped the table and saw Lian Yi look up at him as if bestowing a favor. His smile was arrogant and somewhat frivolous.

"Crawl over here, I'll crawl over and back you up."

The embers in the charcoal stove had gone out, leaving only a layer of slightly burnt porridge at the bottom of the pot. Several new customers entered the shop and kept glancing at them curiously.

Lian Yi tilted her head slightly and rubbed her face with her hand.

Then he stretched out his leg and kicked Chen Jingze in the shin, but Chen Jingze dodged it skillfully.

"Stop trying to take advantage of me."

…

…

Sitting on the plane back to Yunhai City, upon learning of her return, her group of friends immediately started clamoring in the group chat to throw a party.

Although Lian Yi only left for two short days, her group of close friends all said that without her in Yunhai, it felt like an eternity.

They solemnly stated that this suggestion was absolutely a heartfelt expression of their longing for her, and not an attempt to hear her, the person in question, recount the details of the matter.

Among them, the dozen or so people who posted videos at the time were the most active.

Why didn't Lian Yi hire someone else to do this? It's because they were reliable!

It's not without impact. In just half a day, whether it was Jingyun University trying to pull strings or some Jingyun alumni spontaneously wanting to do something for their alma mater, they all ended up contacting their parents, implying that they should delete the video.

It would be best to clarify that this matter has been resolved and the outcome is satisfactory to everyone, so let's stop with the conspiracy theories.

But what kind of people are these rich kids? They don't inherit the family business and have no ambition. Most of them are still the youngest children at home, helplessly spoiled by their parents and elders.

Why should I be the first to delete a message from someone who hasn't deleted it? I won't do it!

What can we do? We can't just hit him, and we can't scold him either. It's like we're blaming our own child for not doing anything wrong. You adults didn't handle things well, so you can't blame our child.

Young people are often careless and mischievous, and there's nothing we adults can do about it.

For the first time in years, this group of people caused trouble without being scolded by their parents, and they immediately became as excited as monkeys, jumping around in the group chat.

Lian Yi immediately blocked it.

She also wanted to build a glass conservatory in the clouds, but doing it at home wouldn't fully showcase her extravagant and wasteful nature.

Lian Yi closed her eyes and pondered, thinking about which area in the city center to acquire a piece of land for her to develop.

By the time the plane landed, Lian Yi already had several goals in mind.

Led by a flight attendant, Lian Yi walked out through the VIP channel and saw the driver who had come to pick her up. She had left empty-handed, so naturally she couldn't have brought anything with her.

Ignoring the driver's polite greeting, Lian Yi walked past him and headed straight out.

The car's distinctive license plate was easy to spot. The driver jogged over to the car and opened the door for her. Lian Yi was about to get in when she lowered her head slightly and suddenly stopped.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, initially surprised.

As soon as the car door opened, she saw a handsome young man sitting inside. If she hadn't known that the driver was one of her own and that the other person was Xie Ling, she would have almost thought it was a 'surprise' arranged for her by her cronies.

They've done this kind of thing before.

But after squinting and thinking for a moment, he quickly realized what was going on.

Lian Yi paused for a moment, then naturally got into the car, ignoring Xie Ling's obvious subconscious movement to the side after she sat in the middle with a self-righteous air.

“My dad had surgery yesterday, and it was very successful.”

Xie Ling answered her question seemingly out of the blue, then her cool voice rang out again, "The surgery was originally scheduled for next week, but the hospital suddenly decided to move it forward."

"After school this afternoon, your driver came to the school and told me to come pick you up from the airport."

The meaning behind his words was not difficult to understand; at least Lian Yi understood it.

"Oh." Lian Yi smiled when she saw his cold expression. "So you were forced into it. I thought you wanted to come on your own. Can't you lie to me next time?"

Xie Ling might think this was her request, but Lian Yi knew it was nothing more than Lian Decheng's cunning scheme.

The idea of ​​a rich heiress falling in love with a poor boy, or a rich young master falling in love with a Cinderella, is something that wealthy family patriarchs have always been most wary of. They certainly try to break up these couples, but everyone uses different methods.

Throwing money or checks at someone is a low-level and inefficient tactic. It not only damages your image but also makes the other party more greedy.

It seems they really took most of what she said at the dinner table seriously.

How do you break up this kind of relationship? It's simple: just make the two people clearly realize the differences between them, shatter the beautiful illusions in their love, and force the couple to face reality.

Such relationships on campus are even easier to break up. It is believed that in Lian Decheng's heart, Lian Yi was only attracted to Xie Ling's face and his many outstanding qualities.

But Lian Yi has always been arrogant and spoiled, and this young man has self-respect and is also very proud.

Simply force him to face the life of another social class, and his self-esteem will turn into inferiority, his pride will be hurt, and suspicion, arguments, and cold wars will naturally arise between the two of them.

They wouldn't even need Lian Decheng to pay much attention; they would become a resentful couple.

Lian Yi was somewhat annoyed by being urged to return to Yunhai, but she didn't expect Lian Decheng to give her such a helping hand.

In that case, let's not ask for that piece of land worth 600 million later.

Lian Yi thought to herself, "I'm grateful for your kindness."

"Lian Yi, thank you."

No matter how awkward he felt, Xie Ling still sincerely expressed his gratitude to her, even though he knew that Lian Yi didn't care about his thanks.

"You're too kind."

Lian Yi covered her mouth and yawned. It seemed she needed to work harder. No wonder he was a candidate for the male lead in the "real heiress fishpond"—his moral values ​​were indeed strong.

"...I know you don't care about these things, but I will pay you back for what you paid later," Xie Ling said earnestly, pursing her lips.

Why didn't you say this before your father had the surgery?

Lian Yi glanced at him with amusement, a slight sneer on her lips, and said mockingly, "Xie Ling, do you think you're very smart, or do you think I'm easy to fool?"

The driver was focused intently on the road ahead, seemingly oblivious to the conversation taking place behind him.

Xie Ling frowned. "That's not what I meant..."

"What does that mean?"

Lian Yi crossed her arms over her chest and chuckled, "You didn't say anything before, letting me do whatever I wanted, because you knew that I could make this surgery cancel with just one word."

"So now that the surgery is done, you can speak with more confidence?"

Xie Ling was speechless for a moment.

He couldn't deny that he did indeed hold this thought.

Regardless of whether Lian Yi was just playing around, Xie Ling always felt that their relationship was inappropriate and abnormal.

At the very least, financial debts should not be compensated for by emotional reasons.

Lian Yi suddenly reached out, grabbed his collar, and forcefully dragged him in front of her.

Still lost in thought, the boy was clearly caught off guard. A look of astonishment appeared on his cool and aloof face. He was unable to react for a moment and just stared blankly at her, so close that he could clearly feel her breathing.

Her eyes were beautiful, a fact that even Xie Ling, who had always harbored some resentment towards them, could not deny.

Meeting those clear, bright eyes, Xie Ling subconsciously lowered her gaze, avoiding her eyes.

Lian Yi smiled, unconcerned by his reaction. "I advise you to behave yourself. At least until I get tired of you, don't act coy in front of me, understand?"

Her gaze fell on Xie Ling's dark eyes, then gradually slid down to his high nose, his tightly pursed thin lips, and finally to his body wrapped in the Wanghai school uniform.

Being looked at with such an aggressive gaze felt as if the area where her gaze passed was slightly burning and stinging.

Xie Ling blushed slightly and tried to back away, but her forceful grip on her collar gave him no chance to create distance.

"Lian Yi, let me go first."

He was worried that if he used too much force, it would affect the driver in front, and he was also worried about causing a collision, so he only said one sentence, which made him seem very weak.

Lian Yi not only refused to let go, but also deliberately pulled him forward, her eyes curving slightly as she watched his somewhat embarrassed and angry expression.

"Xie Ling, don't be so naive. I really don't care about this little bit of money. Even if you could come up with it now, so what? Double? Ten times?"

She gently stroked his face with her other hand, a tender gesture, but Xie Ling quickly turned her face away to avoid it.

"How pathetic, Xie Ling. Why do you think I would care about such a small amount of money?"

Lian Yi didn't care about his dodging movements, and her voice became gentle.

But to Xie Ling's ears, it sounded like the whispers of a demon.

"Your uncle finally got a healthy kidney transplant and can live a long time. Why would you want to take away this hard-won good fortune? Life is always full of unexpected events, isn't it?"

The girl's fair and delicate hand touched his face again, like a loving caress between lovers, gentle and tender.

Xie Ling felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her face turning so pale that she appeared somewhat fragile.

Lian Yi let go of his hand, lowered her eyes and slowly straightened his wrinkled collar. "Look, isn't it better when we talk to each other properly like this?"

"...What exactly do you want me to do?" Xie Ling took a breath and closed her eyes slightly, "before you let me go."

He didn't believe that Lian Yi really had any feelings for him.

If it were just a rich young lady playing tricks on him, why go to such lengths? There are many ways to embarrass him, and he would endure it all without complaint as long as his father's illness could be cured.

But Xie Ling really couldn't understand what Lian Yi wanted.

Lian Yi's smile remained unchanged. She leaned slightly closer to the boy and whispered something in his ear.

He was then violently pushed away by the other party.

Fortunately, the car was spacious enough that Lian Yi was simply helped back into her seat by the seatbelt, only to bump lightly against the backrest.

She didn't care about Xie Ling's strong reaction. "I'll let it go this time, but be more careful next time. If you hurt me like this again, I'll get angry."

"..."

Xie Ling's chest heaved, his face pale, but the blush from his cheeks to his ears was hard to ignore. His usually composed and calm eyes now showed a very complicated expression.

Panic, humiliation, and shame that made those eyes seem to be brimming with tears.

"Such words..."

Xie Ling wanted to say something, but then paused, unable to continue.

He glanced at the driver in front, took a deep breath, and finally calmed down before saying coldly, "I disagree."

"Okay, okay."

Lian Yi smiled and said, "As long as you behave, I won't force you to do this. We can talk about it later."

She's not stupid. If she messed up the real heiress's fishpond, she might disappear without a trace after retirement.

This indulgent tone, as if coaxing a child, only made Xie Ling more embarrassed and annoyed. Although the boy lowered his eyes and didn't speak, the lingering blush on his ears still revealed the unease in his heart.

Lian Yi sighed with regret as she looked at his posture.

The more awkward and aloof he seemed, the more she wanted to tease him.

When will Xie finally realize this?