Chapter 139: Taking Her to School (1)

Before slipping into unconsciousness, he had no idea of the severity of his injuries. He was afraid—afraid that he might never wake up, afraid that Qiao Xi would be heartbroken, and terrified that he would never see her again.

In that moment, he realized just how unable he was to let her go, and how much he dreaded the thought of being separated from her.

"Heng, I..."

He didn't wait for her to finish. He pulled her into a fierce embrace, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmured in a low, husky voice, sounding almost like a vow: "I will never let you leave me again!"

***

Yingran High School.

"Qiao Xi only asked for three days off. She should be coming to school today, right?"

"Not necessarily. Gu Dieyan is still recuperating at home."

"Come on, her leave of absence has nothing to do with that incident."

"True, but everyone knows that Fengyang’s Gu Heng was beaten and hospitalized. I heard Qiao Xi even went to teach those people a lesson—pushing someone down the stairs, getting into a fight... I really don't understand why the school hasn't expelled her yet."

"That’s just hearsay. Who knows if it’s even true? Besides, there’s no evidence to prove Gu Dieyan’s incident was intentional on Qiao Xi's part. And don't forget, Qiao Xi is the President's girlfriend now. With that status alone, she’s certainly staying here."

"That’s hardly fair, is it? Just because she’s the President's girlfriend doesn't mean she should get special treatment."

"Well, only the people involved know the truth, and we can’t influence how the school handles it. Besides, it’s none of our business. We’re just gossiping for the sake of it."

"I heard the President is coming back to class today too. The timing is so coincidental—I wonder if they planned it together."

"The President is so young and is already learning the ropes of business from his father. He’s bound to become a commercial legend in the future."

"That goes without saying. He’s the sole heir to the Yu family. I wonder how many women he’ll captivate in the future. If I could just catch one glance from him, I’d have no regrets in this life."

"Stop daydreaming. The President already has a girlfriend. If you want to obsess over someone, obsess over the Vice President."

"But the Vice President is a commoner. How can he compare to the prince-like President? Honestly, the Vice President really does have that noble air about him. Why must reality be so cruel?"

"What do you mean 'commoner'? Don't talk nonsense. Your family background is hardly better than his, and if someone hears you saying that, you'll be in big trouble."

"Who is this 'someone'? And it's not just me saying it; aren't you all thinking the same thing?"

"Who else but the President's cousin? Who do you think?"

"Oh, I almost forgot. You must never go around saying things like that."

"So you are afraid now? See if you dare talk about the Vice President like that again..."

...

"Sigh, they say three women make a market, and they’re certainly not wrong."

Ji Niansheng sighed helplessly. He had originally intended to eat his breakfast here before heading back to the classroom, but instead, he felt like he had just listened to a theatrical performance. He suspected the classroom would be several times more chaotic, though he wondered if the protagonist of all this attention at Yingran would actually show up today.

Personally, he hoped she would; otherwise, life would be far too dull.

After finishing his breakfast, he had no interest in lingering to listen to the girls' gossip. As he walked toward the teaching building, he happened to spot Xu Jia'er.

"Hi, little cousin Jia'er, you're here early today too."

"Niansheng-ge, you're here early as well," Xu Jia'er said sweetly.

"Yu Fan came back yesterday, didn't he?" he asked.