Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Thanks to Shirley's relationship, Ai Zi Qing's identity was not exposed until the end of the party, and Wang Le Le had no intention of showing off, her heart entangled in the collision between ideals and reality.

  Xue Li walked out of the flower hall surrounded by a crowd, and Ai Zi Qing followed in the crowd to go outside. But who would have thought that as soon as they reached downstairs, something unexpected happened!

  Li Yongguang walked out of the luxurious suite of Shangdi Club with Xia Ran, a music teacher, in his arms, with an unmistakable smirk on his face. Xia Ran looked even more demure and shy, her hair slightly disheveled, her eyes gazing enviously at the club that was like a palace, which she had never dared to imagine before. Seeing the waiter beside her who earned a higher salary than hers, with such a respectful attitude, her vanity was almost bursting.

  "Hey, I heard that this place has a new boss now? We're also frequent diners here, and even with the membership card, they always say they won't take my money. But how could I possibly owe them favors worth tens of thousands just because of that? I forced him to accept the money, so every time I come over, the waitstaff gives me a complimentary nutritious meal. Of course, it's all because of their boss's orders!" Li Yongguang boasted with a sigh, and was pleased to see Xia Ran looking at him with surprised admiration by his side.

  Just thinking about the luxurious nutritious meal she had just eaten, Xia Ran's heart was filled with envy, and she grasped Li Yongguang's arm even tighter. Little did she know that the Shang Emperor Club only served members, and all members could enjoy this treatment every month, otherwise what was the point of spending 100,000 yuan?

  Li Yongguang, even if he drives a sports car every day and enjoys life, can't afford to spend money on a 100,000-yuan membership card at Shangdi. The reason he has a membership here is entirely because of his father's influence as the head of the Education Bureau. With his father's identity in a powerful department, he doesn't need to spend his own money and people will line up to deliver things to his doorstep.

  At this time, Li Yongguang in the hall met Ai Ziqing and others who were going out. Originally, Li Yongguang was also stunned on the spot, didn't expect to meet his own students here, and more embarrassing is that he had just walked out of the room with Xia Ran. But when Xia Ran pinched him, Li Yongguang came back to himself, immediately put on a serious face and asked "Ai Ziqing? What are you doing here?"

  Ai Zi Qing was also stunned, her eyes scanning to a flustered Xia Ran, and she naturally knew what they had just done. Pointing to the crowd in front who had stopped arguing because of this side's commotion, "Attending a gathering with friends, if there's nothing else, Teacher Li, I'll take my leave?"

  Li Yongguang raised his eyes and scanned Su Xue, Xu Jie, and the others, also taken aback. Although he had been studying in Beijing since childhood, he naturally knew some of these young masters and misses from Yang City. However, it wasn't suitable for him to go forward and try to build a relationship with them now, especially since some of them were middle school students, so he could only give up. But Xia Ran, who was standing beside him, didn't hold back. She didn't care who the people in front of her were; she only knew that Li Yongguang had some connections and that she had come here with him. If they were seen by students, she didn't know what rumors would spread when they got back. Just thinking about the disdainful looks from teachers and students made Xia Ran's face flush, and her voice became somewhat shrill as she said, "What are you doing here? Dressed like that, where is your student demeanor?" She was pointing at Ai Ziqing and Wang Lele, who were standing behind everyone.

  She had some understanding of Ai Zi Qing's family background, and thought that she must have been relying on her friend's influence, or was just as wealthy... to be able to come to such a high-end place, and suddenly felt a bit disdainful.

  Who is Ai Zi Qing? At a glance, she saw what Xia Ran was thinking in her heart, and felt that she was being unreasonable. Her voice sank slightly as she said, "Teacher Xia, it doesn't seem to be school time now, and students also have their own lives. Are you overstepping your bounds?" She never liked to repeat herself a second time.

  "What is this life of yours? Is this really your life? A student, going in and out of such a place with others? The teacher is doing it for your own good, but you're being unreasonable!" Xia Ran's sharp voice rose slightly, Li Yongguang felt his face lose its luster, reached out to pull her back, indicating not to quarrel here. But Xia Ran was stimulated by Ai Ziqing's dismissive attitude, originally she was afraid that the students would think she was greedy for vanity, now she was even more convinced of her own thoughts, feeling that Ai Ziqing's attitude was disdainful, and no longer took her seriously!

  Ai Zi Qing frowned, unwilling to entangle with this brainless woman. Seeing that Sherry and the others had already stopped in their tracks, watching the commotion like a spectator, while Su Xi and the others were teasing Xia Ran without any concern. Ai Zi Qing could only nod towards Yang Jia, the manager of the hall, who was hurrying over from the side. Yang Jia immediately understood the situation and walked to Ai Zi Qing's side with a smile, asking "Director Ai, what happened? Let me handle it?"

  Ai Zi Qing nodded in approval, ignoring the astonished expressions of the crowd, and pulled Wang Le Le, who was sulking beside her, to join Su Xi, Xu Jian and others, walking out together. As they passed by Xue Li, who was still standing there in a daze, she even politely nodded in greeting...

  The monthly exam, the classroom was quiet with only the sound of pens scratching on paper, everyone was quietly doing their questions when the invigilating teacher stepped out of the classroom for a moment, and suddenly the silent classroom erupted into **…

  "Liangzi, how do we solve this problem?"

  "Hey, what's your choice for the second question?"

  "What? You've even answered the composition question!"

  "How is the word 'vice' in 'a pair of glasses' written?"

  It's just a checkerboard.

  "Thanks!"

  Similar voices rose and fell, even Ai Ziying was a bit embarrassed, it turned out that the prestigious school in the hearts of Yang City people was not much different from other schools.

  "Wang Qiang! Look at your own composition! What is this that you've written?" Li Yongguang stood on the platform, questioning angrily as he handed out the monthly exam papers.

  Sports Committee member Wang Qiang stood up in confusion, wondering where he had offended this old male tiger again?

  "Look at what you've written! 'My class teacher, with a pair of black glasses on the bridge of his nose!' Is this really what you wrote?" Li Yongguang read it out loud and couldn't help but laugh and cry.

  The class suddenly boiled over, with a burst of laughter rising and falling in waves! Some even clutched their chests and stamped their feet, holding their bellies in laughter.

  Wang Qiang's face suddenly turned bright red...

  "Come to my office after class!"

  At noon, in the chaotic cafeteria, students were queuing up to buy food everywhere, it was unusually noisy. Ai Zi Qing and Liu Ye, Wang Le Le three people sat by the window, while eating, they told Wang Le Le about the most interesting composition event today, which made Wang Le Le laugh so hard that she held her belly.

  Suddenly, the noisy canteen became much quieter. The three of them looked up to see several fashionable women walking in from the entrance. The leader had a head of soft curly hair and was dressed fashionably but not gaudily.

  It was indeed Xue Mei who had arrived, her delicate face twisted in anger as she stormed towards the corner of the cafeteria where Shi Ran was having lunch with a few girls. Upon seeing Xue Mei and her entourage approaching with such ferocity, Shi Ran's face instantly turned pale.

  A woman beside Xue Mei slapped Shi Ran in the face, sneering "You cheap thing, you're quite capable now, even seducing Xu Jian."

  "Ah!" Shi Ran covered her face and exclaimed. Facing Xue Mei, who was expressionless on the side, she said with a sobbing tone, "Xue Mei jiejie, I didn't, I didn't!"

  "Nothing? You think I didn't see? This morning, who was it that was hugging Xu Jian in the corridor and crying and begging? Cheap goods, wanting to stick around without even looking at who the other person is!" Another woman behind Xue Mei retorted.

  "I... I didn't! I'm just grateful that Xu Jianxue saved me..." Shi Ran explained with a flustered gaze.

  "Saved you? When did I save you? How did I save you?" Xue Mei crossed her arms, coldly smiling as she looked at Shi Ran's flustered expression.

  "I...I..." Shī Rán stuttered, her eyes reddening. It turned out that she had seen the newspaper report about Xú Yán Dōng leading a team to rescue a victimized girl, and Shī Rán had recognized several suspects in the photos, realizing that the main character of the incident was actually herself. However, at the scene, it was ài Zǐ Qíng who appeared, and although she didn't know why, she felt that the newspaper and the provincial secretary wouldn't lie, so it was possible that Xú Yán Dōng had caught those thugs but something unexpected happened in between, and ài Zǐ Qíng found her and took her away, causing Shī Rán to misunderstand that she was rescued by ài Zǐ Qíng.

  But then I thought again and it didn't seem quite right. Later, I remembered that Xu Jian is Xu Yandong's son and also has a good relationship with Ai Ziqing. Is it possible that they were the ones who found her that day? Then Xu Jian's father stepped in to save her, but since men weren't supposed to be involved, he called Ai Ziqing to take her to the hotel instead? It's infuriating that Ai Ziqing didn't mention this at all and took credit for herself! The more I thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. So, Shi Ran started paying attention to Xu Jian in secret and eventually fell for him, finally unable to resist confessing to him. Who knew they would be caught by Xue Mei's friend?

  But now Xue Mei forced him to ask, Shi Ran couldn't say the miserable things that happened last time, so he stammered and his eyes turned red.

  Ai Zi Qing watched the scene in front of her with great interest, not understanding where Shi Ran had offended Mrs. Xue again. This scene also reminded her of when she first met Xue Mei, which was also in the cafeteria. She remembered that it was a girl named Li Yun who liked Xu Jian and was scolded by Xue Mei. Later, it seemed like there was no more news about the girl, had she transferred schools? Thinking about it made her want to laugh.

  Following Liu Ye Wang Lele out of the cafeteria, Wang Lele rolled her eyes and said "Xue Mei is so domineering every day, she's like a tyrant in the whole school!"

  "It doesn't matter if she's bossy or not, and she didn't bother us anyway." Ai Zi Qing said with a nonchalant smile.

  "If you bother me, I'll scratch you!" Wang Lele raised her slender small hand and made a clawing motion, causing Ai Zi Qing and Liu Ye to burst out laughing.

  In the evening after school, Aizi Qing walked into the big yard and found that the leaves had turned yellow and fallen, and the air was slightly cool. She sighed in her heart, autumn has arrived...

  It's already mid-November, and Tang Luo has been gone for over half a month. News from the other side says that there's nothing unusual about the Huangfu family, but the Tang family business has indeed encountered some problems. As for the specific details, they can't be investigated yet. Ai Zi Qing hasn't let her guard down at all, instead becoming even more vigilant, always feeling like this is the calm before a storm, with an ominous tone of impending disaster. She then laughed at herself mockingly, wondering if she was being too nosy. The Tang family is huge and influential; if they can't solve their own problems, what use is she?

  To put it bluntly, I'm just the leader of a new gang and group, after all. My career is still in its development stage. It's limited to Yang City or even Liaoning Province. In a place like Hong Kong, people wouldn't give me a second glance. My biggest advantage lies in my age and potential for growth, but in the eyes of real big shots, my abilities are not worth mentioning. I can be completely strangled in the cradle.

  At the turn in front, a person suddenly walked out, Ai Zi Qing calmed down and took a look, it was Xue Mei.

  "Come with me for a walk." Xue Mei said to Ai Zi Qing with a tired expression.

  "Good." Ai Zi Qing raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly, noticing that Xue Wei was holding a bag of beer.

  He Tang Park, the two sat on the same long bench where Ai Zi Qing had comforted Tang Luo last time. Xue Mei picked up a can of beer and handed it to Ai Zi Qing, then opened another one for herself and started drinking with her head tilted back.

  She smiled self-deprecatingly and said "Do you think I'm really without pride, clinging to a man who doesn't love me?"

  Ai Zi Qing remained silent, listening to her continue "Actually, I've liked him for a very long time... so long that my memories have become somewhat fuzzy. It was probably when I was 12 years old, at an adult gathering. At that time, he wasn't as handsome and dazzling as he is now, just an ordinary little boy who hadn't grown up yet, thin and short. Hehehe..." Xue Mei's eyes became slightly dazed, as if recalling the ordinary and short boy from back then, never expecting him to grow into such a tall and handsome man.

  She continued to smile and said, "Remember that time, I saw him being surrounded by several boys in the hotel corridor, he was alone, but the other side had five or six people. He was beaten until his nose was blue and his face was swollen, but he still fought back stubbornly, until he scared those boys away with a fierce force. Haha, that time also scared me silly, I stood there motionless, didn't even think of calling for an adult, until he walked up to me and said 'What are you standing there for? Don't you know how to hide?' Then he just walked away from me, from then on, I often dreamed about the scene that day. But when we met again, he didn't remember who I was at all." Xue Mei's expression became somewhat melancholic, as if she had fallen into a distant and vague memory.

  "After that, in order to get his attention, I started being good at socializing, stirring up trouble, and rumors about me were often circulating in the circle. Who knew, he would be even more disdainful of me? Hehe, isn't it strange? Why can't I put him down in my heart?"

  Upon hearing this, Ai Zi Qing's heart felt a pang of sorrow. Who would have thought that Xue Mei, who appeared to be flirtatious and arrogant in everyone's eyes, was actually just trying to attract the attention of one man? Her heart had always been fixated on that small figure from back then!

  Ai Zi Qing couldn't make any comments, after all everyone has their own values. Xue Mei indeed loved Xu Jian, but her methods were not correct. She probably knew it herself too. Ai Zi Qing just sat quietly on the side, silent and speechless.

  On this autumn evening, on the riverbank's long bench, a girl sipped cold beer and poured out years of heart matters to another girl...

  Years later, when Ai Zi Qing recalled this scene today, she still couldn't help but reveal a heartfelt smile.