Chapter 31: Begin Your Performance
“…Are you…serious?”
Xu Wanxi stared at Ling Qiu for a long time before accepting the jade thumb ring.
“Alright, I’ll agree to it.”
Ling Qiu laughed, “So decisive?”
Xu Wanxi replied, “Is this your first day knowing me? I either refuse or accept, I never hesitate.”
As she spoke, Xu Wanxi slipped the jade ring onto her finger, pursed her lips in a smile, and admired it. “It’s actually quite pretty.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll be off, then.” Ling Qiu stood up.
“Hey, wait,” Xu Wanxi shot him a look, “You were in such a hurry to see me, and it was just for this?”
Ling Qiu answered as if it were obvious, “What else?”
“Tch, you really are heartless.” Xu Wanxi sighed, “Back then, when you were little, the maids couldn’t get you to bathe no matter what, and it was me who washed you every day… Have you forgotten?”
Ling Qiu couldn’t help but smile, “So you want me to remember how you cared for me?”
“Of course.” Xu Wanxi straightened her collar, her expression serious. “I know you resent the Ling family, but… Now that Ling Wanlou is in trouble and I will soon be head of the family… I understand how you feel, but I hope… you won’t rush to sever ties with the Ling family…”
“No need to discuss.” Ling Qiu stretched lazily, “I’ve already given up the heir position to you… I know you’re ambitious, and the Ling family business will let you show your talents, so don’t refuse.”
Xu Wanxi said, “Can’t you, for the sake of how I cared for you, give the Ling family another chance?”
“You are you, the Ling family now is the Ling family now.” Ling Qiu turned to leave, one hand in his pocket, the other waving dismissively. “But for you, I can still look out for you. If you ever think of me while bathing, give me a call—I promise I’ll come right away and wash your back myself.”
“Oh, you little rascal, have you learned to take advantage of your aunt?” Xu Wanxi’s cheeks flushed at his words, wanting to say more, but Ling Qiu had already left the café.
Through the glass window, Xu Wanxi rested her chin in her hand, watching thoughtfully as Ling Qiu’s figure receded into the distance.
She took a sip of coffee, her lips curving in a smile. “The little one from years ago… has truly grown up.”
…
Ling Qiu left in a taxi.
By the roadside, in a business vehicle, a man withdrew his gaze and dialed a number.
“Hello, Miss, Ling Qiu just met with a woman. That woman is Xu Wanxi.”
On the other end: “Xu Wanxi?—Oh, she’s his aunt. Besides her, did Ling Qiu meet any other women?”
“He also met his classmate Shen Meng and the school’s discipline director, Song Ningxue.”
“And besides them?”
“No other women.”
“Keep watching.”
…
“Yes!” The call ended.
Qin family mansion.
In her bedroom, Qin Siyao hung up and muttered to herself, “Ling Qiu… According to rumors, you’re a good-for-nothing who spends all day in debauchery. But lately, you haven’t been carousing at all. Could it be… The money the Ling family threw at you has already been squandered?”
No matter what, Qin Siyao couldn’t believe her grandfather’s judgment.
A notorious wastrel from Jiang’an City, and still just a senior in high school…
What exactly is so outstanding?
She had never seen her grandfather praise any man like this, so she resolved to thoroughly investigate Ling Qiu!
Because she couldn’t see anything remarkable about him, not from head to toe!
She’d even seen Ling Qiu involved with the thugs from the night market street—how could someone like that have any great future?
“Grandpa… This time, I’ll prove that you really misjudged him.”
…
The next day.
Lunch break.
Campus, classroom.
Ling Qiu rested his chin in his hand, gazing lazily out the window, lost in thought.
“Ling Qiu… Can I ask you something?”
He turned—Shen Meng.
“What is it? Go ahead.”
“Well… The blessing charm you gave me before… Was it… consecrated by a master?”
Shen Meng lowered her head, picking at her fingers.
Ling Qiu narrowed his eyes, “Why do you ask?”
“Uh… It’s nothing… Just curious.”
“Did something happen to you?”
Ling Qiu asked directly.
He’d been suspicious before—he’d told Shen Meng to hang the charm by her mother’s bedside, which should have warded off misfortune, even stray spirits should have been kept at bay, yet something still happened.
Judging by Shen Meng’s expression now… She must have encountered something.
“Oh, no, nothing… Forget it… I won’t ask.”
Shen Meng didn’t want to tell Ling Qiu about being ambushed because of him.
Ling Qiu had already done enough for her; she didn’t want him to worry anymore!
Beep beep.
Suddenly, Shen Meng’s phone rang. She glanced at the text and her face changed instantly.
“I… I have to go, something urgent at home…”
Without another word, she ran out of the classroom.
…
Ling Qiu sensed something was wrong and followed.
Just outside the school gates, Shen Meng was stopped by several girls dressed in a flashy, delinquent style.
“Shen Meng, where are you going in the middle of the day?”
Startled, Shen Meng replied quickly, “I… I’m going to the hospital… They just texted—”
The leader of the gang laughed, “Did the hospital text you saying your mother’s in trouble, and you need to come right away?”
Shen Meng froze, “How… How did you know?”
The girl waved her phone, “Because… I’m the doctor who sent you that text!”
“Huh?… Why are you doing this?”
The girl draped an arm around Shen Meng. “Simple, we’re taking you to see someone!—Last time, you had the guts to take on our crew… You’ve got some nerve! Our boss heard you’re pretty feisty and wants to meet you!”
“No… please…”
Ignoring her struggles, the girls surrounded Shen Meng and forcibly led her across the street to the billiards hall, up the stairs.
Ling Qiu frowned slightly but didn’t act yet, following them quietly.
…
Billiards hall.
Second floor.
The smoky hall was filled with tough, tattooed youths.
At the center was a young man sporting a teapot-lid haircut, a fierce-faced Peppa Pig tattooed on his shoulder, cropped pants, loafers, skinny as a stick.
He was holding his phone up, recording himself.
“Boss, this is the b**** who hit us last time!!” the girl shoved Shen Meng forward.
The young man turned arrogantly, “Damn it, wait a sec, don’t interrupt my video! I’ve got over six hundred fans waiting for my next post!”
He waved, and all the similarly styled youths lined up behind him.
He pressed record, raising his voice, “Don’t mess with me, or I’ll cut you down! Born with an indomitable spirit—if you’re a dragon, coil up; if you’re a tiger, lie down; even the king of heaven better not act tough with me!”
He quickly set his phone on the billiards table, struck a pose, counted “1, 2, 3,” then, with seven or eight followers, started swaying and nodding in sync to the beat, only stopping when satisfied.
The girls watching were starry-eyed, “Wow… So cool… Boss, you’re the coolest street king I’ve ever seen!”
The young man smiled, lighting a cigarette. “Me, Outer Waist Bro, I got nothing but style—cool and slick! Girls, was my dancing slick or what?”
“Slick, slick, slick!” The girls gave thumbs up.
Outer Waist Bro nodded in satisfaction, then noticed Shen Meng. “What’s up with this girl? Oh—right, you said she’s the one who beat you up?”
“Yes! That’s her!”
At this, Outer Waist Bro walked up, sizing Shen Meng up with a smirk. “Impressive, little miss, daring to mess with my crew! Tell me, who’s your boss?”