Chapter 221: Number One Enemy

“Of course.”

The three of them picked up their chopsticks and began to eat. Cheng Wei picked up a piece of duck meat and placed it in Cheng Zhou’s bowl. “Try this special duck. It was made by the chef himself,” she said sweetly.

Seeing her use the public chopsticks instead of her own, he relaxed and nodded. “Thank you.” He then glanced at Yao Ran. “Miss Yao, you don’t have to be shy around us. Feel free to eat whatever you want.”

There were all kinds of dishes on the table, from sweet and sour pork to steamed chicken. There were even two bowls of different flavored soup set right in the middle. It was too much for just three people.

Yao Ran smiled lightly as she poured herself a bowl of soup. Once she was done, she handed the other bowl to Cheng Zhou with both of her hands.

“Brother Cheng Zhou, please try this soup.”

She chuckled. “You’re only a few years older than me, so you wouldn’t mind if I address you like that, right?”

Her gaze was filled with affection for the Young Master.

Yao Ran didn’t appear super eager either, displaying just enough admiration for the young man that it wouldn’t scare him off.

Cheng Zhou accepted the soup and nodded. “Please, don’t worry about me. Feel free to eat as well.”

He then reverted his attention back to his food.

The three of them ate peacefully after that.

Cheng Zhou, however, couldn’t help but glance at Yao Ran as a thought crossed his mind. He remembered how Cheng Yan had treated Yao Tang the other day when she came to treat his grandmother. He had been afraid that she was unhappy or exhausted from the sudden trip.

She was beautiful, like a siren far too intimidating for just about anybody to approach.

And her medical skills were excellent!

Even the famous master Yu Jing came to be her surgical assistant. There were just so many mysteries around that girl that he just couldn’t put his head around. He tapped his table incessantly.

How much does Cheng Yan know about her?

An uneasy feeling rose in his chest.

“Yao Ran,” he finally spoke up, wiping his mouth. “You’re in the same school as Yao Tang, am I correct?”

Their relationship was anything but ordinary.

And he intended to find out more about it.

“Hm?” Upon hearing the question, Yao Ran tilted her head. “Yeah. If you want to know more about her, I can tell you.”

“No, it’s just a casual question.”

A trace of anger appeared in Cheng Wei’s eyes. Picking up her own glass, she scoffed. “That Yao Tang isn’t a good person,” she snapped. “She’s not even worth talking about.”

“All right, all right, let’s eat.” Cheng Zhou waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing that she was un a bad mood, Yao Ran couldn’t help but glance toward her.

Cheng Wei may not have said anything, but it was obvious that Yao Tang had become her number one enemy.

The older woman sneered in her heart. If it weren’t for that bitch, she wouldn’t have been like this.

She took a cigarette from her bag and was just about to smoke when she felt a pair of eyes boring through her back.

Cheng Zhou pursed his lips.

“I just wanted to smell the smoke,” she defended herself. “Besides, it’s been a long time since I’ve held that cigarette. You shouldn’t be angry, Brother.”

Yao Ran lowered her head.

She wouldn’t touch cigarettes even if her life depended on them. Even if she wanted to, Qin Man wouldn’t let her.

Cheng Zhou ignored his sister and poured himself another glass of water. “Yao Ran, your school has a library, right?”

“Yeah, we do at the old school building.”

She couldn’t help but feel a bit strange.

Young Master Cheng had graduated from the Capital, so he had no interaction with City A’s No. 1 High School. Why would he be interested in the school library?

Could it be that there was something she didn’t know?

Chapter 222: Donate a Library

Yao Ran slowly lowered her head and gazed at the rice in her bowl. She finally had the opportunity to have dinner with the Young Master Cheng, so she couldn’t find it in herself to eat as much.

“I plan on building a library for your school.”

Cheng Zhou shrugged.

He sounded like he was talking about the weather, not investing millions into a school he wasn’t even an alumnus in.

Yao Ran’s eyes widened in disbelief.

What?

Was the Cheng Family donating a library? But why?

However, as a series of questions pop into the back of her mind, Cheng Wei nudged Yao Ranwith her elbow. A smile slipped on her lips. “Brother Zhou is doing quite an amazing thing, offering you guys a large library,” she said. “Don’t you agree?”

“It is. I thank you on behalf of No. 1 High School.”

Burying the surprise in her heart, she raised her glass at the two siblings. “Then I’ll drink to this deal.”

..

After they’ve eaten, Yao Ran said her goodbyes and went home.

Qin Man also coincidentally took the afternoon off and didn’t go to work. As soon as she saw the young woman stepping inside, she jumped right out of her seat.

“How was everything?” she asked. “Did you make any progress with Young Master Cheng?”

Yao Ran nodded shyly.

“Really? What did he say?”

If the successor of the Cheng Family would become her son-in-law, then she’d be one of the most powerful women in the city. No one would dare cross her. Her lips quirked up into a smirk.

Everyone would be so jealous of her!

“The three of us had dinner together,” she replied with a smile.

“What else?”

“I can give him a new suit as an apology,” Yao Ran continued. “I was thinking of asking you to help me pick one out. I could use your help.”

“Of course, dear.”

Qin Man eagerly nodded.

There was a chance for her daughter to meet with him again. That was just a step closer to becoming one of the most powerful families in City A. Just the thought was enough for him to jump in excitement.

“He...he also said...”

Yao Ran paused for a second, unsure whether or not she could say it.

“What did he say? Did something else happen?”

The Young Master of the Cheng Family didn’t seem like someone who would fall in love so quickly. That likely wouldn’t be the case. So, what else could’ve happened?

Yao Ran smiled. “He said...he said he wanted to donate a library in No. 1 High School,” she said. “It’s so the Cheng Family could help the students in City A.”

Donating a library was the best way to get into the school.

It would also make him out to be an incredibly caring person.

However, it would also give him a chance to see Yao Ran more. Wouldn’t that be an opportunity for him to be even closer to her as well? That would make them more familiar with each other.

Donating a library could further his ulterior motives.

“Do you think he likes you?”

Why would he spend so much money on No. 1 High School if it weren’t for her?

“I don’t know.”

Yao Ran flushed. Just the thought of the Cheng Family’s enormous power, and she could already feel her heart skipping a beat. At this point, she could trample over Yao Tang!

So what if people found out she wasn’t the true daughter of the Yao Family?

As the wife of Young Master Cheng, who’d date say otherwise?

“It must be. He must have taken a fancy to you. Are You Stupid? Did he ask for your contact information?”

Qin Man grabbed Yao Ran’s hands, widening her eyes.

However, the younger woman simply shook her head in reply. That’s what she couldn’t figure out. If he really had feelings for her, why didn’t he give her his contact information? Why did he leave everything blank?

Did he really like her?

“Maybe he forgot then.” Qin Man patted her shoulders with a shrug. “I’m sure that the next time you meet, he’ll take the initiative to ask for your number. You’re going to be sending him a suit, correct? You have to dress well.”

Qin Man was certain that Young Master Cheng fancied her daughter.

Ah, just the thought of dressing her up brought her so much excitement. Not only was she going to take her to the salon, but also put on her makeup.

Chapter 223: At Qinglan House

“Maybe. Cheng Wei was there as well.”

Yao Ran thought back to the scene, her heart beating wildly inside her chest. Her lips slowly curved into a sly smile.

Perhaps Cheng Zhou did have feelings for her, after all.

He must have been embarrassed at the time because of Cheng Wei’s presence. He had willingly offered such a generous donation; if nothing else, he would have certainly not done it on a simple whim.

“Our Ranranhas really grown up,” Qin Man crooned as she stroked the girl’s hair.

“She has even managed to charm the heir to the Cheng family. My excellent daughter makes me so proud!”

Yao Ran grinned sheepishly. “It’s all thanks to you, Mom. You and Dad raised me so well. I can only hope to live up to your teachings.”

Mother and daughter waited excitedly for Yao Yuan to come home so that they could share the good news.

When they finally did, he could only gush at his daughter. “Ranran, you’ve done our Yao familya great service! Yes, yes, I’m sure that the Young Master Cheng is interested in you. You have to be extra careful from now on.”

Yao Ran nodded emphatically, her eyes flashing with anticipation. “I know, Dad.”

She was determined to become the future Young Madam Cheng, one way or another. It wasn’t as though she needed to exert much of herself, anyway. Yao Ran considered herself a perfect catch as it was, what with her looks and her skills.

If she pushed through with her plans to go to the capital and study under Master Yu Jing’s tutelage, then she would become even more distinguished as a medical prodigy.

When that happened, she could finally say for sure that she was leagues above Yao Tang.

Yao Ran shook her head at the thought. To begin with, there were very few girls who couldn’t even dream to compare to her. She should stop fixating on that worthless bumpkin.

Yao Yuan gave his wife a pointed look.

“Why don’t the two of you go out this weekend and buy some new clothes? You can use my card however you want. Just make sure you get decent outfits that are appropriate for the prestige of the Cheng family.”

Qin Man took to the idea pretty well. “Of course, of course. I’ll get Ranran only the finest things the shops could offer! This might be our last chance to spoil her. Once she becomes the lady of the Cheng family, she could shop to her heart’s content. She might even be able to afford to rent the entire shopping district for a day!”

Yao Ran turned to her mother and beamed.

…

Saturday morning, City A’s commercial street.

Yao Ran got out of the car, sporting large sunglasses and a svelte white suit. Qin Man followed suit, walking around the vehicle to join her daughter.

The two of them linked arms and strutted down the pavement together.

The family chauffeur lugged behind them. He was tasked to carry all of their purchases later.

Yao Ran nudged Qin Manand steered her in a particular direction.

“Mom, let’s check out Qinglan Housefirst. I heard that their suits are all the rage these days. I’d like to buy one for the Young Master Cheng.”

Qinglan House was the newest tailor store in the city, and it specialized in men’s bespoke suits. They charged very high prices, but the quality of their products was on par with the best in the country.

And even though their niche target was the male demographic, they also had their fair share of female customers. In the end, one only needed a good eye and an exquisite taste for luxury to pick out a nice suit.

Needless to say, they were much sought out in high society, especially among the young masters and misses.

Qin Man patted the back of Yao Ran’s hand and nodded indulgently.

“All right. Ranran is the star of today’s outing. Just say where you want to go, and Mom will follow!”

They rounded a corner, passing through various busy shops. It was the weekend, so the milk tea shop was teeming with people.

The boutique they frequented was bustling as well, with customers coming and leaving through its doors, shopping bags in their hands. Some of them were mother-daughter pairs, too.

One of the buildings had a large screen installed on its rooftop, where they streamed music videos nonstop. Loud, upbeat songs blasted into the streets, complimenting the lively atmosphere of the area.

Meanwhile, Yao Tangwas standing outside Qinglan House, staring at the suit displayed in its window. “Let’s get this one,” she said to the man standing next to her. “I heard this store is pretty good at its craft.”

Cheng Yan nodded. “Yes, I think this one will do. Let’s go inside and have a look around.”

Yao Tang had received a call from him as soon as classes had ended yesterday.

Cheng Yan had asked her help in picking out a new suit for his business meetings the following month, and offered to treat her to dinner when they were done.

Seeing nothing wrong with the invitation, she had readily agreed to accompany him.

Chapter 224: Distinguished Customers

The two of them pushed past the door of the store.

The attendant’s face lit up the moment she caught sight of the handsome pair. “Oh, my! You two make a perfect match! Please follow me. I’m sure you’ll find our designs to your satisfaction.”

Other patrons turned their heads to see what the fuss was all about, only to be mesmerized by the new customers who had walked in. The young man was tall and had clear-cut features, while his companion had an enviable figure and an alluring face. A cool and elegant aura surrounded them both. The shop attendant was right—they did make a perfect couple.

“Are they celebrities?”

“I don’t think so. Celebrities usually wouldn’t traipse around in public like this; the paparazzi would be all over them in a second!”

One of the bystanders, a young chubby girl, spoke in a quiet voice: “They’re right about that, but the girl looks a little familiar. I just can’t recall where I’ve seen her before.”

Her friend rolled her eyes. “Come on, you know how it is with attractive people. They all look the same, one way or another.”

The girls huddled closer and watched as Yao Tang and Cheng Yan strode through the lobby. The onlookers’ eyes never left the duo until they disappeared into a different room.

Cheng Yan and Yao Tang followed the attendant into a sample area, where suits of different styles and material were displayed for the customers to try on.

Yao Tang swept a glance over the sea of fabric before plucking out a three-set ensemble.

“What do you think of this?” she asked, handing the outfit to Cheng Yan.

He didn’t even look at it. “Give me a set of this design,” he instructed the attendant.

“Of course, Sir!”

The attendant quickly pulled out a notebook and scribbled the model of the suit.

In Qinglan House, the clients were free to have a custom-made suit, or they could choose from the ones that were on display and later have them adjusted to their sizes. Either way, the suits would eventually be tailor-made to the customer’s figure.

The shop attendant was very excited. It looked like he had struck gold with a customer today. The couple seemed generous, and they had ordered a suit within minutes of arriving.

The item was no cheap ware, either. It cost tens of thousands of dollars, which put her commission around the hundreds. If she managed to sell them a few more suits, she wouldn’t have to worry about her salary for the next couple of months.

She led them to another room without hesitation. Here, the suits were all top-of-the-line, made of imported material, and crafted by local artisans.

“This is the Area F. We keep only the best of our products here. Our patrons who frequent this area are mostly business elites and other distinguished personalities. Please feel free to browse through the shelves.”

Yao Tang needed no further encouragement. She prowled around, with Cheng Yan trailing obediently behind her. Now and then, she would stop to inspect the clothes, and would sometimes reach out to feel the fabrics.

After making a single round, Yao Tangturned to the shop attendant and pointed. “This one, the dark blue one over there, and that black one. Please see that they fit him nicely.”

“Right away, Miss. This way, please. Our tailors will take the Young Master’s measurements.”

The shop attendant led them to a wide lounge area. “Please wait here,” she said to Yao Tangbefore leadingCheng Yanto a back room.

Unlike the other stores, Qinglan Housewasn’t particularly swamped with customers.Yao Tangsauntered over to an empty seat and plopped down.

She took out her phone and saw that she had received a message: “Master, I’ve finished making revisions according to your input. I will send the amended research report to you later. Please look it over when you are free.”

Yao Tang typed a lazy reply: “Okay.”

Then, she leaned back comfortably and started to play her mobile games.

“You two must be exhausted. Please rest in the lounge while I go fetch you some water. I’ll be with you shortly.” One of the staff members smiled politely at the customers she had been attending to.

“Okay, then,” Yao Ran replied. “Mom, let’s sit and think about which suit to buy.”

Qin Man nodded and pulled her daughter towards the lounge.

They had spent the better part of the day just looking through suits, and they still hadn’t made up their mind.

Qin Man couldn’t tell the difference between any of them, so she left the decision to Yao Ran.

They could treat this little expedition as a practice test. After all, she would often need to buy her husband suits once she became the Young Madam of the Cheng family.

As for Yao Ran, she felt rather satisfied with their outing so far.

She had already set her sights on three distinct pieces. The prices were steep, but it wasn’t enough to bankrupt them.

Their efforts would pay off in the end, anyway. All in all, she considered their trip to Qinglan Houseto be a successful venture.

Chapter 225: Pesky Flies

Yao Ran stepped into the lounge and immediately caught sight of Yao Tang. The other girl was reclining on one of the chairs, her eyes fixed on her phone, her hair falling past her shoulders. She looked rather alluring even in a state of idleness.

But what was Yao Tang doing in this place?

Before Yao Ran could say anything, Qin Man broke away from her and seated herself next to Yao Tang.

“I see that you’re here as well,” the woman commented snidely.

Yao Tang raised a single eyebrow in response before proceeding to ignore the other two.

Yao Ran hurried over and tugged at Qin Man’s arm. “Come on, Mom,” she whispered. “Let’s not cause trouble here.”

Qin Man sighed and nodded, but she couldn’t resist sweeping another disdainful look at her biological daughter.

Yao Tang was clad in a simple red dress that accentuated her milky complexion, coupled with a silver necklace that brightened her delicate features. She looked nothing like Qin Man.

Instead, she looked like a young lady of noble lineage.

It was as though she hadn’t been raised in a remote mountain village.

Qin Man’s lips curled as she glared at the pendant resting against Yao Tang’s collarbone. “Do you really think you deserve something like that?”

It was an exquisite piece of jewelry from a luxury brand. The design itself was novel, if not for its uniqueness, then certainly for what it represented.

Needless to say, its availability in the market was exclusive to the top members of society.

“Get lost,” Yao Tang muttered under her breath.

These pesky flies—also known as the Yao family—were really annoying. They just popped up wherever she went.

Yao Tang tapped furiously on her phone, and her screen displayed the enemy’s head exploding from the gunshot.

Her cool nonchalance sent Qin Manover the edge. She disregarded Yao Ran’s words and launched a mocking tirade against Yao Tang.

“Who do you think you are? Just because you managed to charm a bunch of old perverts, it doesn’t give you the right to be all high and mighty with me! Listen here. The heir of the Cheng family has taken a liking to Ranran. Don’t think that you and that pathetic Qin family are going to stand a chance against us in the future!

Why, the Young Master Cheng has even volunteered to donate a library to No. 1 High School—an entire building—just to spend some time with Ranran!

Do you think your sugar daddies would do the same for you? How ridiculous! They don’t like you! You’re only good for a passing fancy, nothing more. Just wait and see. Once they get tired of you, they’ll leave you biting their dust, and you’ll deserve every minute of it!”

By the end of her outburst, Qin Man was breathing heavily from exertion.

She had a triumphant expression on her face, fully expecting Yao Tang to finally buckle down and show her envy.

Yao Ran stood back, not particularly upset about her mother’s actions. If anything, she felt proud about Qin Man’s declarations. She did feel a little wary, though. It wasn’t good to be so presumptuous so early in her relationship withCheng Zhou.

Nevertheless, she also wanted to see Yao Tang look miserable and defeated.

To their dismay, the girl didn’t even glance up at them. She acted as if she didn’t hear Qin Man at all.

Yao Tang reached for the glass of milk tea beside her and took a sip.

‘Mmm… Mango milk.’

“Yao Tang!” Qin Manscreeched, her cheeks flushed with outrage. “Don’t you dare ignore me, you—”

Just then, she was cut off by Yao Ran, who pressed her palm against the woman’s mouth. She winked at her mother and pulled her away.

But Qin Man wasn’t done yet. “Just you wait,” she snarled atYao Tang. “You’ll eventually see how prosperous we will become.”

With that, she let Yao Ran pull her towards the door. They ran across their attendant, who was visibly surprised to see them leave the lounge.

“Madam, Miss, do you not want the items you were eyeing earlier?”

“We want the dark blue one that we looked at last,” Yao Ran replied, taking out a piece of paper. “Kindly adjust the suit according to the size written here, then send it to this address.” After concluding their business,Yao Ran quickly pulled her mother out of the shop.

It wasn’t that she was afraid of going against Yao Tang. The problem was that whenever they condemned her in public, someone would always swoop in to her rescue. Worse, it was always Yao Ran and Qin Man who end up losing face.

Chapter 226: Stay Away from Yao Tang

Yao Ran rubbed Qin Man’s back and talked to her in a coaxing tone.

“Calm down, Mom. Let’s leave her alone for now. Just think of how things will be in the long run.”

“Victory!”

Yao Tang disintegrated her last opponent, winning another round. She finally put her phone down and arched her back to stretch her stiff muscles.

Cheng Yan walked out of the fitting room at that exact moment. He froze when he saw Yao Tang’s languid posture, and his gaze deepened.

He quickly strode forward and loomed over her, effectively blocking anyone from seeing her in such a state. “I’m sorry for making you wait.”

Yao Tang settled back and sipped her milk tea. “It’s all right.”

“I heard all that racket just now. They said that Cheng Zhou has taken a liking to Yao Ran? I don’t think that’s true at all.” Cheng Yan sounded resolute, though his eyes lingered distractedly on Yao Tang’s pretty face.

He hadn’t seen her for over a week. Her cheeks seemed to have grown a little plumper, though her skin was still smooth and fair. He had missed her so much, his heart was aching even now.

Cheng Yan’s thoughts naturally wandered to the subject of his nephew, and a dangerous glint came over his eyes.

That brat, donating a library, of all things… Could it have been because of Yao Tang?

His expression darkened at the idea.

“What’s wrong?” Yao Tang asked after noticing his sudden scowl.

Cheng Yan cleared his throat and smiled. “Nothing, I just remembered a troublesome matter back at the company. Don’t worry about it. Shall we continue with our shopping?”

“Sure.” Yao Tang rose from her seat, and they exited the lounge. They spent the next hour picking out more suits under the curious gaze of other, nosy customers.

…

Later that night, Cheng Yan stood by the window of his study and brooded. There were no stars in the sky, but the moon was especially bright.

He took out his phone and made a call.

The other party picked up after a couple of rings. “Sixth Uncle. You’re still awake? It’s late, you should be resting.”

Cheng Zhou sounded surprised. Clearly, he hadn’t expected to hear from Cheng Yan.

“This is your last warning. Don’t go near Yao Tang. Don’t even think about it, do you understand?”

Cheng Yan’s voice was low and carried an undercurrent of danger. It was the same voice he used when he was faced with an adversary.

Sure enough, Cheng Zhou stiffened on the other end. His fear was soon replaced with bewilderment, though.

‘Is Sixth Uncle really serious about this girl?’

Cheng Yan had never been involved in any scandal with a woman before. Regardless, it was only natural for young folk of their social and financial standing to indulge in the occasional debauchery. It was expected, even.

They welcomed physical attraction, but that was just about it. Most of them barely experienced love. It was something of a luxury among their lot.

Of course, it didn’t help that they were powerless to choose their own marriage partners. These things were dictated by the elders, and only served to further the interests of their respective families.

In retrospect, no one could really blame them for fooling around with the opposite sex.

But did they ever get so involved to care about their flings’ personal lives? Never!

And so, Cheng Zhou was understandably perplexed by his uncle’s obvious hostility when it came to Yao Tang.

“Please, Sixth Uncle. You misunderstand. I don’t mean to get close to her at all. My donation to the No. 1 High School has nothing to do with her. I simply wanted to contribute something to society.”

He didn’t bother acting clueless. Given Cheng Yan’s personality, Cheng Zhou knew that it would be better to just come clean once and for all.

He wasn’t lying, either. His interest in Yao Tang lay solely in her medical skills. There was no need for him to risk his uncle’s wrath by looking into her any more than he already had.

“Do you think I don’t know about your little tricks? This is your last chance. Stay away from Yao Tang, or else…”

Cheng Yan let his words hang in the air, but Cheng Zhou felt the weight and power of the unspoken threat.

“Of course, Sixth Uncle,” he hurriedly said. “I’m sorry. I really am. I admit that I am in the wrong. I promise to drop my investigations on Yao Tang right away, so please don’t be angry.”

At the back of his head, Cheng Zhou marveled at this astonishing turn of events.Yao Tang truly was no ordinary person.

For his Sixth Uncle to go to such great lengths to protect her…

Needless to say, Cheng Zhou was even more curious now, but he didn’t dare to let it show. He would have to keep his word and instruct his men to stop their inquiries.

Now, his only option was to go to No. 1 High Schooland observe Yao Tang himself. First-hand information was always more reliable, anyway.

After making up his mind, Cheng Zhou nodded and went on to reassureCheng Yanonce more. “Don’t worry, Sixth Uncle. I won’t be looking into her background anymore. Please don’t take it to heart. Surely, you still have some affection for your nephew. You won’t shun me in favor of an outsider to the family, will you?”

Chapter 227: Not an Outsider

“She’s not an outsider,” Cheng Yan cut in.

Cheng Zhou stuttered to a stop, his eyes growing wide as saucers.

No way…

Was his uncle truly set on this girl?

If that was the case, then Cheng Zhou must really drop his investigations, lest his uncle thought he was a rival in love or something. Cheng Zhou would be in deep trouble if things came to that.

“Okay, okay, I got it. Don’t worry anymore.”

Cheng Zhou spew out a few additional promises, then promptly hung up.

He immediately flipped through his contact list and made a call.

Thankfully, it was answered after just a few rings.

The voice on the other end was almost reverent. “Young Master Cheng. Please give us your orders.”

“Stop looking into Yao Tang,” Cheng Zhousaid urgently.

The other man didn’t seem keen on the idea, and he stammered his protest. “But we—Young Master Cheng, you have no idea… What I mean to say is, we are making significant progress. We’ll get to the bottom of it soon. We just need a little more time.”

“If I tell you to stop, then you should stop. Why are you spouting out all this nonsense?”

Cheng Zhou’s voice had gone uncharacteristically cold, which disconcerted the other man.

“Of course, of course. I apologize, Young Master Cheng. My team and I will cease the operations right away.”

Cheng Zhou ended the call and heaved a weary sigh. He padded over to the French windows in his room and lit a cigarette.

Tendrils of smoke wafted around his face and clouded over his unfathomable eyes.

‘Yao Tang…’

What kind of hold did she have over his Sixth Uncle, that he wouldn’t even think twice about threatening his blood relative?

‘It looks like I’ll have to go to No. 1 High Schoo land find out for myself.’

…

At 11:30 the next morning.

The Principal’s Office.

“So you’ve come to visit us, Young Master Cheng. You should have informed us beforehand. We would have made proper preparations to receive you.”

Principal Kong had jumped to his feet the moment Cheng Zhou had entered his office. He was eyeing the young man in fear at the moment, quite shaken by his sudden appearance in the school. Cheng Zhou rarely ever came by, after all.

Could it be that the Cheng family was somehow satisfied with his performance, and had sent the young master to give him a good beating?

It was a rather plausible scenario.

No. 1 High School was one of the oldest institutions in City A, with the Meng family being its major shareholder by virtue of their contributions to the school’s initial establishment. Even so, the Cheng family wielded an almost equal sway over the school, what with them being the most powerful conglomerate in the vicinity.

As such, the position of School Director was always held by the current CEO of the Cheng Group.

In this generation, the person was Cheng Yan.

The young man had also graduated from No. 1 High School, and had even graced a few of the school’s ceremonies with his presence and an occasional speech.

That being the case, Principal Kong was naturally acquainted with Cheng Zhou, the heir presumptive to the entirety of Cheng Group. Compared to him, Cheng Yan was only the head of the company’s branch here inCity A.

Cheng Zhou was decidedly on a higher rank, at least in terms of power within the family.

Principal Kong squared his shoulders and steeled himself. He would never dare of offending anyone from the Cheng family, but he still held the bulk of responsibility as the highest authority in the school.

Cheng Zhou sauntered across the room and plopped on the couch as if he had done it a thousand times before.

“Principal Kong, I sent you an email yesterday expressing my intention to donate a library to your school. I expect you to have started the preliminary arrangements to make it happen.” He poured himself a glass of water from the coffee table and took a sip. “You have read it, right?”

“Email?” Principal Kongrepeated faintly, his brows furrowed.

He had seen a new email yesterday, but he had barely glanced over the sender’s details. He had been too stunned by the first line of the email, which declared that the school would receive millions to fund the construction of a new library. When his shock had finally worn off, the old man dismissed the email as a prank and forgot about it.

Was the Young Master Cheng referring to that very same email?

Principal Kong the acrid taste of regret rise to his tongue. His face contorted into a grimace for a brief second before he managed to compose himself.

“The thing is, Young Master Cheng, I was occupied with research yesterday, so I didn’t really have time to check my emails. If it’s all right with you, can we discuss the matter now?”

Principal Kong told himself that he wasn’t lying, not technically. Yes, he had readCheng Zhou’s email, but he had really been very busy as well!

To his relief, the young man’s smile never wavered.

Cheng Zhou stood and straightened his suit before taking out a stack of papers from his briefcase. He dropped it on the principal’s desk with a loud thud.

“This is the project proposal report that my assistant has put together. You can go over it first, there’s no rush. I’ll gladly wait for your decision.”

Chapter 228: Perfect Boyfriend

Just then, a knock came on the door, and a school employee poked his head inside. “Principal, the director wants you to attend a meeting.”

Principal Kong frowned and waved his hand. “Go, go. Tell them to hold the meeting by themselves. I’m in the middle of something very important.”

How could he bother with some meeting when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was right in front of him?

No one had ever volunteered such a generous donation before. A brand-new library was sure to give the students a renewed motivation to study and learn new things. Not to mention, it would also add to the school’s overall standing in the academe, if only a little.

This was going to affect No. 1 High Schoolon a grand scale, so he couldn’t afford to take this offer lightly.

Principal Kong put on his glasses and peered at the documents as Cheng Zhou helped himself to the chair across the desk.

When he got to a certain line, his heart jumped to his throat. “Young Master Cheng!” he cried out, staring at the young man. “This proposal is an unconditional donation?”

Unconditional donation! This was truly unprecedented.

Everyone who had pledged something to the school thus far had always asked for a favor in return. Most of them wanted to get their child admitted into No. 1 High School, while the others demanded that their kids be transferred to the best classes, or given the best resources.

No one had ever challenged the practice, because why would these rich parents spend so much on a donation if not to meet their own self-interests?

Principal Kong wanted to leap in joy at the gold mine that had landed on his lap, but he couldn’t help the sliver of doubt that crept at the back of his mind.

Unfazed, Cheng Zhou nodded and smiled. He looked every bit like an upper-crust elite doling out favors to the less privileged.

“The construction of the library will be taken care of by the Cheng family, no strings attached. In addition to that, we would also like to set up an award program in the school. The aim is to motivate everyone with their studies, so we intend for the program to be open to all the students, regardless of their year and class number.”

And then he took out another folder and handed it to Principal Kong.

“The Cheng family is also planning to grant scholarships to the top students ofNo. 1 High School. We will eventually extend the program to other schools in the city, but yours will be our starting point. Of course, the scholars will have to go through a strict screening. If the national exams are difficult, then you can expect the scholarship test to be even more so.”

It was clear that he had already planned everything, down to the last detail.

He was sure that No. 1 High Schoolwould never let this opportunity pass.

“All right.” Principal Kongbeamed.

He walked around the desks and returned the files to Cheng Zhouwithout reading through everything. “Do you have any other requests, Young Master Cheng?”

Cheng Zhou appeared to ponder this for a moment before slowly saying, “I want to come by and supervise the construction whenever I can. I suppose I need a place to stay inside the campus.”

“That wouldn’t be a problem!” Principal Kongsaid almost immediately. “I shall open an office for you in the Teachers’ Building. Not only that, but I will also provide you with a private apartment in the school’s family courtyard. You can come and go as you please. What do you think?”

Cheng Zhou nodded his head in satisfaction. “Those arrangements will do.”

With this, he could pop up at No. 1 High Schoolwithout having to explain himself.

It would also give him more chances to run into Yao Tangand interact with her.

Everything was going according to plan.

“Why don’t you stay and have lunch with me, Young Master Cheng?” Principal Kongoffered.

It was the least he could do as a host. Besides, if Cheng Zhou were to be on the campus often, he might as well start getting used to the food in the school cafeteria.

Unexpectedly, the young man smiled and was very keen on the idea.

“Yes, please,” Cheng Zhoureplied eagerly.

Principal Kong escorted him towards the cafeteria.

A buzz went around the students as the pair walked through the hallways, the older girls more enthused than most. They stared at Cheng Zhou and assumed that he was another transfer student, only to realize that it was their principal by his side.

“I wonder if he’s a new teacher… He’s so gorgeous!”

“No, I don’t think he’s a mere teacher. Look at how Principal Kong is overly polite to him. He must be an important guest.”

“Well, whatever. I have a new crush! If I had a boyfriend like that, I would be set for life!”

“It would be great if he visited often. Maybe we could even strike a conversation and ask for his number. He doesn’t look that old. He would make a perfect boyfriend, indeed!”

Chapter 229: Olympiad Math Competition

Class 20 was in complete chaos as the students gathered around, talking about the new visitor.

“Did you guys hear? This handsome guy came to school today and had lunch with the principal,” one of them whispered.

“You think I haven’t heard of it? Everyone did!” the other snapped back. “I wonder what he wants. You think he’s another shareholder of the school?”

Although their voices were soft, Meng Yang could still hear their conversation. He cocked up an eyebrow and tilted his head. “What are you guys talking about?” he asked, much to their surprise.

“You don’t know?”

Zhang Lin blinked.

In the past, Meng Yang was the first to know about any gossip going around the school. After all, the Meng Familywas one of the largest shareholders, so they almost always had all the information at their fingertips.

So, why didn’t he know about this?

“What is it?”

Xiao Pang, upon seeing the three of them chatting, walked over.

“The school’s planning to build a new library,” one of the girls spoke up. “Everyone’s talking about it. Hell, the entire school already knows about it since our school director had published it in the forum.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Qin Jing displayed the message on her phone, and Meng Yang clapped in excitement.

“I’ve always hated our library. It’s a good thing that they’re investing in building a new library now, but...”

At the thought, the man shook his head in regret.

“But?” Seeing that he didn’t say a word in reply, Qin Jing knocked him on the head. “Hey, answer me!”

Grimacing from the impact, he rubbed the back of his head. “Think about it,” he protested. “Sure, we have a brand new library, but it’s not like we can enjoy it. When do you think they’ll finish it? In a year’s time? Two years? By that time, we’d already graduated.”

So that was what he had meant.

As soon as the other students heard of this, they immediately lowered their heads, dejected by the news.

It seemed that they wouldn’t even be able to enjoy the new library. Even if it was repaired, they would’ve all graduated by then. After all, in a few months’ time, they’d be out of here and off to college.

The new library was for the juniors and the sophomores.

Seeing that everyone was in low spirits, Qin Jing banged her fists onto the table. “But, there is something just for us!”

“What is it?”

Recently, Meng Yang had been studying with Lin Xin, answering the long questions that were in their test booklet. While they were helpful, the task was as dreadful as it was boring. Now that they had something to do, studying could finally be kicked to the side.

Everyone also gathered around, waiting to hear what she had to say.

“It’s an Olympiad Math Competition,” Qin Jing said with a smile. “I heard that the competition’s so difficult that even our math teachers had such a hard time answering the questions! Also, the prizes are worth a lot. They wouldn’t even reveal the mysterious grand prize!”

“What?” Everyone was stunned.

What kind of activity was this?

The Olympiad Competition was the type of contest attended by everyone from Class 1. What did it have to do with their class at all?”

“Thanks for bringing our hopes up,” Meng Yang murmured. “It’s not like we can participate in it anyway.”

“What?” Qin Jing demanded, reaching out to grab his ear. “You may not believe in yourself, but you should at least believe in Sister Tang! Isn’t this competition perfect for her?”

After saying this, she glanced in Yao Tang’s direction, who was too busy listening to music.

Yao Tang was completely immersed in her own world that she didn’t even notice anyone staring at her. Her gaze was locked on the foreign book she was holding.

“That’s right!”

Meng Yang blinked in surprise.

He obviously wasn’t capable enough to participate in this competition, but Yao Tang was different. She was a genius! Participating in this competition was probably child’s play for her. If she were to participate, wouldn’t this mean great things for their class?

Before he could approach her, he heard a shout from the other side of the classroom.

“Student Yao Tang!”

“Is student Yao Tang here?”

A female teacher wearing a light blue dress stood by the doorframe, looking around.

The surrounding people immediately tapped on Yao Tang’s shoulders. Only then did she finally take off her headphones and glance at the door curiously.

“Please come over,” the teacher called.

Nodding, Yao Tang calmly walked toward the door.

Chapter 230: First Place

“Student Yao Tang, Principal Kong has asked to see you in his office. He said that it’s really important.”

The teacher smiled as she relayed the information.

“I got it.”

Nodding, Yao Tang headed up the staircase. On the way, she could see a few students glancing and staring in her direction, but none of them dared to approach her.

..

When she reached the principal’s office, Principal Kong immediately waved her over.

“Ah, just the student I wanted to see, how have you been doing recently?” he asked smoothly, smiling at the young woman. “Are you getting along with your classmates?”

At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel lucky to know that Yao Tang was a student of No. 1 High School.

She was definitely the best they got.

Once the college entrance examination was over, everyone would know of Yao Tang’s greatness and excellence. They would all know her to be the best student of No. 1 High School.

The more he thought about it, the more his smile depend.

“It’s going okay.”

Yao Tang shrugged, casually sitting on the sofa. She picked up a book on the table and immediately started to flip through it.

“Why don’t I get you some water?”

Principal Kong stood up and poured her a glass.

“What do you want?” She raised her eyebrows.

There must be something that he wanted, right?

Otherwise, why would he have called her over? There was a moment of silence before Principal Kong sighed, rolling his eyes. There really was no getting around her bluntness.

“No. 1 High School will be hosting this year’s math competition. All schools will be participating, and from what I’ve heard, the first prize is a huge sum of money. While I’m not allowed to disclose the details, I can tell you that this is a competition worth participating in.”

Principal Kong sighed. “However, as we will be hosting the competition, it is only expected that we will hold first place in the competition. Otherwise, we’d be the laughing stock of the city.”

His lips twitched as he rubbed his forehead.

No. 1 High School was the one who had prepared and sponsored the prices. To see them be taken away by other winners...wouldn’t that be disgraceful to him as the principal?

“Hm.”

Yao Tang seemed to be interested as she crossed her arms over her chest. However, she didn’t say a word as if she was waiting for him to spit it out.

Closing his eyes, he sighed. “Look, you’re free to name your conditions. I just want you to get No. 1 High School first place in the Olympiad Math Competition. Is that doable?”

“You got a deal.”

Her lips finally twitched into a smile. “I do have three conditions. Firstly, I need a pass to directly enter and exit the campus. I shouldn’t be restricted by the guards and am free to roam wherever I want.”

Yao Tang had always wanted to have her personal access card. However, she never really had the chance to meet with Principal Kong, so she couldn’t tell him about it.

Now that she was able to name her conditions, she naturally made this small request.

For Principal Kong, that was easy to achieve.

“Also, in the name of the school, I’d like Lin Xin to receive a scholarship. Her family isn’t as financially stable as many other students here, so this will help her greatly. The scholarship money can be deducted from the winnings.”

“As for the third... I guess I’ll think about it.”

Yao Tang grinned.

Principal Kong nodded reluctantly, knowing that he had no other choice. “Fine.”

The last thing he needed was for other students to get first place. Plus, he wasn’t all that confident of the other students in No. 1 High School, even those in Class 1. However, being a witness to Yao Tang’s excellence, he was confident that they’d be able to win this round.

She was the best contender out there.

It was also a good thing that her second request was out for the greater good.

That, he could easily agree with.

“As long as you get the first place, you can ask for anything you want.” Principal Kong nodded. “Three or ten requests? I’ll handle it.”

“Then, you shouldn’t worry about this anymore.”

Yao Tang finally leaned back against her seat and nodded.