Chapter 45: A Pair of Fated Rivals
As the conversation dragged on, Zhang Shen noticed that Mu Qiao had been standing quietly nearby. He reconsidered the words that were about to leave his lips and decided, after some thought, to swallow them back down. Yet Zhang Shen’s hesitation only made the outspoken Jiang Muyun impatient.
“Just say it! Or are you embarrassed because Sister Mu is here?”
Zhang Shen silently cursed to himself, “This little girl always has to blurt out the truth.” But now that Jiang Muyun had exposed him, if he didn’t continue, it would only make Mu Qiao suspicious.
“Nonsense. I’m just... gathering my thoughts,” he replied, though even he could hear how unconvincing he sounded. Usually, when he bantered with Jiang Muyun, wasn’t he always quick with a retort? Since when did he need to prepare himself emotionally? It was completely unlike his usual self.
“In fact, I wanted to say that while I’m away these next few days, you must take care of yourself. As for your condition, I’ll keep looking out for you, so you needn’t worry.”
Zhang Shen then turned to Mu Qiao. “Miss Mu, while I’m gone, please look after Yun’er for me.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Zhang. Since I’ve agreed to be Miss Jiang’s personal assistant, I will fulfill my duty to the best of my ability.”
With Mu Qiao’s assurance, Zhang Shen finally felt at ease. Taking advantage of this rare day off, and ignoring his exhaustion from a sleepless night, he spent the day with Jiang Muyun, taking her shopping and to the movies.
The next day, Zhang Shen saw a message from Wei Xiaorong on his phone and set out alone to the Yuehu City Vocational Health College.
“Damn, this place is beautiful!”
When it came to healing and saving lives, Zhang Shen was a master; but when it came to expressing himself, he truly embodied the saying: “Blame my lack of culture; a single expletive speaks for the world.”
Following Wei Xiaorong’s instructions, Zhang Shen wandered the campus until a familiar and lovely voice caught his attention.
“Ye Qiong!”
He called out directly.
To his surprise, it really was Ye Qiong who turned around. Ye Qiong was astonished. Just last night, the campus network manager had told her he would be coming to work at the college, and now here he was, standing right in front of her. Beside Ye Qiong, coincidentally, was another of Zhang Shen’s acquaintances—Wang Ying.
“What are you doing here?” Wang Ying’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Ye Qiong, on the other hand, met him with a completely different attitude. “So you really showed up?”
In the end, Ye Qiong still didn’t trust him. “Even if you’re here, we’re seniors about to graduate. Are you pretending to be a freshman?”
Zhang Shen couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. With so many classes in a year, what were the odds of ending up in the same class as Ye Qiong?
“Miss Ye, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead. There’s nothing about this school I don’t know,” Ye Qiong replied confidently.
“That’s good. I’d like to know where Principal Chen Rong’s office is.”
Ye Qiong and Wang Ying exchanged surprised glances. They hadn’t expected this newcomer’s first stop to be the principal.
Seeing their silence, Zhang Shen urged, “Do you know or not? If you don’t, I’ll ask someone else.”
Annoyed, Ye Qiong retorted, “Who says I don’t know? Come on, I’ll take you there.”
With that, Ye Qiong and Wang Ying led Zhang Shen toward Principal Chen Rong’s office. As they reached the fifth floor, Chen Rong happened to step out. Ye Qiong pointed him out to Zhang Shen, “That’s Principal Chen, the one with the white hair.”
Before Ye Qiong could finish, Zhang Shen ran over. Watching Chen Rong’s upright figure, he suddenly thought of his own master. Who knows what possessed Zhang Shen at that moment, but he called out, “Hey, old man! Stop right there!”
Ye Qiong and Wang Ying wished they could dig a hole and bury themselves on the spot. Never in their wildest dreams did they think Zhang Shen would dare be so audacious, addressing the principal so rudely.
On the other side, Chen Rong turned and scrutinized the young man before him.
“Were you just calling me?”
“Yes, old man.”
Chen Rong ignored Zhang Shen’s words and fixed his gaze on Ye Qiong and Wang Ying.
“You two, come here.”
Hearing the principal’s summons, Ye Qiong and Wang Ying were certain Zhang Shen was going to get them in trouble.
“Good morning, Principal,” they greeted, all deference.
“Did you bring this man up here?”
“No,” said Ye Qiong.
“Yes,” said Wang Ying.
Their contradictory answers nearly made Zhang Shen laugh aloud.
“So do you know him or not?” Facing Chen Rong’s question, the two girls were at a loss for a unified reply. Zhang Shen stepped forward.
“Don’t trouble them, old man. I found my own way here.”
Wang Ying was grateful for his words, but Ye Qiong only thought he was meddling where he shouldn’t.
“Very well, young man. I like your spirit. Come with me to my office. You two may go back now.”
Relieved, Ye Qiong and Wang Ying turned to leave. Just then, a sudden cry rang out behind them. “Ying, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!”
Chen Rong and Zhang Shen turned to see Wang Ying sitting on the stairs, murmuring, “Ye Qiong, my leg... I think it’s broken.”
At her words, both Chen Rong and Zhang Shen rushed to her side. Sweat beaded Wang Ying’s forehead, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her face was ashen. Yet it was in this frail state that Zhang Shen felt a surge of compassion for her.
“Ying, can you walk?” Ye Qiong asked gently.
But to Zhang Shen, her words were all wrong.
“Don’t touch her, just let her sit.”
“Are you crazy? Can’t you see she’s hurt? Besides, the principal is here—who are you to butt in?”
Chen Rong said nothing, simply watching Zhang Shen. Although he didn’t know what Zhang Shen intended, he understood Wang Ying’s injury perfectly. If Zhang Shen was genuinely offering help, so be it; but if he tried any tricks, Chen Rong would not tolerate it.
“Forget about the principal for now,” Zhang Shen said. “See how he’s just standing there like a block of wood? He’s not going to help. Let me do it instead.”
Chen Rong, hearing this, was so furious that he nearly exploded.