"Still, I never expected that you would get involved with Han Muqing. Although rumors say she is open and glamorous, deep down she is actually cold, proud, and conservative, not to mention she has the eldest young master of the Xie family acting as her protector. Dealing with someone like her, you really have no idea how to spell death."
Su Muyu shook her head inwardly, a trace of disappointment flashing through her beautiful eyes.
Of course, she still knew nothing about Chen Tianyang going to the Xie Family.
Because the Su family was simply no match for the Xie family, the people she sent out had no way of finding out what had happened at the Xie Family.
A graceful and charming young married woman standing nearby asked for instructions: "Miss, should we continue following and investigating?"
Chapter 22 Best Friends
"Forget it, there's no need..." Su Muyu waved her hand, but halfway through, she suddenly changed her tune: "No, keep following him. If he runs into trouble, help him out if you can."
The young woman acknowledged the order and turned to leave, though inwardly she felt utter contempt for Chen Tianyang.
During this period, she had been the one investigating Chen Tianyang. She had found that apart from being handsome and good at fighting, Chen Tianyang had almost no redeeming qualities.
A handsome face was at best just a pretty boy, and good fighting skills meant nothing more than being brawny without brains.
The Su family was a business dynasty, and Su Muyu was the dazzling pearl of Guanghua City. Young masters vying for Su Muyu's favor were as numerous as carp crossing a river, and almost every single one of them was vastly superior to Chen Tianyang—by a very wide margin at that.
"A deadbeat like Chen Tianyang is simply not worthy of our Miss. Why on earth is she wasting her efforts on him?" The young woman shook her head, finding it utterly incomprehensible.
Three days later, right on the weekend, Lin Yaoyao brought two of her best friends along to the snack bar.
Lin Yaoyao was already the campus belle of her school, yet her two companions were in no way inferior to her in terms of looks.
One of them was named Zhou Ruohua. She wore a light white dress on her upper body, Prada half-inch heels on her feet, and carried a limited-edition LV handbag. She was absolute upper-crust, wealthy-heiress material.
She had large eyes with a beauty mark at the corner of one, radiating youth mixed with a bewitching charm.
The other girl, named Qin Xinran, might not have dressed as luxuriously as Zhou Ruohua, but she came from a scholarly family, exuded an elegant and refined aura, and was even the class monitor, boasting a massive number of suitors.
Lin Yaoyao, Zhou Ruohua, and Qin Xinran were already the top three campus beauties in the school.
Now that the three of them were sitting at a table in the snack bar, they immediately attracted a flood of gazes.
Lin Yaoyao looked around from side to side and didn't see Chen Tianyang, feeling a slight sense of loss.
"Yaoyao, who on earth is this Chen Tianyang you keep talking about? I must see for myself just who has managed to capture our Yaoyao's heart," Qin Xinran teased with a smile.
Zhou Ruohua chimed in: "Yaoyao didn't even deign to give the student union president, He Chao, the time of day. You have to realize that He Chao's father is the CEO of a state-owned enterprise with massive power and influence in Guanghua City. If this Chen Tianyang isn't some scion of a wealthy dynasty or the son of a high-ranking official, and can't even afford brand-name clothes, I certainly won't agree to let him steal our Yaoyao away."
The reason the two of them had come today was to vet Chen Tianyang for Lin Yaoyao. If he had zero capability, they wouldn't mind making him see the impossibility of it all and back off voluntarily.
Lin Yaoyao's face immediately flushed red, and she protested coquettishly: "Oh you two, stop gossiping! It's not as exaggerated as you make it sound. Brother Yang just looks at me like a little sister."
After saying this, Lin Yaoyao's expression dimmed slightly.
Ever since she was rescued by Chen Tianyang, her heart had been set on him. Yet through these days of contact, she had sensitively discovered that Chen Tianyang truly did view her merely as a younger sister.
"No way! With Yaoyao being so exceptional, he actually treats you like a sister?"
Zhou Ruohua and Qin Xinran exchanged glances, finding it completely unimaginable.
Lin Yaoyao had countless suitors, among them no shortage of young masters from wealthy families. He Chao, whom they had just mentioned, was a standout among them, with a family holding power and influence in Guanghua City.
Yet without exception, all these suitors had been rejected.
And yet a girl as exceptional as Lin Yaoyao had not only lost her heart to someone, but was also regarded merely as a sister.
Qin Xinran and Zhou Ruohua grew more and more curious about Chen Tianyang.
Suddenly, Lin Yaoyao's eyes lit up, and she waved happily, calling out, "Brother Yang! We're over here!"
Chen Tianyang walked over with a smile, nodded in greeting to the three girls, and sat down directly beside Lin Yaoyao.
Zhou Ruohua and Qin Xinran looked him over, unable to conceal their disappointment and contempt.
"Plainly dressed, ordinary background, a total broke loser. He doesn't deserve Yaoyao," Zhou Ruohua judged silently.
"Poor manners, lazy demeanor. Handsome, yes, but lacking upbringing and breeding." That was Qin Xinran's first impression.
Lin Yaoyao smiled sweetly and introduced them: "Brother Yang, let me introduce you. Her name is Zhou Ruohua, and this is Qin Xinran. They're both my best friends."
Then, Lin Yaoyao proudly hooked her arm around Chen Tianyang's and said, "His name is Chen Tianyang. He's my Brother Yang."
Qin Xinran shook her head inwardly. Despite it being only a first impression, she had already completely written Chen Tianyang off.
Zhou Ruohua didn't pull any punches at all, speaking up: "So you're the famous Chen Tianyang. Seeing you in person really doesn't live up to the reputation."
Lin Yaoyao's pretty face changed slightly.
Zhou Ruohua acted as if she hadn't noticed Lin Yaoyao's expression and continued with veiled sarcasm: "Chen Tianyang, I wonder what kind of high-paying position you're currently holding down?"
Chapter 23 Shameless to the Point of Invincibility
She had already found out beforehand that Chen Tianyang worked at a snack bar. Asking this when she already knew the answer was purely meant to humiliate him.
Chen Tianyang smiled slightly and said, "I'm just a waiter here."
"Oh, so you're just a wage laborer. I suppose your monthly salary is three thousand at most?" Zhou Ruohua pressed her attack.
Chen Tianyang rubbed his chin as if pondering the question and said, "I've never asked, but I suppose it's around three thousand."
Qin Xinran watched coldly from the sidelines, letting out an internal scoff. A monthly salary of around three thousand and you want to date our campus belle Yaoyao? That's a toad lusting after a swan's flesh—keep dreaming!
Zhou Ruohua smiled triumphantly and said, "A low salary doesn't matter much, as long as your family has money and power. These days, there are plenty of rich kids going out to experience life. It's just I don't know what your family does. Are they high-ranking government officials, or senior corporate executives?"
Chen Tianyang frowned slightly. He was certain this was his first time meeting them, and he couldn't quite figure out why they were deliberately targeting him.
"Neither," Chen Tianyang said calmly. "I've been an orphan since I was a child."
At this point, hard-hearted as Chen Tianyang was, a trace of desolation inevitably flickered across his mind.
Lin Yaoyao immediately grabbed Chen Tianyang's hand and said with heartache, "Brother Yang, don't worry. From now on, I'll be your family."
"Alright," Chen Tianyang replied with an indulgent smile.
Lin Yaoyao smiled back, feeling a sweet warmth bloom in her heart.
Toward this young girl Lin Yaoyao, Chen Tianyang felt a genuine, heartfelt fondness, and precisely because of that, he had endured Zhou Ruohua's sneers and sarcasm.
Otherwise, given Chen Tianyang's temper, he would have flipped the table long ago.
Seeing this scene, how could Zhou Ruohua and Qin Xinran fail to realize that Lin Yaoyao had already fallen hopelessly in love?
The two girls exchanged glances, both seeing a grave seriousness in each other's eyes.
Qin Xinran rolled her eyes slightly and suggested they all go out to eat. Although Lin Yaoyao disliked their targeting of Chen Tianyang, they were, after all, long-time best friends, so she reluctantly agreed.
Zhou Ruohua drove a white BMW. Once inside the car, she flaunted triumphantly: "Chen Tianyang, this was a birthday gift from my mom last year. It's a pity it only cost about 500,000, but my mom says she'll get me a brand-new one once I get into college."
She wanted to see the look of inferiority and humiliation on Chen Tianyang's face.
However, she was disappointed. Chen Tianyang merely nodded slightly and said, "Not bad."
"Hmph, just a broke loser, putting on airs," Zhou Ruohua thought with disdain.
She didn't lower her voice, so all four people in the car heard it.
Lin Yaoyao's face turned pale, her expression filled with displeasure as she anxiously looked over at Chen Tianyang.
Yet Chen Tianyang simply smiled back, which finally set Lin Yaoyao's mind at ease.
Qin Xinran exchanged a knowing look with Zhou Ruohua, who caught the hint and drove them to an upscale restaurant. Her objective needed no spelling out—she wanted to make Chen Tianyang realize the massive gap between himself and Lin Yaoyao so he would retreat in the face of difficulty.
Throughout the meal, Zhou Ruohua kept up a constant stream of sneers and sarcastic remarks. Yet Chen Tianyang's expression remained completely natural; he chatted and laughed with Lin Yaoyao from time to time and ate with great relish.
Zhou Ruohua grew frustrated. Chen Tianyang's skin was simply too thick. She felt as though she had spent ages charging up a ultimate attack, only for it to land on thin air—leaving her extremely aggrieved.
A trace of solemnity also appeared in Qin Xinran's eyes, and she now completely regarded Chen Tianyang as a formidable opponent.
"Hmph," Zhou Ruohua scoffed disdainfully, "Some people's skin really is thick enough. Truly, if you have no shame, you are invincible under the sun."
"Zhou Ruohua, that's enough!" Gentle-natured though Lin Yaoyao was, it didn't mean she lacked a temper. Her face turned pale with anger as she said, "I introduced Brother Yang to you guys, not for you to mock him. If you keep going like this, I don't think there's any need for us to remain friends!"
Chen Tianyang was somewhat moved. He hadn't expected this little girl to be willing to fall out with her best friend for his sake.
In this world, apart from his master, the only person who treated him this well was Lin Yaoyao.
Zhou Ruohua never expected that the usually soft-spoken Lin Yaoyao would snap, and she froze in place on the spot.
Qin Xinran sighed inwardly. What a foolish girl, unable to even tell who was treating her well.
"Chen Tianyang, can you come outside for a moment? I have something to say to you," Qin Xinran said, looking at him.
Chapter 24 A Frog at the Bottom of a Well, Presuming to Talk of Heaven and Earth
Chen Tianyang smiled slightly, nodded, and replied, "Alright."
Lin Yaoyao immediately panicked and urged, "Brother Yang..."
"Relax, she's not a tigress. She won't eat me." Chen Tianyang gave her a reassuring look and walked outside with Qin Xinran.
Qin Xinran lived up to her name. Walking beside her, one could catch a faint, elegant fragrance.
The two of them arrived at an empty corner, and Qin Xinran got straight to the point: "I hope you have some self-awareness and willingly leave Yaoyao."
"Oh? Why?" Chen Tianyang raised an eyebrow.
Qin Xinran raised her proud head and said, "My dad is a municipal people's congress representative and the president of the municipal writers' association. My mom is a section-chief cadre in the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. We come from a scholarly family.
Zhou Ruohua's family does business, with a net worth close to a hundred million. As for Yaoyao, you probably still don't know the status of her parents. Her father works in the municipal government and holds immense power.
I want you to understand that the people around Yaoyao are destined not to be ordinary. Even one of her suitors, He Chao, is the school student union president, and his father is the CEO of a state-owned enterprise.
And what about you? An orphan with no status, no standing, no money, and no power. Even if you struggle and work hard for another twenty years, you might not achieve what Yaoyao's father has accomplished. Even if Yaoyao doesn't care, can you bear to let her suffer through hardship following you in the future?
Therefore, I hope you have some self-awareness and voluntarily keep your distance from Yaoyao. Doing so will be a good thing for both you and her."
Chen Tianyang burst out laughing, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
"What are you laughing at?" Qin Xinran frowned, feeling very uncomfortable with that laughter.
Laughing, Chen Tianyang said, "I'm laughing at how narrow your vision is—a mere frog at the bottom of a well, yet presuming to talk about heaven and earth. Municipal government personnel? State-owned enterprise CEOs? Before me, they are nothing more than drifting clouds that I can scatter with a single wave of my hand.
One day, I will make you realize how ridiculous the words you said to me today truly are. When that time comes, I only hope you won't feel too ashamed."
Qin Xinran was stunned. She never imagined that a broke loser like Chen Tianyang could be so arrogant, and she angrily stamped her small foot.
When she returned to the private room, Chen Tianyang was sitting right beside Lin Yaoyao with a relaxed and easygoing expression.
Lin Yaoyao's face was livid, while Zhou Ruohua looked triumphant instead.
What on earth had happened?
As Qin Xinran walked over in bewilderment, Zhou Ruohua whispered like someone presenting a prized treasure, "I called He Chao. He said he's bringing people right over. Let's see how Chen Tianyang puts on airs after this."
Qin Xinran had a flash of realization, and recalling the arrogant demeanor Chen Tianyang had just displayed, she glared fiercely at him.
How sharp was Chen Tianyang's hearing? Even though Zhou Ruohua had spoken in a very low voice, he still caught every word, and a smirk of disdain touched the corner of his mouth.
Not long after, the door to the private room was pushed open, and three young men walked in.
Upon seeing the newcomers, Lin Yaoyao's expression suddenly turned tense, and she looked over at Chen Tianyang in a panic.
Chen Tianyang smiled back, and the clouds instantly cleared for Lin Yaoyao, her expression relaxing completely.
Zhou Ruohua stood up in pleasant surprise and said, "He Chao, you're finally here!And Zhao Jun and Li Jianfeng too—I didn't expect the two of you to tag along."
The leading young man was He Chao. He stood over 1.8 meters tall, with handsome features, black-rimmed glasses, and a light white shirt, giving him a scholarly air.
The two guys behind He Chao also came from extraordinary family backgrounds.
Qin Xinran suddenly grew somewhat worried. If Chen Tianyang got into a conflict with them, the consequences would undoubtedly be disastrous.
She only wanted Chen Tianyang to leave Lin Yaoyao; she didn't want to see him beaten half to death.
Zhou Ruohua hurried over to He Chao's side, whispered a few words in his ear, and glanced toward Chen Tianyang from time to time.
He Chao nodded, a flash of gloom crossing his eyes, though he masked it well. He walked straight over to sit on the other side of Lin Yaoyao, completely ignoring Chen Tianyang as he smiled: "Zhao Jun and I just happened to be eating nearby and ran into you guys. Yaoyao, it seems we really are destined to cross paths."
The panic in Lin Yaoyao's eyes flashed and vanished as she immediately said, "He Chao, our relationship isn't that close. Don't call me Yaoyao. Brother Yang—he and I have nothing to do with each other."
Chapter 25 Why Don't We Just Go Back?
Qin Xinran sighed inwardly, beginning to wonder if Lin Yaoyao's taste in people was deeply flawed.
He Chao's smile instantly froze.
"You guys just got here, please take a seat," Zhou Ruohua immediately stepped in to smooth things over. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Chen Tianyang, let me make some introductions. This is He Chao, our school's student union president. His dad is the CEO of a state-owned enterprise, so he's a well-known young master here in Guanghua City."
He Chao waved his hand modestly, but the triumph in his eyes was impossible to conceal as he smiled: "What young master or whatever? It's just everyone being too kind to give me face. Still, my dad has already arranged things—as soon as the college entrance exams are over, I'll be put into a state-owned enterprise for training, and after I graduate college, I can enter a government unit directly."
Zhou Ruohua's pretty eyes lit up. If He Chao weren't so infatuated with Lin Yaoyao, she'd really be tempted to swoop in and snatch him for herself. Snagging someone like He Chao would give her plenty of face when stepping out in public.
Right after, she cast a malicious look at Chen Tianyang. With He Chao being so outstanding, where on earth did a loser like him get the capital to compete with He Chao?
Chen Tianyang merely sipped the fragrant tea in his hand, turning a blind eye.
"Hmph, just a broke waiter, putting on a front. Let's see if you can keep acting tough in a minute," Zhou Ruohua thought to herself as she continued introducing the remaining two, pointing to the man wearing the number 10 jersey and smiling: "His name is Zhao Jun, and he's the captain of the school soccer team. His skills are top-notch, and he has tons of fans..."
Before she could finish, Zhao Jun cut in: "Great Beauty Zhou, stop trying to make me look bad in front of Xinran. My academics are just mediocre, and my college entrance exam prospects aren't much, but my dad is a department director at the Sports Bureau, and he'll be getting me a job right inside the bureau later on. Pardon my modest background."
With that, Zhao Jun looked at Qin Xinran, the fiery enthusiasm in his eyes completely bare, though Qin Xinran lowered her gaze slightly and gave no response.
Yet another solid establishment insider.
A faint smile hung on the corner of Chen Tianyang's mouth, still showing no particular reaction.
The final young man possessed a delicate, handsome appearance—the textbook definition of a pretty boy. He introduced himself: "My name is Li Jianfeng. My family background definitely can't compare to Brother Chao's or Brother Jun's, but fortunately my family has a bit of loose cash, just barely managing a five-star hotel."
On their way over, Zhao Jun and Li Jianfeng had already learned that someone was trying to steal a woman from He Chao, so the moment they arrived here, they immediately flexed their family backgrounds, hoping to intimidate Chen Tianyang.
And with the three of them standing together, the combined aura they radiated was enough to crush any ordinary person.
He Chao raised his wine glass and smiled, "Jianfeng, don't be so modest. Across all of Guanghua City, who doesn't know that Uncle Li has the widest connections? I remember half a month ago, the economic forum hosted by the Xie Family in Guanghua City was held at your hotel, right?"
The Xie Family was undoubtedly a behemoth in Guanghua City.
Aside from Chen Tianyang and Lin Yaoyao, burning gazes instantly appeared in the eyes of everyone else.
Though the family backgrounds of everyone present were considered prominent, compared to the Xie Family, they were nothing more than ants.
Li Jianfeng smiled smugly, "That's right. At the time, it was hosted by the Xie Family princess, Xie Xingxuan. I caught a glimpse of her from afar, and she really was just like the rumors—radiant beyond compare, a rare beauty in this world." A trace of infatuation appeared in his eyes.
Hearing the name "Xie Xingxuan," everyone's expression shifted, and even Zhou Ruohua's eyes filled with a glow of worship.
He Chao rolled his eyes and smiled, "Jianfeng, you're wrong there. Although the Xie Family princess is radiant beyond compare, our great beauties Zhou, Xinran, and Yaoyao are equally top-tier beauties, and they aren't necessarily any less stunning than her."
Zhou Ruohua and Qin Xinran immediately let out light laughs.
Naturally, neither of them had felt any particular emotional turbulence beforehand, because Xie Xingxuan was simply too outstanding—so outstanding that the two girls could only look up to her without even finding room to be jealous.
"Right, right, right! Look at me, I don't even know how to talk. I'll penalize myself with a glass." Li Jianfeng raised his cup and downed it in a single gulp.
The few of them chatted among themselves, completely treating Chen Tianyang as if he were air.
Lin Yaoyao looked apologetically at Chen Tianyang and said softly, "Brother Yang, why don't we head back?"
Chen Tianyang smiled and was just about to speak.
Suddenly, He Chao cast a malicious look at Chen Tianyang and smiled: "My friend, you look a bit unfamiliar. May I ask what we should call you, and where you're currently employed?"
Chapter 26 Are You Still a Man?
Chen Tianyang put down the fragrant tea in his hand and said, "My name is Chen Tianyang. I work as a waiter at Yaoyao's aunt's shop."
Zhao Jun and the others burst into contemptuous laughter.
"So a waiter, huh? Well, that's a fine profession. It really is... really a perfect match for Brother Chen." He Chao's disdain was dripping off his words.
Lin Yaoyao's face changed, and she said angrily, "He Chao, what do you mean by that?"
"Sorry, my bad, my bad. I just didn't expect him to be a waiter, that's all."