Principal’s office.
After listening to the recording, Chen Jianguo was stunned. He had actually believed that his son had ruined a girl’s life and was refusing to take responsibility. If that had really been the case, he had already prepared himself on the way over—what was a little early marriage? He could have been a grandfather all the sooner.
He hadn't expected the news to be completely fake.
"Teacher Gao, if Chen Ye has truly done something wrong, you can punish him, but this is a frame-up. My son’s reputation cannot be ruined like this."
"And what Su Lili’s mother said just now—what do you mean 'he didn't do it'? Does he not have a shred of responsibility? Is that human talk? If you gave birth to another man's child, would you go around banging drums and appearing on television to brag about it?"
Su Lili’s stepmother immediately put her hands on her hips and roared, "Say that again! Say it again! If Lili isn't looking for someone else, why would she come after your Chen Ye? Hmm? I don't believe this recording; it's fake, it must be fake! I’m going to call the police! I’m going to call the police and have you all arrested!"
Seeing this, Gao Xiaoqin quickly pulled her back. If the parents started fighting again, this mess would never end.
After finishing his tirade, Old Chen wandered out to the office entrance and lit a cigarette. Just then, Chen Ye arrived from the teaching building.
"Dad, you really came?"
Chen Jianguo glanced at his son. "Yeah. Could I not come when such a big thing happened? I really thought you had some guts like your old man, but it turns out you’re being pestered by some lunatic. You didn't inherit a single one of my good traits. There's nothing for you here; go back to class."
Chen Ye curled his lip. He wondered who it was that got chewed out by his mother at home.
"I’ll go tell my homeroom teacher then."
"Tell her my foot! She’s just a young teacher, no experience. Your old man has seen it all; a little thing like this is a piece of cake. You really didn't touch that girl?"
Chen Ye shook his head hurriedly. "I swear, I didn't. We aren't even boyfriend and girlfriend. I was blind and pursued her for a while back then, but I stopped a long time ago."
Chen Jianguo took a puff of his cigarette. "Useless. Didn't even touch her and still got all this trouble on you. Now get lost."
"Wait! You asked us for a thousand yuan last night—it wasn't just to help that girl settle this thing, was it?"
"Old Chen, you really underestimate your son. Do I look that stupid? It’s really for tuition fees; I have to get into university."
"I'll believe you for now. I listened to that recording; it was well said. Almost as good as my own eloquence. Also, you said you're bringing that top student from your class home tonight? Your mother and I have already talked it over—dinner will be a feast. We won't let you lose face."
Chen Ye sniffled, feeling an inexplicable urge to cry. Since he had been sent to prison in his previous life, he hadn't seen his parents again, nor had he known how they had survived all those years. Even though Old Chen always threatened him with his belt whenever he messed up, when things got serious, Old Chen really stepped up.
He lunged forward and hugged his father.
"Old man, you're the best."
Chen Jianguo hadn't expected this from his son. Aside from when he was a small child, he had never hugged him once he grew up and became rebellious. Old Chen didn't know where to put his hands. Aside from his left hand holding the cigarette, he could only use his right to pat his son’s back lightly.
In that moment, father and son embraced in silence. By the time Chen Ye ran off, Old Chen still hadn't fully processed it.
Back in class, it was chemistry. Li Dabao looked at Chen Ye with a touch of pity; it seemed he had heard the recording too. Luo Hongli sat quietly listening to the lecture, but her eyes drifted from the blackboard to Chen Ye every now and then. He had been framed by Su Lili and the whole school knew about it—his reputation was ruined. He must be feeling terrible right now, right?
Time passed quickly. When the final bell rang, it signaled the end of the semester. The following week would be entirely self-study, followed by final exams.
Luo Hongli slowly pulled her hand from her bag, clutching a candy in her palm. Whenever she felt sad, she liked to eat one; it made the bitterness in her mouth a little easier to bear.
"Here."
Chen Ye had spent all day thinking about his path forward. After the Su Lili incident, he had made up his mind. Sometimes you don't go looking for trouble, but trouble comes looking for you. You can't avoid it.
He looked at the small, fair hand extended toward him, with a White Rabbit creamy candy resting in the palm.
"For me?"
Luo Hongli bit her lower lip and nodded. "Yeah. You didn't say much all day today. And... I heard that recording. She... she really went too far."
Chen Ye took the candy and tossed it into his mouth mindlessly. "Is that all it is, 'too far'? She’s treating me like an idiot."
As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Luo Hongli’s small hand. It was soft, as if it had no bones, and warm.
"Look, according to her logic, I’ve touched your hand now. Are you going to be pregnant by tomorrow too?"
Luo Hongli’s face turned red. She pulled her hand back in annoyance and gave his shoulder a sharp punch.
"Why don't you just die!"
"Hey, I'm just kidding! Don't walk so fast. Didn't we agree you're coming to my place tonight..."
Every movement between the two was seen by Cheng Ziwen. He hadn't even touched a single hair on Luo Hongli’s head! And yet Chen Ye had just grabbed her hand! How could such scum deserve this? How dared he defile his Luo Hongli!
The whole class was whispering that they were dating. Could it be true? Impossible. He had confessed to her once, and she had clearly stated she wouldn't date anyone. She wouldn't lie to him. If they were walking so close, it must be because Chen Ye was threatening her! That had to be it—Chen Ye, that hoodlum, must be threatening her!
Outside the school, Cheng Ziwen pedaled furiously and finally caught up to the pair as they walked far ahead. They were walking side by side on the sidewalk, somehow looking like a couple.
Damn it! It's an illusion, it must be an illusion! Cheng Ziwen! Luo Hongli is yours, she's yours!
Chen Ye wasn't walking properly, either; he kept bumping his arm against Luo Hongli, who was on the inside, causing the young girl to punch him every so often. In Cheng Ziwen’s eyes, the two were already living in sin.
He looked at the endless stairs ahead; if he pushed his bike up, he would lose sight of them. Forget it, he’d lock it to the lamppost at the entrance. No one would steal it, right? It was a chain lock; it was very sturdy.
Chen Ye and Luo Hongli had already walked far ahead by then, running into the old woman carrying her goods on a shoulder pole again.
"Luo Hongli, why don't you skip cooking? You'll be late if you go home to cook for your mom, and if you come to my place and study after that, it'll be even later. Unless you want to sleep over at my place."
"Who wants to sleep at your place! Chen Ye, are you trying to hit on me?"
Chen Ye’s heart leaped. Had she figured it out? Even if she had, he couldn't admit it—if he did, how could he keep threatening her into listening to him?
"You're overthinking it. I don't like girls who are too skinny. Even though your 'measurements' aren't small, you don't meet my requirements."
Luo Hongli had asked the question with great hesitation. If Bingbing hadn't reminded her that boys wouldn't help girls for no reason, nor would they tease a girl they didn't like for no reason, she never would have thought in that direction. But hearing Chen Ye’s reply, she only found him shameless. What did he mean, "not small"? He had never even touched them! Pervert!
"No wonder you couldn't land Su Lili."
Leaving that behind, Luo Hongli flicked her ponytail and walked off. Chen Ye was stunned. What was that supposed to mean? Was she looking down on him?
"Child, did you have a fight?" The old woman, perhaps remembering Chen Ye’s generosity earlier, took the initiative to chat.
Chen Ye looked at the items on her pole and bought two portions of bean curd, one without chili—he had specifically looked up information over the past few days, and it wasn't recommended for uremic patients to eat too much spice. He bought some fruit like bananas, too, and caught up to her.
Cheng Ziwen finally came huffing and puffing up. "Ma-ma'am, have you... have you seen a boy and a girl go by?"
"You mean those two kids who are 'playing house'? They bought some things from me and headed home. You're their classmate, right?"
Only three words remained in Cheng Ziwen’s mind: "playing house." He hadn't heard a single other thing. They were actually dating behind his back! Puppy love! Very well! Chen Ye! I, Cheng Ziwen, will never stand for this! You’ve taken away my ability to love!