"What exactly happened?" Ling Yun sat up straight, seeing his mother seemed to know. "I'm 20 now, I can know, right?"
"Xiao Yun, the waters of the Capital are very deep. Our Bai family are all women, so it's inevitable that other powerful families will target us…"
"You're not trying to tell me that Zhou Jing's family was implicated because of our Bai family, are you?"
Bai Shuyao pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned off the engine.
"Zhou Jing's grandfather used to be your grandfather's bodyguard," Bai Shuyao calmly narrated the story. "And not long after your grandfather passed away, Zhou Jing's grandfather also died of illness, so you never saw them. Do you remember when our manor was being renovated when you were little? In fact, that period was tumultuous; the family powers underwent a major purge, and we took you to the old residence for refuge."
"Zhou Jing's father was also a soldier. He secretly protected you because of your grandfather, but something still went wrong. In the year you were 8… he sacrificed himself."
Ling Yun said nothing, falling into a long silence.
He never expected that his childhood friend's father and grandfather had such deep ties with the Bai family, especially that Zhou Jing's father died protecting him.
"Our Bai family gave them a sum of money and let the mother and daughter move out of the Capital to live elsewhere. We originally kept in touch with Zhou Jing's mother, but 10 years ago, they unilaterally cut off contact. Your grandmother also sent people to check on them where they lived and found that they had moved again. When we asked their neighbors, they said they were doing well, so we just assumed they wanted to stay away from disputes and didn't bother them anymore."
Ling Yun leaned back in his seat, took a deep breath, and after a long while, finally spoke: "Was the money enough to live on?"
"Don't worry about that. Your grandmother isn't a stingy person; she's absolutely generous to her own. As long as they don't gamble or do other illegal things, that money is enough for them to live comfortably for a lifetime. Your grandmother's contact information hasn't changed either; they can still ask us for help if they encounter difficulties." Bai Shuyao looked at Ling Yun's somewhat melancholic expression and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking about their family?"
"I dreamed of Zhou Jing last night."
"Actually, it's very easy to find someone's information now…"
"No need. Let's go to school, lest we be late."
Bai Shuyao nodded and started the car again, driving towards Haichuan University.
Ling Yun reached out and rubbed his eyes. He really wanted to see Zhou Jing again this morning, but now he had no such thoughts at all.
"Little Xi, do you think Zhou Jing might become a 'Protagonist' due to some circumstances?"
"Hmm, there are such 'Protagonist' types, but it might be different from what big brother imagines."
"Different?"
Ling Yun looked at the fleeting scenery outside the car window. If it were him, if Bai Shuyao sacrificed herself to protect someone else, he would definitely harbor resentment towards that person—even if it wasn't their fault.
The car arrived at the university entrance. To ease the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Bai Shuyao grabbed his wrist.
"Xiao Yun, do you still have swimming trunks in your room?"
"Huh? Why are you asking that?"
"The weather has been pretty good lately, hasn't it? Let's go swimming at your grandmother's house this weekend."
"I'll skip it. You can have Sister Xuan accompany you."
"Oh, come on, can't you just accompany me? Or are you saying you dislike your old mother getting in your way?"
Seeing that she was playing the emotional card, Ling Yun could only comply, and then he was kissed a few times on the face by Bai Shuyao before getting out of the car.
His phone chimed. He picked it up and saw that Xia Yuwei had sent him a message, telling him to look up.
He looked towards the entrance. A pure-looking girl with a hot figure was standing there prettily, legs together, with a sweet smile on her face.
Ling Yun glanced behind him with a somewhat guilty conscience, saw that his mother had already driven off, and quickly ran over.
"What a coincidence, you just arrived too?"
"Mm." Xia Yuwei nodded lightly in response.
Ling Yun took her small hand. Although Xia Yuwei was a bit shy, she tacitly allowed his action.
"Why aren't you wearing the new clothes I bought you today?"
"Ah? Don't new clothes need to be washed first after buying them? They're still drying."
Ling Yun said "Oh" and didn't ask further, leading her towards the teaching building.
Not far away, a flamboyantly dressed young man, surrounded by several lackeys, walked up to the two of them.
"Hello, Classmate Xia." The young man blocked their path, completely ignoring Ling Yun. "Let me introduce myself, my name is Wang Hao."
"Name: Wang Hao"
"Age: 20"
"Affection: -20"
"Combat Power: 10"
"Special: Second-Generation Rich System (Blue): Binds to one's biological father, sharing prosperity and decline. Completing designated tasks grants rewards."
"Identity: Protagonist of "Second generation of the capital""
"Recent Opportunity: None"
"Luck: 600 / 600"
The second Protagonist appeared, and he was a System-type Protagonist!
Ling Yun pulled Xia Yuwei behind him and looked at Wang Hao with a fake smile: "Just tell me if there's anything."
"Who the hell are you to talk to?" Wang Hao looked at Ling Yun contemptuously. Ever since binding his old man last night, the System directly rewarded him with 5 Combat Power points and a large sum of money, restoring his originally depleted body to its Peak state!
In his eyes, an "ordinary" Ling Yun wasn't worth his special attention; completing tasks as required by the System was the Dao.
The System had given him a task this morning, which required him to successfully confess to a beauty with a rating of B-grade or higher. The task reward was a sum of money, enough for him to live lavishly for quite some time.
He naturally went for the best, wanting to win over the A+ grade campus belle, Xia Yuwei.
Ling Yun naturally recognized him. The school had hidden talents, but those as ostentatious and flamboyant as him were rare.
His father, Wang Tianba, had managed to break into the upper circles of the Capital's business world, but he had only just reached the threshold, still a hundred thousand li away from Bai Shuyao, let alone competing with the entire Bai family.
But this foolish young man in front of him seemed unaware of what kind of hard plate he had kicked.
"Classmate Xia, I fell in love with you at first sight. May I ask if you would be my girlfriend?"
He waved to the side, and a minion immediately ran over with flowers.
Students nearby slowly gathered, ready to watch a good show.
Wang Hao was very confident in himself. Although he wasn't as tall or as handsome as Ling Yun, he believed that money could solve everything. A girl like Xia Yuwei, whose family background clearly wasn't good, could probably be won over with just a flick of his fingers.
He thought that even if Xia Yuwei didn't agree, she would at least be polite to him, saying something like she had a boyfriend. Then he could use money to humiliate Ling Yun, increasing the price step by step to make him leave Xia Yuwei, letting the girl see through the true character of this pretty boy.
Everything was in his fantasy. He was already eager to see Ling Yun's handsome face, which he resented, show a helpless and greedy expression.
"Scram!"
This shout of "scram" not only stunned Wang Hao but also shocked the surrounding students who were watching.
Because it wasn't Ling Yun who said it, but Xia Yuwei.
"Get lost quickly, just seeing you makes me sick!"
Xia Yuwei hugged Ling Yun's arm tightly. She wasn't that angry initially, but seeing Wang Hao's contemptuous attitude towards Ling Yun just now, an unknown surge of anger flared up within her.
"Heh, how much money do you think your boyfriend would take to leave you?"
Wang Hao was scolded by Xia Yuwei in front of so many people, losing all face, but he suppressed his anger and prepared to execute his well-thought-out plan.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in money."
Ling Yun was very satisfied with Xia Yuwei's attitude towards him and turned to leave.
"200,000! If you leave Xia Yuwei, I'll transfer 200,000 to you immediately!" Wang Hao blocked the two again.
Ling Yun ignored him and walked around him, continuing forward.
"500,000!" Wang Hao persisted.
Seeing that Ling Yun and Xia Yuwei still had no reaction, Wang Hao finally gritted his teeth and growled, "One million, I'll keep my word!"
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar. Most students had never seen a million in their lives. This Wang Hao was just giving it away?
"One million?" Ling Yun feigned shock. "Wow, that's really a lot. You've almost got me tempted!"
Listening to his sarcastic remarks, and recalling the string of balances she saw yesterday, Xia Yuwei could barely hold back her laughter. She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and quickly pulled Ling Yun away from the scene.
Wang Hao, under the gaze of the crowd, had already turned red with anger. Not only did he fail to show off, but he was also ridiculed. His teeth were almost ground to dust, and his fists were clenching with a creaking sound.
"Brother Hao, that kid Ling Yun must think you're lying and doesn't believe you have that much money."
A sycophant immediately stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "How about we find an Opportunity to give him a good beating, so he'll voluntarily withdraw?"
Wang Hao's eyes darted around, and he immediately thought of a plan. He raised his head again, arrogantly leading his few lackeys away.
Although he made a fool of himself, the fact that he could publicly offer a million yuan, coupled with his previously advertised identity as a second-generation rich kid, meant that even if other students secretly disdained him, they knew they could never catch up to his starting point in this life.
After Ling Yun and Xia Yuwei entered the classroom, the girl finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, trembling as she lay on the desk.
Ling Yun also found it hard to keep a straight face, but his good upbringing allowed him to regain his composure, his gaze fixed with interest on Xia Yuwei's softness that swayed with her body.
Xia Yuwei quickly sensed something was wrong and, noticing Ling Yun's gaze, quickly sat up, subtly covering herself with her hand.
"What are you looking at, pervert!"
"It's only right for me to look at my girlfriend, isn't it?" Ling Yun wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. "You're so beautiful, others can't look, so what, I can't look?"
Xia Yuwei wasn't as thick-skinned as him; she just pouted and glared at him.
That look made Ling Yun's heart burn, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Yuwei, want to go out and watch a movie with me tonight?"
Watch a movie? Xia Yuwei knew that Ling Yun's intention to watch a movie was fake, and his real intention was to take advantage of her.
But seeing Ling Yun's eager eyes, she couldn't refuse and could only nod lightly.
"But I have to tell my mom, and also, I must go back tonight."
"It'll probably be very late after the movie. Will the subway and bus still be running?" Ling Yun saw her hesitate a bit and then, pressing his advantage, said, "How about I have the driver take you home tonight? She's also a woman."
The girl was a bit reluctant. Ling Yun held her in his arms and persuaded her for a while before she reluctantly agreed.
After a while, Xia Yuwei couldn't help but ask, "Ling Yun, are you trying to sleep with me?"
Ling Yun almost choked on his own saliva. Was his intention that obvious?
"Don't talk nonsense. I just want to get to know you more deeply, that's all."
"I can tell…"
Ling Yun then remembered that Xia Yuwei possessed the purple-grade "Seven Apertures and Exquisite Heart," capable of seeing through others' emotions.
It seems next time I want to do something bad, I should restrain myself, at least appear righteous on the surface.
"That's right, that's exactly what I'm thinking." Ling Yun stopped pretending. "How does my lovely Campus Belle Xia feel about it?"
"It's too fast, Ling Yun…" Xia Yuwei looked down at her hands, which Ling Yun was holding. "We just started our relationship, isn't it too fast?"
"Some people get flash married after meeting once. Where are we in comparison?"
"But, if I give myself to you so quickly, won't you stop cherishing me?"
"Does it have to be half a year or a year of dating before it's not considered fast?"
"But I, but I haven't had any experience… I'm a little scared…"
Seeing her like this, Ling Yun also knew when to stop, lest things backfire. He gently comforted Xia Yuwei, gradually dispelling her worries.
It seems I can't rush it. My first time will most likely be with Sister Hui.
Classes were full today, and the last class ended after 5 PM. Ling Yun and Xia Yuwei went out for dinner and a movie, and incidentally, they cuddled and kissed in a corner of the cinema, making the girl's face burn red as if it had been scalded.
"Due to big brother's intimate relationship with the 'Female Protagonist' Xia Yuwei, the 'Protagonist' Wang Hao's Luck has been reduced by 50 points. Current: 550 / 600!"
Listening to Little Xi's prompt in his ear, Ling Yun squinted and glanced at a young man wearing a baseball cap in the front few rows.
It seemed Wang Hao wasn't going to give up, but then again, Ling Yun wasn't planning on letting him off either.
After the movie, Ling Yun and Xia Yuwei deliberately chose a secluded path with few people, wanting to see if Wang Hao would indeed follow them.
Sure enough, as they reached the middle of the path, two thuggish youths walked towards them from the front.
Xia Yuwei felt a little nervous and squeezed Ling Yun's hand tightly.
Then several more people came from behind, blocking their paths both front and back.
Seeing the telescopic batons and butterfly knives in their hands, he pulled out his phone and dialed 120.
"Hello, is this the emergency center? I'm here at Pitiao Hutong. Yes, there are 5 patients who need treatment… How serious?" Ling Yun looked up at the approaching figures. "The kind with broken bones."