‘So her surname is Wang. I must remember that.’
Chen Xuanqiu understood that he couldn’t overlook any detail now. Every question he answered had to be carefully considered. He pondered cautiously before tentatively asking, “Teacher Wang, didn’t my parents explain to the school?”
“They must have, but Principal Liu only told us teachers not to interfere. Still, I’d like to know the specific reason.”
Teacher Wang blinked her beautiful, clear eyes, filled with curiosity.
“This…”
Chen Xuanqiu hesitated, unsure whether to speak. After all, he was an imposter—not only an imposter Chen Xuanqiu but now also an imposter Chen Xuanzhu. Burdened by layers of misfortune, he wasn’t in a position to decide.
“What’s wrong? Is there something you can’t say?”
Teacher Wang’s pretty face practically brushed against Chen Xuanqiu’s.
“No, not exactly.”
Chen Xuanqiu thought for a moment, deciding there was nothing to hide. He subtly shifted away, then replied, “The police said I’ve recently been targeted by some criminals, so security needs to be tightened.”
“I see.”
Teacher Wang understood, then teased, “As expected of our school’s great campus belle, Chen Xuanzhu. You’re noticed wherever you go. Why don’t I, a teacher, get that kind of attention?”
“You’re a teacher. Your thoughts are a bit too wild, aren’t they?”
Chen Xuanqiu felt somewhat speechless. Of course, he knew this beautiful teacher simply wanted to lighten the mood. After all, she wasn’t bad-looking herself and had no reason to be jealous of his ‘sister’s’ appearance.
“Just kidding. But if that’s the case, I’ll find a chance to speak with the other subject teachers. It is a bit awkward to always have two people standing guard outside the classroom during lessons. Some students have already reported it to me, their homeroom teacher.”
Teacher Wang said, shedding her playful expression.
“Then thank you very much, Teacher Wang.”
Chen Xuanqiu thanked her politely. In his heart, he understood why the beautiful teacher had asked him this question. His ‘sister’ bringing several bodyguards to school was indeed too high-profile, and as the homeroom teacher, she needed to provide the subject teachers with a reasonable explanation.
“By the way, Chen Xuanzhu, where are you off to? Since you’re being targeted by criminals, why are you out so late at night?”
Teacher Wang looked Chen Xuanqiu up and down.
“I’m going to a gathering at the Donghui Hotel. For certain reasons, I have no choice but to go.”
Chen Xuanqiu explained, a headache beginning to form.
“You’re going to a gathering at the Donghui Hotel wearing your school uniform?”
Teacher Wang couldn’t help but laugh. The Donghui Hotel was the best in this county-level city, and those who frequented it were either wealthy or influential. No one ever went there in a school uniform.
“I…”
Chen Xuanqiu’s face flushed with embarrassment. Now, he truly didn’t know how to explain.
“Never mind, school uniform it is. You’re so pretty; no one will mind what you wear.”
Teacher Wang seemed to realize her question was too sharp, so she quickly changed her tone to comfort him. After all, this was just a sixteen-year-old ‘girl’ in front of her; how could she understand such complicated rules?
Chen Xuanqiu breathed a long sigh of relief. What he feared most now was being questioned relentlessly.
“However, as your teacher, I still have to warn you. Since you’re being targeted by criminals, you shouldn’t be out running around late at night. And it seems you didn’t even bring bodyguards, did you? You didn’t sneak out, did you? Should I, your homeroom teacher, call your parents to inform them?”
Teacher Wang’s expression grew increasingly stern, her pretty face suddenly as chilling as an ice sculpture.
“No, my parents are already there. That’s why I didn’t bring bodyguards.”
Chen Xuanqiu felt his vision darken. He was genuinely afraid this beautiful teacher would get carried away by her enthusiasm and report him to his ‘parents’, which would mean he would fail before even beginning.
“That’s good then. You should understand that it’s not safe for us girls to be out alone in this world, especially when you’re so beautiful. You must always be aware of your safety.”
Teacher Wang’s expression softened slightly.
Chen Xuanqiu’s heart pounded furiously. Yet, hearing the beautiful teacher say the words ‘us women’ still brought an indescribable awkwardness.
****
Meanwhile, Melissa and Jiang Yunmei had already met in the restroom.
“Miss… Miss Jiang, thank you for your hard work tonight. We arrived so late and couldn’t help with anything. I’m truly sorry.”
Melissa forced herself to greet them.
“It’s no trouble at all. This hotel provides excellent service; we’re simply enjoying what’s readily available.”
Jiang Yunmei replied impassively. She knew the other party had something to say to her, so she didn’t show even the slightest emotion.
“Miss Jiang, I’m truly sorry. We promised to have Chen Xuanzhu come, but we broke our word due to certain unforeseen circumstances, not because of a cold.”
Seeing that the atmosphere wouldn’t lighten, Melissa could only get straight to the point.
“Unforeseen circumstances? What kind of unforeseen circumstances?”
Jiang Yunmei finally couldn’t maintain her composure. After all, that was her future daughter-in-law they were talking about.
“The thing is…”
Melissa then revealed the truth, concluding with a plea, “I hope you can explain clearly to CEO Fu. We truly had no other choice.”
Jiang Yunmei didn’t immediately express an opinion. Her expression shifted rapidly, and after a moment, she said, “I can tell him, but what he thinks is not something I can control.”
Melissa sighed. She knew the woman in front of her still harbored doubts; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so dismissive. But as the saying goes, ‘do one’s best and leave the rest to fate,’ and she could only do so much.
After leaving the restroom, Jiang Yunmei secretly called her husband to a secluded spot and told him the full truth.
“Do you think her words are true or false?”
Jiang Yunmei asked her husband for his opinion.
“You believe such a flimsy excuse? How could a CEO of his standing be unable to guarantee his own daughter’s safety when she steps out? Are all those security personnel his company employs just sitting around doing nothing?”
CEO Fu raised a series of questions.
“Perhaps they, as parents, are simply overprotective of their daughter and don’t want her to take even the slightest risk?”
Jiang Yunmei speculated, as she too was a parent.
“Then it can only mean they don’t value the cooperation between our two families. In that case, let’s stop the cooperation.”
CEO Fu made a decisive judgment.
“You mean you don’t want that daughter-in-law anymore?”
Jiang Yunmei asked, uncertain.
“I do! Of course I do! With such a beautiful daughter-in-law, where wouldn’t I gain face? Unfortunately, if she’s unwilling, what can I do? As the saying goes, a forced melon isn’t sweet.”
CEO Fu replied.
“That’s true, but how should we explain this to our son?”
Jiang Yunmei’s brow furrowed slightly. She knew their son had always been fond of that girl, which was why the couple had considered her their future daughter-in-law all these years.
“Explain what? Could it be that my son, Fu Fawu, can’t find a wife?”
CEO Fu replied with some annoyance. If it weren’t for his son, he wouldn’t have foolishly continued to inject capital into the Chen family’s company all these years.
“Mom, Dad, you’re here? Why haven’t I seen Chen Xuanzhu? Uncle Chen and the others arrived ages ago.”
Just then, a male voice rang out. It belonged to a handsome young man with a crew cut, tall and slender, with healthy-looking tan skin, like an athlete. This was Fu Yao, Fu Fawu’s son.
“She… she has something on tonight and won’t be coming.”
Jiang Yunmei spoke with some difficulty.
“What? Didn’t she clearly promise me she would come?”
A deep sense of disappointment clouded Fu Yao’s handsome face.
“Look at you, do you even look like a man? It’s just one woman! Our family company has plenty; pick whichever you like!”
Fu Fawu scolded him, lamenting his lack of ambition.
****
On the other side, Melissa had returned to her original spot on the sofa.
“Darling, do you think CEO Fu and his wife will forgive us?”
Melissa asked, unable to contain her impatience.
“It’s simple. If they ask us to join them after their chat, it means they’ve forgiven us. If they remain indifferent, it means they intend to completely sever ties with us.”
Chen Degao analyzed calmly, his eyes fixed on CEO Fu’s table, filled with a glimmer of hope.
Soon after, CEO Fu and his family of three returned, but there was no movement, nor did they invite Chen Degao and his wife to join them.
“It seems it’s over.”
Chen Degao slumped onto the sofa, utterly deflated.
Just then, Melissa’s phone rang. She took it out and saw it was their daughter’s homeroom teacher calling. She didn’t even think to comfort her husband, rushing instead to a secluded spot to answer the phone.
After a long while, Melissa hurried back, declaring to her husband in a panic, “Darling, Miss Wang said she just ran into our daughter on the bus.”
“What?”
A distraught Chen Degao practically sprang from his seat.