Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Are You Satisfied Now, Miss Ye?
Even if someone spoke up for her, River City No. 1 High School would never accept Ye Wan Lan again.
The Academic Affairs Director’s tone was flat. “Mr. Lin, if you’d told me your niece’s name on the phone, I wouldn’t have met you today.”
No. 1 High School was River City’s top elite high school. Every year it boasted a 100 percent college admission rate, and a terrifying 95 percent acceptance rate into top-tier universities.
A student like Ye Wan Lan, who had dropped out for three years—what teacher would dare take her? Who would dare take responsibility?
If he let Ye Wan Lan in, he’d be the one ruining No. 1 High School’s reputation. He couldn’t afford that.
“Director, I wouldn’t have made an appointment without some confidence,” Lin Huai Jin insisted. “She did your monthly exam papers. Ask Wen Li. Her physics paper—”
The director cut him off without hesitation. “Mr. Lin, please leave. Wen Li is a good student. No. 1 High School will cultivate him well.”
Doing a paper at home proved nothing. The answers were already out.
And someone who chose history-chemistry-biology after doing a physics paper? Ridiculous.
Lin Huai Jin sat in silence for a beat, then stood. “Sorry to bother you today, Director.”
He walked out, not knowing how to tell Ye Wan Lan without crushing her pride.
After hesitating in the corridor, he finally took out his phone and contacted Lin Wei Lan, hoping she could pull some strings and secure an enrollment spot.
—
In a counseling room in another building across from the Academic Affairs Office, Yan Ting Feng watched Lin Huai Jin’s figure disappear through the window before lazily turning away.
“Classmate Ye, very good. Very, very good,” Rong Yu said with relief. “Your condition is much more stable today.”
He spoke with the enthusiasm of a motivational speaker. “You have to keep coming back for follow-ups. Your inner world will become beautiful. And to stay optimistic, you need to do things that make you happy.”
Ye Wan Lan rested her cheek in one hand. “Things that make me happy?”
Rong Yu leaned forward eagerly. “Anything in mind? Tell me. I’ll help you.”
Ye Wan Lan narrowed her eyes, unhurried. “I want to see what his face feels like. That might make me happier.”
“Huh?” Rong Yu followed her gaze—and the moment he realized she meant Yan Ting Feng, his scalp went numb. “Classmate Ye, you can’t just—my brother—”
The words “has a terrible temper” were still on his tongue when Yan Ting Feng lifted a brow and stood.
He stepped closer, leaned down slightly, and—without a hint of awkwardness—took Ye Wan Lan’s hand and pressed her palm to his cheek.
“Go on,” he said softly.
His skin was warm, smooth as jade.
After a few seconds, Yan Ting Feng let out a low chuckle. “Do you feel a little better now, Miss Ye?”
Rong Yu whipped his head toward Bing He and Tie Ma, silently screaming questions with his eyes.
Are you seeing this?
Has your young lord lost his mind?
Bing He stared back, expression blank.
Tie Ma looked just as lost.
Don’t ask them. They had no idea either—and they were terrified.
Especially when Yan Ting Feng was gentle. Who knew who would be the next one to die?
“Much better,” Ye Wan Lan said lazily, withdrawing her hand. “Thanks.”
She stood. “I’m going to work.”
The counseling room door opened and shut.
Yan Ting Feng’s smile vanished in an instant.
Rong Yu shivered. Something terrifying was coming. He could feel it.
Yan Ting Feng tapped the desk. “Contact the principal at No. 1 High School. Donate three buildings. Let Miss Ye enroll.”
Rong Yu stared at him. “…Is that how money is supposed to be spent?”
Yan Ting Feng didn’t answer. He only narrowed his eyes and watched the flowers falling outside the window, calm and patient.
For prey he liked, he could wait.
—
That evening, Lin Huai Jin stood outside the front door for a long time, sighing and shaking his head.
“Why are you just standing there?” Xu Pei Qing’s voice came from behind him. “Did you do something bad?”
“No. Of course not.” Lin Huai Jin forced a laugh. “It’s A Lan’s schooling. No. 1 High School…”
Xu Pei Qing had already unlocked the door and stepped inside.
“Dad. Mom.”
“Uncle. Aunt.”
For once, both Lin Wen Li and Ye Wan Lan were sitting in the living room.
The tension between them was still stiff, but it no longer felt like open hostility.
“Oh. You’re both here.” Lin Huai Jin’s expression tightened. After a few seconds of wrestling with himself, he said, “A Lan, come to the study. I need to talk to you.”
Then he snapped, “Lin Wen Li, don’t follow.”
Lin Wen Li withdrew the foot he’d already moved, face unreadable.
In the study, Lin Huai Jin sighed. “A Lan… it’s like this.”
He looked genuinely guilty. “It’s Uncle’s fault. Wait a few days. I’ll find a way. I promise I’ll get you back into school.”
“Uncle,” Ye Wan Lan said calmly, “River City doesn’t only have No. 1 High School.”
Lin Huai Jin blinked. “Then where?”
“No. 7 High School.”
“No. 7 High School?” Lin Huai Jin frowned. “Last year only fifty students there even reached the first-tier line. No. 1 High School sends more than fifty students to Yun Jing University every year. That won’t do.”
No. 7 High School was out in the suburbs. Its college admission rate hadn’t improved for years. It couldn’t keep good teachers or attract strong students. Only a handful of older teachers still remained.
Ye Wan Lan lifted a brow. “Uncle, do you really think I still need a school to teach me?”
Lin Huai Jin’s face shifted. “R-right…”
“I just need the diploma,” Ye Wan Lan said with a small smile. “It’s the same anywhere. But I want No. 7 High School. Is that okay, Uncle?”
Lin Huai Jin’s throat bobbed. “…Okay.”
How could he say no?
The moment he stepped out of the study, he was already calling No. 7 High School’s admissions contact.
—
At the Zhou Family residence, the atmosphere in the main hall had turned to ice. The servants had long since retreated.
“He Chen,” Madam Zhou demanded coldly, “what did you promise me?”
“You said you would secure the partnership with President Quan. And now? Now President Quan has chosen her partner—and it’s not the Zhou Family!”
Bang!
She slammed her glass down on the coffee table.
Steward Zhou flinched. “Madam…”
“Mom, this really isn’t my problem.” Zhou He Chen clenched his hand, eyes dark. “I went to see President Quan twice and couldn’t even meet her.”
“Then why could someone else?” Madam Zhou cut in sharply. “The problem is you. Think hard about why President Quan didn’t choose to work with Madam Zhou.”
Veins stood out across Zhou He Chen’s hand. Three seconds passed. He lowered his head anyway. “Yes, Mom.”
He went upstairs with a stiff back, expression stormy.
Secretary Li hurried to apologize to Madam Zhou and followed after him.
Once the door shut, Zhou He Chen asked coldly, “Did you find out who it is?”
“No.” Secretary Li shook his head. “President Quan’s partner is known only to her and her assistant. Even the senior executives don’t know.”
Zhou He Chen exhaled slowly. “Unbelievable.”
He’d run through every company in River City, big and small. None of them should have been powerful enough to catch Quan Zhao Ning’s eye. She’d even rejected Madam Zhou’s group.
So who was it?
His irritation rose. He lit a cigarette.
“Sir, there’s one more thing,” Secretary Li said hesitantly. “News came from River City No. 1 High School. The Lin Family tried to get Ye Wan Lan into No. 1 High School, but the school refused.”
“She wants to enroll?” Zhou He Chen flicked ash. His irritation vanished, replaced by a slow, knowing smile. “Good.”
He leaned back, eyes half-lidded. “Go tell her to come beg me. If she begs, I’ll let her in.”