22. Promiscuity

Cen Wu and Xie Guilan had just stepped out of the police station when Cen Xiao’s car arrived. Cen Wu was still ill, and Cen Xiao was worried; even if he hadn’t been sick, the fact that they were at a police station would have been enough to cause concern.

Cen Xiao drove over himself to pick him up.

"You’ve really outdone yourself," Cen Xiao remarked, arching a brow as he ruffled Cen Wu’s hair with a mixture of irritation and affection. "Picking fights and ending up at the station—you can explain this to Dad yourself."

Late at night, amidst the cold, damp mist of the rain, Cen Wu’s fair skin showed a faint flush, his nose tip reddened by the chill. He reached out to tug at Cen Xiao’s sleeve, pleading, "Brother."

Cen Xiao: "..."

Cen Xiao’s resolve crumbled. "I won't say anything."

It wasn't a major issue, and there had been plenty of times over the years he had covered for Cen Wu. But tonight felt different. Cen Wu didn't rush over to hug him or hang on his neck; he simply curled his eyes into a soft, grateful expression.

Cen Wu was his own flesh and blood, and his love for him was no less than that of their parents. Since when did they need to be on such formal, grateful terms? He had never been able to bear the thought of his brother suffering the slightest grievance.

"Wu-wu," Cen Xiao called out, looking at him.

Cen Wu looked up, dazed. He held onto Xie Guilan, not letting him leave, and tentatively asked, "Brother, you... are you tired from driving all the way out here so late?"

"I'm not tired." What else could Cen Xiao say?

Cen Wu looked at him with wide, imploring eyes. "Then can... can you drop my classmate home first?"

Cen Xiao: "..."

He had thought too much; the little brat was still a little brat.

Xie Guilan was reluctant, but Cen Wu wouldn't let go of him. Xie Guilan frowned, disliking the physical tug-of-war, and finally leaned over to get into the car, saying to Cen Xiao, "Thank you, Mr. Cen."

Cen Xiao said nothing and walked around to the driver's seat.

The man with the tattooed arm was still spitting blood; a tooth had been knocked out by Xie Guilan. He was wailing and crying, and the police had to take him to the hospital. As they left, they happened to pass by the car.

The man’s eyes widened, his bruised lids stretched thin. He didn't recognize Cen Wu, but he knew Cen Xiao. Aside from his parents, there was only one person in the world whom Cen Xiao would personally pick up this late at night.

Cen Wu turned his head, his eyes like the cold mist of deep winter. The man felt his blood run cold. Cen Wu was threatening him, and he knew that from this night on, the incident would have to be buried in his stomach forever. He didn't know Xie Guilan, Xie Guilan had never hit him, and it would be best if he had never even encountered Cen Wu.

The station wasn't far from Huaijing No. 1 High School. Cen Wu had Cen Xiao stop at the back gate, which was only an eight-minute walk from where Xie Guilan rented his room. Cen Wu had never been there, but he remembered it clearly from the original novel.

After Xie Guilan left, he sent him a message.

[Cen Wu: Tell me when you get home.]

Xie Guilan ignored him.

Cen Wu sent a sticker of a cat with dark circles under its eyes.

[Cen Wu: If you don't tell me, I won't be able to sleep.]

Xie Guilan: "..."

A cold, mocking glint flashed in Xie Guilan’s eyes. To be so skilled at coaxing people at such a young age—he wondered how many others had been fooled by this act, and where he stood in that line. It was common knowledge in Huaijing that the second young master of the Cen family was promiscuous, with a "fish pond" so vast that no one, perhaps not even Cen Wu himself, knew its boundaries.

He thought Cen Wu was far too busy; how could he possibly worry about everyone? He was a liar, an expert actor. It was as if he believed that if he said he wanted to see Cen Wu, the boy would turn around and come to him without a second thought.

Cen Wu waited and waited, finally receiving a message from Xie Guilan ten minutes later. It was nothing but a cold, solitary period, but it was enough to put his mind at ease.

It was past one in the morning, and Cen Wu’s fever hadn't broken. He took some medicine after getting home and went back to sleep. He had wanted to go to school the next day, but Cen Xiao forced him to take a few more days off, and he didn't return until Friday.

As soon as Cen Wu arrived, he found Xie Guilan’s desk piled high with trash. The exam papers handed out the night before were torn to shreds, scattered around the seat and soaking in the dirty water on the floor.

A few students on duty complained in low voices, "Why am I so unlucky to be in the same class as him? There are so many key classes in the second year; why did he have to come to Class 3?"

"Exactly. He barely attends class anyway; he should just stop coming and save everyone the trouble."

Song Lingwei had just undergone surgery, and Xie Guilan had to go to the hospital to look after her, arriving at school right as the bell rang every day. The students on duty checked for cleanliness before morning study, and since Xie Guilan wasn't there, they would be penalized if they didn't clean up, yet they resented having to do it. No one knew his mother was ill; they all assumed it was the privilege of a top student who came and went as he pleased.

The bullying was built on the tacit approval of the original owner and Xie Shangjing. But this would be the last time.

Cen Wu, pale and snow-white from his recent illness, began wiping Xie Guilan’s desk. Afraid he wouldn't get it clean enough and not wanting to bother the students on duty, he took a bucket downstairs himself, filling and emptying it, running back and forth several times. By the last bucket of dirty water, he was exhausted and slumped over the desk to rest.

A few minutes later, someone poked his shoulder. Cen Wu looked up to see a female student with a beautiful, cinematic face.

"Second Young Master," the girl said, "I’ll go dump that trash for you. Should I dump this water now, too?"

"?" Cen Wu was stunned, only then realizing she must be on duty today. He waved his hands quickly, stammering, "No, that’s too much trouble. I... I can do it myself."

Cen Wu felt numb; the original owner had been so ostentatious that everyone in class, except Lu Wang, called him Second Young Master. Every time he heard it, he wanted to die of embarrassment.

The girl didn't mind. She had been in a different class during their first year, and after the classes were reorganized in the second year, the original owner had skipped school for several days, so she had only just seen him recently. She arrived early every morning, only to find Cen Wu wiping Xie Guilan’s desk before quietly falling asleep or doing homework.

In the summer morning light, the young man’s profile looked calm and beautiful. He didn't look arrogant or overbearing at all. Besides, she had long disliked the group that targeted Xie Guilan—what was the point of trampling on someone else’s dignity? But she never dared to speak up, fearing trouble she couldn't handle.

"It’s fine," the girl smiled slightly, lifting both buckets with ease. "I’ll help you."

The buckets used in the classroom were made of iron, heavy and large. Cen Wu always found it a struggle to carry even one.

Cen Wu: "..."

*Strength like a mountain, spirit like a conqueror.*

Was it really reasonable that he was the only weakling in the entire class, or perhaps the entire city of Huaijing?

Cen Wu chased after her, taking the heavier bucket from her hand, nervous. "I... I’ll go with you."

"My name is Xu Lingling," the girl told him.

Cen Wu: ???

Cen Wu hadn't really looked up much since transmigrating, so he didn't recognize his classmates, but seeing her face, he had a hunch. The original novel was a "cool" story for the male lead, and Xie Guilan was destined to remain alone. When Xu Lingling had first appeared in the book, he had mistaken her for the female lead, but Xie Guilan’s path was destined for solitude.

Xu Lingling came from a poor background but was stunningly beautiful. Years later, Xie Guilan would sign her to his company, rename her Yin Rong, and she would become the most famous movie queen of the next decade. When Xie Guilan eventually resorted to murder and dark deeds, Yin Rong, as his subordinate, would also have blood on her hands—ruthless and flamboyant.

In short, she was not someone to be trifled with.

Xu Lingling was heading toward the cafeteria, and Cen Wu had also gone to buy breakfast for Xie Guilan. By the time they reached the classroom, morning study was about to begin, but the classroom was in chaos, with many people crowding around the back door.

Cen Wu ran over to find Xie Guilan standing by the back door, his expression unreadable, though his eyes were frosted with cold.

Zhou Ye had his hands in his pockets and kicked Xie Guilan’s chair hard, sneering, "Top student, you took my watch and now you won't admit it? Isn't that a bit uncalled for?"