Chapter 172: The First Workday of the New Year

"Yang Fan, move a bit to the left!"

This was the graduation ceremony for the Department of Business Administration at Tianning University. Having put on their academic gowns and finished the graduation portraits, more than half of their four years in college were effectively brought to a close.

"Yang Fan, why aren't you moving yet? Every second wasted is a second gone! Hurry up, once the group photo is taken, everyone can go find whoever they want to take pictures with!"

The voice rang out from the front again. Only then did Yang Fan lazily shuffle a bit to the left, while everyone's gazes instantly converged upon him.

Yang Fan remained nonchalant. After all, it wasn't a once- or twice-occurring event for him to become the center of attention over the past four years. Thinking back on those four years, he had confessed his love ninety-nine times and been rejected ninety-nine times.

Yang Fan had already earned the reputation of being the pioneer of Tianning University's endless road of confessions. Until just a moment ago, he was still pondering how, while everyone else was busy breaking up during graduation season, he should confess his love—or rather, confess it yet again!

Subconsciously, his eyes drifted toward Bai Tiantian standing in the very front row. She was the sole object of his confessions throughout his four years in university.

She was the campus belle, known for her icy exterior. Precisely because of this trait, Yang Fan had outlasted all other competitors with the perseverance of a marathon runner. As the saying goes, the last man standing wins. Although he still hadn't succeeded in his confessions, the fact that he had outlasted everyone else made him see hope.

What was more, Bai Tiantian herself had once stated that whoever could persistently confess to her one hundred times would win her acceptance. Yang Fan had remembered those words from beginning to end; if he made his confession today, it would be neither more nor less than exactly the one hundredth time.

A sudden wave of anticipation welled up in Yang Fan's heart. He raised his head proudly just as the crisp click of the camera shutter, accompanied by the dazzling flash of the light, instantly froze Yang Fan's joyous expression in time.

"Alright, alright, everyone is dismissed."

Perhaps due to the exuberance of youth, it was hard to conceal the delight on everyone's faces. After standing frozen in place for a few seconds, Yang Fan immediately made a decision.

He was going to confess right now. There was an audience, and there was lighting—even if the lighting was just courtesy of the camera's free flash.

Still, this was different. Confessing on the occasion of graduation made it a commemorative moment.

Having made up his mind, he took a resolute step forward.

"Yang Fan, where are you going? Are we taking our dorm's graduation photos or not?"

"To confess," Yang Fan replied, waving backward over his shoulder. Since you guys keep rubbing your relationships in my face every single day, this time I'm definitely going to bring Bai Tiantian back and thoroughly rub it in yours.

"Are you seriously going to confess..."

Yang Fan paid no mind to their astonished expressions. It seemed his roommates were bound to be shocked every single time he went to confess—well, truth be told, they had been driven to utter admiration by his sheer perseverance.

Bai Tiantian was likewise standing alone in her spot. Just as she was about to move away, Yang Fan stepped directly into her path.

"Bai Tiantian, I have something to say to you."

Bai Tiantian startled slightly. Yang Fan immediately assumed his confession posture, and seeing the situation unfold here, everyone around began to crowd closer, for this scene was so familiar they could practically recite it from memory.

"Yang Fan, you need to come up with some new lines for a confession. How come it's always this same phrase?"

"Yeah, even if you're remaking a TV show, you need some innovative plotting!"

...

Roars of laughter erupted from the crowd. Yang Fan glared fiercely at the group. On such a solemn occasion, couldn't they take things seriously for once?

Besides, it didn't matter if the trick was old as long as it worked. Didn't they see the trace of happiness blooming on Bai Tiantian's face? This was clearly the rhythm of acceptance!

"Go ahead, I'm listening," Bai Tiantian said with a pleased smile, equally ignoring the jeering crowd.

"I like you. Would you be my girlfriend?" Yang Fan asked, looking straight into Bai Tiantian's eyes with utmost sincerity.

"Do you really think a bumpkin from some tiny city is worthy of her?"

An unfriendly, cold snort drifted from the crowd. Yang Fan didn't even turn his head; he knew whose sarcastic sneer it was. Who else could it be besides that wealthy second-generation heir, Liu Haoyu?

Ever since Liu Haoyu had been ruthlessly edged out by Yang Fan, he would always pop up to stir up trouble whenever serious occasions like this arose.

They had long grown used to such spectacles, and Yang Fan couldn't be bothered to entertain him, while Bai Tiantian didn't even spare a glance toward the crowd.

"Do you really like me?"

"Of course! I've liked you since my freshman year, and I still like you to this day." Yang Fan's heart had reached the pinnacle of excitement, because Bai Tiantian's tone of voice was different this time, and change was the precursor to positive development.

"Then would you be willing to marry me? If you're willing, we can get married."

Everyone was dumbfounded, and Yang Fan was even more stunned. *What on earth is going on here?* Although he ultimately aimed for marriage, this was moving way too fast!

"I'm naturally..."

"Bro, don't get too excited just yet. Watch out for ending up raising another man's child!"

This was a female voice that suddenly echoed inside Yang Fan's consciousness. Yang Fan knew it was the necklace around his neck glowing.

This was his big secret, because residing within that necklace was a super-powered little sister named Ai Xiaomei.

"Ai Xiaomei, stop talking," Yang Fan replied directly in his mind. *Can we not have a good time here? The goddess is just about to be won over, and we're only three words—'I do'—away!*

"I'm just making an observation. If you want to raise someone else's kid, by all means, go right ahead!"

"Then what did you mean by raising someone else's kid?"

"Didn't you just tell me not to talk? I don't feel like talking anymore." Ai Xiaomei's voice chimed in once more.

He could communicate directly with Ai Xiaomei via telepathy, which was far more advanced than making a phone call. Ever since that day he had left the necklace out on the balcony to absorb the lunar spiritual energy, the super-powered little sister Ai Xiaomei had abruptly crashed into his life.

She couldn't be discarded, she couldn't be transferred, and she demanded to be fed and entertained. Yang Fan had been driven to the brink of insanity over the past few days, and what made it even more fatal was that the money in his pockets wasn't even enough to sustain him and Ai Xiaomei through the coming week.

"My good ancestor, raising someone else's child is no laughing matter. You aren't tricking me, are you?"

"Who's tricking you? Do you take me for someone like you, who lied to me that instant noodles were the most delicious food in the world?"

"Then prove to me you aren't lying!"

"Memory Pupils—I can reluctantly rent them to you for five minutes. I guarantee that once you use them, you'll discover something even more interesting," Ai Xiaomei said.

"Does it cost money?" Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat. Was she trying to lead him into another trap?

"Duh, of course it costs money! One thousand yuan for five minutes, or fifty points will do."

"Then I'll sign an IOU."

"An IOU costs two thousand."

"Ai Xiaomei, why don't you just go rob a bank!" Yang Fan said, nearly tearing his hair out. This was blatant price-gouging on the spot!

"Take it or leave it, don't bother if you don't want to. Anyway, don't blame me when you end up raising someone else's kid later." There was an attitude of total indifference in Ai Xiaomei's tone, and it was precisely this carefree attitude after scaring him half to death that drove him to the verge of a breakdown.

"Fine, I'll rent them. Two thousand it is."

"That's more like it, bro. Ten times compensation for any fake goods!" Ai Xiaomei cheered instantly at having successfully scammed Yang Fan once more.

"You really are my dear sister!" Yang Fan muttered resentfully. In an instant, his eyes began to perceive a completely different world...