Gao Mengchao froze, then asked with an increasing sense of uneasiness, “Why are you laughing?”
“Because I was almost misled by you. Yes, according to you, I do need your help to stand a chance against the sports majors, against Zhou Minghu. However, it was you who came to me this time and not the other way round. You think you know me, but you don’t; I’m not the type of person you can easily see through. Smoke that cig all you want. Actually, you can smoke the whole box, and I’d still give you the same answer.”
Lin Huai continued word by word, “We can work together, but whatever business I have with Liu Meiqi is none of yours!”
Lin Huai’s answer was full of arrogance. Gao Mengchao was on the verge of losing her temper, but immediately realised that she had nothing that could threaten Lin Huai. It was as if Lin Huai had already called her bluff.
Gao Mengchao put up an air of stubbornness and retorted, “Aren’t you worried I wouldn’t team up with you?”
Lin Huai laughed as he answered, “The only reason you came to me is because you saw this as an opportunity, didn’t you? You wanted to mess up the sports majors too, no? Or more accurately, you wanted to help me keep the sports majors in check, because you don’t want them to gain a monopoly!”
“More or less.” Gao Mengchao sighed; it seemed that Lin Huai did see through all her plans, so she stuck out a hand and said, “So I guess this makes us allies?”
Lin Huai smiled and shook her hand. “Allies, it is!”
Liu Meiqi seemed happy on the sidelines as well. After all, Lin Huai would no longer be her enemy but her partner, and she’d actually dread the day she’d have to go against Lin Huai.
Lin Huai and Gao Mengchao let go of their hands, and Gao Mengchao asked, “So have you thought of a plan?”
Lin Huai shook his head. “We’ll cross the bridge when we get to it.”
“How confident of you… But don’t underestimate them. Even those off campus have started targeting Zhou Minghu, ready to recruit him into their mid-level management any day now.
He’s enough of a cruel bastard that you can’t compare him with normal students anymore. He may be holding it in now but when he does strike, he’ll be absolutely merciless.”
“Relax,” Lin Huai said calmly.
Gao Mengchao looked at Lin Huai with mixed feelings when she commented, “I really don’t get you sometimes. I’m already in my fourth year at Yulan College, and I’ve seen plenty of people here, plenty of the ruthless type. Before we established ourselves as the Three Overlords, we had to get rid of our competition one by one. Some were expelled, some were transferred, some were even handicapped, but I’ve never seen anyone like you. Sometimes, I even wonder if you’re a student at all.”
“You’re way too sharp,” Lin Huai said with feigned surprise. “I’m actually a star in the entertainment industry, here to shoot a slice-of-life documentary.”
“Top dog of the campus, and you’re still this immature?” Gao Mengchao was lost for words, so she immediately asked him to leave. “Then I have nothing more to say to you. You should go back to your class too. If anything happens on my side, I’ll let you know the first chance I get. Normally, your business is none of mine but if you need to take any drastic actions, I’m down to cooperate anytime.”
“Sure, that works for me too.” Lin Huai smiled and held out his hand as he asked, “Why don’t we shake hands one more time?”
Liu Meiqi smacked Lin Huai’s hand aside, jealous. “You didn’t even shake my hand before.”
Lin Huai laughed aloud. “Then I’d better get going. Sigh. I wish I’d majored in music, look at all the beauties in your major…”
Lin Huai swaggered away after he left that comment. Liu Meiqi looked toward Gao Mengchao and explained, “He’s always like that, all smiles and cheekiness.”
Gao Mengchao shook her head and the look in her eyes darkened as she said, “He is no ordinary person. Just wait and see, he’s going to stir up something big on campus.”
“Hmm… Boss, why did you agree to work with him? Is it because of me?” Liu Meiqi asked.
“Because I’m graduating this year,” Gao Mengchao replied. “And before that, I want to achieve something great, something big. I suspect Zhou Minghu is thinking of the same thing, so we’ll both be planning something major this year.”
A gleam of determination flashed across Gao Mengchao’s cold eyes as she continued, “After that, he and I won’t just be battling it out on campus. It’ll be in a crueler, harsher and much wider world.”
A terrifying aura emanated from Gao Mengchao’s body, her eyes now filled with unbridled ambition.
Meanwhile, Lin Huai was humming a tune as he exited the music major’s building. On the way, he’d seen plenty of women eyeing him curiously when he passed, some were even throwing him flirty looks. Oh, how it lifted his spirits; it was truly a blessing that he was born good-looking.
After he walked out, Lin Huai glanced toward the rooftop. It was too high for him to see anything, but he could sense the woman’s terrifying ambition from all the way down here; there was no way she’d go down easy. If Zhou Minghu was like a tiger, then she was a leopard at the very least; there was no telling if or when she’d turn on him!
But for now, cooperation came first, the rest could come later.
Lin Huai had just stepped out of the music major’s building when Zhang Hongdi appeared and walked straight toward him with a smile. “Brother, I’ve been looking for you.”
As he said that, Zhang Hongdi looked up at the block Lin Huai just exited, as if to ponder the significance of him visiting that building.
That was when the realisation hit Lin Huai; of all the places that would have attracted less attention, why the building for the music major? Wouldn’t the sports majors misinterpret this as Lin Huai seeking aid from the music majors, or cooperation for something at the very least? Wouldn’t that only make them more wary of him?
Liu Meiqi might not have thought about this, but Gao Mengchao definitely would have considered it at some point. From the start, Lin Huai had pegged Gao Mengchao as a lady boss that knew more than just covering for her own subordinates; she was a ruthless, ambitious and calculating woman.
Damn it, this woman didn’t just ask to collaborate with him, he had actually fallen into her tricks to let him get on bad terms with those in the sports major more quickly.
Lin Huai put on a nonchalant smile, pretending that nothing had happened as he asked, “Brother, is there something you want?”
“Oh, nothing much.” Zhang Hongdi smiled back. “I sincerely apologize for what happened today. I didn’t expect things to escalate so much between you and Li Guangzhi, that uncouth guy. I’ve notified Mr. Hu of the matter, and he expresses his deepest regrets.”
Lin Huai smiled again. “It’s alright, that’s all water under the bridge now.”
“Of course, of course. Brother, you’re such a forgiving person, and you definitely see the big picture. I’ll tell you what, have you heard of Chen Gang of Yulan’s Four Tigers?”
Intrigued, a corner of Lin Huai’s mouth raised as he answered, “That he’s a connoisseur of womanly pleasures? Yes.”
“Hahaha. Yes, that’s one way to put it. But it’s no joke the way that he knows how to enjoy women, though. He help recruited so many people from outside the college, so he’s well-connected out there. In the last few days, he had even brought in some virgins, so to speak. Would you like to have a go, brother?”
Lin Huai felt tempted, but he merely smiled and said, “Um, better not. You know things are heating up between me and Mianmian, and if she knows I’m doing stuff like this behind her back…”
“Hahahaha, it’s in a man’s nature after all. As long as neither of us say anything, no one has to know… It’s settled, then. Chen Gang will come over for you tonight.”
Lin Huai smiled and replied, “Not tonight, I have practice. How about this? I’ll wait for Chen Gang at the campus gates on Saturday night.”
“That will do. 5pm on Saturday afternoon, we’ll be there.” Zhang Hongdi patted Lin Huai’s shoulder and came closer with a sinister smile on his face as he teased, “Have a good time when the time comes.”
“Of course, I’d never be that modest around Chen Gang…”
The two shared a knowing smile before Zhang Hongdi immediately said his goodbyes and left.
As he watched Zhang Hongdi’s retreating back, Lin Huai’s gaze revealed a hint of disdain. Do you all take me for a fool? Do I look like the type of rash guy to forget myself over a woman? I bet you’re only looking for me now because you’re planning something sinister.
Lin Huai suddenly remembered the photo he saw at the rooftop, the one where a former member of Yulan’s Four Tigers had been poisoned. The murderer had been a woman recruited by this Chen Gang. It seemed that he’d have to really watch his back this time. Who knew whether they were after his life?
Lin Huai sighed. It was almost time for class anyway, so he returned to his classroom.
After school, he and Wei Qimian went to the cafeteria before following several other students to the gym for practice. The teacher, Miss Pu Yingxue was already waiting there, dressed in a white gym outfit that made her look youthful. Although she was in her twenties, the outfit gave her an impression of a gentle young girl, unwittingly stealing the hearts of her male students.
When Pu Yingxue noticed Lin Huai and Wei Qimian, she smiled widely. “You two are early. The others aren’t even here yet. Don’t tell me you two are really dating?”
“Who said so?” Wei Qimian blushed slightly. She was used to being teased by the girls in her dorm, but Pu Yingxue was different because she was a teacher. The words still made Wei Qimian feel shy when they came out of the teacher’s lips.
Lin Huai, however, said with a straight face, “Do we look good together?”
Surprisingly, Pu Yingxue nodded seriously. “Yes.”
For some unknown reason, Pu Yingxue felt a bitter feeling inside when she spoke. But then as she gave it a deeper thought, why would she be jealous? Lin Huai was a student, and one who was already taken, so she shouldn’t be having such thoughts. She then hastily removed those thoughts from her mind.
Lin Huai smiled as he complimented, “You look good today, Miss Pu.”
“Really?” Pu Yingxue’s heart skipped a beat, just when she’d managed to calm herself down.
At that moment, Lin Huai felt a little pinch on his hand. When he looked down, he realised it was Wei Qimian who’d pinched him. He couldn’t help but smile; the silly girl, she was getting jealous…