Chapter 58

Chapters 50-51: The Frog and the Prince

Xiaoming, Wen Liang, and the others easily found Ji Su under the podium on the playground. Mu Shanshan stood to the side with a few people, some with their arms crossed, some with their hands in their pockets, and some leaning against the wall, kicking pebbles intermittently, all wearing grins as if they were watching a show. Gu Wenyuan wore a finely crafted black coat, a well-fitted pair of dress pants, and shiny leather shoes. Although no one knew the brand, his simple attire exuded a completely different kind of sunshine and handsomeness compared to the other students.

When Wen Liang approached Ji Su from behind, he just happened to hear Gu Wenyuan say, "Ji Su, you belong to me, and no one can change that!"

After a few days of trials, Ji Su had become much stronger than she was on the rooftop. She was naturally broad-minded and magnanimous. If not for the sudden and intense shock that had thrown her into a state of panic, she wouldn't have been so flustered. Now that she had a clear understanding of Gu Wenyuan, she wasn't particularly affected by his words. She replied coldly, "Gu Wenyuan, I already told you. From now on, don't come near me. I am who I am, Ji Su. I never belonged to anyone, and I never will!"

Applause broke out, and Wen Liang walked calmly to Ji Su's front, smiling. "Well said. Some people don't study history well and think the world is still a slave society. They want to be masters, saying things like 'you're mine, I'm yours.' Do you know that buying and selling people is illegal?"

Ji Su, seeing Wen Liang appear, took a quick step toward him, her face showing surprise and joy. "Why are you here?" Does he always appear whenever I'm in trouble? A strange feeling suddenly welled up in her heart, as if a ball of honey had been molded into the shape of a heart, and when water was poured in, two figures would appear, sweet and sour, making her whole chest feel soft and tender.

Xu Yao grabbed Ji Su's hand and mocked, "If you don't study history or law, aren't you just an illiterate and a legal ignoramus? It's not a big deal to be a bit slow, but if you don't focus on your studies, even with a billion-dollar fortune, you'll still end up begging in Feces Mouth Alley." That's why partners are so important. Wen Liang and Xu Yao working together can drive anyone to the brink!

Ji Su laughed. She remembered the first day of school when Wen Liang had tricked Meng Ke, saying he was already famous in Feces Mouth Alley at the age of seven. From her initial disdain to their current close relationship, looking back, it felt like a dream.

It seems that to truly understand someone, you have to stand by their side to see them clearly.

Mu Shanshan and the others were surprised to see Liu Zhihe following Wen Liang, clearly not expecting them to be together. Gu Wenyuan, knowing Wen Liang and Xu Yao's sharp tongues, snorted but didn't speak. Mu Shanshan and his group surrounded them, and before he could say anything, Hou Qiang jumped out, pointing at Wen Liang and shouting, "Why is it you again, Wen Liang? Are you tired of living? Watch out, I'll have someone beat you to death!"

Wen Liang, with his good memory, recognized the guy he had punched alone. He deliberately taunted him, turning to Liu Zhihe and asking, "Who's this black guy? He sounds so tough, like a prince from Ethiopia?"

Liu Zhihe shook his fat head and smiled. "This is Hou Qiang. His dad is the district chief of Huashan District, and he loves to harm girls. He's a complete scumbag!"

Hou Qiang immediately flew into a rage, rushing forward and grabbing Liu Zhihe's collar. "Fatty Liu, say that again! Who did you call a scumbag?"

Liu Zhihe remained calm, still smiling. "You!"

Hou Qiang was furious and was about to strike, but Bai Huan called out, "Black Monkey, wait!"

Hou Qiang turned, his dark face full of anger. "Old Bai, don't stop me. Whoever stops me, I'll go after them!"

Bai Huan walked up and had to use some force to pull Hou Qiang's hand away, dragging him a few steps away and whispering, "Are you crazy? Liu Tianlai is known for protecting his own, and they call him a mad dog. Why provoke his son? Didn't Uncle Hou warn you to stay out of trouble recently?" He and Hou Qiang were good friends, so he stepped in to prevent him from acting impulsively. After all, this was a conflict between Gu Wenyuan and Wen Liang, and they didn't need to be the ones to fight to the death.

Hou Qiang then remembered his father's warning a few days ago. These rich kids weren't really stupid; they knew there were changes happening in the city. Combining this with what Mu Shanshan had said, his father was likely about to take a step up. If he got into trouble now, it could give his competitors a handle, causing unnecessary trouble.

Liu Zhihe straightened his collar and continued as if nothing had happened. "This is Bai Huan. His dad is the vice mayor, Bai Changqian. Don't let his good looks fool you; he's just as bad as Hou Qiang. Together, they've ruined countless girls, and their reputation at Minghua Junior High is already terrible..."

Bai Huan and Hou Qiang turned their heads at the same time. Bai Huan, with his soft and gentle appearance, had a temper that wasn't much better than Mu Shanshan's. He picked up a brick from the ground and walked over, sneering. "Say that again?"

Liu Zhihe didn't hesitate and repeated it immediately. When Bai Huan asked again, Ji Su was so nervous that she glanced at Wen Liang anxiously. But Wen Liang stood calmly, not saying a word.

Liu Zhihe patted his forehead and shouted, "Hit me! Hit me here! If you don't, I'm your grandson!"

At this point, Wen Liang and Mu Shanshan stepped forward to pull the two apart. Wen Liang didn't want to make things too messy and affect their real business. Mu Shanshan and the others, having been taught a few lessons by Wen Liang, no longer had the intention of picking a fight with him at school. They took turns, saying a few harsh words, but that was it. After all, the grudge was already deep, and there was plenty of time to settle it later.

Liu Zhihe wiped the sweat from his forehead and complained in a low voice, "Damn, I thought you were going to fight just now. I even mimicked your tone, taking a big risk."

Wen Liang chuckled. "Didn't I say we'd focus on reason?"

"Reason? Talking like that is reason? If I were you, I'd have hit you with a brick long ago!"

Gu Wenyuan cleared his throat a few times, drawing everyone's attention. He pointed at Ji Su with a self-satisfied look. "Wen Liang, do you know what's happening with her family? Do you know how big this is? I'm helping her for her own good. You just want to show off, but you're actually hurting her, don't you know that?"

Hearing this, Wen Liang understood why Gu Wenyuan had come to Ji Su. It seemed that last night's events hadn't reached Mu Zechen's ears, or Mu Zechen hadn't told Gu Wenyuan. This guy still thought Ji Zheng had agreed to his conditions and wanted to show off to Ji Su, or perhaps humiliate her.

Since the rooftop incident, Gu Wenyuan's feelings for Ji Su had changed from pure possessiveness to a desire to crush her dignity and pride, step by step, until she was on her knees, begging and crying.

Wen Liang sneered coldly. "Mr. Gu, her affairs don't need your concern. Since I've taken it on, I'll see it through to the end!"

Xu Yao puffed out her chest and declared, "That's right!"

Gu Wenyuan laughed coldly. "See it through? With you? Wen Liang, a frog sitting at the mouth of a well, thinking it sees the whole world, but the poor thing will realize how big the world really is when it jumps out. A prince is always a prince, and a frog is always a frog. With your limited knowledge, do you know there are things in this world that people of your level will never encounter?"

Wen Liang took a few steps forward, and Mu Shanshan and the others nervously blocked him in front of Gu Wenyuan. Through layers of hostile gazes, Wen Liang felt closer to Gu Wenyuan than ever before, close enough to hear his breathing.

"Gu Wenyuan, it won't be long before you realize how big a joke you are today! Do you know how a frog becomes a prince in a story? It's simple: with a princess's kiss. Reality will show that a frog can become a prince, and a prince can become a frog. Nothing in this world is impossible."

Wen Liang thought of many things from his past and present life, with regrets, tears, unwillingness, and helplessness. Since he had come this far, no matter how many difficulties lay ahead, he would move forward, making the tragedy of his past life disappear and making his present life brilliant. One day, he would step on these people one by one, strip away their disguises, and listen to their cries.

He smiled, but his eyes were cold, and he quietly walked back to Ji Su's side, tilting his head slightly.

Gu Wenyuan and the others were stunned by his actions, staring at Ji Su in disbelief, afraid to miss anything. Ji Su clearly understood Wen Liang's intention, her face flushed, her long lashes fluttering, and her slender fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her heart pounding as if it might jump out.

It seemed like a long time, or perhaps just a moment, before Ji Su tiptoed, tilted her head back, and lightly kissed Wen Liang's cheek!

Boom!

The world seemed to collapse at that moment. The prince of her dreams transformed into countless forms in the intersection of past and future, finally coalescing into the side of Wen Liang's face, a constellation of stars.

What is the silence of death?

When everyone held their breath, their minds blank, and only their hearts thumped, the feeling of the air thickening made it hard to breathe. Ji Su lowered her head, standing obediently by Wen Liang's side, her soft hair swaying gently in the breeze, her usually porcelain-like skin now blushing deeply.

Xu Yao's lips parted slightly, her clear eyes fixed on Wen Liang's kissed cheek, as if countless voices from an unknown place were thundering in her ears: She kissed him, she kissed him!

A faint, bitter feeling suddenly welled up in her chest, making her body and mind weary, and she felt a lack of energy. Xu Yao had always considered Wen Liang a very good friend, willing to listen to his voice, see his smile, trust him, support him, and be happy with him. She thought it was just a deep friendship, but in this age of chasing the wind and rain, playing in the grass and smelling the flowers, the line between friendship and love was never so clear. But instinctively, she felt that after this kiss, something important to her was quietly slipping away.

To put it simply, this was jealousy!

Liu Zhihe wasn't a good person. After the initial shock, his first reaction wasn't to curse Wen Liang's good luck but to check Gu Wenyuan's expression. Mr. Gu stood in the crowd, his hands trembling uncontrollably, his eyes burning with rage, his handsome face as stiff as if covered in cement, radiating a bone-chilling cold.

A woman he had pursued for three years, who he couldn't get, had just kissed a guy who wasn't even worthy to clean his shoes? Gu Wenyuan suddenly laughed, pushing through the crowd to stand in front of Wen Liang. "Very well, I was a bit hesitant, but not anymore! Wen Liang, I promise you, in less than ten days, she," he pointed at Ji Su, "will kneel in front of me, crying and begging for my forgiveness. Her body, her soul, everything will belong to me. On that day, I won't mind letting you watch as she writhes and cries beneath me. I promise!"

His elegant tone, his calm expression, a handsome and refined boy, with the most charming smile, said these vicious words in front of everyone. Even the tough Xu Yao was scared back a step, and Ji Su's delicate face, pale as paper, still spoke with a clear and firm voice, "You're dreaming!"

Wen Liang didn't speak, just raised his thumb, slowly rotated it, and brought it down, stopping just an inch or two from Gu Wenyuan's nose. His eyes were determined, his demeanor calm, as if he didn't take Gu Wenyuan's threat seriously, expressing his contempt to the fullest.

Gu Wenyuan turned and walked away, and Mu Shanshan pointed at Wen Liang and laughed. "Kid, you're dead!" He led the group away. No one noticed that Bai Huan, before leaving, gave Liu Zhihe a glance filled with malice.

After they left, Liu Zhihe patted his chest and exhaled deeply, his chubby face showing his usual carefree nature. "Exciting, exciting! Old Wen, I really admire you. There are others at Qingyi High who dare to challenge Gu Wenyuan, but few do it as fiercely as you!"

Wen Liang patted Ji Su's shoulder to calm her down, then said softly, "Just now, I..."

Ji Su shook her head quickly. "I know, you don't need to explain."

What else could Wen Liang say? He pretended not to notice Xu Yao's pouting face and smiled. "Old Liu, I told you we'd focus on reason, but you were still so harsh. Be careful, Bai Huan and Hou Qiang might come after you..."

"Them? They're just bullies who pick on girls. I can take them on, fair or foul!" Liu Zhihe leaned in and whispered, "Don't pretend to care about me. Using me as a shield won't solve the problem. Think of a way to handle it. I'm leaving first, ha ha."

Watching Liu Zhihe's back disappear, Wen Liang shook his head with a bitter smile. This fat guy was sharp, with nine hearts, but today's favor was quite big. He wondered what Liu Tianlai had said to his son to make him so eager to help.

Xu Yao grabbed Ji Su's hand and shook it, comforting her. "Don't worry, it's fine. Gu Wenyuan is all talk. I'll have a friend complain to his dad, and he'll calm down."

This friend was naturally Ning Xiaoning. Wen Liang then remembered he hadn't seen Xiaoning in days and asked, "What's Coach Ning up to? It's been so long since she's shown up."

Xu Yao glanced at him and huffed, pulling Ji Su away. Ji Su, pulled along, quickly turned back and gave Wen Liang an apologetic smile. The foundation of the harem hadn't even been laid, and it was already collapsing. He sighed and followed the two.

The afternoon passed in a daze, thinking about how to plan for the Qinghua Factory, how Zuo Jing and Xu Fuyan would work together, and remembering Xu Yao's light scolding and Ji Su's blushing face. In the last chemistry class, he was even called to answer a question by Si Yajing, and he couldn't even write a basic ionic reaction equation correctly. If not for his thick skin, he would have been ashamed to death.

After school, just as he was about to rush out, Si Yajing stopped him at the podium. The beautiful young woman exuded an irresistible charm. Wen Liang stood beside her, head bowed, eyes downcast, looking like a well-behaved child.

"Wen Liang, are you troubled by something? Or is there something going on at home?"

Wen Liang quickly shook his head.

"Then why do you seem distracted in class? I checked your entrance exam scores today. They're not great, but high school is a new beginning. With effort, your grades can improve significantly."

In his past life, Wen Liang was introverted and timid, not well-liked by teachers. Only in his second year of high school did Si Yajing try her best to help him for half a year, trying to pull him out of his isolated world. Although she eventually gave up, Wen Liang, having lived two lives, would always remember Si Yajing's kind and gentle smile in that dark season.

"Yes, my science foundation is weak, and I find it hard to follow the lessons, so I get distracted. I'll try to focus more in the future."

Si Yajing nodded. She had a good impression of Wen Liang. Her bright eyes swept over him, her skin like a pearl immersed in water, radiating a dazzling light, and her gaze made people shiver involuntarily. Her inviting red lips curved slightly. "How about this: if you have time this weekend, come to my place, and I'll give you some extra lessons..."

Seeing Wen Liang's hesitant look, she pretended to be angry. "It's free, and you're still not happy?"

Wen Liang raised his hands in surrender. "No, no! Teacher Si, you're so kind and fair, always striving for the best, like water, water..."

Si Yajing leaned against the podium, listening to his rambling, her eyes smiling. Her slender waist pressed against the edge of the desk, her long legs slightly crossed, making her figure even more graceful. Wen Liang, captivated by her beauty, the perverted uncle in him emerged, and he whispered, "Water-like skin, willow-like waist, red lips, and black eyebrows. Teacher Si, your skin is so good. What cosmetics do you use? My mom always complains about her skin. Can you recommend something to her?"

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