Evening self-study.
Just as everyone was bent over their English test papers, the lights suddenly went out.
A wave of excited cheering rose among the students.
“Hahaha, no more exams!”
“So nice!”
On the podium, the English teacher checked the group chat for senior teachers and found out it was a power outage.
The classroom buzzed with endless chatter.
The teacher turned on his phone flashlight, bringing a faint glow to the darkness, then tapped the desk with a ruler. “Quiet down! Even if there’s a power outage, you can’t slack off on the test.”
“Xiyan, use the class funds to go to the school store and buy enough candles and lighters,” the English teacher instructed. “You can ask a classmate to go with you.”
“Okay, teacher.” Chu Xiyan naturally called Cheng Fenghao, who sat beside her.
The students immediately let out pained groans.
Still having an exam during a blackout?
Cheng Ye stopped writing the moment the lights went out. He had just finished his English test before the outage.
Jiang Mian had nothing to do. She glanced left, right, forward, and back.
The dim lighting… was the perfect opportunity to take advantage.
“It’s pitch black, I’m so scared.” Jiang Mian reached out and hugged Cheng Ye beside her. Her soft body trembled as she leaned her face against his chest, rubbing against him repeatedly.
Cheng Ye lowered his gaze. “…Scared?”
Jiang Mian’s soft voice trembled. “Yes, I’m afraid of the dark. Cheng Ye, aren’t you scared?”
Cheng Ye replied, “…Mm.”
Jiang Mian’s small hand quietly moved to his abdomen.
Through the thin T-shirt, she could feel his firm abdominal muscles.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted lower, curiosity creeping in—how many abs did Cheng Ye have?
She wanted to lift his shirt and count properly, but that would be too inappropriate.
Her thoughts began to wander.
Cheng Ye sighed softly. A little rogue, without a doubt.
Jiang Mian suddenly lifted her face, wanting to see his sharp jawline and the attractive line of his Adam’s apple.
Even without the lights, a faint moonlight filtered in through the window. With how close they were, she could vaguely make out his Adam’s apple.
Cheng Ye didn’t push her away. Feeling her gaze lingering on him, he instinctively lowered his head.
Their eyes met.
In the air, it felt as if sparks of something tender and ambiguous flickered between them.
Her eyes were clear and pure, undeniably bright and beautiful.
Cheng Ye replied, “I don’t mind.”
Jiang Mian blinked slyly. “But if you’re like this, I’ll get even more daring.”
“How do you plan to get daring?” Cheng Ye asked in return, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
The topic suddenly turned a little ambiguous. Jiang Mian looked into his eyes, then instinctively averted her gaze.
Sometimes, shyness came in an instant.
She hadn’t thought herself timid, yet facing Cheng Ye, it felt like her heart had been lightly brushed by a kitten’s paw. His question left her feeling flustered all over.
Jiang Mian quickly sat up straight.
Cheng Ye’s eyes carried a hint of amusement as he teased, “Not scared of the dark anymore?”
“N-not that scared anymore.” Jiang Mian took out her book, opened it, and propped it up on the desk, completely blocking the side of her face.
At the same time, she blocked Cheng Ye’s unusual gaze.
Cheng Ye withdrew his eyes. The stirrings of youth quietly began to take root.
Soon, Chu Xiyan and Cheng Fenghao returned with candles and lighters.
Each student got one.
As Cheng Fenghao passed by Cheng Ye, he deliberately reminded him with a fake tone, “Cheng Ye, your time at Yahua High School is running out.”
Cheng Ye’s tone was lazy. “You encouraged Mr. Cheng to expel me, didn’t you?”
Cheng Fenghao’s mind froze for a moment. He hadn’t expected Cheng Ye to figure it out so quickly.
But so what if he knew?
Father Cheng was already pressuring the principal and the homeroom teacher to force Cheng Ye to withdraw immediately.
Starting tomorrow, there would be no more Cheng Ye at Yahua High School!
Meanwhile, in the principal’s office.
“What?! The Jiang family donated two buildings to Yahua High School and demanded that there be no scandals within the next year? Especially something like expelling students?!” Father Cheng’s expression cycled through every shade of anger.
Why did he have the strange feeling that the Jiang family’s actions were so targeted?!
Principal Wang Xuandan was also surprised. He had just received the news. He had already thought Cheng Ye would be forced to withdraw.
Yet there was an unexpected twist.
Though inwardly relieved, Wang Xuandan put on a troubled expression. “CEO Cheng, perhaps the Jiang family believes that expelling a student without proper cause would damage Yahua High School’s reputation. Since they donated two buildings, they naturally wouldn’t want the school involved in any scandals.”
Homeroom teacher Su Jiao quickly chimed in, “Yes, we also don’t understand why the Jiang family suddenly made such a donation. Cheng Ye is your biological son. If you force him to withdraw, with the Jiang family’s powerful intelligence network, it’s impossible they wouldn’t know.” This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
Father Cheng fell into a long silence.
Any movement from the Cheng family was firmly grasped by the Jiang family’s intelligence network.
Otherwise, the Jiang family wouldn’t be a top elite family in the capital city.
But what he couldn’t understand was—why would the Jiang family, which even handled large domestic orders through agents, suddenly pay attention to Yahua High School?!
Could it be that they were planning to enter the education sector, and donating two buildings was just a way to build a good reputation in advance?
Father Cheng frowned. At present, that was the only reasonable explanation.
If he insisted on expelling Cheng Ye, it would be equivalent to offending the Jiang family.
Father Cheng rubbed his forehead irritably. “If he can’t be expelled, then at least transfer him to another class! His grades are so poor—move him to an ordinary class!”
“So he won’t keep bullying my Fenghao and affecting his studies!”
Principal Wang Xuandan and Su Jiao exchanged glances.
CEO Cheng was clearly determined to punish Cheng Ye!
But Cheng Ye hadn’t done anything wrong.
What kind of father was this?!
Though angry, they dared not speak. Just as they were about to reluctantly follow Father Cheng’s demand to transfer Cheng Ye to a regular class—
The office phone rang.
Seeing the familiar number, Wang Xuandan hurriedly picked up.
Afraid Father Cheng wouldn’t believe him, he deliberately turned on the speaker.
“Hello, Young Master Jiang. What can I do for you?” Wang Xuandan spoke respectfully.
“There’s one thing I forgot to mention. Before the school makes any decision, no matter how small, it must seek my approval. Do you have any objections?”
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Wang Xuandan’s forehead. “No objections. Of course not.”
How could he dare to object?!
“After one year, you can do as you wish.” The man’s voice left no room for refusal.
Wang Xuandan quickly agreed, “Yes, yes, I understand.”
After hearing the call, Father Cheng stood frozen, his eyes filled with shock.
Young Master Jiang?!
He had once traveled abroad and, by chance, caught a distant glimpse of Young Master Jiang at an international exhibition.
Young Master Jiang was exceptionally talented—at just 21, he had already become a powerful CEO.
Even as the head of the Cheng family, he had never had the chance to meet or collaborate with him.
Moreover, the Jiang family guarded their information tightly. He didn’t even know Young Master Jiang’s full name.
After hanging up, Wang Xuandan looked at the stunned Father Cheng. “CEO Cheng, transferring Cheng Ye to a regular class would require seeking approval from Young Master Jiang. Are you sure you still want to proceed?”