Cheng Ye caught the scrutiny and suspicion in Father Cheng’s eyes and let out a cold laugh, “What, you think I’ve been stealing?”
Caught off guard, Father Cheng’s expression faltered. Embarrassed, he hurriedly returned to the main point, “Cheng Ye, if you don’t behave, I’ll have no choice but to use the Cheng family’s influence to pressure you.”
As he spoke, Father Cheng cast a meaningful glance at the petite girl trembling behind Cheng Ye.
Jiang Mian’s eyelashes quivered as her small, pale hands tightly gripped Cheng Ye’s clothes.
Cheng Ye immediately understood the implication… they would resort to force and make Jiang Mian transfer schools.
“Mr. Cheng, it seems you’re not very smart,” Cheng Ye said indifferently. “Are you planning to let everyone in the capital city know that I don’t like Chu Xiyan, yet the Cheng family is forcing me into this marriage through all kinds of coercion?”
Father Cheng’s expression cracked, his eyes filled with shock.
“When that happens, everyone will think… Chu Xiyan is just a desperate clingy girl. I don’t like her, yet she insists on using this engagement to force me to marry her.”
Cheng Ye’s expression remained cold, “What’s lost won’t just be the Cheng family’s reputation, but also the Chu family’s. Don’t you think I’m right, Mr. Cheng?”
Hearing him repeatedly say “Mr. Cheng” made Father Cheng feel especially suffocated. Was it really that hard for him to call him Dad?!
And when had Cheng Ye become so sharp-minded?!
He hadn’t even considered the serious consequences of such coercive tactics.
If it ended up causing friction between the Cheng family and the Chu family, it would truly be a loss outweighing any gain.
Annoying.
Accustomed to being in a position of power, he had always been the one manipulating and pressuring others. Yet now, with just a few words, his own son had effortlessly dismantled his stance.
Worse still, he couldn’t think of any way to counter it forcefully.
If hard tactics didn’t work, then he had no choice but to try soft ones.
Father Cheng suppressed his irritation and forced a gentler expression, “Xiao Ye, Xiyan is a good girl. You’ve known each other for three years. Right now, you’re in your senior year, so studies come first. I won’t rush the marriage for now.”
“But after the college entrance exams, I hope you can clear up any misunderstandings and get along peacefully.”
“Misunderstanding?” Cheng Ye let out a faint laugh. “I did bully Cheng Fenghao. I’ve bullied him many times. How could that be a misunderstanding? I’m disobedient, always causing trouble, very rebellious.”
Father Cheng’s face darkened. Cheng Ye’s words were like a rapid-fire barrage, each one striking straight at his chest.
“Cheng Ye, what exactly will it take for you to listen?” Father Cheng gritted his teeth. “Other than asking Fenghao to leave the Cheng family, I can agree to any condition.”
Cheng Ye replied lightly, “Oh, then forget it.”
“Money! I’ll give you money, alright?!” Father Cheng refused to believe Cheng Ye didn’t need money. He must be desperate for it now. “How much do you want?”
Father Cheng was at a loss. This was the first time he had encountered such a difficult situation.
Mother Cheng burst into tears. Cheng Wei frowned and pulled her away. Cheng Zhirou and Cheng Shiyan, realizing Cheng Ye wouldn’t respond to either soft or hard tactics, could only follow them and leave.
Father Cheng, furious, threw the cigarette butt in his hand to the ground and stomped on it several times, “Cheng Ye, you’ve become completely lawless! What has the Cheng family ever done to wrong you?!”
“When you make mistakes, we discipline you to help you become a better person.”
“You said it yourself… your middle school performance was excellent. Yet after entering high school, you fell beyond rank 1,000. Fenghao and Xiyan strive to improve, ranking first and second. And you? You gave up on yourself and neglected your studies!”
“Fenghao has good character. And you? Your hands aren’t clean! You even stole your third sister’s jewelry and necklaces!”
“You’re jealous, narrow-minded, indifferent to family, and morally corrupt!!”
“I intended to cultivate you, but you refused to work hard. You chose to become a useless waste, making no effort to improve yourself, only thinking about bullying Fenghao and competing for the affection that belongs to him.”
“You are not worthy of being part of the Cheng family!!”
Father Cheng spoke with righteous anger, but from beginning to end, his words caused not the slightest ripple in Cheng Ye. His expression remained as steady as ever.
Cheng Ye yawned and said with a faint smile, “Sorry, I zoned out just now. What were you saying? Could you repeat it?”
“You—!” Father Cheng’s face turned through every shade of anger.
He was furious, as if punching into cotton.
With a huff, Father Cheng stormed off.
Silence returned to the surroundings.
Cheng Ye turned back. The little girl behind him had clear, bright eyes filled with glistening tears.
When she saw him looking at her, she looked pitiful and aggrieved, “Cheng Ye, th-they were so scary.”
Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow slightly, “Just a bunch of lunatics. Don’t be afraid. I’ve got your back.”
“Mm-hmm.” Jiang Mian nodded vigorously.
Noticing a shop nearby, her eyes curved into a smile as she pointed toward it, “Cheng Ye, let me treat you to something to eat.”
Cheng Ye couldn’t refuse. At worst, he could return the favor next time. “Alright.”
Jiang Mian excitedly grabbed his hand.
Before he could react, the girl had already pulled him to the entrance of the shop.
As soon as they stopped, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
The sound of rain was crisp and pleasant.
Jiang Mian looked around the shop interior and suggested, “Cheng Ye, there aren’t many items here. I’ll just buy everything.”
Hearing that, the shop owner immediately laughed, “This is a store inside Yahua High School. Even if you want to buy everything, I can’t sell it like that.”
Cheng Ye pulled Jiang Mian aside, “Just buy some fruit.”
Jiang Mian blinked, “That’s too little. It’s my first time treating someone.”
Cheng Ye said helplessly, “It’s the thought that counts.”
After saying that, he began picking out some fruit.
Jiang Mian hesitated, then stared at Cheng Ye’s side profile, gradually becoming lost in the sight.
After choosing the fruit, Cheng Ye looked outside at the steadily intensifying rain. Turning to the young man inside who was cracking sunflower seeds while watching a romance show, he asked, “Boss, do you have any umbrellas?”
“Nope. Not many people buy umbrellas here, so I don’t stock them much.”
The shop owner finally looked away from his tablet, still munching on seeds. He glanced at Cheng Ye, then at Jiang Mian, “Young man, aren’t you wearing a hooded jacket? You and your girlfriend can squeeze under it. It’ll keep the rain off.”
Jiang Mian’s fair face instantly flushed red.
Cheng Ye explained helplessly, “We’re not a couple.”
“Oh, I get it, I get it. High school students… strict rules about that stuff. Just run faster, and don’t let the school leaders catch you!” The young man wore a knowing expression.
Cheng Ye fell silent… what nonsense.
He looked up at the sky. The light drizzle had turned into moderate rain, and it looked like it would soon become heavy.
Cheng Ye unzipped his jacket, “How about you make do with this for now?”
Jiang Mian nodded with a flushed face.
Cheng Ye paused for a moment, then wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders, pulling her close under the jacket.
Jiang Mian’s heart began to race uncontrollably.
Cheng Ye led her into the rain.
Her palms were damp with nervous sweat. From time to time, she secretly lifted her gaze, sneaking glances at him.
When Cheng Ye lowered his eyes to check if she was getting wet, Jiang Mian felt shy and quickly withdrew her gaze, pretending she hadn’t been looking at him at all.