Hearing that the Xie siblings were returning to Beijing, Peng Guoqing was utterly devastated!
Sure, with the Xie siblings back in Beijing, it would be easier to deal with Tai Wu and the others, but how would that showcase Peng Guoqing’s abilities?
His ten points of credit instantly shrank to seven.
Tai Wu and his crew were already dragged to the airport by Peng Guoqing through a mix of coaxing and deception. At the last moment, Tai Wu’s legs trembled, and he pleaded with Peng Guoqing, banking on their years of brotherhood.
“No way, no way, I’m still scared. Sister Xie Tang will kill me, Peng Peng, Grandpa Peng, we’ve been mates since we were in nappies. Can’t you let me off? Just tell Sister Xie Tang you couldn’t find me. I’ll book a ticket and go abroad to lay low!”
Peng Guoqing rolled his eyes, “Don’t give me that. You lot ditched me to take the fall back then. Where was our brotherhood then? I’ve been loyal enough! Besides, what’s the point of running abroad? It’s the New Year—your family will start asking questions if you’re not around. They don’t even know yet. You want your allowance cut off?”
Tai Wu thought about it and realised he was right.
A beating would hurt for a few days, then it’d be fine.
But having his allowance cut? For someone like Tai Wu, being broke was the real disaster!
Between poverty and a beating, a beating wasn’t the worst option.
Tai Wu scrapped his plan to flee abroad and started scheming again, fishing for info from Peng Guoqing, “So, Sister Xie Tang and that pretty boy really split?”
Tai Wu couldn’t help but chuckle as he spoke.
If they really broke up, he’d take a couple of beatings no problem.
He even felt the urge to call Xie Tang himself and apologise eagerly.
A heartbroken Sister Xie Tang surely needed someone to care for her!
Acting on impulse, Tai Wu grinned, boasting about his cleverness to the others.
Peng Guoqing snatched his phone, “What’s their breakup got to do with you? Go look in a mirror, you toad lusting after a swan.”
The other rich kids, previously glum, burst out laughing at Peng Guoqing’s words, calling Tai Wu a toad.
Xie Tang was a white swan, and Tai Wu’s crush on her? Classic toad wanting the swan.
Peng Guoqing was spot on—even if Xie Tang split with the pretty boy, she’d never pick Tai Wu.
Tai Wu was about to argue with Peng Guoqing when another rich kid patted his back, “You’re usually pretty sharp, so how don’t you get it? We’re not on the same level as Xie Tang. We’re all just coasting, but the Xie family are workaholics. Their lot, men and women alike, are too out of touch, not grounded! The unattainable always stirs the heart. If you actually got Xie Tang, you’d be crying to break up in days. And if you dared be the heartbreaker… you’d be dead meat!”
Forget Tai Wu not being able to win Xie Tang.
Even if Xie Tang lost her senses and went for Tai Wu, could two people so different last long?
No way!
Plus, if Tai Wu dated Xie Tang, it’d definitely alert his family elders. A girl like Xie Tang was a dream daughter-in-law for the Tai family.
If Tai Wu wanted to break up, his family wouldn’t allow it!
He wouldn’t dare break up—he’d be stuck with Xie Tang, giving up the whole forest for one tree.
Just thinking about it was terrifying.
The rich kid sought Peng Guoqing’s agreement, “Guoqing, am I right?”
Peng Guoqing glanced over, smirking, “That’s a good fart you let out.”
Tai Wu, who’d just been clamouring to comfort the heartbroken Xie Tang, went quiet.
Crushing on Xie Tang was one thing, but was he so smitten that he’d commit to her for life?
A lifetime was too long, too heavy. Tai Wu had never seriously considered it.
After a brief hesitation, Tai Wu retorted defiantly, “If I could win her, who says I couldn’t last with Sister Xie Tang? I like her now!”
Who can predict the future? Tai Wu wanted to seize the moment.
Peng Guoqing saw through Tai Wu’s bluster.
All talk, no action—why not do something to make Xie Tang take notice?
Worrying about breakup fallout before even dating? What kind of “like” is that?!
Peng Guoqing mentally roasted him but said nothing, just laughing along with his rich kid friends.
He’d kept his transfer to Chengdu a secret on purpose.
Tai Wu and the others loved stirring up trouble. If they knew he was transferring, they’d follow. What would be the point of going to Chengdu then?
Peng Guoqing slung an arm around Tai Wu’s shoulder, “Alright, when Sister Xie Tang’s back in Beijing, I’ll go with you to apologise. If you’re sincere, I don’t think she’ll beat you up. Even if she does, she’ll go easy. If you don’t take this beating, how’ll you face her later, right?”
Tai Wu nodded absentmindedly.
Peng Guoqing finally smiled.
If he didn’t pacify Tai Wu, the guy might actually lose it, buy a ticket, and flee abroad. Finding him would be possible but far too much hassle.
He was supposed to have seven points of credit, but if Xie Tang returned to Beijing and Tai Wu was gone, Peng Guoqing’s credit would drop to zero!
He couldn’t let Xie Tang think he was incompetent!
Tai Wu wasn’t easy to fool and suddenly remembered something, “It makes sense you’re scared of getting beaten by Sister Xie Tang, but why are you scared of Xie Qian? He doesn’t hit people!”
Xie Qian had always been refined, never getting into fights.
Peng Guoqing recalled that day at the café entrance, when Xie Qian gave him a fleeting glance, and warned Tai Wu seriously, “A Xie Tang who hits is scary, but the real terror is a Xie Qian who doesn’t. Think about what we heard—Xie Qian swindled two hundred million from his dad to buy land. His dad was furious but couldn’t touch him. A guy like that, if he uses a fraction of that cunning to deal with us, what chance do we have?”
Two hundred million for land sparked a huge fight between Xie Qian and his father, and Peng Guoqing wasn’t the only witness.
Tai Wu muttered, “That’s because Uncle Xie backs Xie Qian. Without him, you think his dad wouldn’t sort him out? And Grandma Xie—spoils Xie Qian to death… it’s bizarre, the Xie family just accepts it!”
Why?
Just because he’s good-looking, he gets to be the favourite?
If Xie Tang, as a daughter, can’t inherit the family business, what about Xie Qi, who’s older than Xie Qian?
Peng Guoqing was so shocked his green hair practically danced in the wind.
How odd—he used to hang out with Tai Wu every day and never noticed how dense he could be!
Isn’t it obvious?
Xie Qian’s favoured by the elders, and the younger Xies don’t even mind. Doesn’t that just prove how impressive Xie Qian is?
Peng Guoqing suddenly lost interest in talking, his lips tightly sealed, feeling he’d done three things right.
No, three things.
First, he didn’t ditch the heartbroken Xie Tang that day.
Second, he told his dad he was transferring to Chengdu.
Third, he was too busy catching Tai Wu and the others to gossip about Xie Qian’s love life!
—Close call, really close call!
