Chapter Nineteen: Jiang Chao

As soon as Mu Shao heard this, his previously lecherous expression vanished, replaced by a scowl. "What? Did I hear that right? You want me to pay?"

Meng Han was also taken aback by this country bumpkin's words. "I think you've lost your mind from poverty."

"No matter how poor I am, I’d never sell my body for money!" Ye Feng could tell at a glance what kind of woman she was—driving a BMW, carrying a designer bag, so young yet so wealthy. What else could she have besides her body?

Women flaunting wealth usually fall into two categories: either their man is rich, or their mother is rich. The latter are typically heiresses, and Meng Han certainly didn’t carry herself like one, so she was obviously the former.

"Who are you talking about?" Meng Han, stung by his words, shouted angrily. She couldn’t teach Ye Feng a lesson herself, but she could rely on the boy beside her. She called out in a soft, coquettish voice, "Mu Shao~ he’s bullying me."

"You little brat, are you tired of living?" Mu Shao twisted his neck threateningly.

"There are so many people on campus, and you’re driving so fast. You should be grateful I didn’t smash your car," Ye Feng retorted. It was freshman registration day, the campus was crowded, yet Mu Shao was speeding through as if it were empty.

"You poor fool, you’ll never understand the joy of driving, especially when I see your envious expression as you look at my car. I drive fast, so what? What are you going to do about it?" Mu Shao grew more smug with each word.

"Trash!"

"You? You think you have the right to call me that?" Mu Shao clenched his fists, ready to hit Ye Feng. Just then, a group of campus security guards in uniform approached. During the busy registration period, security patrolled constantly to protect students and their belongings.

One guard, seeing the car, came over. "Who told you to drive in here? With so many people around, what if you hit someone?"

"I can afford to pay. Don't worry about it," Mu Shao sneered, looking down on security guards. To him, they were nothing more than glorified gatekeepers.

"You—!" The guard was surprised at his response, angered but unsure how to handle someone like this.

At that moment, the head guard recognized Mu Shao.

"Well, isn't this Mu Shao?" he greeted politely.

"You know me?"

"Of course, young master of the Mu Group. I’ve heard much about you."

Mu Shao found the guard’s words pleasing. "You should keep your men in line. They speak rudely."

"Mu Shao, cars really aren’t allowed on campus. Why don’t you give me some face? Once you’re done here, please move your car promptly. How about it?" the head guard suggested.

Ye Feng thought, damn, even the school is this corrupt. Wasn’t that just stating the obvious? After you’re done, you move the car; it’s not like you’d leave it here.

"Fine, I’ll give you some face. But this bumpkin nearly hit my car, then demanded I pay him. You have to judge fairly," Mu Shao complained.

The guard glanced at Ye Feng. Compared to Mu Shao, they truly seemed from different worlds.

"Listen, young man, you really can’t afford to offend someone like him. Let me give you a way out. Don’t cause trouble on campus—let’s just let today’s incident go. Otherwise, I’ll have to take you to security." The head guard spoke.

Ye Feng realized they were all on the same side. It was pointless to argue further; after all, they were school security. If it were street thugs, he’d just fight them.

"Fine, I’ll let you off this time." With his hands behind his back, Ye Feng turned to leave.

"Mu Shao, you can’t let him off so easily!" Meng Han was upset that Ye Feng would be allowed to go.

"This is still a school. It's not good to start a fight here." Mu Shao wanted to beat Ye Feng, but he understood the situation—unlike Meng Han, who was all chest and no brains.

"I don’t care! Maybe I’ll just burn you to death tonight," Meng Han stomped her red heels, turning her head away.

Seeing Meng Han angry, Mu Shao hurried to comfort her. "Han Han, don’t worry. Once we’re outside the campus, I’ll find someone to deal with him. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."

"Really?" Meng Han finally cooled down a little.

"Of course. When Mu Shao gives his word, he never goes back on it."

"That’s more like it. I’m off to register now." Meng Han threw him a flirtatious glance, then went to join the two senior girls to complete her paperwork.

The security team dispersed after Ye Feng left.

"Captain, who exactly is this Mu Shao?" the guard who had shouted at Mu Shao asked.

"The Mu Group, haven’t you heard? Watch your words in the future! The Mu Group is one of the four major corporations in BD. If the Mu Group says the word, you’ll never work in BD again. Where else will you find such a good job—two thousand a month, plus room and board!" the captain replied.

The guard wiped sweat from his brow. "Is it really that serious?"

"Of course. If I hadn’t stopped you in time, your future would’ve been ruined."

"Thank you, captain. I’ll follow you loyally from now on."

"Good, you’ve got potential!" The captain patted his shoulder.

...

Ye Feng wasn’t in a rush to go home. Since he was at school, he might as well get familiar with the campus. HB University truly lived up to its reputation as the top school in HB Province; both the architecture and the environment were magnificent.

Ye Feng had planned to eat lunch in the cafeteria, but remembering Xia Ling was still at home, he changed his mind. He decided to buy groceries nearby and cook at home instead. The area around HB University was convenient, with all kinds of shops.

Some upperclassmen, having found boyfriends or girlfriends, rented apartments nearby to experience married life early. Naturally, cooking at home was part of the fun.

Ye Feng had already taken a look around the campus. There would be plenty of time in the future to explore. The sun was climbing toward its zenith, so he wandered leisurely toward the main gate.

As he approached the gate, he noticed students entering, their expressions tense, whispering among themselves.

Their voices were low, but Ye Feng’s sharp ears caught everything.

"Was that Mu Shao at the gate just now?"

"I think so."

"I wonder who offended him, bringing so many people to block the entrance."

"Who knows? Whoever crossed him is in for a rough day."

"I heard he’s blocked all four entrances to the school just to catch someone."

"Let’s not get involved. As long as we steer clear of him, we should be fine. He’s terrifying."

"Let’s hurry up. If we get dragged into this, it’ll be trouble."

"Move, move..."

The girls speaking quickened their pace.

Ye Feng shrugged, scoffing inwardly. "I wasn’t even looking for trouble with that brat, yet he’s come straight to me. So soon, too. I was hoping he’d enjoy a few more carefree days. Since he’s come to me, I have no choice."

He paid no mind to their warnings and strolled toward the campus gate.

Just as he was about to step outside, a chubby figure appeared in front of him, anxiety etched on his face. "Are you Ye Feng?"

Ye Feng was puzzled. It was his first day at school—how could anyone know him? "Yes, and you are?"

"Never mind who I am for now. You can’t go out—there are people waiting for you outside. If you go, you’re finished," the chubby boy said urgently.

Ye Feng already knew someone was lying in wait, but he was curious how this stranger could recognize him, and why he dared warn him.

"It’s fine. Just tell me who you are and how you know me?" The threat outside was less intriguing than the boy before him.

The chubby boy tugged Ye Feng back into the school, speaking in a rush. "Not fine at all! They’re ruthless. Before I even started here, people told me there are a few students you absolutely can’t mess with—Mu Shao is one of them."

Mid-sentence, the chubby boy realized he couldn’t budge Ye Feng, who seemed frail but was immovable. The boy, weighing over 150 pounds, was baffled.

"I’m not afraid of them. I’m going out today whether you try to stop me or not. Just tell me who you are."

From Ye Feng’s eyes, the boy saw not a trace of fear, which startled him. "Fine, since you insist, don’t blame me for not warning you."

"I should thank you."

"My name’s Jiang Chao. I’m one of our class’s four ‘flowers’," Jiang Chao replied, flicking his hair.

"Class flower? One of four?" Ye Feng couldn’t help twitching at the corner of his mouth. Could a boy really be a class flower?

"You don’t get it. Our college has very few boys, so we’re treasures in the class. You’re a class flower too."

"Forget it. I’d rather not be called a class flower," Ye Feng said, heading for the gate again.

"You really want to go out, knowing they’re waiting for you?" Jiang Chao looked at Ye Feng with concern.

Ye Feng waved his hand behind him. "Go back, or they’ll come after you for tipping me off."

Jiang Chao clearly didn’t dare oppose Mu Shao and his crew. "This is all I can do for you. I hope I’ll see you again after school starts. Even if you’re not as handsome as me and can’t steal my thunder, I still don’t want anything bad to happen to you..."

Ye Feng thought this chubby boy was certainly talkative, able to ramble on for no reason.

Ye Feng had barely left the school when he saw a luxury car parked at the gate. Four or five men lounged against it, cigarettes dangling from their mouths, laughing and chatting. Ye Feng recognized Mu Shao among them. Mu Shao’s face had already darkened, ready for a showdown. But with only a handful of them, Ye Feng couldn’t even summon much enthusiasm.

As Ye Feng stepped out, the group pulled their cigarettes from their lips and threw them to the ground. "Brothers, he’s out."