His seatmate, on the other hand, couldn’t help but grumble, “We did nothing to provoke them, They were the ones who initiated the trouble. Our classmates are bullies who want to drive us away! Well, we aren’t pushovers. We won’t take this treatment sitting down!”
Yang Nian lowered his eyes wearily. “I’ll look into this matter. We’ll discuss it again later.”
When the bell rang for lunch break, he sauntered over to Yao Tang’s desk. He swept his gaze over her and her friends, then said, “Let’s have lunch together.”
“Huh? What’s the matter now?”
Yang Nian flashed them his charming smile. “I just think it would be more comfortable for us to talk over a meal.”
Qin Jing’s eyes were clouded with displeasure. “What do you want to talk about, exactly?” she asked impatiently. “Why can’t you just say it now and be done with it?”
Yang Nian ignored her and turned toLin Xin. “I should be calling you cousin, right?”
Lin Xin visibly recoiled. “Oh, no, no, no. We might have relatives in common, but we’re not close at all. You and I should keep our distance from each other and remain cordial as classmates.”
Lin Xin had always liked good-looking people, andYang Nianhad good looks in abundance.
The problem with attractive people, though, was that they always seemed to have a wall put up that separated them from the rest.
One could never see through their hearts clearly.
It wasn’t exactly an ideal quality to have, and it was the one thing that repelled Lin Xinfrom beautiful girls and boys.
“I know you’ve grown up here in City A, but you can ask around your relatives,”Yang Niansaid. “Our families are still tightly connected.”
……
Lin Xin frowned. “If you have something to say, then go ahead and just say it.”
“It’s nothing much, really. I just want to catch up with you guys and get to know you better.”
When Lin Xinheard that, she couldn’t help but narrow her eyes in suspicion.
These last few days, people from their extended family had been coming and going through her father’s study to discuss important matters. And while she didn’t know anything, she had always felt that something was amiss.
Now, after listening to Yang Nian’s seemingly pointed pleasantries, she felt even more uneasy.
She had a feeling that those important discussions her father had been having might be related to the Yang family in the capital. She did want to ask Yang Nianabout it, but she didn’t want to dragYao TangandQin Jinginto her personal queries.
Seeing the hesitation in Lin Xin’s face,Qin Jingspoke up and made the decision for them.
“Okay, fine. It’s just a meal, anyway, right? We’d like to hear what you have to say.”
She smiled sardonically to herself. No sooner had Yan Weidisappeared from the picture thanYang Niantook over and began pestering them. This bunch was just too bothersome.
Yang Nian smiled again and gestured with his arm. “Please, ladies first.”
He took them to a private room in a nearby restaurant. He had booked it beforehand.
Yao Tang cut to the chase the moment they were seated. She had no intention of eating with him, to begin with. “What is it that you want to say?” she asked bluntly.
But Yang Nianwas nonplussed and just handed them the menu.
“Here, you guys should order first. Even though we’ve only been here for a few days, we are still classmates. There’s no need to make the atmosphere between us so cold and tense.”
Qin Jing frowned at that.
“Are you here because of yesterday’s incident?” Yao Tangasked again.
This time, Yang Nianneither denied nor prevaricated. He nodded and said, “It was just a joke between classmates, right? In order to co-exist harmoniously, we should be able to tolerate each other’s shortcomings.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Qin Jingretorted with a scoff. “If it weren’t for you guys starting all the trouble, we wouldn’t have come to this point. Now that your side has lost, you say that we should just tolerate each other? You must be the one joking here!”
Yang Nian took a deep breath before speaking again. “As I said, we are still classmates. There’s no need to go too far. You guys didn’t get hurt, either, did you? AndWeiweihas already accepted her punishment. Can’t we just let this matter go?”
Lin Xin gritted her teeth. They shouldn’t have accepted his invitation, after all. She wanted nothing to do with the boy.
But in the next second, Yao Tang’s voice rang out: “What a load of crap.”
The two other girls immediately bobbed their heads in agreement.
Seeing that they were stubbornly holding their ground, the smile on Yang Nian’s lips turned somewhat derisive. “What I mean to say is that we should make an effort to ease up the relationship between us. If we don’t get along, it wouldn’t be good for a lot of people, now, would it?”
