Chapter 20 — The Director's Weak Spot

Besides, with a status like Gu Mengyao's, grades hardly mattered anymore. One way or another she would go to university; even if she failed the entrance exams, Gu Pengzhan's connections could get her into any of the top schools.

"You saw that too?" Uncle Qing had not expected Wei Zhao to work these things out so quickly, and he asked in some astonishment.

"So that's how it is?" Wei Zhao asked.

"To be honest, I don't understand what Mr. Gu means either," Uncle Qing said with a sigh. "I may be the closest person to Mr. Gu, but some of his deeper intentions are beyond me."

Hearing this thoroughly unhelpful explanation, Wei Zhao rolled his eyes.

"But Mr. Gu did leave instructions. He told me to tell you: take good care of the young lady, and don't think too much." Uncle Qing repeated to Wei Zhao what Gu Pengzhan had said before leaving. "Give her as much love as you can... this child has been starved of love since she was small..."

Wei Zhao was speechless. What on earth was this family playing at? Starved of love? And he was supposed to give her love? What kind of international joke was that? Yesterday, before he had laid eyes on Gu Mengyao, Wei Zhao had been thoroughly unimpressed by Gu Pengzhan's near son-in-law-recruiting arrangement; but after he saw the fresh, radiant Gu Mengyao, he realized the job was not so hateful after all... Only, would Gu Mengyao ever take a fancy to him? She could hardly stand him as it was.

Still, Wei Zhao said nothing more to Uncle Qing. He merely nodded and got out of the car.

"Did you find out who that laborer who kicked me yesterday was?" Zhong Yongliang asked, frowning as he rubbed his still-swollen backside. Thanks to that man, he hadn't dared to sleep flat on his back all night, and had spent the whole night with his rear end stuck up in the air.

"No luck. Last night Zhang Naipao and I checked several construction sites, and we didn't see him anywhere," Gao Xiaofu said, shaking his head. "Brother Liang, you think maybe he hasn't started working at a site yet?"

"No matter what, we have to find this guy. Damn him, daring to kick me — I'm not letting him off," Zhong Yongliang said viciously.

"Yes, Brother Liang," Gao Xiaofu hurriedly promised.

Wei Zhao walked into the school with his backpack on, and the feeling was wonderful, filling him with a boundless sense of well-being. This was campus life — the legendary birthplace of first love.

Wei Zhao's backpack was the black single-strap bag the school handed out, hopelessly unstylish. Most students had swapped theirs for nicer little bags of their own, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu among them; only the poorer students dressed like Wei Zhao — school uniform, and the free school-issued bag slung over one shoulder.

Wei Zhao's eyes were sharp beyond measure. The moment he came through the school gate he spotted Zhong Yongliang and his crowd. Wasn't that the creature who had been pestering Gu Mengyao yesterday? But since the man hadn't provoked him, Wei Zhao had no interest in bothering with him, and walked straight past them.

"Brother Liang, why did that kid just now look so familiar?" Zhang Naipao said, watching Wei Zhao's retreating back.

"I'm talking serious business here. What do you care whether he looks familiar or not?" Zhong Yongliang frowned impatiently.

"Brother Liang, I thought he looked familiar too... like, like..." Gao Xiaofu scratched the back of his head, wearing an expression of deep pondering.

"Like what? Spit it out if you've got something to say!" Zhong Yongliang snapped.

"Like he's the laborer who kicked you yesterday!" Zhang Naipao suddenly shouted. "That's right, Brother Liang, it's him, I remember now!"

"Really?" The moment Zhong Yongliang heard it was the man who had kicked him yesterday, he perked right up. "What are you standing around for? After him!"

"After him!" Gao Xiaofu and Zhang Naipao hurried off in the direction Wei Zhao had vanished.

Wei Zhao took his file to the school's academic affairs office. Gu Pengzhan had arranged all of it; he only had to report in.

Wei Zhao knocked on the door of the academic affairs office, but no one came to open it. He checked his watch: a quarter to eight. Classes officially began at eight, so perhaps he had come a little early.

With that thought, Wei Zhao leaned against the door of the office and quietly waited for the director of academic affairs to arrive.

"Mmm... ah..." A faint moan reached Wei Zhao's ears. Ever since he had cultivated the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art, his hearing had grown extraordinarily keen. He would not claim to have clairaudient ears, but at the very least he could hear many sounds others could not.

Wei Zhao frowned at once, because the sound was coming from inside the academic affairs office. Wasn't the place empty? But then, as if he had understood something, he smiled faintly.

At eight o'clock sharp, the door of the academic affairs office opened, and a woman in her thirties, ripe with charm, cautiously poked her head out of the office. Catching sight of Wei Zhao at the door, she gave a start. "You... what are you doing here?"

Wei Zhao found it rather amusing. Fine, you **did** it — but did you have to be so obvious about it? It would be a wonder if no one got suspicious.

"I've come to see Director Wang of the academic affairs office," Wei Zhao said mildly, disinclined to call her out.

"Oh, Director Wang is inside." The woman tried hard to keep her composure, then said to Wei Zhao, "Go on in."

Wei Zhao nodded and stepped into the office. A somewhat balding middle-aged man sat at the desk, every inch the stern old pedant, which struck Wei Zhao as rather funny.

"You... what business do you have?" Wang Zhifeng had not expected a student to come looking for him the moment his lover stepped out, and he gave a start.

"I'm Wei Zhao. I've come to register." Wei Zhao took out his file and handed it to Wang Zhifeng.

"Oh, Wei Zhao. I know." Wang Zhifeng nodded. This student had been placed by the board of directors in person — how could he not remember? Wang Zhifeng took the file and began processing the paperwork for Wei Zhao.

The stamps were soon affixed, and Wang Zhifeng rose to his feet. "I'll take you to your class."

"I'll have to trouble you then, Director Wang," Wei Zhao said politely. He knew well that the director of academic affairs wielded great power in the school; if he wanted an easier time of it from now on, he could not afford to offend the man.

"Ha ha, it's only my duty." Wang Zhifeng did not dare put on airs either — after all, this student had been arranged by the board. Walking out of the office side by side with Wei Zhao, he ventured, "You just got here?"

"I've been here a while." Wei Zhao saw no need to lie about such things; the school corridors all had surveillance cameras, and if Wang Zhifeng wanted to look, he could look.

"Then you..." Wang Zhifeng hesitated, at a loss for how to put it. It was all his own fault for giving in to a moment's impulse and insisting on doing that first thing in the morning. Now look at the mess — if this went wrong, someone would have a hold over him.

"Don't worry, Director Wang. I didn't see anything, and I didn't hear anything," Wei Zhao said with a slight, wicked smile, his mind working quickly.

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