Around eleven o’clock at night, after the party, everyone ca bustling out of the KTV.
"Shall I take you ho?" Lin Feng asked, approaching Tang Rou as he saw her erge alone, looking around for a taxi.
"Thank you." Without saying much more, Tang Rou’s words signified her agreent.
"Whoa, look! Lin Feng’s taking Tang Rou ho! Wow, they must be dating..."
"I had my doubts before, but now it seems it’s really true."
"Yeah, think about it. Tang Rou almost never talked to boys before. Tonight, she actually hugged Lin Feng and even let him kiss her cheek. Plus, rember how they used to study together late for evening self-study? If they’re not dating, then it’s absolutely impossible."
As Lin Feng and Tang Rou departed in a taxi, the remaining classmates stayed behind, chattering and gossiping.
The taxi traversed half of Jiangzhou City before stopping at the gate of Tang Rou’s villa.
Lin Feng, ever the gentleman, opened the taxi door for Tang Rou.
"Thank you, Lin Feng. I had a really wonderful ti today," Tang Rou said gently, standing before him. Her long hair flowed in the breeze, and a faint, blissful smile graced her lips.
"Goodnight. See you on Sunday," Lin Feng replied with a smile of his own.
On the second floor of the villa, Tang Zhendong, wearing a bathrobe and puffing on a cigar, quietly watched from a window as Lin Feng brought Tang Rou ho. His mouth twitched slightly.
Beside him, Guo Yun stood silently. Seeming to sense Tang Zhendong’s thoughts, he said, "Master, we’ve essentially completed the background check on this Lin Feng. His mother is an executive at a bank branch. Information about his father is scarce, but inquiries suggest he might be in the military or the Police Bureau, though likely not in a high-ranking position."
"How is Lin Feng’s conduct at school?" Tang Zhendong asked casually.
"His performance is... quite poor. He reportedly often arrives late, sleeps in class, and his test scores are consistently at the bottom. He’s the type of student teachers have essentially given up on." Guo Yun already had so understanding of Lin Feng’s school performance prior to this recent monthly exam.
"Heh heh." Hearing this, Tang Zhendong gave a faint chuckle, then turned and went downstairs.
"Dad, Uncle Yun," Tang Rou called out cheerfully as she entered the main hall, just as Tang Zhendong and Guo Yun were coming down the stairs.
"Rou’er, did you have a good ti with your classmates today?" Tang Zhendong asked, settling onto the sofa.
"It was great fun!" Tang Rou said, her face alight with happiness. She then sat on the sofa beside Tang Zhendong.
Guo Yun brought in a fruit platter and then quietly excused himself. He knew Tang Zhendong wanted to speak with Tang Rou about sothing.
"Rou’er, how did you get ho just now?" Tang Zhendong asked, setting down his cigar. He picked up a fruit knife and began to peel an apple for her.
"I took a taxi," Tang Rou replied, taking the apple Tang Zhendong was holding and beginning to earnestly peel it for him instead.
"Alone?"
"No... a classmate... from my class brought ho."
"A male classmate?"
"...Yes."
"That male classmate was Lin Feng, wasn’t it?" Tang Zhendong suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on his only daughter.
"Dad?" Hearing Tang Zhendong directly ntion Lin Feng’s na, Tang Rou looked at her father in utter astonishnt. A blush gradually crept up her cheeks, and she felt a little nervous.
Tang Zhendong took in Tang Rou’s reaction completely, and the suspicions he held in his heart were confird.
"Dad, why are you asking about this? How do you know Lin Feng?" Tang Rou asked, her face flushed, looking curiously at Tang Zhendong.
"Heh heh, you didn’t want Dad to know?" Tang Zhendong looked affectionately at his beloved daughter.
Tang Rou’s face grew even redder. "No... it’s not... there’s nothing between us."
Tang Rou rarely lied. Seeing her awkward hesitation as she spoke, Tang Zhendong knew that his usually well-behaved and sensible daughter was, this ti, lying.
After careful consideration, Tang Zhendong chose not to expose her lie. Instead, he said, "Alright then. Rou’er, you know you’re Daddy’s treasure, and Daddy won’t let you suffer any hardship. So, there’s sothing Daddy wants to discuss with you now."
"What is it, Dad?"
"The college entrance exams are coming up soon. Daddy is planning to send you abroad for further studies. Afterward, you can either stay and live abroad or, once you’ve completed your studies, return to China and help manage so affairs."
"Go abroad?" Tang Zhendong’s sudden decision stunned Tang Rou. Going abroad was sothing she had never considered.
But as soon as she heard this, her heart clenched. Subconsciously, Lin Feng ca to her mind. If I go abroad, then... wouldn’t that an I’ll never see Lin Feng again?
"Dad, I... I don’t want to go abroad." After a mont of internal struggle, Tang Rou looked at Tang Zhendong.
"Rou’er, the education in this country isn’t as good as it is abroad. The matter is settled. You just focus on your studies; Dad will arrange everything for you to go abroad."
Tang Zhendong gave Tang Rou no room to choose. He knew why she wanted to stay, and that reason was unacceptable to him. He wouldn’t permit his daughter to date in high school, to begin with. And even if she were to date, her partner couldn’t be soone like Lin Feng. Tang Rou was his only daughter and would likely inherit his business one day. If Lin Feng were to be his son-in-law, it would be disastrous—it would an the ruin of the entire enterprise Tang Zhendong had spent a lifeti building.
"Dad..."
"Say no more, Rou’er. Everything Daddy does is for your own good. Now, it’s late. Go on up to bed."
Tang Zhendong patted his daughter’s head, feeling a wave of emotion. He had initially planned to decide on sending her abroad later, but the ergence of this Lin Feng situation had compelled him to make the decision sooner.
Back in her room, Tang Rou closed the door, her eyes welling with tears. She gazed out at the oppressive night. Her beautiful, sorrowful reflection stared back at her from the window pane, deepening her despair.
"Lin Feng..." After a long silence, Tang Rou softly murmured his na.
Elsewhere that night, the class monitor, Li Jun, owned an electric bicycle. After the party, he went to the garage to retrieve it. Just as he reached his bike, three figures sprang out.
"ng Zelong...?" Recognizing ng Zelong and his two companions, Li Jun’s heart skipped a beat, and a sense of fear crept over him.
It’s already midnight. Has ng Zelong deliberately cornered to rob ?
"Li Jun, I need to talk to you about sothing," ng Zelong said with a faint smile.
"Wh... what is it?" Li Jun stamred, sounding a little frightened.
"You’re in the student council, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then you must know Ning Aoxue, right?"
"Yes, she’s also in the student council. We’re in the sa departnt, but we don’t have much interaction..."
"Cut the crap! I have a job for you, and you better do it right!" At this point, Chen Liang slapped Li Jun hard across the face, snarling viciously.
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