Chapter 53: Suspecting They Made an Appointment

Yu Fan was an only child. His father had only one younger sister, and she too had but a single daughter—Xu Jia’er. Although Ji Niansheng was his cousin in name, the only one truly related to him by blood was Xu Jia’er. Perhaps that was why she was more cherished, why he could not bear to see her hurt.

In other words, if Ouyang Ya were ever to harm Jia’er, Yu Fan would certainly not turn a blind eye. This was, in a roundabout way, a warning.

Ouyang Ya understood, yet said nothing.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going,” he said.

Yu Fan nodded.

Ouyang Ya rose and left. As soon as he stepped out, he caught sight of Ji Niansheng—clearly waiting for him. The moment he appeared, Ji Niansheng came forward.

“You got my phone, computer, and cash confiscated. Don’t you think you owe me for that?” Ji Niansheng said, obviously intent on extorting a meal.

“Another time. I have something to do in a bit,” Ouyang Ya replied.

“Oh?” Ji Niansheng raised his eyebrows, looking at him meaningfully.

But Ouyang Ya offered no further explanation and simply walked away.

“That’s the same direction Qiao Xi went,” Ji Niansheng muttered as he watched Ouyang Ya’s figure recede. “Those two definitely have something going on!”

Failing to score a meal from Ouyang Ya, he turned his sights elsewhere.

Still unaccustomed to knocking, he strode straight into the president’s office.

Yu Fan looked up briefly, then returned to his work. After all, Ji Niansheng had been like this since childhood, and Yu Fan had long since given up lecturing him.

Ji Niansheng walked over, bracing his hands on the desk and leaning in close, his manner conspiratorial. “I’ll tell you a secret, but you have to buy me a lavish meal first.”

Yu Fan ignored him, not even glancing up.

Ji Niansheng persisted, undeterred. “It’s about Ouyang Ya.”

Yu Fan leaned back, exuding a lazy coolness. His cold eyes fixed on Ji Niansheng. Even though they’d grown up together, Ji Niansheng could never quite stand how aloof and chilly this guy always was.

“I really don’t get what Die Yan sees in you. Is it just your looks?” he grumbled.

“Get to the point,” Yu Fan said, unwilling to waste time on idle chatter, least of all on a topic he disliked.

“Thanks to you, I’ve got nothing to do now—no phone, no computer, not even any money. Nowhere to go, nothing to play!” Ji Niansheng complained, full of grievance.

“If you fail the next English test again, you won’t get any of it back,” Yu Fan said bluntly.

“Why do I have to learn English? I’m not even going abroad!” Ji Niansheng protested.

“No room for negotiation,” Yu Fan replied, his voice low and final.

“…Do you really think you’re my cousin?”

“If you’ve nothing else, go back and study,” Yu Fan said, bowing his head over his work once more.

“I’d rather hang out with friends,” Ji Niansheng muttered, turning to leave. “Wait, wasn’t I here to get a free meal out of him?” The thought struck him, and he spun back. “Listen, I’m telling you, there’s definitely something up with Ouyang Ya—no, with him and Qiao Xi.”

Yu Fan’s expression turned icy, though his tone was no colder than usual. “Is that so?”

“You weren’t at school last week, so you wouldn’t know, but you could probably guess just by how Jia’er targets Qiao Xi. Just now, after school, Qiao Xi didn’t go home but headed for the library. Ouyang Ya also said he had something to do, and he went the same way—past the library. I suspect they arranged to meet,” Ji Niansheng analyzed, his eyes crinkling as he grinned at Yu Fan. “Considering how hard I’m working to keep you updated on your future cousin-in-law, don’t you think you should buy me that lavish meal?”