Linda called me, Bucktooth, Big Luo, and Little Luo to help carry drinks for our classmates. There were sodas, Cokes, Sprites, and just one case of beer. Linda said that since we were out having fun, it was okay to drink a little, but absolutely no one was allowed to get drunk.
Her left hand was still injured, and as a female teacher, she obviously wouldn't carry anything herself. Holding a dainty floral umbrella, she stood chatting with Harper and a few other girls.
As Bucktooth moved drinks back and forth with me, he glanced over at Linda and whispered, "Andrew, I think Ms. Zhang is really into you."
I gave him a sideways glance. "What makes you say that?"
He said it was just a feeling—like how Linda seemed to look out for me and always gave me things to do. For example, earlier this morning when we were going to the hospital, she refused to let anyone else carry her—only me.
Big Luo and Little Luo perked up at Bucktooth's words and hurried over, whispering, "Andrew, how did it feel carrying Ms. Zhang this morning? Tell us!"
They all looked at me like Pigsy in *Journey to the West* asking Monkey King what ginseng fruit tastes like—full of curiosity and envy.
Seeing their eager eyes and expectant expressions, I couldn't help but feel smug. I started to get cocky and boastful. Putting down a box of Coke, I said proudly, "Come on, guys. Ms. Zhang is such a gorgeous woman. Of course carrying her felt amazing."
Bucktooth, ever the perv, added, "I saw it! When you were carrying her, your hands were holding her thighs. Even if it was through her pants, that counts as touching! So jealous, man!"
I shot him an annoyed glance, silently thinking, *Linda is my wife. I've even kissed her. If I told you guys, you'd die of envy.*
After expressing his envy, Big Luo sighed dreamily. "Ms. Zhang is way too beautiful. I wonder who she'll marry someday. Lucky bastard."
My face instantly darkened. I almost shouted, *That lucky bastard is ME!* But I held it in.
Bucktooth then sighed, "If I could marry someone as beautiful as our homeroom teacher, I could die happy."
I snorted, "With that scrawny frame of yours? Even if you did marry someone like her, you wouldn't be able to satisfy her."
Bucktooth snapped back, "And you think you can?"
I thumped my chest and said of course. Then I started bragging about all kinds of "skills"—most of which I'd learned from the internet. I went on and on about things like "Eighteen Caresses" and "The 108 Styles," leaving them wide-eyed and stunned.
Right in the middle of my exaggerated boasting, a woman's voice suddenly came from behind: "Andrew, you want to touch Ms. Zhang?"
I replied without thinking, "Touch? I want to do even more—"
As I turned around mid-sentence, I saw Linda standing behind me with a black face.
The smug look on my face froze instantly, and my expression twisted into an awkward grin. Sweat poured down my forehead. *Crap… when did she get behind me?!* Why didn't any of those idiots warn me?!
Bucktooth and the others bowed their heads in silence. Linda ignored them. Her beautiful eyes burned with fury. Holding back her rage, she said, "You want to what?"
"I—I—I was wrong."
I turned and bolted.
I knew Linda's personality all too well. When she was in a good mood, she was easygoing and kind. But when she was angry, she could bite. If I didn't run now, she might actually kill me. Best strategy? Run.
"Andrew! Who said you could leave? Stop right there!"
Linda hadn't expected me to shamelessly flee. She was furious and shocked, reaching out to grab me.
I twisted out of her grasp and ran like hell. I didn't care about leaving the group anymore—I had to get out of Qingyun Villa. If I stayed and faced Linda's wrath, I'd be doomed.
My classmates had no idea what was happening. They watched as I dashed past, panicked. Linda, being a female teacher, couldn't chase me in public. When I reached the villa gate and looked back, she stood there glaring icily at me. That look alone made me sprint faster out the gate.
Outside the villa, the mountain road twisted upward. A public bus came every thirty minutes, but most visitors drove their own cars. Occasionally, luxury vehicles passed by.
In a red Ferrari, Li Mengting was driving slowly while talking on the phone. Her sultry yet beautiful face was icy cold as she instructed the person on the line: "Zhang Chenghe, break the arms and legs of those three punks from the Flying Eagle Gang. And find the one who ordered them—David—and cripple him too."
"Miss Ting, the three punks are no problem. But David's wife is from the Zhu family. If we touch him, it might cause unrest. Worse—it could expose Andrew's identity."
Li Mengting hesitated. "Fine. Leave David for now."
"Ting-jie, according to my files, Andrew's not doing well. He's a live-in son-in-law and gets bullied at school. Should we secretly help clean up these problems for him?"
Li Mengting shook her head. "The Madam is gone. Before she died, she asked me to find the young master. But she also told me, if we ever find him and he's living a peaceful life, not to disturb it—and definitely not bring him back to the Chen family."
"Why? Master Long has no other sons. Wouldn't reuniting him with Andrew be a blessing for the Chen family?"
Li Mengting's voice turned icy. "Have you forgotten who was behind the Madam's death?"
Zhang Chenghe growled, "That vile woman Xiao Mei. She killed the Madam—what, you think she'd dare harm the young master too?"
"She's capable of anything," Li Mengting replied coldly. "She was definitely involved in the Madam's death. I even suspect she was behind Andrew's abduction as a baby. Now that Master Long married her despite everyone's objections, she's taken over all family affairs. If she finds out where Andrew is, he'll be in serious danger. That's why I had you hire private investigators to search quietly—we mustn't alert Xiao Mei."
Zhang Chenghe said, "Ting-jie, both of us owe our lives to the Madam. Can we really stand by while Andrew suffers outside? Should we let Xiao Mei eye the Chen family fortune like this? It should've been Andrew's!"
Li Mengting replied, "The Madam only wanted her son to live safely."
"But is that fair to Andrew? He should be Chen family's heir, inheriting billions. Instead, he's a nobody, bullied by thugs at school, clueless about his parents or how his mother died. If he ever met Xiao Mei on the street, he might even greet her with a smile, not knowing she's his greatest enemy. If Andrew had the chance, would he choose a quiet life—or to rise up, take back what's his, and reunite with his father?"
Li Mengting was silent for a long moment. Then Zhang Chenghe said, "Madam's dying wish was peace for Andrew. But he's Long Ye's son. His life can't be peaceful. Long Ye's health worsens by the day. If he dies, the Chen family will fall to the Xiao family. The family needs the young master now more than ever."
At that moment, Li Mengting spotted me walking lazily along the roadside in my Second High School uniform. She looked at me deeply, then made a decision.
She spoke into the phone: "Alright. Let's give Andrew a chance. For the next three years, we won't help him solve any problems. In fact, we'll create some, secretly pushing him into conflicts—with school bullies, with street punks. If he can face it all and handle it, then he's suited for the brutal world we live in. If he can survive three years, we'll tell him everything and bring him back to the Chen family to claim what's his. But if he can't even deal with small-time school thugs and street rats, then let him live as a normal person. Coming back would just get him killed."