Chapter 138: Running Into Each Other Directly

Long Fei, I never took you for someone who knows so much. Haha, but you're right. Didn't Chiang also often say 'niang xipi'? Haha, anyway, he can be considered a formidable figure of an era, but I am still far inferior to him," Wang Ziguo joked jokingly.

Phew, not far inferior—infinitely inferior. Chiang probably died around the time Wang Ziguo was born. Now one is in heaven or hell while the other is still in the mortal world, practically transcending the mortal realm entirely.

"By the way, Teacher Wang, you are quite well-informed. Teacher He only just arrived at the school today, and you already knew about her background?" Long Fei's heart stirred slightly.

Wang Ziguo smiled with a trace of complacency: "Naturally. Is there anyone among the students and teachers of this school whose background isn't crystal clear to me? Living in this society is not that easy... Ah, what do you mean by asking that?"

Wang Ziguo's expression turned somewhat unnatural.

Long Fei laughed: "Haha, it seems Teacher Wang dared to offend her only after looking into my background beforehand?"

"Hehe, come on, have a cigarette, have a cigarette." Wang Ziguo tried to steer the conversation away.

Long Fei stopped pressing. He accepted the cigarette, and Wang Ziguo even leaned in to light it for him. This was quite a grand treatment; having a teacher personally light a cigarette for a student was something only Long Fei could pull off.

After the two of them blew rings of smoke for a while, Wang Ziguo smiled and said: "Right, Long Fei, the National Day holiday is coming up soon, and the school is holding a gala evening. I heard it's going to be a joint event with Fudan University. To put it bluntly, both are among the most prestigious universities in Huaxia. This is not just a performance; it's a silent competition. Our Music Performance Department is the school's trump card, so you should participate too. Team up with your little girlfriend to win some glory for our class."

Long Fei showed zero interest: "No way, I was just about to ask you for leave today. I need to take a trip to Yan京 over the next few days, and I'm not even sure if I'll be back before National Day. If I can make it back, I'll definitely participate in the gala. Even if I don't perform, I'll go to the scene to cheer everyone on. By the way, who is my little girlfriend?"

Wang Ziguo stared at Long Fei with a look of utter contempt: "What, still not daring to admit it? Don't tell me Liu Ruoyi isn't your girlfriend. Even if you said so, nobody would believe it. Not to mention how you two are stuck together at school every single day, the commotion you caused during military training was quite something, too."

This time it was Long Fei's turn to offer an embarrassed laugh: "Hehe, understood, understood."

"Then go back and work on your girlfriend. Have her participate in the performance as well. Our class is only preparing one act, but I feel that if Liu Ruoyi doesn't perform, it would be an absolute injustice to her figure and looks. Hehe, I heard she used to practice dancing—ballet, to be exact." Wang Ziguo gave Long Fei a knowing wink.

Long Fei slapped his thigh. Damn, no wonder her figure is so incredible! Hehe, it looks like this lord is truly blessed. If I can really conquer Liu Ruoyi, who knows what kinds of high-difficulty postures she might be able to pull off in bed.

Though thrilled on the inside, Long Fei put on a somewhat displeased expression on the surface: "I'll discuss this matter with her slowly. But no matter how good-looking she is, there's no need to parade her at a gala for everyone to gawk at, right?"

Ah?

Wang Ziguo hurriedly apologized: "Misunderstanding, a total misunderstanding."

Long Fei brought up his leave request once again, and Wang Ziguo readily agreed. The principal had already given instructions beforehand: whenever Long Fei asked for leave, it was to be approved without question.

Seeing Long Fei walking away with a cigarette clamped between his lips, Wang Ziguo felt the urge to make him put it out, but ultimately raised his hand only to lower it again, saying nothing at all.

Stopping by the small convenience store downstairs to buy some chewing gum, Long Fei chewed thoughtfully with a smile. When he returned to the classroom, all the classmates looked at him with strange expressions. Many could read between the lines just from Long Fei's gaze. Clearly, He Lingshan's tattling had failed to achieve its purpose—or at least, her intention to put Long Fei in his place and establish her authority in the class had fallen completely flat, which was obvious from Long Fei's amused expression. Consequently, some students were jubilant, while others felt a sense of injustice on He Lingshan's behalf, though of course, they could only curse Long Fei in their hearts.

This is a realistic society, a society that values strength. We may feel dissatisfied with many people and things, but we cannot voice it, because the consequence of voicing it is often offending people without changing the facts, and it might even invite trouble upon oneself. If you truly believe you are upright and insist on being someone who speaks their mind without fear, congratulations—you are about to be eliminated by society. And let me congratulate you further: you will soon encounter trouble.

"What happened? Did Teacher He report you?" Although Liu Ruoyi could read the outcome on Long Fei's face, she still couldn't help asking.

Long Fei nodded.

"And how was it handled?"

Long Fei leaned in close to Liu Ruoyi and whispered with a smile: "Report: problem solved. That old hag got so angry she stormed off. She's probably up appealing to the department head right now."

"Ah?" Liu Ruoyi grew worried on his behalf: "And you can still laugh?"

"If I'm not laughing, should I cry? Think about it, I didn't do anything wrong today, hehe, so her appeal won't go anywhere. Oh right, I bought you some candy. Have one." Long Fei handed over a piece of chocolate; it had indeed been bought specifically for Liu Ruoyi.

This was Long Fei's most practiced tactic. Tie Niu and Gouzi had traded their very lives to him for a bowl of rice and a steamed bun. Some people say that everything in this world can be measured by monetary value; while that statement is somewhat biased, thinking about it occasionally reveals a kernel of truth. Long Fei's absolute favorite thing to do was to exchange the cheapest items for the most precious things—such as a person's heart, or a person's life.

A single piece of candy in exchange for a piece of love seemed like a remarkably profitable deal—an investment that could never lose. Long Fei was more than happy to make it.

Heart-shaped chocolate. A sweet feeling blossomed in Liu Ruoyi's chest, yet she shyly shook her head.

Girls are always like this: even when they desperately want to take something, they feel compelled to put up a polite front. Long Fei understood.

"Come on, have one." Long Fei forcefully stuffed the chocolate into Liu Ruoyi's mouth. Although her face flushed red with embarrassment, she didn't try to pull away, instead obediently parting her lips to reveal two rows of neat, white, pearl-like teeth.

"Sweet?" Long Fei's smile was utterly enchanting.

Murmuring a soft acknowledgment, Liu Ruoyi gave a faint smile. A bit sweet, yet carrying a hint of bitterness. No wonder people say chocolate often represents love—bittersweet, it fit the description rather well.

Because He Lingshan had been infuriated into leaving by Long Fei, the two afternoon classes turned into self-study sessions. Although the semester had only just begun, university romances come and go in a flash; two weeks were more than enough for these young men and women who had endured three or more grueling years of high school to hook up. Out of the eight boys, aside from Long Fei, the other seven had already found girlfriends either inside or outside the class. And as art department girls, even if they weren't stunningly beautiful, they at least knew how to dress themselves up. Consequently, the vast majority of girls in the class were already taken. Since the classroom lacked sufficient male energy, the girls who were left over had to look outward, treating it as an export market.

Long Fei didn't follow the others outside to sneak around behind rockeries and indulge in secretive little actions—that wasn't romance, that was sheer boredom. Long Fei didn't do that kind of thing; even if he wanted to, he couldn't be bothered to hunt for a suitable spot. The classroom was wonderful. If you really wanted to generate some heat, doing it right here had its own unique charm. Besides, as the saying goes, when you are with the person you like, happiness and romance are found no matter where you are.

The relationship between Liu Ruoyi and Long Fei had not yet been explicitly declared, but both understood each other clearly. Matters between a man and a woman, as long as the feelings are mutual, are just like dry firewood meeting a raging fire; once it starts burning, it only takes a single spark. It was as simple as that. And what Long Fei wanted most right now was to find that spark—which was precisely why he wanted to bring Liu Ruoyi back to his place.

Liu Ruoyi likely understood the unspoken rules of the campus as well: anyone who rented an apartment outside usually had ulterior motives. Whether Long Fei had ulterior motives, Liu Ruoyi knew full well. Therefore, since she had now agreed to go to his home with him, it meant she had already acknowledged her relationship with Long Fei, and perhaps even mentally prepared herself to let him take advantage of the opportunity.

Of course, Long Fei didn't want to rush things just yet. Fat meat delivered to the mouth isn't going to run away. The crucial task now was to cultivate their feelings step by step, deepening the emotional connection until things could proceed naturally. That would be like water flowing to form a channel, making everything smooth, effortless, and exceptionally comfortable.

Otherwise, if one used force while the other was reluctant, whatever happened would leave lingering reservations in both their hearts. That wasn't the outcome Long Fei wanted. Furthermore, he believed that when treating a girl he genuinely liked, he had to take things slowly, step by step, maintaining his composure like an angler fishing without a trace of impatience.

After school let out in the afternoon, Long Fei deliberately dawdled in the classroom. Calculating the time so that Ye Qian would have already been brought back to the Ye Family Dream Garden, he sneaked out of the school gates with Liu Ruoyi. Once outside, Long Fei became exceptionally excited. Ever since boarding the plane earlier that day, Long Fei had turned off his phone and hadn't turned it back on since, meaning he didn't have to worry about being harassed by Ye Qian at all. Imagining the romantic, sweet, and unforgettable evening he would spend with Liu Ruoyi tonight, Long Fei couldn't help chuckling out loud. Picturing the look of surprise on Liu Ruoyi's face when she tasted his signature dishes made him even more impatient, and he hurriedly hailed a taxi with her.

Destination: the vegetable market.

To cook a delicious meal for the person in your heart, you naturally had to prepare a few signature dishes. To cook well, you had to pick the right ingredients. TV dramas say that a great chef excels at using the most ordinary ingredients to create the most extraordinary dishes. Long Fei thought that was utter nonsense; if someone hands me rotten ingredients and expects me to conjure up a gourmet meal, that's simply abnormal.

Before going into battle, you must wipe your gun and ready your bullets; before committing murder, you must hone your blade. Likewise, before cooking, you must buy your groceries. Long Fei hummed an unidentifiable tune all the way, making Liu Ruoyi laugh continuously, though she didn't dare laugh too loudly, which nearly suffocated her.

Tianhai's vegetable market had two peak periods of bustling activity: the first, naturally, was early morning, and the second was right now.

Those who frequented the market in the morning were primarily wholesalers—mostly restaurant owners pushing three-wheelers, buying things by the mountain. However, their prices were extremely low; they negotiated with vendors in advance, skipped the haggling, piled the goods onto their carts at the designated spot, settled the tab, paid, and left.

On the other hand, the people who visited the vegetable market in the afternoon were generally housewives—though househusbands like Long Fei weren't completely unheard of, just rare. Getting off work, pushing a bicycle, and haggling with vegetable vendors was the source of life's joy for the people of Tianhai, as well as a distinct lifestyle.

Long Fei didn't frequent the vegetable market, but it wasn't his first time either, so the moment he arrived, he dragged Liu Ruoyi around, wandering this way and that, and bargaining more fiercely than anyone else. When a vendor asked for thirty-eight yuan a jin for shrimp, Long Fei offered twenty-five, and through sheer stubborn grinding, he actually managed to buy several jin at that price. Fresh shiitake mushrooms that others were charged seven yuan for were beaten down to four yuan by Long Fei before landing in his bag.

Eventually, Liu Ruoyi ended up carrying several plastic bags, her smile so wide she couldn't close her mouth. If she hadn't been used to bargaining at first, guided by Long Fei—the ultimate stingy teacher—she eventually started acting just like a seasoned housewife, haggling even more ruthlessly than Long Fei himself. Of course, because she lacked Long Fei's knack for reading expressions, no matter how pretty she was, vendors wouldn't give her the same discounts.

Yet Liu Ruoyi thoroughly enjoyed the feeling. Trotting along right behind Long Fei, she felt an extraordinary sense of security, often wondering whether decades from now, the person accompanying her to the vegetable market would be Long Fei.

Finally finishing their grocery shopping, Long Fei led the still-excited Liu Ruoyi out of the market. Just as he was about to flag down a taxi, he noticed Liu Ruoyi's gaze drift off to the side. Glancing over in the same direction, Long Fei froze as well.

A man and a woman—no, an elderly couple, easily in their seventies. The old man was leaning on a cane, while the old woman held his arm, supporting each other as they crossed the street. Each of them carried a small bundle of vegetables in their hands. As they walked slowly past, they captured not just the attention of Liu Ruoyi and Long Fei, but many passersby who paused to watch, completely captivated by the deep affection radiating between them.

If Long Fei didn't seize this kind of romantic moment to make a move, he wouldn't be Long Fei.

Quietly freeing one hand, he slipped his palm over to grasp Liu Ruoyi's. Feeling her struggle for a split second before yielding and letting him hold her hand, Long Fei grinned internally: *Damn it, there's no way you're escaping my grasp now!*

If Long Fei didn't seize this kind of romantic moment to confess his feelings, he wouldn't be Long Fei.

Adopting a deeply touching tone and a mesmerizing voice, Long Fei said earnestly: "Ruoyi, look how happy they are."

Liu Ruoyi smiled happily, nodding subconsciously.

Long Fei continued: "How wonderful it would be if we could be just like them when we grow old."

Liu Ruoyi smiled happily, nodding subconsciously.

Then, as if realizing she had fallen right into Long Fei's trap, her face flushed red. Pretending she hadn't heard a word, she turned her head away and said, "What did you say? I didn't hear you."

Long Fei blinked in surprise. *Damn it, how frustrating! Playing dumb with me?*

"Nothing, I didn't say anything." Long Fei couldn't bring himself to repeat it; pushing it any further would be lacking in tact. Since Liu Ruoyi wasn't quite ready, he didn't want to back her into a corner too soon—that wouldn't be fair to her.

Liu Ruoyi murmured an acknowledgment and stayed silent, though a trace of disappointment flickered in her heart. Women are like this: they desperately want a man to say sweet things, yet they frequently pretend to be oblivious. Women truly are the most complex creatures in this world—so complex that men can never truly understand them.

The elderly couple vanished into the lingering glow of the setting sun. The taxi arrived, and Liu Ruoyi smoothly slipped her hand out of Long Fei's palm, hurrying to squeeze into the back seat. Long Fei had no choice but to follow obediently, feeling rather out of sorts inside. Beside him, Liu Ruoyi frowned slightly, cast a cautious glance at Long Fei, and shifted a fraction to the side, allowing Long Fei to squeeze in right next to her.

Liu Ruoyi had never been to Long Fei's home before. As he unlocked the door, Long Fei chuckled: "I haven't been back for over a week, so the place might be a bit of a mess. I'll clean it up properly in a moment."

"I'll help you clean. When it comes to tidying up rooms, we girls are naturally better at it," Liu Ruoyi smiled.

"In that case, you'll have to come over and help me clean often," Long Fei seized the opportunity to tease.

Liu Ruoyi fell silent again. She always withheld her stance at the crucial moments, driving Long Fei wild with anticipation.

Just as he pushed the door open a crack, Long Fei suddenly froze, as if remembering something vital. His expression turned slightly grim.

"What's wrong?" Seeing his changing expression, Liu Ruoyi asked with genuine concern.

Long Fei offered an awkward, sheepish laugh: "Ruoyi, there's something I need to explain to you first. Please don't get mad, and don't misunderstand."

*Good grief!* Long Fei suddenly remembered that Ye Qian had been living here with him long-term. Even though she hadn't been around the last few days, there was no guarantee she hadn't left some clothes hanging out to dry. If Liu Ruoyi happened to spot some intimate items—like women's undergarments—it would be impossible to explain away. He urgently needed to invent an excuse to cover his tracks. His intestines were twisted with regret; if he had only known, he would have come home earlier in the afternoon to clean the place and temporarily make anything that shouldn't be seen by Liu Ruoyi disappear. Now he found himself in a rather awkward predicament.

Liu Ruoyi smiled: "Just spit it out. This is your home, why would I get mad?"

Long Fei hesitated for a long moment before putting on a very earnest, serious expression: "Well, it's like this: I have a distant cousin who's also studying here in Tianhai—she's an English major at Fudan. She sometimes comes over to stay on weekends. If you happen to see any girl's clothing around, please don't misunderstand." Long Fei's tone was dead serious, but unfortunately, his face betrayed him, flushing slightly. The hallway lighting wasn't dim at all, and Liu Ruoyi caught his guilty expression clearly. Feeling exposed, Long Fei quickly averted his gaze.

Liu Ruoyi's expression shifted slightly. A cousin? A distant cousin? It seemed Long Fei had previously claimed Ye Qian was his cousin, too. As it turned out, Long Fei loved using 'cousins' as a cover story. However, Liu Ruoyi had no intention of calling him out. She merely maintained a detached, polite smile and said: "Oh, like I said, this is your home. Why would I care about those things? It's not like it's my business."

Long Fei chuckled awkwardly: "I just wanted to make sure I explained beforehand."

With that, Long Fei pushed the door all the way open and said, "Come on in, you don't need to change shoes."

"Yeah, come on in, no need to change shoes," Ye Qian echoed, standing right by the doorway, her gaze fixed on Long Fei and Liu Ruoyi with an intensely complicated look. From the kitchen came the distinct sound of sizzling food being stir-fried—clearly, Yang丹妮 was inside.

Long Fei froze.

Liu Ruoyi froze, too.

In an instant, the expressions of all three turned utterly bizarre.