Meanwhile, Cheng Xuan took the bus with her student card.

There was a divide between them.

After a moment of awkwardness, Cheng Xuan shrugged. “Forget I said anything. I’ll head off first.”

“…” Tang You quickly grabbed her sleeve. “Wait.”

This was the first time she had found a friendship she truly wanted, not one forced upon her by Fang Lai. She cherished it deeply and didn’t want to lose it over something as trivial as material differences.

Tang You urgently turned to the driver and said, “Uncle Yang, I’ll go home with a friend today. You can leave.”

“Alright, miss.” The driver professionally pulled out his phone. “I’ll just ask your mother for permission before I go.”

“…” 

This Uncle Yang was new, not someone Tang You was familiar with, unlike Aunt Rong, with whom she could negotiate. If he called Fang Lai, it would cause all sorts of unnecessary trouble.

“Never mind,” Tang You said, her voice numb as she tried to keep her emotions in check.

She could never be herself.

Trapped in a cage, all she could see was the small world Fang Lai had planned for her.

Cheng Xuan also sensed that something was off.

Tang You then turned back and apologized to her. “I’m sorry, Sister Xuan, so—”

“Then I’ll go with you,” Cheng Xuan interrupted her, walking up to the driver and saluting him in a mock-serious manner. “Sir, how about giving me a ride too? Do you need to ask your lady boss first?”

This unexpected move left Tang You momentarily stunned, the dimness in her eyes suddenly brightening. Before the driver could say anything, she happily took charge. “Of course not.”

She quickly pulled Cheng Xuan into the car and shut the door.

The driver thought for a moment. His job was simply to take Tang You to and from school; the rest wasn’t his concern.

So he simply reminded them, “Ladies, please fasten your seatbelts.”

After getting in the car and asking for the address, Tang You was surprised to find out that Cheng Xuan lived in Huai Tree Alley, and was actually the daughter of the shop owner Aunt Xian.

This strange twist of fate made Tang You even more determined. Cheng Xuan was the missing piece in her life, sent by the heavens to fill the void in her heart. She was determined to cherish this friendship.

The two of them chatted like old friends who had reunited after a long time. Just as they reached the entrance to Huai Tree Street, Cheng Xuan suddenly asked the driver to stop the car.

“Stop, stop, I’ll get off here.”

Tang You was puzzled. “Aren’t you going back to the alley?”

Cheng Xuan unbuckled her seatbelt and pointed out the window. “I need to go there first.”

The window was half-open, and Tang You followed her gaze—

At the entrance to the AS Club, a few men were gathered around a luxury car, with Zhou Qinyao leaning nonchalantly against the rear of the car.

Tang You understood immediately and quickly opened the door for Cheng Xuan. “You’re going to see your boyfriend?”

Cheng Xuan froze for a moment, then laughed as she got out of the car. “I was just messing with you. He’s just a buddy of mine.”

“… A buddy?”

Tang You turned her head in surprise to look at Zhou Qinyao again.

At the back of the car, the man, tall and slender, stood with a cold and lazy demeanor, tilting his head as he lit a cigarette.

Just as the cigarette flared to life, he seemed to sense something, his gaze lifting slightly to look across the street.

Their eyes met, and Tang You’s innocent attempt at spying was completely caught.

She quickly pulled back, her heart beating faster. “Uncle Yang, drive quickly.”

In no time, the white chauffeured car turned into Huai Tree Street.

At the AS Club entrance, the group was discussing a car modification plan. Cheng Xuan walked up to Zhou Qinyao and gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder. 

“Brother Yao, how about I treat you to dinner tonight? If you hadn’t brought my mom’s dance costume over this afternoon, I would’ve been dead during rehearsal.”

“No need.” Zhou Qinyao absentmindedly played with his lighter, pausing for a few seconds before retracting his gaze from a certain angle and casually asking, “Whose car did you come back in?”

“Huh? You saw that?” Cheng Xuan replied in a slightly bragging tone, “She’s a new girl at our school. Pretty, right?”

Zhou Qinyao took a drag from his cigarette, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, though it was unclear what his expression was.

But to Cheng Xuan, he looked like he deserved a punch.

She had always known this man had high standards, but for him to not even consider someone like Tang You was just too picky.

“She’s a true rich girl, studies cello, and lives right across the street from us,” Cheng Xuan snorted, peeling open a piece of gum. “I heard she even has a boyfriend in the entertainment industry. Even if you liked her, you’d be out of luck.”

As dusk fell, a chilly breeze brushed past their ears, the air growing damp, hinting at the first rain of early autumn.

It was a long time before Zhou Qinyao nonchalantly turned his face away and replied faintly,

“Oh, really?”