“Tao Ge, you told me you’d be back in a couple of days, but then you ghosted me. I thought you weren’t planning on studying anymore. Why did you suddenly come back today?” The bell for the end of the first period had just rung, and even before the teacher on the platform had left, Wang Yuan impatiently rushed over to Tao Fengche to chat.

As soon as Wang Yuan finished speaking, Tao Fengche sighed inwardly. Since returning to school that morning, he had heard similar questions so many times that they were becoming repetitive. However, Wang Yuan was the first one daring enough to ask him directly to his face.

This morning, Tao Fengche had become the center of attention, a shining star for the entire school.

Ever since an attempted kidnapping in the second grade, Tao Zhixing had been overly cautious. He not only transferred Tao Fengche to a different school but also changed his commute vehicle to a Mercedes S600 Pullman Guard, which was bulletproof and could withstand a two-meter explosion of 15 kg of TNT. It was practically armored.

This fully black luxury car, 6.5 meters long, was rare even in this international high school, not to mention its distinctive license plate—a series of eights that made it impossible to ignore.

The unexpected return of the Maybach at the school gate a few days later high-key announced Tao Fengche’s comeback.

…Even though Tao Fengche himself did not want such attention.

Despite Tao Zhixing having passed away, Xu Song resolutely followed his instructions to protect Tao Fengche as best as possible. He didn’t approve of changing the car and even tried to assign bodyguards under the pretext of “troublesome times, young master is not safe.” Tao Fengche resisted and finally avoided the situation of having three bodyguards accompanying him to school.

But he couldn’t escape the car.

From the moment he got out of the car, he heard countless whispers from his classmates, concerned about everything from his physical health to his psychological state. There were even hushed discussions: “Do you think he cries alone? How should I offer him tissues? Does anyone know what scent of tissues he prefers for crying?”

Tao Fengche: “…”

He had never hated his alpha senses so much.

But Wang Yuan was different. Faced with his friend’s concern, Tao Fengche couldn’t pretend to ignore it: “I came back because things got less busy. I can’t just drop out of school, right?”

Since Zhao Jiayang wasn’t the traitor, the situation hit another dead end; he had been waiting at home for Sui Yuesheng, only for the latter to go on a date with Jiang Jingyun.

Two troublesome issues were unresolved. He couldn’t stay home indefinitely.

Currently, Sui Yuesheng held 60% of Tao Corporation’s shares, meaning Tao Corporation was no longer Tao Fengche’s. If Sui Yuesheng really teamed up with the Jiang family, he could use his power to absorb Tao Fengche’s 25% shares and kick him out. Tao Fengche, a high school student, stood no chance.

As the saying goes, books are the ladder of human progress. After much consideration, Tao Fengche decided to return to school to read more.

Staying home aimlessly was not an option. With Sui Yuesheng reappearing for just five days and already being intimate with Jiang Jingyun, giving him fifty days might even lead to renaming Tao Corporation to Jiang Corporation!

By then, he’d either have to fight Sui Yuesheng to the death or beg a guardian not to rename him Jiang Fengche.

Tao Fengche looked grim. Wang Yuan, sensing the mood, switched topics: “Ge, you have no idea how impressive you looked today.”

“Hm?” Tao Fengche didn’t catch his meaning.

“Let me tell you, your return was so charming, making all the little betas and omegas swoon.” Wang Yuan exaggerated, pretending to cry, “I wish they’d treat me like that too!”

Tao Fengche couldn’t help but laugh at his dramatic expression.

Finally, he laughed. Wang Yuan let out a sigh of relief. But Yan Yi, who sat behind Tao Fengche and couldn’t see his expression, had been worried since Wang Yuan started talking. Seeing Wang Yuan joke so casually, she felt deeply uncomfortable.

Tao Fengche’s family had gone through so much, and as a friend, instead of comforting him, you joke around?

Yan Yi frowned: “Wang Yuan, how can you say that?”

“Come on, miss,” Wang Yuan replied, grinning and pretending to plead, “What did I do? I was just talking to Tao Ge. If you’re jealous, why don’t you chat with him yourself?”

The two quickly started bickering, leaving Tao Fengche watching with a fond expression, thinking they were a perfect match.

To him, Yan Yi’s pursuit was driven by an omega’s competitive nature during puberty—whoever could date the school’s top alpha won the unspoken war, like kids fighting over toys. It wasn’t about liking him but the status his name carried.

Many alphas secretly mocked him for being aloof, but he just didn’t want to be a trophy for others.

For instance, Yan Yi’s voice was always more gentle with him, but with Wang Yuan, she was sharp and quick-witted—a perfect match of a talented man and a beautiful woman, small A and small O.

Tao Fengche’s mood improved, but someone decided to provoke him at this moment.

“Hey, I heard about his family’s will. Times have changed, and someone is no longer the prince he used to be! His dad either had an illegitimate child or found himself a new wife, and someone basically got nothing. I don’t know what he’s still acting all high and mighty about,” Cai Hong sneered, his voice neither loud nor soft, clearly intended to irk Tao Fengche, almost naming him directly. “I mean, he probably can’t even afford to go abroad now, and only those brainless betas and omegas keep fawning over him.”

To be able to attend this school, Cai Hong’s family background was naturally not lacking. There are no secrets that can be kept forever, and Tao Zhixing’s will had long been an open secret among certain circles.

Cai Hong truly looked down on Tao Fengche. In his view, the 25% shares Tao Fengche held were useless. What does a high schooler know about finance? He could squander the family fortune in no time.

In contrast, although his own family situation was complicated, his father wouldn’t hand over the entire family fortune to an outsider. He couldn’t understand why those betas and omegas were going crazy, preferring Tao Fengche over him, a perfectly good alpha.

Tao Fengche was only relying on his family’s money and his good looks. But now rumors were spreading that the Tao family was about to collapse, so why was he still acting high and mighty?

Cai Hong was truly upset seeing his goddess humbling herself before Tao Fengche.

“What did you say?” Tao Fengche suddenly turned around and looked at him.

His voice was low, but his whole demeanor was imposing. Cai Hong was startled. He was used to making insinuations behind Tao Fengche’s back, and since the latter had never responded, Cai Hong naturally assumed Tao Fengche was afraid of him, making him complacent for a long time.

He hadn’t expected him to respond this time. Cai Hong’s thinking was simple: Tao Fengche never dared to talk to him before, and now, having lost his father and money, he should be even less daring to confront him.

But facing Tao Fengche’s gaze now, Cai Hong felt a subtle fear. His sixth sense told him Tao Fengche was not someone to mess with, but his pride and accumulated jealousy didn’t allow him to back down and apologize.

He retorted, “I said… you have nothing now. How’s it feel to be living under someone else’s thumb?”

At this moment, in Tao Fengche’s eyes, Cai Hong was already a dead man.

He had never thought someone’s mouth could be so vile, first insulting Tao Zhixing, then slandering Sui Yuesheng. His words made Tao Fengche see red, and if he could swallow this anger today, his name should be written backward.

He stood up, flexed his fingers slightly, and squinted at Cai Hong, as if measuring where to start beating him.

Although Tao Fengche’s eyes were fixed on Cai Hong, Wang Yuan on the side felt a chill down his spine. He had been chubby as a child, so his family hired a martial arts teacher for him to strengthen his body and lose weight through boxing. After six or seven years, he considered himself proficient in martial arts. Hearing that Tao Fengche also practiced martial arts, he eagerly invited him to the gym for sparring, only to find he couldn’t withstand even ten moves from Tao Fengche.

They sparred for half an hour, and Tao Fengche had held back. Yet, the next morning, Wang Yuan was so sore he couldn’t get out of bed. As for Cai Hong, it was clear he had nothing to do with sports, being all fat and no muscle, and now he was up against an enraged Tao Fengche. His life was genuinely in danger.

Wang Yuan hurriedly grabbed Tao Fengche’s right elbow joint, not daring to touch any other part of his body, and whispered urgently, “Tao Fengche, Ge, calm down! Killing is against the law!”