Chapter 79: Not Spicy, Sweet

Looking at the dazed Wen Xiubo and the head-bowed Long Fuxin, Yang Tianxing thought to himself, "Didn't expect this, did you? I surrendered to the imperial court long ago; I am now a student cadre at the Youth League Committee Inspection Center, it just hasn't been publicly announced yet because of Sun Nan."

If we were talking in terms of ancient official ranks, I would at least be a thousand-household commander of the Eastern Depot's Brocade Guard.

"Vice Chairman Long, am I still the deputy minister of the External Liaison Department?"

Yang Tianxing asked, looking at Long Fuxin with a playful expression.

Long Fuxin couldn't speak at all, cursing inwardly, "Are the teachers at the Youth League Committee eating shit? They used to just stamp the documents directly, why did they mark 'inappropriate' this time?"

He hadn't even thought about verifying it first; he never expected a slip-up to occur in the most unlikely of places.

Some student union members hadn't fully grasped what was happening. Wasn't Yang Tianxing supposed to be expelled? The current situation seemed to have some surprises; the Youth League Committee hadn't approved it at all.

Zhou Yang didn't want to stay for even a second and turned to leave, but Yang Tianxing said from the stage, "Former Deputy Minister Zhou Yang, leaving in such a rush? Going back to burn paper money for your family?"

Zhou Yang heard him but didn't dare to talk back; he pulled the door open and left.

Seeing the turn of events, Jiang Minling felt both happy and sad.

What made her happy was that although she didn't know why the Youth League Committee had rejected it, at least Yang Tianxing didn't have to be expelled.

What made her sad was that after this incident, the prestige of the departmental student union presidium had declined once again.

Right in the middle of this chaotic environment, Yang Tianxing suddenly spoke up: "Regardless of whether I am the deputy minister of the External Liaison Department or not, I have a few words from the heart to share with everyone."

The activity center actually quieted down very quickly; everyone felt that Yang Tianxing at this moment was like a protagonist who had successfully launched a desperate counterattack and was now preparing to deliver his victory speech.

"The winter break is coming soon. Everyone will be tired and exhausted carrying big and small bags home, and some who have long distances to travel will even have to transfer vehicles. I have a great suggestion for everyone: hand your luggage over to Rocket 101 Express for shipping, carry only a small bag on yourselves, and enjoy a different kind of winter break!"

No one expected that Yang Tianxing's "victory speech" would actually be an advertisement for Rocket 101; this brazen move shocked everyone directly.

So much for life insights and victory speeches; yet now, neither Wen Xiubo nor Long Fuxin dared to interrupt Yang Tianxing's speech.

Jiang Minling hurried onto the stage: "Sorry, students, this was just a communication misunderstanding. Yang Tianxing is still our deputy minister. I now declare this meeting closed; everyone, please go back and earnestly implement the work for the debate tournament."

With Jiang Minling stepping out to wrap things up, this face-slapping "Dismiss Yang Tianxing" meeting finally came to an end.

Several freshmen from the External Liaison Department only gradually realized what had happened after they left the university activity center.

"Minister Yang, you are truly amazing."

"Long Fuxin wanted to set a trap, but ended up lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet."

"He has lost face all the way to his grandmother's house this time."

……………

Seeing so many fanboys and fangirls (free labor) around him, Yang Tianxing remembered there were still a few tricycles at the 101 site that hadn't been painted, and decided to put them to use.

"Perhaps the leaders at the Youth League Committee think I'm handsome."

Yang Tianxing said with a grin: "Let's end this matter here, but I have some small problems on my end and would like to ask everyone for a favor. Lunch is on me."

Among the part-timers from the earlier period, "Huang Rong" Hua Xiaoyu and "Duan Yu" Ma Yuansong were the university students who had persisted; Zhu Bin and Xiong Jiayi had already quit.

However, they had no objections to doing a small favor, especially at the request of Minister Yang, who had stolen the spotlight today.

As the group returned to the entrepreneurship base, Yang Tianxing felt a bit strange; he had only finished painting one tricycle before going to the meeting, but now there were two more for no apparent reason.

Just as he was thinking about it, Liu Jiaoyue walked out of the room, having changed back into her old school uniform, wearing sleeve covers, and with quite a bit of red and white paint stained on her pants and hair.

Also, because she had been too engrossed in her work, her smooth forehead was covered in a layer of fine, dense beads of sweat.

Seeing Yang Tianxing walk over, she took the initiative to step forward a few paces, her peach-blossom eyes above the mask filled with anticipation.

"You painted the vehicles?"

Yang Tianxing looked at the two painted tricycles, then at the sweat on Liu Jiaoyue's forehead and the paint on her body, his brow already slightly furrowed.

"Mm!"

The simple-minded Liu Jiaoyue even nodded, her clear, bright eyes seeming to say, "Praise me, please, I'm begging you to praise me."

Yang Tianxing held it in for a long time, feeling inexplicably angry, though it was mostly heartache: "You're so stupid, who told you to paint them yourself!"

Liu Jiaoyue froze for a moment, her little face immediately falling; the joyful look in her eyes was replaced by desolation, and she waved her arms in a flustered manner.

Yang Tianxing grabbed Liu Jiaoyue's small hand and turned to instruct Hua Xiaoyu and the others: "You two take one vehicle, and following this style, finish painting the rest."

"Yes."

Several officers from the External Liaison Department didn't know what the situation was, but hurried over to get to work.

After Yang Tianxing pulled Liu Jiaoyue into 101, he reached out and took off the mask on her face; her cheeks were flushed red from being stifled by the mask.

She watched Yang Tianxing with his dark expression and didn't dare to speak, her eyes fixed on the pot of pothos she had placed by the window. The midday sun was shining a bit intensely on the plant, so she carefully walked over and moved it to another spot.

Yang Tianxing was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, "I hadn't even finished speaking, and Liu Jiaoyue ran off???"

"Come here!" Yang Tianxing shouted loudly.

Liu Jiaoyue was startled by the shout and trembled, then hurriedly took small steps to run over.

Although she did all kinds of housework when she was back in her hometown, this was her first time painting; the smell of the paint was pungent, and several times Liu Jiaoyue couldn't help but want to vomit, but in the end, she persisted and painted two vehicles, just wanting Yang Tianxing to praise her.

She never expected that instead of praise from Yang Tianxing, she would get a scolding. Having just been snapped at by Yang Tianxing, she felt aggrieved, and tears suddenly welled up and filled her eye sockets. Just as she was about to wipe the tears with her sleeve, Yang Tianxing grabbed her arm and wouldn't let her move.

"Stupid, there's paint on your sleeve covers."

Yang Tianxing wiped away Liu Jiaoyue's overflowing tears bit by bit.

"Did you not eat lunch?"

As he wiped her tears, his tone gradually softened.

Liu Jiaoyue shook her head, then looked up blankly at Yang Tianxing as he wiped her tears. His usually unruly eyebrows were gentle at this moment, and she didn't know what she should say.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes, a little."

It was almost 1:00 PM now. Yang Tianxing thought that only this silly girl would be willing to skip a meal to paint tricycles for him.

The main reason for his anger was actually heartache; the paint smell was both foul and pungent, and Liu Jiaoyue hadn't eaten. He could have done this himself or let others do it; this idiot Liu Jiaoyue just had to do it herself.

"I'll go buy food, stop crying, okay?"

"Okay."

Liu Jiaoyue replied in a low voice while shedding tears.

Yang Tianxing smiled, pinched Liu Jiaoyue's smooth cheek, and turned to head to the cafeteria.

The four staff members of the Liaison Department had the usual two meat dishes and one vegetable, but Liu Jiaoyue's side was much richer, with fish, chicken, shrimp, pork ribs, and more—everything that swims in the water and runs on the ground was there.

After taking a look, Liu Jiaoyue blinked her red eyes: "Too, too much, I won't be able to finish it..."

"Too much my ass, I haven't even eaten yet."

Yang Tianxing retorted, then went out to greet the few staff members of the Liaison Department.

"You four just eat outside; here are milk teas and drinks, divide them yourselves."

"Minister Yang, we're working for you, yet we don't even have a place to sit, making us eat outside."

Hua Xiaoyu complained discontentedly.

"Protest invalid; hurry up and finish your meal, rest for a bit, and continue working."

Yang Tianxing's response came from far away.

Ma Yuansong shook his head helplessly: "Don't you know our Minister yet? He's very overbearing, but he's very loyal."

"He's also very decisive; when the Entrepreneurship Base said they didn't want me, they didn't want me. From now on, I can only follow him in the Liaison Department."

Zhu Bin added with a smile.

"He also has a bit of a dashing air."

Xiong Jiayi muttered, and seeing everyone looking at her, she hurriedly smoothed over her words: "Dashing but not lecherous."

Yang Tianxing returned to the room; Liu Jiaoyue had already laid out the food on the table and hadn't touched her chopsticks, waiting for Yang Tianxing.

"Did you not bring chili?"

Yang Tianxing asked.

"I did."

Liu Jiaoyue blushed as she took a bottle of mustard chili from the bag: "Do you want some?"

"Not right now, you go ahead and eat."

"Crunch, crunch."

The crisp sound echoed happily in 101, and Yang Tianxing looked at Liu Jiaoyue.

"Is it spicy?"

"Not spicy, it's sweet."