Chapter 48: The Mercedes-Driving Future Father-in-Law

"What is it? We'll wait for you."

Qin Tian said with a smile.

"Right, no rush, no rush."

Zhang Peng echoed.

"I... I'm looking for a hair clip. I took it off at noon, and now I can't find it anywhere!"

"It's fine, take your time!"

"Really, you don't have to wait for me, you two go ahead."

Xia Nuannuan looked up at them, a look of anxiety flashing in her eyes.

"The boarding students still have to stay here for self-study anyway, so you don't need to be in such a hurry. We'll wait for you."

Zhang Peng comforted her with a grin.

Qin Tian, however, sensed something was off. He nodded and said, "Alright then, we'll head out first."

"Mm-hmm!!"

Xia Nuannuan nodded hurriedly in agreement.

"Let's go, let's go. Don't disturb the boarding students during their self-study."

Qin Tian dragged a confused Zhang Peng away and left the classroom directly.

"Brother Tian, what's the situation?"

Once they were out of the classroom, Zhang Peng realized something wasn't right either.

Qin Tian let go of his arm and shook his head. "I don't know. Let's get downstairs first."

And so, after exiting the teaching building, the two found a secluded corner and stood there.

"Brother Tian, are we tailing her? That doesn't seem quite right, does it?"

Zhang Peng looked bewildered.

"Ahem..."

Qin Tian was struck dumb by his words and glared at him. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"

"Hehe..."

Zhang Peng gave a sneaky laugh.

Qin Tian ignored him and cast his gaze back toward the stairs of the teaching building.

He was just as curious about what could possibly make Xia Nuannuan lie just to leave the school alone.

"Brother Tian, she's coming!"

Zhang Peng whispered.

"I see her."

Qin Tian nodded slightly.

They saw Xia Nuannuan walking out of the teaching building with her schoolbag, heading toward the school gate.

She was walking noticeably slower, as if she had something on her mind.

"Let's go, follow her!"

After Xia Nuannuan had walked about two hundred meters, Qin Tian signaled Zhang Peng to follow.

By the time they reached the school gate, they saw Xia Nuannuan just climbing into the back seat of a black Mercedes.

At the same time, a middle-aged man with facial features somewhat similar to Xia Nuannuan's and a slightly stout build was just opening the driver's side door.

"That's... Xia Nuannuan's father?"

Zhang Peng exclaimed in surprise.

"That must be him."

Qin Tian realized what was happening and couldn't help but laugh to himself.

So, Xia Nuannuan was worried about running into her future father-in-law!

He could roughly guess the reason.

At the very least, if he had a daughter in high school and saw her getting close to a boy, he would definitely blow a fuse.

"Tsk tsk, how expensive must that car be? Xia Nuannuan's family is really loaded!"

Zhang Peng sighed with emotion.

"It's an S-Class. A new one must cost over a million!"

Qin Tian didn't know much about cars, but he could recognize a classic Mercedes S-Class.

"Over a million? Damn, that's way too rich."

Zhang Peng was so shocked he couldn't help but curse.

His parents both worked, but their family situation wasn't much better than Qin Tian's.

A luxury car worth over a million was something he wouldn't even dare to dream of.

"Brother Tian, how about it? Do you feel any pressure?"

Zhang Peng wore a gloating smile as he teased Qin Tian.

Qin Tian glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "What pressure?"

"Playing dumb, are we!"

"You're overthinking it. Whether her family is rich or not doesn't affect me at all."

Qin Tian's tone remained composed and self-assured.

Having been reborn and possessing a high-tech system, he really didn't feel any pressure when it came to money and wealth.

"As expected of you, awesome!"

Zhang Peng gave a thumbs up, genuinely impressed.

If it were him, even if he acted tough on the outside, he would definitely be panicking on the inside after seeing that luxury car.

He knew Qin Tian too well; this guy really wasn't panicking at all!

Just then, Xia Zhengping, who was about to get into the car, suddenly sensed something and cast his gaze toward them.

"Damn, he's looking over here."

Zhang Peng exclaimed, hurriedly averting his eyes.

Qin Tian just paused for a moment before meeting Xia Zhengping's gaze with a calm expression.

Across a distance of several dozen meters, the future father-in-law and son-in-law sized each other up for a few seconds.

Then, Qin Tian smiled and nodded slightly, a polite gesture of greeting.

Xia Zhengping was stunned.

"Let's go, time to head back."

Qin Tian signaled to Zhang Peng, then turned and walked away with long strides.

"We're just leaving? Wait for me."

Zhang Peng hurried to catch up.

At the same time, Xia Zhengping got into the car.

He didn't think much of it, assuming they were just two teenagers dazzled by his car.

Since the car was facing the opposite direction of where Qin Tian and Zhang Peng were heading home, and Xia Nuannuan in the back seat was lost in thought, she didn't see what had just happened.

"Nuannuan, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing his daughter's expression in the rearview mirror, Xia Zhengping asked curiously.

"Huh? Nothing at all!"

Xia Nuannuan snapped out of it and answered in a flustered tone.

Xia Zhengping raised an eyebrow.

He knew his precious daughter, whom he wanted to hold in the palm of his hand, too well.

It was obvious she had something on her mind and was keeping a secret from him.

Recalling the incident at noon where she brought food in a thermal container, he felt a strange intuition.

Almost instinctively, he glanced at the boy who was walking further and further away in the rearview mirror.

"By the way, have you made any good friends at school lately?"

Xia Zhengping asked again, feigning casualness as he started the car.

Xia Nuannuan's heart skipped a beat, and she answered with forced composure, "Yes, I have. Why do you ask?"

"Oh? No reason, just curious. That's good."

Xia Zhengping looked pleased, but he became even more vigilant inside.

Although he was often in Jiangcheng for business, he had always kept track of his daughter's situation at school through his wife.

For a long time, his daughter hadn't been popular at school.

This had always made him furious; his daughter was so beautiful and outstanding, yet she had no friends at school.

But he hadn't found a good solution.

After all, no matter how much money he had, he couldn't buy his daughter a true friend.

"It's our class monitor and the English representative, two girls. We've been getting along quite well lately."

Xia Nuannuan realized she might have said the wrong thing and hurriedly tried to patch it up.

"Is that so? That's good. High school friendships are very precious. When you have time, bring your friends home so your mother can cook a nice meal to treat them."

Xia Zhengping suggested with a smile, though he felt even more suspicious now.

It was truly strange; the tone she used didn't sound like she was lying at all!

Could it be... that he was really overthinking it?

He glanced at the rearview mirror again, but the boy's back was no longer in sight.

"We'll see when the holiday comes!"

Xia Nuannuan agreed.

"What about boys? Are there any male classmates you're close with?"

Xia Zhengping asked again, unwilling to give up.

"Huh?"

Xia Nuannuan was dumbfounded. Her eyes darted around, and feeling guilty, she told a lie.

"No, not at all!"

"It's over!"

Xia Zhengping almost jerked the steering wheel and drove onto the curb.