Chapter 258: None of Them Are Innocent

On the last night before going home, Li Ye and Wen Leyu strolled along the lake, reluctant to part.

Although Li Ye would return in no more than half a month to prepare for the debate competition,

Professor Ke would also be on a business trip during this half-month, so the quality of meals at home would inevitably drop—and the picky little cat was clearly sulking.

"After I'm gone, don't over-exercise, don't be picky about food, and don't complain that the home-cooked meals taste bad—do you understand?"

"Mmm, I'm not the only one who complains—my brother hates Dad's cooking too."

"You're both asking for a beating. Do you really think Wen Uncle isn't a cadre just because he doesn't lash out?"

"You don't get it—my dad's really a paper tiger. He's only fierce with outsiders, but he's soft as butter with family. It's my mom who's truly terrifying."

"Stop, stop, stop—don't tell me that. When your mom finds out, she'll take me down too."

"No way~! Mom now praises you in every three sentences she speaks, driving my brother crazy with jealousy. If I hadn't held him back, he'd have come looking for you eight times already."

"Alright, take this money. I'll be back in half a month. Let your brother take you out to eat at night—don't get skinny from hunger."

"No need, I have money."

"These are your royalty payments, including some U. . dollars. Lately, people keep coming to me to exchange foreign currency—better leave them with you."

"Then keep them with me! You're too soft-hearted—you always spend recklessly, think you're getting a bargain when you're actually getting cheated. Maybe they gave you dollars just waiting for you to exchange them out!"

Just moments before, Wen Leyu had acted as if she had no interest in money; now she waved her tiny hand and snatched the stack of cash from Li Ye's grip.

Back when they were at the Second Grain Store, Wen Leyu had already said her share of the royalties was under Li Ye's management—just feed her and that was enough.

So this money was hers—she was perfectly entitled to take it.

As Wen Leyu let go of Li Ye's hand to stuff the cash into her wallet, Li Ye casually slipped his arm around her waist.

Wen Leyu glanced at him but didn't resist.

It was late at night—who could see? They'd already reached this point, so what was the point of pretending to be shy over a simple waist-hug?

But Li Ye had only enjoyed half a minute of her soft, smooth warmth when a sudden shout interrupted them.

"Someone's going to jump into the lake! Help!"

"Damn."

Li Ye cursed angrily but didn't hesitate—he shoved Wen Leyu aside and sprinted over.

But when he arrived, he cursed again: "Damn."

A man stood five or six meters from the lake's edge, his arms and clothes yanked by three others as he struggled desperately to pull himself toward the water.

As a martial arts genius, Li Ye knew human limb strength reactions better than anyone—he instantly recognized this man had zero chance of actually jumping in.

【What the hell are you yelling for? You're just wasting my time hugging my girl.】

Li Ye turned to leave, but the three men spotted him and shouted: "Hey, student! What are you standing there for? Come help save him!"

I'm saving your ass?

But now more people had gathered, drawn by the cries for help.

Li Ye grudgingly walked over and joined the crowd, hauling the would-be jumper out of danger with ease.

Only then did Li Ye realize the man was Professor Jian from the Math Department.

"What's going on? Who's this guy trying to jump?"

"Seems to be Jian Chongzhi from Math. Why would he drown himself?"

"You don't know? This afternoon, Mu Yunning from Economics publicly dumped Professor Jian—he couldn't take the heartbreak."

"That's the Jian who wrote 'You're a quiet snow lotus deep in my heart'? Even if Mu rejected him, why jump into the lake?"

"You don't get it—I heard Mu used to be famous on campus, getting dozens of love letters every day. Only when she started dating someone did it quiet down.

But her boyfriend went abroad, was supposed to return last year but didn't. Then a few days ago, he suddenly sent a letter back—after that, Mu stopped paying attention to Jian."

"Ah, Jian wrote a love poem every day, pouring out his soul—but it couldn't beat a single letter from a heartless man. Sigh~"

Li Ye stared blankly at the crowd and muttered his third "Damn."

He knew for a fact that Jian wrote a love poem every day—true—but Mu Yunning always threw them straight into the trash in front of others, let alone "dumping" him.

Yet now, a few casual words had reshaped Mu Yunning into an entirely different person.

Wen Leyu had run over and stood beside Li Ye, listening intently. As she heard, she couldn't help but sneer.

"If dying for love could win affection, then Mu Yunning wouldn't be Mu Yunning."

Wen Leyu's voice rang out clearly, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Li Ye played along: "Student, you know about Professor Mu?"

Wen Leyu sniffed. "I've heard a bit. Over the years, Mu's had at least eighty suitors. She's tried this 'jumping into the lake' stunt at least twice—didn't work."

Li Ye froze. He thought: That stunt might not be useless—Yu Minhong used it to win over the class beauty from the Spanish Department, didn't he?

But this was a performance—he followed Wen Leyu's lead: "But what if someone actually drowns?"

Wen Leyu rolled her eyes. "Who's going to be alone by the lake at this hour? Throw a stone in, and half the campus comes running to count the ripples."

"."

The two or thirty people gathered all paused, then turned their eyes toward Jian and his three accomplices—the spark of gossip began to blaze.

Love gossip was always the most interesting; love gossip with a conspiracy? Even more so.

"Which department are you from? What's your name?"

"."

"Who just spoke up? Step forward!"

"."

No one answered. More people gathered, as if watching a ridiculous comedy.

Then, when Mu Yunning was called over, the comedy reached its finale.

Mu Yunning coldly said: "Professor Jian, I remember you taught a girl surnamed Yang from another school how to swim last year. Did you forget how? Want to relearn?"

Professor Jian panicked: "No, no! What Yang girl?"

Mu Yunning replied: "Yang Mengqing, Physics Department, Class of 1980, from Shida. Want me to call her right now and have a chat?"

"."

Li Ye tugged Wen Leyu's sleeve, and the two slipped away quietly into the dim night.

They'd done what they needed to do—if Mu Yunning saw them, it'd be awkward.

Once they were far away, Wen Leyu said coldly: "See? Your Professor Mu isn't someone to mess with. Anyone who tries to trick her ends up eating their own shame."

Li Ye nodded vigorously: "Yeah, yeah, she's really formidable."

Wen Leyu tilted her head, studying Li Ye, then suddenly said: "I'm formidable too. You'd better—hmm~"

Li Ye blinked, stared at her for a long moment, then said: "That's nonsense. I'd never trick you."

Wen Leyu's face fell; she stuck out her tongue. "Forget it, forget it—I'm just imitating Mom. I'm not doing it well, hehe."

Oh my god, Professor Ke, please don't do this!

Don't take away my little cute cat!

(End of Chapter)