Chapter 62: Wen Leyu, Please Don

Li Ye heard that there was a deity whom believers regarded with a hundred percent satisfaction rate.

It could repel darkness, dispel fear, and neutralize cold.

It could render evil spirits that terrified crying children powerless and leave Zhenzi crawling out of the television with no bite to take.

It was the great God of the Blanket.

In winter at minus seventeen or eighteen degrees, snuggling into a warm blanket was truly the deity’s finest gift to us.

Especially when you had the whole little heated brick bed to yourself.

Li Ye had a little heated brick bed, tucked inside the back room of the Second Grain Storehouse.

Since he started using it as his off-campus study spot, he spent five minutes every day lingering in its embrace.

But today, that five minutes of warmth had been ruined.

“Bro, bro, the school announced everyone has to attend Lu Jingyao’s experience lecture—do you... go?”

Li Ye flipped over irritably and grumbled, “Then what do you think I should do?”

Li Dayong said awkwardly, “I think... if you don’t go, they’ll say you’re scared of her, and people will start gossiping again.”

“Then why’d you even ask? Let’s go!”

Li Ye wasn’t afraid of Lu Jingyao at all. He got up, dressed, threw on his big coat, and stepped outside.

“Bro, hat, hat, gloves, gloves...”

Li Dayong shouted from behind, but Li Ye, still grumpy from waking up, had already left.

Outside, Li Ye immediately regretted it—today’s weather was truly awful.

The air was freezing, the sky choked with dark clouds, the north wind howling—perfect for a performance of “The White-Haired Girl.”

Luckily, the Second Grain Storehouse wasn’t far from County No. 2 High—just a hundred meters or so, a few quick strides away.

But as soon as he entered the school gate, Li Ye froze.

【What the hell is wrong with them? Are they trying to give everyone frostbite?】

On a day like this, the lecture was being held outdoors.

On the school’s playground, over a hundred benches had been set up, nearly packed with people.

Because it was so cold and the wind so fierce, everyone instinctively huddled closer together, like penguins in the Antarctic incubation season, seeking warmth from each other.

Li Ye asked Li Dayong, “Why so many people? Aren’t we on break?”

Li Dayong whispered, “The news spread fast—not just our school, but every student in town showed up, and even a lot from No. 1 High came.”

“.........”

Li Ye was speechless.

He was one hundred percent sure the school had been pushing this rumor.

County No. 2 High had always been overshadowed by No. 1 High in Qinghe County; every year at the education meeting, No. 1 High’s performance report made No. 2 High blush with shame.

Lu Jingyao was one of the few shining stars County No. 2 High had.

Never mind the prestige of Beijing Foreign Languages College—just the words “Beijing university” alone made every student in the county look up to her in awe.

Today’s students revered provincial universities; most aimed only for city-level vocational schools, junior colleges, or normal schools.

A Beijing university, in their eyes, was the real ivory tower.

So when Lu Jingyao returned, how could County No. 2 High not use her to boost its reputation?

“Li Ye, over here!”

Fu Yingjie waved to Li Ye from the crowd, gesturing for him and Li Dayong to come over.

The eight-person group had secured a decent spot, tucked deeper into the crowd, offering slight shelter from the wind.

As soon as “Li Ye” was called out, a large section of nearby students turned to stare at him.

Bad news travels far—in this high school circle, Li Ye was a local celebrity, the counterpart to Lu Jingyao.

Li Ye ignored them, used his “Wild Charge” skill to shove through, drawing a chorus of complaints.

“Move, move, don’t block the way.”

The bear-like Li Dayong squeezed in behind him, and the grumbling quickly faded.

Let’s be honest—a two-hundred-pound frame came with a natural “intimidation” aura.

Li Ye squeezed beside his classmate; Wen Leyu shifted her little butt to make room for him.

Ever since she became his desk partner, she had tacitly accepted the “thirty-centimeter distance” rule with Li Ye.

Hu Man noticed Li Ye had his hands tucked inside his sleeves, shivering from the cold, and asked worriedly, “Li Ye, why aren’t you wearing a hat?”

Li Ye replied, “I didn’t know it was an outdoor lecture—I thought it’d be seventy or eighty people crammed into a classroom.”

Hu Man was about to speak again, but noticed Wen Leyu beside Li Ye had already taken off her scarf.

Hu Man was stunned.

【Is she giving it to Li Ye? So bold?】

Li Ye saw it too and quickly patted Wen Leyu’s arm, signaling she didn’t need to go through the trouble.

Then he reached out, snatched Li Dayong’s hat, and put it on himself.

Mmm, dog-fur hat—still warm. Perfect.

Li Dayong stared blankly at his older brother, his heart full of bitter resentment: “You care for her, but not me?”

“Hey hey hey, quiet down!”

The lecture began; the school leadership’s opening remarks were brief and forceful.

“For years, our school has upheld the noble mission of teaching and nurturing, producing generations of graduates.

Today, our outstanding alumna, Lu Jingyao, is grateful to our school... please welcome her to share her valuable study experience...”

Lu Jingyao stepped onto the stage; thunderous applause erupted below.

At this moment, she was truly a star adored by all.

“Hello everyone, I’m Lu Jingyao, a native of Qinghe County...”

“Seeing so many of you braving the cold to attend my lecture moves and comforts me deeply,

because once, I too was a poor child who refused to be defeated by hardship—back then, I had no direction in life...”

“Only when I reached Beijing did I see how vast the world was. Every year, our school sends students abroad, to even broader horizons...”

Lu Jingyao spoke at a steady pace, her sentences logically connected—clearly she had rehearsed thoroughly.

She spoke of her past confusion, her excitement upon getting into university, her joy at leaving home and seeing the wide world beyond.

Below, the high school students listened intently, as if missing a single word might cause them to miss their chance at a Beijing university.

Lu Jingyao spoke for over half an hour, leaving the students spellbound—but Li Ye grew drowsy.

He’d heard too many speeches in his past life; this 1981-style motivational talk held zero novelty for him.

But just as Lu Jingyao’s speech neared its end, Li Ye suddenly perked up.

“Here, I sincerely thank my alma mater, my teachers, and my classmates—they gave me support, gave me strength... Also...”

Lu Jingyao paused noticeably, then changed tone: “Also, I’d like to thank some... friends, for their help.”

Sensing something off, Li Ye looked up and caught Lu Jingyao’s dark circles—and a fleeting, barely-there glance.

Li Ye pondered, tilted slightly, and asked Wen Leyu, “Is she talking about you?”

“Hmph~”

“What did you say to her last night?”

“Hmph~”

“.........”

Li Ye watched Wen Leyu’s upturned nose, a pang of worry in his chest.

【Please don’t turn into one of those postmodern little fairy girls—ask her anything, she won’t answer, just makes you guess.】

“Hey hey, thank you, Lu Jingyao, for your wonderful speech. Our school’s years of hard work have finally borne fruit—

not only have we produced university students admitted to top schools, but also a nationally renowned young writer...”

Li Ye, hunched over trying to keep warm, suddenly snapped his head up toward Principal Chang on stage.

“Now please welcome our outstanding student, renowned young writer Li Ye, to the stage...”

【Am I pretty? Principal Chang, what are you doing?】

【Stirring up a romance?】

【Setting up a rivalry?】

Lu Jingyao just got off, and now you’re calling me up? You’re trying to force us together, aren’t you?

Even if you want to use me to boost your reputation, couldn’t you have warned me first?

Look at me—I didn’t even change clothes or fix my hair. Are you using me as a prop?

No matter how annoyed Li Ye was, applause broke out below.

And it was loud—yet to Li Ye, it carried a faint tone of mockery.

“Hmph~”

Li Ye let out a quiet hum and stood up.

【You really think I’m a coward? You really think forty years of perspective can’t teach you how to behave?】

Li Ye shrugged off his big coat, revealing the green military uniform underneath.

It was the “authentic article” Li Kaijian had scrounged for him—in the 1980s, a high school student in a green military uniform was unquestionably the coolest kid in the crowd.

As he stepped out of the crowd, this time he didn’t use any “Wild Charge”—everyone made way for him.

His upright posture, agile steps, and precise gait turned mocking glances into ones of shame.

Li Ye had participated in several military trainings in his past life; now, with this godlike physique and face, plus the boost from “Infiltration,” crushing a bunch of narrow-minded bumpkins was a matter of moments.

All the girls present, and most of the boys, developed a strange thought.

【Lu Jingyao, what are you thinking?】