Riverside Rendezvous

Ding! The host manipulated things from behind the scenes, transferring Principal Ren of the protagonist camp to another position. Received 300 Villain Points. Chu Bai's Protagonist Halo -10. Host's Villain Halo +10!

During Evening Self-Study, Wang Haoran received this message.

This surprised him somewhat.

He had originally thought Tang Bingyun would need a few days to adjust before transferring the Old Principal elsewhere.

He had not expected Tang Bingyun to act so quickly.

She had agreed to it that evening, then immediately issued orders to the Old Principal that very night.

Once the Old Principal left, Chu Bai would lose his protection at school.

If they wanted to deal with Chu Bai at school afterward, it would become much easier.

--

The final Evening Self-Study class ended.

Xu Muyan pushed her bicycle toward the school gates.

Chu Bai followed behind her.

After leaving the school gates, Chu Bai had intended for himself and Xu Muyan to head home separately.

However, Chu Bai suddenly noticed that Xu Muyan was not heading home. Instead, she was going toward the river near the school.

Finding it strange, Chu Bai hurried after her.

He followed Xu Muyan to the riverside.

Someone was waiting by the stone railing along the river.

It was Wang Haoran.

Chu Bai was furious!

Xu Muyan had skipped going home on time to go on a date with Wang Haoran! How shameless! Chu Bai dearly wanted to rush over and ruin their date.

But he held himself back.

Rushing over to cause trouble would only make Xu Muyan dislike him.

The loss would outweigh the gain.

After thinking it over, Chu Bai immediately took out his phone and called Father Xu.

"Hello, Chu Bai. Has something happened?"

"Evening Self-Study just ended. Xu Muyan hasn't gone home—she's meeting that Wang Haoran by the river!"

"What?!" Father Xu flew into a rage. "Keep a close eye on them! Make sure that brat Wang Haoran doesn't take Yan Yan somewhere else. I'm coming right over!"

Chu Bai heard hurried footsteps from the other end of the call.

Clearly, Father Xu was in a great rush to leave immediately.

"Don't worry, I'll keep watch!" Chu Bai happily hung up.

Chu Bai knew perfectly well what Father Xu did for a living.

That man had trained in martial arts.

Once Father Xu arrived, he would surely beat Wang Haoran black and blue.

Wang Haoran was a pampered rich second-generation heir, frail and weak. How many punches from Xu Muyan's father could he take? Chu Bai was curious—and eagerly anticipating it.

"There'll be a good show soon!"

"Chu Bai, what are you sneaking around here for?"

Just as Chu Bai watched Wang Haoran and Xu Muyan's every move, a voice came from behind him.

Chu Bai turned around, his face immediately filling with disdain. "Fan Jian, I'll stand wherever I damn well please. What's it got to do with you? Keep yapping and see if I don't beat you up!"

"I don't believe you. Go ahead, hit me if you dare!" Fan Jian stepped forward a few paces.

"You!"

Chu Bai clenched his fists, but quickly loosened them again.

He really wanted to beat Fan Jian up, but he did not dare bear the consequences.

During Evening Self-Study, the Old Principal had come looking for him.

The old principal said he would soon be transferred from Shui Ze High School to serve as principal at another school.

Without the Old Principal's protection, if Chu Bai got into another fight, he might be expelled outright.

"Trash. I knew you wouldn't dare touch me." Fan Jian smirked smugly, swung his backpack onto his back, and rode away on his bicycle.

However, when he swung his backpack, a bundle of something fell out.

Fan Jian had already ridden far away.

The bundle lay alone on the ground, and no one nearby had seen it.

Chu Bai immediately went over and picked it up.

The bundle was full of red banknotes, roughly estimated to be at least fifty thousand yuan.

"Fan Jian couldn't possibly have this much money. Wang Haoran must have given it to him. It's ill-gotten money, but now it belongs to me!"

Without hesitation, Chu Bai stuffed the bundle of cash into his backpack.

He did not feel even the slightest guilt.

Fan Jian had provoked him just now, and he had held back from hitting him.

Fan Jian was lucky.

He would treat this money as Fan Jian's apology to him.

Besides, Fan Jian had not noticed that he dropped his money. Even if he discovered it later and came back, he definitely would not know where he had lost it.

--

It was early summer now.

The weather was rather hot, but the breeze blowing in from the river felt especially refreshing.

Xu Muyan parked her bicycle, feeling somewhat nervous.

In the past, she had always gone straight home after Evening Self-Study. This was the first time she had not gone home on time to meet a boy.

Evening Self-Study ended at nine thirty, and it was already nine forty.

Originally, Xu Muyan had not wanted to come, yet somehow, she had still come.

"Why did you call me over?" Xu Muyan asked cautiously.

"The milk tea was pretty good, just a little too sweet." Wang Haoran smiled.

"You called me here specifically to say that?" Xu Muyan froze.

"Of course. What did you think it was for?"

"..." Xu Muyan was speechless.

"Alright, I'm done teasing you. I called you over because I wanted to talk you through it."

"You already knew? Wen Jing told you?"

"She let it slip by accident."

"Hey, hey, I almost argued with my dad because of you, but let me make this clear—I don't like you!" Xu Muyan emphasized.

"I know, I know." Wang Haoran knew she was just being stubborn, but he did not expose her.

"Good that you understand." Xu Muyan let out a sigh of relief.

"Call your mother. Tell her you're taking a walk by the river with a male classmate and ask her to pick you up." Wang Haoran handed his phone to Xu Muyan.

"I can just ride my bicycle home myself later."

"There were lots of students on the road right after school, so it was safe for you to ride home then. But after a while, there'll be very few people around. It won't be safe for you to ride alone."

At those words, a trace of warmth rose in Xu Muyan's heart.

He really was considerate of her.

Wang Haoran teased, "Besides, have you thought about it? There's hardly anyone around here, and it's just you and me. Aren't you afraid I might have bad intentions? If you ask your mother to pick you up, you won't have to worry about being alone with me."

Xu Muyan was stunned. She really had not considered that question.

Or rather, she simply had never been on guard against Wang Haoran in that way.

"You've thought things through quite well, haven't you?" Xu Muyan gave a soft snort, though she could not help secretly thinking.

Any girl who became this guy's girlfriend would probably be very happy, right?

He was handsome, came from a good family, studied well, sang beautifully, and most importantly, he was attentive and considerate toward girls. He made people feel safe.

Ding! You have stirred the heart of Xu Muyan, one of the Female Leads. Received 200 Villain Points.

Xu Muyan took Wang Haoran's phone and called her mother.

After the call ended.

"It's pretty cool by the river. Shall we take a walk?" Wang Haoran asked.

"Sure."

Xu Muyan nodded.

The two walked side by side, feeling the breeze by the river and admiring the nighttime scenery.

As they walked, the backs of their hands and their shoulders occasionally brushed against each other.

Wang Haoran could clearly sense that Xu Muyan was very nervous.

When he turned to look at her, even her profile was slightly flushed.

"Look over there!"

Wang Haoran suddenly pointed across the river.

"There's nothing there. What am I supposed to look at?" Xu Muyan asked, puzzled.

Wang Haoran smiled without answering, merely checking the time on his phone. About ten seconds later—

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Fireworks shot into the sky from across the river, exploding in midair and blooming in dazzling, gorgeous colors. The sight was breathtaking.

Along the long riverbank as far as the eye could see, brilliant multicolored scenery filled the view.

The area around the riverbank was illuminated as brightly as day.

A sweet, delighted smile blossomed across Xu Muyan's lovely face.