Letting Go of Past Grudges

The rumors spread further and further, and with neither of the two parties involved stepping forward to deny them, they quickly circulated wildly among the students.

Su Yuan clearly felt she had become famous. On her way to class, students always cast strange glances her way. Although they didn't openly point fingers, whispers were unavoidable. At this moment, she finally understood the troubles of celebrities.

The entire road had become a stage for a dramatic performance. She stood under a giant spotlight, like a rare animal caged in a zoo, unable to refuse the gazes from all directions.

Even her classmates, with whom she had spent a year, looked at Su Yuan with subtle, varied expressions. Some were envious, some indifferent, but most pursed their lips, indicating they were unaffected. Among them, Lu Wei, the new league branch secretary, used body language to tell her—she was somewhat gloating.

Upon learning that Su Yuan had made a name for herself in this year's Student Union, becoming the vice minister of the External Relations Department, Lu Wei's joy at defeating Yang Xiaowei to be elected league branch secretary had unknowingly vanished. She had also been wondering why Su Yuan wasn't competing for league branch secretary; turns out she didn't think it was worth her attention!

If she were still reveling in the joy of victory for merely becoming a league branch secretary of a single class at this time, it would undoubtedly highlight her pettiness. Coincidentally, news was circulating that Su Yuan and Xiao Yiyan were a couple, which made her feel a bit enlightened and much more pleased.

What's there to be proud of!

Su Yuan's position as vice minister of the External Relations Department was probably thanks to Xiao Yiyan. Moreover, after this whole incident, how would she handle it? There were plenty of people who wanted to tear her to shreds now, and Lin Jun alone would be enough trouble for her!

Lu Wei's mood instantly improved. As she passed by Su Yuan, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a small arc.

It's as if her suffering makes me happy...

Su Yuan, of course, found Lu Wei's baseless animosity inexplicable. Some people were just like that; you could never figure out why they harbored malice towards you. Their joys and sorrows seemed to exist on a different plane from ordinary people, their thought processes incomprehensible.

For such people, the simplest approach was to ignore them.

After class, Su Yuan quickly returned to her dorm. Only here was a tranquil harbor. Compared to the mixed and varied gazes outside, it was much safer here.

Around five o'clock, she finished the homework assigned by her teacher. Su Yuan remembered she still had to tutor Tang Wen, that little girl, so she rode her newly purchased second-hand bicycle towards Tang Wen's house.

This was her second visit. Without Xia Linfei to lead the way, Su Yuan relied on her good memory to find the house number.

Dad Tang and Aunt Zhang were as warm as ever. Tang Wen, that little girl, had gotten quite familiar with Su Yuan, calling her "Sister Su" with every sentence, which completely disarmed Su Yuan.

Two hours later, it was already eight in the evening. The Tang family, seeing that it was getting late, wanted her to stay the night. However, Su Yuan couldn't agree and insisted on riding her bicycle back.

"Since you're going back, you shouldn't ride your bike. Let Uncle Tang drive you back," Aunt Zhang said, worried that it wasn't safe for a girl, especially a pretty one, to travel alone at night.

Su Yuan felt a bit frustrated, realizing that everyone in the Tang family treated her as a girl. It was also Xia Linfei's fault for not explaining clearly at the time. Now that the misunderstanding had occurred, it was awkward to explain.

"No need, I can go back by myself."

"How can that be? Anyway, your Uncle Tang has a car; it'll only take a moment to go back and forth."

"That's right, Su Yuan. Let me drive you back," Dad Tang said enthusiastically.

"Really, no need."

Su Yuan appreciated their kindness but still insisted on cycling back herself.

Seeing her persistence, the Tang family was helpless. "Since that's the case, please be careful on your way back."

When she returned to Dorm Building 17, she saw Wang Ping waiting at the entrance of the corridor. Upon seeing Su Yuan, he said, "You're finally here. I just met with Lin Jun and told him you were my friend, asking him not to bother you anymore. That guy said he wants to treat you to a late-night snack. Don't just stand there, let's go."

Without waiting for Su Yuan's agreement, he grabbed her hand and pulled her outside.

"Hey, wait a moment, let me park my bike first."

"Then hurry up."

A minute later, Su Yuan parked her bike. Wang Ping watched her walk out at a leisurely pace and muttered, "Don't be so slow; it's important business."

Outside the east gate of Binhe Institute of Technology was a snack street. It was almost ten o'clock, not exactly early, but the snack street was still bustling with people. Most were couples out for a late-night snack.

From a distance, she could see Lin Jun's not-so-burly but lean figure. He was sitting at a white plastic table, occupying a table by himself. Several plates of barbecue were on it, and three bottles of beer had been opened.

Seeing Su Yuan and Wang Ping arrive, the fellow stood up to greet them. Without a word, he handed Su Yuan a cup of beer: "Little Brother Su, I was rash yesterday. I apologize again today. From now on, we're good buddies. If you encounter anything you can't handle, be sure to tell me, and I'll solve it for you!"

Lin Jun's attitude surprised Wang Ping. He thought it would be good enough if Lin Jun didn't bother Su Yuan, but unexpectedly, he was so generous, even offering, "I'll have your back from now on." Su Yuan was also a bit taken aback. At first, she couldn't figure out what Lin Jun was up to, but gradually she understood that Lin Jun genuinely wanted to bury the hatchet.

She was naturally happy to do so. She took the offered cup and smiled, "It's good that the knot between us is untied."

"Come, let's finish this glass!" Lin Jun laughed heartily.

Su Yuan naturally obliged, drinking the entire cup of wine in one gulp.

Lin Jun cheered, while Wang Ping worried that her slender body couldn't handle much alcohol. He called out, "Don't just drink, come eat something to fill your stomach."

Su Yuan sat down. The conflict between her and Lin Jun had arisen somewhat out of the blue, but it was better to resolve enmities than to let them fester. Moreover, Lin Jun's background was something that ordinary people like Su Yuan couldn't afford to offend.

The deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Elsewhere, this might only be a deputy department-level official, and it would depend on which departments they managed. If they managed less influential departments, it would be a position for retirement.

However, the deputy director of the Binhe Municipal Public Security Bureau was no small matter. Binhe City is a sub-provincial city, and the Public Security Bureau itself is a deputy-departmental level unit. The director is usually a member of the Standing Committee, holding a high-ranking position up to the departmental level. Therefore, the deputy directors ranked higher had at least reached the deputy-departmental level.

Lin Jun's father was the first-ranked deputy director, in charge of the Public Security Bureau's work, holding a deputy-departmental level position. He also concurrently served as a deputy director of the Provincial Public Security Department. Although he was ranked lower in the provincial department, such a concurrent position was unusual in itself.

Su Yuan didn't want to offend Lin Jun, a genuine "official second generation," without reason. Being able to sit together and drink now was already a very good outcome.

The three of them drank and ate barbecue, and time flew by until eleven-thirty at night. During this time, Lin Jun kept toasting Su Yuan, acting as familiar as if Su Yuan were his younger brother, patting his chest and promising that as long as he was around, no one would dare bully her!

To this, it would be a lie to say Su Yuan wasn't moved. In fact, she thought the biggest trouble was Lin Jun himself. If he hadn't come looking for trouble, others wouldn't have been so scary. Since Lin Jun wanted to protect her, it was naturally for the best, saving her a lot of trouble.

Finally, they clinked glasses. Lin Jun had a faint smile on his face as he downed his drink, feeling incredibly pleased.

Now, the outside world was spreading rumors that Xiao Yiyan's boyfriend was Su Yuan. But after learning Su Yuan's "secret," he knew she posed no threat to him. This secret was currently known only to him. Of course, he wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by.

To borrow a phrase, "Let the storm come even more fiercely!!"

For this reason, Su Yuan, who was acting as a shield, should be protected. After all, in a sense, she had also laid an ambush for him.

It's a shame that such a cute boy is "bent." Watching Su Yuan tilt her head slightly and drink the wine in her glass, a trace of alcohol slid down her slender neck, Lin Jun sighed with emotion.

It was already very late, and the barbecue stall was about to close. Lin Jun was the one who insisted on paying the bill in the end. The three of them spent over two hundred yuan and drank six bottles of beer.

By the end, Su Yuan felt like she was going to vomit with just one more bite of a skewer. She really couldn't eat these things in large quantities.

After bidding farewell to Lin Jun, Su Yuan staggered along with Wang Ping towards the dormitory building.

"Look at you, if you can't drink, don't drink so much. You don't have to save face for Lin Jun; that kid gets carried away easily." Supporting Su Yuan, who could barely walk steadily, Wang Ping frowned and said.

She waved her hand, "No, I'm fine. My head's just a bit fuzzy, but I can still walk." She said that, but when she took a step, her foot felt a little wobbly. She had drunk a bottle and a half this time, which was beyond her usual capacity.

Wang Ping shook his head, gaining a new understanding of her meager alcohol tolerance. He had no choice but to support her as she swiped her student card to open the dormitory's access control.

"By the way, Wang Ping, how are you and Lin Jun so close?" One was a poor kid from the countryside, and the other was the son of an official whose father was on the rise. From the looks of it, Wang Ping seemed to have the upper hand over Lin Jun, which made her very curious.

"You wouldn't understand this. Don't look at Lin Jun's family background; if you want him to submit, it depends on who has the stronger fist! If he doesn't submit, I'll beat him until he does!"

Su Yuan felt a bit ashamed upon hearing this. So Wang Ping had actually beaten Lin Jun and apparently made him submit. If this had happened to Su Yuan, let alone whether she could win, whether she would even dare to lay a hand on someone would be a question. Fortunately, Wang Ping encountered Lin Jun. If he had run into another second-generation rich kid with a more fiery temper who couldn't stand to be wronged even a little, Wang Ping might be in a detention center right now.

"I can see you're having trouble walking. How about I help you to your room?"

"Thank you, then." Su Yuan was self-aware enough to know that without Wang Ping's support, she would likely have crashed into the stairs in her current state.

"Hey Wang Ping, let me lean on your shoulder, that's fine... No, you support..."