Chapter 35

When Jiang Bai appeared in the classroom on crutches, the students wore somewhat shocked expressions.

As for Jiang Bai's ankle injury, the class sports representative probably had the strongest reaction.

Looking at Jiang Bai's casted right foot, the sports representative wore a pained expression as he looked at him seated at his desk and asked worriedly, "Jiang Bai, will your leg be recovered in time for next Thursday's School Sports Meet?"

Jiang Bai had been the boys' 200-meter champion at the School Sports Meet in his first year of high school. The sports representative had gone to great lengths to persuade him to enter the event again this year, yet after just one night apart, Jiang Bai had given him such a "surprise."

Jiang Bai would not even be able to set aside his crutches for several days, so a physically demanding event like the 200-meter race was completely out of the question.

Jiang Bai spoke apologetically. "Sorry for the trouble."

Thinking about how the school required every class to have someone participate in each event, the sports representative scratched his head in distress.

Nearly everyone in the class who could run and jump already had their own events assigned to them. For a moment, he had no idea where to find someone to replace Jiang Bai.

"How about I take Jiang Bai's place?"

Hearing Lu Yao volunteer, the sports representative looked at him in surprise. "Didn't you say before that you weren't participating in the School Sports Meet?"

Seeing that Lu Yao had excellent physical fitness, the sports representative had put considerable effort into persuading him to sign up for the School Sports Meet. Unfortunately, Lu Yao had rejected the suggestion without even thinking about it.

Lu Yao said, "I changed my mind."

Seeing Lu Yao willingly offer to replace Jiang Bai in the 200-meter race, the sports representative hurriedly agreed, afraid that he might change his mind again.

"Then it's settled. I'll go register your name right now."

With that, the sports representative hurried back to his seat.

Jiang Bai's eyes crinkled with amusement as he knowingly teased, "Why did you suddenly change your mind? Didn't you say you couldn't run anymore?"

When the sports representative had heard someone as young as Lu Yao claim that he could no longer run, he had been left speechless by that excuse.

After sitting together for some time, Lu Yao and Jiang Bai had unknowingly grown much closer.

Hearing Jiang Bai's teasing, Lu Yao lifted his eyes slightly to look at him. His deep voice carried a smile. "I can never repay the debt of saving my life, so I can only offer myself to you."

Jiang Bai froze for a moment. Once he understood, his cheeks instantly grew scorching hot.

Saying something like that was way too unfair!

Seeing that Jiang Bai seemed not to have processed his joke, Lu Yao chuckled and explained, "After all, you sprained your ankle saving me. It's only natural that I take your place at the School Sports Meet."

Jiang Bai said, "..."

Actually, he did not need to add that last explanation.

On Saturday, Lu Qi's birthday, his uncle Lu Shenyuan took time away from the club to return to the Lu family and have dinner with everyone.

Throughout the meal, Lu Qi kept chattering to Lu Shenyuan and Father Lu, showing off the gift Lu Yao had given him.

Unable to stand Lu Qi's smug look, Lu Shenyuan pressed his tongue against his cheek in displeasure, then turned to Lu Yao. "Nephew, when it's my birthday, I want a handmade gift from you too."

Ms. Li smiled gently. "Me too."

Father Lu cleared his throat. "Same here."

Lu Yao said, "..."

Hearing Lu Shenyuan and the others' requests, Lu Qi loudly protested in dissatisfaction, "No! Aren't you turning my exclusive custom-made gift into something sold wholesale at Yiwu? If that happens, my birthday present won't be special at all! Lu Yao, don't listen to them. Their birthdays are still far away. Don't pick out gifts for them so early, or there won't be any surprise left when the time comes."

Lu Shenyuan curled his lips. "It's fine. I like this kind of predictable surprise."

Lu Qi was so angry he was practically stomping his feet. "No! This is Lu Yao's special treatment for me."

Lu Shenyuan said evenly, "I say it's fine, so it's fine. It'll be the birthday gift Lu Yao gives me, so I have the right to decide what I want."

Lu Yao said, "..."

He seemed to have become a tool being thoroughly arranged by others.

Besides, did those two not think their conversation was a little childish?

They were already adults, yet they were arguing over something like this...

In the end, the argument fizzled out when Lu Yao withdrew from it.

The next day, Sunday, Lu Qi went out to meet his friends after getting up.

After Lu Yao went out to the bookstore and returned, he saw Father Lu entertaining a guest in the living room.

After greeting Father Lu and the others, Lu Yao went upstairs, intending to return to his room.

From the arguments Xia Yue and Chu Jiaojiao had previously had at home, Chu Wang also knew that the Lu family had found their child who had been missing for years.

He gave Father Lu a flattering smile and said ingratiatingly, "A tiger father truly has no weak son. Young Master Lu is just as outstanding-looking as Director Lu."

Father Lu replied distantly, "You flatter us. If there is nothing else, then I think our discussion today can end here."

Chu Wang had come to the Lu family today intending to persuade Father Lu to invest in his company. Unfortunately, Father Lu had already rejected his proposal before Lu Yao entered.

Ever since Chu Wang divorced Chu Jiaojiao's mother, the Chu family's company had gone steadily downhill. Without Chu Jiaojiao's mother, a formidable businesswoman, secretly using her connections to bring clients to the useless Chu Wang, the company's operations had worsened by the day.

Seeing Father Lu rise to leave, Chu Wang panicked and blurted out, "Director Lu, I heard from my daughter Xia Yue that your son Lu Qi is quite close to her at school. If you don't mind, perhaps our two families could form a marriage alliance. What do you think?"

Unable to secure Father Lu's investment, Chu Wang wanted to use Xia Yue in a marriage alliance to obtain financial support.

Just as Lu Yao was about to close his bedroom door, he heard Chu Wang's words. His movements paused briefly, but he still shut the door directly, cutting off the conversation downstairs.

As soon as Chu Wang finished speaking, Father Lu's expression instantly turned icy. His voice was filled with displeasure as he bluntly ordered him out. "I have other matters to attend to. See yourself out."

With that, he left Chu Wang in the living room and headed straight for the stairs.

Such discourteous behavior was extremely rare for Father Lu. It showed just how badly Chu Wang's words had angered him.

If it had been Chu Jiaojiao, Father Lu would have refused but perhaps would not have been so angry. But Xia Yue was merely an illegitimate daughter. Chu Wang must have had his brains stolen by dogs to dare suggest that Xia Yue form a marriage alliance with Lu Qi in front of him.

Chu Wang could treat a fish eye as a pearl, but the rest of them were not blind.

The next day, Monday, during the lunch break.

Lu Yao rested his chin on one hand, his eyes lowered as he gazed at the scenery outside the window.

Thinking of the fragments of conversation he had overheard yesterday, he pursed his lips and furrowed his brow slightly.

The window beside Lu Yao happened to provide a clear view of everything taking place on the school road below.

He had only been distracted for a moment, but when he came back to himself, he saw Lu Qi holding Xia Yue in his arms on the school road below.

Since Lu Qi had not seemed close to Xia Yue at all lately, Lu Yao had assumed that their relationship would not be as intimate as the one he had seen in that dream. But the scene before him seemed to tell him that he had taken things too much for granted.

Seeing their intimate behavior and recalling the dream he had repeatedly had before, Lu Yao's eyes darkened, and the light in them gradually dimmed.

Even if the beginning was different, would everything still repeat itself?