Chapter 65: Whispers from Afar

Xu Chen stepped out of the arcade and wandered leisurely toward the school.

He hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so he grabbed a quick bite at a noodle shop on the school’s back street.

While eating his noodles, Xu Chen pulled out his mobile phone.

There was an unread message from Bing Ge, whose real name was Xie Bingran.

[I’ve arrived in the provincial capital. Tomorrow, I’m heading to the sports university for a test…]

[Go for it, Bing Ge! Give those sports students in the provincial capital a little shock!]

Xu Chen thought for a moment and added a special reminder:

[Whether it’s training or competition, always prioritize safety and avoid injuries. Not everything requires pushing your limits—know your boundaries!]

A while later, Bing Ge replied with just one word:

[Oh]…

Xu Chen chuckled and set his phone down, digging into his noodles with gusto.

…

In a hotel room in the provincial capital.

Xie Bingran sat on the edge of the bed, holding her mobile phone.

This phone was the one Xu Chen had given her.

Xu Chen had called it his old hand-me-down, but Xie Bingran could tell it was actually new.

She had just showered, her hair still damp and unstyled.

She had read Xu Chen’s messages several times already.

Recalling Xu Chen’s warm smile, Xie Bingran bit her lip, tempted to call him.

But after hesitating for a long time, she didn’t press the call button.

…

With his stomach full, Xu Chen felt great.

Everything was going smoothly.

Opening QQ on his phone, he spotted an unread message from Ice Rose.

[Xu Chen, are you free this weekend? I need help with some math problems—could you tutor me?]

Xu Chen scratched his head, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Feng Qingqing, the daughter of that high-up official, seemed to be getting a little too attached…

The problem was, she was connected to his father Xu Zhiquan’s network and business, so he couldn’t just brush her off.

Xu Chen thought it over—he’d already turned her down last weekend, and refusing again might come off as rude.

Oh well… for the sake of the family business.

[I’m tied up in downtown on Saturday, so how about Sunday instead!]

[Sounds good! Let’s meet at the youth center in town?]

[That works!]

…

On Friday evening.

Xu Chen walked out of the exam room, and Chen Dahai was already waiting at the classroom door.

“You handed in your paper early again?” Xu Chen said with a laugh.

Chen Dahai yawned:

“Staying longer would just waste time. Might as well step out for some fresh air.”

“Let’s go grab some food!”

With the mock exam over, the two had planned to hit the internet café afterward.

They left the teaching building, crossed the campus, and headed for the school gate.

Before they reached it, they bumped into Teacher Chen Ming.

“Uncle… what happened to you?!”

Chen Dahai stared at Chen Ming in surprise.

Chen Ming’s right arm was wrapped in a bandage and slung around his neck—he was injured.

He was clearly hurt.

Xu Chen frowned.

Wasn’t Chen Ming supposed to be with Xie Bingran in the provincial capital? Why was he back at school?!

Chen Ming spotted Chen Dahai and Xu Chen, managing an awkward smile.

“It’s nothing… just a minor injury, no big deal.”

Chen Dahai asked:

“Uncle, how did you get hurt? Is it a fracture?”

Chen Ming looked embarrassed:

“I just tripped accidentally. It’s fine.”

Xu Chen couldn’t hold back:

“Teacher Chen Ming, didn’t you go with Xie Bingran to the provincial capital?”

Chen Ming:

“Oh… I got injured, so I arranged for another female teacher to go with her instead. They’re already in the provincial capital now.”

“She’s there with the other teacher.”

Xu Chen and Chen Dahai exchanged glances, both seeming to piece it together.

Chen Dahai said:

“Uncle, your injury isn’t related to Bing Ge, is it?”

Chen Ming gave an awkward smile, looking sheepish:

“When we were getting on the bus yesterday, I tried to help Xie Bingran with her bag and accidentally brushed her shoulder.”

“She’s probably used to fights and thought it was a threat, so she flipped me over in an instant…”

“…”

Chen Dahai was shocked and speechless, glancing at Xu Chen.

Xu Chen looked embarrassed and said with a smile:

“Teacher Chen Ming, let me apologize on behalf of Xie Bingran…”

Chen Ming smiled:

“No worries, it wasn’t intentional, and she’s already apologized.”

“But your Bing Ge has quite the strength.”

“If she didn’t do track and field, she could probably excel in martial arts…”

“…”

Chen Ming spoke seriously.

Chen Dahai looked completely baffled.

Xu Chen was at a loss for words…

He apologized a few more times for Bing Ge, but Chen Ming still seemed uneasy and quickly said it was fine before leaving.

Xu Chen turned to Chen Dahai:

“Later, I’ll buy a couple packs of cigarettes—help me give them to Teacher Chen Ming.”

Chen Dahai: “Bing Ge the warrior is seriously intense!”

Xu Chen shook his head helplessly.

After spending time with him, Xu Chen trusted Teacher Chen Ming’s character.

Chen Ming brushing Xie Bingran’s shoulder wasn’t about anything inappropriate.

Of course, Xie Bingran’s quick reaction was just like her.

Xu Chen remembered the first time he took Bing Ge to McDonald’s—he almost got his wrist twisted…

Still, having a male teacher like Chen Ming accompany Xie Bingran on a trip felt off.

Switching to a female teacher was probably for the best.

Even though she was tough like Bing Ge and had a bunch of followers, she was still just a young girl at heart.

…

Xu Chen and Chen Dahai grabbed a quick bowl of noodles before heading to a nearby internet café.

Chen Dahai was hooked on Diablo II, frantically clicking through dark dungeons, his mouse clicking nonstop.

Xu Chen wasn’t there to game, though.

He had a few things to handle.

He needed to study more for the college entrance exam essays, gather material, and learn from top-scoring ones.

Plus, he was waiting for feedback on Wang Laoshun’s submission.

That was a one-million yuan prize—hard not to think about it.

On top of that, his father Xu Zhiquan was acquiring the mechanical factory, which meant huge financial pressure.

If he could win that one million, it might help his father out.

Of course, his father might handle it all on his own…

Xu Chen logged into QQ and a friend request popped up.

[“NetAffairsLikeSmoke” requests to add you as a friend]

Xu Chen opened the request.

The ID was “NetAffairsLikeSmoke,” with a default QQ avatar of a cartoon girl with yellow hair.

Xu Chen pondered but couldn’t place the person, so he accepted the request first.

“Who are you?”

After a moment of typing, the other person replied:

“Xu Chen… I’m a girl from your school.”

“I’ve had a crush on you for a long time, but I didn’t dare confess in person…”