Chapter 34: Han Yuanzhong's Provocation

Yu Hang’s arrival startled Zhou Ran, who had already begun his shift. Although Sui Yi had introduced Yu Hang as her classmate, he still felt uneasy. After all, this was the first time Sui Yi had been so close to a classmate.

Zhou Ran’s vague hostility did nothing to dampen Yu Hang’s good mood. Even when he saw Old Tang, Yu Hang greeted him cheerfully, full of smiles and politeness, though they were strangers.

Old Tang glanced at him, then at Sui Yi, raising an eyebrow.
“You’re Sui Yi’s classmate?”
“Yes!” Yu Hang replied, taking the breakfast from Sui Yi’s hands and sharing it with Old Tang. His friendliness and outgoing nature were evident—he was easy to like.

Old Tang chuckled, “Your father is Yu Quan, isn’t he?”
Yu Hang paused, “Yes, do you know him?”
“He’s the owner of the Floss Bicycle Association… Sui Yi bought her bike from your family. I only just found out you two are classmates.”
Hearing Old Tang mention Yu Hang’s background, Zhou Ran’s expression shifted slightly; he glanced at Sui Yi unconsciously. So, the reason Sui Yi treated Yu Hang differently was because…

After breakfast, as Sui Yi headed into the kitchen, Zhou Ran emerged from the corner, blocking her path. He frowned and said, “Sui Yi, your classmate’s family may be wealthy, but you’re still young—focus on your studies. Don’t get caught up in things that aren’t worth it. Those people only want to have fun; in the end, you’ll be the one who suffers…”

Sui Yi hadn’t expected Zhou Ran to launch into such a speech. She frowned after listening, not yet responding.

“Listen to me, keep your distance from him. With your background, you can’t afford to play their games, Sui Yi,” Zhou Ran added hurriedly, seeing Yu Hang chatting easily with Old Tang, his demeanor entirely unrestrained, relying no doubt on his family’s wealth.

Now Sui Yi understood. She looked at Zhou Ran calmly, wiping the water from her hands.
“I know what I’m doing, thank you for your concern.”
With that, she walked past him.

Zhou Ran failed to notice the indifference in Sui Yi’s glance. She disliked being dictated to, especially when it came with such self-assured subjectivity.

Watching Yu Hang happily follow Sui Yi off to school, Old Tang stroked his little moustache. “The Yu family boy has good taste…”

Zhou Ran kept his head down, saying nothing.

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As the bus approached the stop in front of Second High, paused at the traffic light, a few sleepy-eyed high schoolers were munching on buns, leaning against the window. Suddenly, one of them froze, clutching the window and shouting to the others, “Look, isn’t that Yu Hang from Class Three?”

“That’s him!”

“Hey, who’s that beside him…”

Two bicycles rolled along the broad bike lane, stopping before the white line. Nearby, several other students headed for Second High, all riding bicycles, their faces shrouded in the mist of morning.

Yu Hang naturally drew attention, always attracting people. Once he stopped, several students greeted him, and in doing so, all glanced curiously at Sui Yi beside him.

She wasn’t wearing the school uniform.

A loose snow-white shirt, sky-blue casual cropped pants, white canvas shoes. Whether seen up close or from a distance, her slender waist and soft back, legs long as bamboo, skin white as snow—at that moment, her foot rested on the pedal, the other on the ground, lightly hooking the bicycle, head tilted as she watched the traffic light, seemingly lost in thought, her features like a painting.

Yu Hang finally broke free from the barrage of greetings and, finding a moment, asked Sui Yi, “Sui Yi, did you hear about how our PE classes aren’t being cancelled this year?”

Sui Yi had been thinking about the assassin and Saturday’s events, and didn’t respond at first. Only when Yu Hang repeated himself did she turn to him, “Hm? I haven’t heard…”

“The Education Bureau says we high schoolers need to keep up our physical fitness, so every school has to keep PE classes in senior year…” Yu Hang spoke with a hint of mischief.

So, will you keep pretending to be weak and avoid PE?

Sui Yi saw through his playful tone, but only turned away, answering casually, “Mm…”

“…” Yu Hang was at a loss for words when suddenly, someone squeezed in beside him.

Another bicycle, same brand as his, though a more expensive model.

Han Yuanzhong spotted Yu Hang, then saw Sui Yi, and glanced at her bicycle. His expression was tinged with amusement, a smirk on his lips.
“Yu Hang, Sui Yi’s bike is the same brand as yours?”

At his words, everyone took notice. They’d only wondered how Sui Yi had gotten a bicycle, and such a high-end one at that… It turned out it was the same brand as Yu Hang’s?

“Isn’t Yu Hang’s family a brand shop owner…?”

“Seems so…”

The school’s notable figures were like celebrities—their family backgrounds fodder for gossip. Yu Hang’s family was famous at Second High.

So…

The crowd grew lively.

But Han Yuanzhong’s cool, teasing remark cut through: “I thought you gave it to her…”

Did he think so? Or was he implying it?

The crowd erupted. Even the usually oblivious Yu Hang sensed Han Yuanzhong’s malicious intent towards Sui Yi and him. His expression darkened, just as he was about to retort, but saw Sui Yi glance at Han Yuanzhong with calm indifference—her eyes, so faint.

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It was as if she looked at him, yet didn’t; her gaze distant and detached. At some point, she held a stylish, slim phone, her slender fingers tapping away, scrolling through the screen, a cold light reflected in her eyes.

The bicycle was from Yu Hang—what about the phone?

Was she provoking, or flaunting? Was it shamelessness or utter disdain? Did she not fear their ridicule?

Han Yuanzhong felt a sudden discomfort, his face darkening, about to speak when the bus window beside Sui Yi slid open.

A face appeared—pure and exquisite, eyes glancing lightly over them, as if dust drifting down… landing squarely on Sui Yi.

Yan Qingwu’s lips curved in a gentle smile, her clear eyes like misty rain in Jiangnan, gazing at Sui Yi as she said, “Good morning, desk mate.”

Her brows arched, an ancient, graceful greeting.

In school days, this was the simplest, most sincere greeting—like a flower that never blooms on an evergreen tree, yet never fades.

Sui Yi nodded to her, returning a smile that was neither too warm nor too cold, just right.

“Good morning.”

With that, she hooked her long leg over the pedal, bent low, hands gripping the handlebars, and in a perfect, elegant posture, she flashed past their line of sight—a streak of motion.

The light turned green!

“Hey, wait for me, Sui Yi!”

“You always do this! Ignoring me again!”

Yu Hang hurried to chase after her.

The bus started moving, Yan Qingwu’s face passing through Han Yuanzhong’s gaze, leaving only indifference.

His face was grim.

Behind them, students chattered, full of gossip, heading noisily towards the school gates…

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