After Han Qingwu had vented her anger for a while, she also knew that she had wrongly blamed Yuan Chuling, and looked at Yuan Chuling with an apologetic expression.
Yuan Chulingâs marks might not be as exaggerated as Tang Xiuâs, but he also passed the exam with 476 points on this Monthly Test.
She knew that the last Monthly Examâs difficulties were very high. The students who got more than 550 points were only 27 out of the whole third year. With 476 points, Yuan Chuling was ranked in the top 300s. He was also one of 5 students from Class 10 who entered the top 300 rankings.
âYuan Chuling, Tang Xiu didnât stay in his dormitory last night. He requested a leave of absence today. Do you know what matter he was leaving for in a hurry?â Han Qingwu asked
âI-I-I⌠ah⌠I donât know thatâŚâ Yuan Chuling was a day student, he didnât know that Tang Xiu left the dorm last night. But when he remembered about the smashing accident at Tang Xiu familyâs restaurant, a trace of a panicked expression flashed from his eyes.
âYou are lying, you definitely know the reason! Tell me quickly! Has Tang Xiu encountered any problems?â Han Qingwu asked nervously since she keenly caught the changes in Yuan Chulingâs complexion.
âYuan Chuling, if Tang Xiu really has run into problems, you must tell us! You donât want Tang Xiu to have any unexpected accidents at such a critical time like the College Entrance Test, right?â Having heard the dialogs between Han Qingwu and Yuan Chuling, Cheng Yannanâs also voiced the concerns in her heart.
A trace of nervousness also filled Yuan Chulingâs heart when he saw the tense expression in Han Qingwu and Cheng Yannanâs faces, since the shadow that related to Tang Xiuâs smashed restaurant was the first thing that came into his mind.
After hesitating for a short while, Yuan Chuling told them about Tang Xiuâs restaurantâs smashing incident.
Han Qingwu and Cheng Yannan were greatly shocked when they suddenly heard that Tang Xiuâs restaurant was bashed. They quickly dragged Yuan Chuling out of the classroom, and asked Yuan Chuling to take them to Tang Xiuâs restaurant.
Half an hour later, Han Qingwuâs car parked on the roadside in front of the restaurantâs entrance. But she was stunned when seeing the bustling and lively situation at the restaurant.
âYuan Chuling, are you sure you didnât take us to the wrong place?â Cheng Yannan also felt something was wrong as she asked with a doubtful expression.
âAh⌠Yes, I came here 2 days ago. The entire dining hall was smashed broken, and also there were bloodstains in the dining hall since I went in and beat 2 people out of rage.â The same surprised expression also struck Yuan Chuling.
But the present scene in front of him was really beyond Yuan Chulingâs imagination. Judging by the state when the restaurant was just smashed, there was no way the restaurant would be opened in a few days. However, the restaurant now was not only normally opened for business, but it also was bustling and lively.
âThe hardwood planks to decorate the restaurantâs interior for 3 walls and ceiling will cost at least 200,000 yuan. A 100 square meters floor covered with Marco Polo ceramic tiles cost at least 100,000 yuan. 30 sets of hardwood tables and chairs are estimated at least 200,000 yuan, while the soft clothes and equipment will cost at least 5 to 600,000 yuan.â
âThe business also looks flourishing. Not only the 18 tables inside the restaurant are completely full, but they have lined up by at least 6 tables long outside the restaurant. Even if the profit for each table was only 50 yuan, but this restaurantâs daily net profit would at least reach 20,000.â
When Yuan Chuling was still wondering how the restaurant suddenly changed, Han Qingwuâs voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
âYuan Chuling, you donât feel that your lies are too ridiculous, huh? If this restaurant really belongs to Tang Xiuâs family, will he even have to face difficult times in school and be unable to pay his tuition?â Yuan Chuling was still puzzled as to why his class-in-charge teacher was calculating the restaurantâs interior and exterior decoration and the profit, but suddenly Han Qingwuâs voice turned cold and scolded him in a stern voice.
âT-T-T-This⌠I really donât know how could it be like this, but what Iâve told you before is really the truth!â Yuan Chuling was at loss and didnât know what to say.
âGet off!!! And go back to school by yourself! If you are late for the evening class, give me a thousand lines of self-critics and regret!â Han Qingwu was too disinclined to listen to Yuan Chulingâs explanation as she commanded in a cold tone.
âI⌠Iâll go inside there to see whatâs going on, and look for the owner.â This was the first time Yuan Chuling saw Han Qingwu became so angry. Under her sharp and fierce gaze, Yuan Chuling frantically got out of the car as he spoke in a trembling voice.
Han Qingwu pressed the gas pedal even though Yuan Chuling had yet to finish his words as her VW Touareg quickly pierced through into the traffic flow.
Only until the VW Touareg disappeared did Yuan Chuling realize that his wallet and cell phone were on his school desk, leaving him with not even a penny right now.
âIt will take at least an hour on foot from here to school. Iâll definitely be late for the evening class. Man⌠it seems like that Iâll have to write that damn self-criticsâŚâ Yuan Chuling silently calculated the distance from the restaurant to school and his face turned into a red-bitter melon color.
âOh! A Ling, is that you? I thought I mistakenly saw someone else. What are you doing standing outside? Come, sit here!â When Yuan Chuling was wondering whether he had to enter the restaurant to see what happened inside, when a familiar voice sounded in Yuan Chulingâs ears.
Yuan Chuling looked up and saw the one who was talking to him was Tang Xiuâs motherâSu Lingyun. Excitement was immediately revealed on his face, since the problem for the transport fare to go back to school finally could be solved.
âAuntie, have you moved the restaurant?â Yuan Chuling observed Su Lingyun and found that her clothes didnât even change from yesterdayâs attire. A guess gushed out from his heart as he asked with a caring expression.
âAh no, itâs still the same restaurant. I just renovated it again. But I have made a few new seasonings and the business suddenly flourished.â Upon hearing Yuan Chuling mentioned about the restaurant, a happy smile surfaced on Su Lingyunâs face.
Having heard Su Lingyunâs answers, Yuan Chuling was quite puzzled. He wanted to ask out of his curiosity, as from where the renovation money came from. But because he was not too familiar with Su Lingyun, he felt awkward to ask about it.
âAuntie, Tang Xiu got 712 points in the last Monthly test, and compared to the second ranker, his marks are 79 points higher. You donât have to worry about his achievements.â After keeping silence for a short while, Yuan Chuling intentionally shifted the topic to Tang Xiu as to probe whether Su Lingyun knew about Tang Xiuâs whereabouts.
At first, he wanted to directly ask about Tang Xiuâs news, but he was afraid that Su Lingyun didnât know about the matter about Tang Xiuâs leave of absence, causing her to worry about him. He had no choice but to indirectly probe Su Lingyun about it.
âXiuâer really got the first grade?! Ah, thatâs great! I knew that he wouldnât lie to me!â When Su Lingyun heard that Tang Xiu got the first grade, although she was very happy, but her excitement was normal and obviously stemmed from his imagination.
But when he recalled that Su Lingyun had believed that Tang Xiu would get the top scorer spot even when the Monthly Testâs results had yet to come out, Yuan Chuling suddenly turned silent again.
However, from Su Lingyunâs answer, Yuan Chuling was almost sure she also didnât know about Tang Xiuâs matter.
After having chatted with Su Lingyun for a while, Yuan Chuling then asked for transport fare from Su Lingyun to go back to school.
When he arrived back at school, Yuan Chuling was surprised to find that a bald youth was sitting in Tang Xiuâs seat. He even felt that also familiar with the baldy.
âLong Zhenglin, how come you are in my school?â After having observed the baldy for a quite a while, Yuan Chuling asked in an astonished expression and warmly greeted him.
âWhat the⌠Fatty, youâre not dead yet? I thought youâve committed suicide after that thing happened.â Long Zhenglin also warmly greeted Yuan Chuling after observing him attentively.
Hearing Long Zhenglinâs answer, Yuan Chulingâs facial muscles fiercely twitched as he snapped, âDamn! Youâre not dead yet, so how can I die before you?â
Even though Star City might not be considered big, but it wasnât small either.
The Long Family deserved to be called as the food and beverages business giant in the Shuangqing Province, with assets of more than 10 billion, while the Yuan Family was only a rising star in the Real Estate business with assets less than 1% of the Long Familyâs.
Comparing family background and capital, the Long Family was, of course, worldâs apart from the Yuan Family, and the two families were unlikely to cross each other, much less for Yuan Chuling and Long Zhenglin to become good friends.
However, a lot of things were entirely fated to meet by the heavens. Yuan Chuling and Long Zhenglinâs friendship was not because of their family, but it was only a coincidence that they were schooling in the same school and became classmates.
Although they were only classmates for only a short year, but the 2 of them already forged a deep friendship, leading to the close relationship between their families businesses.
Only until 2 years ago when Yuan Chulingâs parents had a divorce did Yuan Chuling start to abandon and seal himself from social interaction, leading to the cutting off of their relationship.
But the twoâs friendship had clearly not faded through the passage of time. Even if they hadnât seen each other for 2 years, not only had the two of them not become strangers and unfamiliar, but instead turned more affectionate and warm.
âIâm looking for Tang Xiu. Do you know where Tang Xiu is?â Long Zhenglin straightforwardly asked Yuan Chuling after having chatted for awhile.
âYou came for my Eldest Brother? Whatâs your purpose to look for him?â Upon hearing that Long Zhenglin actually came for Tang Xiu, an astonished expression surfaced on Yuan Chulingâs face. To his knowledge, these two people wouldnât mix in the same world.
âTang Xiu is your Eldest Brother?â Long Zhenglinâs lips twitched as he heard the answer as he recalled how he was begging and tangling Tang Xiu, even calling him a Master. A little bit of pain suddenly bit his intestines.
âOf course, his brain is smarter than mine, his grades are better than mine, heâs more handsome than me, heâs sincere and honest, as well as caring and understanding for his buddies. How can not recognize him as my Eldest Brother?â Yuan Chuling patiently explained, because he thought that Long Zhenglin felt that Tang Xiu was unworthy to become his Eldest Brother even though he didnât know for what matter Long Zhenglin was looking for him.
âHey, you havenât said for why youâre looking for my Eldest Brother.â Yuan Chuling couldnât help but ask after he found Long Zhenglin was a little dazed after he spoke.
âThe reason I want to find him is that I need Tang Xiuâs help. Have you heard about Walled Hill Villageâs project? My family planned to reform our Food and Beverages businesses into a tourism catering business and was targeting Walled Hill Village. But we never expected that other families were also eyeing this project and then decided to determine the winner in a gambling betâŚâ Long Zhenglin didnât even hide the slightest thing from Yuan Chuling and told him the full details.
âWait a sec! I donât get it. You want Eldest Brother to help you gamble? The problem is heâs a well-known well-behaved mommyâs boy. Never once did he ever enter the casino, and thereâs no way in hell he knows any gambling techniques.â Yuan Chulingâs eyes stared wide as he spoke in an astonished expression and lost his cool when he heard Long Zhenglinâs explanation.