"No way, is that true? Wang Yue doesn't seem like that kind of person."
Che Rong covered her mouth, her face full of surprise.
"You can know a person's face but not their heart. I have no reason to lie to you."
Pan Xing sighed as he spoke.
"Xuanxuan? What do you think?"
Che Rong turned her head and asked Qiao Zixuan.
"Are you done talking?"
Qiao Zixuan asked Pan Xing coldly.
Pan Xing was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'm done."
"Then can you leave?"
Qiao Zixuan asked again.
"Heh heh, I must have upset her with my words."
"As expected, my sharp tongue is naturally suited for leadership."
Pan Xing chuckled inwardly, but outwardly he feigned regret: "Xuanxuan, I know you might find it hard to believe, or perhaps you're upset but not showing it."
"But remember, no matter when you need me, I'll be here."
"I won't disturb you any longer. I'll let you process this yourself."
With that, Pan Xing turned and left.
After Pan Xing was gone, Che Rong asked again, "Xuanxuan, do you think what Pan Xing said is true?"
Qiao Zixuan helplessly poked Che Rong's forehead with her finger: "You, you're clueless. You believe what a scumbag like Pan Xing says?"
"But, Pan Xing didn't seem like he was lying. I felt he was very sincere."
Che Rong said blankly.
"You find all handsome guys sincere, don't you?"
Qiao Zixuan rolled her eyes: "Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. What he said is unprovable, but many girls at school have confirmed that he is indeed a scumbag."
Che Rong nodded: "That makes sense. But what if it was really Wang Yue who caused Pan Xing to have such a bad reputation? It's not impossible, is it? I see it like that in dramas all the time."
Qiao Zixuan shook her head: "Wang Yue isn't like that. Although I didn't pay much attention to him before, my intuition has always been accurate."
"Pan Xing is lying."
Che Rong's expression also turned firm: "Okay! Xuanxuan, since you say Pan Xing is lying, then I also believe he's lying. I believe you."
...
Wang Yue was unaware that such a scene had unfolded because of him.
At this moment, he was in a good mood.
He received a call from the police station; the bounty had been deposited into his account. Additionally, he was to receive a banner inscribed with: "For Bravery in the Face of Injustice."
Catching a Class A wanted criminal with a 100,000 reward was a significant achievement. Zhang Yunlong asked Wang Yue if he was willing to accept an interview from the local TV station.
However, Wang Yue wasn't interested in appearing on television or seeking fame, so he declined.
With 100,000 yuan in hand, Wang Yue thought that his bubble tea shop plan could finally be put on the agenda.
...
Lying in bed at night, Wang Yue roughly calculated the costs of opening a bubble tea shop.
First, there was the rent. In this era, rent in smaller towns was relatively cheap. Prime locations like near the school entrance would cost around 2,000 a month, while slightly less desirable spots could be secured for a few hundred.
However, there was also the issue of shop availability, as the area near the school was already fully leased.
Then came the various equipment needed for the bubble tea shop, which would add up to approximately 20,000.
For renovation, Wang Yue budgeted around 10,000.
Adding it all up, he would still have over 40,000 left.
In this era, for an ordinary family, having fifty to sixty thousand yuan readily available was a considerable sum.
"Everything is ready, except for the final push."
Wang Yue planned to finalize the bubble tea shop matters during these three days of holiday, as the sooner it was settled, the sooner he could start earning money.
Academically, he was no longer struggling. It was time to focus on his career.
"Beep beep beep."
Just then, his QQ rang.
Wang Yue clicked on it.
He had expected a message from Qiao Zixuan, but it turned out to be Zhou Fangfang.
"Not Fangfang: Wang Yue, Wang Yue, calling Wang Yue, are you free tomorrow?"
"wy: I might have plans."
"Not Fangfang: Ah, what a shame. I was going to ask you out to hang out tomorrow."
"wy: Sorry."
"Not Fangfang: No, no, don't be sorry. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival~"
"wy: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."
As soon as Wang Yue finished replying to Zhou Fangfang, his QQ rang again.
"quiet: Hi, Wang Yue~ Long time no see. Didn't we say we'd keep in touch on QQ? I was too busy with studies, but now it's the holidays. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."
Wang Yue hadn't saved this QQ contact. Out of curiosity, he opened the user's QQ space and realized it was Tian Wenjing.
He had to admit, while Tian Wenjing had a cute and well-behaved face, her figure was truly stunning. When she got to college, many guys would surely be infatuated with her.
"wy: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."
"quiet: What do you mean, not enthusiastic at all? You've almost forgotten me, haven't you?"
"wy: How could I possibly forget? Miss Tian, how could I forget you?"
"quiet: Hahaha, you always know what to say."
"quiet: Are you free tomorrow? There's a movie called 'Flipped' that I really want to see, but I have no one to go with."
Wang Yue was a bit bewildered.
Why were so many girls asking him out for tomorrow?
Was he destined for romance?
It seemed that being handsome indeed had its advantages.
"Beep beep beep."
Before Wang Yue could reply, another message arrived.
"Green Pomelo (Little Muddlehead): Old man, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival~"
"wy: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. You're not also going to ask me out, are you?"
"Green Pomelo: Hmph! What do you mean, other girls are asking you out too? Old man, you're not being honest. /cleaver/cleaver"
"wy: /Mercy, great hero.jpg"
"Green Pomelo: Hmph! I don't want to talk to you anymore. Goodbye!"
Wang Yue wiped away nonexistent sweat from his forehead. Today was becoming quite chaotic.
"Beep beep beep."
"Little Xuan (Qiao Zixuan): Wang Yue, Pan Xing and I aren't even friends. He's so annoying, always pestering me and bad-mouthing you!"
"wy: What bad things did he say about me? /question"
"Little Xuan: He said your character is bad, that you were desk mates in high school and then... (2000 words omitted)"
Qiao Zixuan recounted what Pan Xing had said, adding her own embellishments.
Wang Yue was speechless after reading it. Pan Xing was truly shameless.
"wy: You believed him?"
"Little Xuan: How could I! I gave him a good scolding! I don't believe you're that kind of person."
"wy: /thumbs up/thumbs up/thumbs up, as expected of our class monitor."
"Little Xuan: Hehe."
"Little Xuan: Oh, right. Are you sure you're free tomorrow?"
"wy: That depends on what you have in mind. If you're trying to trick me into going to the countryside to move corn, then I'm busy."
"Little Xuan: Bah!"
"Little Xuan: Who's going to trick you into moving corn?"
"Little Xuan: Then I'll just say it. I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend tomorrow!"