Chapter 34: If You Can't Write About Unrequited Love, Go Find the Language Teacher

Huo Yanzhi and Lu Wang sat on opposite sides of the police station's mediation room.

Huo Yanzhi’s intoxication had completely worn off, and he glared coldly at Lu Wang, whose face was bruised and swollen from the beating he had received.

"Officer," Lu Wang complained, "I don't even know this guy! He just walked up and punched me. Look at my face, just look at it." He gestured toward the purple bruise on the corner of his lip.

Huo Yanzhi scoffed, "Cut the act. Are you even a man? If you waited any longer, those minor scratches would have healed on their own."

"Officer, did you hear that?" Lu Wang pointed an accusing finger at Huo Yanzhi. "He hit me and he’s still being this arrogant! I refuse to mediate. I absolutely will not accept mediation!"

Huo Yanzhi slumped in his chair, wearing an expression of complete indifference. Lu Wang was just some greenhorn who had barely established himself in the Imperial Capital; he was only good for bluffing. If he knew who Huo Yanzhi was, or who his uncle-in-law was, he wouldn’t dare shout like that.

The mediating officer, suffering from a headache, asked, "Mr. Lu, are you certain you will not accept mediation?"

"Certain! Absolutely certain!" Lu Wang gritted his teeth, infuriated by Huo Yanzhi’s unbridled arrogance.

Huo Yanzhi remarked, "In that case, let’s wait until my lawyer arrives."

"A lawyer?!" Lu Wang shrieked, his voice laced with absurdity that the one who started the fight was the one calling for legal counsel. He roared, "Fine, a lawyer it is! I have a lawyer too! Just you wait, kid!"

One was a hair-trigger temper, the other was insufferably condescending. The officer felt that encountering these two on his shift was surely divine retribution for stealing a colleague’s instant noodles a few nights prior. He sighed and walked out of the room.

The mediation room was left with only the two large men, staring each other down. With no one left to monitor him, Huo Yanzhi propped his feet up on the table.

"Zero class," Lu Wang muttered, his voice just loud enough to be heard.

Huo Yanzhi glanced at the security camera and suppressed the urge to jump up and beat him again.

Twenty minutes later, the Huo family lawyer arrived first. With two people sitting across from him whom he couldn't stand—especially given Huo Yanzhi’s provocative gaze—Lu Wang furiously typed on his phone.

Lu Wang: [Brother, where is the person you were supposed to find for me? The opposing lawyer is already here; you’re being incredibly unreliable!]

As soon as the message was sent, the door opened again. Pei Baoyuan stepped in, and the moment she saw Huo Yanzhi, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. Ignoring him, she walked over to Lu Wang with her lawyer.

"You must be Lu Wang. I am Pei Baoyuan, and this is the lawyer for the Song Group."

Lu Wang’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her. His friend was reliable after all!

"Miss Pei, hello! It’s truly better to see you once than to hear of you a hundred times. You really are..."

"Yuanyuan!" Huo Yanzhi stood up abruptly. "Why are you here?"

Pei Baoyuan ignored him and sat down beside Lu Wang.

"Oh my," Lu Wang remarked with a mocking smirk, "what is that saying? 'Thirty years in the East, thirty years in the West'—the tides turn. Who would have thought I’d be backed by the Song Group’s lawyer?"

Huo Yanzhi’s face turned black as coal. He glared at Lu Wang, wishing he could tear him apart.

The Song Group lawyer stood in silence. Pei Baoyuan remained composed.

After leaving the station, Lu Wang thanked Pei Baoyuan and couldn't help but gossip, "So, you and Ke Xianbai...?" He gave her a knowing wink.

"Who is Ke Xianbai? You know him?" Pei Baoyuan wasn't sure why the conversation had turned to him, but she assumed they were friends. No wonder Lu Wang had the same sharp, annoying tongue.

"If not for Ke Xianbai, why did you come today?"

"My aunt’s secretary was supposed to come, but a project at the company had an issue, so I took his place."

Pei Baoyuan crossed her arms, observing Lu Wang calmly.

*(Internal thoughts: Lu Wang’s company snatched a project from the Huo family, which is why Huo Yanzhi got drunk and beat him up. How can the male lead be so stupid? Committing assault and getting fined for it.)*

*(Internal thoughts: Lu Wang’s company is called Yuanbao, the supporting female character’s nickname is Yuanbao, and Lu Wang knows Ke Xianbai... could it be...)*

*(Internal thoughts: It’s terrifying to think about. Ke Xianbai never once said he didn't like Pei Baoyuan.)*

"Shall we exchange contact information?" Pei Baoyuan asked.

After adding her, Lu Wang respectfully saw her to her car and couldn't wait to message Ke Xianbai.

Lu Wang: [Do you know who came to the police station to help me?]
Ke Xianbai: [......]
Lu Wang: [Pei Baoyuan.]
Lu Wang: [She even added my contact. Do you think she’s interested in me?]
Ke Xianbai: [If you don't know how to spell "delusional," go find your elementary school teacher.]

***

Huo Yanzhi had followed Pei Baoyuan home. Furious, he didn't even wait for his car to stop before jumping out and dragging Pei Baoyuan from her vehicle.

Pei Baoyuan winced in pain. "Are you insane?!"

"Yuanyuan, why are you helping that kid Lu Wang? How do you even know him? Do you have any idea what he..."

"None of your business." Pei Baoyuan shook off his hand. "Leave my house now, or I’ll call for security."

She didn't actually need to call; the Pei family bodyguards had already closed in, though they stayed in the shadows waiting for her command. Coco, the dog, scurried out of the house at the sound of the commotion and crouched at Pei Baoyuan’s feet, staring unblinkingly at Huo Yanzhi to ensure he didn't hurt her.

Huo Yanzhi froze at the sight of the dog. He thought he was seeing things—why was Ke Xianbai’s dog at the Pei residence? But he couldn't focus on that now.

"Yuanyuan, you’ve changed." He shook his head, looking dejected as he took a step back. "You’ve changed ever since you came back from abroad."

"I haven't changed. You’re the one who has, Huo Yanzhi!"

Pei Baoyuan didn't give him a chance to speak. "I’ve been back for so long, and all the rumors online were stirred up by Song Yiren. You claim she’s Huang Zhenyu’s girlfriend, but does our relationship mean so little compared to your supposed brotherhood with him?"

"You help her at every turn. Do you really expect me to believe there’s nothing going on between you two?"

Huo Yanzhi put on an innocent expression, acting as if Pei Baoyuan were being unreasonable. "Yuanyuan, how can you doubt my feelings for you? You know she’s Huang Zhenyu’s girlfriend, yet you insist on forcing this issue."

"Is that so?" Pei Baoyuan asked calmly. "Then how did Huang Zhenyu’s girlfriend end up sitting on your lap? Is this how you help him take care of his girlfriend?"

*(Internal thoughts: The supporting character’s IQ has skyrocketed, while the male lead’s has hit zero.)*

*(Internal thoughts: The plot has taken a completely chaotic turn; this is truly life-like.)*

*(Internal thoughts: Surely the female lead won't end up in an asylum unless she keeps acting crazy.)*

The night ended with Huo Yanzhi receiving two sharp slaps to the face from Pei Baoyuan.