Chapter 63: Take Me With You!

Deng Qingqing! There wasn’t a soul in ninth grade who didn’t know that name. Many boys regarded her as the goddess of their dreams. Yet, unexpectedly, she was also a rich and beautiful girl.

Zheng Yuan greeted her gracefully as she took her seat. “Haha! Our Class Thirteen and your Class Fifteen have always shared a deep revolutionary friendship!”

Deng Qingqing was not only lovely, but also outstanding academically—among the top fifty students in the year, with every hope of being admitted to the prestigious City First High School.

Da Xu, who had been wolfing down his food moments before, now sat beside Deng Qingqing. His voracious appetite gave way to elegance as he picked a morsel, “Qingqing, how did you know we were here?”

Deng Qingqing smiled, “I was passing by your private room and heard a boy singing ‘The Most Romantic Thing’ inside. I recognized Ming Han’s voice from your class.”

So it seemed Deng Qingqing had attended the singing competition where Ming Han performed last time.

Her beautiful eyes lingered on Ming Han, who, a little embarrassed, took a sip of Sprite. “Haha… Is my voice really that distinctive?”

Though he felt proud to be recognized by such a beauty, Ming Han never presumed that Deng Qingqing had any interest in him. She was like a celebrity at school, always surrounded by admirers wherever she appeared. Deng Qingqing herself was polite and approachable, unlike Chen Li, who kept everyone at arm’s length.

After greeting everyone at the table, Deng Qingqing made her rounds, offering a toast at each one—though she only took a small sip each time.

“Enjoy yourselves, classmates!” With that, she prepared to leave.

“Qingqing, since you’re here, how about singing a song?” Zheng Yuan suggested.

Deng Qingqing didn’t refuse, but she turned to Ming Han, “Let’s sing a duet together.”

Since she invited him herself, Ming Han couldn’t say no. He stood up, and together they sang “Because of Love.”

From below the stage, Yu Hang watched the pair and exclaimed, “They really are a perfect match!”

Huang Ying snorted, “Vixen and her wicked partner.”

Yu Hang could only shake his head in exasperation.

Although everyone had a great time that night, the next morning—Sunday—when they went for self-study, they all sported panda eyes.

Yawning and bleary-eyed, the students sat in the classroom; some simply collapsed onto their desks, fast asleep.

Noticing the poor state of self-study, the homeroom teacher scolded, “Did your class go out for some secret mischief last night?”

A certain top student coldly reported, “Someone organized a gathering last night. They all went out to party.”

If looks could kill, that top student would already be minced meat.

“Who organized it?” The teacher was furious. “You were given a day off to watch the class basketball game, to relax—not to go wild!”

Seeing the teacher’s anger, many students lowered their heads in fear.

Zheng Yuan sneered and stood up. “I organized it.”

The teacher’s gaze at Zheng Yuan was sharp as a blade. Zheng Yuan’s family was wealthy, but his grades languished at the bottom. The teacher had always taken issue with him. “If you don’t care about the high school entrance exams, don’t drag the whole class down.”

Then, two more stood up. “We helped organize it too.”

It was Ming Han and Yu Hang.

Now the teacher was in a bind. Yu Hang was an average student, unlikely to make the cut for City First High School. But Ming Han was a star pupil, making rapid progress this term—almost guaranteed a spot, and possibly even a chance at the city’s top hundred.

“Fine, fine… You three go run ten laps around the track before coming back.”

The three set off.

Zheng Yuan grumbled, “Da Xu, that coward, didn’t stand with us. Yet he partied hardest last night, even chasing after aunties to dance in the square.”

Recalling Da Xu’s antics last night, everyone wanted to laugh. He’d gotten drunk and really let loose, claiming to be the king of dance, insisting on performing “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style.”

Ming Han consoled Zheng Yuan, “Da Xu got caught at the internet café last week—his dad came down hard on him. Now, after barely a few days, he’s being reported again. I bet his dad will drag him straight home.”

Just then, someone came sprinting over. “Comrades, I’m here!” It was Da Xu.

“I thought it over and just couldn’t bear to part from you guys,” Da Xu said, wearing a tragic expression that made the others almost gag.

The four misfits started running laps. At this hour, the track was nearly empty except for a few girls cleaning up.

“Hey, it’s Deng Qingqing!” Da Xu’s vision was always sharper when girls were involved.

Deng Qingqing noticed them too, coming over to greet them.

The two pretty girls beside her laughed, “Qingqing, aren’t you going to introduce us to these four handsome guys?”

Before Deng Qingqing could answer, the four boys promptly introduced themselves.

Da Xu struck a serious pose, “It’s destiny that we meet. Ladies, how about dinner tonight? I know a place with fantastic grilled fish.”

The two girls were foodies too, covering their mouths as they laughed, “Sure! We’re very enthusiastic.”

After they parted, Da Xu gave the others a sly look. “See how good I am to you? The quality’s great—one for each of us.”

“But there are four of us?” Ming Han pointed out.

“Yu Hang already has Huang Ying, yet he’s still looking for new excitement. I absolutely won’t let him betray her!” Da Xu declared righteously.

“That’s right!” Ming Han and Zheng Yuan agreed.

“My life is so hard!” Yu Hang lamented.

Having met three beautiful girls, even running felt more enjoyable. Everyone looked forward to the evening, eager to show their irresistible charm.

Yu Hang quietly asked Ming Han, “Are you done with Chen Li?”

Chen Li—she’d been gone almost two months.

Ming Han smacked Yu Hang on the head, “I’ve been sad for so long, and you dare bring her up? The way you drool over girls really depresses me.”

Though he teased Ming Han, Yu Hang felt that Ming Han must have finally moved past the shadow of that girl. The mischievous Ming Han was the one he’d first met.

Yu Hang went and told Huang Ying about the dinner plans. Huang Ying glared, “You want to go too?”

Yu Hang scratched his head in his honest way. “These guys are so reckless, I need to keep an eye on them. Otherwise, if they do something outrageous, they’ll regret it for life.”

Seeing Yu Hang’s loyal demeanor, Huang Ying thought her boyfriend was a bit shameless.

“You can go, but take me with you!”

“Huh?” Yu Hang’s face fell. “A brothers’ gathering—what’s a girl doing there?”

Huang Ying kicked him, “Brothers’ gathering? Those three girls are your brothers too?”

She muttered to herself, “I’d better keep an eye on Ming Han for Chen Li…”