Chapter 132: Come Here, Let Me Hold You

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That was why he had invited only the three of them for tea—he had arranged something for each of them.

Principal Wang cleared his throat twice. “You’re being far too direct, boy. At present, Qingbei’s highest entrance scholarship is only forty thousand. You come in asking for three hundred thousand right away. Do you take Qingbei for a marketplace? Isn’t that a little excessive?”

Dean Zheng of the Medical School tapped the table. “It’s more than just the scholarship. To begin with, I don’t even know what illness her grandparents have. How long will the follow-up treatment take? What methods will be used? Once you add everything up, the cost could be anything.”

Dean Shen of the School of Law seemed to understand something. “So that’s why you asked me here! I haven’t even made the ‘Prudence and Virtue’ program public, yet you already know about it. It looks like that girl is interested in the School of Law. You specifically brought me here not only because of the program, but because you want me to personally take her on as a student!”

Bian Yang poured them tea, his flattery smooth and pleasing. “That’s why they say you truly belong in the School of Law, Uncle Shen. Nothing escapes your notice.”

Dean Shen snorted. “Spare me. I knew you were up to no good!”

He was getting old and had not taken on students for a long time. All he wanted was to retire early and enjoy his remaining years in peace.

And now this boy had directly reserved the next five years of his life.

Principal Wang remained silent for a long while, as though considering something.

At last, he looked at Bian Yang and said earnestly, “Yang, tell us honestly. What exactly is your relationship with that girl? Are you relatives? Or friends?”

Dean Zheng and Dean Shen looked at him as well.

Bian Yang had never lacked anything in life. Whether family background or intelligence, he surpassed ordinary people by far. Naturally, he was proud and unrestrained, with eyes high above the rest, and even less inclined to ask others for favors.

In all the years they had known him, they had never once seen him yield for anyone or anything, much less bow his head.

For him to go this far today, it was obvious that the person in question meant a great deal to him.

They watched as Bian Yang slowly rose to his feet. Standing in the open space, he bent deeply at the waist before the three men.

Principal Wang and the other two immediately exchanged bewildered glances.

When Bian Yang straightened, a proud smile had already appeared on his face.

“To be honest with you, Uncles, the national top scorer this year, Tang Yu, is my girlfriend. I’ll have to trouble all of you to look after her from now on.”

The three men were stunned for a moment before exchanging knowing smiles.

What could make a haughty young man who looked down on the world lower his proud back? It turned out to be his beloved.

In the end, after taking all the circumstances and future consequences into consideration, Principal Wang agreed to part of Bian Yang’s demands.

All tuition and miscellaneous fees would be waived for the duration of Tang Yu’s enrollment, and she would receive a forty-thousand entrance scholarship. Those were the benefits Qingbei ought to provide to the nation’s top scorer.

In addition, the school would cover all of Tang Yu’s grandparents’ medical expenses. That was an exception personally approved by Principal Wang.

It was not only because of Bian Yang. More importantly, news of Tang Yu’s experience with school bullying had spread across the internet.

If Qingbei extended a helping hand at a time like this, the university would certainly gain an excellent reputation. It was a benefit to both sides.

As for Dean Shen, he could not withstand Bian Yang’s persistent coaxing and coercion. In the end, he agreed to take Tang Yu on as his final direct disciple.

In truth, he was rather curious about the girl. What kind of young woman could possibly have won over Bian Yang?

Still, she would be the last student he personally taught before retirement.

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Before they finished, Bian Yang took out a key and pushed it toward Principal Wang.

“What is this?” Principal Wang asked, looking at him.

Bian Yang’s gaze fell on the key. “It’s the family residence the school assigned to my mother. Uncle Wang, give it to Tang Yu in the school’s name.”

After a long silence, Principal Wang said, “That house has been empty ever since your mother passed away. You couldn’t bear to rent it out, yet you couldn’t bear to sell it either. Since you want her to use it now, why not give it to her directly and let her know? Then she can remember your kindness.”

Bian Yang smiled lazily, a trace of undisguised affection showing in his eyes.

“She’s stubborn. If she knew the house wasn’t assigned to her by the school but belonged to me, how could she possibly accept it?”

The helplessness and indulgence in his voice made the principal’s teeth ache.

“All right, all right. Stop flaunting your romance in front of me!”

Before sending him away, Principal Wang added, “Don’t forget to visit Uncle Zhang. He’s been talking about you for ages.”

“Mm,” Bian Yang answered quietly.

“And leave the tea with the three of us. Settle the bill first, then you can get lost!”

Bian Yang raised his brows. “Fine. I’m leaving.”

—

The next day, Tang Yu received a call from Qingbei’s admissions office.

When she heard about the exceptional terms, she was so happy she nearly jumped for joy.

It meant she no longer had to worry about paying for her grandparents’ medical treatment, nor did she need to worry about tuition. She could spend her entire university life at ease.

Most astonishing of all, she had been offered a combined bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program, with the dean of the School of Law himself serving as her mentor. It all seemed like a dream.

Overwhelmed by the joy of having fortune fall into her lap, she was giddy with happiness.

She hurried to tell her grandparents.

Ever since the interview that day, the old couple had not stopped crying. Upon hearing such wonderful news, they were so moved that they could barely speak through their tears.

They had always feared that they would hold their granddaughter back from attending university. They had even been planning to persuade her to enroll at Qingbei while they remained behind.

Who could have imagined that, after taking their family circumstances into account, the university would not only waive their medical expenses but also assign them a family residence?

Tang Yu could use the house free of charge while she studied at Qingbei. They no longer had to worry about having nowhere to live.

The old couple were overwhelmed with gratitude. Facing the statue of the Bodhisattva they worshiped, they kowtowed again and again.

At last, the difficult days had passed. The Tang family had finally made it through the darkness and seen the light.

Their granddaughter had finally held on until the clouds parted and the moon shone through.

And the person Tang Yu most wanted to share the news with was Bian Yang.

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She had only just dialed his number when, unexpectedly, his ringtone sounded from the courtyard gate.

The summer sun burned bright. Leaves rustled softly, and cicadas sang sweetly.

Tang Yu looked up toward the sound. She saw the young man answer his phone as he stood at the courtyard entrance, his other hand tucked lazily into his pocket. Dappled shadows fell across his shoulders, and he still wore that same carefree, irreverent expression.

“Student Tang, missing me again?”

His voice came from the courtyard, and also from the phone pressed against her ear.

Tang Yu stood still, her eyes fixed unwaveringly in his direction. In a soft voice, she called, “Bian Yang.”

“Mm?”

He did not move either, simply gazing at her across the small courtyard.

Tang Yu’s eyes curved into a smile. “Nothing. I just wanted to call your name.”

Bian Yang gave a quiet click of his tongue. Then he extended the hand that had been in his pocket and crooked a finger at her.

“Come here. Give me a hug.”

Tang Yu ended the call and flew into his arms like a butterfly.

Bian Yang opened his arms and gathered her securely against him.

“Little Tang Yu, your grandparents are watching. Isn’t this a little inappropriate?”

Though he said that, his embrace only tightened. The corners of his lips curved faintly, and he showed no intention of letting go.

Tang Yu wrapped her arms around his waist as well. She glanced from the corner of her eye at the old couple’s amused expressions and still felt a little shy.

She buried her face against his chest and murmured, “They figured it out a long time ago.”

Every day, they asked her about Bian Yang.

They even teased her about him.

The old couple had known for ages.

“They figured it out?” There was a teasing lilt in the young man’s voice. “Could it be that they saw us secretly holding hands in the vegetable garden that time?”

From the corner of his eye, he saw the old couple gesture to him. Then Grandfather pushed Grandmother’s wheelchair back into the house.

Bian Yang found the scene amusing.

Tang Yu shook her head honestly, obedient as could be. “I don’t know. They just know somehow…”

Bian Yang’s pale fingers gently brushed aside the stray hairs covering her cheek. He gave a soft “Oh,” then continued half jokingly, “Then it must be because your feelings for me are too obvious. That’s how they found out.”

At those words, Tang Yu tilted her face up from his embrace.

“Then you don’t like me?”

Bian Yang looked down at the girl in his arms and drawled, “Of course I do.”

He loved her desperately.