Chapter 136: Looking Back, the Light Boat Has Already Passed Ten Thousand Mountains

The next second, she was swept up into his arms.

Tang Yu let out a startled cry, her slender, pale arms winding around the young man’s neck as she looked at him with an arched-brow smile.

His lips were pressed into a thin line, and the sharp contours of his features shifted between light and shadow beneath the lamps. Clearly, he was still sulking.

His mind was angry, but his body was perfectly honest—it was afraid she would go hungry.

So he carried her off in search of food.

Tang Yu pressed her lips together to hide a smile. The loose strands of her hair lifted in the warm breeze, and she obediently rested her head against his shoulder.

With the exertion, the thin fabric between them did little to conceal the firmness of his build and the taut lines of his muscles.

Her calves, resting against his strong arm, swung gently back and forth, glowing white beneath the moonlight.

After a while, she could not resist reaching out to poke his finely sculpted, coldly handsome cheek.

Bian Yang lowered his head and gave her a faint glance.

The little girl blinked at him. “Why is my boyfriend so handsome?”

The streetlamp shone down from above his head, as though tracing a pale halo over his flawless features.

The young man gave a soft scoff. How could he not hear the flattery in her words?

“Sweet talk. I’m handsome. Do I need you to tell me?”

Tang Yu: “…”

That was not at all the answer she had imagined.

There were plenty of restaurants along the street. Bian Yang chose a quiet one and only then set her down.

But Tang Yu squatted on the ground without moving, hugging her knees and shamelessly refusing to budge.

Bian Yang pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. His tall figure completely enveloped her.

“Little Tang, you’re not hungry anymore, are you?”

She raised one hand toward him, asking him to take it.

Bian Yang’s gaze fell on her outstretched hand. He gave a cold laugh, his expression aloof and cool.

Passersby were watching. At such a fresh, youthful age, everything seemed pleasing to the eye—especially when the young man and girl were both beautiful enough to draw attention. As for the youth those onlookers had lost, not even a ghost of it remained.

Tang Yu lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed, but she kept her hand extended.

She did not want to quarrel with Bian Yang.

Nor did she want to see him unhappy.

“My hand is getting sore.”

She slowly made a fist and tapped her arm, secretly watching him from the corner of her eye.

Bian Yang was both exasperated and amused. Her acting was painfully clumsy, and yet… he simply had no way to deal with her.

He reached down and pulled her up from the ground with more force than necessary. Tang Yu was yanked forward, her nose unexpectedly colliding with his chest. The pain made her eyes sting with tears.

He had done it on purpose.

Tang Yu raised her head, her eyes shimmering with moisture.

Bian Yang cupped her face and gently rubbed the tip of her nose. In the end, his expression softened.

“I’m not angry.”

He was merely worried. Afraid.

He carefully went over everything with her. “From now on, think twice before doing anything. Don’t put yourself in danger, and don’t act impulsively again.”

“Mm. All right,” she replied meekly.

“And call me immediately, too. For something like what happened today, you have to tell me. Understand?”

“Mm, all right!”

She answered earnestly. “I was too anxious this time. Next time, I’ll tell you first.”

Bian Yang gave a faint “Mm.” Only then did he consider the matter settled, taking her hand and leading her toward the restaurant.

Behind him, Tang Yu secretly stuck out her tongue.

She ate until her stomach was round and full.

On the way back, Bian Yang said, “Since everything’s packed, you should go to the capital early.”

Then he added, “Tomorrow.”

(Page 1 of 3)

That would save them from letting trouble brew in the dark.

After all, Little Tang Village was too far from the apartment. If anything happened, he would not be able to reach her in time.

“But what about the lawsuit?” Tang Yu asked. “Xu Xinyan plans to sue as well. Since we’re going to file the case together, can I really leave?”

“You can leave it to your lawyer,” Bian Yang said.

“My lawyer?”

She had not hired one.

“Check your phone.”

Tang Yu opened it in confusion. A message from her teacher, Dean Shen, was waiting for her.

“Tang Yu, I have a general understanding of your situation and the lawsuit. Leave the rest to me. Consider it your first lesson from your teacher.”

Then her social-media notifications began ringing.

Two hours earlier, the police had issued a notice stating that Meng Shirui had been arrested for attempted criminal activity.

There was also a short video of her arrest.

The news quickly climbed to the top of the trending rankings.

Netizens were furious at her refusal to change her ways.

At that moment, an uncertified account called “Old Shen,” which nevertheless had three million followers, reposted the announcement and added a few brief words:

“Bullying my student @TangYu? Then I’ll see you in court.”

That single line shot straight to the headlines.

Immediately afterward, more than a dozen of the country’s top law firms, represented by their prominent accounts, reposted it and left comments:

“Bullying my junior sister @TangYu? Then your life is about to become very difficult. [smiling]”

“Bullying my junior sister @TangYu? Looks like you’ve kicked an iron wall. [doge]”

“Bullying my junior sister @TangYu? Did you really not know how many senior brothers and sisters she has in this line of work?”

“Teacher, leave this sort of thing to us. There’s no need for you to handle it personally, old man~ @TangYu @OldShen”

“The person above just ruined the formation again!”

“He ruins the formation every time. Clearly, he wants to attract the attention of his junior sister and teacher. What a scheming dog!”

The account “Old Shen” was uncertified. He occasionally posted a few landscape photographs or samples of his calligraphy, making him seem like an ordinary retired old man.

Yet every person following him was either a partner or founder of one of the country’s top law firms, or a student he had personally trained.

Their sudden, coordinated reposts and attention toward Tang Yu clearly meant that she had been accepted by Qingbei Law School and had become Dean Shen’s disciple.

“Old Shen” was the current dean of Qingbei Law School. He kept a low profile, but wielded tremendous influence within legal circles.

People had given him the nickname “Nine Lives.”

Any case he took on could see a life sentence argued down to a suspended death sentence, or a suspended death sentence turned into immediate execution.

“Old Shen” went offline after making his statement, but the news instantly caused an uproar online.

Then the president of Qingbei reposted the message, announcing that Tang Yu had been accepted by the university.

The school also stated that, in consideration of the student’s family circumstances, it would cover her grandparents’ medical expenses.

The gesture won widespread praise and goodwill.

Qingbei had certainly stolen the spotlight in this year’s admissions season.

Tang Yu browsed through the posts, a faint mist gathering in her eyes.

Everything was so beautiful.

From now on, she would no longer be fighting alone.

She had Bian Yang, her teacher, and so many other people she could trust standing behind her.

It was as though she had been wrapped in warm water. Her entire body felt heated, warmth seeping even into the spaces between her bones.

“Bian Yang, look! These are all my senior brothers and sisters, and my teacher. They’re all standing up for me! They even reposted the announcement!”

(Page 2 of 3)

Tang Yu excitedly held up her phone for him to see.

She had not expected the young man to merely glance at the screen before slightly raising his brow.

“Mm. I saw it. Is there really any need to be this happy?”

“You don’t understand.” She was absolutely delighted.

One by one, she typed replies on social media, earnestly thanking them, and then followed each of them back.

Seeing her walk with her head down, absorbed in her phone, Bian Yang reached over, took it from her, and slipped it into his pocket.

The phone was confiscated.

The girl was dissatisfied and reached for his pocket. “I haven’t finished replying yet!”

Bian Yang was as languid as ever, his voice carrying a trace of careless indifference.

“Don’t play with your phone while walking.” What was there to say to a bunch of old men, anyway?

Fine…

She would continue replying when they got back.

“Bian Yang.”

“Mm?”

His shoulders were broad and straight. He answered idly while keeping her on the inside of the road, away from traffic.

“Have you been to the capital? Are the people there nice?”

The young man’s tone was lazy. “They’re all right.”

“Have you ever had fermented soybean juice?”

“No.”

Tang Yu’s eyes filled with longing. “Then shall we go drink some together next time?”

Bian Yang frowned slightly, evidently displeased by the idea, but still gave a quiet “Mm.”

“Which university did you apply to, anyway? Why won’t you tell me?”

Tang Yu had asked him several times, but he refused to say, deliberately keeping her in suspense and insisting that she would find out when the time came.

But she could not feel at ease. She was afraid Bian Yang would change his mind and decide not to go to the capital after all. Then they would have to maintain a long-distance relationship.

Suddenly, her head dipped.

She looked up from beneath his palm.

The young man’s cool, pale hand rested on her head, rubbing it gently.

“You’ll find out when the time comes.”

Once again, he was brushing her off with those same words.

Tang Yu puffed out her cheeks and gave a soft snort.

But her mood was too good to hold it against him.

On the asphalt road, their shadows overlapped.

The moon was pale, the breeze clear, and the night stretched in a gentle wash of darkness. The person with whom she shared it all was right beside her.

Such beautiful moments were already more kindness than fate owed her. She would remember them forever, and remain grateful.

“Watch where you’re going.”

Seeing her distracted, Bian Yang crooked a finger as though to tap her on the head. Tang Yu had been prepared this time and laughed as she dodged away.

There was hardly anyone on the street, and no cars.

She hurried a few steps forward, then turned around. With her hands clasped behind her back, she gazed at him coyly through curved eyes. Her little white sneakers stepped on the young man’s shadow as she slowly walked backward.

Her smile went on and on, as though she were deliberately defying him by refusing to walk properly.

One streetlamp after another seemed to join into a single line, quietly flowing past behind her.

Everything had finally settled.

Looking back, the little boat had already crossed ten thousand mountains.

Just like her now—she would eventually make her way through the road of darkness and reach the far end of dawn.

(Page 3 of 3)