Chapter 30: Leave

Fan Jian stepped out from the crowd and jumped in front of Chu Bai.

"What are you doing? You're just a bad student, a piece of trash. Isn't that what everyone's saying about you? Are you planning to hit me with that look on your face? Go ahead, try it. Your grandpa here is standing right in front of you. I bet you, this grandson, wouldn't dare lay a finger on me!"

Fan Jian's injuries hadn't fully healed yet; some parts of his face were still bruised. Combined with his arrogant words, it made him look particularly punchable.

Chu Bai clenched his fists.

"Come on, grandson, hit me! Why aren't you hitting me? Go on, hit me! Come on, come on…" Fan Jian continued to provoke him, sticking his face out and making a deliberately obnoxious expression.

Chu Bai, unable to hold back his temper any longer, slapped Fan Jian across the face.

The slap was satisfying.

But Chu Bai immediately felt a bit of regret. It was clear that Fan Jian had provoked him on purpose.

As expected, after taking the slap, Fan Jian turned around and prepared to report it to the teacher.

However, just as Fan Jian reached the classroom door, he turned back.

And coming in with Fan Jian was an elderly man—the old principal.

Chu Bai saw this and his worry turned into relief. He quickly greeted the principal.

Many of the students didn't recognize the principal, but after hearing Chu Bai greet him, they quickly understood who he was and politely followed suit.

The old principal smiled and nodded at the students before turning his gaze to Chu Bai and Fan Jian.

"I heard everything from outside the classroom. You two are classmates; being able to gather together is a kind of fate. Classmates should understand and care for each other…"

The old principal began a long lecture, continually trying to instill his values.

The surrounding students listened attentively, nodding from time to time, thinking that the principal made a lot of sense.

But Wang Haoran saw through it all. He knew the principal was trying to help Chu Bai out of this situation.

And as Wang Haoran guessed, after the principal said all that, he only gave Chu Bai a light scolding and didn't punish him at all.

The slap that Fan Jian took was essentially a free gift to Chu Bai.

Wang Haoran realized that this old principal must be an important supporting character in the protagonist's camp.

Moreover, the kind who greatly helps the protagonist.

In many web novels, such supporting characters are very detrimental to the antagonists. They often turn the tide, allowing the protagonist to make a comeback and putting the antagonist in a difficult position.

"I should come up with a plan to deal with this important supporting character. I can't let him keep helping Chu Bai," Wang Haoran thought to himself.

After resolving the conflict, the principal took advantage of the break to have a private conversation with Chu Bai.

On the playground, the principal and Chu Bai walked while talking.

"The mock exams are over. It's okay if you didn't do well; the most important thing is the college entrance exam. That's when the real results will be seen."

"The principal is right," Chu Bai nodded heavily, feeling a bit better.

Although he didn't do well in the mock exams, he still had a chance. As long as he "performs" well in the college entrance exam, everything will be fine.

After all, it's unlikely that he would encounter someone like Xin Liangcai during the college entrance exam.

The invigilators for the college entrance exams come from other schools or are brought in from other places. This is to prevent cheating.

Even if by some chance he does encounter such a person, Chu Bai wouldn't be afraid.

The college entrance exam is different; it determines the future of the candidates. If an invigilator were to sit next to him and stare at him, Chu Bai could protest to the exam supervisors, citing interference with his ability to take the exam.

That way, Chu Bai could easily "perform" and getting into a first-tier university would be almost guaranteed. Even a top-tier university was highly likely.

"You seem to be okay now. Go back to class," the principal said to Chu Bai.

"Principal, I have a small request. I hope you can grant it."

"Go ahead," the principal said with a smile.

"Last night, when I was at your house for dinner, you mentioned that you were going to a friend's place this afternoon to play with jade stones."

"You want to come along?"

"Even though I'm young, I learned the true essence of this art from a legendary jade gambler. I win nine out of ten times!"

"This…"

"Principal, please take me along. My family is not well-off, and my parents work very hard. I want to earn some money to help them out," Chu Bai pleaded emotionally.

"What a filial child," the principal remarked.

Seeing Chu Bai's sincere expression, the principal said, "Go ask your class teacher for leave."

"Our class teacher is not easy to talk to, so I was hoping you could help me out," Chu Bai said with an innocent smile.

After what happened with Wen Jing, Song Zhenyu hadn't publicly addressed it, but she was clearly still upset.

Chu Bai didn't dare ask Song Zhenyu for leave; he knew he'd get scolded and wouldn't get the leave approved.

...

In the afternoon, Wang Haoran found a quiet place and made a phone call to his so-called mother.

In his memory, his mother had once said, "We have connections. You can bully anyone you want at school."

Although Wang Haoran didn't know the specifics of these connections, he was certain they weren't simple.

The phone rang for a while, but no one answered. He called several more times, but it was the same.

Given his mother's schedule, she should be busy at work around this time.

Wang Haoran decided to go to her office.

After all, this matter couldn't be explained clearly over the phone. Even if they did talk over the phone, they'd still need to meet in person.

Wang Haoran arrived at the office.

Song Zhenyu had stayed up until 4 a.m. grading English papers, so she was exhausted today. She took advantage of the lunch break to nap at her desk.

The office was empty, and Wang Haoran had an idea. He leaned close to Song Zhenyu's ear and softly sang the familiar song, "Loving You":

"I hold you tightly in my arms 

Cherishing you in my heart 

Because I truly love you 

In a pure world of love 

You are my only one 

Never, ever doubt it."

Song Zhenyu was a light sleeper. The familiar melody made her groggily open her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a handsome boy's face.

Instinctively, Song Zhenyu smiled.

[Ding! The host has stirred the feelings of one of the female leads, Song Zhenyu, earning 200 villain points.]

"I know you sing well, but there's no need to come to the office to do it. I'm really tired," Song Zhenyu said gently, despite being woken up.

"Sister Zhenyu, I'd like to request leave to go out. Could you please approve it?" Wang Haoran handed over the leave request and a pen.

"Another leave request?" Song Zhenyu asked casually.

"Who else requested leave?"

"Chu Bai," Song Zhenyu replied, her tone noticeably displeased.

She hadn't wanted to approve Chu Bai's leave, but he had involved the principal.

Song Zhenyu couldn't refuse.

Why did Chu Bai ask for leave?

Wang Haoran was curious, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

He pointed to his leave request.

"Sister Zhenyu, please help me out."

Without asking why, Song Zhenyu signed the leave request without hesitation.

To her, Wang Haoran, being an excellent student, must have a good reason for requesting leave. Approving it was a no-brainer, no need to ask too many questions.