Hangzhou, Xixi, Yuerong Manor.
These three keywords already allowed Qin Sheng to understand what this man wanted to say. This man knew him, and he had met Qin Sheng at Yuerong Manor in Hangzhou, during his incident with Yan Chaozong and Qu Huanxi.
“I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong person,” replied Qin Sheng in a cold voice. Although he was no longer afraid of Yan Chaozong’s gang, Qin Sheng did not want to let anyone know he was currently in Beijing, especially this group of people. He would deal with Yan Chaozong after he figured out his life and understood the details of the Qin and Zhu families’ background.
The man wore a fancy outfit. On the inside, he wore a British-style suit, which he had gotten tailored at Savile Street. He topped it off with a grey coat and Hermès scarf. His outfit presented himself as an upper-society elite man.
“I don’t think so. You can’t possibly look the same and have the same name, right? Besides, I heard some news about Qin Sheng a while ago. It seems like that Qin Sheng had already disappeared from Hangzhou. I don’t think there would be such a big coincidence,” said the man confidently. No matter how Qin Sheng argued, he would not doubt his own observation.
Since that was the case, Qin Sheng gave up on denying and admitted directly, “Yes, you’re right, I’m that Qin Sheng. What can I do for you?”
Because Qin Sheng admitted it so suddenly, the man could no longer say what he had planned to. He did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Bro, you’re not going with the flow of the conversation! Aren’t you afraid that I’ll spread the news?”
Qin Sheng replied indifferently, “If you want to, I won’t stop you. It’s your freedom, after all. Anyways, I’ll return to Hangzhou to find them sooner or later. One must return what he owes.”
The man shook his head and replied, “I was just joking. I’ll gain nothing out of it. I have nothing to do with them, and we’re leading totally different kinds of lives. But I’m very curious. You haven’t left Hangzhou for very long, why are you here now? This advanced class is not opened to just anyone. Every student either has a powerful family background, a wide network of connections, or has a multi-billion dollar asset. How did you get in? If you’re really qualified to enter, then you wouldn’t have let Yan Chaozong and Qu Huanxi that bunch of people boss you around. And I heard that the class only had 30 vacancies, yet you’re the 31st student.”
Qin Sheng laughed coldly. “Do I have to explain all these to you?”
“Qin Sheng, you do not need to treat me with hostility, I don’t have any ill intentions against you. After all, we don’t have any clashes in profit interest, nor do we hold any grudges against each other. I’m just curious about meeting a familiar face here, especially someone as mysterious as you. Anyway, we’re classmates now, aren’t we?” The man did not know whether to laugh or cry. However, he could understand Qin Sheng’s stance. Anyone would be as cautious as well.
Qin Sheng squinted his eyes and scanned this man from head to toe. He held his reservations about his credibility. If he really goes ahead and tell Yan Chaozong the news, then Qin Sheng must be prepared to face Yan Chaozong again.
“Perhaps you didn’t notice me in the classroom earlier, so let me re-introduce myself. My name is Wei Li. I’m sure you don’t need me to elaborate on my background,” said Wei Li, between smiles. After all, the only one surnamed Wei on the list of well-known people in Hangzhou was his father, an influential representative in the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce.
Qin Sheng was not interested in him. He was really not afraid that he would let the news out. At this moment, Fang Huawei came out as well. Qin Sheng said to Wei Li in a lowered voice, “I have something on, I’ll take my leave first. Goodbye.”
Qin Sheng took quick steps towards Fang Huawei, who was also judging Wei Li. He just smiled and nodded before leaving together with Qin Sheng.
Wei Li stood rooted to the ground, seemingly deep in thoughts. This man is really a mystery. He had such a bad fall in Hangzhou, yet now he could sneak into Tsinghua’s Advanced Class in the School of Economics and Management? What is his story? Wei Li never let go of anyone he was curious about. He was just curious and had no other intentions towards Qin Sheng.
For lunch, Qin Sheng and Fang Huawei did not go anywhere far, they took care of it in one of Tsinghua’s canteen. Fang Huawei learned that this was Qin Sheng’s first time in Tsinghua, so he brought him around for half an hour before having lunch.
A few simple dishes, two bowls of rice, two bottles of coke. Qin Sheng voiced out his intention to ask Fang Huawei for help, and he agreed immediately without a slight bit of hesitation. Indeed, it was a simple task. After all, it was worthwhile to have Qin Sheng owe him one in exchange for something so simple.
After lunch, Fang Huawei insisted on treating. Qin Sheng could not argue his way through, so he could only give in eventually. He would have to find another chance.
After they parted ways, Fang Huawei went back to the office of the School of Economics and Management. Qin Sheng had nothing to do, so he just wandered around the campus aimlessly while soaking in the atmosphere of being in Tsinghua. Those spoilt children were the backbone of the country’s future. No one knew which one of them would just become successful in the future.
After walking around for a while and visiting a few well-known spots, Qin Sheng made a trip to the library again. Who knew that when he came out of the library, he would bump into his tablemate Han Xu.
Han Xu was not reserved at all, and this saying was right. It had only been two days here in Tsinghua, and he was already going around the campus with his arm on the waist of a fresh-looking beautiful girl. He was asking to be hated.
Qin Sheng had no intention to get involved in a love drama. Just as he was about to turn to avoid this dude, Han Xu saw Qin Sheng and came running over excitedly.
“Hey Qin Sheng! Where are you going in such a hurry?” asked Han Xu cheekily as he pulled the girl along with him.
Qin Sheng cursed in his heart. He could not hide anymore, so he could only brace for it. “It’s almost 2 p.m., time for class. I’m heading to the classroom.”
“Oh, oh, oh. It’s almost 2 p.m., time passes so fast!” Han Xu muttered to himself.
Qin Sheng replied casually, “Time flies when you’re busy dating.”
Han Xu laughed cheekily and then pulled over the beautiful lady next to him. “This is my girlfriend, Zhang Mi. She’s a graduate student at Law School. Isn’t she pretty?”
“Yes, she is.” Qin Sheng patronized boringly. He really wanted to tell her, “You can’t control a rich second-generation, it’s best if you realize it early.”
However, out of mannerism and respect, he still greeted, “Hi.”
Han Xu draped his arm over Qin Sheng’s shoulder as if they were best friends for many years. He introduced, “This is my good friend and also my classmate, Qin Sheng. Isn’t he handsome? Mimi, are there any more beautiful single ladies in your faculty? Introduce him to one. I promise she won’t have to worry about a single thing in life.”
The beautiful Zhang Mi’s eyes lit up instantly when she heard that Qin Sheng was Han Xu’s classmate. She had heard from Han Xu that the professors and guests in this advanced class were all highly prominent, well-known figures. Also, this class only accepted 31 students and by invitation only. This showed how unordinary the students’ backgrounds were. Besides, she already knew Han Xu from before, they were both from Tianjin. She knew better than anyone about Han Xu’s family’s status in Tianjin. As for Qin Sheng’s background, it did not need to take many guesses.
“Sure, there’s plenty of beauties at our Law faculty.” Zhang Mi quickly promised.
Qin Sheng did not give Han Xu face at all. “I have a girlfriend, and she’s very pretty, so there’s no need for the trouble. If there isn’t anything else, I’ll go off first.”
After saying that, he turned around and left directly. Han Xu called him a few times, but Qin Sheng ignored him completely. Han Xu helplessly whispered something to Zhang Mi and then sent her back while he quickly caught up to Qin Sheng.
Han Xu asked casually, “Bro, what’s wrong? You look like you’re in a bad mood.”
Qin Sheng squinted his eyes and said, “God can see whatever you’re doing. One day, you’ll have to return others what you owe them. You two are not from the same world at all. Since you can’t give her happiness, then why bother disrupting her life?”
After listening, Han Xu answered indifferently, “Just like how Zhou Yu beat Huang Gai, one is willing to hit, one is willing to suffer. We’re just taking what we want, there’s no need to feel that you owe the other person something. She knows that I have a girlfriend, and I know her intention. Needless to say, she’s just using me as a stepping stone to gain the biggest benefit for herself. Come on, what age are we in? Who still takes relationships seriously?”
Qin Sheng shook his head and smiled bitterly without saying anything. People with different value systems could never work together. Each had their own principles and bottom lines. Qin Sheng was also not an old pedant, why did he have to talk sense into everyone?
Seeing Qin Sheng remain silent, Han Xu continued to nag. “Life is meant to be free and easy. Everyone knows the right thing to do, but who could actually do it? I’m just bored while studying in Tsinghua, it’s not like I’m you guys who are here to learn something. I’m here to suffer! So I found a temporary girlfriend to pass my time. Anyways I will definitely give her much more than she’s going to put in, I will definitely not owe her any favors. Don’t worry, I’m not as an ass as you think I am.” Han Xu was a thick-skinned man, others might want to ignore him, but he was behaving like a quack doctor.
Qin Sheng shrugged and said, “As long as you’re happy.”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. Go, go, go, let’s go to class. I called my dad today to tell him that we have quite a number of beautiful girls in our class. My dad is a bigger jerk than me, he told me to marry one. I say, you can’t blame me entirely, it’s all in the genes! My parents taught me wrong,” said Han Xu pitifully.
Qin Sheng was really helpless. He was indeed something else.
During the afternoon class, Qin Sheng listened attentively and made lots of notes. After all, this professor that specialized in Economics was a well-known Economist in China. Qin Sheng heard that he was the government’s think tank. Sitting beside him, Han Xu had an equally fun time playing games on his phone. They did not disturb each other, but that Wei Li tried to unintentionally cast his glance at Qin Sheng. Qin Sheng did not care.
After class, Qin Sheng packed his things and fled immediately. He still needed to buy some books at the bookstore. Without a doubt, he was stopped by Han Xu before he could walk a few steps. He insisted on treating him dinner and paying for drinks at the bar. Qin Sheng did not have the time to deal with him, so he casually found an excuse to turn him down.
In the next few days, Qin Sheng’s life was as peaceful as still water. Fang Huawei gave him what he had asked for the next day. Thus, other than going for his own classes, Qin Sheng would sit-in in other classes when he was free or stay in the library.
Qin Sheng really enjoyed a peaceful life like this. His heart also became calm. This continued all the way until Friday afternoon. When he ended his class, his sister Qin Ran was already waiting for him outside. She said that she had something to talk to him about. He did not know what was going on and just followed her onto the car.