Chapter Seventeen: What If I Disagree?

During the entire lunch break, there was no chance to switch places with Su Yingying. As things got busier, Gu Qing simply couldn’t spare a thought for that side.

To create an opportunity for Jiang Changyuan and Su Yingying to be alone, the chubby kid and the others had pulled out all the stops in their acting skills.

By the time Gu Qing belatedly realized what was happening, lunch break was over, and all he got in return was a pile of insincere but heartfelt thanks.

"Damn it! They’re definitely doing this on purpose!"

Passing by Jiang Changyuan’s desk, Gu Qing leaned over to watch him solve some problems, his eyes flickering with surprise and suspicion.

“Jiang Changyuan, you better not be up to some trickery, or else… hmph.”

With that harsh warning, Gu Qing stormed back to his seat, his anger bubbling over.

Jiang Changyuan didn’t even look up, cursing silently, *What a lunatic.*

He wondered, was the male lead being overly enthusiastic about him every day, watching him like that?

“You’re learning faster than Lu Hai and the others. Do you need me to help tutor you...?”

Su Yingying had had a fulfilling day. In the last free class before school ended, she finally asked the question that had been lingering in her heart all afternoon.

After asking, she immediately lowered her head, her expression flushed with embarrassment.

Her offer to tutor also had personal motives—her previous part-time boss no longer had work for her, and her mother’s illness couldn’t be delayed.

She couldn’t afford to be idle; she had to earn money.

“No…”

Jiang Changyuan was about to refuse without thinking, but seeing Su Yingying’s ashamed expression made him pause abruptly.

“Wouldn’t it be too much trouble for you?”

“No trouble at all, no trouble.”

Hearing this, Su Yingying suddenly lifted her head, waved her hand, and smiled awkwardly.

“What about the tutoring fee...?”

“How about two hundred yuan an hour?”

“Ah?”

Su Yingying was startled. The price far exceeded what she earned from part-time jobs and was beyond what she had expected.

“N-no need to be that much.”

“You explain things clearly and simply; it’s worth that price.”

Without giving Su Yingying a chance to refuse, Jiang Changyuan made the decision alone.

He had wanted to say no—after all, Gu Qing would probably hate him even more if he found out—but thinking that one night of tutoring could earn Su Yingying a week’s worth of part-time wages, he couldn’t help but feel reluctant.

Gu Qing, who had been watching the two of them closely all along, held back his anger for a while but eventually lost control.

“I’ll tutor you too.”

“With Su Yingying, that’s enough. Do you want me to come along as your study buddy too?”

Jiang Changyuan didn’t need to turn around to guess how dark Gu Qing’s face was at that moment. He wanted to pry open Gu Qing’s forehead and see what was inside.

Always acting like a know-it-all, what did he do with so much free time?

---

“President Gu, you’re not trying to steal Su Yingying’s chance to earn money, are you?”

“Of course not!”

Gu Qing gritted his teeth. Couldn’t Jiang Changyuan say something a little more considerate?

“If it weren’t for you giving the tutoring fee to Chen Xiang today, she would’ve been dragged down by your actions and ruined her reputation. Are you planning to ruin Yingying’s reputation too?”

“Sigh, it’s so hard to be a good person these days! I just want to study, how come people read so much ill intent into it?”

Jiang Changyuan clutched his chest, looking wronged and helpless.

Seeing the young master being unfairly treated, the chubby kid, Lu Hai, immediately spoke up, clearly displeased.

“President Gu, you clung on to us stubbornly at noon, and now you’re trying to join us again? What’s that about? Supervision? Do we have no rights?”

“You saw for yourself at noon, we were really studying. It’s not right to slander us like this.”

“Could it be that President Gu doesn’t trust his own people and is picking fights to stop us from studying properly?”

The group seized the chance to mock Gu Qing without hesitation.

They volleyed back and forth, and if they went on, Gu Qing might be cast as some irredeemable villain.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Gu Qing barked angrily and swept a cold glare over them.

But the chubby kid and the others didn’t back down; they just glared right back.

“I’ve always treated Yingying like a little sister. If you take her away, it’s my duty to look after her.”

“Fine, you take her. I’ll find someone else.”

Jiang Changyuan turned and left; he had no desire to have the male lead as a tutor while also dealing with the male lead himself.

They couldn’t stand each other at school during the day—who wanted to see him again at night?

“Wait—”

Su Yingying, eyes brimming with tears, grabbed Jiang Changyuan’s arm like a frightened fawn, a hint of pleading in her gaze.

Jiang Changyuan glanced sideways and sighed deeply.

In his heart, he cursed Gu Qing silently—completely clueless about human affairs. He himself wasn’t interested in making money, so what’s the point in blocking others’ paths?

“You want me to be your tutor?”

“Ah, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that someone else won’t allow it.”

“As long as you agree. Do you... do you agree?”

“Of course I agree.”

Jiang Changyuan’s firm words brought a tearful smile back to Su Yingying’s face.

“Then it’s settled. Don’t interfere with anything else.”

“Alright then.”

The two of them conversed as if Gu Qing didn’t exist at all.

His fists clenched tightly, his expression dark and brooding.

Especially Su Yingying’s last words—they pierced Gu Qing’s heart with bitter sadness.

---

He and Su Yingying had come up through elementary, middle, and high school together. They had known each other for nearly ten years, yet the girl who once relied on him had grown distant in such a short time because of that Jiang Changyuan fellow.

The chubby kid excitedly grabbed a friend’s hand and whispered close to his ear.

“Showing a bit of weakness and letting someone else take the lead is the best way to stab at hearts, Young Master Jiang is amazing!”

“Definitely. There’s so much to learn from Young Master Jiang. Let’s keep a close eye on him.”

Meanwhile, Gu Qing stared at Su Yingying, utterly frustrated.

“Yingying, what if I don’t agree?”

“I really need this part-time job.”

Su Yingying bit her lip and whispered. Jiang Changyuan hadn’t asked about her part-time work, and she was already very grateful.

But in his anger, Gu Qing automatically interpreted her words as meaning she needed Jiang Changyuan.

“Even if it’s for… that, you don’t have to rely on Jiang Changyuan, right?”

“Thank you for your concern, President Gu, but I don’t want to explain.”

Though classmates wouldn’t openly criticize a peer’s part-time job, they whispered behind their backs.

Students’ pride was strong—even Su Yingying, who was barely visible, was no exception.

At this point, Gu Qing’s temper flared.

“I’ve given you a warning. Take care of yourself.”

Jiang Changyuan, who had just been glared at, laughed and patted Su Yingying’s shoulder.

“Making money isn’t shameful.”

“Don’t take it to heart. Come home with me after school.”

At these words, Su Yingying’s stubborn little face flushed suddenly, and she obediently nodded.

Jiang Changyuan clicked his tongue softly, and while Gu Qing turned away, he took the chance to rub Su Yingying’s hair—soft, just like her personality.

Ding-ling-ling.

As the school bell rang, Lu Hai immediately began packing up, shouting out.

“Su Yingying, are you ready?”

“Almost.”

Chen Xiang glanced briefly at the suddenly included Su Yingying, then looked away.

Watching the group leave chatting happily, Gu Qing’s eyes reddened with anger. He was about to follow them...

“President, Director Lu has something to discuss with you.”

At the Blue Ocean Bay Villa, Jiang Changyuan habitually arranged slippers for the lady as he entered, but paused in surprise as he turned around.

Had his home been the recipient of a charitable visit?