Chapter 033: The Gray Wolf and the White Rabbit

After he finished speaking, Dai Peng explained further, “It was that afternoon, the day we fought. After we split up, I went back to school for evening study hall. During class, I replied to her letter. She started crying right then. After she cried, I got up and walked out of the classroom. With more than thirty classmates watching, she chased after me, tears streaming down her face. I kept walking and walking until I reached the corner of the campus where the purple bamboo grove is, and finally stopped. When she caught up, I didn’t say a word—just pointed above the bamboo grove. At that moment, a few brothers who’d been waiting for my signal lit beautiful fireworks.”

“After that, she rushed into my arms, sobbing, saying she wanted to spend her life with me, no matter what. And everything that happened after, you already know.” Dai Peng finished, his eyes a little red.

“I can tell you truly care about her. This time, seize your chance. She’s a good girl—she deserves you,” Lin Yu said, patting Dai Peng on the shoulder with a deep voice.

“Third Brother, I know she’s a great girl. I feel differently about her, too. But you don’t know—my family is a mess, and I myself am a mess. I can’t give her a simple happiness. If she stays with me, she’s destined for a tragic ending.” Dai Peng sighed, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

“Maybe she doesn’t see it that way. Maybe she thinks being with you is the happiest, most joyful thing,” Lin Yu replied.

“A loser like me, who’s good for nothing except chasing girls, won’t get into college or achieve anything. Would she really be happy with a restaurant waiter or a jobless guy in a bar? Her parents—would they ever agree? And she’ll be in college for four years. Who knows if she’ll meet someone new in all that time? So I don’t dare think about the future. And as for love, because of my past, I don’t dare touch it.” Dai Peng took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on the nightscape.

“Fate is an unruly beast—why listen to it? Trust me, Third Brother, all our destinies will turn around. We’ll live better than anyone! Those with a bit of money or a lot, in the future, they might not compare to us.” Lin Yu smiled with confidence, his eyes unusually deep beneath the night sky.

Sparse moonlight scattered softly over the asphalt road, and everyone walked steadily, lost in their own conversations. This gave Lin Yu and Dai Peng plenty of time to talk.

“Third Brother, I believe in you. Ever since you saved me from Lin Lie in first year, you’ve been the one I trust most. No matter what happens, you’ll always be my brother, not just ‘Third Brother.’” As Dai Peng finished, he reached out his hand.

With a slap, their palms met. Lin Yu didn’t hold back, and Dai Peng’s tender hand went numb; he grimaced and immediately raised his middle finger.

“Screw you!”

Lin Yu naturally responded with his own middle finger, laughing. “Hold onto Ye Yijing, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

He knew that in their previous lives, Dai Peng and Ye Yijing had shared a tangled, poignant love, but in the end it was a tragedy—she, in utter disappointment, left to study abroad and eventually stayed in Canada. Dai Peng spiraled downward, becoming enamored with all kinds of substances, and his health suffered. With a veteran’s perspective, Lin Yu was determined to help Dai Peng change his fate this time.

Moreover, the power behind Ye Yijing could be an enormous asset for their future endeavors. Her father might not be prominent yet, but Lin Yu knew that man would one day become head of the City Management Bureau.

He would oversee the city’s environment, urban planning, water conservation, parking, landscaping, and much more.

If they could rely on such a figure, then whatever Lin Yu and his friends pursued, they would have access to significant influence.

Because the group gathering for dinner was large, Lin Yu suggested they avoid the upscale Splendor Hotel. Instead, under Hu Rongqiang’s guidance, they went to a Chinese restaurant near the police station.

Not long after they arrived, Lin Yu’s mother Wang Chunhua came with Zhang Chao’s father and uncle, as well as Qi Yue and others. Even Dai Peng’s father and stepmother were among them.

Zhang Zhilong wasn’t present; Qi Yue said he’d gone home to try raising money. The blonde girl who’d been with Dai Peng earlier had left during the incident.

Zhang Chao’s mother and aunt stayed at the hospital to watch over him, just in case he woke and needed care. Zhang Chao’s father, Zhang Guohua, after learning Hu Rongqiang was deputy police chief, was extremely cautious—faced with someone who usually wouldn’t glance his way, he was clearly nervous.

Dai Peng’s father and stepmother rarely interacted with officials, so they spoke carefully, worried about offending those in power. Dai Peng’s father wasn’t as striking in appearance as his son, but his stepmother was radiant, looking no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

Lin Yu’s father, after his change in personality, was genial and socially adept, so he took charge of entertaining the adults.

Soon, thanks to Lin Yu’s efforts, after a few rounds of drinks, the adults gradually relaxed and began chatting freely.

During this time, Zhang Chao’s father repeatedly thanked Qi Yue, making the usually brash girl feel a bit embarrassed.

In the end, Lin Yu helped her out, telling Zhang Guohua not to worry or dwell on it, and reassuring him that his family would help with the hefty surgery costs.

After Lin Yu spoke, Dai Peng glanced at his stepmother a few times, then stood and said his family would help cover the expenses as well.

This made Zhang Guohua feel very uneasy, as if he owed everyone, and his eyes grew red with emotion.

Just as Qi Yue was about to stand and say the money didn’t matter, Lin Yu pulled her back, stopping her.

Qi Yue was clearly displeased by this.

Lin Yu laughed and explained, “Don’t get worked up—this money will be useful for us.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Qi Yue asked, puzzled.

There was no air conditioning in the restaurant’s private room, so after some drinks, the air felt stuffy. Qi Yue’s cheeks were flushed, making her look particularly stunning.

Lin Yu gave her a teasing look and said, “I’ll tell you when we get home tonight!”

Today’s events had the silver lining that Zhang Chao was out of danger, so Lin Yu could finally relax, deciding that tonight he’d play the big bad wolf to Qi Yue’s tempting little rabbit…

Perhaps sensing Lin Yu’s mischievous intentions, the usually feisty Qi Xiao Yue blushed deeply, her cheeks as red as a ripe peach.

Everyone noticed the flirtatious glances between them, but even Lin Yu’s parents kept silent, pretending not to see.

Learning that Qi Yue’s family owned a large company, Dai Peng’s stepmother Zhang Li smiled at Dai Peng and said, “Son, you’d better learn from Xiao Yu.”

Facing his stepmother, Dai Peng lost his usual carefree manner. When she spoke, he replied with proper decorum, “I’ll do my best.”

As he answered, a troubled expression lingered on his face.

Watching Dai Peng closely, Lin Yu was suddenly startled. He thought to himself, “Sixth Brother... Could there be something between him and his stepmother…? The saying ‘one thing restrains another’ isn’t just about slaying monsters. There must be a story here! Looks like I’ll have to keep an eye on this…”

After the meal, everyone felt their families’ bonds had deepened through this crisis.

After visiting the still-comatose Zhang Chao at the hospital, Lin Yu and Qi Yue headed to their residence at the Fortune Center.

Lin Yu thought, if Dai Peng and Ye Yijing can have their ‘Princess and Soldier,’ then why can’t I and Xiao Yue have our own ‘Wolf and Rabbit’?