Chapter 70
Between classes, the senior third-year Class 7 was bustling with chatter, all centered around the rumored early romance between Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang.
Suddenly, a tall, confident young man appeared at the classroom door. His strikingly handsome face bore a casual, pleasant smile. Leaning lazily against the doorway, he asked, “Excuse me, is Zhang Zhihe here?”
The noisy classroom fell silent in an instant. All eyes turned to the Alpha at the door, curiosity brimming in their gazes.
Why was the school tyrant suddenly visiting their class? What business did he have with Zhang Zhihe? Could it be related to the romance rumors?
In a flash, countless questions bubbled up in the minds of Class 7 students, yet none dared to respond.
Gu Yang, patient but firm, tapped the doorframe lightly. “May I ask again, is Zhang Zhihe here?”
Finally, someone reacted. Swallowing nervously, they pointed to a seat in the front row. “That’s his seat, but he might’ve gone to the restroom. He should be back soon.”
As soon as the words left their mouth, Zhang Zhihe entered through the back door, surprised to find the previously chaotic classroom so quiet. Adjusting his glasses, his gaze landed on Gu Yang standing at the front.
At the same time, a well-meaning classmate alerted him, “Zhang Zhihe, Yang-ge is looking for you.”
Zhang Zhihe froze, guilt flashing across his face. Like a thief caught red-handed, he turned to flee.
“I wouldn’t run if I were you,” Gu Yang said, his tone light but laced with a casual menace that rooted Zhang Zhihe to the spot.
Zhang Zhihe turned back, meeting Gu Yang’s gaze. With his hands in his pockets, Gu Yang began strolling toward him. Each step forward made Zhang Zhihe instinctively take a step back until he found himself backed against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat. Gu Yang continued closing the distance.
Zhang Zhihe stammered, his voice trembling, “Gu… Gu… Gu Yang, w-what are you trying to do? If you hit me, I’ll tell the teacher, the dean, and even the principal—ah!”
Before he could finish, Gu Yang landed a slow, deliberate punch on his face.
Zhang Zhihe, a classic bookworm with no strength to speak of, was no match for Gu Yang’s fist. He collapsed to the ground, his glasses clattering away, blood dripping from his nose. Dazed and reeling, his head buzzed as he wiped his nose and saw his blood-streaked hand. Panic set in.
“Blood! I’m bleeding! Gu Yang’s going to kill me!” he shrieked, flailing as he tried to crawl away.
Gu Yang grabbed him by the collar, lifting him like a chicken before landing another punch on the other side of his face. This time, Gu Yang gave him no chance to escape, following up with a swift kick.
Zhang Zhihe scrambled and stumbled across the room, battered and wailing. Yet not a single classmate from Class 7 stepped in to stop it.
In fact, they were still in disbelief. Gu Yang, known for never stirring trouble on campus, was actually beating someone up in school.
Back in his first year, when upperclassmen had picked a fight with him, he didn’t retaliate on school grounds but settled the score off-campus later. He’d never bullied anyone at school, let alone in broad daylight.
So why was he doing this now?
Even students from nearby classes, drawn by the commotion, were shocked. No one dared intervene.
Well, almost no one. Lin Xiaoran would dare.
However, instead of stepping in, he stood at the back of the crowd, watching the scene unfold. To him, Gu Yang’s actions seemed a bit excessive. If he wanted to fight, couldn’t he wait until after school? Now, the entire grade was gathering, and even the teachers were bound to notice.
Sure enough, the commotion soon drew a teacher’s voice. From afar, they could hear Gao Weixuan’s shout, “Make way! What’s going on here? Stop it right now! Gu Yang, stop this at once!”
Usually cheerful and laid-back, Gao Weixuan was clearly shaken. Zhang Zhihe was sprawled on the ground, half his face bloodied and crying like a banshee.
Gu Yang, to his credit, gave Gao some face and stopped. But he didn’t let Zhang Zhihe go just yet. Hoisting him up with a grip like steel, Gu Yang’s eyes lost their earlier humor, replaced with chilling intensity. His voice was low, but the menace was unmistakable.
“Listen carefully. Lin Xiaoran is my boyfriend. If you stir up trouble again, it won’t stop at just a beating.”
Alphas had an innate aura of dominance, and Gu Yang embodied it fully.
Zhang Zhihe wasn’t the only one frozen in fear. Even Gao Weixuan stood dumbfounded for a moment before snapping out of it. “Gu Yang, what nonsense are you spouting? Put him down! Don’t you know the consequences of fighting at school—”
“Writing a self-reflection?” Gu Yang cut him off smoothly, his icy demeanor melting into a breezy smile as he released Zhang Zhihe. “Five thousand words, right? I’ll recite it during tomorrow’s flag-raising ceremony. How’s that?”
Gao Weixuan: “…”
Rendered speechless, the teacher’s face turned an alarming shade of green as he struggled to find a retort.
Gu Yang, ever perceptive, glanced at the battered Zhang Zhihe and helpfully suggested, “Director Gao, I think your priority should be sending this student to the school infirmary. He’s bleeding quite a lot.”
“You…” Gao Weixuan was livid but couldn’t argue. Waving over some students, he ordered them to escort Zhang Zhihe away.
“Wait a moment.”
The voice came from the back of the crowd. Lin Xiaoran, who had been watching the drama unfold, suddenly stepped forward.
All eyes turned to him, unsure of what he intended to do. Even Gu Yang seemed momentarily uncertain. After all, he’d deliberately waited until Lin Xiaoran was out of the room to confront Zhang Zhihe.
Lin Xiaoran approached Zhang Zhihe with measured steps, then raised a hand—and punched him squarely in the face.
Zhang Zhihe, who had just managed to stand with the help of his classmates, was knocked to the ground again by Lin Xiaoran’s punch, this time with an even worse nosebleed.
Lin Xiaoran bent down, grabbed him by the arm, and hoisted him up. Staring straight into his eyes, his voice crisp and clear, he said, “Gu Yang is my boyfriend. If you dare upset him again, I’ll beat you up myself!”
With that, he let go, and Zhang Zhihe crumpled back onto the ground.
The crowd watching: “…”
The events were happening so fast and so unexpectedly that no one had time to process what just transpired.
After a stunned pause, Gao Weixuan finally snapped out of it and roared, “Lin Xiaoran, you—”
Lin Xiaoran cut him off calmly, “Five thousand words, right? Gu Yang will write it for me.”
“Eh?” Gu Yang, still inwardly delighted by Lin Xiaoran’s earlier declaration, was caught off guard by this sudden comment. Smiling, he asked, “Why do I have to write it?”
Lin Xiaoran shot him a glance. “It’s your fault.”
“But you hit him too.”
“I was just helping out.”
The two went back and forth as if discussing trivial matters, entirely unfazed by the fight. The crowd looked on, dumbfounded, wondering if this was the legendary unshakable mindset of true elites.
Meanwhile, Gao Weixuan was nearly apoplectic with rage. After instructing some students to take Zhang Zhihe to the infirmary, he pointed at the pair and barked, “You two, to my office! Now!” Then, still fuming, he stormed off toward the office.
Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran exchanged a glance before following him out of the classroom.
The hallway, which had been packed with onlookers, began to disperse now that the drama seemed resolved. However, a commotion erupted at the far end of the corridor.
“Holy crap! Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan! What are they doing at our school?”
Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan were public figures—a dashing, affluent heir of a prestigious family and a rising star in domestic broadcasting. Their public relationship and occasional appearances in entertainment news made them hugely popular among younger audiences.
Their sudden arrival at the school instantly captured everyone’s attention.
Speculations spread like wildfire.
Meanwhile, Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran exchanged a knowing look. It was obvious why they were here—Gao Weixuan must’ve called them regarding the dating rumors.
Gao Weixuan also spotted Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan. While clearing the crowd, he briskly led Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran toward them, greeting the two visitors and ushering everyone into his office.
However, the hallway didn’t clear out as instructed. Instead, the students’ discussions grew louder.
“I have a bold theory. Gu Xiuyuan and Gu Yang… Lin Lan and Lin Xiaoran… Could they actually be their parents?”
“I think so too! I’ve always heard Yang-ge’s family is something else, but I never knew what. Could he really be the Gu family’s eldest heir?”
“What about Lin Xiaoran? He only transferred to our city during high school. Wasn’t that around the same time Lin Lan started working here? Now that I think about it, they do look alike!”
“Whoa! So one’s a rich heir, and the other’s a star kid?”
“And they’ve been so low-key this whole time?”
“I just want to say, how is life so unfair? Look at Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang—good-looking, top students, and they even come from incredible families. Honestly, I’m jealous.”
“Not just that. They’re great at basketball, sing well, play piano, are gaming legends, and can even fight!”
“Speaking of fighting, did anyone else notice Lin Xiaoran actually threw a punch? I didn’t think our straight-laced genius would get physical.”
“Didn’t someone post on the forums about seeing him take down three Alphas by himself? After seeing that punch today, I believe it!”
“What kind of Omega is our Lin Xiaoran? He’s amazing!”
“Obviously, he’s extraordinary. Otherwise, would Yang-ge be so smitten? That declaration earlier wasn’t just aimed at Zhang Zhihe—it was a warning to the whole school.”
“And Lin Xiaoran’s no slouch either, stepping up to share the consequences. That’s real solidarity.”
“Ugh, they’re just flaunting their relationship at this point. My poor single eyes are blinded.”
“Wait, isn’t anyone curious?” someone in the crowd whispered. “Gu Xiuyuan and Lin Lan are getting married, right? So… can Yang-ge and our school genius even be together?”
“Why not? They’re not related by blood.”
“But legally, even adopted siblings can’t marry, can they?”
“Then what happens now?”
As the gossiping students debated the intricacies of legal and ethical dilemmas, inside the office, Gao Weixuan had just finished recounting the tale of Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran’s relationship—and their recent fight.
Gu Xiuyuan and Lin Lan were already aware of Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran’s relationship, so they didn’t show any surprise or opposition. They had specifically come to the school to explain the situation to the teachers, though they hadn’t expected to discover their kids had also been involved in a brawl.
Lin Lan anxiously grabbed Lin Xiaoran and looked him over. “Ranran, how could you get into a fight? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Gao Weixuan: “…” He was the one doing the hitting—how could he be hurt?
But Gao Weixuan was familiar with Lin Lan. As Lin Xiaoran’s mother, they had communicated before, and he knew she wasn’t particularly concerned about her son’s grades. She only cared about whether he was being bullied, eating well, and happy at school.
Giving up on Lin Lan, he turned his hopes to Gu Xiuyuan.
To his dismay, Gu Xiuyuan smiled politely and said, “Hitting someone is wrong, of course. We’ll compensate them. Whatever amount they ask for, we’ll pay.”
Gao Weixuan: “…” So having money makes you invincible, huh?
The real issue wasn’t compensation. It was about getting the parents to help discipline their kids, especially with the college entrance exams coming up. Why couldn’t they focus on the main point?
Feeling drained, Gao Weixuan tried again. “The fight itself isn’t too big of a deal. An apology and a written reflection will do. I’ll also talk to Zhang Zhihe to smooth things over. But about their relationship—”
“We’re aware,” Lin Lan interrupted him with a cheerful smile. “We came today to talk about it with you. I know you’re concerned about their academic performance and worried their relationship might affect their college entrance exams. But I’m not worried. I know these two kids—they’re responsible and won’t let this interfere with their studies. So, Director Gao, you can relax. That said, they’re still high school students, and this shouldn’t be openly discussed, as it might set a bad example for others. So…”
She turned to Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran. “You two, mind your behavior at school.”
The two of them obediently nodded. “Yes.”
Gao Weixuan: “…”
What an act!
If they were so mindful, why had they publicly called each other “boyfriend” just moments ago?
But what could he do when the parents themselves didn’t seem to mind? After all, neither Gu Yang nor Lin Xiaoran’s grades had ever suffered.
For a moment, Gao Weixuan was at a loss for words. He had assumed Gu Xiuyuan and Lin Lan would back him up—what parent would want their child to date during their critical senior year? But clearly, he had been too naive.
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Since there was no evening study session on weekends, Gao Weixuan dismissed the group, only pausing as they reached the door. He called after Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran, “Five thousand words, both of you! You’ll read them at the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow morning!”
That was the only punishment he could think of.
Since private cars weren’t allowed on campus, Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan waited downstairs while Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran returned to the classroom to pack their bags.
It was dismissal time, and even though only the senior-year students were present, the hallways were crowded. Many students stared at them; some even took out their phones to snap pictures or record videos. But no one dared approach them. Even Chen Hongqiang, who bumped into Gu Yang head-on, avoided eye contact and scurried away, leaving Gu Yang feeling awkward.
Now wasn’t the time to explain. They needed to leave quickly.
Once the four of them were in the car, Gu Yang immediately pulled out his phone and called Secretary Yang. “Uncle Yang, keep an eye on the online chatter. Have someone suppress any posts that show up.”
Over the years, no one outside knew Gu Yang was the heir to the Gu family. It wasn’t that Gu Xiuyuan was deliberately hiding it—it was simply that Gu Yang didn’t like the attention.
But today, with Gu Xiuyuan and Lin Lan making such a public appearance at the school, it was inevitable that some students would upload photos online, which would be a hassle to deal with.
After leaving the school, Gu Xiuyuan drove straight to the Gu family’s Donghu Villa. The night before, he had told Lin Lan that he planned to apologize to Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran, and it was arranged for tonight.
Initially, they thought of dining out, but Grandpa and Grandma Gu insisted that family meals were best enjoyed at home. Thus, it turned into a family dinner.
Aunt Wu and Grandma Gu had been busy in the kitchen all afternoon, and the dining table was overflowing with delicious dishes.
Grandma Gu was overjoyed to see her eldest grandson, who had been staying away, finally return. She pulled both Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran to the table with a hand each and immediately prompted Gu Xiuyuan to apologize.
Gu Xiuyuan had been mentally preparing himself. Apologizing wasn’t something that came easily to him. Yet, with his mother being so direct, the awkwardness dissipated somewhat. Standing up with his glass in hand, he said solemnly, “Gu Yang, Ranran, I didn’t handle things well regarding you two. I’ve thought it over and realized my mistakes. I apologize.” Then, he downed his drink in one go.
For Gu Xiuyuan to say such words was no small feat. Gu Yang, ever gracious, stood up with Lin Xiaoran, both raising their glasses filled with tea instead of wine, and returned the gesture.
Just like that, the tension between father and son was resolved.
No one was happier than Grandma Gu. She clung to Lin Xiaoran’s hand, refusing to let go. “Oh, this is wonderful! Ranran, such a good child, becoming my granddaughter-in-law—it’s the happiest news! Yangyang, you must treat Ranran well. Otherwise, even your grandma won’t forgive you. A beautiful wife like this must be cherished, understand?”
Lin Xiaoran: “…”
His rosy lips twitched again and again. Beautiful wife? Cherished? If it were anyone else, Lin Xiaoran might have already thrown a punch.
But here and now, he could only endure.
His subtle expressions didn’t escape Gu Yang’s notice. Seeing Lin Xiaoran’s frustration and inability to retort, Gu Yang decided to take advantage of the moment. “Of course, Grandma. With such a beautiful wife, how could I not cherish him?”
Lin Xiaoran shot him a sidelong glance, his patience clearly wearing thin. But Gu Yang just chuckled, unabashedly enjoying the rare chance to tease him.
