Chi Wu popped the trunk open, and the cluster of male classmates, dividing their attention, started acting as porters.

Chi Wu was quickly surrounded by a group of girls. Graduation time always managed to be this effervescent.

However, Chi Wu had made up his mind: he wouldn't take a single step away from Cheng Ying. What a joke—guarding her for three years, only to have her compromised on the very last day; Chi Wu would want to bash his head against a wall. Besides, Cheng Ying was dressed like this. She shouldn't be seen.

Cheng Ying figured it was because they were graduating, and the students no longer feared the teachers, so their true natures were showing. Why were they all so passionate and audacious? Why wasn't anyone talking about mutual progress anymore? They were straight up grabbing people. Look at Chi Wu; he'd run into a veritable she-tiger. And a whole pride of them, at that.

When they got to the classroom, the room had already been decorated by the students who boarded there. However, the head teacher and the subject instructors hadn't arrived yet.

"Chi Wu, someone's looking for you outside! Such a beautiful girl, that aura—you can tell she's not ordinary," someone shouted out.

Chi Wu frowned. Throwing Cheng Ying over there and leaving her alone was out of the question; the surrounding group looked like a pack of wolves. Furthermore, a woman looking for him—he couldn't let any misunderstanding linger in Cheng Ying's mind over something like this. Chi Wu tugged Cheng Ying, "Come out with me."

The people nearby started heckling, "Chi Wu, is that your sister? You're already in university, and you're still hugging her so tightly. That's not right!"

Cheng Ying mused to herself that being with this group of raw kids made her feel youthful again—a belated burst of youth, finally catching a glimmer of that feeling today. It was a pity it was the last year of high school, the very last day. She'd truly managed to grasp the tail end of her youth, and then it would be gone. University, adulthood.

The group of male classmates continued to tease, shouting all sorts of things. Chi Wu snapped, "Stop the nonsense!" He held Yingzi's hand firmly and pulled her out. "Don't listen to how nice they sound; the people themselves aren't worth much." He was clearly trying to brainwash Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying replied, "Mmm, I'm not stupid. They're just a bunch of snot-nosed brats."

Chi Wu wasn't pleased by this at all. He figured in Cheng Ying's eyes, he was no different from them. Why did that make him so unhappy?

Chi Wu dragged Cheng Ying out and instantly felt a surge of irritation seeing the person waiting near the distant entrance. On a day like this, this person still managed to haunt him like a persistent ghost. It was utterly sickening.

Cheng Ying gently withdrew her hand and took in the campus she had inhabited for three years but hadn't truly observed. No wonder her youth arrived late; she hadn't enjoyed any of this, only focusing on earning money. Why had she prioritized essential supplies so heavily? She needed to adjust her outlook on life going forward. Of course, only those who were definitely short on money would speak of treating money as a mere auxiliary item. The working class couldn't utter such lighthearted sentiments. Without reaching a certain height, one couldn't truly grasp it; most people struggled daily over the number of zeros in their bank accounts.

Chi Wu felt displeased watching Cheng Ying. He was being confronted at his doorstep, yet why wasn't he jealous? All his bottled-up anger was directed squarely at that young woman.

Cheng Ying felt like a blinding spotlight in front of Qing Fang. After the three exchanged greetings, Cheng Ying wanted to slip away immediately. This was Chi Wu's life; whether he cherished something or not, she could offer advice, but she shouldn't meddle. Of course, there were times when advice was forcefully imposed when ignored. It was better to intervene early now. Her "child" clearly didn't have good taste; he hadn't taken a shine to that girl, Cheng Ying understood that much. A couple dating wouldn't behave with that kind of detachment.

Chi Wu's expression was icy as he said gruffly, "Why did you come?"

Qing Fang replied generously, "It's your graduation, such a huge event. Of course, I had to come." This girl made herself sound awfully important.

Chi Wu countered, "Speaking of which, I actually have something to discuss with you, so it saves me the trouble of finding you later."

Qing Fang's face flushed, and she glanced at Cheng Ying, "Should we find somewhere else to talk?"

Chi Wu retorted, "We can talk right here. Last year, when we went to that competition, I spent ten thousand yuan. There were nine of us; I shouldn't have to bear that expense alone. The classmates who could afford it paid me back right away, and the others said they'd pay me back sooner or later. When are you going to pay me back?"

Cheng Ying was stunned by Chi Wu. He was still holding onto that matter? Now, Cheng Ying wasn't worried about her boy being entangled by a woman. She worried that this temper would leave him friendless in the future. This was the path to becoming a bachelor! What woman could tolerate a man who haggled over every penny? She was distressed. A major crisis had struck the family! How did her child accidentally grow crooked?

Qing Fang’s face cycled from red to pale, then pale to red. "You're being too much!"

Chi Wu instantly bristled, "How am I being too much? Why shouldn't you pay? What is our relationship that I should front that money for you? It's already polite that I'm not asking for interest. Do you take me for a sucker?"

Cheng Ying thought strangely to herself—was this how one trapped a sugar daddy? She immediately tossed the thought away; she couldn't pollute the current pristine social atmosphere.

Chi Wu was unhappy. Did this woman think he should spend money on her out of obligation? On what grounds? In this whole atmosphere, he hadn't even spent that much money on Cheng Ying yet. As for the tractor purchase, Chi Wu had forgotten about it.

Qing Fang stomped her foot in anger and ran off. Being addressed like that by a guy was too humiliating for a girl.

Her expression was genuinely awful. Chi Wu's face darkened with anger; his good mood evaporated. "Is she planning to default? I didn't ask for it before because I thought she might lack the means and fear telling her family. Now that she’s starting university, what's the excuse?"

Cheng Ying said, "Alright, stop making a scene. Even if she doesn't care about the money, you should have some grace. Look at you! If this got out, how would you ever find a wife?"

Chi Wu looked up. "If I don't take this money back, then I won't find a wife. Who understands me as well as you do, Cheng Ying?"

He turned, and Cheng Ying continued, "But it is true, you shouldn't have to cover this money alone. Why should you? If we actually liked her, fine, but we clearly don't. She's treating you like a fool! Look at her attitude—and she says you're being too much? Is failing to repay a debt not being too much? She's spoiled. Good people spoil others."

Chi Wu watched the sun sinking toward the horizon, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. This was the real Cheng Ying. Chi Wu felt excellent; this issue might finally be resolved permanently. Furthermore, he had left an even better impression on Cheng Ying. He had done the right thing.

As they entered the room, the classmates noticed. Classmate Chi Wu's mood had clearly brightened considerably. Classmates who considered themselves good friends with Chi Wu started teasing, "So, Chi Wu, did a girl call you out? You seem really happy. Spill it, bro, who is she?"

Cheng Ying chuckled inwardly. Thankfully, people were conservative at this time; no one dared directly suggest that this was Chi Wu's girlfriend. Chi Wu’s newfound good mood was ruined by this person. "What kind of trash taste do you have? How could someone like that be related to me?" Saying this, he deliberately sat a little closer to Cheng Ying, implying, I'm only involved with people like her.

Unfortunately, Chi Wu’s maneuver yielded no results. His relationship with Cheng Ying was too firmly established in the minds of the classmates; nobody considered any other possibility. Chi Wu was utterly frustrated. A room full of crude, thick-headed fools. Useless.

As dusk settled, the head teacher arrived with the subject teachers.

Cheng Ying looked at the male idol she had admired since the first year of junior high, and he had a girl in a white dress by his side. Cheng Ying felt a pang of loss. What kind of taste did her idol have? Didn't he notice her quiet, enduring affection? All those flirtatious glances over three years had been wasted on a brute. How depressing. Then she looked at the girl in the white dress, her cheeks flushed. She looked familiar. It was the exact style her grandmother had prepared for her; thankfully, she hadn't worn it, or they would have matched.

Children today were generally older, so when alcohol was brought out for the graduation party, it wasn't entirely unusual. Moreover, Chi Wu had a jar of it stocked in his car.

However, Cheng Ying wasn't willing to bring it out for these rascals to desecrate. Look at them; they downed half a glass with an open mouth, gulping it down. A bunch of prohibited things.

The graduation party was just about eating and drinking. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the teachers began their speeches. Then, the students felt a sense of inevitable separation, and the atmosphere grew subdued. Some sentimental girls even started crying. Cheng Ying thought that in the future, there would be many more such partings; they would just have to get used to it.

But when she saw a girl hug Chi Wu before turning and running away, Cheng Ying was finally stunned into paralysis. This was already ahead of the "Reform and Opening Up"? Were all the television shows she watched false? Wasn't society supposed to be very conservative now?

Chi Wu's face was crimson, compounded by the alcohol, making his reactions a bit slow. By the time he flushed and shuffled back to Cheng Ying's side, several girls had already hugged him. This was too shameless. Cheng Ying watched those girls; they were clearly just trying to take advantage. And they were all the ones who usually acted wild in class. If these girls didn't get into university, finding a husband back in the village would be difficult; their reputations would be tarnished. But what kind of charm did her Wuzi possess that made girls abandon modesty and even their pride?

Chi Wu was very awkward. "I didn't know they would dare to make a move."

Cheng Ying gently patted Chi Wu’s head. "They are too ferocious. It's not your fault. Just make sure it doesn't leave a psychological scar." That was perfect comfort. Chi Wu wasn't sure how he felt.

The head teacher couldn't let the scene continue; it wasn't good for the school's morale. "Alright, that’s enough. Even I have been conquered by Classmate Chi Wu's charm. We'll have to find a new 'School Hunk' after he graduates!"

The students all laughed.

The male idol Cheng Ying held in her heart stepped forward. "Yes, maybe someone like me can finally take that spot." He was trying to ease the tension.

Cheng Ying mused to herself how unrestrained teachers were these days.

The class monitor said, "Alright, I'll sing a song for everyone. Even though we're all from the same place, we might not get to gather like this again in the future."

Then followed the more traditional singing and dancing, though few danced. Indirectly, the teachers would perform a number.

During the recess, Chi Wu was pulled into the center by his classmates. The class monitor deliberately brought out a guitar. Chi Wu stood tall and energized in the middle, strumming the guitar for a good while.

Cheng Ying couldn't discern much musical quality, but since it was her child playing, even if it sounded like just strumming cotton, it couldn't be wrong.

Cheng Ying unconsciously picked up the wine nearby and took a sip. It was potent. How could these rascals be drinking something so strong? Then she looked at the flushed girls beside her, clearly mesmerized by Chi Wu. Cheng Ying shook her head—it turned out showing off really attracted people.

For some reason, Cheng Ying felt she lacked the spirited youth of those captivated girls. Why could they be reckless and wild with their youth, while she had to stand by like a spectator? She wasn't old either; she could be youthful too. Why did her idol, whom she'd admired for three years, end up with someone else? She hadn't even managed to confess, yet she'd already experienced heartbreak. What a suffocating situation.

PS: Seeking Pink Tickets. It’s the end of the month, seeking Pink Tickets. Do you still have tickets, dear? Please cast them! RP