Seems like there’s some truth in that!
Li Peifeng decisively pulled out his bank card, squatting down as if to place it on the ground: "The card’s here. If you still don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do!"
The card hadn’t even hit the ground yet when the round-faced female cashier beamed brightly: "Happy to serve God!"
Oh damn, that’s why I hate capitalism!
"Pop~"
With a conflicted heart, Li Peifeng placed the bank card on the ground, producing a light, crisp sound.
Just then, Wu Wenyue’s voice rang out from behind...
"Professor Zhao?"
"You are... Oh, Peifeng’s friend, Wenyue? Right?"
"Yes, yes, Professor Zhao, your memory is really good."
Just hearing the voice, Li Peifeng felt Zhao Qingge’s acting remained as stable as ever.
"Okay, Uncle Zheng, I’ll check it out later."
Xu Manning also finished her call and politely greeted Zhao Qingge: "Hello, Professor Zhao."
"Manning, are you all here shopping?"
Zhao Qingge inadvertently leaned against the counter at the northeast corner, attracting the attention of the two.
Just as Li Peifeng had anticipated, Wu Wenyue and Xu Manning naturally turned slightly to face Zhao Qingge.
After all, he was a teacher, even if not from their faculty nor teaching them directly, he was still a teacher at Beihua Normal, and more so, Li Peifeng’s teacher. Although they hadn’t dealt with him before, because of Li Peifeng, they’ve had a few encounters, so as students, necessary respect must be shown.
"Yes, well, Li Peifeng signed the platinum contract, so we’re thinking of picking a gift for him to congratulate him."
Xu Manning spoke without any caution: "Are you shopping by yourself?"
"Hmm, just browsing." Zhao Qingge casually glanced at the supporting column and smiled amicably: "Actually, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you all for a while but felt a bit awkward about it. Running into you now, I can’t resist my curiosity..."
Could it be about Li Peifeng?
Wu Wenyue’s mind was sparked, and she directly said: "Go ahead, nothing to be embarrassed about."
Zhao Qingge laughed: "I hope you don’t overthink when I ask, and certainly don’t be afraid."
"It’s nothing." Xu Manning shook her head and said: "Please ask away, is it about Li Peifeng?"
"Sort of." Zhao Qingge paused for a moment, then smiled: "I’ve heard other classmates talking about you, hehe, so I’m quite curious about your relationship. You seem to always be on and off, and there were some substantial dramas before. Can you share a bit now?"
"I don’t mean anything else, don’t be afraid. Our school doesn’t mind these things, it’s free love."
Wu Wenyue hesitated for a moment and held Xu Manning’s hand in hers, smiling: "We’re still together."
"..."
Meanwhile, Li Peifeng was nervously glued to the support column, intensely focused on the cashier’s gaze and what was about to be said, ready to bolt at the slightest hint.
The round-faced cashier was also diligent, secretly observing the northeast corner situation. Seeing the three women were engrossed in conversation, she gave Li Peifeng a nod and whispered: "Now’s the time, go ahead, they won’t notice!"
Li Peifeng took a deep breath, turned around, lifted his foot, and walked away!
Don’t hesitate, go now!
Don’t be afraid, there’s nothing to fear!
Li Peifeng didn’t look back, didn’t turn his head, he wore a hat and mask and headed towards the door.
He chose not to run, as the hustle might draw attention.
Instead, he opted for big strides, a steady pace, swift yet silent steps!
With those long legs, each stride covered nearly a meter!
One step!
Two steps!
"Seven meters!"
"Six meters!"
"Five meters!"
Closing in, nearly at the door now, Li Peifeng was secretly delighted while intensely tuning into the conversation at the northeast corner’s counter, ready to accelerate his escape if the girls happened to notice.
As long as he runs, everything can be salvaged.
No matter what, he mustn’t be caught in the act by them!
...
"Oh? You’re still a couple? Got back together?"
Zhao Qingge, conversing with Wu Wenyue and Xu Manning, saw with her peripheral vision the tall figure getting closer to the door. Her amiable smile became a bit more gentle, making her even more approachable: "But your feelings for Li Peifeng also seem very good now, and that confuses me a bit, given that Manning, you once dated him and Wenyue was his good friend... Now that you’re back together, hasn’t this affected your friendships? You even came out specifically to shop for gifts for him this time?"
Wu Wenyue and Xu Manning glanced at each other, their held hands stiffened, and the latter forced a smile: "We’re all still good friends."
"Really?"
Zhao Qingge squinted and reopened her eyes, her gaze still surprising but with a hint of envy: "That’s really enviable for your relationship; youth is wonderful."
"Um, Professor Zhao," Xu Manning coughed: "Are you going to continue shopping? We..."
Zhao Qingge interrupted: "Thanks for reminding me, Peifeng signed the platinum contract, I should also buy him a gift to congratulate him, or I’d seem negligent as his tutor." Then her tone shifted, adorned with a gentle smile: "How about we shop together? You two are young and his good friends too! You should know what Peifeng likes; you can also give me some advice."
Always felt like when she mentioned ’good friends,’ she deliberately stressed those words.
Xu Manning felt a twinge inside: "But Professor Zhao, we’re about to check out the car..."
"Car, what car?!"
Wu Wenyue’s expression shifted, reproaching: "You and Peifeng are just ’good friends’ and you want to gift him a car? Would he accept it? It was fine for us to joke privately a while ago. Now we should accompany Professor Zhao to browse properly for an appropriate gift, don’t joke around!"
Wu Wenyue originally didn’t agree with Xu Manning gifting the car, and now that a reason popped up, she seized it immediately, the implication being the car couldn’t be given, at least not in front of Zhao Qingge while discussing gifting Li Peifeng a car!
Otherwise, that so-called ’good friends’ relationship seemed completely unbelievable!
Unhappy, Xu Manning thought it over, and it seemed true that just now Zhao Qingge most likely overheard her conversation with Wu Wenyue, knowing about her intent to give Li Peifeng a car, hence causing doubt over their trio’s relationship. If she insisted on viewing the car now, it would undoubtedly deepen Zhao Qingge’s suspicion.
It seems Yueyue was right that if any of the three showed closeness with Li Peifeng, they’d all become suspect!
"Then Professor Zhao, let’s..."
Just as Xu Manning was about to agree, suddenly...
"Bang!!"
The loud sound of a door closing.
Then, a familiar figure began walking toward the trio from the entrance. The man was tall and robust, strikingly handsome..
The man walked with large strides, fast as a comet, with a delighted expression and a relaxed and joyful tone that inadvertently drew others to like him...
"Instructor? Wenyue? Manning?"
"Why are you three all here?"
Li Peifeng was thinking damn it, I’ve come back again!!!
"Why did you come back?"
The round-faced cashier inside the store couldn’t fathom Li Peifeng’s antics, looking at him as if saying; are you mental?!
Beyond just mental! If I didn’t come back, I’d be dead!!
Slain, chopped to death!!!
(There should be more today during the day... right?)