Rong Ling said, "There’s no need for Young Master Han to worry about me regarding this matter."
Han Ye bit his lip but couldn’t say anything more.
Saying anything further would make him seem overly targeted.
The alcohol had gone around halfway.
Mr. Yi and a few major course teachers and mentors stood up; it wasn’t early, and they weren’t young anymore. After a gathering, they planned to head home!
Rong Ling got up and said, "Mr. Yi, let me walk you to the door."
Mr. Yi said happily, "Okay."
Rong Ling escorted a few teachers to the entrance.
Mr. Yi was in high spirits today after a few drinks. As they were parting, he turned around and suddenly handed an envelope to Rong Ling.
Rong Ling was taken aback and instinctively stepped back half a step, realizing what was probably in the envelope.
Mr. Yi said, "Xiao Rong, this is a small token from us. All of the course instructors are aware of your family situation. Previously, your national scholarship wasn’t given, and we felt uneasy about it."
Previously, Rong Ling could have applied for a substantial scholarship worth around twenty thousand.
This scholarship was very important to him at the time.
But after several twists and turns, the scholarship eventually went to Han Ye.
Rong Ling understood the story very well.
In terms of credentials, Han Ye was not qualified for this scholarship, and with the Han Family’s condition, Han Ye didn’t care about that mere twenty thousand, but a national scholarship represented an immense honor, which would be recorded in the student’s profile.
Rong Ling knew why he had lost the scholarship.
The teachers saw it too.
They had also tried to fight for Rong Ling, knowing that at the time, his father was an alcoholic and a gambler, heavily in debt, suffocating him, and how crucial this scholarship was to him.
Mr. Yi said, "This money isn’t much, but you must accept it. We all hope you can seize this opportunity to study abroad, to make a mark! I can tell that Han Ye looks down on you, so you must really take control of your life! Don’t let us down, don’t let Professor Lu down, and don’t let those who have expectations for you down!"
Rong Ling smiled slightly, "I will."
He looked at the encouraging gazes of several teachers, didn’t refuse anymore, and took the envelope with both hands.
The envelope was bulging, and just by feeling it, he knew there was about twenty thousand inside.
Saying goodbye to the teachers, Rong Ling turned and walked towards the private room.
As he passed the restroom, he stopped, turned on the faucet, cupped some water, and splashed it on his face.
The alcohol smell in the room was too strong.
He didn’t environment and planned to leave soon.
A cautious voice came from behind.
Rong Ling turned around and saw it was Qiao Wei.
Qiao Wei stood about three meters away, her hands behind her back, looking somewhat uneasy.
She was dressed in designer clothes, carrying a designer bag. Having had a little drink, her cheeks were naturally pink.
She looked at him but hesitated to speak several times.
Rong Ling raised an eyebrow slightly, "What’s the matter?"
Qiao Wei said, "Rong Ling... did you know that from the first day of military training in college, when I first saw you, I fell for you?"
With the courage from alcohol, she carefully confessed the feelings she had buried in her heart for years.
Rong Ling smirked, "Why are you telling me this now? You and Han Ye are already engaged."
Qiao Wei slightly bit her lip, "I’m unwilling..."
As she spoke, she took two steps closer to him, "I want to know how you feel about me. Do you know that I’m infatuated with you? Do you know that I like you? How do you feel about me? Have you ever had even a little bit of affection for me?"
His response was so cold and final, Qiao Wei was stunned on the spot.
She didn’t believe it.
As Rong Ling was about to pass her, Qiao Wei grabbed his arm, "I don’t believe it!"
She looked up at him with some grievance, "I don’t believe what you say! The way you look at me is visibly different from how you look at others! I thought you liked me but just didn’t dare to make a move!"
Rong Ling: "I don’t."
How could someone naively think he liked her but didn’t dare to tell her?
There’s no one in this world he’s afraid to love.
Qiao Wei said, "Did you never like me at all? Or do you just think that given your situation, you couldn’t give me a better life, didn’t want me to suffer, so you willingly gave me up!"
Rong Ling suddenly laughed.
He turned, looked at her earnestly, "Qiao Wei, don’t overthink it, okay?"
Qiao Wei was completely dumbfounded.
Rong Ling: "If I like someone, I will definitely let her know how much I like her. If I don’t want her to endure a hard life with me, I’d do everything possible to give her the happiness she wants. To me, you’re just a classmate, nothing more. I also hope you don’t over-interpret my feelings towards you, because I have no feelings for you."
After saying this, he gently grasped her hand, forcing her to let go of his arm, and expressionlessly let it down.
Qiao Wei said, "But you have nothing now!"
Rong Ling: "I swear, what I don’t have now, I will have in the future."
Qiao Wei, unable to bear the shock, suddenly shouted, "Rong Ling, I misjudged you! What you just said makes me more certain that my choice was correct! For four years of college, my sincerity was misplaced, but now, everything I want, Han Ye can give me."
Rong Ling paused slightly, "Oh, then I wish you happiness."
After saying this, he turned and entered the private room.
Rong Ling picked up his clothes from the chair and noticed with the corner of his eye that Han Ye’s seat was also empty.
He didn’t think much of it and left the private room.
Until he reached the entrance, Han Ye’s figure slowly emerged from a corner.
Just now, the conversation between Qiao Wei and Rong Ling had been overheard by him!
Shortly after Rong Ling left the private room, Qiao Wei also left with an unnatural expression.
He grew suspicious, followed her out, and unexpectedly witnessed that scene!
He felt particularly unwilling, always sensing that he had become Rong Ling’s scapegoat, engaged to a woman he himself didn’t even care for!
Qiao Wei’s words disappointed him even more!
It turned out his mother was right, that the reason Qiao Wei chose him was merely because he could provide her with a comfortable life, allowing her to live as a rich lady, rather than purely loving him!
Until Rong Ling left the club, Han Ye suddenly took out his phone and dialed a number.
From the other end, a middle-aged man’s voice came through, "Young Master Han, what’s the matter?"
Typically, Han Ye’s social circle was very wide. Recently, he found out that the boss with whom he played at the mahjong hall was one of Rong Ling’s creditors.
Han Ye said, "Do you still remember Rong Ling?"