Chapter 221: 220 The Trees Want Peace But The Wind Relents Not
On the airplane from the Imperial Capital back to Rongdu, the three still sat together, but they hardly chatted even a single word throughout the entire flight.
There was no helping it; because of insufficient sleep last night, the three had all fallen asleep before the plane even took off. After landing at Rongdu’s airport, it was only with the flight attendant’s reminders that they gradually woke up, yawning as they got off the plane.
After exiting the terminal building, they took a taxi and had the driver head first to Han Yixuan’s school gate.
As they got out of the car, Han Yixuan suddenly grabbed Pei Ningle and whispered in her ear, “We agreed—no one’s sneaking off.”
Pei Ningle: “I’m definitely not going to anyway.”
If she could transfer schools, Han Yixuan would do so without hesitation, but unfortunately, that wasn’t realistic. So for now, she could only gaze deeply at Pei Ningle, choosing to temporarily believe in Xiao Le’s integrity.
Han Yixuan got out of the car, while Pei Ningle and Wang Heng were taken by the driver to the school gate of Telecom Tech University.
“I’ll take you home first,” Wang Heng said.
Pei Ningle nodded and quietly walked beside him.
In the young girl’s heart, the excitement from after yesterday’s program recording still lingered. But now back amid the familiar street view, recalling yesterday’s program recording—the shining stage, the cheering audience, and the four renowned mentors—she couldn’t help but feel as if it were from another world.
“It feels so unreal…” Pei Ningle suddenly sighed softly, “We actually went on the program.”
Wang Heng: “Yeah, you really went on the program. It won’t be long before you blow up. After the program airs, lots of people will send you private messages on Wangyu Music and Bilibili, some will ask for your autograph, and others will pay to book you for performances.”
Pei Ningle: “Lots of people will listen to my songs…”
Wang Heng added: “And once the quarterfinals start, you’ll have even more screen time on the program, and even greater fame. So this is just the beginning. Keep a steady mentality, don’t get rattled—the fame and fortune of the entertainment industry are already rushing toward you.”
The young girl chuckled twice, but her footsteps grew even smaller.
She said, “I actually don’t want the fame and fortune of the entertainment industry.”
Wang Heng raised an eyebrow: “Then what do you want?”
Pei Ningle: “I just hope more people will listen to me singing, and like my songs. If I can make a bit of money from writing and singing songs, enough to support myself so I can try whatever I want without worrying about my wallet, that would be perfect.”
Wang Heng: “What you’re saying—isn’t that just fame and fortune?”
“I just want it to be pure; I don’t want to compete with others or get tangled in all those unnecessary complicated things. And I want to know…” At this point, the young girl suddenly stopped walking.
Wang Heng stopped too, turning his head to look at her.
Pei Ningle asked solemnly: “Do you want me to become like that?”
Wang Heng: “Become what?”
Pei Ningle: “Become a star, known to lots of people, making tons of money.”
Wang Heng smiled quite naturally: “Isn’t that a good thing?”
But Pei Ningle stubbornly pressed: “I just want to know what you really think. Do you want that?”
Wang Heng stared at her, silent for a few seconds.
The young girl stared tightly back at him.
Suddenly, Wang Heng said seriously: “As a friend, I hope your dreams come true—that’s the best thing. I hope to see you shine freely on stage, letting everyone witness your talent. I hope you make heaps of money, so you never have to pinch pennies again.”
Pei Ningle thoughtfully repeated: “As a friend?”
Wang Heng countered: “You’re my best friend. So to you, what am I?”
The young girl blinked, took a deep breath, stalled for a few seconds, and said: “You’re my best friend too. But what about Han Yixuan and Ye Xun?”
Wang Heng: “…Then just add ‘one of’ after best friend.”
Pei Ningle breathed a slight sigh of relief, but also felt a bit disappointed.
The two started walking again. Soon, they reached the doorway of that apartment building.
Pei Ningle: “No need to walk me up. You go back.”
“Good luck then. I’m really looking forward to your next song.”
With that, Wang Heng turned and walked away. But after just a few steps, he was called back by the young girl.
“Older brother!” Pei Ningle called out. When he turned around, she smiled and said, “I’m not just your friend—I’m your younger sister too!”
Wang Heng was stunned for a moment, then smiled faintly: “Yeah, Xiao Le younger sister.”
————
Wang Heng returned to the dormitory, greeted his roommates who were chatting idly, took the hamster out of its cage, and went to the rooftop.
At the edge of the rooftop, he took out the hamster and held it up to his face.
Wang Heng asked: “If things continue developing like this, will Han Yixuan and Pei Ningle end up fighting and falling out? Is there a risk of them blackening?”
The hamster lay in his palm, lazily yawning, and teased: “Coming to the cheat tool again? Not to be rude, but aren’t you being a bit too cautious? There’s zero sign of them blackening right now.”
Wang Heng: “Staying steady is always the right call.”
Hamster: “Okay, then I guarantee you: with the current development, there’s no risk of a cleaver for you.”
Wang Heng: “What about the risk of losing my chastity?”
The hamster glanced at him disdainfully: “A grown boy like you worrying about that? Isn’t this the dream come true you’ve always wanted?”
Wang Heng scoffed: “It looks good on the surface, but sugar-coated bullets? I’ll pass.”
Hamster: “Toss the bullet, eat the candy coating—isn’t that a good thing?”
Wang Heng rubbed his chin with his other hand and mused: “But I just feel like things aren’t that simple… By the way, after Pei Ningle becomes famous, will there be any special changes?”
The hamster spread its little paws helplessly: “Her becoming famous is special enough, and the derivative events? Way too many. How am I supposed to know what kind of changes you’re asking about?”
Wang Heng stressed: “About personal safety and chastity—you know what I mean.”
Hamster: “I can only say, with your current ironclad defenses, neither of them has a chance. Rest assured on that point. And with their current relationship, they’re not likely to fall out easily either.”
“That’s good…”
Wang Heng had asked all his questions, so he prepared to stuff the hamster back in his pocket and head to the dormitory. But just then, one sentence from the hamster left him stunned on the spot:
“You can still play the pure straight man for now, but it won’t be long before you realize that stepping onto the scumbag path is your fated destiny.”
Wang Heng: “What are you, some mystic?”
Hamster: “That’s what foresight is all about.”
Wang Heng sneered: “Say whatever you want—I’m putting it out there: back when I was a scumbag, I was just too stupid. But from now on, it’s either single for life or one girl for life, one and only—no other possibilities!”
The hamster blinked its little mung bean eyes and smiled without speaking.
One life, one world, one pair? What a flag…
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