MGASC -Chapter 117 A Peacock in Mating Season—A Charming Heart Can’t Be Hidden from Afar

Song Jiawen’s throat rolled violently, trembling.

He had never felt so humiliated in his life, yet he couldn’t even manage to utter a single word of explanation.

His face flushed a deep liver color, and he could only stammer out: “Principal, please rest assured. I… I will try to talk properly with my brother and make sure it doesn’t affect the school.”

“It’d better be that way!” Principal Meng stepped closer and patted his shoulder earnestly. “Aren’t you supposed to be brothers? You have to get along. How could you even let the security guard block him? Lin Tianyue isn’t the same as before—such a valuable resource. You need to seize it. Listen to me: spend more time with him. When something comes up, the benefits won’t be lost on you!”

Song Jiawen clenched his fists secretly, feeling like all the blood in his body was about to congeal.

He was furious to death, consumed with hatred. He never imagined that one day, Lin Tianyue would be riding him like this, wielding power and prestige over him.

But what could he do? He couldn’t just throw away his future and walk away.

He didn’t have that kind of courage.

Meanwhile, Lin Tianyue, walking out of the campus, felt completely refreshed, every inch of him relaxed.

It was easy to guess that the proud and arrogant Song Jiawen was probably fuming after being scolded by the principal.

Perfect—that also settled the little annoyance from a few days ago.

Oh, right, today he had even helped his wife win back a whole house of old hens. Once she found out, she would surely reward him, right?

As Lin Tianyue was thinking about such delightful matters, he spotted Zhang Qiao’s brother-in-law, Xu Liang, walking out of the small grove outside the campus with a female teacher, clearly flirting and chatting intimately.

They probably just finished having a meal, laughing and talking along the way.

Especially Xu Liang—his unimpressive demeanor now was a stark contrast to the pompous, self-important air he carried during the feed factory’s opening day.

How to put it? Lin Tianyue felt that Xu Liang walking beside the female teacher was like a peacock in mating season—his attempts to charm were completely transparent, visible from far away.

So focused was he on pleasing her that he didn’t even notice a familiar face standing nearby.

He couldn’t see him, but Lin Tianyue could.

Lin Tianyue stood there, one long leg bent, exuding a casual, roguish aura.

“Brother-in-law, where are you going?”

Xu Liang was still joking with the female colleague, until she noticed Lin Tianyue’s striking presence and nudged him: “Mr. Xu, the person ahead seems familiar to you. Who is he? He’s so handsome.”

Xu Liang suddenly looked up and finally noticed Lin Tianyue towering over him.

He hurriedly stepped back from his female colleague, switching to a more proper, dignified demeanor, and approached: “Tianyue, are you here for me? Is there something you need?”

Lin Tianyue smirked casually: “Here to talk to your principal about something.”

Xu Liang subtly curled his lips in disdain, thinking: Sure, talk to the principal… do you even know which way the principal’s office door opens?

But he still forced politeness: “Tianyue, I heard about the fire at your home. I’ve been busy and haven’t had the chance to visit. Liu and I just came back from a home visit. How about I finish my class first, then—brother-in-law—accompany you to your house?”

Lin Tianyue didn’t respond, merely giving him a faint, half-smile.

Xu Liang, feeling guilty and uneasy, was annoyed again.

It was as if Lin Tianyue could see through his lies without him saying a word.

Xu Liang glanced at the watch Zhang Ling had bought him. “Uh… class is about to start, so I—”

“All right, see you later.”

Lin Tianyue was even more carefree than him, waving his hand and walking off.

Teacher Liu Duoduo craned her neck, still unable to look away from Lin Tianyue’s handsome back, daydreaming: “Mr. Xu, who is that person?”

Xu Liang wished he could twist her neck around. “Don’t look. He’s just an uneducated little thug.”

“A little thug?” Liu Duoduo looked disappointed, turning her head and giving Xu Liang a coquettish smile. “Mr. Xu, why did you just say we went for a home visit? We obviously went for a meal together. Why are you scared? Scared your wife will find out?”

“I… I’m scared? Duoduo, I was just thinking, less trouble is better than more trouble.”

Xu Liang quickly changed the topic to shift the conversation.

…

Meanwhile, Xu Liang’s wife, Zhang Ling, was accompanying Chen Guilan to the market in Xiangshui County.

“Mom, just listen to me. Let’s go see Qiao Qiao together. She’s pregnant, and her home suffered a disaster. Life must be tough. This is the perfect chance to clear up past misunderstandings. After all, we are family. When someone is in trouble, you see their true heart. If we go now, she’ll surely remember our kindness.”

Zhang Ling, Chen Guilan, and Zhang Qiao lived in different towns, with poor transportation and no phone contact, so they seldom communicated. Zhang Ling only learned yesterday that Zhang Qiao’s house had burned down.

Worried for her sister, she persuaded her mother early in the morning to go to the market, thinking they could buy some things and then visit Zhang Qiao’s home.

But no matter how much Zhang Ling nagged, her mother remained indifferent.

She even said scornfully: “Your father’s birthday, she didn’t even show up. Never gave a penny. Now she’s unlucky and wants me to visit her? Dream on!”

“I told her before, following that thug would lead nowhere. Did she listen? No! She even despised old Mr. Liu for being single and old, saying old men get aches. But he’s rich—what’s wrong with that? In her mouth, it sounded like I was selling my daughter! Ungrateful child—why do you care about her? Oh, now disaster struck, everything burned—now she cries? Did she come crying to you? Serves her right!”

Zhang Ling stood there, mouth half-open, unable to believe her mother could speak like that.

Her heart, full of expectation, sank.

“Mom, how can you say that?”

“What else can I say? Didn’t she want to follow that thug? Let her starve outside—don’t expect my sympathy! Useless child. Because of her, I’ve lost money and face with Mr. Liu. Your father almost died of anger. If you insist on seeing her, tell her this: if she wants your father and me to like her, she must first repay the 600 yuan she owes me and your brother’s medical bills! Otherwise, even if she dies outside, we’ll pretend she’s not our daughter!”

Chen Guilan’s voice rose in the supply store as she checked fabrics. Zhang Ling, walking beside her, slowed down gradually, until they were a long distance apart.

“And you, the tuition I mentioned last time—when will you pay it?”

Chen Guilan turned around, seeing her daughter far behind, and raised her voice even more irritably: “What are you standing there for? Come in! Buy this fabric for me. Autumn is coming—I’ll make your brother two thick clothes!”

Zhang Ling bit her lip, both aggrieved and ashamed, her eyes red from anger.

She now understood her mother’s real motive for agreeing to go to the market with her.

It was simply to make her bring money and buy things for her parents and brother.