Chapter 1982 — Strange Theory

"What? He knows Xu Shilan? Even if he does, she can't just come the moment he asks, can she?" He Meiyue said, astonished. "How close would they have to be for him to get her here without paying a cent?"

"That I couldn't tell you, because I never asked for the details." Wang Xinyan shook her head. "But since she's coming, don't burden yourself over it. Wei Zhao isn't the sort to puff himself up beyond his means."

Wang Xinyan knew Wei Zhao's character well. From their very first meeting on the train she had seen that he was not one to swallow a loss — when others tried to cheat him, he ended up pocketing their money instead. So this business with Xu Shilan had probably not been too difficult either.

What Wang Xinyan did not know was that Wei Zhao treated his friends very well; however hard it might be, he would likely find a way to help. But puffing himself up beyond his means was not something Wei Zhao would ever do.

"That's good, then..." He Meiyue nodded...

While the whole school was in an uproar, Zhang Duopan sat in the rehearsal room with a liver-colored scowl, smoking a cigarette in a thoroughly foul mood.

"Damn it all — Bai Weituo actually got Xu Shilan to come? Then even if we bring in Cheng Yiyi and place, we still won't be a match for Bai Weituo!" Zhang Duopan cursed in his fury. This time he had been a hundred percent certain of victory; with Cheng Yiyi onstage, first place in the singing category was as good as his.

Most of the student council members in charge of the voting would surely cast their ballots for them — after all, one gives face to a star. But now, first place would probably go to Xu Shilan, and only second to Cheng Yiyi.

Second place was already a remarkable result, but to Zhang Duopan it could not have looked uglier. It was a slap in the face, plain and simple.

"Brother Zhang, this can't just be them hyping things up, can it?" Fan Ganhe frowned as well, scrolling through the posts on the campus BBS on his phone. "Maybe they're using this to crush our morale and make us withdraw from the contest ourselves?" he said hesitantly.

"I doubt it. Unless Bai Weituo has lost his mind, he wouldn't stoop to such a despicable trick — because even if it worked, even if our morale were crushed and we gave up the performance, his victory would be a hollow one, and He Meiyue would despise him for it." Zhang Duopan shook his head. "Nine times out of ten, this is real..."

"But how did they get her? It cost us two hundred thousand just to bring in Cheng Yiyi, and that was a discounted rate because your father's company had her endorse a product. Xu Shilan's appearance fee has to be at least a million, doesn't it?" Fan Ganhe asked doubtfully.

"That I don't know. But that Wei Zhao seems to be a rich man — maybe he's the one footing the bill," Zhang Duopan said.

"That bastard — one of these days I'll beat him to death!" The very mention of Wei Zhao's name set Fan Ganhe boiling. Last time in the cafeteria he had meant to give Wei Zhao a beating, but before the fight could even start the drill instructor arrived, and he had never gotten another chance. It left Fan Ganhe deeply frustrated.

"Cheng Yiyi arrives tonight. I'll ask her then whether this is true or not — Xu Shilan is her senior fellow disciple, so she ought to know," Zhang Duopan said.

"So do we keep rehearsing?" Fan Ganhe asked.

"Of course we rehearse — how could we not? When Cheng Yiyi gets here, she'll keep leading our class in practice. Even if we lose, we lose with our pride intact. If we give up, He Meiyue will look down on us even more!" Zhang Duopan snorted.

"But if we lose, Brother Zhang, aren't you going to have to give up?" Fan Ganhe asked with some concern.

"That's no problem. When the time comes I'll just say the bet was something I blurted out while drunk last time, and blame it all on the drink. He Meiyue won't be able to say much about that." Zhang Duopan said. "But if I just give up outright, she'll think I'm afraid — and that's a different matter altogether!"

"Brother Zhang, you're so clever!" Fan Ganhe said admiringly.

"Naturally. I'm going to take over the family company one day — I can't do it without a bit of brains!" Zhang Duopan said smugly.

After parking the car, Wei Zhao sent the young miss a text message, while Han Jingyi got in touch with her younger brother.

Before long, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu arrived — and unexpectedly Han Xiaochao was trailing behind the two of them like a little sidekick.

"You're not getting out?" Wei Zhao turned to Han Jingyi and asked.

"Why should I get out? Aren't you all going home?" Han Jingyi countered.

"We are, but aren't you driving your own car?" Wei Zhao pointed at the X5M not far away.

"No, I'm not. Driving it wastes so much gas. My brother and I will just ride back in your car," Han Jingyi said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Fine." Wei Zhao was long since used to Han Jingyi and really did not want to say anything more.

Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu walked over. Shen Yushu had meant to sit in the passenger seat, but when she saw that Han Jingyi had claimed it, she frowned, somewhat displeased.

Han Jingyi seemed to notice Shen Yushu's displeasure too, and got out of the car of her own accord: "I'll sit in the back."

Since Han Jingyi had said so, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu could hardly object — they were freeloading a ride, after all, but they were neighbors too.

They drove home. Han Jingyi took Han Xiaochao back to their own villa, while Wei Zhao, Gu Mengyao, and Shen Yushu went back as well.

"Wei Zhao, I hear you got Xu Shilan to come?" Gu Mengyao asked.

"Mm..." Wei Zhao then told Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu about helping Bai Weituo pursue He Meiyue.

"You really do have time on your hands, helping someone else chase girls!" Gu Mengyao was not angry to hear that Wei Zhao was helping another person.

"Oh, I thought Shield Bro was trying to curry favor with that Fox Yan!" Shen Yushu said.

"Ugh, why would I curry favor with her... Besides, her name isn't Fox Yan," Wei Zhao said.

"She seduced Shield Bro, so she's Fox Yan," Shen Yushu said.

"That's enough, Xiaoshu. I told you not to go giving people nicknames — it's easy to offend them." Gu Mengyao did not know why, but in her heart she was reluctant to offend Wang Xinyan. Perhaps Wang Xinyan really could become Wei Zhao's first wife?

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