Volume 3 Chapter 8: Running Away From a Marriage to Go Streaming
That morning, everything seemed no different from before. No suspicious people showed up in the classroom.
Because things were so quiet, Lin Lin even started to doubt her own judgment.
Could it be… that it really was just an accident?
Then why would her books end up being thrown into the boys’ restroom?
Lin Lin couldn’t figure it out. She kept thinking about it, but even by noon, she still had no answer.
Of course, she didn’t lower her guard. After thinking for a long time, when school was about to end at noon, she picked up her backpack and packed everything from her desk into it.
So at midday, the girl carried a backpack full of books, wiping sweat as she slowly and painfully made her way toward the school gate.
Even though she looked pretty tired, Lin Lin still didn’t feel safe leaving her books in the classroom. Just as she was standing at the school gate, unsure what to do, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed the straps of her backpack from behind.
Lin Lin froze and turned around. She saw Gao Liang. He reached out, took the backpack off her shoulders, and held it up as he said,
“Lin Lin, how about I take you home at noon?”
“Eh—eh? Th-this…”
Lin Lin hesitated. Having his help would save her a lot of effort and energy, but…
Wasn’t this a bit too much trouble for her rival?
Ugh, she really didn’t want to owe this guy a favor.
She couldn’t make up her mind, and in the end, Gao Liang made the decision for her. He simply picked up her backpack and walked ahead.
Hey, hey, hey—wait, no, no, no!
You guy, isn’t this basically running off with my backpack?!
I’m still suspicious that you’re the one who threw my books away, you know!
Lin Lin hurried after him, only to find that Gao Liang had a car waiting. A familiar black sedan was parked at the school gate. Gao Liang opened the back door, put Lin Lin’s backpack inside, then stood by the door and said,
“Lin Lin, come on, get in. That backpack is too heavy. Let’s just drive you home.”
Lin Lin nervously stepped back two steps.
Th-this scene…
Yes, she had ridden in Gao Liang’s car several times already, but—but there was a big problem!
This wasn’t her quiet neighborhood with only a few classmates around. This was the school gate, full of students!
She nervously looked around and could hear some students nearby whispering after noticing them.
“Hey, hey, look at that black car. That’s a luxury car, right? Must cost a ton of money.”
“Wait, let me check the logo… holy crap, this… that’s insane.”
“Tch, you guys don’t know cars at all. That’s Gao Liang’s family car, isn’t it? Look, he’s standing right there. Gao Liang, the school celebrity. You don’t know him?”
“Wow, that’s crazy. Hey, who’s the girl next to him?”
“Shh, she’s looking this way. That girl, she’s the one who won first place in the art competition before. A big shot!”
“Are these two already together? Looks like they’re getting into the car together. Are they already living together?”
“Wow, they look so sweet…”
Ahhh! What are these scary comments?!
No living together! No sweetness! No, no, no!
Thinking this, Lin Lin quickly tried to grab her backpack and run. She even planned the escape route in her head.
But when she suddenly lifted the backpack to make her escape, the heavy weight of all the books yanked her back.
Ah—!
So heavy.
In the end…
The girl put aside her embarrassment, jumped into the car, and immediately said to the driver, “Uncle, let's get going already!”
“Hey, hey, hey! I’m not even in the car yet. Lin Lin, you’re way too impatient, aren’t you?”
Gao Liang calmly got into the front passenger seat and told the driver, “Go to the same neighborhood as before.”
After that, he turned around with a smile and teased Lin Lin, who was trembling in the back seat:
“So you were planning to leave me behind and make me walk home alone? Lin Lin, you really think too highly of yourself~”
“Ah, th-that… I-I… my brain froze just now. I panicked for a moment, um…”
As the car slowly started moving, Lin Lin felt a bit shy facing Gao Liang’s teasing. She lowered her head and stammered, unable to explain clearly.
“It’s just… there were so many people talking about us back there…”
“So that’s why you wanted to grab the bag and run?”
“Mm… I guess so?”
“But did you ever think that if you ran like that, the people watching might imagine a whole drama, like a couple fighting and breaking up on the spot?”
Gao Liang smiled. Hearing this, Lin Lin blinked and thought about it.
Hmm… he might actually be right.
“But if I ran away with my bag, it would definitely be for a big goal,” she said, coughing lightly. “Ahem, it definitely wouldn’t be because people misunderstood and thought I had some kind of romance~”
She coughed again, trying to save a bit of face. That’s right, she was the type who could give up everything for her career.
For example, skipping evening study to become a virtual streamer!
“……”
Oh. That doesn’t really sound very honorable.
“Pfft, that’s fine. Even if you really ran away today, it wouldn’t matter,” Gao Liang said with a mischievous tone. “As long as… you don’t run away when it really matters in the future. Pfft—”
Lin Lin honestly didn’t understand what he was being so mysterious about.
So what exactly is that thing she absolutely must not run away from?
Being sent to work in an electronics factory?
Anyway, compared to that, becoming a trash can still sounded more likely.
The car drove on smoothly. Along the way, Gao Liang glanced at the backpack in Lin Lin’s hands and sighed.
“I don’t know who did that to you, but Lin Lin, you really are working hard. You went through all this trouble for no reason. That must have been tough.”
“Mm… anyway, I took all my books home. No matter who it was, they can’t mess with me now. Hehe~”
Lin Lin felt quite clever about it. Gao Liang, however, still looked a bit worried. He rested his chin on his hand and looked out the window, the bright sunlight making him feel a little tired.
“That’s true…”
He nodded. It was a bit extreme, but it worked. At least he didn’t need to worry about her books during lunchtime anymore.
It would be fine. Whatever problems Lin Lin had, he would solve them.
Soon, the car arrived at Lin Lin’s neighborhood. After helping her carry the backpack to her home and greeting her parents, Gao Liang turned and left.
Behind him, he heard Lin Lin’s parents asking in surprise why she had brought all her books home. He frowned slightly, got back into the car, sat in the back seat, opened WeChat, and made a phone call.
After a moment, he ended the call. His expression relaxed, and as he held his phone, he felt much more confident.
If his guess was correct, then all he needed to do next was protect Lin Lin and wait calmly for the right moment.
“Uncle, don’t go home. Go to the café.”