C20 Wang Xiao, Who Was Misunderstood.

"Dad, I definitely like Tong Waner. I want to be with her!"

Chen Jie declared, his face set in a somber expression.

"Jie, you should know that Tong Waner is the daughter of a competitor," Chen Peng began, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I need to be upfront about that."

"Dad, what are you getting at? Are you saying I shouldn't pursue her?"

Chen Jie's face tensed with concern as he looked at Chen Peng, seeking clarification.

"No, I'm not against it at all. In fact, I fully support you going after Tong Waner," Chen Jie reassured, shaking his head and giving his son an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Dad!" A wave of happiness washed over Chen Jie, but his mood quickly soured as he bit his lip and said despondently, "But Tong Waner is already with that cursed Wang Xiao. I don't stand a chance with her now, let alone win her over."

Chen Peng brushed off the concern with a dismissive pat on his son's shoulder and a knowing smirk. "Jie, sometimes getting the girl doesn't require her agreement. We can approach this differently. As long as you like Tong Waner, we'll find a way to make it work."

"Dad, do you already have something in mind?"

Chen Jie's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he stared intently at Chen Peng.

"Of course, there's a plan. The real question is whether you're brave enough to follow through," Chen Peng replied with a cold chuckle.

"Dad, I'll do whatever it takes to have Tong Waner," Chen Jie stated with fierce determination. To him, she was already his, and he couldn't stand the thought of Wang Xiao being with her. He was ready to pay any price to make her his.

"That's my boy!" Chen Peng felt a surge of pride, seeing the resolve in his son's eyes.

"Now, find a way to meet with Tong Waner today, by any means necessary..."

Chen Peng began outlining his scheme to Chen Jie, his eyes gleaming with cunning as he hit upon the crucial details.

Chen Jie listened, his face alight with fervor, and every so often, a glint of steely resolve flashed in his eyes.

"Dad, can we really pull this off?"

Chen Jie's face was alight with excitement after hearing Chen Peng's plan, but he couldn't suppress his doubt.

"Relax. If we handle this right, Tong Waner will be utterly devoted to you. My archenemy will have no choice but to make peace with us, and that Wang Xiao you despise will be out of the picture," Chen Peng assured him, a chilling smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Noticing a flicker of uncertainty on Chen Jie's face, he gestured towards a bald man and added, "Baldy here will back you up."

"That's fantastic. Now I'm sure we'll succeed."

Chen Jie's face lit up with joy at his father's promise of support, his voice tinged with excitement.

The bald man thumped his chest solemnly, assuring Chen Jie, "Rest easy, Young Master Chen. I'll round up twenty brothers to help you nail this."

"Heh, I'm getting impatient just thinking about it!"

A sly grin crept across Chen Jie's lips as he fantasized about winning over Tong Waner.

...

The Tong Waner villa buzzed with activity.

The Tong family's bodyguards were all hands on deck, prepping for the young mistress and her fiancé's departure for school.

Tong Waner had meticulously packed several suitcases, while Wang Xiao hadn't bothered with any luggage at all. He lounged on the living room sofa, munching on snacks and watching TV.

"Big Brother Wang Xiao, aren't you going to pack anything?"

Tong Waner approached, drenched in sweat, her voice laced with bewilderment.

"Why bother? I'll just buy new clothes at school," Wang Xiao replied with a nonchalant smile, considering all the clothes had been previously worn by someone else, and he had no intention of wearing them again.

Once Tong Waner had filled four or five suitcases, Wang Xiao looked on, his expression a mix of amusement and resignation. "Waner, it looks like you're moving house!"

"I need all these outfits," she giggled, cheeks flushed, playfully sticking her tongue out at him.

"Alright, let's hit the road!"

With a resigned chuckle, Wang Xiao hauled four of the suitcases, leaving one for Tong Waner, and they headed out to hail a taxi.

Tong Hu and the rest of the bodyguards had intended to escort Tong Waner and Uncle Wang Xiao to school, but both Wang Xiao and Tong Waner declined the offer. On their first day of university, they didn't want to cause a spectacle.

Before long, Wang Xiao dropped Tong Waner off at the southern campus of Forest City University. "Waner, this is as far as I go," he said, standing at the entrance to the Business and Industry Department of the university. He smiled as he gently patted her head.

At the gate, a group of upperclasswomen were welcoming the new students, so he wasn't concerned about Tong Waner's luggage being left unattended. No sooner had he spoken than he felt her throw herself into his arms, her scent enveloping him.

"Big Brother Wang Xiao!" Tong Waner's eyes were tinged with red, clearly struggling with the goodbye. She nestled into his embrace, whispering softly.

"You'll see me again soon, why the tears?" Wang Xiao chided gently, squeezing her cheek to offer comfort.

It took some effort, but he finally managed to soothe Tong Waner and watched her head over to the reception area to check in. Only then did Wang Xiao breathe a sigh of relief and walk away.

Having spent this time with Tong Waner, he had fallen head over heels for her. Now, if anyone dared to claim she wasn't his girl, they'd have him to answer to. And if that "former Wang Xiao" who had left her tried to come back and compete for her affection, he wouldn't hesitate to take that guy down.

Heading to the main campus in Northern City, Wang Xiao opted for the bus over a taxi, preferring the more frugal option. Despite having a sizeable amount of "spending money" from Tong Waner, he was loath to part with it.

The bus trundled along, packed with passengers. A medley of scents filled the air: the tang of sweat, the aroma of breakfast, the perfume from elegant women... In hindsight, he should have just taken a taxi. Riding the bus for the first time, Wang Xiao couldn't help but ruefully smile at his own regret.

Hmm?

Just then, Wang Xiao's gaze shifted to a girl beside him who had the innocent look of a student.

Her face was a vision of delicate beauty, eyes sparkling like stars, eyebrows arched as crescents, a high and elegant nose, and lips a rosy red. She was dressed in a plaid shirt paired with a short black skirt, her straight, even legs encased in knee-high black stockings, and her dainty feet slipped into black leather flats.

She could have stepped right out of a manga.

But it wasn't the girl's looks that caught Wang Xiao's attention. It was the large, dark hand stealthily sliding into the small bag at her waist.

A pickpocket?

Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed, and he caught sight of a sleazy-looking man fixated on the girl's bag. Other passengers had noticed too, but most seemed to adopt a 'none of my business' attitude.

"Beauty, you're so gorgeous. Could I get your contact info?" Wang Xiao suddenly blurted out, grinning cheekily at the girl.

Startled by the unexpected interruption, the pickpocket jerked his hand back.

The man, initially shocked by Wang Xiao's gaze, quickly turned hostile. "Kid, mind your own business!" he snapped, as if warning Wang Xiao off.

Wang Xiao just smirked and kept his eyes on the girl.

She, in turn, was taken aback by Wang Xiao, clutching her bag and stepping back warily.

Seeing his mischievous grin, she huffed and delivered a sharp slap to his face. "You creep, don't even dream of getting my number!"

The sting on his cheek left Wang Xiao wide-eyed and momentarily speechless.

"You've got it all wrong. I'm not a creep. I genuinely wanted your contact to make friends, that's all," he managed to say after a pause, offering her a wry smile.

Inside, he felt aggrieved. He'd only wanted an excuse to strike up a conversation and deter the thief. How did trying to protect her end with him taking a hit?

The passengers nearby regarded Wang Xiao with evident scorn, their whispers and gestures betraying their contempt.

"Pfft, I've seen plenty of society's rejects like you—trash, lowlifes, scoundrels. There's no way I'd ever befriend a thug who gets his kicks harassing girls!" the innocent girl huffed at Wang Xiao. Clutching her purse like a shield, she swiftly moved to the other side of the compartment with the assistance of fellow travelers.

"Well, at least now I don't have to worry about that naive girl getting her money stolen," Wang Xiao mused internally. Despite his frustration, he felt a wave of relief wash over him as he watched the pickpocket's chances of swiping anything from the girl diminish.