Chapter Forty-Two: A Disastrous Beginning

Li Mu was indeed not close with Guo Yuhang; at most, they had played games like hide-and-seek together in the compound as children. Guo Yuhang always relied on his father's status as an official to cheat, which eventually led to most kids in the neighborhood disliking him. His reputation in the Xiling Coal Mine community had long been notorious, so Li Mu held no fondness for him whatsoever.

Ordinarily, Li Mu wouldn’t bother to rebuff someone who approached him with a smile, but today was different. Guo Yuhang not only called him by the wrong name, but his underlying motive was obvious—he was simply coveting Su Yingxue. It was so blatant that Li Mu felt embarrassed on his behalf. He refused to give Guo Yuhang any face in front of Su Yingxue. With his overbearing and arrogant nature, if given the slightest opportunity, Guo Yuhang would relentlessly pursue Su Yingxue.

Thus, Li Mu’s words—“I’m not familiar with you”—came across as a direct affront to Guo Yuhang, who had assumed Li Mu would be flattered and try to curry favor. For Guo Yuhang, any child of a Xiling Coal Mine worker daring to speak to him like this would have already received a slap, maybe even a beating—Li Mu included, though Guo Yuhang couldn’t even recall his name. But now, with Su Yingxue present, he couldn’t lash out.

Guo Yuhang had only come to sign up for driving lessons for two reasons: to get a license and to hit on girls who had just graduated high school. He hadn’t expected to spot a gem like Su Yingxue. Though he had been with more women than he could count, none seemed to compare to Su Yingxue. From the moment he first saw her, he had sworn to himself that he would win her over.

He had been plotting to get assigned to the same class as Su Yingxue and gradually make his move. Seeing Li Mu talking to her, he thought he’d found a shortcut, but Li Mu was so uncooperative—it was infuriating.

“Li Mu, you’ve graduated high school and still talk so bluntly,” Guo Yuhang said with a smile, showing no sign of anger. Then he turned to Su Yingxue. “Don’t mind him, miss. Li Mu’s always been like this—serious and a bit aloof.”

Having spent years mingling in society, Guo Yuhang thought his smiling, evasive reply would smooth over the awkwardness Li Mu had caused. But Su Yingxue clearly wasn’t impressed.

“Next time, before greeting someone, please make sure you remember their name. If you can’t, ask first—that’s basic respect.”

Her tone was icy, tinged with contempt, utterly different from how she’d spoken with Li Mu moments before.

Damn!

Guo Yuhang realized his initial approach had failed miserably; the beauty before him was clearly siding with Li Mu and showing him nothing but dislike.

With such a poor first impression, he regretted even trying—and cursed Li Mu for being so insolent. Was he looking for trouble?

Guo Yuhang clenched his teeth and glared at Li Mu. “Fine, I’ll remember this.”

Li Mu nodded. “Make sure you remember—my surname is Li, not Chen.”

Seeing Li Mu disregard him entirely, Guo Yuhang was furious, longing to retaliate on the spot. But he had already ruined his first impression before Su Yingxue; if he resorted to violence now, it would be irreparable. Moreover, Li Mu was taller, and Guo Yuhang wasn’t confident he could win a fight. Li Mu’s refusal to give him any face suggested he wouldn’t be like the other children of Xiling Coal Mine workers, who never dared fight back.

So Guo Yuhang had to swallow his anger, thinking to himself that after Su Yingxue signed up, they’d all be seeing each other for the next twenty days or so. As for Li Mu, he was just another worker's kid—he couldn’t escape. These two people, these two matters, Guo Yuhang would not let go. He’d wait and see.

After that, Guo Yuhang fell silent, lining up directly behind Li Mu, convinced they’d end up in the same class and car. That would give him plenty of chances to act.

Li Mu and Su Yingxue exchanged glances, both visibly annoyed at Guo Yuhang’s thick-skinned persistence.

They waited about twenty minutes before Su Yingxue reached the front. After paying, the staff told her she was assigned to Class Two, Number Thirteen, with theory lessons scheduled for nine o’clock the morning after next. Su Yingxue quickly asked, “How many people per car?”

“Fifteen.”

Her heart sank. She was number thirteen, Li Mu was fourteen—wouldn’t that annoying guy be fifteen?

Guo Yuhang overheard and was delighted. This was fate—she couldn’t escape!

When it was Li Mu’s turn to pay, Guo Yuhang stood with arms folded, smug and triumphant. “Li Mu, right? We’ll be in the same class, learning to drive together—take care of me, yeah?”

Li Mu glanced at him but said nothing. At that moment, his phone buzzed with a text from Zhao Kang.

“Just woke up—could you sign me up? My ID number is…”

The staff handed Li Mu his receipt and a booklet on traffic regulations. “Car Two, Number Fourteen. Theory class next Monday at nine.”

Just as Guo Yuhang was about to claim Car Two, Number Fifteen, Li Mu told the staff, “Please add another person—Zhao Kang, Kang as in health. Here’s his ID number…”

And so, Car Two, Number Fifteen went to Zhao Kang.

Guo Yuhang felt as if he’d been utterly humiliated. Chasing girls was now secondary; the real issue was Li Mu’s blatant disrespect—he couldn’t swallow this insult.

Li Mu took Zhao Kang’s receipt and assignment slip, leaving with Su Yingxue. Guo Yuhang, grinding his teeth, could only grudgingly mark down this grievance for later.

Ignoring Guo Yuhang, Li Mu finished signing up for Zhao Kang and walked out of the registration office with Su Yingxue.

At the entrance, Li Mu asked, “Where are you headed now? Should I ask my sister to give you a ride?”

Su Yingxue raised her brows, her gaze deep. “The woman driving the Audi—is she your sister?”

“Yeah,” Li Mu replied.

For some reason, Su Yingxue felt relieved, her mood lightened. “No need, I’m just going to my aunt’s house—it’s right across the street.”

Seeing the building she pointed to was only two or three hundred meters away, Li Mu said, “If you need anything, just call me.”

Su Yingxue thought for a moment. “In a few days, when the college entrance exam results come out, if you score over six hundred and twenty, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Li Mu grinned mischievously. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you treat me.”

“Alright, it’s a deal.”

“Okay, I’ll head off then.”

Li Mu watched as Su Yingxue crossed the street before returning to Chen Wan’s Audi.

“That girl—is she your classmate?” Chen Wan asked from across the road.

Li Mu replied, “Yes, same class.”

“She’s really beautiful!” Chen Wan praised.

Li Mu chuckled. “You’re even prettier! Let’s go—once we’re out of town, I’ll take the wheel.”

Chen Wan smiled smugly at the compliment and drove off.