Chapter 147 — The Long-Awaited...

"I see. And here I was thinking we could pull a little something before their match—cripple them the day before the competition and see how they fight then." Yang Ce grinned.

"Well, that would save us some trouble," Wang Yanqiu said, rolling her eyes at Yang Puqi. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'd have gone with you."

"I hadn't even gotten the words out before you went and signed up," Yang Mo said, sounding a little wronged.

"Still, your reflexes are slow," Wang Yanqiu needled.

"Slow reflexes?" Yang Puqi's eyes went wide, and he leered. "Seems the two of us just aren't in sync yet. We'll need to work on that—work on it properly in bed for a good long while."

"Drop dead." Wang Yanqiu was caught between annoyance and laughter. Yang Cenbin was like this all day long, never serious about anything—but the moment he turned serious, his lethality was astonishing. Most of the time he wore that harmless look of his.

Li Dagang and Xu Peng had already come over with their trays, so Yang Ce and Wang Yanqiu dropped the subject of the assassin at once. "You two were quick," Yang Ce said with a smile.

"Not many people, no lines to wait in," Li Dagang said with a grin. "Though the food here is really cheap—way cheaper than the fast-food place downstairs from our office."

"Well, obviously. If it were too expensive, could students afford it?" Yang Ce shook his head and took his chicken-and-potato rice.

After lunch, Yang Ce drove Xu Peng and Xiaoying back to the billiard hall, while Li Dagang took a cab home on his own.

Xu Peng had clearly been taken with Yang Juehuan's earlier suggestion, and on the way back he asked Xiaoying what she thought.

Xiaoying thought it was a good idea too, but after all, Yang Ce would be putting in millions—if it all went under, what then? The two of them together weren't worth that much money.

The two decided to talk it over properly once they got back.

"Dapeng, don't worry about the money. And you've been in this business long enough—your experience won't be lacking," Yang Ce said by way of reassurance before he left. "When you've made up your mind, give me a call."

Yang Ce drove back to the Huashang residential compound near the school, but as he neared the villa section, he deliberately sped up.

"Your place has an underground garage, doesn't it?" Yang Minlan asked Wang Yanqiu.

"It does. Why?" Wang Yanqiu shot back. "You're going to park in the garage at this hour?"

"My two wives are at home. If I'm having an affair with you and they see us, that wouldn't look good." Yang Puqi said it with a perfectly straight face. "Open the door, quick."

Wang Yanqiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I'm not opening it for you. Just park in front of the door."

"You're trying to get me killed," Yang Ce threatened. "I'm telling you, if they find out about our affair, they'll make me move for sure—and then don't expect me to have anything to do with your assassin group."

Hearing Yang Juehuan's threat, Wang Yanqiu was utterly exasperated. She glared at Yang Puqi and had no choice but to use the remote to open the villa gate, then had Yang Ce park the car in the underground garage.

When Wang Yanqiu opened the door, Yang Ce strode in as bold as you please, plopped himself down on the sofa in the living room, and grinned. "See what I told you? This is my home now, isn't it?"

With that, Yang Yanzhou sprawled out spread-eagle on the sofa, kicked off his slippers, and stretched luxuriously.

Wang Yanqiu was torn between amusement and irritation—so the fellow really did hold a grudge. She'd said one thing to him yesterday, and today he had to get even. Helplessly she said, "I may be your lover, but I'm not your wife. I'm me, and you're you."

"Is that so? But I think they're all pretty much the same. I was under the impression everything of yours was already mine," Yang Ce said shamelessly. "This place isn't bad. From now on, whenever I get into a fight with Chen Shutang and the others, I'll come stay at your place."

Wang Yanqiu was speechless after hearing Yang Juehuan's words. She had truly never seen anyone with such a thick hide.

As the two of them were talking, the doorbell suddenly rang outside. Yang Lanxu tensed up—could Chen Shutang have spotted his car passing by just now and come chasing after him?

He hastily used his ability to take a look outside, and let out a breath of relief. Standing outside was a flower deliveryman from the etiquette company.

Hearing the doorbell, Wang Yanqiu went out. Seeing it was the deliveryman, she suddenly recalled Yang Ce's earlier explanation and found it rather amusing. Strange, how things worked—one little misunderstanding on her part had led to so much happening.

It was hard to say whether this whole affair was a good thing or a bad one, but there was no doubt that with Yang Juehuan joining, the Assassins' Group would certainly rise another notch.

At that thought, Wang Yanqiu's mood improved considerably, and she cheerfully accepted the flowers from the deliveryman. Her good attitude left the deliveryman somewhat baffled.

Every time he had delivered flowers before, Wang Yanqiu either wouldn't open the door and just turned him away, or she'd take the flowers and toss them aside. What was with her today? Why so agreeable?

Still, it was none of his business. After handing over the flowers, he said "Goodbye" and quickly left.

Wang Yanqiu, however, carried the bouquet back into the room and tossed it onto Yang Juehuan, who was on the sofa. "Fine work you've done."

To be continued

962. The Alliance Fails (Part One)

"I send you flowers and you're still not happy about it?" Yang Ce sat up lazily and picked up the bouquet.

"Did you send them?" Wang Yanqiu curled her lip. "Didn't you say the flower company made a mistake?"

"Heh, what's this, jealous?" Yang Ce looked at Wang Yanqiu's expression and teased her.

"Who's jealous?" Wang Yanqiu shot Yang Puqi a sidelong glance. "As if I'd care about your flowers."

Although Wang Yanqiu's impression of Yang Juehuan had not been good before, the two of them were lovers now. Even if there was no love between them, Wang Yanqiu still hoped Yang Ce would make a gesture now and then—she was a girl, after all, and had her share of small vanity.

Besides, Wang Yanqiu knew clearly that in this life of hers, love was most likely an impossibility. Whether for an assassin or for a sacrifice to family interests, love was far too great a luxury.

So the days spent with Yan might, when recalled at some future time, still prove to be a rather special memory. At least it made up for her blank first love.

"For you, little Yanyan." Yang Ce stood up, put an arm around Wang Yanqiu's shoulder, and held the flowers out in front of her.

"I don't care for them," Wang Yanqiu said, though she took the flowers all the same. But then her face flushed and she added, "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm your partner, that's why I'm accepting your flowers."

"Partners can sleep together too," Yang Jiyan said with a lecherous grin.

Wang Yanqiu glared at Yang Puqi. What a maddening man, she thought—but aloud she said, "We're just taking care of each other's physical needs. When you're not around, I use my hand too."

"What?" Yang Puqi was stunned. "Holy crap, no way. You're that tough, and you touch yourself?"

"..." Seeing Yang Ce's astonished look, Wang Yanqiu grew a little annoyed. "Don't tell me you've never touched yourself."

Yang Ce sighed inwardly. This little Wang girl really was fierce—able to tell someone even about something like that. Still, Yang Juehuan's mind began to stir again. Wang Yanqiu used to live with Zhao Ying—so did Zhao Ying touch herself too?

"What kind of expression is that? So lewd," Wang Yanqiu said, frowning at Yang Ce.

"Nothing, nothing," Yang Ce chuckled. "I've just never seen what it looks like when a girl touches herself. How about you put on a show for me?"