Chapter 218: Not an Easy One to Deal With
"Of course it's important." Zhang Yang replied without thinking, not even hesitating for a second—it was a subconscious answer.
"Why?" Yang Fei stopped what she was doing and looked at him with interest. "Why?" Zhang Yang repeated her question, frowning. Yeah, why indeed?
Because he didn't want her to have a bad impression of him. Because he didn't want her to think he was a playboy.
What did that mean? It meant he cared about how she saw him. In other words, he cared about her. And why did he care about her? Because… he liked her?
What did he like about her? Her looks?
Or that faint, peaceful feeling he got when he was with her—no conflicts of interest, no hidden motives.
But he also liked Qiao Xier, and he liked Lulu, and even Gao Qi…
So the final conclusion was—he was indeed a playboy… sentimental and fickle!
But so what? Out of ten men, at least nine wish to be liked by many beautiful women—and to like many beautiful women themselves. It's just that 9,999 out of 10,000 men never get that chance.
And he happened to be that one lucky bastard out of ten thousand.
"Because you're very important to me, teacher." Zhang Yang looked out the window and said softly. Maybe that was the real answer deep down. Yes, she was important. Why? Who the hell cared why—she just was, alright?
Yang Fei froze for a moment, her bright eyes flickering before she smiled slightly, brushed her black hair behind her ear, and leaned forward slightly.
She looked at Zhang Yang from the corner of her eye. "Really?"
"Really."
Yang Fei covered her rosy lips and coughed lightly.
"You caught a cold? Did you see a doctor?" Zhang Yang asked with concern.
"No." Yang Fei glanced at him. "It's just… there's something I wanted to ask your opinion about, but I feel a bit conflicted."
"It's fine. Just say it." Zhang Yang had a faint sense that something wasn't right.
Yang Fei stood up, slipped on her slippers, and slowly walked to the desk.
She poured two cups of hot water—one for herself and one for Zhang Yang—and handed him his. "After the New Year, I want to go to Madrid… to study Spanish."
"Huh?" Zhang Yang almost dropped his cup. His heart felt like it had been hit by a hammer. "Go to Spain? When did you decide that?"
"Recently." Yang Fei said lightly, taking a sip of water and lowering her long lashes.
"So that's why you've been speeding up your lessons lately?" Zhang Yang stared at the cup in his hand. This might be the first time Yang Fei ever poured him water.
"I just don't want my student to embarrass me in the future."
"Don't worry. I won't let you down."
"Mm."
"But teacher, do you really have to go to Madrid?" Zhang Yang frowned.
"If I'm going to learn Spanish, of course I'll go to Madrid. What's the problem?"
"I can hire a Spanish teacher for you—to teach you here."
Yang Fei chuckled softly, showing a beautiful smile as she tilted her head. "Listen to yourself. What, you want to keep me locked in the villa?"
Zhang Yang scratched his head awkwardly. "That's not what I meant—it's just a figure of speech." He looked down at his feet and sighed. "It's my fault for dragging you into all this."
"Dragging me into what?" Yang Fei rolled her eyes at him.
"You don't have to say it—I know. My enemies all want to target the people around me, especially you. So you're planning to leave to avoid bringing me trouble."
"Nonsense. You think you're that important? I just want to travel the world someday, and learning Spanish helps. It has nothing to do with you."
"Mm." Zhang Yang looked at her and smiled. "If it's just about learning the language, doesn't Meining University have a Spanish program too?"
"Can't I go there just to enjoy the scenery?"
"I'll go with you."
Yang Fei glared at him. "Be serious. I'm talking business."
"Teacher, if they really want to go after us, you being alone in Madrid will only make you an easier target. If you really want to study, why not pick a smaller place? That way I'd feel more at ease."
"Alright, I'll think about it. Class dismissed." Yang Fei stood up, signaling him to leave.
Zhang Yang walked to the door, hesitated, then turned back. "Hey, teacher, don't sneak off without telling me, okay?"
Yang Fei turned her face away and waved her hand. "I'm not a thief. Go already."
"No way, I'll have someone keep an eye on you…"
"Please, you already have several people secretly watching me, don't you?" Yang Fei said irritably.
Zhang Yang froze at the door, then turned back again. "You… you knew?"
"I'm not stupid." Yang Fei smiled faintly. "That oaf Yanqiang pretending to read a German book—who wouldn't notice that?"
"Tell your guys to cut it out. I'll be staying in the villa the next few days studying French."
Hearing that, Zhang Yang broke into a sweat. This teacher wasn't easy to deal with… Just as he went downstairs, Lao Yi called—Cao Decai had confessed.
Zhou Lunfa and Zhou Wei rushed to the construction site. The story was simple—Cao Decai went whoring outside, got caught, and the other side took his bank card, forced him to give up his PIN, and recorded the whole thing. They threatened him, then bribed him with generous pay—to watch the villa, note who came and went, and report every time. Each report earned him a thousand yuan.
Cao Decai was a small fry—he'd never been in a situation like that. Since they didn't beat him and the job seemed easy, he agreed immediately.
Before Zhang Yang's people caught him, he'd already been doing it for three days.
As for who was behind it, Cao Decai didn't know. The contact always called him first and used a new number every day. Clearly, the other side was highly cautious.
"When does he usually call you?"
"Usually in the morning. But they told me to report immediately if certain people go out," Cao Decai said fearfully. His face was swollen beyond recognition—it was obvious Lao Yi's crew had worked him over.
"Which people?"
"Uh… you, Boss Zhang. Also Xu Danlu, and Qiao Xier. And one more person—I don't know the name, but they said it's the most beautiful one in the villa."
The most beautiful one—no doubt that meant Yang Fei.
Since they were tracking these people, the other side clearly had plans. Zhang Yang thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow morning, you'll pretend nothing happened. Business as usual. But if you dare say a single wrong word or tip them off, I'll have your arms broken."
"Understood, understood." Cao Decai nodded repeatedly, though who knew what he was really thinking.
If only there were a lie detection system. Zhang Yang asked the System Assistant how much a perfect-grade one would cost—forty system points.
Hearing that, Zhang Yang's face twitched. He'd barely saved up thirty points—unless he wanted to go into the negatives.
Didn't Danying say she could modify the Magic Eagle Eye Surveillance System to figure something out? This tough task could only be handed to her.
Zhang Yang looked at Cao Decai and suddenly had an idea. Maybe this guy could still be useful.
But really, he wasn't much of an asset. After tonight's incident, the enemy probably had other moles planted. If Cao Decai slipped up, they'd know immediately. Still, this was a warning—the enemy's reach had already extended under his nose. If tonight's Cao Decai had been a sniper instead, the villa's girls and he himself would be in grave danger.
"Uncle Zhou, I want you to immediately investigate your workers. See if any of them have been acting strange lately." Zhang Yang told Zhou Lunfa, who looked terrified.
After saying that, Zhang Yang didn't press further and returned to the villa. He didn't expect much from Zhou Lunfa anyway—there were nearly a thousand workers on site, so a few infiltrators wouldn't be surprising.
It was past midnight when he got back to the villa. As he entered his room, ready to sleep, he noticed a sliver of light coming from under the door of the room across the hall—Yang Jing's room.
His heart stirred. She was still awake.
Ever since that night at her place, they hadn't done it again. Just thinking about her now made images of her mature, fiery body flash in his mind. Maybe he'd been too pent-up during the day—he suddenly felt an urge.
Glancing around to make sure no one was there, he quietly crept forward and pressed her doorbell.
A moment later, the door opened. Yang Jing peeked out, wearing a beige nightgown. Though she held it close to her body, the outline beneath revealed she wasn't wearing anything underneath. Her full breasts rose high, and faintly visible at the tips were two small, cherry-like buds.
"What's wrong?" Yang Jing looked at him, her face slightly flushed.
"Why are you still up this late?" Zhang Yang asked, glancing at her. "Can I come in and sit for a bit?"
"It's really late." Yang Jing bit her rosy lips and looked past him down the hallway, seeming hesitant.
"I wanted to talk to you about Teacher Yang Fei." Zhang Yang said seriously, staring straight at her.