Green flooded the study room from the spiritual qi coming out of Li Mo’s outstretched palm as it entered the ginseng.
The dalmatian plushie made it a habit to bite and chew his legs. It hopped all over the place, despite its futile attempts.
Li Mo put away his hand after half an hour and looked content at the changing ginseng.
“The ginseng should now hold enough energy to make it millennium ginseng.”
Li Mo flicked the dalmatian plushie with a kick, but the next second had it bouncing around to attack him again.
A long black Bentley stopped at the Century Middle School’s gate.
“Youngest master, we’ve arrived. The eldest young master goes to school here.”
“Li Zeng, how many times have I told you? This generation of the Li clan has only one eldest master, me, Li Yan. Li Mo is nothing. He is not fit to be the eldest young master.”
A handsome yet vicious youth stepped out of the car.
“Youngest master, you may not get along with the eldest young master, but you have the same father. Blood is thicker…”
Li Yan snapped, “Shut the hell up! Who do you think you are, Li Zeng? Is the Qi clan’s affair something for an indentured slave to stick his nose in?”
Li Zeng was silent.
“Park the car nearby and wait for me. I am going to say hi to my dear elder brother, he. “
“Who are you? You’re not a student here. Where’s your visitor pass?”
Li Yan just crossed the school’s gate and the gatekeeper blocked his way.
Li Yan raised his head, “I am the only son of the Li clan in Shenjing. I am Li Yan and I came to see someone.”
The guard was startled, “Shenjing’s Li clan? The famous Li clan than has a chain of restaurants throughout the nation that started form Shenjing?”
“Not bad, you seem to know a bit. This pamphlet gets you ten free meals in any of our stores. Take it.” Li Yan’s features conveyed great pride.
The guard took the pamphlet ecstatic.
“Please, after you.”
Li Yan snorted and entered the school with his chin way up.
Li Yan didn’t know Li Mo’s class, but the kid had his ways. Handing out three more pamphlets, he got hold of Li Mo’s class’ location.
Li Yan went right in without any preamble. The class was in session, with their teacher none other than You Ye, Ao Jiuxiao.
Ao Jiuxiao asked, “Excuse me student, who are you looking for?”
“I am looking for Li Mo. Is he here?” Li Yan looked around.
“Yesterday, Li Mo was put on record for gross misbehavior. Today he did not come.”
“Put on record? Ha-ha-ha, that’s his style alright. Up to nothing good and can’t achieve anything.”
Huang Yao stood up, “Who are you to Li Mo? Why do you say that about him?”
Li Mo squinted at Huang Yao, “Better yet, who are you to him?”
“I-I’m his friend, just a friend!” Huang Yao glanced at Ao Jiuxiao who smiled his blinding smile.
“Why would ‘just’ a friend even care? Let me ask you all, who here is Li Mo’s friend? Stand up.”
Huang Yao sat back down.
No one stood. With Li Mo keeping to himself most of the times, he had no other friends beside Du Fei.
“Ha-ha-ha…” Li Yan laughed his heart out and even his belly started hurting.
“You made my day so these pamphlets are your reward!”
Li Yan took out a stack of free meal pamphlets.
“A pamphlet for ten free meals in the Li clan’s nationally famous restaurants?”
“Its ten free meals for a group of ten! Wow, I heard that one meal ca go for thousands.”
“Wow, what a good item.”
The students’ reaction was huge, with none rejecting Li Yan’s offer.
Huang Yao was among them too.
Li Yan had a straight face, “Not you. You are just a friend of Li Mo. No matter how ‘just’, you are his friend and can’t get any!”
Huang Yao’s face was red.
“Let me ask a different question. Who is Li Mo’s enemy?”
“Me!” Ma Yu raised his hand.
So was Yang Chong, but he didn’t dare raise his hand.
“Good, you get five more!”
“Me too!”
“And me. I hate Li Mo!”
“Me, me! His gaming alias Emo_MasterLeng is pissing me off!”
“I bumped into Li Mo yesterday and he didn’t even greet me! Damn, I’m pissed!”
“I never liked Li Mo’s smug attitude from the start!”
A bunch jumped in at once.
Li Mo snorted, “Don’t try to fool me. You became his enemy just now. But no matter, you all are capable in my book. Here’s another pamphlet for each of you.”
Huang Yao saw everyone around her getting another pamphlet and she was about to cry.
Li Yan cocked his head at Ao Jiuxiao, “You’re a teacher? How are you so young? Are you 20?”
“I just turned 18 today.”
“18 and already a teacher? Good for you. What’s your relation with Li Mo?”
“I want to become friends and am working really hard to do it.”
Li Yan’s face sank.
“Your thinking is disgusting. Nothing for you.”
“Oh.”
“Anyone that can tell me of any dirt on Li Mo will get a pamphlet! “
Huang Yao stood up and raised her hand, “I know plenty!
“And, I-I don’t intend to be Li Mo’s friend.”
“Good, perfect. Good to have you back on the right track. Tell me then.”
“Li Mo likes antiques but his knowledge about them is shallow…
“Li Mo also said he has a house in Phoenix District. How can he? He was bragging too much!”
Huang Yao turned into a tattletale, spilling the beans on everything. She hesitated at one point, then said, “One time, he bought me a purse. Only later did I find out that it was dad that gave him the money for it!”
“Wonderful, marvelous!” Li Yan was overjoyed and gave her a pamphlet.
“A-and he called me…”
Now that Huang Yao got a bone, she was a loose cannon.
“Huang Yao, I never knew you were so shameless!” Ye Mei spat.
“Meimei, what are you doing? You…” Huang Yao was startled.
She always tried to win Ye Mei’s favor, but the latter kept putting her to work and didn’t dare object once. Not once did she got on Ye Mei’s bad side and just couldn’t understand where did this anger directed at her came from.
Li Yan’s eyes lit up the instant he noticed Ye Mei, “What’s your name?”
Ye Mei’s eyed him coldly.
“Of the whole class, you’re the only one without a pamphlet. Does this make you Li Mo’s girlfriend?”
Ye Mei frowned, “Not by any means!
“I just can’t stand Huang Yao. Li Mo always treated her well, but her heart has rotted over!”
“Meimei, what’s wrong with just talking? I only want some pamphlets. I’m really not…”
Ye Mei spat, “Save it. I don’t know you anymore!”
“Ohh, such fire in this one. I say, how did a pretty girl like you fall for someone like Li Mo? I like you, so I’ll be blunt. Do you want to be my girlfriend?”
“No!”
“I am the only son of the Li clan of Shenjing Province, Li Yan, the future successor of the clan!”
Hearing his declaration, Huang Yao’s eyes sparkled.
Ye Mei was firm, “I don’t care!”
Huang Yao said, “Meimei’s mom is the star, Zhang Ming. Her dad is Thunderstruck Enterprise’s vice-chairman of China division, Ye Yunfei.”
Ye Mei bolted to her feet, “Huang Yao, if you dare speak one more word about me, I will tear your mouth off!”
“Oh, I see why she’s so feisty. But no matter, I like my meal spicy.”
Li Yan made a phoncall.
“Dad, do you know Ye Yunfei and Zhang Ming? You do? Then introduce them to me. I fancy Ye Yunfei’s daughter.”
“Ye Mei, was it? Just wait. Soon, my dad will ask your family to let you marry me.” Li Yan was by himself with joy.
“And? I decide what happens to me!”
“Ye Mei, don’t get snappy with me. Dad said your father is broke and your mom doesn’t want you. It is your highest privilege to be fancied by someone like me!”
Ye Mei’s family was broke?
The students turned to look at Ye Mei.
Ye Mei was sour. Her family’s situation had yet to spread, with few people knowing. She took the bus to school because her car was sold to pay the debt.
And that was just the start. Soon, it would be her house in the Phoenix District’s turn.
Ye Mei covered her face and ran.
