Chapter 22

Song Yanyan's POV

Wu Ling and I followed her fine brother to some sleek Maybach parked by the gate. I didn't hesitate to quickly claim the front passenger seat, allowing the siblings to take the backseat. Perhaps they had things to discuss, and let's be real, my curvaceous body was too bootylicious to be confined in a backseat with them. 

As the driver whisked us away, I snuck sidelong glances at Wu Haoyu. Damn, the man was finer than the finest Manolo Blahniks. His chiseled jawline could cut glass, and those brooding eyes held enough smolder to start a wildfire. I had to stay frosty though. Wouldn't do to let this rich boy see me drooling like some thirsty groupie.

We ended up at some swanky restaurant, getting ushered into a private dining room fit for the elite. I made myself comfortable, back straight and chin held high. Yes, Wu Haoyu oozed wealth and status from every Ermenegildo Zegna-clad pore, but I wasn't some naïve little thing to be dazzled.

Wu Haoyu turned to his sister, that trademark intensity etched on his face. "If something like this happens again, you know what will happen."

Wu Ling paled like she'd seen a ghost. "B-But brother, they started it! I didn't even like that boy. We just happened to laugh at some joke on Weibo, and now they think I like him. Argh, I can do so much better than that loser!"

I nodded in solemn agreement. "That's my girl. Don't be falling for any old Tom, Dick or Harry that comes along."

Wu Haoyu's piercing gaze swiveled to me, and I felt that delicious shiver run down my spine. "Thank you again, Miss Song. This girl is all bark and no bite."

Pffft, as if! I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly got stuck in the back of my head. "She's my classmate. I have a duty to protect her." 

"I suppose from now on I'll have to leave her in your...capable hands," he replied, that deep timbre washing over me like a erosfrothy ocean wave.

I jerked back, arching one perfectly groomed brow. "Whoa, hold your horses there, tiger. I won't be your sister's babysitter."

A muscle in his chiseled jaw twitched. "That's not what I meant. When she gets in trouble, you can at least be there. That's all I ask."

Leaning forward slightly, I raked my discerning gaze over his designer suit and the pricey wheels he'd arrived in, recognition flashing in my eyes. "Well, well. Going by that bespoke Brioni ensemble and the sleek Maybach idling outside, I'd say money isn't really an object for you, is it Mr. Wu?"

He blinked, momentarily wrong-footed by my bluntness. "What does my outfit have to do with any of this?"

I cupped my cheeks, radiating faux innocence. "Well, nothing comes for free, Mr. Wu. You're obviously no typical trust fund kid, even if you are one. I can tell you have legitimate businesses under your belt, not just Daddy's hand-me-downs. So what does your business intuition tell you about securing my...services?"

The flicker of surprise in those mesmerizing eyes told me I'd caught him off guard. Clearly he hadn't expected such candor from this bodacious bookworm form. After a pregnant pause, he inclined his head. "How much?"

Leaning back with a crooked smirk, I grabbed my water glass and took a pointed sip, holding that blazing gaze over the rim. Wu Haoyu wanted to play hardball? Game on, babycakes. "Well, you see, my father just allowed me to move into my own place. It's awfully tough for a young girl to cover all those pesky bills and expenses on her own. An allowance only goes so far when a glamorous lifestyle is involved."

One of those expertly groomed brows quirked upwards. "Don't you have an allowance?"

I rolled my eyes so dramatically, it's a wonder they didn't get stuck again. "Allowance? Honey, a girl can never have enough money. Not with all the things that require a sizable stack of cash. And I can't be blowing Daddy's money willy-nilly when you're the one wanting me to do you a favor. I've got to hustle on the side." I flashed him a saucy wink. "You get me?"

Those full lips curved into the barest hint of a smile, and oh mama, was it panty-melting. "I see. There are only two months left until the end of high school, so...20,000 yuan a month for two months."

I pulled a face so sour it could curdle milk. "Wu Ling, I don't think your brother loves you enough. He thinks your safety is only worth a measly 20,000 yuan!" 

The poor girl looked like a deer caught in headlights, eyes pinging between the two of us.

Wu Haoyu's jaw tightened a fraction. "Don't you think you're being a bit greedy, Miss Song?"

Undeterred, I shrugged one shoulder in a delicate roll. "Oh no, I'll be putting my life at risk here, throwing hands and trading punches. You know how utterly exhausting that is?"

A muscle jumped in that chiseled jaw, but his tone stayed clipped and even. "50,000 then."

With a regal nod, I beamed. "Now you're talking my language!"

"Deal," he stated simply.

I extended one perfectly manicured hand, and we sealed the deal with a firm shake. As our palms met, I could have sworn a tiny zap of electricity crackled between us. "Deal."

The food arrived soon after, and of course I made a show of sticking to the salads and lighter fare. A girl had to watch her figure around all these sleek aristocats. Wouldn't do to let them see me packing on the poundage.

As we were wrapping up the meal, Wu Haoyu pinned me with that brooding stare. "I heard you mention staying in your own place. Aren't you a bit young to be living alone?"

I arched one brow in a look of perfect nonchalance. "I have an old soul."

That drew a low chuckle from the imperious heir, no doubt taking it as the joke I'd intended. 

Ever the wheedling little sister, Wu Ling piped up, "Brother, can I get my own place too?"

Wu Haoyu didn't even hesitate, his tone firm and unyielding. "No."

"Pleeeeease, brother?" she whined, not unlike a petulant child. 

"So you can go running around behaving like a hooligan again? Absolutely not."

Sensing an opportunity, I chimed in with a consoling smile. "Well, Wu Ling, you're welcome to visit me every now and then. But not too often, okay? A girl needs her privacy." 

She immediately latched onto that lifeline. "See, brother? Can I, pleeeease?"

Wu Haoyu's piercing gaze swung to me for a long moment, clearly weighing his options. At last, he heaved a put-upon sigh. "Fine. But only on weekends."

Wu Ling squealed in delight. "Thank you!"

"And if I hear you've stepped even a single toe out of line," he warned in that low, silken growl, "It's military school for you."

I gave an exaggerated shudder. "Phew, I'm glad I don't have a strict older brother like you breathing down my neck."

Wu Ling laughed in commiseration. "Tell me about it. He's such a total bore."

As we shared a giggle, I noticed Wu Haoyu's gaze kept flicking to me, as if studying some fascinating new specimen of man-eater. Well, two could play at that game. Straightening my shoulders, I radiated every ounce of blistering confidence and razor-sharp wit I could muster. 

This was just the opening salvo in our little game of cat-and-mouse. Let the chase begin.