President 20
Tang Xi hadn’t even processed what was happening when Shen Chensi, after blurting out his words, suddenly turned red.
Seeing Tang Xi staring at him in confusion, Shen Chensi decided to just go all in. He closed his eyes and said, “I just want to take care of you. I like you. I want to be with you.”
This sudden confession left Tang Xi completely stunned. His round, cat-like eyes widened in shock, still bearing traces of the tears he had shed the day before. He looked just like a poor little thing cornered by the school bully.
Now that he had finally said it, Shen Chensi felt a wave of relief wash over him. But seeing Tang Xi’s pitiful expression, he deliberately spoke in a harsh tone, “So who exactly is that guy? What’s your relationship with him?”
His interrogative stance was so natural that Tang Xi, still overwhelmed by the confession, answered without even thinking, “He Wang…”
Shen Chensi’s brows furrowed tightly. He hadn’t expected it to be that man.
Even the arms that had been holding Tang Xi in place loosened slightly.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t know him before?” His expression darkened as if he had just realized something. “Did he come looking for you afterward? Did he threaten you?”
Tang Xi wasn’t sure how Shen Chensi had come to such a conclusion, so he weakly explained, “No, that’s not it.”
But Shen Chensi, pacing in front of him like a restless beast, wasn’t listening at all. He muttered to himself, “I knew it. The way he looked at you that day was off. He must’ve been trying to use favors to manipulate you, wasn’t he?”
After saying that, he locked eyes with Tang Xi, determined to get an answer from him.
Tang Xi shook his head, looking at him with a trace of apprehension.
Something about Shen Chensi didn’t seem right.
Realizing he had scared Tang Xi, Shen Chensi softened his tone. “Don’t be afraid. That day, all he did was help us drive away a few thugs. You don’t have to feel like you owe him anything. Just tell me the truth, and I’ll handle it.”
“He really didn’t threaten me. He just gave me a ride to school this morning. Also as for the person who spread those rumors, I’ll find them myself and confront them.” Tang Xi, now visibly upset, spoke in one breath.
He didn’t like people talking about He Wang like that.
Even a kitten has claws.
Shen Chensi was momentarily stunned. “You’re mad? Because of what I said about him?” This was the first time he had ever seen Tang Xi with this expression.
Tang Xi nodded, his delicate little face tensed as he tried to look fierce. “Stop assuming things about him. He Wang is a really good person.”
He gives me good food, a big bed to sleep in, and a fluffy ball to play with. Even after finding out I’m not human, he didn’t try to capture me. There’s no one better than He Wang.
The more Tang Xi thought about it, the more rose-tinted his view of He Wang became. He couldn’t understand why Shen Chensi had reacted so angrily.
“He’s a good person?” Shen Chensi’s expression shifted several times before settling into something complicated.
He never thought he’d hear someone call He Wang a “good person.” And not just anyone, but Tang Xi—who was timid, affectionate, and as soft as a little kitten.
While Shen Chensi was caught in his thoughts, Tang Xi seized the moment and ran off.
He didn’t feel like going back to class. Instead, he asked the system to locate the person who had spread the rumors—he wanted to confront them face-to-face.
1551 was surprised by the sudden decisiveness of its host: [Are you sure you want to handle this yourself?]
Tang Xi found it odd: [This is my problem. Why should I trouble someone else with it?]
For someone who seemed so fragile, Tang Xi didn’t run away when faced with problems.
1551 had just discovered a new side to this silly little cat.
Following the system’s guidance, Tang Xi arrived at the classroom where the culprit was.
He wasn’t even in the same grade as Tang Xi.
Standing outside the door of Class 5, Grade 11, Tang Xi patiently waited for the dismissal bell to ring.
The moment the teacher walked out, he immediately peeked through the back door of the classroom, curiously scanning the room.
Many students recognized him and began whispering among themselves. Eventually, one girl was playfully shoved forward by her giggling friends.
She asked curiously, “Who are you looking for?” while also discreetly sizing up this forum-famous figure.
“I’m looking for Chen Dingning. Could you help me call him out?” Tang Xi gave her a soft, gentle smile.
“Oh—okay.” The girl’s face turned red at his polite request.
After calling out Chen Dingning’s name, she quickly ran back to her friends, whispering in embarrassment, “He looks so well-behaved. I don’t think what they said on the forum is true.”
“I think so too… But why is he looking for Chen Dingning?”
Tang Xi ignored the murmurs behind him, keeping his eyes locked on the person walking toward him.
He was a little surprised—he hadn’t expected the aggressive, sharp-tongued internet warrior from the forum to be just a thin, dark-skinned boy.
Chen Dingning avoided his gaze, his words hesitant and stumbling.
“You… why are you looking for me?”
For a moment, Tang Xi wondered if the system had made a mistake. But the hostility radiating from the boy in front of him quickly confirmed that this person was indeed Ou Ou.
Small animals are always particularly sensitive to malice.
Chen Dingning, who thought he had hidden his emotions well, was unwilling to admit anything.
Tang Xi’s face grew cold as he finished speaking. “I hope you delete the post and issue a public apology before the afternoon.”
Chen Dingning kept glancing to the side, avoiding his gaze. “I told you, I don’t know anything.”
Not wanting to waste any more time, Tang Xi gave him a look that said suit yourself and walked away.
1551 was utterly impressed by its host’s final glance and couldn’t help but shower him with praise: [Host, you were so cool just now!]
Tang Xi pretended to be mysterious: [It was nothing.]
In reality, he was quite nervous, but his anger outweighed his fear.
1551 sounded worried: [What if he still refuses to delete it?]
[…Then I’ll call the police.] Tang Xi huffed.
He wasn’t sure if the police could even do anything about this, but with his little brain filled only with thoughts of meat and cake, this was the best solution he could come up with.
Meanwhile, on the other side—unbeknownst to both Tang Xi and the system—He Wang had already received a call from Ye Qian.
“Mr. He, you do know that Tang Xi is only eighteen this year, right?” Ye Qian didn’t hang up immediately. Instead, he continued speaking, driven by some unclear personal motive.
He Wang toyed with a jade piece in his hand, his gaze growing colder. “Hmm, he’s still young. It’s normal for him to be playful and mischievous. Since you’re his classmate, keep an eye on him for me.”
His tone completely treated Tang Xi as if he were his possession.
Ye Qian clenched his fists. After a long pause, he finally responded, not daring to probe further. He awkwardly ended the call.
He didn’t even have the courage to ask about the relationship between He Wang and Tang Xi.
Not only had he failed to find the person who framed Tang Xi, but even his so-called help was merely under the guise of being a classmate.
. . . . .
During lunch break, a classmate called Tang Xi outside.
Despite his curiosity along the way, the classmate refused to reveal anything, simply saying that someone was looking for him. After leading him to the school gate, the classmate ran off.
And that’s when Tang Xi saw a familiar car.
The same car that had driven him to school that morning.
Dressed in a well-fitted suit, He Wang stepped out from behind the car. Seeing Tang Xi’s stunned expression, he chuckled softly. “It’s only been a morning, and you’re already getting bullied?”
As the man approached, Tang Xi muttered sullenly, “I wasn’t bullied.”
He Wang lowered his gaze to look at the boy, who was a head shorter than him. “They’re saying you’re involved in transactional dating. Then prove them wrong.”
The words rolled off his tongue effortlessly.
Tang Xi, however, blushed at the term.
The person accused of that was standing right in front of him, offering to clear his name.
But how could something like this be so easily clarified? And he had explicitly not wanted He Wang to come to his school, yet he still showed up. What if he ran into Shen Chensi?
That was the very person who destroyed him in the original storyline.
Suddenly, Tang Xi felt wronged. “It’s all your fault for insisting on driving me this morning.”
“You really didn’t want me to come?” He Wang gently ruffled his black hair. “I can help you clear your name.”
His voice dropped slightly, carrying a hint of persuasion. “All you have to do is nod.”
Being able to help clarify things is a good thing. Tang Xi nodded blankly.
A harmless and soft little animal.
Always walking unknowingly, step by step, into the hunter’s trap.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in He Wang’s eyes as he led Tang Xi toward the teaching building.
Along the way, they encountered a few students. Seeing this unusual duo, many couldn’t help but steal glances.
Although He Wang was still in his early twenties, his demeanor exuded the presence of someone in a position of power. Everyone subconsciously assumed that he and Tang Xi had a guardian-and-child relationship.
Before long, the school forum was buzzing with discussions.
— Who is that? He’s so handsome! Is he a relative of Tang?
— Why does he look kind of familiar to me?
— The person above must think every handsome guy looks familiar.
— This shouldn’t be happening… or at least, it shouldn’t, but they really look good together. Even better than with Ye Qian, the school heartthrob!
Amid the endless stream of comments, someone finally spoke up hesitantly:
— Do none of you follow financial news? Isn’t that the CEO of the He Corporation?
The moment this comment appeared, the forum exploded. Lurkers all rushed out to join the discussion.
The CEO of He Corporation was known for his talent and success at a young age, but he was also notoriously low-key. He rarely accepted interviews and disliked being praised for his looks. Many people knew of his existence, but few had seen his real face. However, since his company had vast business ventures, the mere mention of “He Corporation” was enough to command respect.
While the forum was in an uproar, He Wang had already led Tang Xi into the teaching building. The principal, having received word, hurried over with the dean and Teacher Huang.
Their attitude was exceptionally polite.
As He Wang occasionally nodded in response to their words, he handed Tang Xi a brand-new phone.
Tang Xi hesitated, about to refuse, but upon seeing He Wang’s firm, no-nonsense gaze, he accepted it without further protest.
The latest model had a large screen. Under the system’s guidance, Tang Xi slowly tapped open the school forum.
At the very top, the two hottest posts were still trending—one was the post slandering him, and the other was a new post of He Wang and him walking side by side on campus.
How was there suddenly another post in such a short time?
Tang Xi was completely unaware of his tendency to stir up a storm wherever he went.
All he knew was that Chen Dingning still hadn’t deleted the slanderous post. Although he was no longer fanning the flames in the comments, the post’s popularity remained high.
He Wang said nothing, simply watching the little “kitten” huff in frustration as he tapped furiously at his phone.
Before arriving, Assistant Wang had already found out who the original poster was.
It was just a student—not someone He Wang needed to personally deal with.
But he still came.
After understanding the full situation, the principal’s face darkened. “I’ve been saying this forum should’ve been shut down ages ago!”
Someone even posted a picture of his wig falling off earlier.
Finally, this was a good opportunity to clean up the unhealthy atmosphere in the forum.
The dean of students nodded repeatedly in agreement and made a call to summon Chen Dingning’s homeroom teacher. With that, a whole group of people marched grandly toward the sophomore section.
Chen Dingning had already sensed trouble the moment he saw the post about He Wang and Tang Xi being a good match.
He had initially thought that the poor student was just a disposable plaything for the rich—who would have expected someone to stand up for him?
And not just anyone—the person coming after him looked like serious trouble, ready to settle the score.
As someone who only dared to hide behind a screen, he had never encountered such a confrontation before. Now, as he saw his stern-faced homeroom teacher beckoning him over, his vision went dark.