NABC Chapter 1630 A desperate comeback?
Chapter 1630 A desperate comeback?
Under Huang Yimei's direction, the Porsche 986, like a nimble red carp, darted and swam through the intricate alleyways.
Qin Hao gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the other casually resting on the window sill. With a series of fluid maneuvers, the car navigated precisely through narrow bends. The old residential buildings on either side of the alley rushed past, colorful clothes swaying in the wind on their drying racks, and a few stray cats, perched on the walls, scattered in fright at the roar of the engine.
"Not bad, your driving skills are quite good." Huang Yimei rarely gave a compliment, and her tone carried a hint of unexpected appreciation.
"Want to learn? I'll give you a discount on the tuition." Qin Hao unbuckled his seatbelt, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips.
"I wouldn't dare drive this car. I couldn't afford to pay for even a scratch." Huang Yimei rolled her eyes. This Porsche 986 was an imported car. Even a small part would have to be shipped from Germany for repairs. She couldn't even afford to pay for a rearview mirror if she sold herself.
Just as Qin Hao was about to say something more sarcastic, Huang Yimei pointed ahead and said, "Turn right, drive into that small courtyard ahead!"
Qin Hao glanced in the direction she pointed. It was an old-style family compound with blue brick walls covered in thick moss, clearly showing its age. A large locust tree stood at the entrance, its branches and leaves so lush that their shade almost completely covered half the courtyard.
The Porsche 986 came to a smooth stop in its parking space after a beautiful drift, the deep roar of its engine echoing in the small courtyard, startling a few sparrows that had landed on the locust tree.
"He hasn't arrived yet, let's wait a while." Huang Yimei unbuckled her seatbelt, craned her neck to look towards the gate, her eyes filled with a hint of wariness.
Seeing her like this, Qin Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Look how nervous you are, like you're making a secret rendezvous with the underground party."
"Stop being so sarcastic." Huang Yimei rolled her eyes at him. "Let me tell you, this Liu Yang is not someone to be trifled with."
Qin Hao leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head, observing Huang Yimei with great interest. This girl was actually quite cute when she was angry; her cheeks puffed out, like a little cat with its fur standing on end.
"Don't worry, after today, I guarantee he won't dare to bother you again." Qin Hao's tone was as relaxed as if he were talking about the nice weather.
"You'd better keep your word." Huang Yimei snorted. "If you mess this up, you'll owe me more than three favors; it'll be at least doubled."
"Well, I'm on a pirate ship now and can't get off." Qin Hao pretended to be completely fooled, which made Huang Yimei burst out laughing.
As the two were chatting and laughing, the roar of an engine grew louder as it approached, and then a silver-gray Nissan Sunny drove into the courtyard.
Huang Yimei's smile vanished instantly, and her body visibly tensed for a moment. She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the Nissan, and said in a low voice, "That's him. It's your turn to perform."
"Don't worry, with my acting skills, I deserve an Oscar. Just you wait and see," Qin Hao said nonchalantly.
"Keep bragging."
As Huang Yimei was about to unbuckle her seatbelt and get out of the car, Qin Hao suddenly reached out and pressed down on her arm just as her hand touched the seatbelt buckle.
"What are you doing?" Huang Yimei was taken aback and looked at him in confusion.
Qin Hao didn't answer, but instead pushed open the car door and got out. He walked around the front of the car to the passenger side and gracefully opened the door. Then, he placed his left hand on the edge of the door frame and extended his right hand to Huang Yimei, making a standard "please" gesture.
The movement was fluid and seamless, performed as if he had done it countless times before.
Huang Yimei was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.
"Sure, that's quite thoughtful." She glanced at Qin Hao with some surprise, placed her hand on his palm, and used it to get out of the car.
Huang Yimei thought to herself, "This guy usually seems so carefree, but I didn't expect him to be so reliable in a critical moment."
"Absolutely, we have to go all the way with the act." Qin Hao lowered his voice, a smug smile on his lips, and deliberately leaned close to her ear to speak, a posture that seemed unbelievably intimate to outsiders: "Otherwise, how can we convince that kid?"
Huang Yimei felt the warm breath on her ear, and her ears turned red involuntarily, but she quickly suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and cooperated by showing a sweet smile.
Sure enough, the people in the Nissan next to them saw what happened.
The driver's side door was flung open, and a young man with slicked-back hair jumped out of the vehicle. He was dressed in a flashy shirt, dark trousers, and shiny leather shoes, looking quite presentable, but the fierce look on his face betrayed his inner turmoil.
He stared intently at Qin Hao and Huang Yimei, and when he saw that Huang Yimei's hand was still on Qin Hao's arm, his face darkened visibly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
Huang Yimei gritted her teeth and took Qin Hao's arm. Her movements were fluid and natural, without the slightest awkwardness.
Qin Hao chuckled inwardly. It seemed that Huang Yimei was really being harassed by Liu Yang, and had even taken the initiative to make a move on him.
He straightened his back, gave a gentle smile, and glanced down at Huang Yimei. The tenderness in his eyes made even him think it would be a loss for the film industry if the Oscars didn't give him one.
"Rose, who is he?"
Liu Yang finally spoke, his voice hoarse and low, as if squeezed from his throat. If looks could kill, Qin Hao would have been torn to pieces and reduced to ashes long ago.
"Liu Yang, how many times have I told you? Rose is a name only my family and boyfriend can use. I don't even know you. Do you know how rude you are?" Huang Yimei put away her usual playful and sarcastic demeanor, her tone cold and distant, clearly displeased.
She paused, cleared her throat, then moved closer to Qin Hao and said in a clear voice, "This is my boyfriend, Qin Hao."
"Rose, is this the kid who's been bothering you all day?" Qin Hao looked down at Liu Yang and sized him up.
He was more than half a head taller than Liu Yang, and at this moment he deliberately straightened his back, his height and physique giving him an overwhelming advantage. His 185cm height, combined with the broad shoulders and narrow waist honed by years of fitness training, gave him an imposing and authoritative aura.
Liu Yang's face was flushed red, his fists were clenched tightly, and his whole body was trembling.
If he hadn't been wary of Qin Hao's tall stature and imposing presence, he would have already lost his temper.
But Liu Yang was clearly not one to give up easily. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, then forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and said, "Rose, I know you're trying to spite me. I've heard, you don't even have a boyfriend—"
Before he could finish speaking, Qin Hao suddenly moved.
A large hand, like an iron clamp, pressed down on Liu Yang's shoulder. Before Liu Yang could react, he felt a tremendous force coming from his shoulder, and he was forcefully pressed against the hood of the Nissan.
"boom--"
Liu Yang's back slammed heavily against the cold metal, making a dull thud. He winced in pain and instinctively tried to struggle, but no matter how hard he tried, the hand holding him down wouldn't budge, as if a mountain was pressing down on him.
"Can't you understand human language?" Qin Hao's voice turned cold, as if he had become a completely different person, all his previous nonchalant demeanor gone. "My girlfriend said that only family and boyfriends can call her Rose. Who do you think you are, to call her that?"
His tone was calm, yet it carried a chilling sense of oppression.
"If you dare call me Rose again, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
Liu Yang's face turned a deep purplish-red, half from anger and half from pain. He tried to resist, but Qin Hao's hand was like iron; he couldn't budge it an inch no matter how hard he tried.
Those who know the current affairs are handsome.
Liu Yang gritted his teeth, but ultimately backed down. He wasn't stupid; Qin Hao in front of him was clearly not someone to be trifled with, and a direct confrontation would only lead to his downfall.
“Barbaric, rude…” Liu Yang gritted his teeth, his voice filled with resentment: “How could Huang Yimei like a brute like you? I don’t believe it…”
Before he could finish speaking...
Qin Hao suddenly withdrew his hand from Huang Yimei's shoulder, then turned around and pulled her into his arms.
Before Huang Yimei could react, she felt a strong arm encircle her waist, and then a handsome face rapidly loomed into view—
Then, Qin Hao lowered his head and kissed him.
The moment their lips touched, Huang Yimei's mind went blank.
Her body tensed instinctively, and she felt an urge to push him away. But just as her hands were about to touch Qin Hao's chest, she suddenly snapped back to reality—
It cannot be pushed.
If we push it away, won't the whole show be ruined?
What was the point of her using Qin Hao as a shield?
In a split second, Huang Yimei made her choice.
She forced herself to relax, and even—closed her eyes slightly.
Fortunately, Huang Yimei was somewhat relieved that Qin Hao did not push his luck. He only touched her lips lightly, so briefly as to be almost negligible, and then released her.
But this scene was enough to completely break Liu Yang's defenses.
"Huang Yimei!"
Liu Yang's eyes were red, his voice filled with disbelief, anger, and humiliation: "I've been chasing you for so long, and you haven't even given me a smile! You actually...you actually...with him..."
He couldn't continue; the words seemed to get stuck in his throat, leaving only heavy breathing.
Qin Hao put his arm around Huang Yimei's shoulder, stood up straight, and looked down at Liu Yang with the same look he gave her as a clown.
"None of your business?" Qin Hao's tone was laced with undisguised sarcasm. "Get lost. Don't let me see you bothering Rose again, or I'll beat you up every time I see you!"
Liu Yang's face alternated between pale and flushed as he stared intently at Qin Hao, as if trying to etch that face into his mind. Then, his gaze fell on the red Porsche 986 beside Qin Hao.
The sleek lines of the car body, the paint gleaming in the sunset, and the Porsche logo seemed to be silently mocking his overestimation of his abilities.
Liu Yang gritted his teeth, ultimately saying nothing, turned around, got into his Nissan, turned it around, and drove away from the courtyard in a dejected manner.
Huang Yimei only breathed a long sigh of relief when the silver-gray Nissan completely disappeared around the corner of the alley, its taillights no longer visible.
Then, as if she had suddenly thought of something, she turned around abruptly and grabbed Qin Hao's collar.
"Trying to take advantage of me, huh?"
Huang Yimei gritted her teeth, her beautiful eyes practically spitting fire. Her face was flushed, a faint blush spreading all the way to her ears, whether from anger or from the kiss just now.
Qin Hao, however, remained completely calm. Instead, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender: "I'm innocent! Who took advantage of you? This was all for the sake of the plot, okay?"
He said matter-of-factly, "If it weren't for that last move, would this kid have been so easily dealt with?"
"I'm already being lenient by not asking you for compensation for emotional distress!"
"So, I should thank you?" she said through gritted teeth.
"No need for that," Qin Hao said with a grin, and even winked at her deliberately: "It's the crew's rule that extra scenes get extra chicken legs."
"you--"
Huang Yimei grew angrier the more she thought about it, but before she could confront Qin Hao, she heard a familiar voice coming from upstairs—
"Rose?"
Huang Yimei's body stiffened abruptly. She slowly raised her head, and then—
The sky has fallen.
On the second-floor balcony, a man and a woman were standing.
The man was in his fifties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a gray shirt. Although he was old, one could still vaguely tell that he had been handsome in his youth. The woman was about the same age as the man, dressed casually, with her hair tied up in a bun, and had a serious expression.
These were Huang Yimei's parents—Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang.
At this moment, the two of them were staring down at Qin Hao and Huang Yimei, who were standing downstairs, with dark faces.
That expression was even more interesting than catching someone in the act of adultery.
"You two, come up here."
Huang Jianzhi's voice came from the second floor, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.
Huang Yimei panicked and quickly let go of Qin Hao's collar, looking up and shouting upstairs, "Dad, Mom, it's not what you saw!"
She explained incoherently, "This is Qin Hao, my classmate! I invited him here specifically..."
However, Huang's mother, Wu Yuejiang, didn't give her a chance to explain at all, and snorted coldly: "If you have something to say, come up here and we'll talk."
After saying that, the two elders turned and went back to the living room, leaving behind only a figure standing ready for battle.
Huang Yimei felt a headache coming on. She glared at Qin Hao and said in a low voice, "It's all your fault! Why did you suddenly add this scene! Now look what happened!"
Qin Hao's eyes darted around: "Then... how about I leave first?"
"Don't even think about it!" Huang Yimei grabbed his arm. "You've caused this trouble, and you think you can just run away without dealing with it? No way!"
Without saying a word, she dragged Qin Hao into the building, her steps quick and hurried.
Qin Hao stumbled as she pulled him along, but he still couldn't resist teasing her: "Hey, be gentle, be gentle, don't be so rough with a girl."
"Shut up!" Huang Yimei wished she could tear his mouth apart.
The two of them dragged each other up to the second floor. The hallway was quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing.
Huang Yimei's home was in the innermost room on the second floor. The door was open, and the setting sun shone through the window, casting a bright halo on the floor.
As she reached the door, Huang Yimei paused, lowered her voice, and said to Qin Hao, "Don't say anything out of line. If I don't have a good life, you won't either!"
"Don't worry." Qin Hao gave an OK sign: "They're just two old men, watch how easily I handle them."
Looking at his confident demeanor, Huang Yimei felt a strange sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
I always feel like I'm letting a wolf into my house.
In the living room, Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang were sitting on the sofa, side by side on a three-seater sofa, looking like judges in court, except that they had a plaque with the words "A Clear Mirror Hangs High" hanging behind them.
Huang Jianzhi crossed his arms on his knees, his expression serious. Wu Yuejiang, on the other hand, crossed his arms and his gaze, sharp as a knife, swept over Qin Hao.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt." As soon as Qin Hao entered the door, he put on a polite demeanor and bowed slightly: "My name is Qin Hao, and I am Huang Yimei's classmate."
Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang exchanged a glance, then Huang Jianzhi beckoned to Huang Yimei: "Rose, come here."
Huang Yimei's heart skipped a beat, but she still obediently walked over.
Huang Jianzhi lowered his voice: "I remember you told us before that there was a playboy in our class who was very rich and changed girlfriends more often than he changed his paintings. Is this the guy?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Yimei immediately felt as if she had shot herself in the foot.
She had indeed complained to her parents about Qin Hao before, describing his philandering in vivid detail and embellishing the story. Little did she expect that it would become evidence in court today!
"Ahem—" Huang Yimei coughed twice, trying to cover it up: "Dad, Mom, he and I are really just ordinary classmates..."
"Ordinary classmates?" Wu Yuejiang snorted coldly, his gaze sharpening as he looked at his daughter. "How come ordinary classmates are kissing?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Yimei's face instantly turned bright red.
"I already said it was just acting! We didn't actually kiss!" Huang Yimei quickly gave Qin Hao a meaningful look, hoping he would cooperate and let the matter drop.
But Qin Hao, that clueless teammate, said, "Yes, we just bumped into each other..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang's gazes, like two sharp blades, locked onto Huang Yimei.
Huang Yimei was so angry she wanted to tear Qin Hao's mouth off. But for now, she could only appease her parents, so she forced herself to explain, "Maybe... it was just a minor accident... it doesn't count."
"Of course it doesn't count!" Huang Jianzhi snorted coldly, his voice not loud, but his dissatisfaction was undisguised: "If you're going to get a boyfriend, at least find someone reliable..."
He lowered his voice for the second half of his sentence: "You can't just judge a book by its cover; you have to look at the inner qualities. At the very least, they have to be a loyal person in relationships, right?"
Huang Jianzhi had to admit that the boy's looks and demeanor were very attractive to the young girl, otherwise he wouldn't have been so nervous.
Huang Yimei gave Qin Hao a smug look, then nodded obediently and said, "Dad, I think you're absolutely right. People who aren't faithful in relationships deserve to be single forever and never find true love."
Qin Hao stood aside, smiling the whole time, neither refuting nor defending himself, just quietly listening to them finish speaking before slowly opening his mouth.
"Uncle, Aunt, I think you have some misunderstandings about me."
Huang Jianzhi snorted: "Misunderstanding? You mean Rose wronged you?"
"No, not at all." Qin Hao readily admitted, "I have indeed had many girlfriends."
Upon hearing this, Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang's expressions visibly fell. Wu Yuejiang even turned his face away, adopting a "see them out" posture.
Huang Yimei watched with schadenfreude, thinking to herself: Serves you right for pretending and acting. Now let's see how you get out of this mess.
However, Qin Hao remained calm and continued unhurriedly, "But I always put my heart into every relationship I had with my girlfriends."
"You're kidding me." Huang Yimei couldn't help but scoff.
The Huang Jianzhi couple also looked disgusted, their expressions clearly saying: Do you think we're three-year-olds?
However, what Qin Hao said next stunned everyone present.
He asked with a smile, "Who says you can only like one person in your whole life?"
The living room fell silent instantly.
Qin Hao's gaze calmly swept over everyone present, and then he slowly said, "Uncle, Aunt, my parents have been busy with their careers since I was little, and they haven't had time to take care of me. They've earned a lot of money, and they've given me whatever I want materially."
"When I was little, it was fine; I didn't have that many thoughts. But as I grew up, I realized it was really boring. All I wanted was for my parents to buy me whatever I asked for."
"Novels and movies always say that love can't be bought. So I started dating after I went to college. I did have many girlfriends, but I was sincere and genuine in every relationship. It's just that many times I found that they didn't like me, but rather my parents' wealth."
At this point, Qin Hao gave a self-deprecating bitter smile: "I know it sounds a bit sentimental, but I really can't be with someone who doesn't like me."
He paused, looked directly into Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang's eyes, and asked earnestly, "Uncle, Aunt, do you think I did something wrong?"
The living room was quiet for a while.
Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang exchanged a glance, and the disdain and hostility in their eyes gradually dissipated.
Especially Wu Yuejiang, looking at the bitter smile on the young man's face, felt a strange mix of emotions welling up inside her.
Although she is a university professor, she is also a seasoned veteran who has worked in the education system for decades and has seen countless students. She can distinguish between genuine words and empty rhetoric.
Although Qin Hao's words sounded somewhat affected, his eyes were clear and his tone was sincere, so it didn't seem like he was lying.
"This child is actually quite pitiful," Wu Yuejiang said to Huang Jianzhi in a low voice, her tone tinged with sympathy.
Huang Yimei almost jumped up when she heard her mother's words.
"No! Mom!" She stared wide-eyed at her mother in disbelief. "Don't be fooled by him..."
"Oh, Rose." Huang Jianzhi patted his daughter's hand, interrupting her, "One must learn to be tolerant. Besides, it's never too late to correct one's mistakes."
Huang Yimei: "???"
She looked at her father, then at her mother, and then at Qin Hao—Qin Hao was standing there innocently, with a hint of bitterness in his eyes. His expression was as sincere and innocent as could be.
But she knew Qin Hao far too well.
She knew this guy was definitely not some "love-starved little pitiful thing." He was a total womanizer!
but……
What drove her crazy was that her parents actually believed it!
Qin Hao chuckled inwardly at Huang Yimei's discomfitured expression. However, he maintained his humble and polite demeanor, continuing to speak to Huang Jianzhi and his wife: "Uncle, Aunt, I know my past actions may have left you with a bad impression of me. But please believe me, Huang Yimei asked me to come and help today. She said some clueless guy keeps bothering her, and she wants me to pretend to be her boyfriend and drive him away."
He paused, then said sincerely, "Although my method may have been somewhat flawed, the result was good."
Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang exchanged a glance, their expressions softening considerably.
"Yes, we are aware of this situation." Huang Jianzhi nodded: "That Liu Yang is indeed acting out of line. He shouts and yells downstairs every few days, which has caused complaints from the neighbors."
"Alright, alright." Wu Yuejiang stood up and waved his hand. "Now that things are clear, let's leave it at that."
She looked at Qin Hao, her tone much gentler than before: "Little Qin, you've had a hard day. Why don't you stay for dinner?"
Huang Yimei kept giving Qin Hao meaningful glances, signaling him not to agree.
However, Qin Hao pretended not to see it and said, "Isn't this too intrusive?"
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, it's just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks," Wu Yuejiang said with a smile, waving his hand.
"I'm so sorry, I came in a hurry today and came empty-handed. I feel bad about asking for food and drinks."
Huang Yimei gave a light snort: "Good to know."
Qin Hao acted as if he hadn't heard her and followed Wu Yuejiang into the kitchen, saying, "Auntie, let me help you."
Wu Yuejiang declined several times, but seeing that Qin Hao insisted on helping, she couldn't refuse anymore, so she asked Qin Hao to help pick the vegetables. She found that Qin Hao's movements were very skillful.
"Does Xiao Qin usually cook for herself at home?"
"Yes, my parents were away from home most of the time when I was a child. Back then, my family wasn't well-off and couldn't afford a nanny, so I started cooking for myself when I was in the third grade of elementary school."
Upon hearing this, a hint of pity flashed in Wu Yuejiang's eyes: "He's a sensible and capable child."
"Unlike our Huang Yimei, who never knew how to pick up a spilled soy sauce bottle when she was little, all she did was eat."
Huang Yimei's eyes widened: ??? Is this really her wise university professor? (End of Chapter)