Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 1820 - 0149: The Shadows of Childhood 1

"Your boyfriend?" Wang Yue inquired, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"No, no, he’s a member of our school’s student council. For some reason, they’ve been trying to recruit me lately. They send representatives to speak with me every single day," Li Yingying explained in a rush, her hands waving frantically in denial.

At her age, it was only natural for a young girl to feel a pull toward the opposite sex. After all, sixteen is the season of blossoming—a time of immense beauty and a period where one can easily fall into the depths of love.

Wang Yue was not only handsome and powerful but had also provided immense help to the Li family. Consequently, Li Yingying, a girl in the peak of her youth, found herself instinctively drawn to him.

However, she was acutely aware of the vast gap between her status and Wang Yue’s, so she kept these pure feelings buried in the depths of her heart. Perhaps, as time passed, they would simply wither away on their own.

But today, Wang Yue had appeared before her so suddenly, and it seemed he had developed a misunderstanding.

This realization made her want to clarify the situation immediately.

"I was only asking casually; there's no need for such a detailed explanation," Wang Yue said with a grin, his gaze shifting toward the restaurant she had just exited. "Have you finished your meal?"

"No, I’m actually working here to help out," Li Yingying replied, shaking her head.

So this was what people referred to as a work-study program!

Wang Yue felt a surge of respect in his heart. What a self-reliant and independent young woman!

"Actually, your mother and brother both have stable jobs now. You don't need to push yourself so hard anymore," Wang Yue remarked.

"It isn't hard at all. I just assist for a bit during the lunch break; it doesn't interfere with my studies or anything else," Li Yingying answered.

Wang Yue nodded, choosing not to press the matter. After all, everyone follows their own path in life. How can one truly grasp another's happiness without having walked in their shoes?

"Then you should get back to your work. I was merely passing through," Wang Yue said, preparing to say his goodbyes.

However, Li Yingying spoke up quickly, "It’s fine. Since the rush hour has passed, I’ll just let the boss know."

With that, she turned and sprinted back into the restaurant with such speed that even Wang Yue, a master of the Gui Zhen realm, was momentarily startled.

In less than sixty seconds, Li Yingying came running back. Because she had moved so fast and was only an ordinary person, she was slightly breathless.

Wang Yue couldn't help but chuckle. "There was no need to rush. I wasn't planning on running away."

Li Yingying’s lovely face flushed red instantly, and she felt a wave of embarrassment. She knew she shouldn't have been so impulsive, but she simply couldn't resist the urge to spend more time with him. Even if they said nothing and just stood together in silence, it brought her a sense of joy that was hard to describe.

"Does your school permit outsiders to enter?" Since Li Yingying had made the effort, Wang Yue naturally didn't want to depart immediately. Furthermore, he felt a spark of curiosity regarding a school for ordinary people, so he asked.

Li Yingying answered, "It’s allowed during the lunch break. There’s still over half an hour before the afternoon classes begin. Would you like to come inside and look around, Wang Shao?"

"Certainly. I've never stepped foot in a school like this," Wang Yue said smiling, then added, "From now on, please don't call me 'Wang Shao'. Just use my name, like you did a moment ago."

"That doesn't seem right..." Li Yingying hesitated.

"There's nothing wrong with it. Didn't I say that as Lan Jie’s sister, you are also my... sister?" Wang Yue had intended to say "my sister," but remembering he was actually a year younger than Li Yingying, he shifted his phrasing at the last second.

In truth, he would have preferred if Li Yingying called him "brother-in-law," but since his intimate connection with Li Menglan wasn't public knowledge, saying so might have frightened her.

Li Yingying couldn't suppress a giggle. "Sister?"

Wang Yue looked slightly flustered and gave a dry laugh. "Alright then, Sister Yingying."

Though children from impoverished backgrounds often mature early, Li Yingying was still a student who hadn't fully faced the world's cruelties. Her sense of social hierarchy wasn't as rigid as an adult's. Now that Wang Yue was acting so casually, she suddenly felt he wasn't the distant Young Master of the Wang family, but a peer of her own age. The gap between them narrowed significantly.

Still, she didn't dare be overly familiar by letting Wang Yue call her "Sister." In a soft voice, she said, "Wang... Wang Yue, please just call me Yingying."

"Alright, Yingying," Wang Yue agreed smoothly. "Show me around your school."

"Sure," Li Yingying said, leading the way toward the campus gates.

Wang Yue followed her, entering the grounds without encountering any trouble.

Once inside, Wang Yue scanned the surroundings with interest, finding the atmosphere rather pleasant. Not many students were in uniforms like Li Yingying; most wore casual attire. Thus, at his age, he didn't feel out of place at all.

While his clothing was clearly expensive and the ring on his left pinky appeared quite flashy—creating a stark contrast with the girl beside him—there were enough wealthy students in this school that he didn't stand out too much.

"This is true school life. Honestly, I envy you all," Wang Yue remarked, watching the relaxed students gathered in groups or playing on the sports field.

Li Yingying gave a small smile and replied, "I believe there are far more people who envy you."

"And you... do you envy me as well?" Wang Yue teased.

"Yes. If I had been born into a family like yours, my mother wouldn't have to toil every day, my brother wouldn't have been forced to drop out to work, and my sister wouldn't have had to..." At that point, Li Yingying suddenly caught herself and hurriedly apologized. "Mr. Wang, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

"I understand. If I were in your position, I wouldn't want my sister to become a servant in someone else's house either," Wang Yue said.

"Meeting you, Mr. Wang, is truly my sister’s greatest fortune," Li Yingying said with total sincerity. She had heard horror stories of people forced into servitude. Once a contract was signed, they became property, losing all human rights; even if a master killed them, there would be no justice.

Given Li Menglan’s beauty, if she had encountered a villain instead of someone like Wang Yue, she likely would have been turned into a mere plaything long ago.

In reality, even if she knew her sister had already been thoroughly enjoyed by this "good man"—not through force, but by her own willing and even addicted choice—she would have remained silent.

"Don't worry, as long as I am here, your sister will never come to harm," Wang Yue promised. "But since you were calling me by my name... why have you switched back?"

Li Yingying smiled at him without a word. Previously, they had been walking one behind the other, but now they moved side by side.

Since she had developed feelings for Wang Yue, this kind of closeness had been her deepest wish, the sort of thing that only happened in her dreams.

Now that it was real, she felt momentarily overwhelmed with emotion.

The pair wandered the campus for a while. Wang Yue noticed many girls, but the most striking one was still Li Yingying at his side.

Many boys watched her from afar, their eyes full of longing.

This brought the Young Master of the Crocodile Gang to Wang Yue's mind, prompting him to ask, "Yingying, do you face any trouble at school? For instance, are there boys who harass you?"