Chapter Six: Turning the Tables

"This..."

Xu Ruowei was stunned. She couldn't for the life of her figure out why the car still wouldn't start.

Pei An frowned, leaned in, and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Ruowei? Is the car broken?"

"I... I don't think so. Forget it, let me try with the physical key."

She had bought the car just last month; it hadn't even clocked fifty kilometers yet. How could it possibly be a mechanical failure? But she had to get this car moving today, otherwise, she would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of Jiangzhou University tomorrow—a joke in everyone’s eyes.

"Don't worry, take your time."

Xu Ruowei nodded and inserted the key into the ignition. She pressed and turned it until her fingers ached, but there was still absolutely no reaction. If it happened once or twice, one might blame a faulty push-to-start system, but now that the physical key was failing too, there was clearly something wrong. But what exactly was the problem? Xu Ruowei was bewildered; she felt like her world was falling apart.

"Xu Ye, is this your doing?"

Pei An realized something and marched toward Xu Ye, seething with anger. "How could you be like this? Are you really going to make things difficult for Ruowei today?"

Xu Ye let out a sharp laugh and cut him off without hesitation. "Are you out of your mind? Do you really have no idea whose car this actually is?"

The others standing by were stunned by Xu Ye’s words.

"Xu Ye, are you joking?"

"This car obviously belongs to Ruowei. Do you think it’s yours?" someone said, looking at him with utter absurdity. In their eyes, Xu Ye must have lost his mind to say something so ridiculous.

"Exactly. That statement is beyond laughable. Ruowei is kind-hearted enough to let you hitch a ride every day, and now you’re suffering from delusions?"

"Remember, you’re just a dog raised by the Xu family!"

"You actually have the audacity to dream that Ruowei’s car is yours? That is beyond insane. It’s hilarious..."

Listening to their mockery, Xu Ye didn't get angry. He simply looked at Xu Ruowei with a playful smirk. "In that case, go ahead and start the car. Don't you dare say it's broken. I can tell you with full responsibility that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this vehicle."

Just slapping her face wasn't enough; today, Xu Ye was determined to expose her true colors. She loved the persona of the wealthy heiress? Then he would start with that persona and destroy it, piece by piece.

"Start it then! Ruowei just had a minor issue with the operation earlier. Do you really think she can't start it?" Wu Siyu, impulsive and lacking common sense, didn't think twice after her temper flared. She turned to Xu Ruowei and said, "Ruowei, start the car and slap this piece of trash, Xu Ye, right across his face!"

"Exactly! It’s so infuriating that a mere servant has the gall to put on such a show. I don't know who gave him the nerve!"

"The point is, he now dares to covet Ruowei's car. What's next?"

"Is he going to start coveting Ruowei herself, or even the entire Xu family?"

"The more I talk about it, the angrier I get. If it weren't for Ruowei refusing to let us, I’d have broken his legs by now..."

The group grew more and more agitated, failing to notice that Xu Ruowei’s face had already turned deathly pale.

Start the car? She wanted to, but how? She tried the push-to-start button again—nothing. She gripped the key tightly and turned it again—another failure. Why was this happening? Where was the problem?

"Xu Ye, are you going to keep acting so unreasonably?" Pei An, face dark, leaned in close to Xu Ye’s ear. "Don't think I don't know that you’ve blocked Ruowei’s access to the car!"

"Have you considered the consequences of humiliating Ruowei in front of all these students?"

"Enough. If you’re smart, you’ll unlock her access immediately. I might still put in a good word for you so she doesn't hold it against you. Otherwise, once she truly gets angry..."

"Don't come crying for mercy later!"

He wasn't afraid of offending Xu Ye. After all, he was Xu Ruowei’s "cousin." How dare he act like the young master of the Xu family in front of him? Did he not want to stay with Ruowei anymore? As for whether Xu Ye actually intended this or truly didn't care about Xu Ruowei anymore? What nonsense. Even if pigs flew, rivers flowed backward, or the universe collapsed, that would be impossible.

Xu Ye was amused to the point of laughter.

"I’ll regret it?"

"Regret your mother's death? Get lost!"

"Damn it, I've been too lenient with you people. One uses my car to threaten me, and the other is just a pile of filth!"

"What consequences could there be if she gets angry?"

"Tell me, what consequences could a piece of trash like Xu Ruowei possibly have?!"

"You... you..." Pei An’s eyes widened, unable to believe what he was hearing. Xu Ye was actually insulting his Ruowei like that? Had he lost his mind?

"What about me? I said get lost, you idiot!"

Xu Ye shoved him aside and strode toward his car. She liked to put on an act, didn't she? Still unwilling to give up? Fine. He couldn't be bothered to play along anymore. He would tear off this woman’s mask with brute force and see how she would have the face to show herself at Jiangzhou University starting tomorrow!

"Xu Ye! Haven't you caused enough trouble?!"

Pei An finally realized something was wrong and panicked. What was this bastard trying to do? Was he really going to burn bridges with Ruowei? He could never accept that. If Xu Ruowei’s identity were exposed, how could she hold her head up in school? And if she fell, wouldn't he be finished too? He couldn't allow it, even if it meant framing him!

"Xu Ye, relying on Ruowei’s trust, you not only stole the security access to this car but are now trying to rebel and seize it for yourself?"

"Are you even human? Do you really want to defy heaven and earth?!"

What?!

As soon as those words were out, the crowd exploded. So that was it? No wonder Ruowei’s car wouldn't start.

Xu Ruowei reacted quickly, immediately bowing her head as if she had suffered a grave injustice. This only confirmed Pei An’s claim. Xu Ye, this wretched lackey raised by the Xu family, was truly detestable!

"This is lawless!"

"No wonder the car wouldn't start. It was that damn bastard Xu Ye playing games!"

"The key is that he really wants to seize Ruowei’s car. What is he trying to do? Is he above the law?"

"Call the police! Call the police right now!"

"This guy is breaking the law! We must call the police and have him thrown in jail!"

Hearing this, the corners of Xu Ye’s mouth curled upward. Without a second thought, he pulled out his phone and started dialing. "Calling the police, are we? Fine, I’ll help you. Let’s do it right now!"