Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 58

Wei Chuan scaled two walls to leave the school, deliberately avoiding surveillance cameras.

He hailed a taxi and headed straight to the Wanhe Hotel.

The front desk staff had changed shifts, and they didn’t recognize him. Wei Chuan had left in such a hurry that he hadn’t even brought his ID.

“Miss,” Wei Chuan flashed a smile, “I booked two rooms here on Friday. I’d like to ask if Ms. Su Mian from the 38th floor has checked out yet. I need to see her urgently.”

The receptionist politely shook her head. “I’m sorry, but we can’t disclose guest information.”

“I understand, but this is really urgent. My friend attended her seminar yesterday. Or, if you could just tell me whether she’s left or not, I can wait outside for her.” Wei Chuan’s eyes pleaded. “Please, miss.”

After a moment’s thought, the receptionist asked for his name. Wei Chuan immediately brightened and gave it.

The computer showed he had indeed booked rooms on Friday, so the receptionist told him Su Mian hadn’t left yet.

Perfect. Wei Chuan thanked her and stepped out of the hotel. The lobby didn’t allow non-guests to stay overnight to ensure the comfort and safety of the guests.

Wei Chuan stopped at the main exit of the hotel and called Uncle Yan.

The man was already asleep, but no one dared ignore the young master’s call.

As soon as the call connected, Wei Chuan ordered, “Uncle Yan, go to the garage and take photos of the car I drove on Friday from every angle. Send them to me right away. I need them.”

Before Uncle Yan could even ask a question, Wei Chuan hung up.

Next, he called his father. His dad had been classmates with the university president years ago, and they’d remained close. He needed the security footage from the school gate on Friday night.

After arranging everything, he waited outside in the cold all night.

Wei Chuan wasn’t without other options to book a room at the hotel. Even without his ID, he could’ve just called Qin Yuan for help. But the message Xie Lingyin had sent him had set his heart ablaze with guilt.

He couldn’t bear to imagine Meng Tang’s reaction when she saw it.

She was like a pristine sheet of paper, yet someone had splattered it with ink. This was his fault. When he’d pulled Meng Tang into the car, he hadn’t considered any of this.

Many students at Z University came from well-off families, but he never imagined a car would cause Meng Tang so much harm.

…

Early the next morning, Meng Tang turned on her phone. A flood of notifications poured in, private messages across social media platforms, all undoubtedly vile in content.

Xie Lingyin leaned over. “After this is over, switch to a new SIM card.”

Even if the truth came out, there would still be malicious, tasteless netizens sending harassing messages.

After a night of spreading, the rumors had already reached every corner of Z University.

In this era, everyone’s secrets were exposed on the internet. Regardless of truth, ignorant and immoral netizens would jump on the bandwagon, followed by so-called insiders leaking information, until finally, the mob would attack without giving the accused a chance to defend themselves, sentencing them outright.

Accompanied by her roommates, Meng Tang went to the cafeteria and experienced for the first time how stares could feel like knives.

She couldn’t make out their whispers, but she knew what they were saying.

A few boys sauntered past her, smirking. “So that’s her…”

“Looks so innocent. Who’d have thought she’d do something like that?”

After a round of murmurs, they burst into loud laughter.

Meng Tang’s grip on her spoon tightened abruptly. Shi Lan slammed a fist on the table.

Xie Lingyin held her back and shook her head.

Shi Lan raised her eyes and glared, then suddenly froze. She quickly called out to Meng Tang, telling her to look behind.

Meng Tang turned her head and saw Wei Chuan blocking the path of a few boys at the cafeteria entrance.

Xu Heqing stood behind him, his expression unreadable.

Wei Chuan’s imposing aura was overwhelming, and the three teasing boys instinctively took a step back into the cafeteria.

He let out a cold laugh, his eyes burning with suppressed fury. “What’s so funny? Care to share?”

The boys recognized Wei Chuan but couldn’t understand why he was so angry.

“W-what do you want?”

The one who had laughed the hardest spoke up. Wei Chuan grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground and slamming him onto a dining table.

The table screeched under the force, drawing furtive glances from nearby students.

Wei Chuan clenched his fists, resisting the urge to throw a punch. If he did, Meng Tang would inevitably become the center of gossip again.

Taking a deep breath, he let the three go with a sharp command to leave.

Meng Tang had lost her appetite for breakfast. Anyone could see Wei Chuan had stepped in for her.

When he spotted her, his fists relaxed slightly, his gaze flickering with uncertainty.

Seeing that she seemed unharmed, he exhaled in relief.

He sat down across from her and asked cautiously, “Are you okay?”

Meng Tang shook her head. “Why are you here?”

He had just returned from outside and, after asking Xie Lingyin, learned she was in the cafeteria.

He had come just to see her.

Of course, Wei Chuan wouldn’t say that. Instead, he smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure this gets resolved today.”

“Really?” Xie Lingyin was surprised by how quickly he was acting.

Wei Chuan nodded. “I met Su Mian this morning. There’s a group photo at Friday’s exchange event, she agreed to help clear Meng Tang’s name. I also got the surveillance footage from the school gate and had pictures taken of my family’s car.”

“As for Saturday, I have payment receipts from the health food place and the art supply store. The shops on Old Fu Street aren’t open yet, but I’ve already sent someone to wait there. We’ll get the surveillance as soon as possible.”

Xie Lingyin gave him a thumbs-up.

Meng Tang was stunned. “You met Su Mian this morning? When did you even leave?”

“Uh…” Wei Chuan hesitated.

Xu Heqing chimed in helpfully, “Midnight.”

Meng Tang sighed, a pang of bittersweet emotion tightening in her chest.

Xie Lingyin said, “This way, we can prove Meng Tang’s whereabouts on Friday night and Saturday. But your relationship with her… people might start speculating.”

Meng Tang abruptly looked up. “No, I don’t want to drag anyone else into this.”

“We’re all friends here, no one’s being dragged,” Xu Heqing mediated. “Even if people speculate about you two, there’s no need to clarify beyond saying you’re just friends.”

“Otherwise, you’ll end up clarifying one thing after another, and some idiots will always find some imagined ‘loophole’ to nitpick.”

Xie Lingyin nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The more you explain, the more people will assume there’s something going on between you.”

Meng Tang shot her a look. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Hearing Xie Lingyin suggest she and Wei Chuan were involved felt oddly uncomfortable.

After breakfast, everyone hurried off to class. Xie Lingyin noticed Wei Chuan hesitating, so she grinned and waved the others away.

By the time they reached the cafeteria entrance, Meng Tang found herself alone, only Wei Chuan remained beside her.

Confused, she turned to him. “Where did everyone go?”

Wei Chuan stared at her. “They’re gone.”

Meng Tang didn’t understand how they had vanished right under her nose. She chuckled helplessly. “I should get to class too.”

There was still a little time left. Wei Chuan stopped her. “Are you really okay? I… I… I…”

He stammered for a long while without getting another word out. Meng Tang tilted her head up. “You what?”

“I’m worried about you.” Wei Chuan looked into her eyes, gathering all his emotions in his gaze. For the first time, he didn’t look away, letting her see everything.