Chapter 103: A Basket of Empty Promises

Chapter 103: A Basket of Empty Promises

The following few days were quite pleasant for Ye Feng. Every day at work, he could flirt with Wen Xiaomei, then head over to the General Manager’s office for a heated encounter with Wen Biyun. Of course, he also frequently visited Huang Wei’s mansion, where he would indulge in a thrilling three-way affair with both Wen Biyun and Huang Wei. It was an exhilarating game indeed.

Meanwhile, Huang Wei had swiftly resolved the matter regarding Ye Jianjun. After all, with the head of the Huang clan personally intervening, Shen Jing, the Director of the Bureau of Education, immediately changed his tune. He spoke in high-sounding platitudes about how an excellent teacher like Ye Jianjun should have his talents fully utilized to contribute more to society. Naturally, no one dared to object, and in the end, Shen Jing made the final call: Ye Jianjun would continue to serve concurrently as the Dean of Students.

When Huang Wei informed Ye Jianjun of Director Shen’s guarantee, Ye Jianjun was beaming with joy. The next morning, he dressed neatly and headed to work. Just as he stepped through the school gate, he ran into Yang Yifan. Yang Yifan was feeling incredibly smug, as word was spreading that official documents would be issued any day now confirming him as the next Dean of Students.

"Wow, Vice Principal Ye, good morning!" Under normal circumstances, even though Ye Jianjun was a vice principal, those on good terms would simply address him as Principal Ye. By adding the "Vice" prefix, Yang Yifan was essentially slapping Ye Jianjun in the face. A smug smile was plastered across his face as he thought, *Damn it, once I take the position of Dean, let's see how arrogant you can be.*

"Oh, if it isn't Deputy Dean Yang. You're here so early, Yang—that’s truly commendable!" Ye Jianjun was no fool; he caught the disdain in Yang Yifan’s tone and retorted in kind. Hearing this, Yang Yifan felt like he was about to explode. *Damn you, Ye Jianjun, just you wait.*

"Yes, yes indeed. Vice Principal Ye, that outfit of yours today is quite something," Yang Yifan said, scanning him. *Strange, doesn't he know today is the day I take office? Surely the leadership would have sent word by now.* Yang Yifan had dressed in his most stylish attire specifically to project an image of perfection.

Hearing Yang Yifan’s sarcastic, grating voice, Ye Jianjun wanted nothing more than to slap him, but he held back, remembering that the man was the principal’s nephew. "Ha, not at all! Deputy Dean Yang, your attire is truly extraordinary," Ye Jianjun said, deliberately emphasizing the word "extraordinary."

"Indeed, indeed!" Yang Yifan was thrilled by the praise. He thought to himself, *Who else but me? I am the youngest and most promising teacher in the county high school—not only handsome, but from a wealthy family, too.* "Anyway, Vice Principal Ye, I'm off to have some breakfast, ha!"

Watching Yang Yifan strut away, Ye Jianjun couldn't help but smile. The boy was clearly overestimating his own importance. He realized that if it hadn't been for the help of his nephew, Ye Feng, he would have lost his position to this petty man. The thought filled Ye Jianjun with a deep sense of gratitude toward Ye Feng.

***

"Uncle, what on earth is going on!" Yang Yifan burst into Principal Yang Xiuke’s office in a rage. He had enjoyed a pleasant breakfast, feeling on top of the world, greeting teachers he usually ignored with a charm he assumed was irresistible.

Everyone was bewildered, wondering if the Deputy Dean had taken the wrong medicine. But once they put two and two together regarding the rumors of the changing of the guard, they realized he was merely acting like a man who had already won.

Yang Yifan had smiled back at everyone. As he walked past the school’s public notice board, he couldn't help but glance at it—a habit he usually disdained—expecting to see his own name posted there. He was filled with anticipation.

But as he read the latest personnel notice, his expression darkened. Ye Jianjun was still listed as the Dean of Students. Yang Yifan’s world collapsed. All his meticulous planning had resulted in nothing but a basket of empty promises.

"Right, I’ll ask my uncle!" Yang Yifan ran straight to Yang Xiuke’s office. Yang Xiuke looked up, shook his head, and said quietly, "Sit."

"Uncle, what is this? Didn't Bureau Chief Li have our backs? How did we fail at the last hurdle?" Yang Yifan was agitated. Beyond the sting of losing to Ye Jianjun, he had spent tens of thousands of dollars on this, only for it to be a pipe dream.

"Yifan, I was going to talk to you about this later. Since you're here, I'll tell you now. I asked Bureau Chief Li, and he said Director Shen himself made the final decision. There was nothing anyone could do," Yang Xiuke said with a helpless look. He was just as annoyed; losing to Ye Jianjun was a blow to his own prestige.

"What? Director Shen made the call? Then—then did Bureau Chief Li take my money and not do the job?" If that were the case, Yang Yifan would have cursed his ancestors eighteen generations back. But he could only curse in his heart; in the bureaucracy, the higher-ranking official always held the power.

"No, I asked him. He said he’ll support you the moment another opportunity arises. Don't worry. And you still have me, don't you? As long as I am here, you will never be at a disadvantage," Yang Xiuke said confidently. *Ye Jianjun, don't think a small position as Dean makes you invincible. I am the head of this school; everything here is under my control. Crushing you is a matter of minutes.*

Hearing his uncle, Yang Yifan felt slightly relieved, but he added, "But Uncle, I’m still furious!" After all the promises that the position was as good as his, it had all turned to nothing. And thinking of Ye Jianjun’s mockery earlier that morning, his blood boiled.