Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1226 - 1201: The Sun Rises in the West—Su Wanyi Arrives

Ye Chen's imposing presence captivated everyone, earning him deep admiration from all those present.

Zhou Ming found himself regretting Ye Chen's decision not to join the football team.

Following this event, Song Xiaoxiao's admiration for Ye Chen grew even stronger; she perceived him as not only exceptionally talented but also possessing significant charisma.

With Song Xiaoxiao, the campus belle, in his arms, Ye Chen turned and departed from the football field.

Observing their departure, the onlookers finally grasped the reason behind Song Xiaoxiao's exclusive affection for Ye Chen, despite the numerous admirers she had.

It wasn't just Song Xiaoxiao; other girls also found themselves drawn to Ye Chen, secretly wishing their own boyfriends possessed similar qualities.

As Ye Chen had wisely stated, individual aspirations differ, and forcing a connection yields no true sweetness. Despite his regret, Zhou Ming did not compel Ye Chen to reconsider.

Once Ye Chen had left, Zhou Ming approached Zhang Xu and declared, "Alright, I retract my earlier statement; you remain the team's primary player."

However, Zhang Xu's demeanor was no longer as subservient as it had been previously.

He even felt that Zhang Xu had subjected him to embarrassment. The resort to foul play by Zhang Xu in an attempt to secure victory was truly a disgraceful act.

This incident left Zhou Ming with a negative impression of Zhang Xu, yet he saw no alternative; Ye Chen's firm refusal to join meant that losing Zhang Xu as well would severely cripple the team's capabilities.

Perhaps it would be more beneficial to retain Zhang Xu and focus on developing him into a skilled athlete.

Furthermore, Zhang Xu appeared significantly more subdued now, his usual arrogant expression noticeably absent.

"Thank you, Coach. I promise to train diligently and cooperate fully with my teammates," Zhang Xu responded with a smile.

A collective sentiment among everyone present was that Zhang Xu seemed transformed; indeed, the recent events had served as a profound wake-up call and a valuable lesson for him.

Zhou Ming offered a nod, stating, "Very well, I shall be anticipating your performance."

He held a genuine belief that Zhang Xu had undergone a fundamental change following this ordeal.

While Zhou Ming undeniably felt a pang of regret that Ye Chen hadn't joined the team, he also recognized Zhang Xu's evident growth.

Zhou Ming anticipated that in subsequent training sessions, Zhang Xu would cease his attempts to seek individual spotlight and instead learn the importance of teamwork.

As Zhou Ming and Zhang Xu departed the field, the remaining students dispersed, some heading towards their dormitories, others towards the library, and so on.

Ye Chen and Song Xiaoxiao, having exited the football field, found their way to a secluded pavilion on campus where they took a seat.

Her gaze remained fixed upon Ye Chen, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

"Xiaoxiao, is there something on my face?" Ye Chen inquired, noticing her persistent stare.

"No, nothing at all," Song Xiaoxiao replied, her voice catching slightly as a blush crept onto her cheeks.

Being a young lady, Song Xiaoxiao felt a degree of embarrassment at being caught openly staring at a young man.

"Xiaoxiao, what thoughts are occupying that pretty little head of yours?" Ye Chen asked, drawing the girl closer into his embrace.

"I simply adore you, and what you did out there was incredibly manly," Song Xiaoxiao confessed with a smile.

"Is that such a remarkable feat? Isn't it perfectly ordinary?" Ye Chen responded with a shrug.

He mused that her reaction was simply a characteristic of her youthful innocence.

Were Su Wanyi in her place, she likely wouldn't exhibit such a pronounced display of emotion.

This was precisely why Ye Chen and Song Xiaoxiao were together; he consistently relished the feeling of being admired by her.

Indeed, it's a common human trait for men to cherish the admiration of the women they are attracted to, as it fosters a sense of accomplishment.

"By the way, Ye Chen, why did you turn down Coach Zhou's offer and not join the football team? You know, it's something many aspire to," Song Xiaoxiao shifted the topic, posing her question.

She too felt a twinge of disappointment that Ye Chen had not become part of the team.

"Silly girl, it's so that I can have more time to spend with you," Ye Chen explained.

"To be with me?" Song Xiaoxiao sounded puzzled, unable to immediately connect the football team to their shared time.

"Yes, joining the football team entails participating in numerous matches and traveling extensively. Where would I find the time for our sweet moments together on campus?" Ye Chen elaborated.

Hearing his explanation, Song Xiaoxiao's understanding dawned, and she nodded in agreement.

It truly made sense; under such circumstances, their opportunities to see each other would be significantly reduced.

It appeared that every action Ye Chen took was motivated by his consideration for her, a realization that deeply touched Song Xiaoxiao.

Noticing the tender expression on Song Xiaoxiao's face, Ye Chen chuckled and said, "Alright, my dear, you mustn't linger; class will be starting soon."

As he spoke, Ye Chen playfully tapped the watch on his wrist, displaying the time to Song Xiaoxiao.

"Oh, Ye Chen, I'm feeling quite disheartened. Why does our time together seem to vanish so quickly?" Song Xiaoxiao pouted.

"It's simply because our bond is so strong, that's why time flies when we're together," Ye Chen replied.

"I find that answer most pleasing," Song Xiaoxiao declared with a hint of pride.

Ye Chen accompanied Song Xiaoxiao to the entrance of the main academic building before turning to take his leave.

Ordinarily, Ye Chen’s schedule was clear in the afternoons, negating the need for him to remain on campus.

At first, the environment of the school had struck him as invigorating, a nostalgic return to student life.

However, these days, aside from attending lectures and spending time with Song Xiaoxiao, his presence at the school was infrequent.

Ye Chen, who yearned for liberty, found the world beyond the school gates to be far more captivating.

As he made his way toward the main entrance, his phone began to ring. A glance revealed the caller ID belonged to Su Wanyi.

Upon answering, he was greeted by Su Wanyi’s melodious voice asking, “Ye Chen, take a guess as to my current location?”

Slightly perplexed by her question, Ye Chen offered a casual response: “My dear Wanyi, you’re notorious for being a workaholic; you must be at the company.”

“Ye Chen, is my entire existence defined solely by work in your eyes?” Su Wanyi playfully retorted.

He detected a hint of displeasure in her tone, yet Ye Chen also felt a pang of self-reproach, for Su Wanyi was, in truth, an earnest workaholic, frequently toiling late into the night.

As her boyfriend, Ye Chen rarely had the chance to truly be with her.

Despite this, Ye Chen swiftly backtracked, exclaiming, “No, no, please forgive me. I misspoke.”

In Ye Chen’s personal philosophy, any distress experienced by his girlfriend, regardless of the validity of the cause, was ultimately his responsibility.

This principle was one of his well-honed survival strategies; managing the affections of so many girlfriends would be an insurmountable task otherwise.

A straightforward and earnest admission of fault usually sufficed, a tactic Ye Chen had employed with considerable success.

“Very well, I accept your apology. Given your sincere demeanor, I shall await you at the school’s main gate,” Su Wanyi declared, a smile gracing her voice.

This revelation dawned on Ye Chen, making him realize Su Wanyi had actually come to the school specifically to see him.

“What a remarkable turn of events; I wonder what brings Wanyi here today?” Ye Chen mused internally.

He quickly responded, “Wait for me there. I’ll be right with you.”