Chapter 297 | Chapter 298 | Chapter 299
Chapter 297: Despicable
“What do you mean ‘highly adaptable’? He has the nerve to do it but lacks the guts to admit it,” Yao Shali rolled her eyes.
Now that Ruan Tanyu had blurted the words out, he instead adopted a somewhat shameless, devil-may-care demeanor. “I’ve already said it: I have nothing to do with Yin Xisheng anymore. Can you let me go now?”
Even Song Yi found it entirely speechless. “If that’s the case, what did you even come looking for her for?”
Yao Shali had no intention of listening to nonsense, cutting straight to the point: “Spit it out. How did you know Yin Xisheng was coming to take the High School Entrance Exam? And how did you lock onto this specific venue?”
Ruan Tanyu’s gaze darted around shifty-eyed. Growing somewhat impatient, Song Yi wanted to just physically rough him up, but Jiang Chuchu held him back.
She thought for a moment, then gestured for Song Yi and Tao Shenxing to pin Ruan Tanyu down from his left and right. She reached straight into Ruan Tanyu’s pocket and fished out his phone. Originally, she thought she might have to interrogate him for the passcode, but tapping the screen revealed facial recognition. She happily pinched Ruan Tanyu’s chin to unlock the device.
Tao Shenxing whispered covertly, “Do we currently look exactly like the villains in a movie?”
Song Yi nodded. They didn’t just look like villains; they looked like the villains in a gritty crime film.
Yao Shali massaged her temples, suddenly feeling like she shouldn’t have come here at all.
Jiang Chuchu scrolled through WeChat and quickly found the answer. She cast a thoroughly complicated look at Ruan Tanyu. “It wasn’t even a sophisticated tactic. I actually feel like Yin Xisheng bears full responsibility for this trick succeeding.”
Puzzled, Yao Shali took the phone. Glancing over it a few times, she similarly felt it was beyond saving. “This trick actually worked?”
To put it simply, Ruan Tanyu possessed an alternative account. Its profile picture was set to the exact official icon of WeChat’s ‘File Transfer Assistant’. Yin Xisheng apparently harbored a habit of utilizing the File Transfer Assistant as a personal digital notepad. From Ruan Tanyu’s interface, one could see all kinds of messages forwarded by Yin Xisheng—the schedule for this High School Entrance Exam was among them.
Jiang Chuchu scrolled further up. The previous itinerary for their trip to the zoo was in there as well. Who knew how they had managed to avoid running into Ruan Tanyu back at the zoo?
“I remember an update rolled out a while ago making it impossible to set your display name to ‘File Transfer Assistant’, right?” Tao Shenxing also found it highly preposterous.
“Look at his display name; it’s not File Transfer Assistant. This proves the issue lies on Yin Xisheng’s end,” Yao Shali pulled out her own phone to test it. “While you can’t rename your own account to File Transfer Assistant, you can change your contact alias for someone else to that name.”
Song Yi had a sudden realization. “I get it! Back then, he used Yin Xisheng’s phone to edit the alias for his alternative account, disguising it as the File Transfer Assistant to spy on her information!”
They used to be a couple after all, so Ruan Tanyu had far too many opportunities to handle and use Yin Xisheng’s phone, and he knew her digital habits inside out.
“And if she uses it frequently, rather than searching for the File Transfer Assistant in the search bar, Yin Xisheng is highly likely to just scroll through her main chat interface. If she does that, she would never discover it,” Tao Shenxing noted.
Though this tactic sounded completely preposterous, the fact that it had sustained itself until now proved it was highly effective.
Yao Shali felt thoroughly repulsed. “It’s explicitly a habit only someone close would know about, and her phone was only taken and the alias stealthily altered because she trusted him…”
In the end, the trust and affection she had once invested had entirely morphed into a weapon to inflict harm upon herself. It truly was far too ironic.
“There’s another point,” Jiang Chuchu tossed the phone casually. “When exactly did his alternative account add Yin Xisheng? At the very least, it had to be before she took her leave of absence from school.”
“What exactly was his objective in secretly pulling off this kind of stunt?”
Song Yi’s expression turned hostile, increasing the pressure of his grip on Ruan Tanyu. “Spit the truth out honestly!”
Ruan Tanyu winced in pain, frantically blurting out, “I didn’t plan to do anything! I just found out she used the File Transfer Assistant as a personal diary, so I was curious about how she usually viewed me. That’s why… that’s why…”
“Even if you two were still a couple at that time, that is still her private business.” Tao Shenxing also exerted a bit of force, his tone thoroughly displeased. “This guy has absolutely zero respect for people.”
Song Yi earnestly proposed, “How about we just beat him up after all? I can dislocate his jaw so he won’t be able to cry for help.”
The other three instantly turned to look at him in pure astonishment: Isn’t this move a bit too ruthless?
Ruan Tanyu, meanwhile, trembled violently upon hearing this. “D—don’t do that! I guarantee I will absolutely never appear in front of Yin Xisheng again! Please let me go!”
“Forget about dislocating his jaw to beat him up,” Jiang Chuchu shook her head. “It’s too violent, and I feel if we actually do that, this jerk will have a perfectly legitimate reason to exact revenge on us.”
Ruan Tanyu, who was currently begging for mercy, froze mid-motion.
Acutely catching his subtle shift, Song Yi narrowed his eyes. “You actually did harbor that exact thought, didn’t you?”
Yao Shali covered her face. This is a disaster; I feel like we really are turning into full-fledged villains.
Jiang Chuchu questioned, “Let’s chat for a bit. Why exactly do you want to get back together with Yin Xisheng? Do you honestly believe the things you did can be forgiven?”
Ruan Tanyu gritted his teeth and said, “She already forgave me from the start! Every single time before, she always forgave me!”
Tao Shenxing rolled up his sleeves. “Let me just punch him a few times first. I heard that hitting someone through a textbook doesn’t leave bruises?”
Jiang Chuchu shot a glance at Tao Shenxing, and the latter immediately succumbed to the authority of the Discipline Committee Member, obediently rolling his sleeves back down.
“Stop playing dumb with me. I’m asking about your ultimate motive,” Jiang Chuchu crossed her arms, her voice chilling. “I heard your family has money again. Compared to getting back together with her, you should easily be able to find other romantic interests, right?”
Of course, this was strictly speaking from a material standpoint. Going by Ruan Tanyu’s actual personality, it would be best if he refrained from ruining anyone’s life.
Ruan Tanyu kept his mouth shut until Song Yi twisted his arm slightly. Twisted into compliance by the pain, he whimpered, “M—my past history… the people at my current high school know about it…”
“With that pathetic history of yours, anyone can find out with a casual search,” Song Yi spat.
“So no one is willing to associate with you, and your only option left is to track down Yin Xisheng?” Yao Shali guessed.
“Yeah…” Ruan Tanyu’s gaze was highly evasive.
Jiang Chuchu narrowed her eyes. “If you’re concealing anything from us right now, the next time I catch you, it won’t be this simple.”
“Just to give you fair warning: my surname is Jiang. The Jiang family of the Yongchang Group.”
Yao Shali: That tone—what kind of villainous boss did she channel that from?
The name of the Yongchang Group visibly terrified Ruan Tanyu. Abandoning all resistance, he hesitated for a long moment before confessing, “I wanted to get back together first, then have a peaceful breakup after a while. That way, other people would think I learned my lesson and changed my ways, and it wouldn’t affect my ability to find the next one.”
Song Yi and Tao Shenxing exchanged a look, blurting out in unison: “Let’s just beat him up after all!”
Jiang Chuchu also found it somewhat unbearable. Although the previous Wei Xiao had been highly disgusting, Ruan Tanyu’s brand of disgust was fundamentally different. How should she put it? Ruan Tanyu’s destructive capacity might not be as massive as Wei Xiao’s, but he was truly… far too despicable and shameless!
Yao Shali waved her hand weakly. “I can’t take this anymore. We should have let the Class Monitor handle this.”
Jiang Chuchu called a halt to Song Yi and Tao Shenxing, instructing them to release their grip while keeping their eyes glued strictly to Ruan Tanyu.
“I don’t expect you to have a conscience. Therefore, I’m only notifying you: you are forbidden from ever harboring designs on Yin Xisheng again.”
“If I find out you’re still pestering her, then I will directly take aim at the Ruan family business.”
“Do you want to experience your previous destitute lifestyle all over again?”
Ruan Tanyu instantly shook his head like a mechanical toy. He didn’t know Jiang Chuchu’s specific identity, but he was acutely aware that with the scale of the Jiang family, crushing the Ruan family business would be far too simple. He couldn’t afford to gamble. Or rather, he absolutely couldn’t allow himself to become the catalyst for the Ruan family’s ruin; otherwise, his father would abandon him again without a shred of hesitation. When his father moved to show his “sincerity” in apologizing, he would undoubtedly be vastly more ruthless than the Jiang family.
Chapter 298: Sunflower Lily
After being intimidated by Jiang Chuchu, Ruan Tanyu was significantly more compliant. He even cooperated by leaving a recording, detailing the fact that he had used an alternative account to steal Yin Xisheng’s privacy. Naturally, Ruan Tanyu had already deleted the alternative account by now.
Jiang Chuchu also took the opportunity to ask why Ruan Tanyu hadn’t shown up at the zoo that day, and why he had run into them at the bookstore.
Ruan Tanyu answered honestly: “She only wrote eight-thirty, she didn’t specify which day. Plus, since she was on a leave of absence, it was possible she’d go to the zoo while I was in class, so I was too lazy to go searching for her.”
The other three members of the group couldn’t even manage an eye-roll anymore; he was even too lazy to try and win her back. This guy was truly not worth a shred of effort.
“Then how did you run into us at the bookstore?” Jiang Chuchu continued to ask.
“That was genuinely a coincidence,” Ruan Tanyu said with a bitter expression. “It’s just that a book I wanted was released, so I went to the bookstore.”
If the system were here, it would have added a clarification: Ruan Tanyu indeed planned to go to the bookstore that day. To put it better, he had assumed that if he successfully persuaded Yin Xisheng, the bookstore would have been the first choice for their meeting. After all, the Yin family was still keeping a close watch on her; going anywhere else might have raised the bodyguards’ suspicions. The bookstore was different—wasn’t it perfectly normal for students to go to a bookstore? Plus, they could use the excuse of reading to linger for a long time. However, as far as Ruan Tanyu was concerned, he would have gone to the bookstore regardless of Yin Xisheng’s presence; meeting Yin Xisheng was merely a “convenient bonus.”
Jiang Chuchu reluctantly believed Ruan Tanyu’s explanation. Mostly, it was because he likely wouldn’t have the guts to approach Yin Xisheng again, rendering the answer to that question unimportant.
Watching Ruan Tanyu bolt out of the alleyway and vanish without a trace, Yao Shali asked: “Will he really give up?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jiang Chuchu said calmly. “When I get home, I’ll have Assistant Jin look into the Ruan family. We’ll start by filing a wave of reports.”
They didn’t need any definitive evidence. Tormenting the Ruan family and making Ruan Tanyu live in constant fear was the true objective. As soon as Ruan Tanyu discovered that the family business was hitting snags, he would instantly assume it was the Jiang family making a move, which would naturally force him to behave.
The four of them returned to the entrance of the exam venue. The time for the High School Entrance Exam to conclude was drawing near, and the crowd was growing increasingly restless.
“How’d the handling go?” Gu Qinghuan waved to the group.
Yao Shali pulled a long face. “The Discipline Committee Member acted like a villain from a crime flick, searching him and threatening him.”
Gu Qinghuan looked at Jiang Chuchu, who coughed uncomfortably. “Forcing that jerk to give a confession was a waste of time, and besides, we didn’t actually hit him!”
“Exactly, even the cockroach-guy got beaten up last time!” Song Yi chimed in.
Gu Qinghuan asked for the detailed proceedings. Once Yao Shali finished highlighting the key parts, the marmots of Class Three had already crinkled their faces into bitter melons.
“Are we eating a bit too much rotten drama lately?” Ming Xiaolan looked as if she were questioning the very nature of existence.
“We keep meeting the wrong people; our horoscopes clash!” Xu Xinghe muttered. “Now that we’ve driven Ruan Tanyu away, Yin Xisheng will definitely ace her High School Entrance Exam!”
Lin Zhulu patted Xu Xinghe on the shoulder. “With that mindset, you’ll succeed in everything you do.”
Ai Ning couldn’t bear to watch. “By which you mean digging up every single wild vegetable on a mountain, right?”
Gu Qinghuan reflected. “Although your approach doesn’t sound like a ‘good deed’ per se, there’s no need to reason with that kind of guy.”
Jiang Chuchu felt instantly more relaxed. “Exactly!”
“But still, be mindful of the scale. Don’t get used to this method.” Gu Qinghuan looked at Jiang Chuchu. “It’s acceptable to do this occasionally against necessary targets, but it’s bad if you make a habit of it.”
Jiang Chuchu nodded to show she understood.
The small detour of Ruan Tanyu didn’t actually affect anyone’s mood—primarily because, compared to their previous experiences, Ruan Tanyu really didn’t amount to much. Everyone rallied their spirits, scouring the crowd of examinees emerging from the exam for Yin Xisheng.
As it turned out, she wasn’t hard to find. Her unique aura made her stand out, and Gu Qinghuan spotted Yin Xisheng in the crowd almost immediately.
“Over there, look!” Gu Qinghuan pointed toward Yin Xisheng.
The marmots shifted their gaze in unison. Upon catching sight of Yin Xisheng, they couldn’t help but glance at Xu Xinghe.
The marmots: This guy might be a love-brain, but at least his eyesight isn’t failing.
Over this past month, Yin Xisheng’s diet and sleep schedule had been regular, and she appeared far healthier than before. Her cheeks were flushed with color, and her eyes held a spark of brightness. Today, she had tied her long, raven-black hair into a low ponytail to stay comfortable while writing, and her bangs were clipped back, making her look both youthful and vibrant.
To avoid hindering Yin Xisheng’s exam preparation over the past month, and because he himself was being kept on a tight leash by Team Two to keep his studies in check, Xu Xinghe hadn’t even called Yin Xisheng, let alone met her in person. Beyond confirming her three meals a day, their interactions were limited to answering various academic questions and occasionally chatting about lighthearted topics, with him primarily playing the role of the listener.
He truly loved Yin Xisheng, but he didn’t want to become a hindrance; he only hoped to see her become a better version of herself.
Yin Xisheng had once told him she saw a quote online: “Lucky people are healed by their childhood for a lifetime; unlucky people spend a lifetime healing their childhood.” At the time, she had joked that she was probably one of those “unlucky people.”
Xu Xinghe felt it shouldn’t be that way. Her life shouldn’t be shackled by an unfortunate childhood; through her own efforts and the help of everyone, she could attain far more happiness. Having experienced darkness and pain, she would emerge stronger than anyone else.
Therefore, before Yin Xisheng fully walked out of her shadow, no matter how many thoughts he harbored, he would keep them carefully tucked away. She had a lot to accomplish right now, which was excellent, but those things shouldn’t include a new romantic entanglement. Given Yin Xisheng’s current capacity, she couldn’t juggle academics and romance simultaneously—let alone the fact that she was highly prone to developing a dependent psychology toward love.
She had to love herself before she could love someone else.
Right now, watching Yin Xisheng walk out of the school gates, Xu Xinghe felt truly moved.
Qin Yue jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. “Old Xu, what’s wrong? You aren’t about to cry, are you? Everyone agreed to let you be the first one to present your flowers, so don’t embarrass yourself.”
“Who’s crying!” Xu Xinghe flared up. “I’m moved! I’m just moved!”
Lin Zhulu whispered under her breath, “With hot tears filling his eyes…”
“Must you guys ruin the atmosphere!” Xu Xinghe was about to hop in frustration.
His commotion was so loud, and since he was standing right at the front, he was exceptionally conspicuous—at the very least, Yin Xisheng looked over.
The young man holding a dark pink sunflower lily was flushed red from the sun, his forehead bangs damp with sweat. He looked like he was hopping mad at his companions, yet he didn’t dare let his flower-holding hand waver in the slightest.
Yin Xisheng couldn’t help but call out his name, sprinting toward him: “Xu Xinghe!”
Xu Xinghe instantly turned to face Yin Xisheng, the annoyance on his face transforming in a heartbeat into a brilliant, radiant smile. “Yin Xisheng, congratulations on finishing the entrance exam!”
The sunflower lily presented into her arms was vibrant and elegant, its fragrance intoxicating.
Its language: Victory, honor.
Starting from this victory, her future would undoubtedly be even more magnificent.
Chapter 299: Translation
As the second person in the floral presentation lineup, Gu Qinghuan—holding a single sunflower—fought back the urge to interrupt Xu Xinghe’s congratulations time and again.
It was only when Xu Xinghe stepped aside to clear the way for her to present her flower that she finally spoke up: “Sorry to interrupt, but—did you speak just now?”
The students of Class Three had been holding their breath, practically bursting at the seams. Hearing Gu Qinghuan’s words, they nodded frantically in unison: So it wasn’t just our ears playing tricks on us; she really did make a sound!
Xu Xinghe’s smile froze, his mouth hanging wide open. “Huh?!”
He tried his best to recall the moment, and it seemed… did Yin Xisheng really just call his name?
Xu Xinghe’s expression transformed rapidly: doubt, surprise, joy, tension, panic, and frustration flickering across his face.
Ji Tianxiao excitedly pulled out his phone to record, sighing, “If I don’t record this, it’s a huge loss; these facial expressions are practically a masterclass template.”
Xu Xinghe whipped his head toward Ji Tianxiao, screeching in a frantic, incoherent jumble: “Did you record it?! Did you record Yin Xisheng calling my name!”
“I did,” Ji Tianxiao said casually. “If you help me write my summer reading reports and essays, I’ll send it to you.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he received death glares from both Jiang Chuchu and Yu Xin, causing him to shrink instantly. “I was joking, truly.”
Jiang Chuchu and Yu Xin withdrew their gaze. Whether or not to do homework was Ji Tianxiao’s business, and copying homework wasn’t entirely out of the question. But using this situation to blackmail Xu Xinghe into writing them for him felt like kicking a man while he was down. Even if reading reports and essays were a piece of cake for Xu Xinghe, that talent—and his current state of mind—should not be exploited in such a way.
Ji Tianxiao reflected on why he would ever think it was a good idea to crack a joke like that in front of the Discipline Committee Member and the Academics Monitor, then honestly sent the video to Xu Xinghe.
Grasping his phone, Xu Xinghe was truly on the verge of happy tears. “Yin Xisheng, you can speak! Are you alright?”
Yin Xisheng was currently in a state of shock herself. She pressed her hand to her throat, opening her mouth to try and say something more, but couldn’t manage a single sound.
Seeing Xu Xinghe on the verge of panicking again, Gu Qinghuan quickly smoothed things over: “Stay calm. Don’t put pressure on Yin Xisheng.”
Hearing the words “put pressure on Yin Xisheng,” Xu Xinghe immediately forced himself to calm down, feigning composure. “Indeed. Originally, it wasn’t a physiological inability to speak, but a psychological one.”
“Maybe it was because she was in such a good mood after finishing the exam, saw a familiar face, and realized they came specifically to pick her up? She just subconsciously let out a sound because she felt so relaxed?” Yao Shali attempted an analysis.
Xu Xinghe grew even calmer. If Yao Shali was right, he absolutely couldn’t cause Yin Xisheng any pressure!
He encouraged her: “It’s alright. Once is a start; there will be a second time. You’ll definitely be able to speak more fluently in the future!”
Having said that, he deftly switched the topic, introducing them with soaring enthusiasm: “Alright, let’s keep the flowers coming! We arranged for ten people to present flowers in total today—it signifies a perfect and flawless ten!”
“Our entire class came to pick you up. Once you get into Mingde, if you need anything, you can come find us. Let me introduce you to…”
Shi Guanghui shook her head while snapping photos. Who would have thought a few months ago that Xu Xinghe was a love-brain?
The students of Class Three continued presenting their flowers, and just as Jiang Chuchu had suspected, a reporter truly did come over to interview them. Checking the logo on the microphone, it turned out to be from a local television station.
The reporter greeted them warmly: “Hello there. Are all these people here to pick up a friend?”
The marmots retreated a step in perfect unison: Class Monitor, your turn!
Gu Qinghuan nodded calmly. “Yes, we’re here to pick up our future underclassman.”
The reporter’s gaze drifted toward Yin Xisheng, who was clutching a bouquet of flowers. “Is it this student?”
“Correct. She’s had some issues with her throat recently, so it’s inconvenient for her to speak. Please keep the questions simple,” Gu Qinghuan said.
The reporter looked surprised, but their expression remained professional. “Understood. Student, do you feel the questions on this High School Entrance Exam were difficult?”
Yin Xisheng shook her head, then nodded.
Gu Qinghuan translated: “To her, the difficulty was manageable, but overall, it was more challenging than in previous years.”
Yin Xisheng flashed a thumbs-up at Gu Qinghuan.
The reporter barely suppressed the urge to blurt out, “How on earth do you know that’s what she meant?” but managed to hold it in, continuing: “Are you confident in your scores?”
Yin Xisheng looked toward Yu Xin and nodded.
Gu Qinghuan continued the translation: “The notes provided by my classmate were immensely helpful, and she believes she can get into her ideal high school.”
This time, the reporter couldn’t hold it back: “This classmate of yours…”
“Constantly ranks in the top three of our grade level. Also, the rank-one student is a former High School Entrance Exam top scholar,” Gu Qinghuan replied.
The reporter cast an admiring glance at the academic powerhouse Yu Xin and pivoted back to Yin Xisheng: “Is there anything you want to do now that the exam is over?”
Yin Xisheng pondered for a few seconds, making a gesture of writing with a pen, then the action of flipping pages in a book. Finally, she hesitated and pressed her throat.
Gu Qinghuan understood immediately: “Lately, she has taken a great interest in calligraphy, so she wants to continue practicing. She also wants to read more books. Additionally, she hopes her throat condition will improve soon so she can speak normally again.”
The reporter found the interview quite entertaining, but they had basically covered the essentials: “Then, the final question: do you have anything you’d like to say to your peers who took the same exam?”
Yin Xisheng froze for a moment. Xu Xinghe knew exactly what she was hesitating about—there was no “same batch,” because she was the one who had been left behind from the previous one. However, in the end, Yin Xisheng reached into the bouquet she was cradling, pulled out the sunflower Gu Qinghuan had presented, and held it aloft.
“She hopes everyone can be like a sunflower, moving toward a bright future, becoming more excellent and outstanding.” Once Gu Qinghuan finished translating, she smiled at Yin Xisheng. “You’re the same way. You did a great job. The exam is over; you can finally relax.”
Jiang Chuchu had summoned a mid-sized bus she had pre-arranged. With the entire Class Three plus Yin Xisheng, the twenty-three-seater bus was the perfect fit.
“Let’s go! Time to go eat a massive feast now that the exam is over!” Gu Qinghuan was in high spirits—eating was infinitely more interesting than interviews!
When the interview was broadcast, netizens were thoroughly amused.
[A whole class of seniors coming to pick up a student—just thinking about it makes me happy!]
[Did you guys miss the ten flowers? Has anyone looked up their language?]
[Here! My family runs a flower shop; the names, language, and prices are all on this chart! Also, one of those students looks like the son of our supplier’s boss.]
[These floral languages were clearly hand-picked. How incredibly thoughtful.]
[The little girl can’t speak?]
[Doesn’t matter, she comes with a built-in translator.]
[The translating girl cracked me up. The reporter’s face is the highlight.]
[Reporter: How on earth did you know?! How could you possibly know what she meant!]
[Hiss, I want those academic powerhouse notes too.]
[The top scholar last year was Su Lin, right? I still remember that insane score.]
[Anyone who consistently ranks in the top three alongside Su Lin is either second or third. Even with a point gap, that’s still legendary.]
[With so many academic powerhouses around, why can’t there be room for one more!]
[Well said! Wishing every student the ideal scores they deserve!]
[Moving toward a bright future!]
