Chapter 217

Words : 1430 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

"Zuo ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍Yi is here. Your dad is definitely going to find out about this." A few kids hadn’t returned to the classroom, instead leaning against the hallway railing. Seeing Ji Nian dangling both arms over the railing, Gu Xiuyuan reached out and pulled her back. Ji Nian obediently straightened up. "Yeah, I wasn’t planning to hide it from him anyway." Though she often bossed Zuo Yi around, he was still Ji Tingzhou’s secretary. Sometimes, when Zuo Yi was too busy, he’d assign someone else from the secretarial team to assist Ji Nian. The two of them had a close relationship. But even so, he never helped Ji Nian cover things up—often sneaking reports to Ji Tingzhou behind her back. Well, that’s beside the point. "Then Li Yuan is done for." If Ji Tingzhou found out, Li Yuan and his family were in for trouble. Gu Xiuyuan said it with little concern. Shen Qingtang tugged at Ji Nian’s sleeve and whispered, "It’s all because of me." She knew Ji Nian kept a low profile at school to avoid drawing attention to her identity—she hated unnecessary trouble. But this time, for her sake, Ji Nian had not only publicly beaten someone up but also called Zuo Yi to clean up the mess. Ji Nian squeezed her hand. "What do you mean it’s your fault?" "It’s the fault of the people who bullied you." Brushing aside Shen Qingtang’s bangs, Ji Nian leaned in, locking eyes with her. In those dark green irises, she saw a reflection of equally beautiful but unsettled black eyes. "If someone bullies you, I hope you stay silent only because you’ve already planned how to fight back." "Not because you’re choosing to endure it." Shen Qingtang’s gaze flickered. After a moment, she smiled softly. "I know." "I’ve grown up. I won’t let anyone bully me anymore." She rested her head on Ji Nian’s shoulder and murmured. A sudden thought struck Ji Nian, and she added, "Even if it involves someone important to you." For a split second, Shen Qingtang wondered if Ji Nian already knew something. She paused briefly before responding in an even tone. Nearby, the two boys listening to the sisters’ conversation suddenly felt like they were intruding. "Alright, Old Gu, don’t you have class? You should head back." Ji Nian turned to look at Gu Xiuyuan, who stood straight as a rod even while leaning against the railing. Gu Xiuyuan gave her a look. "Call me if you need anything." Clearly unhappy about being the last to know. "Don’t wait until some idiot is stepping all over you before coming to me." Ji Nian patted his shoulder. "Relax, next time I won’t leave you out." But fighting was off the table. If Gu Jing found out Gu Xiuyuan got into a fight at school, he’d be grounded all summer. As Gu Xiuyuan turned to leave, Shen Qingtang suddenly spoke up. "I’ll walk with him." Ji Nian: ? Does he need an escort back to class? Then it clicked. Oh right. They’re the main couple. She nodded, pretending it was perfectly normal. Once the two were gone, only she and He Xiang remained. "That man earlier is my dad’s secretary. He’ll handle everything, so don’t worry." Ji Nian explained the situation to He Xiang so he’d understand. As they spoke, the distance between them unconsciously narrowed. He Xiang even bent his head slightly to hear her better. From this angle, he could see a tiny mole near the back of Ji Nian’s neck, just below her ear. A small, round dot. Cute. He Xiang pressed his lips together and looked away. "He Xiang? He Xiang??" When he didn’t respond, Ji Nian blinked and tilted her head up to look at him. Meeting those dark green eyes reflecting his own image, He Xiang leaned back slightly. "Yeah." He acknowledged, confirming he’d heard her. "Hey! You two! What class are you from? Why are you loitering here instead of being in class?!" A stern voice echoed from the far end of the hallway. Ji Nian startled, grabbing He Xiang’s sleeve—who for some reason seemed a bit slow—and bolted down the corridor. As they ran, a slightly breathless voice came from above. "Gu Xiuyuan said we’re not supposed to run in the hallway." Ji Nian yanked him harder, nearly stretching his summer uniform sleeve out of shape. She glanced back at him, the wind whipping her hair against his arm, and flashed a defiant grin. "So what? Go ahead and tattle to Gu Xiuyuan if you want." He Xiang’s gaze lingered on her fluttering lashes before he muttered quietly, "I don’t have the guts." Then he added, "Ji Nian, your eyelashes are longer than the horse my old neighbor used to raise." Ji Nian: "......" Silently letting go, she shoved him back. "Go get caught by the teacher, then." Good news: Seven years of friendship had made the kid more talkative. Bad news: His metaphors needed work. The system observed quietly— Since arriving in this world, Ji Nian had always kept her guard up with everyone. But with Shen Qingtang and He Xiang, she seemed especially open. If there was a way to define it... She had a soft spot for kids who’d lost their parents’ protection. ... Opting for the stairs instead of the elevator, Gu Xiuyuan glanced at Shen Qingtang, who seemed lost in thought. "Didn’t go as planned, huh?" Usually composed and mature beyond his years, Gu Xiuyuan now sounded almost gleeful. Shen Qingtang pinched his arm. "I didn’t expect him to be this stupid—stupid enough for Ji Nian to notice." Yes, Shen Qingtang had been waiting for Li Yuan to slip up. Ever since he became her desk mate, she’d found him insufferable. But as class monitor, she couldn’t just switch seats without reason. And no matter where Li Yuan sat, he’d be a nuisance. So Shen Qingtang decided to engineer a situation where he’d cross a line, giving her grounds to deal with him permanently. She just hadn’t expected Ji Nian to witness it. "From what Ji Nian said, it sounds like you’ve got other things going on too." Rubbing his sore arm, Gu Xiuyuan discreetly edged away from the human vice grip. "Nothing much." Recalling Ji Nian’s earlier words, Shen Qingtang smiled her usual gentle smile. "It’s a bit troublesome, but manageable." Somewhere along the way, Shen Qingtang had quietly changed—grown in a different direction than expected. But at her core, she was still the little girl who’d once hurt herself out of guilt, the one Ji Nian had held close. Facing cruel words and false accusations, she’d been lost. Gathering evidence and deleting hateful messages were instinctive, but afterward, she wasn’t sure what to do. Ma Xiaofei was her aunt’s daughter, a few years younger. From what Shen Qingtang remembered of their time abroad, she’d been a proud, spoiled girl with a temper. But recently, she’d started sending her texts filled with vile insults. Shen Qingtang had tried reasoning with her at first. But there was no reasoning with her. The Shen family's current rise is all thanks to her aunt, and Ma Xiaofei is her only daughter, so Shen Qingtang isn’t quite sure how to handle the situation. "Being so hesitant isn’t like you." "Show the same dominating energy you have on the basketball court, Shen Qingtang." Gu Xiuyuan watched the faint confusion in Shen Qingtang's eyes and lightly tapped her head. Shen Qingtang snapped out of it, covering her head with a muffled protest, "Stop hitting my head—I won’t grow taller." Gu Xiuyuan thought to himself that if he couldn’t even handle her now, it’d be even worse if she actually grew taller. "Wait by our classroom door later." Hearing the bell for the end of class, Gu Xiuyuan quickened his pace. Shen Qingtang gave him a puzzled look. "Ji Nian’s hand is red. I have some ointment—take it back and apply it for her." Shen Qingtang blinked. "I think He Xiang has already taken care of that." Standing on the steps, Gu Xiuyuan looked down at Shen Qingtang below, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance. It reminded her of the rare moments when the young Master Gu—who, at five years old, acted as if every move was measured with a ruler—would get genuinely annoyed. "How can He Xiang’s compare to mine?" Shen Qingtang couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Fine, I don’t mind applying a second round for Ji Nian then." "Achoo—" He Xiang, who was bent over rummaging through his desk for the ointment, rubbed his nose.

Chapter 217

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