“What rumors did I spread about you?” Ruan Miaomiao struggled to pull her hand back, but Wen Ling held it in a tight grip and said, enunciating each word, “You spread rumors that I used school violence to isolate you, that I was arrogant and domineering.”
“I didn’t. They were the ones who said all that. It has nothing to do with me.” Ruan Miaomiao bit her lip hard and glared viciously at Wen Ling. “Does Senior Yinhe know what you’re like right now? I’m afraid he’s still being fooled by that facade of yours. Aren’t you worried he’ll find out?”
Wen Ling laughed softly and asked in return, “Why should I be worried about him finding out? I do want to win him back, but I don’t intend to change my personality for him.”
After she came to Hua Country, she had indeed acted pitiful and innocent in front of Zhou Yinhe, but Zhou Yinhe had long since known what her true nature was like. Even if he didn’t know, if Zhou Yinhe truly didn’t like it, she still wouldn’t change. And she dared guarantee that she would never like Zhou Yinhe again!
Wen Ling flung her hand away, then looked at the palm that had held her with disdain. Ruan Miaomiao was so angry her cheeks flushed red. Unable to beat her in a fight, she turned and strode off.
Wen Ling shook out her hand and let out a soft snort.
The sound of applause came from beside her. Wen Ling glanced over and saw that it was actually Zhao Xingtang.
Wen Ling raised a brow, the corner of her lips curving as she smiled. “Was it entertaining?”
“Very.” Zhao Xingtang folded her arms and looked at Wen Ling teasingly. “I heard from Qi Zhan that you were back, but I just hadn’t seen you all this time.”
A smile lingered on Wen Ling’s lips as she began recalling the original plot in the book.
Zhao Xingtang, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, had been portrayed in the original book in much the same way as her: arrogant and domineering. And because she had grown up with Zhou Yinhe and the others, what she hated most were those delicate, pitiful little white flowers. So on several occasions, she had mocked Ruan Miaomiao outright. As for what her ending was later, Wen Ling didn’t know, because by then Wen Ling had already been kidnapped and killed.
But judging by the author’s favored-female-lead plotline, her ending probably wouldn’t have been good either.
“You should know that Zhou Yinhe once gave Ruan Miaomiao resources, right?” Zhao Xingtang walked closer to Wen Ling and said softly.
Nothing unusual showed on Wen Ling’s face. She gave a faint “Mm.” How could she not know? After finding out, she had nearly died of anger.
Zhao Xingtang smiled and said, “Ever since then, rumors started spreading in Sijiu City that Ruan Miaomiao was going to become the Fifth Young Madam of the Zhou family. When people asked Ruan Miaomiao about it to her face, she played dumb and refused to explain. Instead, that made them believe it even more.”
Wen Ling only knew the general plot. She didn’t know what had happened after her death, nor did she know why Zhou Yinhe had suddenly given Ruan Miaomiao resources. That was why she had been angry. But on the day she jumped into the lake, she felt that Ruan Miaomiao wasn’t someone particularly important in Zhou Yinhe’s eyes either.
“What does Miss Zhao want to say?” Wen Ling’s smile was bright as she said directly, “Why not be more straightforward? I don’t really like beating around the bush.”
Zhao Xingtang was a little surprised. After a brief pause, she laughed. “I like your personality.”
“What I hate most are people who are clearly full of schemes but insist on pretending to be innocent and ignorant. Didn’t you come to Hua Country to settle accounts with Ruan Miaomiao too? Want to cooperate? I can even help you pursue Zhou Yinhe.”
Wen Ling’s heart stirred, but she deliberately feigned confusion. “Why does Miss Zhao hate Ruan Miaomiao so much?”
“Ah, that’s a secret.” Zhao Xingtang blinked. “So, cooperate?”
No matter what Zhao Xingtang’s reason was, as long as she couldn’t stand Ruan Miaomiao and posed no threat to Wen Ling, Wen Ling was naturally willing to be on good terms with her. Besides, the conditions Zhao Xingtang offered were truly excellent. It just so happened that she still didn’t know where to begin.
“Sure.”
Wen Ling took the initiative to add Zhao Xingtang as a friend, then found an excuse and left. Zhao Xingtang watched her retreating figure, the expression on her face making it impossible to see what she was feeling.
A man walked out from around the corner and stood behind Zhao Xingtang. Looking at Wen Ling together with her, he smiled and said, “This Miss Wen really is completely different from the one in the book.”
“Mm. Back when she was with Zhou Yinhe, she was more or less like this too. She’s just become much smarter now,” Zhao Xingtang said indifferently.
“After all, she awakened from the book. There has to be some change. Otherwise, if things really went the way that stupid author wrote them, how boring would that be?” The man shrugged, then turned and left on his own.
Zhao Xingtang didn’t even look at him. She rubbed her somewhat aching shoulder and left in the opposite direction.
When Zhou Yinhe came out of his room, he saw Ning Qing and his eldest sister, Zhou Zhaoning, huddled together, whispering.
He could guess at once that they were discussing him. Zhou Yinhe lightened his steps and went downstairs. The two of them had no idea that Zhou Yinhe was already standing behind them.
“Who exactly did my useless younger brother take after?”
“……” Ning Qing said awkwardly, “Your father.”
“Was my dad like this back then too?”
“Of course.” Ning Qing instantly began making things up, describing the Zhou family’s previous stern and proper head as a bootlicker who lowered his head for love.
Zhou Yinhe’s face was covered in black lines. He bent down to look at the mother and daughter, his voice drifting into their ears like a ghost.
“Does my dad know he was like that?”
Ning Qing was so frightened she immediately stood up and took several steps back. Zhou Zhaoning reacted quickly and supported her dear mother, then rolled her eyes at Zhou Yinhe.
“Is this how you scare your own mother and sister?” Zhou Zhaoning scolded.
Zhou Yinhe asked in return, “Is this how you two, as a mother and sister, call your own son and younger brother useless?”
The mother and daughter: “……”
Zhou Yinhe straightened, put both hands into his pockets, and said lazily, “Stop worrying about my affairs. I’m going back.”
Seeing him turn to leave, Ning Qing pushed Zhou Zhaoning’s arm. Zhou Zhaoning then caught up to Zhou Yinhe and frowned. “You still like Wen Ling?”
Zhou Yinhe lowered his eyes to look at his sister, who was a little shorter than him. After withdrawing his gaze, he said calmly, “I don’t.”
“Really?” Zhou Zhaoning didn’t believe him. If he really didn’t like her, could their mother have been so anxious as to call her back?
Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips together, thinking of himself three years ago. That kind of pain had finally stopped tormenting him with great difficulty; he didn’t want to experience it all over again.
“Really,” Zhou Yinhe said coldly.
Zhou Zhaoning let out a soft snort and said, “That’s good.”
Zhou Yinhe left without looking back. The driver was smoking beside the car. Seeing him come over, he felt a little embarrassed and quickly put out the cigarette, waving away the smoke in the air.
“Sorry, Fifth Young Master. I couldn’t hold back,” the driver said apologetically.
Zhou Yinhe shook his head and said, “It’s fine.” He lowered his head and looked at the cigarette the driver had stamped out. People all said that when one was troubled, aside from drinking, there was smoking. After Wen Ling left, he had kept company with alcohol, but he had never tried smoking, only because Wen Ling had once said she disliked the smell of smoke.
He held out his hand. “Give me one.”
The driver was a little surprised, but still took out the cigarette pack from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Yinhe.
Zhou Yinhe lit one for himself. After just one drag, he couldn’t stop coughing. The driver grew a little nervous. Zhou Yinhe waved his hand, and after stopping his cough, continued.
“Fifth Young Master, why don’t you forget it…” the driver advised, looking at Zhou Yinhe, whose eyes had reddened from coughing.