After breakfast, Ji Xu'an drove Jiang Jiang and Ji Heyuan to school.
Because Ji Heyuan had just had half a year of her allowance deducted by her sister, her mood was somewhat wilted. She sprawled in the back seat like a dejected salted fish.
In contrast, Jiang Jiang was in extraordinarily good spirits.
She had only taken a little over a week off, yet Jiang Jiang felt as though ages had passed. She was impatient to return to school.
The excitement and restlessness in her heart lingered for a long time without dissipating, so Jiang Jiang simply pulled out the novel she had written last night.
"Little Yuan, I wrote some story outlines last night. Can you help me take a look?"
Ji Heyuan forced herself to perk up. "Alright, let me see."
She took the tablet from Jiang Jiang's hands and began reading word by word and sentence by sentence, occasionally frowning or nodding.
Jiang Jiang was very nervous, feeling as though she were waiting for a teacher to comment on her homework, afraid that Ji Heyuan would completely reject what she had written.
While waiting at a red light, Ji Xu'an cast a sideways glance at her, taking in Jiang Jiang's tense and uneasy little expressions. She lifted the corners of her lips; when she lowered her eyes, there was an unusual tenderness in her demeanor.
Unfortunately, Jiang Jiang did not see this scene.
All her attention was focused on Ji Heyuan.
Ji Heyuan read through it several times before putting down the tablet. "I think overall it's still very good. The story is wonderful, but there are some places I feel need to be revised."
Jiang Jiang's tightly clenched fingers finally relaxed. She let out a heavy sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn't all unacceptable.
"Which places need to be changed?" She twisted her body to face the back seat, looking at Ji Heyuan eagerly.
Ji Heyuan bent forward as well. She held the tablet up in front of Jiang Jiang and circled several spots with the pen.
"For example, the title of this novel. I feel it's too serious and proper. After all, you're still a newcomer. If you want to quickly attract readers, it's best to choose a more popular style of title."
As she spoke, Ji Heyuan tapped the pen tip twice on the title.
Jiang Jiang blinked. "Is 'Record of Strange Tales from Two Worlds' not attractive enough?"
Ji Heyuan cleared her throat and said in a low voice, "After all, the novel website we chose mainly targets female users. Your title has a bit of a male-oriented style."
Jiang Jiang didn't quite understand, but she was very receptive to others' opinions. "Then how do you think it should be changed?"
Ji Xu'an was still sitting beside them. Ji Heyuan felt a little ashamed. She didn't speak; instead, she quickly wrote a line of small words beside the title Jiang Jiang had decided on.
Jiang Jiang slowly read it aloud, "After Traveling from Ancient Times to the Modern World, I Rely on Learning Modern Knowledge to Reach the Pinnacle of Life?"
Before she could finish reading, Ji Heyuan started shouting loudly, trying to interrupt her, but Ji Xu'an had already heard the entire title clearly.
Ji Heyuan swore that she had definitely heard a soft laugh coming from the driver's seat.
Her face flushed red as she looked at Jiang Jiang with a collapsed expression. "Why did you read it out loud!"
Jiang Jiang was puzzled. "Was I not allowed to read it out loud?"
Ji Heyuan didn't know how to explain it to her. This kind of thing was just very embarrassing!
Jiang Jiang glanced at Ji Heyuan strangely, unable to understand why she looked so distressed. She didn't think much of it and continued offering her own opinion, "Isn't this title a bit too straightforward?"
Ji Heyuan gave up resisting. "That's just how Green River Jiang's naming style is—very straightforward."
"The author I recommended to you yesterday, didn't you read her work too? Her titles are all in this style. Or you can also check the rankings; everyone names their novels like this."
Jiang Jiang wore an expression of having been taught. "Then I'll listen to you."
Perhaps because her reaction was too ordinary, Ji Heyuan felt less embarrassed as well.
"And this synopsis—it's too profound and unfathomable." Ji Heyuan stroked her chin. "Wait a moment, I'll revise it for you."
She returned the tablet to Jiang Jiang and picked up her own phone to type. Jiang Jiang also sat back and occasionally glanced at her phone.
A moment later, Jiang Jiang received a message from Ji Heyuan.
[Little Bird: You're not allowed to read it out loud this time!!]
Jiang Jiang replied with "Okay," and Ji Heyuan quickly sent over the revised synopsis.
Jiang Jiang focused her gaze and read carefully—
[Jiang Xiao bears the title of the legitimate daughter of the Duke's residence in name only, yet she is a pitiful little girl unloved by her father and not cherished by her mother, having grown up in a Daoist temple under her master's care.
When the pitiful little girl reached sixteen, the Duke's residence suddenly brought her back, saying they wanted to arrange a marriage for her.
Her future husband was the Crown Prince of the current dynasty, noble beyond words, yet unfortunately he already had a favored concubine whom he doted on, and he despised Jiang Xiao in every possible way.
The days ahead could be seen at a glance. Just as Jiang Xiao fell into despair, she suddenly went to a world more than a thousand years later in her dreams, and witnessed many things that greatly broadened her horizons.
From then on, by borrowing the modern knowledge she learned in her dreams, Jiang Xiao not only proposed many policies beneficial to the country and the people, but also kicked away the Crown Prince who attempted to favor his concubine and abolish his wife, leaping in one bound to become the lucky star in the hearts of the people of Great Zhao.
An endless stream of people came to propose marriage to her; even the scumbag Crown Prince seemed to have regret, yet before Jiang Xiao could refuse, she was seized and dragged back by a certain jealous someone.
In the dim secret chamber, that person captured Jiang Xiao's slender wrist. She possessed celestial beauty and a cold, noble bearing, yet in the eyes with which she gazed at Jiang Xiao burned scorching affection.
"Ah Xiao, where else do you think you can run?" ]
Jiang Jiang: Huh???
The confusion on Jiang Jiang's face was so obvious that even Ji Xu'an, who had been secretly paying attention to her, became somewhat curious about what Ji Heyuan had written.
After being stunned for at least two minutes, Jiang Jiang swallowed and turned to look at Ji Heyuan, her voice hoarse. "This 'certain someone'… it wouldn't happen to be Princess Zhaoning, would it?"
Ji Heyuan grinned. "Yes."
Jiang Jiang fell silent again. She reminded Ji Heyuan tactfully, "Princess Zhaoning and Jiang Xiao are probably just friends, aren't they?"
"Their CP chemistry is so strong. How do they look like just friends?" Ji Heyuan said righteously.
Jiang Jiang: ...
Jiang Jiang tried to persuade her. "Great Zhao has no precedent of women marrying each other, and Princess Zhaoning is by nature indifferent and not fond of romance. How could she fall in love with Jiang Xiao?"
Ji Heyuan thought that wasn't necessarily so. This kind of high ridge flower who appeared to have no desires or demands on the surface—once she truly fell in love, that was called an old house catching fire, transforming in minutes into a pure-love lunatic, more passionate and obsessive than anyone.
Wasn't her sister exactly like that?
Of course, Ji Heyuan absolutely did not dare use Ji Xu'an as an example. Although when she was reading, she had always felt that this Princess Zhaoning carried Ji Xu'an's shadow. Perhaps her sister really was the prototype for this character?
As for Xie Jiang Jiang's little thoughts, how could she not be clear about them?
Ji Heyuan clicked her tongue twice. "Isn't that even more exciting? This kind of forbidden love hidden in the shadows, unspeakable scorching desire. On the surface they're acquaintances as bland as water, but in secret they brush temples and entwine lips and teeth…"
The more Ji Heyuan spoke, the more outrageous she became. Ji Xu'an had no choice but to cough lightly to interrupt her.
"Little Yuan."
Ji Heyuan's whole body tensed, and she hurriedly fell silent. Though she didn't speak, she kept waggling her brows at Jiang Jiang, the smile on her face especially unrestrained.
Jiang Jiang admitted that while writing, she had indeed thought of Ji Xu'an. To be precise, Princess Zhaoning was a combination of Ji Xu'an and Princess Huaining.
Naturally, Jiang Xiao also merged the shadows of herself and Xie Xiao.
But she had truly never thought of writing Jiang Xiao and Princess Zhaoning as a couple. In Jiang Jiang's heart, at most they were merely a friendship of mutual help.
Yet after Ji Heyuan's revision, Jiang Jiang felt as though she could no longer properly look at the relationship between Jiang Xiao and Princess Zhaoning. What dim secret chamber, what brushing temples and entwining lips—just thinking about it made her blush uncontrollably.
For the latter half of the drive, the car remained very quiet. Ji Heyuan couldn't speak, so she bombarded Jiang Jiang with WeChat messages, attempting to make Jiang Jiang accept the CP she had paired.
In the end, Jiang Jiang never said whether it was acceptable or not.
Ji Xu'an drove the car directly to the front of the teaching building. There were still more than ten minutes before class. On both sides of the road were students hurrying to class. Ji Xu'an's action truly attracted quite a few gazes.
When she got out of the car, everyone thought she was a teacher from some department, but Ji Xu'an had actually only come to help Jiang Jiang out of the car.
"Alright, Sis, just rest assured and leave Xie Jiang Jiang to me." Ji Heyuan patted her own chest.
She supported Jiang Jiang as they walked up the stone steps. After taking a few steps, Jiang Jiang turned back to look at Ji Xu'an and found that she was still maintaining the same posture, quietly watching her.
Jiang Jiang curved her lips and waved at Ji Xu'an. "Sister, hurry back. You don't need to worry about us."
Ji Xu'an nodded slightly. "Mm."
But she still didn't leave. She stood there, gazing at Jiang Jiang's back the entire time, until Jiang Jiang and Ji Heyuan finished walking up the long stone steps and were about to turn into the teaching building. Only then did Ji Xu'an turn and return to the car.
Jiang Jiang happened to catch this scene from the corner of her eye. Thoughtfully, she withdrew her gaze, and the fingertips resting on Ji Heyuan's arm unconsciously tightened slightly.
Ji Heyuan helped Jiang Jiang into the classroom. Jiang Jiang swept her gaze over the sparse figures and chose to sit in the first row.
"If anything happens, send me a message. My classroom is right next door." Ji Heyuan shook her phone.
Jiang Jiang: "Mm-hmm."
Ji Heyuan then left at ease, leaving Jiang Jiang sitting alone in the front row, looking up at the clock above the blackboard, her eyes filled with anticipation.
As class time drew nearer, more and more people entered the classroom. Every person who walked in would stare at Jiang Jiang for a few seconds.
Because everyone else already had a preliminary understanding of one another. In comparison, only Jiang Jiang counted as a new face.
Jiang Jiang could sense that they had no ill will, so she smiled sweetly at each of them, and they would usually return a friendly smile.
It seemed that everyone was easy to get along with.
Just as Jiang Jiang was thinking this, a sudden commotion arose at the back door of the classroom. She turned her head along with the others, only to meet a scrutinizing gaze directed straight at her.
Jiang Jiang had seen the class roster. She knew that among the few girls who had just walked in, the one at the very front was named He Xinyao.
He Xinyao was not very tall. Her features were fairly delicate, but when she looked at people, she always gave off a sense of superiority. Even when the girls beside her spoke to her, she responded half-heartedly, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang clearly felt her dislike. The pickiness and disdain in the other woman's gaze were almost undisguised. But Jiang Jiang did not remember ever having offended He Xinyao.
He Xinyao…
Jiang Jiang suddenly thought of someone.
Actually, this was not difficult to guess. After all, there were only a few people who did not get along with her, and she was someone who had dreamed of the original text of the novel. She only needed to recall it slightly to match He Xinyao with another person.
If Zheng Zhouzhou was the mastermind behind forcing "Xie Xiao" to death, and Liang Junsheng was the accomplice who provided the weapon, then several of Zheng Zhouzhou's big fans were the ones who held the knives and carried out the murder.
The original text said that Zheng Zhouzhou's fans almost blindly obeyed her words, especially the big fan who had liked her the longest. Every time Zheng Zhouzhou quarreled with other female celebrities, she rushed to the front.
She was the sharpest knife in Zheng Zhouzhou's hand. Jiang Jiang remembered that her Weibo name was "Yaoyao Who Loves Drinking Porridge."
The original text did not mention much about her real identity. Jiang Jiang only knew that her family seemed to have considerable assets, and she had spent a lot of money on Zheng Zhouzhou.
Jiang Jiang had secretly searched this Weibo name before. The posts inside were all updates related to Zheng Zhouzhou.
If it were not because He Xinyao's name happened to also contain the character "Yao," Jiang Jiang might not have connected her with "Yaoyao Who Loves Drinking Porridge" at the first moment.
If He Xinyao really was her, then it would be too much of a coincidence. They were actually classmates in the same class.
Thinking of this, Jiang Jiang suddenly understood somewhat why the "Xie Xiao" in the story had been completely unable to fight back.
The people who wanted to harm her were all relatively close to her. They hid in the dark, used the identity of friends to approach "Xie Xiao," and after gaining her trust, they put on another layer of false skin and wantonly suppressed "Xie Xiao."
Why was "Xie Xiao" unable to clear the dirty water splashed onto her?
Because those so-called "facts" were not entirely false. They indeed came from her personal experiences; they had only been deliberately altered in certain ways, so the feeling they gave people was completely different.
Jiang Jiang already had a guess in her heart, but nothing showed on her face. She only stared at He Xinyao for two glances, then turned her head and continued looking at the blackboard.
He Xinyao still did not know that she had already been exposed. She curled her lips, her gaze almost boring a hole through Jiang Jiang's back.
That Xie Xiao was clearly a scheming green-tea white lotus at first glance. No wonder she always liked to fan the flames and cause trouble, making Zhouzhou suffer losses several times.
He Xinyao sat down in the back row and took out her phone to send a message to Zheng Zhouzhou.
[Yaoyao Who Loves Drinking Porridge: Zhouzhou! I've already seen that green-tea woman. She really doesn't look like a good person!]
After sending the message, He Xinyao kept staring at her phone screen, afraid of missing Zheng Zhouzhou's reply.
After quite a while, Zheng Zhouzhou finally replied.
[Zheng Zhouzhou: Actually, she's not as bad as you think. We just have personalities that don't quite get along.]
When He Xinyao saw this, the disgust in her heart toward Jiang Jiang instead grew even stronger.
Zhouzhou was just too kind. Xie Xiao had bullied her like that, yet she was still speaking up for Xie Xiao.
He Xinyao decided to do something to vent Zheng Zhouzhou's anger.
—
This period was Wen Xueyun's class. She arrived at the classroom three minutes before the class began.
Wen Xueyun was walking in a hurry, but when she saw Jiang Jiang, she suddenly stopped. "You've come back to attend class?"
She smiled at Jiang Jiang. "Does your foot still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Jiang Jiang returned a faint smile as well. "Thank you for your concern, Teacher Wen."
"It's good that it's fine." Wen Xueyun stopped the topic there.
She walked to the podium and lowered her head to organize her computer and USB drive, but her thoughts drifted somewhat far away.
No wonder she had seemed to see Ji Xu'an's car just now. She had thought she was mistaken…
Jiang Jiang found these two class periods very fulfilling. When Wen Xueyun lectured, she was witty and humorous. The classroom atmosphere was not dull, and the students clearly liked her as well; they were all very active when answering questions.
With ten minutes left before class ended, Wen Xueyun assigned a group assignment and told everyone to discuss it first.
Everyone else sat together with their group members. Only Jiang Jiang sat alone in the front row.
She was not anxious either and slowly packed up her things in an unhurried manner.
Seeing this, Wen Xueyun walked toward her and asked softly, "Do you know who your group members are?"
Jiang Jiang shook her head. "No one told me."
Wen Xueyun understood. She pulled up the group list on her phone. "You're in a group with He Xinyao and the others."
As soon as Wen Xueyun finished speaking, Jiang Jiang heard someone call her from behind.
"Xie Xiao!"
She turned her head and saw He Xinyao not far away, standing with her arms crossed as she looked at her.
Seeing that Jiang Jiang had noticed her, He Xinyao lifted her chin and said in a reproachful tone, "Why aren't you coming over?"
Some other students, hearing the voice, also looked over. For some reason, the atmosphere suddenly seemed a bit tense.
Jiang Jiang did not speak. Instead, Wen Xueyun explained for her, "Xie Xiao has an injury on her leg and it's inconvenient for her to walk. Classmate He, why don't you all come over? There are still seats here."
He Xinyao curled her lips, her dissatisfaction written all over her face. "Then why didn't she say so? I thought she didn't want to be in the same group as us."
"If people didn't know better, they'd think we were deliberately isolating her."
At some point, the discussion in the classroom had quieted down. Everyone watched this scene in silence.
Jiang Jiang, standing at the center of the storm, did not show much panic on her face. She closed her notebook, her eyelashes lowering slightly as she spoke, as if she had not understood the hidden meaning in He Xinyao's words at all.
"I'm sorry, Classmate He. I was going to come over. It's just that I have quite a lot of things, and I haven't finished packing yet."
As she spoke, Jiang Jiang raised her eyes again toward Wen Xueyun. "And thank you as well, Teacher Wen, for helping me out. But it's okay. I can walk slowly. We can't let a whole group accommodate just one person like me."
Some people had already noticed Jiang Jiang packing her things earlier, and at this moment they could not help nodding, feeling that Xie Xiao had not done anything wrong.
She had not done it on purpose. Having many things and having an injured leg were not things she could change. She had not said she wouldn't go over. Why was He Xinyao urging her so anxiously?
Being watched by everyone with strange looks, the anger in He Xinyao's heart burned more and more fiercely. She did not dare to confront Wen Xueyun, so she could only vent all her anger onto Jiang Jiang.
"You sat there for so long without moving. How was I supposed to know whether you were coming over or not?"
Hearing this, Wen Xueyun finally could not help frowning. "Xie Xiao was hospitalized before. She didn't know about the group assignment. Even the group list was something I just showed her."
"Classmate He Xinyao, if you're dissatisfied with the group arrangement, you can say so directly. I can arrange for Classmate Xie Xiao to go to another group."
He Xinyao had not expected Wen Xueyun to speak up for Jiang Jiang again and again. Was there something wrong with her? Wasn't she and Xie Xiao supposed to be love rivals?!
He Xinyao had only wanted to subtly target Jiang Jiang, so that everyone would know Jiang Jiang was a scheming bitch. Who would have thought that in the end she would put herself on the fire to be roasted?
"I'm not dissatisfied with the group arrangement." He Xinyao took a deep breath. She could look down on other people, but she did not want to offend the teacher not long after school had just started.
"Teacher Wen, I didn't know about Xie Xiao's situation. When I saw that she wasn't coming over, I misunderstood."
When Wen Xueyun heard this, a smile finally returned to her face. "It's fine. As long as it's cleared up."
She lowered her head to glance at her watch and said to the others, "Class is almost over. Prepare well on your own later. See you next class～"
And just like that, the disturbance passed.
Seeing that Jiang Jiang, the person involved, did not say anything more, the others naturally acted as if nothing had happened. However, a thought inevitably arose in everyone's minds.
He Xinyao did not look like someone easy to get along with. Xie Xiao was quite pitiful to have been assigned to the same group as her.
Jiang Jiang put all her things into her bag. She pulled up the zipper, and when she lifted her head, she saw that He Xinyao was already standing in front of her.
He Xinyao looked down at her from above, the smile on her face not reaching her eyes. "Classmate Xie Xiao, for the sake of convenient contact, let's add each other as friends."
Jiang Jiang took out her phone and scanned He Xinyao's QR code. After successfully adding her as a friend, she casually tapped into He Xinyao's Moments.
He Xinyao liked to post on Moments very much, posting five or six times a day. Jiang Jiang only scrolled twice before seeing a familiar nickname in one of the pictures.
He Xinyao was indeed that big fan of Zheng Zhouzhou.
Seeing that Jiang Jiang seemed to be looking at something and that the interface looked somewhat familiar, He Xinyao leaned over to take a look. However, before she could see clearly, Jiang Jiang had already put away her phone.
He Xinyao's expression visibly darkened. She seemed to think of something, her fingers rapidly tapping on the screen several times.
Jiang Jiang's expression was calm. "Classmate He, do you have anything else?"
He Xinyao snorted coldly. "Nothing. We already divided the work just now. You'll be responsible for making the PPT. No problem, right?"
Before Jiang Jiang could speak, He Xinyao continued, "I'll send you the content for the PPT. I hope you finish it as soon as possible and don't drag our group down. Can you?"
Jiang Jiang agreed. "I can."
Having gotten the answer she wanted, He Xinyao turned and left without looking back.
As she walked, she sneered. She had underestimated Xie Xiao. This scheming white lotus indeed had some tricks. She must have bullied Zhouzhou like this too!
Next time, she absolutely would not give Xie Xiao another chance to turn things around!
He Xinyao kept making harsh vows in her heart.
Behind her, Jiang Jiang looked at her departing figure, her gaze equally indifferent and cold.
She took out her phone again and reopened He Xinyao's Moments, only to find that she could no longer see anything.
Jiang Jiang did not care. She had already confirmed her guess. Next, she only needed to guard against He Xinyao doing something malicious.
Last time, Zheng Zhouzhou had managed to retreat unscathed. This time, could she still extricate herself completely?
After all, He Xinyao was different from Liang Junsheng. She was Zheng Zhouzhou's fan. Everything she did came from Zheng Zhouzhou's hints. Zheng Zhouzhou could not possibly claim to be innocent again, could she?
Jiang Jiang believed that Zheng Zhouzhou must have been driven into a corner; otherwise, He Xinyao's attitude toward her would not be so malicious. Zheng Zhouzhou must have said something to her.
Jiang Jiang carried her bag and slowly walked out. After only a few steps, she was supported by Ji Heyuan, who had hurried over.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Ji Heyuan took the things from her hands. "Someone was looking for me just now, so I was delayed for a while."
Jiang Jiang smiled. "It's okay. I can walk by myself too."
"Better not. If you fall again, my sister will scold me to death," Ji Heyuan replied casually.
"Oh right, Xie Jiang Jiang, how did you feel today? It seems like you had Sister Xueyun's class. Is her teaching very interesting?"
Jiang Jiang gave a soft response. "Teacher Wen is very capable."
As she spoke, her tone suddenly became somewhat downcast. "But little Yuan, I feel like some classmates don't seem to like me very much."
Ji Heyuan immediately frowned tightly. "Who? Which idiot is targeting you?"
Jiang Jiang bit her lip, her expression extremely conflicted. "I don't know whether that counts as targeting. Maybe I'm too sensitive and thinking too much."
After Ji Heyuan repeatedly pressed her, Jiang Jiang finally recounted what had just happened.
"Little Yuan, don't tell your sister about this. I don't want to bother her with such small matters." Jiang Jiang curved her lips slightly. "And with you accompanying me at school, even if she doesn't like me, she won't be able to do anything."
Ji Heyuan thought about it and agreed. She had not yet met He Xinyao, so she could not determine for the time being whether He Xinyao was really deliberately targeting Jiang Jiang. It would be better not to rashly complain in front of her sister.
But instinctively, Ji Heyuan already felt a bit more dislike toward He Xinyao.
"It's fine. If she dares to be fierce to you again, I'll find someone to beat her up."
Jiang Jiang was amused by her. "Okay."
She had a smile on her face, but in her heart she was thinking that she still needed to find someone to investigate He Xinyao.
Jiang Jiang already had a suitable candidate in mind.
—
Author's Note:
He Xinyao's combat ability is not comparable to Liang Junsheng's. Jiang Jiang will not suffer a loss. Once He Xinyayo is dealt with, President Ji should completely come to her senses!
—
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