"I think Jiang Wuyang has really lost her mind. Does she actually think sucking up to them will do her any good?!"
"When she doesn't know how to do something, isn't it us who have to tutor her?!"
Wen Mubai spoke with indignant anger, an emotion rarely seen on his usually indifferent face. At the very least, he had always presented himself as cool and aloof in public.
Hearing Wen Mubai's words, Ruan An'an pressed her lips into a thin line, struggling to suppress a laugh by forcing herself to think of every sad thing she could recall. Wen Mubai had quite the nerve to talk about tutoring—did he mean tutoring with that handwritten vocabulary book of his?
Jiang Yiran, however, clearly didn't overthink it; Wen Mubai's words resonated with him immediately. With their father always busy at work, he had practically raised Jiang Wuyang himself, changing her diapers and seeing her through every stage from her first babbling words to adulthood. He had even delayed his own schooling by two years just to ensure they could attend the same institution. He never expected that she would debase herself to please others; it was as if he had poured his heart and soul into a dog.
Ruan An'an watched the two of them seething with indignation, her lips curling into a smug, triumphant smirk. *Jiang Wuyang, look at this. Is this the family and friendship you spent so much effort protecting? It’s completely fragile, pathetic, and utterly worthless.*
Duan Jiniyan caught her micro-expression and saw through her intentions instantly. Yet, he merely smiled indulgently and placed a serving of vegetables onto Ruan An'an's plate.
"Eat some more vegetables."
Ruan An'an beamed at him. "Thank you, Brother Jiniyan!"
Duan Jiniyan patted her head.
Fueled by their collective anger, the group finished their meal much faster than usual. After eating, they took their empty trays to the conveyor belt. As they passed near Jiang Wuyang, Jiang Yiran couldn't help himself and spoke up, his voice dripping with sarcasm: "Some people are really just ungrateful wretches. They're in such a rush to please their new masters the moment they walk away."
When the words left his mouth, even Wen Mubai beside him was startled. He hadn't expected Jiang Yiran to speak like that; it was far too hurtful.
In truth, the second the words were out, Jiang Yiran regretted them. But there was no turning back now—the words were spoken, and what else could he do? Despite his regret, he felt a flicker of anticipation for Jiang Wuyang’s reaction, even if it were just anger.
Everyone’s eyes turned instinctively toward Jiang Wuyang.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Wuyang didn't even lift her eyelids.
"Turn left at the exit, walk two hundred meters, then turn right and walk fifty meters."
The group paused, confused, not understanding what she meant.
Mu Ziye leaned back in his chair. "Didn't get it, you idiots? She’s telling you to go to the school infirmary to see a doctor."
"If you can't even understand that, then with that level of intelligence, you really do need to see a doctor," Mu Ziye muttered under his breath.
Jiang Yiran’s face darkened, and ripples of emotion stirred in Wen Mubai’s usually detached eyes.
"Shut your mouth, Mu Ziye. Since when is it your turn to speak?" Wen Mubai snapped. "Do you really think someone like you, who only knows how to get into fights, would have anyone actually like you?"
Mu Ziye showed no reaction to these words, a flash of mockery merely dancing in his deep, peach-blossom eyes. He looked up, meeting Wen Mubai’s gaze without a hint of fear. "And what are you supposed to be? Is it your place to say such things?" He paused, his gaze dropping to the tray in Wen Mubai's hands, and he added with a sneer, "Must have been a painful meal, haven't you?"
Wen Mubai and he were brothers by name, though they shared no blood. Wen Mubai’s mother had married his father, and the two of them had only met halfway through their lives. When his father had first brought the aunt and Wen Mubai home, Mu Ziye, while not showing it on the surface, had actually welcomed them; after all, it was rare to have a new companion to play with. Initially, he had treated Wen Mubai like a brother, never imagining that Wen Mubai would be plotting against him behind his back.He asked Wen Mubai if he wanted to go out and have some fun, but Wen Mubai shook his head, turned around, and reported everything to their father, acting like a model son in front of him.
That had even gotten him scolded by his father.
All to win their father’s favor.
That dead man would wear his clothes until they were faded and threadbare, insisting on not taking a single cent from the family, claiming he could earn enough by tutoring his classmates.
Because of all these things, his father’s prejudice against him only grew deeper.
And with that mother of his whispering in his father’s ear, his father was completely swayed, losing all sense of direction.
Right now, his father was still clear-headed, but it was hard to say how long that would last. If the old man became any more muddled, he feared the family fortune would end up in the hands of outsiders.
Now, whenever he saw Wen Mubai, he found it impossible to even give him a pleasant look.
His intentions exposed, a flush crept up Wen Mubai’s indifferent face. He frowned, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"I am your brother! Don't you think you should be a little more polite?!"
Mu Ziye ignored him entirely.
He merely tossed out three words coldly: "Fragile brother."
At this, even Jiang Wuyang, who was busy eating, couldn't help but laugh out loud, nearly choking on her food.
Having lost face, Wen Mubai’s face turned redder and redder.
He opened his mouth several times, but finding no words, he couldn't bear to stay any longer and strode away.
Ruan An'an followed behind Wen Mubai.
She looked at Jiang Wuyang with disappointment: "Sister Yangyang, even if Brother Mubai didn't achieve great results, he worked hard tutoring you. You shouldn't just let your friend humiliate him like this."
Before Jiang Wuyang could respond, she chased after Wen Mubai.
Jiang Wuyang sluggishly lifted her head from her meal.
Watching Ruan An'an’s retreating back, she looked bewildered. No, was that girl sick in the head?
"Brother Mubai, don't be angry. That’s just a friend of Sister Yangyang’s. I’m sure if something like this happens again, Sister Yangyang will definitely step in to stop it, just like she used to."
Ruan An'an tugged at the corner of Wen Mubai’s jacket, her voice soft and soothing as they walked out of the cafeteria together.
Hearing this, Wen Mubai’s heart grew icy cold.
It was true. In the past, if anyone had insulted him like that, Jiang Wuyang would have long since stepped forward and cracked their skull open.
She never would have let him suffer such a grievance.
When it came down to it, it was Jiang Wuyang’s current indulgence and inaction that had led to this situation.
Otherwise, how would a loser like Mu Ziye dare to clamor at him like that!
Wen Mubai’s hand tightened into a fist, his eyes burning red.
Jiang Wuyang, you’re really something!
He took a few deep breaths, suppressing the emotions roiling within.
A gentleman’s revenge is never too late.
Once he inherited the Mu family fortune, he would never, ever let Mu Ziye off the hook!!
Ten thoughts raced through Wen Mubai’s mind in a second, but he eventually forced them down, returning to an outward state of calm.
Inside the restaurant, Jiang Wuyang and the others had finished their meal.
When they returned to their classroom, there were only a few scattered people inside, all slumped over their desks, preparing for a nap.
Only Yanshu sat bolt upright in his chair.
Even though the weather had turned a bit cooler, the autumn air was still somewhat stifling.
Yanshu had zipped his uniform jacket all the way to the top.
He sat perfectly straight, his posture rigid. Despite being in his own classroom, he appeared incredibly cautious and restrained.
His black-rimmed glasses sat on his face, obscuring most of his features, and his long bangs hung down, making it impossible to read his mood.
The experience of having lived another life told Jiang Wuyang that this person was dangerous—extremely dangerous! She should stay as far away from him as possible!!