Chapter -13Â
 Are You Really That Poor?
The footsteps echoing down the hallway grew faster and faster, until Pei Nianâan was practically running.
When Yu Zhi caught up with her, she saw Pei Nianâanâs eyes were red, though she stubbornly tilted her head up, refusing to let the tears fall.
Yu Zhi pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it over.
Pei Nianâan glanced at her, her voice trembling slightly. âI wasnât wrong. She was the one who provoked me first.â
Yu Zhi nodded quickly.
âI think so too! But, Pei-jie, not to scold you or anythingâŚâ
Hearing that, Pei Nianâan wiped at the corner of her eyes and impatiently looked up, waiting for Yu Zhi to finish.
Yu Zhi took a deep breath, glaring at her in frustration.
âSo much moneyâand you just threw it away like that!â
âIf youâre so rich, why donât you give me some?! Do you know how hard it is being your little lackey? I work my butt off for you! How could you let her off so easily? You got too much money burning a hole in your pocket, huh?!â
Pei Nianâan: ââŚâ
Yu Zhi was still fuming.
âSeriously, Pei-jie, are you calm yet? If not, go ahead and smack me with a brick! Or betterâhit me with a stack of cash! Iâll take it! Gladly!â
Pei Nianâan: ââŚâ
No wonder everyone called Yu Zhi her âbootlicker.â The term didnât even do her justiceâthis girl was on another level entirely.
Pei Nianâan reached out and pinched Yu Zhiâs cheek.
She had to admit, this bootlicker really was entertaining in her own ridiculous way.
ăCongratulations, Host! The villainâs affection value has increased by 5!ă
ăCongratulations, Host! The villainâs affection value has increased by another 5!ă
Yu Zhi: â???â
Huh? Whatâs going on?
Why did it suddenly jump like that?
Waitâdonât tell her Pei Nianâan was falling in love with her?!
Hearing Yu Zhiâs inner thoughts, the system sighed.
ăHow could the villainous heiress possibly fall for you? You know perfectly well sheâs in love with the male lead!ă
Yu Zhi: âŚWould it kill you not to expose me like that?
Made her sound like she was delusional!
ăIâm just reminding you to respect the plot!ă
ăWeâre in a proper Mary Sue novel, okay? Not one of those girlâs-love spinoffs. Respect the source materialâstart with yourself!!!ă
âŚ
Inside the classroom.
Wen Ying felt something wet on her forehead. She reached up and her fingertips came away sticky with blood.
She stared at the red stain for a couple of seconds before her vision went darkâand she collapsed onto the floor.
The classroom immediately erupted into chaos.
âWen Ying!â
âOh my god, Pei Nianâan killed someone!â
âDonât talk nonsense! Somebody help carry her to the nurseâs office!â
An hour later.
The sharp scent of disinfectant filled the infirmary. Wen Ying frowned slightly as it hit her nose.
Just as she tried to sit up, a warm voice beside her said:
âDonât move yet. Rest for a bit.â
She turned her headâand met a pair of gentle peach-blossom eyes.
âSenior Cheng Nian?â Her voice was hoarse. She coughed lightly, then asked, âWhy are you here?â
Gu Chengnian stood up, poured her a cup of water, and handed it to her.
âI happened to be just outside the classroom when I heard you fainted. It was urgentâand your class is all girlsâso I carried you here myself.â
Hearing that, Wen Yingâs eyes dimmed. âSorry, Senior Cheng Nian. I mustâve troubled you.â
âWhat are you apologizing for?â Gu Chengnian felt a pang of guilt. Looking at the bandage on her forehead, his chest tightened.
She was so slender, yet so understanding. It made his heart ache.
Wen Ying looked up at him and smiled. âI mean, about what happened at the bar. I overreacted, ruined your clothes, and yelled at you. Iâm sorry for that.â
Seeing the light return to his eyes, she felt a bit shy.
âHonestly, I could tellâyouâre different from those other rich boys.â
When Wen Ying smiled, Gu Chengnian smiled too, turning his gaze aside.
âOh, that. I didnât take it to heart.â
Then he paused, his tone growing serious.
âAbout your injuryâI already know what happened. Iâm sorry. Nianâan can be really willful. Donât worry, Iâll make her apologize.â
Wen Ying forced a small smile, lowering her gaze to the corner of the bedsheet.
âThereâs no need, Senior Cheng Nian. Miss Pei is a rich heiressâwhy would she apologize to someone like me?â
She lifted her eyes again, speaking softly.
âAnd⌠I know you and Pei Nianâan are childhood sweethearts. I can understand why she targeted me today.â
Taking a sip of water, she set down the cup and lowered her lashes.
âSo, Senior Cheng Nian⌠letâs just keep our distance from now on.â
When she finished, Gu Chengnian frowned.
âChildhood sweethearts?â
âWho told you that?â
His voice suddenly rose. âI only grew up with her! Iâve never seen her that way!â
Startled, Wen Ying shrank back slightly.
Realizing heâd scared her, Gu Chengnian immediately softened his tone.
âSorry for shouting. I just wanted you to knowâthereâs nothing between me and her. Donât be afraid. Iâll take care of this.â
Later, at a large shopping mall.
Pei Nianâan strode forward in her heels, the sharp click-clack echoing across the marble floor.
Yu Zhi followed behind, both hands full of shopping bags, with two more hanging from her neckâshe looked utterly ridiculous.
They walked into a luxury boutique.
The moment the saleswoman saw Pei Nianâan, her eyes lit up.
âWelcome, Miss Pei! Long time no seeâŚâ The clerk smiled brightly. âWe just got in some new dresses todayâwould you like to take a look?â
âNo need.â Pei Nianâan sat down gracefully on the sofa, crossing her legs and waving dismissively. Then she looked back at Yu Zhi, frowning in disdain.
âYu Zhi, you go pick out some clothes.â
Yu Zhi, busy adjusting the slipping bags around her neck, froze.
âHuh? Pei-jie, the clothes here are way too expensiveâI canât afford themâŚâ
Pei Nianâan accepted the cup of tea handed to her by the clerk and crooked her finger. âGo get her size.â
Then she turned to Yu Zhi.
âYouâre out shopping with me. How could I possibly let you pay? Go onâpick whatever you want. Itâs on me.â
Yu Zhiâs eyes went wide. She quickly dropped the bags and scooted over to Pei Nianâanâs side.
âPei-jie, first of all, I really appreciate your generosity. But if you really want to help the poorâŚâ
She rubbed her fingers together hopefully. âHonestly, Iâd rather have the cashâŚâ
âYouâre brutally honest.â Pei Nianâan rolled her eyes, then gave her a sidelong look.
âAre you really that poor?â
Yu Zhi: ââŚâ
After a momentâs silence, Yu Zhi nodded solemnly.
âJust a little bit.â
âA littleâtimes a hundred million.â
Pei Nianâan nearly spat out her tea.