Chapter 76

Jian Sheng's right eyebrow twitched slightly. He rested his right hand on the back of the chair and said casually, "Go on."

Xu Xiaxia swallowed the words she wanted to say, turned her head sharply, swallowed hard, and gasped.

The three people opposite him all had identical ugly expressions. Jian Sheng curled his lips slightly and said, "Is this interesting?"

"Is it fun to pass around like this? What does it have to do with you? Do you even know why?" Zhou Ce stopped a few classmates as they passed by, looking in this direction, but Jian Sheng seemed to only have these few people in her sight. No one spoke. She continued, "If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason. You can say whatever you want without having to bear any consequences. It's so easy."

"They don't understand the facts. They just follow the rumors and spread inferior information. They have no subjective judgment and think they know a lot. They keep talking about guiding public opinion, saying it repeatedly."

Is it his responsibility to be responsible for the state of his family? Is it his fault that his parents are the way they are?

"Who you like and who you've dated is your business with that person. It's shameful and ridiculous to categorize them as being in the same direction just because you hang out together."

"The mistress's son? His mother told you herself? He was the top student in the grade and cheated? Are you a mind reader?"

"Or did he prevent you from getting first place in the grade? Can you even achieve that?"

"Who he lives with is his own business, it's something he should consider. What, are you going to pay his rent? Or is the house yours?"

"It's easy to spread rumors. Just because two people live together is labeled as abnormal and grouped together, does that mean the two people are abnormal? What about you holding hands? Can I also say that what you're doing is abnormal?"

Her words were forceful and decisive, delivered almost in one breath. She knew that once a statement was made, it would immediately form an impression in everyone's mind, and then whether it was true or false would be irrelevant.

But she was annoyed by these people's irresponsible lies and falsehoods.

She just wanted to explain it over and over again, even though their minds were already made up.

Xu Xiaxia, standing to the side, almost frantically agreed, even silently giving a thumbs up.

Just as she was about to voice her affirmation, one of the three silent people spoke up: "So what? It's not like I said anything about him, it's all their fault for spreading rumors. Go ahead and talk about them, what does it have to do with me?"

"Acting all cultured, spouting classical Chinese like that, you think you're so great?"

"Or... is it that he likes men, and that upset you? Was all that attention he put on before just an act, and that upset you? You didn't expect that, did you? He likes men, not you."

The girl in the lead chuckled softly, but her eyes turned cold. She took a few steps forward, looked up at Jian Sheng's pale face, and said, "Oh, now I know why he approached you in the first place."

"Because he likes men, and he thought you were a man, so he approached you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Xiaxia couldn't stand it anymore and shoved her, saying, "You son of a bitch, are you trying to die?"

"Are you sick? Did worms eat all the shit in your brain? You idiot!"

"You have the nerve to utter such lies? How dare you? I'm asking you."

"Why did you do that?" The two people behind him came up.

Xu Xiaxia chuckled and pointed at the two of them, saying, "So what if I hit them? It's none of your business! It's my hand!"

Looking at the three gloomy faces, she laughed even harder: "Go on...go on, go on, go spread rumors, say that I, Xu Xiaxia from Class 33 of Senior High, am rude, like to hit people, and beat up a few gossipy delinquent girls from the second year of Senior High."

"Go ahead and spread the word! Everyone's watching, you all heard it, you all saw it." She shrugged, her gaze sweeping over the onlookers for a moment.

Those people lowered their heads and shoved each other, making a constant rustling noise.

"Nana..." The girl behind the JK skirt was stunned by Xu Xiaxia's actions.

Qi Tianna was also somewhat embarrassed. More and more people were gathering around her. She sneered, "This is the first time I've heard of anyone speaking up for a mistress's son. Your values ​​are just as despicable as his..."

"What are you doing?" a voice broke the silence.

Shen Xuzheng and He Shangzheng were coming down the stairs from the back of the senior high school building. Shen Xuzheng threw his school uniform over his shoulder and said, "What are you all doing blocking the way?"

The two walked up from the back of the crowd. He Shang walked to Xu Xiaxia's side, lowered his eyes and asked, "Your attack power is pretty good."

Xu Xiaxia glanced at him: "Nonsense, I've taken on multiple opponents by myself and even made it to the trending topics."

"Damn it, these people who spread rumors are so infuriating!" she added.

Shen Xuzheng clicked his tongue: "There are too many people going around here. When the director arrives, he'll already be testing the microphones. Let's go to the playground first."

After he finished speaking, he took Jian Sheng's stool, picked it up, and turned to leave. But then, remembering something, he turned back and looked at Qi Tianna: "People should pay attention to their words and actions. False stories will spread everywhere. You need to remember that what you are doing now is not as simple as just talking; it involves using a knife."

"Think about why Yu Chao broke up with you. You should know very well why. I don't need to elaborate on the fact that he was two-timing you."

"You're angry at Yu Chao and you're saying goodbye, but you shouldn't take your anger out on Chen Zhoujing."

"Even if you've confessed your feelings to him and been rejected, it's still not allowed."

"Because he has already rejected you in a very tactful and polite way."

"Let's go." He raised an eyebrow at Jian Sheng and led the way out of the crowd.

Jian Sheng lingered on Qi Tianna's embarrassed dark face for a moment before following Shen Xuzheng out of the crowd.

Xu Xiaxia's lips twitched: "Wow, I was wondering why you said such awful things. So you confessed to Chen Zhoujing and got rejected?"

"So that's why you keep bringing up Yu Chao all the time. Turns out you were two-timing him when you were dating him, and you got dumped. You're just embarrassed now. Tsk tsk tsk, what a rotten person talking nonsense."

After saying that, she glared at He Shang, who was smiling at her, and raised her chin toward the stool: "Tsk!"

He Shang's smile deepened as he picked up the stool placed in front of her: "Let's go, ancestor."

"Tch." Xu Xiaxia crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over the scabbed wound on his neck, and slowly walked out of the crowd.

He Shang smiled and followed behind her, watching her beautiful walking posture. With each step she took, her body swayed a few times, as if there was a kind of joy in it.

He glanced at it a few times, then started to follow along and wandered over to the playground.

After Jian Sheng caught up with Shen Xuzheng, she stepped forward and said, "I'll take it myself."

"Why are you being so polite about bringing me a stool?" he said, raising an eyebrow at her.

Jian Sheng raised her hand, then lowered it again, hesitating before asking, "Isn't he coming back?"

He hasn't replied to her messages or made a phone call for several days.

She was afraid something would happen to him, but she didn't know what to do.

Shen Xuzheng didn't say anything, but led her to the 13th class's seat, placed her chair behind Qi Jing, and then sat down next to Qi Jing.

"I ran into her and Xu Xiaxia when I came down with He Shang, so I helped them out." Not long after he finished speaking, Xu Xiaxia's righteous voice, cursing and swearing, came over.

Qi Jing nodded without saying anything, then turned and asked, "Has Lin You arrived?"

Jian shook her head: "She's still in the teacher's office. Tell Xiaxia and me to come over first."

After speaking, she looked at Shen Xuzheng's back as he leaned back in his chair, but did not get the response she wanted. She felt a little upset and soon looked away.

"There are too many people blocking the way over there." During this time, Shen Xuzheng spoke to Qi Jing, leaning his body against her shoulder as he spoke, and then took out his phone and tapped on the screen.

There was still no response to Jian Sheng's words.

She leaned back, her expression somewhat complicated, her gaze lingering on the two figures' backs before turning to the students in their orange and white school uniforms busily working under the bright sun.

Chen Zhoujing seemed to have been absent for a long time. She blinked, put her hands on her lap, and stared blankly into space.

After replying to Li Jing's message, Shen Xuzheng glanced at her sideways.

After a moment, he swiped through his phone and handed it to her.

Jian Sheng glanced around, then bent down and peered through the gap between the chair legs.

The image above shows Chen Zhoujing and his chat interface.

Shen Xuzheng: How was it handled? Why were we only notified to go back to school?

Chen Zhoujing: You all focus on the college entrance exam. This matter has really blown up, and it was all my fault. Don't contact me for a while, and don't argue with Qian Xiao and the others anymore. We can talk about everything after the college entrance exam.

Shen Xuzheng: So what? What do you mean? You're not coming back?

Chen Zhoujing replied eight hours later: I will take the college entrance examination, and will stay in Qinjin in the meantime.

Three hours later, he said again: "Could you please tell them to keep an eye on Jian Sheng? I... she often doesn't eat. Could you please talk to her a little more? I'll treat you to a meal sometime."

-: The college entrance exam is coming up soon, and I'm worried she'll be distracted. I hope you can help as much as you can. Thank you in advance.

She gets low blood sugar if she doesn't eat breakfast. I'll send you some things; have Qi Jing give them to her. Don't tell anyone it's from me.

She goes to her art studio on Saturdays and Sundays. The newly added bus route from Yanjiang to the old town is quite circuitous, and it's easy to get on the wrong stop if you're not careful. She often memorizes vocabulary on the bus, so we hope you can remind her to take precautions.

She can be a bit slow to react sometimes; when you're talking to her, it takes her a few seconds to process what you're saying. It's not that she's intentionally not responding.

- Her not smiling or speaking briefly are simply her natural habits, not signs of rudeness or aloofness. Please don't mind.

She sometimes cries secretly. The pressure of senior year is mounting, and with no one around to talk to, she might fall into a trap she sets for herself.

I don't know what she's been through, but I really hope she can be happy no matter what.

My only worry now that I'm in this situation is that I'm not at school and no one is there to encourage her...

-: Oh well, I did talk too much. Maybe it'll be better if I leave, and she won't have anyone chattering in her ear anymore.

I still hope you can keep an eye on things here. Please let me know if there's anything I can help with in the future, and I'll do my best to assist you. Thank you.

Shen Xuzheng slid down again.

Also, her little actions or hesitations are all because she's thinking about what to do after agreeing, not because she's delaying or looking for an excuse to refuse. Please don't feel bad about it; she really wants to be part of your group, she just hasn't found a good starting point.

She's naturally introverted, quiet, and doesn't like to express herself, but she's slowly opening up. We hope you can mentor her in future studies or activities so she doesn't feel lonely.

She's quite smart and ambitious, and she's working incredibly hard to improve. Your grades aren't worse than mine, so I hope you can help her out if you can.

Oh, and also, her silence doesn't mean she's angry. A serious, blank face is normal; it's when she's angry that she's really upset. Usually, she doesn't show any expression, but it definitely doesn't mean anything by it; it's just a habit. So, when you talk to her, just be normal.

- Oh, no need to be so deliberate... Never mind, I won't say any more.

- I'll say it again: If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know.

-: I've let you down this time too, but thank you anyway. Focus on your college entrance exam and I wish you all the best.

At this point, Shen Xuzheng stopped scrolling down, put his phone away, and said with a frown, "The night he decided not to come back, he talked to me for three hours. Every sentence he said was about me looking after you. He told me not to say anything, but I think you should see his good intentions."

He said that if one day he suddenly stops replying to your messages, it means his phone has been confiscated.