Chapter 83
The next day, Yun Zhan returned to school.
This period coincided with the academic assessments. Because of his heart condition, he had missed too much time, so Yun Zhan simply stayed at the school and spent a week catching up on the missed lessons.
"A lot of people have been sick lately, it must be because of the change of seasons." Jiang Yanmo stood by the window and pulled the clothes in her arms closer.
She hadn't seen Yun Zhan in a long time and thought he had dropped out of school.
"Indeed... I'm feeling a bit unwell too." Yun Zhan coughed a few times; her throat hadn't been feeling too sore lately.
"Hey, by the way, I heard you and Senior Pei broke up. What happened between you two?"
Jiang Yanmo seemed to have thought of something, her eyes lit up, and she leaned over to gossip.
Senior Sister Yan Ji told her that Pei Yanxi and Yun Zhan had no chance, but she didn't tell her the specific reason. Jiang Yanmo really couldn't figure out why Yun Zhan would reject Senior Sister Pei.
He is rich, good-looking, and a member of the school board. He comes from a wealthy family and, although he can be domineering and forceful at times, he is also very devoted to his partner.
"Well... I have a girlfriend."
"Huh? Who is it?!" Jiang Yanmo's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"So, is that person just as outstanding as Senior Pei?"
"Um."
!
On the day of the academic test, the moon fell on the first rain of the summer.
When Yun Zhan handed in her paper, her voice was already a little hoarse, but she didn't care. She pulled her scarf up a bit and went straight into the library to study.
After seven consecutive nights of staying up all night, she was catching up on sleep at the back of the classroom when the top ten results were posted. Her name was firmly in seventh place, a leap of twenty places from the initial entrance exam.
But as soon as the applause ended, she lowered her head and coughed a few times. Her throat felt like it had been rubbed with sandpaper, and even her breath felt hot.
Wen Sixue, sitting in the front row, turned around and looked at Yun Zhan's pale lips. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke softly, "Yun Zhan, are you sick too? I have some cold medicine on hand. Take two pills to calm your nerves."
The small medicine box she handed over was still warm from her body, and her fingertips tightened slightly with worry.
Yun Zhan took it, his shoulders trembling from coughing, but he tried to smile and say, "Thank you... I'm fine."
Looking at her weak appearance, Wen Sixue finally frowned: "Don't push yourself. When you get back, remember to ask Miss Shi to take you to see a doctor. She cares about you so much."
"knew."
"Um..."
Wen Sixue nodded, but the anxiety in her eyes did not disappear.
She knew that Yun Zhan was now being taken care of, and that she had no further standing, but hearing that suppressed cough still made her heart ache.
This affection can end gracefully, but the longing can't find a pause button.
Yun Zhan clenched the medicine box in his palm. When he looked up, he noticed that Wen Sixue's coat was neatly tailored with a low-key gold logo embroidered on the cuffs. It was a new summer design just released by a major brand.
Yun Zhan casually started a conversation, his voice still a little hoarse: "You've been doing pretty well lately, haven't you?"
Given Wen Sixue's previous financial situation, she probably wouldn't have bought this.
Wen Sixue followed her gaze and looked down, her fingertips lightly tracing the cuffs of her sleeves, smiling somewhat shyly: "You mean clothes? They are indeed newly bought."
Wen Sixue paused, then said in a relaxed tone, "The debts have been almost paid off. Miss Shi invested in a coffee shop for me, and business is quite stable now. Life isn't as difficult as it used to be."
She stood by the aisle, sunlight streaming in through the window and falling on her shoulders, giving the fabric a soft sheen.
Yun Zhan noticed that Wen Sixue's eyes had a brightness that was rarely seen before.
"After taking over the coffee shop, I made a lot of changes."
Wen Sixue continued.
"The collaboration products and limited-edition merchandise have generated a lot of buzz, so we've made a small profit."
What Wen Sixue didn't mention was that after leaving Yun Zhan, she spent the night alone in the coffee shop, repeatedly adjusting the formula, and working hard to secure a brand collaboration.
Fortunately, her efforts paid off somewhat, including the luxury gift box she gave to Yun Zhan last time, which she had saved up little by little.
During her time away from Yun Zhan, she did not allow herself to fall into despair.
On the contrary, she worked quietly behind the scenes, polishing her life little by little, where Yun Zhan couldn't see.
Now, standing before Yun Zhan, she could finally openly display her achievements, not to show off, but simply to let him know that she was doing well and living a good life.
Wen Sixue thought that she already had many wonderful memories, and she could continue to use the Memory Stone. Yun Zhan had also given her the Essence Blood Necklace.
Her bond with Yun Zhan in this life is enough; as for the rest of her unrealistic desires... let her leave them for the next life, or for her in another parallel universe.
In this life, as long as Yun Zhan is safe and well, that's enough.
Wen Sixue thought that she didn't plan to get married and would just live out her life like this.
Yun Zhan leaned on the edge of the table, his cheeks flushed pink from a low fever. His gaze fell on Wen Sixue, his eyes shining like stars after a rain.
She looked up at Wen Sixue, her voice hoarse but sincere: "It's all good, things will go even better from now on."
Yun Zhan's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the thin silver chain around Wen Sixue's neck. The pendant was a small piece of blood essence, gleaming with a warm red light: "The necklace you're wearing can also nourish your health. Keep it safe."
Wen Sixue lowered her head subconsciously, her fingertips tracing the pendant on her chest, a soft ripple appearing in her eyes.
It was a small gift that Yun Zhan had given her before. After learning that Yun Zhan and Shi Mingyue were together, she didn't intend to return it, so she secretly kept it.
Wen Sixue smiled and said in a voice as soft as the wind, "Thank you, Yun Zhan."
A simple thank you, but more than just a thank you.
Her eyes held light, relief, and a deep-seated longing, but no longer carried pain.
Yun Zhan looked at her, his eyes reflecting her renewed spirits, and the invisible weight in his heart finally quietly lifted.
Yun Zhan: It's all settled now, and I've put an end to my sins.
21: She is no longer as weak as before; she has clearly grown up, has her own life, and is doing quite well.
21. Looking back, during the time when Wen Sixue and Yun Zhan were very close, Wen Sixue was almost convinced that Yun Zhan was her other half. Therefore, she was extremely obedient to Yun Zhan, took great care of him, and always put him first. At that time, she was as fragile as a piece of glass...
Just after the third period ended in the afternoon, the light slanting in from the end of the corridor illuminated the classroom door in a half-light, half-dark manner.
Suddenly, Pei Yanxi appeared in the shadows.
She didn't wear her hair up today; her long, straight black hair reached her waist, with the ends neatly cut, and it looked like flowing ink satin when she walked.
The black turtleneck sweater wrapped around her slender neck, with a crisp fold at the neckline that slid down her shoulders and back, abruptly cinching at her waist to create a delicate, slender silhouette.
The hem was tucked into matching suit trousers, the waistline was incredibly high, and the trouser legs hung straight down to the insteps, making the already long legs even more eye-catching.
Pei Yanxi wore a pair of thin-rimmed black glasses, her eyes behind the lenses were calm and clear. She stood in the center of the door frame, with a slim waist, long legs, and neat shoulder and neck lines. Her imposing aura of long, straight black hair made the noisy classroom quiet for two seconds.
She raised her hand and lightly tapped the door with her knuckles. Her voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for the last row to hear clearly: "Yun Zhan, come out for a moment."
As she spoke, she pushed up her glasses, the temples pressing against her ears with a very soft "click".
Yun Zhan was stunned for a moment, and only when Pei Yanxi turned around did Yun Zhan catch up with her.
I walked through the long corridor until the heavy wooden door of the school board office closed behind me, which barely brought me back to my senses.
Only one table lamp was on indoors, casting a narrow beam of light. Pei Yanxi stood at the edge of the light, her black sweater almost blending into the night.
Pei Yanxi didn't look at Yun Zhan, but only raised her hand to push up her glasses. The "click" of the glasses pressing against her ear became the only sound in the silence.
"Please sit down."
Pei Yanxi pointed to the chair opposite her, but her gaze swept over Yun Zhan's shoulder line and then quickly shifted away, finally landing on the bookshelf in the distance.
Yun Zhan sat down, with a dark walnut wood table between them. The tabletop reflected the light, revealing Pei Yanxi's slightly clenched fingertips.
The drawer was pulled open, and a blue folder was pushed in front of Yun Zhan.
"You've already been to the basement."
Pei Yanxi's voice was cold, but the last syllable was very low: "You are the first person to go in besides me."
Yun Zhan's fingertips touched the edge of the document, and he looked up to look directly at her: "So, what does Senior want to do?"
Pei Yanxi finally took off her glasses, the metal frame tapping lightly on the table with a crisp sound.
She leaned back, her back straight, her shoulders and neck as sharp as a knife sheathed: "I want to join forces with you."
As she finished speaking, she tapped the folder with her index finger: "For the Pei family to completely control Mington, they must uncover the school's deepest secrets. Although I am a member of the school board... but..."
At this point, Pei Yanxi paused, her eyes darkening slightly: "But she knows very little about what the previous principals did."
All she knew were some bribery records from previous principals and the powerful figures they had dealt with. As for the events at the beginning of the school's establishment, Pei Yanxi knew very little.
She guessed that the documents in the basement were probably just the tip of the iceberg.
The lamplight cast a cold crescent moon beneath Pei Yanxi's eyelashes: "That 21 told me that the original purpose of Mington was for you transmigrators to exist in order to protect the people you love."
Pei Yanxi leaned forward slightly, her haughty demeanor revealing a look of inquiry for the first time: "I'm very curious about this statement."
As soon as she finished speaking, she crossed her legs, maintaining her usual dignified posture.
But when she talked about the word "like," Pei Yanxi's fingers, which were hanging by her knees, unconsciously curled up, and a hint of emotion was revealed in her eyes.
She no longer had the courage to face Yun Zhan directly. Her first love, which ended without a trace, was buried deep behind her back. She could only let it slip out a little when the topic was about "the person she liked".
Pei Yanxi picked up the celadon cup, and the light golden tea soup shimmered around the rim of the cup.
She took a sip, her throat bobbing slightly, then looked up, her gaze passing over the rim of the glass, maintaining her usual coldness and composure.
So, what do you think?
Pei Yanxi put down her teacup, the metal spoon striking the cup with a crisp sound.
“Yun Zhan, if you are willing to assist in the investigation, I can give you 20% of Mington School’s profits every year, which is a lot of money.”
Yun Zhan lowered her eyes; she had long since given up on missions.
But Pei Yanxi's offer was indeed very tempting. Yun Zhan thought of the study in the Shi family home with its long plush carpet, and of the few bank cards and a suburban property he had left in his pocket.
With her engagement imminent, she couldn't even scrape together a decent dowry; while Mington's 20% share of the profits would be enough for her to hold her head high at the wedding table, and would also free Shi Mingyue from all the gossip about their "unequal social standing".
Her heart swayed slightly, but she didn't agree immediately.
After a few seconds of silence, she looked up at Pei Yanxi and said in a soft but clear voice, "Let me think about it for two days."
Pei Yanxi nodded slightly, her proud back relaxing by half an inch. She reached out and closed the folder, the metal clasp clicking shut.
Two days.
"Yun Zhan, I'm waiting for your answer."
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