The atmosphere was tense. Cen Zhi’ning was thoroughly enjoying the drama when she caught sight of Song Ziyi, who had been lying on the ground, trying to sneak away.
She let out a cold snort.
Tsk. What a spineless man.
A girl was standing up for him, and he was trying to slip away? No morals and no backbone.
Song Ziyi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. While everyone’s attention was on Bai Xiaorou, he scrambled through a gap in the crowd.
Just when he thought he had miraculously escaped, someone stepped in front of him. A soft voice sounded—
“Where do you think you’re going, scumbag?”
He looked up at the beautiful girl before him. She seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he’d seen her.
When had he ever wronged someone this stunning? He had no recollection.
Before he could think further, she delivered a clean side kick straight into his abdomen.
Caught off guard, Song Ziyi was kicked back to where he’d started. He curled up in pain, gasping for breath.
“Hiss—why did you kick me?”
Cen Zhi’ning smoothed the wrinkles of her school uniform skirt. Thankfully she was wearing nude tights—she had almost exposed herself.
Everyone was stunned, not understanding where this sudden hero had come from to steal the spotlight.
And she wasn’t done.
The cool, striking beauty casually took a half-finished cup of pearl milk tea from a passerby and walked forward unhurriedly. Looking down at the groaning Song Ziyi, she clicked her tongue.
“Nothing much. Just helping you wash your brain a little. No need to thank me.”
She tilted her wrist, pouring the entire sticky cup of milk tea—along with the large black pearls—directly onto his dusty face.
He had already been smeared with blood; now syrup and milk tea coated him, pearls clinging to his hair. He looked both ridiculous and disgusting.
After finishing, Cen Zhi’ning tossed the empty cup into a trash can and clapped her hands.
“For a scumbag who juggles multiple girlfriends and gets a girl pregnant without taking responsibility, knocking out a few teeth is too lenient. Everyone, remember to expose him on the forum. Warn other girls not to fall for him.”
The onlookers finally understood. At first, they had thought Mu Chenchuan was simply bullying someone. Now it seemed he was delivering justice.
“Who would’ve thought he looked so clean and gentle—turns out he’s trash.”
“Guess we misunderstood Second Young Master Mu.”
“That girl is so cool! She’s right—losing a couple teeth is too light.”
“No, guys like this need to be exposed.”
Some had already begun posting on the forum, denouncing the scumbag.
Bai Xiaorou stood there, stunned. She had just been filled with righteous anger.
After hearing Cen Zhi’ning’s words and glancing at Song Ziyi on the ground, she suddenly felt that her attempt to play hero had been idiotic.
She had finally gathered the courage to be brave once in her life—
And now she’d earned a lifetime of social anxiety.
Ashamed and embarrassed, she opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say, so she lowered her head and stayed silent.
The hostility around Mu Chenchuan gradually receded. His gaze locked onto Cen Zhi’ning.
From her sharp short hair, to the Sri Lan Noble Academy uniform, to her relaxed expression—his eyes were sharp, as if trying to peel her apart.
“You’re a freshman?”
Before she could answer, he let out a mocking laugh, his tone displeased.
“Who told you to meddle?”
She raised a brow.
“Are you upset I ruined your fun? Or that I stole your spotlight?”
“Spotlight?”
His tone dripped with sarcasm.
“Who are you? Popping out of nowhere, pulling this stunt in front of me? Playing childish tricks like this—trying to get my attention?”
His instincts told him this woman was deliberate.
But why? What was her goal?
Cen Zhi’ning sighed inwardly. The system had said he’d be hard to攻略, and it wasn’t wrong. He was impossible—impervious, arrogant, and conceited.
She spoke calmly.
“So did I succeed?”
A mocking curve lifted at his lips.
“You like me?”
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she extended her hand and answered with a question of her own.
“Nice to meet you. I’m your fiancée, Cen Zhi’ning.”
Mu Chenchuan’s eyes instantly turned cold. The curiosity that had sparked moments ago vanished.
So it was Cen Zhi’ning.
That shameless woman who had tried to propose a contract marriage.
Clinging to Qi Yanheng while trying to latch onto the Mu family tree. Fickle, opportunistic, climbing toward power.
Her methods were cheap. Despicable.
His face filled with disgust.
“So it’s you. I’ve already given you enough time. If you refuse to cancel the engagement, I have plenty of ways to deal with you.”
Cen Zhi’ning smiled.
“Oh? Like knocking out my teeth the way you did his? I’ll be waiting for your methods.”
Hearing the mockery in her tone, Mu Chenchuan pressed his tongue against his cheek.
“Heh. You’ve got some fire. You’ll have your time to cry.”
“I’m so scared. I hope you can come up with something new. Don’t bore me.”
【Host, Mu Chenchuan’s violence index is at 100%! Don’t provoke him—】
“You don’t get it. You can’t go along with someone like him.”
【Take it easy. Don’t overdo it.】
The atmosphere between them grew strange. The surrounding students seemed to piece things together.
That cool, striking girl was Mu Chenchuan’s fiancée?
Everyone pricked up their ears for gossip.
Suddenly, the crowd stirred.
“Oh my god—it’s Jiang Jingmian!”
“Ahhh! I’m going crazy! Jiang Jingmian is at our school!”
“I heard he returned from overseas, gave up his idol career, and came back to campus.”
“I like him so much. I wish we were in the same class.”
“Wow, it’s really him—I’m not dreaming…”
Cen Zhi’ning’s face stiffened.
She had forgotten about Jiang Jingmian.
Even though she had prepared herself mentally, hearing his name still made her feel guilty.
Following the surge of people, she stole a glance.
A matte-black supercar stopped at the school gate. The door slowly opened, revealing half of Jiang Jingmian’s profile.
Soon, his tall figure stepped out, holding a Pomeranian in his arms.
Sunlight fell on his slightly curled hair. His expression was gentle, head tilted slightly downward. The sharp line of his profile drew gasps from the crowd.
People swarmed toward him enthusiastically. He instinctively shielded the Pomeranian, his movements tender.
Bodyguards quickly separated the restless crowd.
Cen Zhi’ning’s mind blanked for a second.
She hadn’t expected he was still raising Xiao Bao.
She had personally picked that Pomeranian, visiting countless pet shops before choosing it.
At the time, the doctor had suggested that someone with depression might benefit from having a pet.
So on Jiang Jingmian’s eighteenth birthday, she gave him the dog.
She hadn’t expected him to care for it so well. Its fur was glossy, lying proudly in his arms, eyes full of vigilance and impatience toward strangers, growling faintly.
Cen Zhi’ning wanted to hold it too.
But she couldn’t.
To Jiang Jingmian, she was someone who had died.
He was already emotionally fragile. She couldn’t risk triggering another psychological episode.
Xiao Bao had been glaring fiercely at strangers, but suddenly seemed to catch her scent. Its little head kept turning, whining as if wanting to jump down.
Cen Zhi’ning held her breath.
She stepped backward.
And fled the scene in panic.