“Wasn’t it you who deliberately broke your own phone? Hmm?”
“What nonsense are you talking about!” A flicker of panic flashed in Gao Qianqian’s eyes.
At that moment, Zhong Yangyang spoke up from behind the crowd: “Qianqian, I’ll compensate you for your phone.”
“Yangyang?” Hearing Zhong Yangyang’s words, Gao Qianqian was also taken aback. She turned to look at Zhong Yangyang with some surprise: “Yangyang, this has nothing to do with you. Wasn’t your phone confiscated too? She should be the one to compensate you as well. Even if you have money, you shouldn’t do this!”
“What a saint…” someone in the class who disliked Zhong Yangyang muttered under their breath: “Having money sure is something, huh?”
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Zhong Yangyang’s face.
“How is it unrelated?” Kong Xiyan stepped through the crowd, placing an arm around Zhong Yangyang’s shoulders and whispering something half-teasing, half-provocative in her ear: “Right, cousin?”
Hearing Kong Xiyan call her “cousin,” Zhong Yangyang immediately blushed: “Yes, cousin.”
“What? You’re cousins?” The surrounding crowd looked astonished.
Gao Qianqian, however, frowned: “Yangyang, how come I’ve never heard you have a cousin surnamed Kong?”
“Are you very familiar with the affairs of the Zhong Family?” Kong Xiyan raised an eyebrow, looking at Gao Qianqian.
“Qianqian and Zhong Yangyang have known each other for many years—they’re best friends!” A girl nearby said this with pride.
“Oh?” Kong Xiyan smiled: “Not anymore.”
After saying this, Kong Xiyan wrapped her arm around Zhong Yangyang and walked out, leaving the stunned crowd behind.
“Wait, what does she mean by that?” someone frowned. “Even if she is Zhong Yangyang’s cousin, at most she’s just a distant relative. How can she interfere with Zhong Yangyang’s social life like that?”
“Exactly! Who does she think she is? Probably some country bumpkin from a poor backwater here to mooch off the family!”
“Even emperors have poor relatives, let alone the richest family in Nancheng! Look at how she’s dressed—all dirty! Like a cowherd!”
Voices of discontent rose one after another, all siding with Gao Qianqian.
Gao Qianqian’s expression remained unchanged, but her eyes grew colder.
She had controlled Zhong Yangyang for so many years, and Zhong Yangyang trusted her completely.
Some country bumpkin who appeared out of nowhere dared to act arrogantly in front of her—how laughable.
With just a few words, she could make Zhong Yangyang drive Kong Xiyan away!
Meanwhile, after Kong Xiyan and Zhong Yangyang got into the car, Zhong Yangyang began firing off a series of questions.
“Where did you go today?
Why are you so dirty?
Did you get into a fight?
Did you go robbing again?!
Are you hurt?
You…”
Kong Xiyan raised her hand to cover Zhong Yangyang’s mouth: “You’re too noisy.”
“Mmph!” Zhong Yangyang protested, widening her eyes in indignation.
What was wrong with this Kong Xiyan!
She was worried about her!
Not only was Kong Xiyan ungrateful, but she had also gotten her phone confiscated and forced her to give a self-criticism in front of the whole class next Monday!
“What’s the deal with that Gao Qianqian?” Kong Xiyan was more interested in learning about Gao Qianqian.
Zhong Yangyang pursed her lips and honestly answered Kong Xiyan’s questions.
Gao Qianqian was the daughter of the Gao Family in Nancheng. Although the Gao Family was far inferior to the Zhong Family, they were still considered wealthy gentry in Nancheng.
The two families had known each other for many years and often had business dealings. Zhong Yangyang and Gao Qianqian were close in age and got along well.
Over time, the two became close friends.
Gao Qianqian has a younger brother who is the same age and in the same class as Zhong Yong, and the two of them get along quite well.
“Oh?” Hearing this, Kong Xiyan narrowed her eyes slightly.
What a coincidence?
Zhong Yangyang didn’t notice anything unusual and just went on chattering about the rules of Jianzi Ban, reminding Kong Xiyan to be careful and not to provoke the “Miejue Shitai” again.
Kong Xiyan responded half-heartedly, her thoughts already drifting far away.
Meanwhile, as soon as Gao Qianqian got into the private car, she borrowed the driver’s phone to contact her brother: “What happened with the plan you mentioned earlier being ruined?”
“It was that trap specifically set up to deal with Zhong Yong!
Some blind idiot drove the wrong way and passed by, triggering the mechanism first. The car was destroyed, and the driver died.
Now the area has been cordoned off by the police, and they’re likely to crack down on vehicle management and construction safety.
It’s all because of that scumbag Zhong Yong!
I don’t know what’s going on, but he hasn’t left the house at all these past two days!
Big Brother just threw a huge tantrum at home!” Gao Qianqian’s brother, Gao Bin, was furious just thinking about it.
Who knows how much money Big Brother and the others poured into setting up this trap!
After venting his frustration, Gao Bin asked about Gao Qianqian’s situation: “Sis, why did you suddenly stop replying to my messages tonight? Did something happen?”
“Nothing.” Gao Qianqian recalled Kong Xiyan’s face, her gaze darkening.
Just some dirty country bumpkin—nothing to worry about. She could just have Zhong Yangyang drive her away.
“What about those kidnappers from before? Did they find out who ruined Big Brother’s plan?”
“No, it’s like they all lost their memories or something…” Gao Bin also found the situation strange. “But I heard that the Su Family went to the police station that day, and they made quite a scene.”
“The Su Family?” Gao Qianqian frowned, wondering why the prestigious Su Family, which never meddled in worldly affairs, would suddenly get involved.
“Apparently, a young master from the Su Family who came from Jingcheng happened to run into something…” Gao Bin wasn’t too sure either. “Big Brother suspects that the Su Family accidentally saved Zhong Yangyang.”
“Got it. Let’s leave it at that for now. We’ll need to plan this carefully.” Gao Qianqian felt a throbbing pain in her taiyang acupoint.
She couldn’t understand why something that had been meticulously arranged would suddenly go wrong at such a critical moment.
Where exactly did things go awry?
“Alright, I’ll try to keep Zhong Yong from getting suspicious.” Gao Bin agreed. “Big Brother also said we need to plan this carefully.”
“Good.” After hanging up, Gao Qianqian opened the car window and threw the phone outside. Soon, a passing car ran over it, crushing the phone.
The driver saw this and hesitated to speak.
“Go apply to the butler later. I’ll pay you double.” Gao Qianqian spoke casually, as if what she had just done was no big deal.
“Thank you, Miss.” The driver could only express his gratitude.
Gao Qianqian ignored the driver and turned her gaze to the night outside, her expression darkening.
Zhong Yangyang, you got lucky this time.
Next time, you’re dead for sure!
Kong Xiyan returned to the Zhong Family with Zhong Yangyang. Even as they reached the doorstep, Zhong Yangyang was still chattering: “What if Miejue Shitai complains to Mom and Dad? You disappeared for a whole day without a word—they’re definitely going to be angry!”
“You should worry about yourself.” Watching Zhong Yangyang’s exaggerated reactions, Kong Xiyan found it somewhat amusing.
“You don’t understand how terrifying the ‘Extermination Master’ is! You were late on your very first day—she definitely won’t let it slide!” Zhong Yangyang grew increasingly anxious.
“Don’t worry, she won’t.” Kong Xiyan gave Zhong Yangyang a pat on the back and strode straight inside.
Seeing Kong Xiyan so carefree, Zhong Yangyang stamped her foot in frustration. “Hmph! Just wait until you get scolded! I won’t care about you then!”
Despite her words, once inside, Zhong Yangyang quickly assessed the atmosphere. Seeing that everything seemed fine, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t until the next morning, after entering the school gate, that she started chattering to Kong Xiyan again. “That’s strange… The ‘Extermination Master’ really didn’t report you! That doesn’t fit her character at all!”
“With those dark circles under your eyes, you look like you didn’t sleep well…” Kong Xiyan looked Zhong Yangyang up and down. “Don’t tell me you stayed up all night worrying about this?”
“Of course not!” Zhong Yangyang shot Kong Xiyan a reproachful glare. “Thanks to you, I was writing a self-criticism until dawn!”
It was her first time writing one, and the thought of having to read it in front of the whole class next Monday made her head spin.
Hearing this, Kong Xiyan merely curled the corner of her mouth.
“By the way, you still haven’t told me! Why didn’t the ‘Extermination Master’ report you?”
“I already said it yesterday—better the friend die than the poor monk.” Kong Xiyan draped an arm over Zhong Yangyang’s shoulder and recounted the deal she made with Teacher Li the previous night. Finally, in a suggestive tone, she whispered four words into her ear: “Thanks to you.”
Zhong Yangyang froze, finally understanding. She stared at Kong Xiyan in disbelief.
Good grief! So yesterday’s whole mess was Kong Xiyan’s fault!
And here she was, worrying on her behalf!
Sisters should be heart-to-heart, but you’re playing mind games with your sister!