Zhong Lingyu, wake up! I’m your sister-in-law!
Zhong Lingyu nudged the stool next to her. “Look, this is broken.”
Liang Zhuo saw that the screws on the seat of the stool were indeed loose.
“Thank you, I didn’t even know if you hadn’t reminded me.”
The cafeteria auntie next to them was stunned. This small cafeteria had just been repaired; how could the stool be broken? Maybe it was because of that touch he made earlier…
In any case, Liang Zhuo didn’t understand anything, and even thought Zhong Lingyu was a strangely nice person.
“But it seems like we can’t sit anywhere around here.”
Liang Zhuo looked at the surrounding stools, which were covered in wall dust, and was at a loss.
The place was newly built, and the cleaning wasn’t thorough enough. Only the spots where Zhong Lingyu and Song Chan sat were spotless.
Zhong Lingyu seemed very approachable. “Please sit here.”
Liang Zhuo was overjoyed. “Thank you, Zhong.”
“Let’s go, Song Chan.” Zhong Lingyu picked up Song Chan’s plate and placed it in the recycling bin, then asked Song Chan casually, “I have some small cakes in my drawer, want some?”
Song Chan was about to wonder how Zhong Lingyu knew she had almost finished eating, but upon hearing this, she quickly agreed, forgetting all her doubts.
“Then we’ll be going now.”
Song Chan didn’t forget to say goodbye to Liang Zhuo, then eagerly ran to catch up with Zhong Lingyu.
Before Liang Zhuo could say anything, he saw Song Chan had already run far away.
Through the window, watching the girl’s cheerful steps, Liang Zhuo seemed lost in thought.
“Excuse me, classmate, go to the main cafeteria after you get your food. This place needs cleaning.”
A school staff member came to urge them out.
It wasn’t really a rush, but Zhong Lingyu had said that these untouched hot dishes were to be taken downstairs and given away for free, and the cafeteria ladies were afraid Liang Zhuo would discover the truth.
The small cafeteria was specially built by Zhong Lingyu, and she hired her own chef to cook. To avoid arousing Song Chan’s suspicion, the portions were the same as in the main cafeteria, served on plates for ten people. After Song Chan finished eating, she certainly couldn’t throw away the perfectly good food; taking it down to improve the students’ meals wouldn’t hurt.
The oblivious Song Chan was still raving to Zhong Lingyu about how wonderful today’s food was.
“You know what, Zhong Lingyu, our cafeteria’s dishes never change all year round, but today they even made new dishes! Sweet and sour fried meatballs and glutinous rice ribs, they’re so delicious!”
Zhong Lingyu: “I’m glad you like them.”
In a daze, Song Chan thought she saw a hint of satisfaction in Zhong Lingyu’s eyes.
This almost made her blurt out something even more secret.
In truth, Song Chan had been having a terrible time eating in the school cafeteria for the past year. For some reason, the food was always hard to digest, and for the first few weeks of high school, she suffered from stomach aches every day.
Later, forcing herself to eat helped a little; the pain subsided, but after each meal, her stomach felt heavy, as if it contained stones.
Song Chan hadn’t told her family, as their family wasn’t well-off, and the school cafeteria was the only place they received a free lunch subsidy.
Over time, this became a secret for Song Chan; she was afraid that if she told others, they would think she was spoiled.
But in front of Zhong Lingyu, she almost revealed it.
Song Chan didn’t know why she wanted to tell him; it was as if she felt a strange trust and closeness towards him.
Ah…closeness, she unconsciously used that word.
“Oh, by the way, the mini cake is tiramisu, and it doesn’t use much cream.”
Zhong Lingyu knew Song Chan had a history of indigestion; she couldn’t eat anything too hard, too oily, or too spicy. Unfortunately, she was always reluctant to share her true feelings with others. So, Zhong Lingyu had to discover it himself.
Thinking it was all just a coincidence, Song Chan was overjoyed. “I really love tiramisu!”
Zhong Lingyu knew Song Chan would be happy. Seeing the expected smile, he couldn’t help but smile back. Noticing the damp nape of her neck with stray hairs, he subconsciously tidied her ponytail. “You go back to the classroom first; I’ll go to the gate to get your mini cake.”
He left after saying that.
Completely unaware of the shock his action had caused Song Chan.
Song Chan stood there, stunned.
Was this really reasonable?! Wasn’t this… this ambiguous feeling?
And why did Zhong Lingyu do that action so naturally and skillfully?!
=
Song Chan’s mood was a mess all afternoon.
She thought about Zhong Xin, Zhong Cheng, and Zhong Lingyu, but her slow, clumsy brain just couldn’t seem to grasp their relationship.
No matter what, Song Chan couldn’t figure out Zhong Lingyu’s intentions. She racked her brains:
Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng were time travelers, which explained why they were the same age as Zhong Lingyu. Zhong Lingyu shouldn’t be a time traveler; Song Chan had heard before that the Zhong family had only one son.
In the normal timeline, Zhong Lingyu should be a cousin of Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng’s father!
So, Zhong Lingyu claimed to be Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng’s cousin, but his true identity was likely their uncle! He told the outside world that Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng were his cousins to conceal his time travel.
Therefore, if what Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng said was true, and she really was the mother of the twins—
Then Zhong Lingyu wanted to steal his brother’s woman!?
What a melodramatic plot! Was Song Chan, at such a young age, already going to be embroiled in the love and hate of a wealthy family? Zhong Lingyu, sitting next to Song Chan, seemed a little confused by her inner turmoil. He nudged her, “Song Chan.”
Hearing his low voice, Song Chan reflexively moved away, saying vehemently, “Zhong, we need to keep our distance!”
Zhong Lingyu: “Are you feeling unwell?”
Song Chan clutched her head, “I’m fine, I’m perfectly fine.”
“Then could you let me out for a bit? I haven’t left my seat all afternoon. Even a person made of iron couldn’t stand it.”
Zhong Lingyu’s tone carried a hint of gentle teasing.
Song Chan noticed there was no gap between her chair back and the desk behind her, so she lowered her head and moved forward a large chunk, “Sorry.”
Zhong Lingyu left the classroom, glancing back at Song Chan three times, still unable to understand why she was acting this way.
For Zhong Lingyu, doing these things for his wife was quite natural. He clearly didn’t remember ever adjusting Song Chan’s collar on the playground.
During evening self-study, the homeroom teacher proposed electing an arts and culture representative to organize and plan the upcoming class performance. “That must be Ran Jiayu.”
“Yeah, let Ran Jiayu go.”
“Song Chan is good too.”
“No way, isn’t the class arts representative usually the prettiest one?”
“Ran Jiayu is the class beauty.”
Song Chan was completely confused.
She was diligently working on her problems, but why was she suddenly being put down?
Song Chan finally looked up and around; she didn’t even know who Ran Jiayu was.
Until she saw a pale face in front of her and turned to look at her.
Then she heard her say, “Don’t say that, it’s hurtful. Song Chan is great too.”
“But she’s fatter than you.”
“Teacher, I’m withdrawing.” Ran Jiayu raised her hand, “The arts representative position goes to Song Chan.”
Without competition, Teacher Dai was actually easier, making a quick decision, “Then Song Chan, you’re the class arts representative from now on.”
Song Chan looked blank, “I can’t do it…”
It seemed no one listened to her, and the teacher hurriedly left the classroom. Song Chan gripped her pen tightly, feeling troubled and even a little wronged.
“Why are you so reluctant to be a class representative?” Zhong Lingyu’s gentle voice, like a melting spring, instantly relaxed Song Chan’s tense and suppressed emotions. “Are you afraid that the class representative duties will be too much and interfere with your studies?”
Song Chan: “Maybe.”
Zhong Lingyu continued, “Besides, being a class representative requires social interaction, and you might not be very good at that?”
Song Chan felt a little embarrassed. “You’ve hit the nail on the head.”
Zhong Lingyu placed a beautifully packaged bag with foreign language printing on Song Chan’s books. It contained imported matcha-flavored mochi. “Don’t be afraid of things that haven’t happened yet, and don’t make your expectations too high. Eat something nice first, then do your favorite history problem, and then don’t think about this anymore, okay?”
Song Chan remained silent.
Zhong Lingyu’s tone brightened: “Even if all else fails, if you can’t find anyone to perform, I can go on stage, right?”
Song Chan felt a surge of joy. “You can perform?”
Zhong Lingyu exaggeratedly: “I’m a jack-of-all-trades, a little bit of everything.”
His relaxed tone finally lifted Song Chan’s spirits. She tore open the packaging, feeling her nose sting even more.
Song Chan desperately tried to hold back, staring at the small dessert in the bag. “Zhong Lingyu, you must have been sent by heaven to save me.”
Zhong Lingyu retorted without hesitation: “Then you’d better be nice to your savior.”
When evening self-study ended, Song Chan stayed behind to do her cleaning duty. While taking out the trash, she saw Ran Jiayu in the water dispenser room.
She didn’t approach, but heard whispers behind the wall.
“The arts and culture representative is always the one doing the work, begging everyone for help to perform on stage. It’s so humble.”
“But Song Chan really isn’t as suitable as you. The arts and culture representative position is usually held by the prettiest girl in the class. It’s so embarrassing if people ask who our class’s arts and culture representative is.”
“Don’t say that. Song Chan is taller than me.”
“But her eyes aren’t as big as yours, and she’s not as thin as you.”
“And her clothes don’t look as good as yours. Have you ever seen her without her school uniform? Her clothes are ugly, like something from the 1950s.”
Song Chan gripped the edge of the trash can tightly.
She felt so nauseous she could hardly breathe, her vision blurred, and she could barely stand.
What had she done wrong? Why did she have to endure such malice?
“Song Chan! Take out the trash!”
At that moment, a very loud voice came from somewhere.
Song Chan looked over in a panic. She saw a tall girl with a sports bag slung over one arm; her face was unfamiliar, and Song Chan was certain she didn’t recognize her. However, the girl was smiling brightly at her.
“You mean Ran Jiayu? Ugh, a class beauty who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I’ve never heard of her before. It seems she crowned herself that way.”
Song Chan then realized that this classmate was helping her.
Ran Jiayu was badmouthing Song Chan to her classmate, so she was giving her a taste of her own medicine, just as Song Chan had pretended to badmouth Ran Jiayu, to let the other girl know what it felt like to be hurt.
“Her hair is all sorts of colors. I really can’t stand it. It looks like one of those colorful windmills sold on the street. Thank goodness the school’s discipline is strict; otherwise, I don’t know what kind of eye-catching clothes she’d wear.”
Ran Jiayu, standing in the water dispenser room, heard this, and her eyes welled up with tears, which were about to fall.
But she couldn’t move.
After all, they already knew Song Chan had been there and overheard their conversation, and they too felt the shame of being caught in the act.
Furthermore, the person outside spoke so sharply and arrogantly that, as the one being talked about, they didn’t have the courage to stand up.
Just like Song Chan, Ran Jiayu was also seeing stars, barely able to stand.
But someone felt they shouldn’t remain silent.
“No, Ran Jiayu, how could they talk about you like that? I’ll help you yell back!”
Then came a timely remark.
“Hurt? If I can use my hands, I, Fang Qie, will never use my words. Song Chan, do you know what I’m carrying in my bag? A pair of boxing gloves. I recently used them to defeat a Russian female boxer. I’m an athlete, why would I be afraid of those women?”
At this moment, a foot that had stepped out of the boiler room trembled and withdrew.