Whether Lu Xun would regret it she didn’t know, but Jiang Qiao certainly regretted it.
After acting for so many years, she’d never delivered such narcissistic lines—how utterly mortifying…
Sprawled across the large bed in the Jiang family villa, she lay motionless as if dead, weakly complaining: [166, this job really isn’t for humans. Why did you even choose me?]
166 snorted twice, perhaps fearing she might quit, this time not claiming ignorance: [The original host’s resentment after death was too strong, causing the plot to collapse. To rebuild the storyline and achieve a satisfactory ending, we needed someone to replace this role. Since you share the same appearance as the original host, you were naturally selected.]
So that was it. No wonder she had physically transmigrated instead of soul transmigrating.
Early the next morning, Jiang Qiao was awakened by the System.
[Hurry up and get moving! There’s an important Plot Point to follow today, quick quick quick!]
So annoying.
Jiang Qiao’s pretty face scrunched up as she fondly recalled the days when she could sleep until naturally waking.
Do all high school students wake up this early? No wonder they sleep during class.
Following her persona, Jiang Qiao ostentatiously stepped out of a luxury car at the school gate, attracting waves of envious and resentful glances.
Yawning, she stumbled forward in a daze until someone blocked her path.
“Classmate, where’s your uniform?” The girl was half a head shorter than her, wearing a Discipline Committee Member badge around her neck, her hair tied in a neat high ponytail. Her voice was gentle and soft.
Jiang Qiao squinted at her, appearing both spoiled and beautiful, though in reality she hadn’t processed what was happening. The System frantically reminded her: [Follow the plot! Provoke and bully the female lead!]
[……………………]
Jiang Qiao slipped into character, crossing her arms as her captivating peach blossom eyes filled with disdain, instantly embodying the role: “Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m not wearing it?Seeing Song Qingying’s pitiful yet pretending to be strong innocent act, 166 exclaimed: [Well done!”]
Song Qingying clearly had never encountered someone so unreasonable. She froze for several seconds before taking a deep breath to suppress her grievance, standing her ground: “Not wearing it will result in demerit points.”These rich young ladies were always such annoying presences no matter the circumstance.
What does it matter if they’re pretty? All that glitters is not gold.
Jiang Qiao didn’t miss the disgust in the other girl’s eyes, her tone turning even more malicious: “Then deduct them. Who’s stopping you?”
She even reached for the record book: “My name’s Jiang Qiao. Want me to help you write it down?”
“Classmate Jiang, don’t go too far!”Song Qingying was panicked and stepped back, her pitiful appearance making even Jiang Qiao feel like she was being utterly wicked.”
Before her fingers could touch the record book, someone forcefully grabbed her wrist. The grip was so strong Jiang Qiao cried out in pain. She tried to pull away but couldn’t break free, glaring at the offender.
“Classmate Lu, I’m fine. You can let her go now.” A small crowd had gathered around them. Seeing Lu Xun intervene, Song Qingying felt both happy and worried.
She instinctively reached to pull apart Lu Xun’s tight grip on Jiang Qiao, but whether by coincidence or not, Lu Xun released her hand before she could make contact.
Tears welled in Jiang Qiao’s eyes from the pain as she gently blew on her reddened wrist.
Damn it, what’s wrong with this Lu Xun? His strength was incredible—she almost thought her hand would break!
Song Qingying was also startled by the extensive red marks, worried the rich young lady might cause trouble for Lu Xun, she quickly said: “Classmate Jiang, your… let me accompany you to the infirmary to get some medicine.”
Unexpectedly, Jiang Qiao showed no appreciation at all. Her slightly reddened eyes widened as she retorted sharply, “None of your business!”
“You!”
Lu Xun stepped in front of Song Qingying, his gaze piercing the furious girl. “I’ll go with you.”
“Classmate Lu, you don’t have to for my sake—”
“Fine! I want you to carry me on your back!”
Lu Xun frowned, about to refuse, but his eyes fell on Jiang Qiao’s reddened eyelids and wide eyes. Her tears hadn’t even dried, yet she was already making unreasonable demands.
“Are you sure?”
Nonsense! Dude, I was just saying that casually!
An actor’s self-cultivation meant never breaking character, no matter what. Jiang Qiao stiffened her neck and glared at him, steeling herself. “What, you’re not willing?”
He could go to such lengths for Song Qingying, yet he seemed so reluctant to even accompany her to the infirmary.
“Hah.”
With a cold laugh, Lu Xun closed in. Ignoring Song Qingying’s advice from behind, he grabbed Jiang Qiao’s arm and pulled her away.
Jiang Qiao was stunned. It wasn’t until they were several meters away that she began to struggle. “Lu Xun! Where are you taking me?!”
Lu Xun’s pace didn’t falter in the slightest as he replied coldly, “Weren’t you going to the infirmary?”
His demeanor felt less like escorting her to the infirmary and more like he was taking her away to kill and bury her.
But she couldn’t show fear.
Swallowing hard, Jiang Qiao snarled, “Didn’t I tell you to carry me on your back?!”
Lu Xun ignored her.
“Are you listening to me?!”
Still, Lu Xun remained silent.
Jiang Qiao grew furious. “Lu Xun, are you deaf or mute? I told you to—”
Suddenly, he released her. Meeting the boy’s frosty gaze, Jiang Qiao paled, her voice cutting off abruptly.
Lu Xun’s expression was dark and unreadable. Jiang Qiao felt unnerved under his stare.
For once, she felt a twinge of guilt, but she still had to maintain her arrogant persona. “Well… it’s your fault for ignoring me…”
It was truly an unintentional slip—she hadn’t meant to rub salt in Lu Xun’s wounds.
But this guy was so two-faced. Was he going to kill her to vent his anger?
Noticing there was no one around, Jiang Qiao grew anxious. Seeing Lu Xun move, she immediately scrambled backward to avoid him.
Lu Xun didn’t even glance at her, his voice icy. “Keep up.”
Jiang Qiao: “?” What did that mean?
By the time she processed it two seconds later, Lu Xun was already far ahead. Frowning, she still followed him.
At the infirmary, the school doctor prescribed an ointment to reduce swelling. Only then did Jiang Qiao’s offline brain catch up.
“36 yuan. It’s nothing serious. Apply the ointment a few times, and it’ll be fine. Lovers’ quarrel?”The school doctor gossiped, then added earnestly, ‘Even if you’re arguing, you shouldn’t be so rough with your girlfriend.’ Young girls have delicate skin—you can’t use so much force…”
Lu Xun pulled out a few crumpled bills from his uniform pants—ones and fives mixed together. Hearing this, he frowned, his expression clearly unwilling to be associated with her. “We’re not.”
Jiang Qiao instantly bristled. Pulling out her phone, she scanned the QR code to pay for the ointment herself, deliberately raising her chin. “So slow. If you’re broke, why pretend otherwise?”
The school doctor, who had initially seen her as a delicate girl, now looked at her with complicated eyes.
Jiang Qiao paid no mind. She was waiting to see Lu Xun embarrassed, but the guy’s expression didn’t change at all. With his usual aloof face, he calmly tucked the money back into his pocket.
So he was thick-skinned after all.
He was probably inwardly relieved he hadn’t wasted 36 yuan on her!
Damn! What was wrong with spending 36 yuan on her?! Did he have to be so stingy?!
[He does…] System 166’s voice drifted in faintly. [That money is enough for the male lead to eat for two days.]
At sixteen or seventeen, boys are in that growth phase where they eat their parents out of house and home.
Lu Xun, having lost both parents, lived alone. Even though the school waived his tuition, he still had to cover miscellaneous fees himself.
He had to work to earn money for his education while managing daily expenses. For meals, he opted for cheap and filling options like steamed buns and mantou. However, given his large appetite, he still needed nearly 20 yuan a day.
Thirty-six yuan was almost two days’ worth of food expenses.