22 – The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role of the Aristocratic Family Twenty-Two
Jiang Huai watched Gu Yunze desperately trying to persuade her, feeling increasingly wronged. It seemed she couldn’t bear to refuse him, so she agreed to pay him rent and stay.
…
That afternoon marked three days since the fire.
Lin Xiaoxiao deliberately went to the third-year medical department and intercepted Jiang Huai, who was on her way to the laboratory.
Lin Xiaoxiao wore delicate, natural-looking makeup, yet she still couldn’t compare to Jiang Huai’s naturally rosy and fair complexion, which required no cosmetics.
Blocking Jiang Huai’s path, Lin Xiaoxiao’s voice was sharp with resentment, as if she were extremely angry. “Jiang Huai, you heartless person! Dad provided you with food and shelter, raised you all these years, and now that he’s hospitalized with myocarditis, you’ve changed your phone number and made yourself unreachable! I’ve tried to find you several times, but you’re nowhere to be seen!”
It was just after class, and students from the medical department gathered around, stopping to watch. If there was gossip involving the beautiful Jiang, they certainly wouldn’t miss it. However, judging by the words of this freshman campus belle, it seemed the situation wasn’t so simple!
Recently, Jiang Huai had become much more cheerful than before. When asked questions she didn’t understand, she no longer remained silent as she used to but would explain things in the simplest way possible.
Her bright, sunny smile made her seem as beautiful as a celestial being.
Hospitalized with myocarditis? Jiang Huai was slightly surprised. The most likely cause of myocarditis was a viral infection. Could it be that the two men from that night were sick?
It was possible. After all, they weren’t the male lead, so why would they possess some special constitution?
Jiang Huai thought to herself but showed no expression on her face. She appeared shocked by the news, widening her watery almond-shaped eyes innocently and looking at Lin Xiaoxiao with feigned astonishment. She even stepped forward to take Lin Xiaoxiao’s hand.
“Little sister, I’m sorry. The hotel I was staying in caught fire that day, and I ran out without taking my phone or anything else. Dad was angry with me and told me not to come home. I endured the pain in my heart and didn’t contact him. Now that you’ve told me Dad is sick and hospitalized, my heart truly aches. Let’s go see him right away!”
With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and pulled her along. “Let’s hurry to the hospital!”
Before Lin Xiaoxiao could finish her smear campaign against Jiang Huai, she was swiftly dragged away, unable to break free from Jiang Huai’s strong grip.
In recent days, Jiang Huai’s reputation had been improving more and more. Terms like “academic genius,” “top student,” “goddess,” and “as beautiful as a celestial being” were constantly heard from those around her, which annoyed Lin Xiaoxiao to no end.
That morning, she had learned that her father was hospitalized with sudden myocarditis. She had hoped to use this opportunity to make others think Jiang Huai was an irresponsible and unfilial person, but Jiang Huai had easily spun a tale and dragged her away.
After pulling Lin Xiaoxiao out the door, Jiang Huai led her to a secluded spot, released her arm, raised the corner of her eyes, and looked at her disdainfully. In a cold tone, she said, “Lin Xiaoxiao, don’t always try to ruin my reputation in front of others. Such tactics are utterly low and foolish. Don’t make yourself look so stupid, okay?”
“You! Hmph, then you shouldn’t always steal the spotlight either. It’s disgusting!”
Lin Xiaoxiao was furious at Jiang Huai’s contemptuous gaze and raised her hand to slap her, daring to speak to her like that.
Jiang Huai blinked, grabbed Lin Xiaoxiao’s raised hand with her left hand, and swiftly slapped her with her right.
SmackJiang Huai gave her a cold glance. “Just because you’re not as good as others, you think they’re disgusting! I haven’t even settled the score with you over that Leng Junyan incident! So you’re just offering your face for me to slap, right? Quite clever, aren’t you—showing him my photo through his subordinates!”
“If you could put this much effort into your studies, you wouldn’t be stuck in the dozens in your grade ranking. Even with such simple freshman-level courses, you manage to score so poorly—it’s truly concerning!”
Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened as she covered her stinging, burning cheek, shouting in disbelief and fury, “Jiang Huai! You’re asking for death!”
She tried to wrench her captured hand free but found she couldn’t move it at all. Jiang Huai’s grip was so tight it hurt unbearably.
Raising her other hand to strike back, a sudden gust of wind swept from the side—a powerful, long leg kicked her squarely in the left flank. Jiang Huai released her grip at that moment, sending her tumbling face-first to the ground in an unexpected fall.
Feeling the dust clinging to her lips, Lin Xiaoxiao—who always prided herself on being ladylike—let out a breakdown scream, “Ahhh!”!”
Jiang Huai looked at Gu Yunze, who had suddenly appeared, blinking her eyelashes in slight confusion. “What are you doing here?”
For the past few days, Gu Yunze had been waiting to pick up Jiang Huai. Since she never knew when her experiments would end, he would come straight here after school, working in his car just so he could drive her home.
Jiang Huai, however, had no idea. She only thought he happened to arrive each time, either just on time or a little early.
Gu Yunze’s gaze drifted slightly, a faint smile curling his thin lips. “I just happened to be passing by!”
Lin Xiaoxiao clutched her aching waist as she stood up, shooting a venomous glare at the person who had kicked her. Yet, with one look, she felt as if she had fallen in love all over again.
How could there be a man with such flawless, handsome looks and such noble, extraordinary presence?
His tall nose, perfectly proportioned red lips now curved into a dazzling smile, his tall and straight figure like a model’s benchmark, his healthy wheat-colored complexion, sharp eyebrows, and deep, mesmerizing eyes.
He was wearing a custom-made black suit from FDV, wasn’t he? Just the tailoring alone cost five million, not to mention the top-quality fabric!
Even his leather shoes seemed to be from the same top luxury brand series. Oh my god, who is this man?
Lin Xiaoxiao quickly tidied her brown wavy curls, wiped the dust from her lips, and put on what she thought was a gentle smile as she looked at Gu Yunze. “Sir, did you kick the wrong person? Why did you kick me?” She finished with a playful wink.
Jiang Huai couldn’t help but let out a “pfft” laugh. It seemed this female lead couldn’t escape being vulgar after all. I wonder if anyone on the street could see the invisible green hat the male lead was wearing?
Gu Yunze cast a disgusted glance at the woman whose makeup was smeared like a palette, quickly moving to stand beside Huai Huai. He turned his head to look at Huai Huai’s stunning beauty, ignoring Lin Xiaoxiao’s question.
Jiang Huai inexplicably felt her mood lift. She glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Why don’t you take out a mirror and look at yourself? You’re trying to act gentle now? You look scarier than a clown—no, you can’t even compare. At least clowns are cute!”
Lin Xiaoxiao remembered how she had fallen face-first to the ground and even wiped her face with her hand. Imagining how her makeup must have smeared, she felt崩溃 inside. She had intended to threaten them, but remembering the exceptionally handsome man standing opposite her, she changed her tone and said,”Sis, how… how could you say that about me? You’re so vicious… sob… sob… Remember to visit Dad in the hospital… Stop fooling around with men in hotels…”
Lin Xiaoxiao covered her eyes, crying as if deeply hurt, and quickly ran away.