When Lin’s father returned home and learned about the incident, he also blamed his wife for being too impulsive.
Lin’s mother was filled with regret.
She was over fifty years old, someone with some life experience who usually paid attention to her image.
What she had done today was truly inappropriate.
Whenever she recalled the scene, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Although the misunderstanding had been cleared up and both Gu Chenshi and his mother seemed reasonable, not holding grudges or making a fuss, Lin’s mother still felt deeply embarrassed.
She thought to herself, luckily Gu Chenshi had been quick-eyed and swift-handed, grabbing her wrist in time. Otherwise, if that furious slap had really landed on Gu Chenshi’s face, the situation would have been much more serious.
As the saying goes, when hitting someone, you don’t aim for the face.
After all, wasn’t it because she had heard her daughter was being bullied that she had panicked and lost her head in the heat of the moment?
Naturally, she thought of Kong Xiao, who had provided her with the false information.
Lin’s father asked in surprise, “Was it Kong Xiao who told you Gu Chenshi was bullying our daughter? How could he say something so irresponsible?”
Lin’s mother said angrily, “Who knows why that child would do such a thing? And I trusted him so much! He made me lose face in front of so many people! And offended Ranran’s male classmate!”
Lin Ranran was both shocked and angry. Her mother hadn’t mentioned this to her before: “It was that bastard Kong Xiao? How can he be so annoying and disgusting? I’m sick of him! Mom, Dad, can we please not invite him to our house anymore? I get so irritated every time I see him!”
Lin’s father pondered, “Does Kong Xiao have some personal grudge against that Gu Chenshi?”
In truth, Lin’s father was also furious.
At such a young age, to be so scheming, learning to use others to do his dirty work, and even using them as pawns!
Lin Ranran, of course, knew what was going on.
Kong Xiao liked her, and Gu Chenshi also liked her.
She usually didn’t reject Gu Chenshi’s approaches but often ignored Kong Xiao, so Kong Xiao harbored resentment toward Gu Chenshi.
But she had always maintained a good-girl image in front of her parents—how could she say such things?
So she shook her head and said she didn’t know either.
Lin’s father and mother exchanged glances.
They were experienced adults and vaguely guessed what was happening.
Lin’s mother tentatively asked, “Ranran, are you usually on good terms with that Gu Chenshi at school?”
Lin Ranran choked up.
Was she on good terms with Gu Chenshi?
If it were before, she could have casually brushed it off with an “okay, I guess,” but now… it seemed they were even worse than strangers…
At least the polite Gu Chenshi wouldn’t use such cold eyes and indifferent tone with a stranger.
Lin Ranran felt panicked inside.
What exactly did Gu Chenshi want?
How long was he going to stay angry?
But Lin Ranran faintly sensed that Gu Chenshi didn’t seem to be angry with her. It seemed like he truly meant what he said to her at the milk tea shop—that he didn’t want to waste any more time and energy on her…
If that were the case, Lin Ranran would rather Gu Chenshi was being petty and angry with her than ignoring her.
No one can stay angry forever, but ignoring someone can last a lifetime…
She… she couldn’t quite bear it…
The next day.
Kong Xiao hummed a tune as he walked into the classroom and immediately looked toward Gu Chenshi’s direction. To his disappointment, Gu Chenshi was sitting perfectly fine at his desk reading a book, his expression calm and seemingly unaffected.
That handsome face he despised showed no signs of bruises or injuries.
He was puzzled.
It shouldn’t be like this.
Yesterday, he had done his best to slander Gu Chenshi over the phone. Although he couldn’t see through the phone, he could sense that Lin’s mother was about to explode with anger.
He knew Lin’s mother quite well.
Usually gentle and dignified, once it involved her precious daughter Lin Ranran, she turned into a fearsome tigress!
He still remembered when Lin Ranran was in elementary school, a boy who liked her tried to get her attention by deliberately pulling her pigtails.
When Lin’s mother found out, she immediately rushed to the school, not only sharply scolding the boy but also demanding an apology from his parents and his transfer before the matter was settled.
Kong Xiao believed that his “accusations” against Gu Chenshi over the phone were far more serious than a little boy pulling Lin Ranran’s pigtails. Lin’s mother should have beaten Gu Chenshi black and blue and then strongly demanded the school expel him.
From an outsider’s perspective, Kong Xiao’s actions were quite foolish.
Once the Lin family uncovered the truth, it would be like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet—ruining the good image he had painstakingly built in front of Lin’s father and Lin’s mother.
So why did he dare to fabricate lies so brazenly?
It was because he thought Gu Chenshi had become unbearably arrogant these past few days, always making Lin Ranran angry.
Lin Ranran was narrow-minded and, to get back at Gu Chenshi, wouldn’t help clarify the truth.
That way, Gu Chenshi’s guilt would be confirmed, and he wouldn’t be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River. Hahaha.
Who told this guy to sit alone with Lin Ranran in a milk tea shop for a while? If he wanted to, he definitely had the opportunity to do something, right?
It could only be said that Kong Xiao was too self-righteous, thinking he understood Lin Ranran well.
Gu Chenshi seemed to sense something and looked up.
Kong Xiao was startled, guiltily avoiding his gaze as he walked toward his own seat.
Gu Chenshi snorted softly.
Idiot.
Was Kong Xiao’s baseless slander from yesterday just going to be forgotten?
Of course not.
However, Gu Chenshi didn’t plan to confront Kong Xiao personally, as the truth was already clear, and there was no need.
Having been reborn once, Gu Chenshi only wanted to stay away from scum and live this life well.
The year of despair and darkness he spent lying in bed in his previous life had given Gu Chenshi a maturity far beyond his years.
He understood deeply that even though he had been given a chance at rebirth, he was still just an ordinary person.
Life was so beautiful, time so precious—why should he waste his limited energy on scum destined to be mere passersby in his life?
That would be like squandering his life.
Not seeking revenge on Kong Xiao didn’t mean the matter was settled.
Before entering the room yesterday, he had specifically asked Lin’s mother whether Kong Xiao’s parents worked at their family’s company.
Kong Xiao had bragged many times to highlight his special relationship with Lin Ranran, so it wasn’t surprising that Gu Chenshi knew his parents were employees at Lin Ranran’s family company.
Kong Xiao didn’t dare to confront him directly and instead used Lin’s mother to stir up trouble. So, Gu Chenshi repaying him in kind was only natural.
He had deliberately asked that question yesterday, actually to remind Lin’s mother.
Lin Ranran had once said that her parents particularly disliked people with poor character.
So one might ask, could the person who raised Kong Xiao to be so malicious possibly have good character themselves?
And because of Kong Xiao’s nonsense, Lin’s mother had lost so much face—how could she not be angry?
At this point, Gu Chenshi only needed to plant a thorn in Lin’s mother’s heart to make her restless.
It must be noted that Kong Xiao’s parents both held important positions in the company. If their character truly had issues, it wouldn’t be a matter of children playing house, where they could simply cut ties if they wanted…
If Kong Xiao’s parents were clean, that would be fine. But if they weren’t…
No one is perfect. If Lin Ranran’s parents really wanted to find something, they could more or less uncover some problems.
It must be said that Gu Chenshi was remarkably insightful.
That very night, Lin’s mother voiced her concerns to Lin’s father. Lin’s father also realized the seriousness of the issue. The next day, he began secretly investigating whether Kong Xiao’s parents had neglected their duties, violated regulations, or committed other workplace misconduct.
“Gu Chenshi, let’s go to the cafeteria together.”
After the last class of the morning, Lin Ranran took the initiative to invite Gu Chenshi.
The other students were shocked.
The aloof campus belle actually took the initiative to invite someone?
Then they thought about how the two had been acting like strangers over the past few days—perhaps they had some kind of disagreement.
They had assumed Gu Chenshi would eventually give in, because although the campus belle was beautiful, she was also prouder than most girls. How could she lower her noble head?
However, reality showed that Gu Chenshi acted as if nothing had happened, studying and reading as usual every day, without trying to coax Lin Ranran. And now, Lin Ranran was actually taking the initiative to show willingness to reconcile with Gu Chenshi?
Everyone looked at Gu Chenshi and couldn’t help but show admiration—retreating to advance, playing hard to get. What a clever move!