He Ying couldn’t guarantee her guess was 100% accurate, but she could assure it was 99% correct.
She felt the System’s tasks were off. Although Chi Jingsheng was used as a shield, the true purpose of the tasks was to ruin He Ying’s reputation and make her violate school rules, so she would be unable to inherit the family fortune just like in the original worldline.
If she couldn’t inherit the fortune, the underlying logic of the world would be sufficiently intact, naturally allowing the melodramatic developments seen by Xia Shuyue to continue.
As He Ying pondered, she discovered an opportunity to slack off.
Previously, her hard work was aimed at inheriting 13 trillion and living happily for the rest of her life.
But now, knowing she likely wouldn’t inherit the fortune, perhaps she didn’t need to strive anymore.
Why bother studying?
In this wonderful era with normal prices and sane tycoons, the crumbs leaking from her father’s fingernails alone would suffice for a happy life!!
Her dream was to be an ordinary rich person; being the world’s richest was too dangerous and unsuitable for her.
After clarifying her thoughts, He Ying’s back no longer ached, her legs no longer hurt, and the world seemed broader.
How wonderful—the feeling of no longer needing to study was truly great!
From now on, the purpose of attending classes at Hongru Academy would be to watch others learn.
During morning reading that day, He Ying abandoned reading world history and instead played on her phone.
This action naturally caught the teacher’s attention.
The teacher walked over to He Ying and asked why she was playing on her phone during morning reading. He Ying stopped pretending and began rambling: “I suspect I might have a mental illness and want to check online.”
The teacher didn’t think He Ying was rambling but seriously inquired: “Where do you feel uncomfortable? What specific symptoms? When did it start?”
The teacher then considered that He Ying probably wouldn’t want to discuss this openly, so she took He Ying’s hand: “Teacher will take you to the infirmary.”
“Other students continue with morning reading; the principal will come later to check.”
Mentioning the principal’s inspection ensured classroom discipline wouldn’t be a concern.
Since arriving in this world, this was the first time He Ying had been held by someone other than her parents. The sensation was peculiar, and she felt a desire to verify the world as seen by Xia Shuyue.
What kind of teachers were in this school?
“He Ying, why do you suddenly think you have a mental illness? What exactly happened? Would you like to tell Teacher?”
He Ying’s gaze shifted from their clasped hands to Teacher Zhang’s slender shoulders.
Teacher Zhang was a veteran teacher at the school. In other schools, a teacher’s seniority might only reflect teaching quality and tenure, but at Hongru Academy, higher seniority also indicated more powerful connections.
Graduates from Hongru Academy were no ordinary individuals.
These students would become assets for the academy’s teachers.
Instead of directly answering the teacher, He Ying took control by tightening her grip on Teacher Zhang’s hand, even deliberately adjusting the pressure to a level that would cause slight pain: “Teacher’s hand is so warm.”
Upon hearing this, Teacher Zhang understood the child wasn’t ready to talk and didn’t press further.
Since He Ying mentioned hand temperature, she followed up: “It’s not Teacher’s hand being warm; yours is too cold.”
“Sorry, Teacher. When hands are cold, one shouldn’t hold others’ hands. I was impolite.”
Teacher Zhang hadn’t expected that He Ying’s first concern while feeling unwell would be this. An inexplicable emotion rose in her heart as she reached out and ruffled He Ying’s hair. “He Ying, we’re not shaking hands right now. Your teacher is taking you to the infirmary.”
He Ying apologized again, “I’m sorry.”
This surprised Teacher Zhang even more.
He Ying was a student who received considerable attention in their class. Her performance in the first experimental class had been exceptionally brilliant, making almost all the teachers remember the commanding presence she exuded. Yet the He Ying before her now was clearly different from the one in class.
Whether it was due to illness or not, the current He Ying seemed fragile, as if the slightest touch would make her vanish from this world.
What could have happened to turn a student who was so full of confidence just yesterday into this state today?
Thinking of the school’s trivial gossip, Teacher Zhang decided to take a risk to guide her student.
“He Ying, if you’ve been bullied by a boy, you can tell your teacher. Although it’s against school rules, I’ve been through that age too, and I can give you some advice.”
He Ying shook her head, her voice trembling with a hint of tears. “Teacher… I… I feel like I’m living in The Truman Show, where everyone knows my ending, and only I remain unaware, struggling pointlessly. My efforts are meaningless. The path I’m destined to take is known to everyone but me.”
After saying this, He Ying seemed to realize she had spoken too much and quickly tried to cover it up. “I don’t know why I said that. I must be sick.”
He Ying had always made a grand entrance into the school.
Aside from her name being widely known, some teachers with access to higher-ups were also aware of the He family’s complicated situation.
If He Ying had been an unmotivated person, the teachers would have turned a blind eye to her development to avoid displeasing those above.
But He Ying clearly wasn’t.
While others were still enjoying their childhood, this girl had already begun reading obscure books on her own.
A simple Leadership Experiment class was enough for the school to see the He family’s education, He Ying’s character, and her efforts.
It was as if she knew she would eventually stand in that position and had been working tirelessly toward it.
She constantly disciplined herself.
Yet, as she said, this child seemed unlikely to achieve her desires.
Teacher Zhang sighed softly, pretending not to have heard He Ying’s words, and comforted her instead. “Let’s go to the infirmary first for a check-up. If you’re really unwell physically or mentally, you can rest today. I’ll talk to your other teachers.”
He Ying shook her head and suddenly said, “Teacher, I want to drop out.”
Teacher Zhang was stunned by He Ying’s words. She had guessed that He Ying was discouraged by knowing about her family’s affairs but hadn’t expected her to be so resolute.
Leaving Hongru Academy, for the He family, meant He Ying was giving up her inheritance rights.
For He Ying herself, it meant she was negating all the time and effort she had invested.
Teacher Zhang couldn’t bear it.
Doctors heal the body, while educators heal the soul. She simply couldn’t stand by and watch a student descend into despair before her eyes.
“He Ying, don’t act impulsively. Let’s talk, okay?”
When Teacher Zhang spoke, He Ying knew that at least regarding matters of the school and teachers, the Mary Sue perspective had no traps.
In that case, she could still fight for it.
Not being able to inherit the family fortune would indeed make her life easier, but it would also leave her feeling stifled, turning all the efforts she had made before recovering her memories into a complete joke.
He Ying always followed her heart when carrying out tasks—she had to fight for that one breath of pride.
Since everyone wanted to swallow up the He family, scheming this and plotting that, she would deliberately make them speechless through honorable means.
She could ultimately choose not to take this 13 trillion, but that would be because she didn’t want it, not because she couldn’t obtain it.
She was He Ying, a gold-level Task Agent who had cleared 100 worlds.
Even if the whale was destined to fall, she would personally choose who would be nurtured.
Everything flourishing? Dream on.
At most, three would thrive.