Xie Xifan immediately made a face as if he’d been disgusted by something.
“Miss Xia’s engagement to you is known to everyone, and she, as a friend, goes and tries to steal you away—how low is that?”
He thought for a moment more, then added: “And the Yu family isn’t exactly impressive, is it? They rely entirely on the Wen family’s support. Someone of her status approaching Xia Muyan like that definitely has ulterior motives.”
The man’s handsome brows remained furrowed, as if he found such behavior utterly repulsive.
In their eyes, a hanger-on was a rank lower than a friend. If you wanted to cling to the powerful and wealthy, you should do so obediently and honestly. Being two-faced—acting one way in front of others and another behind their backs—was the most contemptible thing of all.
Yu Shiyan had only called Yu Jinyao Xia Muyan’s friend to save face for her. In reality, he was just as disgusted.
He had no feelings for Xia Muyan, but he could not tolerate being coveted by a woman like that.
In the book set at the noble academy, the F4 admired the bright, proud, and headstrong young ladies, and were drawn to the stubborn, unyielding white lotus flowers that swayed in the wind.
But what they despised most were the plot device female supporting characters—those who had nothing but beauty, bullied the weak, were shallow and despicable, did dirty work for the young ladies, and failed to recognize their own place while still daring to fantasize about winning the F4’s affection.
In the other two books, Yu Jinyao might not have won the male lead’s love, but at least she wasn’t hated.
Even in the male-oriented novel, as the villain’s girlfriend, she earned the male lead’s respect.
But in this book, she had become universally despised.
Xie Xifan rubbed the goosebumps on his arms, losing all interest as he sat back down in his original spot.
He suddenly realized Wen Jiayan hadn’t said a word the entire time. Turning to look at him, he saw a rare darkness clouding his face.
Xie Xifan was startled. “Wen, you don’t mean—”
Wen Jiayan turned his pale, light-colored eyes coldly toward him.
“Don’t tell me the interesting thing you encountered is her? I can guess easily—she must have put on a sweet, obedient act and tried to curry favor with you, right?”
“…”
“Shut up. Where’s your manners?”
Wen Jiayan found the frivolous, contemptuous words coming from the man’s mouth grating to his ears.
He glanced at Yu Shiyan, who was lounging lazily, then stood up and left without another word.
Leaving Xie Xifan behind to mutter in confusion: “Acting like he’s some noble gentleman… talking about manners…”
Yu Shiyan watched Wen Jiayan’s retreating figure, narrowing his eyes.
…
The next day, Yu Jinyao changed into the Xingyao Academy uniform and wheeled her white suitcase out the door.
In her other hand, she carried the sandwich Chen Xanyu had stuffed into her hands.
After the semester started, for convenience, she would only return to this shared apartment on weekends, spending the rest of her time living at Xingyao Academy.
Chen Xanyu was still doing bit parts—not even a nobody actor yet. The entertainment industry plot hadn’t begun, so there was no rush.
Her main focus now needed to be on the noble academy book.
A low-key black Bentley was parked downstairs. Wen Jiayan had already been waiting for her for quite a while.
Yu Jinyao dawdled, not wanting to go over.
Fortunately, the driver had enough sense to get out and help her with her luggage.
“Miss Yu, please get in. The young master is waiting for you.”
His tone was respectful and deferential, carrying an old-fashioned air.
Her suitcase had already been loaded into the trunk by the driver, so Yu Jinyao had no choice but to open the rear door.
Wen Jiayan sat inside, legs crossed, most of his face hidden in shadow.
Yu Jinyao didn’t sense any danger. She got in and politely said, “Good morning,” to him.
When she received no response, she belatedly realized the atmosphere was off.
Given Wen Jiayan’s character, even toward someone he disliked, he wouldn’t be this rude.
Puzzled, she looked at the young man’s expression, only to find he was already looking at her.
Xingyao Academy was a place of strict hierarchy, where the rules were even colder and more naked than society itself, dividing people into tiers based on family background.
Entering that place was like stepping into a closed society completely different from the outside world.
But it was no paradise—it was an aristocratic playground where a few made the rules, the majority followed them, and a small handful were at everyone’s mercy.
Just reading the descriptions in the book made Yu Jinyao feel physically uncomfortable.
So much so that when she learned this book existed in the same world as the other two, she’d been genuinely shocked.
At Xingyao Academy, family status was displayed through the color of one’s brooch. The brooch design was a traditional shield shape with a wreath of wheat ears, engraved with the school emblem.
Ordinary wealthy students wore dark blue brooches, like Yu Jinyao.
Students from chaebol and prestigious families wore burgundy brooches, while royal family members wore dark green ones.
And the true powerholders of the empire—the heirs of the four great families—wore brooches of a mysterious, deep purple.
Special admittees had no brooches at all.
Such obvious markers of status had cultivated a habit among students of treating people according to their rank.
Aside from the brooches, personal appearance was also extremely important at Xingyao Academy.
Although everyone except the F4 had to wear the school uniform, each person’s hairstyle, accessories, shoes, makeup, and so on were all subject to scrutiny.
As the original book’s sidekick to the dazzling young miss—a plot device female supporting character with nothing but beauty, shallow and despicable—Yu Jinyao naturally couldn’t dress herself the way she did around Chen Xanyu.
Although she didn’t think she matched the book’s description of beauty, believing it was just a casually written line…
But she still tried her best to look presentable.
The glasses were put away the moment she stepped out the door, and she had parted her blunt bangs to the sides, making them look less heavy and frumpy.
Her thick, long hair fell over her shoulders in natural waves.
The dress had been shortened by the original owner, which she only realized when she put it on this morning—fortunately, it was still acceptable.
Now she used the sandwich wrapper to hold down the hem of her skirt, looking like a shy, delicate pale-pink rose.
A stark contrast to the country bumpkin from yesterday.
The moment Wen Jiayan saw her, he was reminded of what Yu Shiyan had said last night.
Confession, confession, confession…
She was just like all those girls who dressed up prettily to confess to Yu Shiyan, clinging to power and influence without even remembering their faces.
—She liked Yu Shiyan.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Yu Jinyao was startled by the darkness in his eyes and instinctively leaned toward the car door, putting more distance between them.
The air pressure in the car was too low. Wen Jiayan seemed to be in a bad mood.
Even more frightening than yesterday when he kept demanding she atone for her sins.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
Wen Jiayan suddenly smiled, like a spring breeze brushing across one’s face.
“I just happened to discover Sister Yaoyao’s little maidenly secret, and found it quite amusing.”
Yu Jinyao tore open the wrapper and took a bite of her sandwich.
Chen Xanyu’s cooking skills really were impeccable.
Seeing that Wen Jiayan wasn’t going crazy anymore, she relaxed a little. After swallowing the sandwich, she asked casually, “What maidenly secret?”
“You like Yu Shiyan. Why didn’t you tell me? Maybe I could help make the connection for you.”
Yu Jinyao choked, coughing violently.
Wen Jiayan kept his eyes fixed on her expression while handing her water.
His voice continued gently, “I know he and Xia Muyan have no feelings for each other. Since Sister Yaoyao likes him, of course I’d rather help my own sister.”