Chapter 48: Filled with Malice

“Don’t know!” His mind was in utter chaos now, with no time to respond. She wasn’t an idiot—then what did that make him, arrogantly provoking a fool? Damn it, he absolutely had to find the culprit who had deceived him and throw them to the dogs. Ugh, so frustrating!

“Hey, hey, hey~” Was this guy out of his mind?

“Don’t bother me!” He brushed away the waving hand in front of his face and kicked at a small stone. “Let’s go to the student council. Finish what we need to, then leave quickly.” He didn’t want to stay even a second longer—his heart was heavy and restless.

“Who are you?” On his way to Anping City, Xie Chenjing turned off the music inside the car. His eyes flashed with a cold sharpness. Very few knew his private number—who exactly was this?

“Mr. Xie, don’t concern yourself with who I am.” The voice, altered by a machine, was strange and hoarse, impossible to tell male or female. “I’m here to give you a friendly reminder: beautiful things are often the easiest to lose. Mr. Xie, cherish what you have and don’t meddle in affairs that aren’t yours, or else, hehe~”

“Is that so?” He sneered coldly, his clear voice like ice. “Thank you for the warning. I’m always ready.”

“Haha, Mr. Xie, you have guts. Looking forward to meeting you!” The raucous, metallic laughter was especially grating. Before hanging up, those words made Xie Chenjing tighten his grip on the steering wheel. He removed his Bluetooth earpiece and focused on driving, his brows furrowing slightly as his fingers tapped rhythmically on the wheel. He whispered, “Just try me~” His deep eyes darkened like ink, a faint curve of a smile playing on his lips, radiating a chilling aura.

At that moment, Chu Yitong calmly took her seat in the classroom. Half of the second period had already passed. Strange glances swept over her from time to time, but she kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, as if unaware.

“Back already?” Leng Xiao pushed the textbook toward her. “Sorry, didn’t get your permission!”

She lowered her head, noting that many parts of the book were carefully marked. Moving her lips silently, she whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!” His gentle face lifted in a slight smile, like the warm sun in winter. She blinked—sunlight felt a little dazzling.

As the bell rang, the classroom grew noisy. Chu Yitong’s thoughts were interrupted by the tapping on the desk.

“Tsk tsk, what good is being pretty? Such a pity!” The girl speaking had long curly hair dyed in vivid shades of purple, red, and blue, shining brightly in the sunlight. Her makeup was exquisite as she leaned on Chu Yitong’s desk, fingers drumming on the surface, speaking to the girl beside her. “Qianqian, why do you think she even lives? Such a waste of breath!”

“Xiao Xin, let’s go!” Li Qianqian quickly soothed her, speaking softly, “Don’t say that about her. She doesn’t want that either. Let’s leave.”

“Hmph, dumb or not, she sure knows how to attract people—she even got Leng Xiao to sit next to her.” This made her furious. There was an empty seat beside her too, so why would he choose to sit by a fool? Just because she was a bit prettier? How was she any worse than a fool?

Chu Yitong glanced at the two girls. Her clear eyes showed no emotion, as if they didn’t exist. Wu Xin—the teacher who had called her in for a reprimand and daughter of Wu Ming—though many memories were lost, she recalled these two somewhat. They often bullied her. As for Li Qianqian, she was many levels above Wu Xin, no better than a viper. Chu Yitong pondered how to respond: how to turn the tables while escaping unscathed, and ideally, to reveal her transformation to those lurking in the shadows.