Chapter 11: The Motherless Bastard

Pfft!

Someone in the classroom snickered. Lin Juan, who had always been at odds with Cheng Yuan, stood up and declared loudly, “If Cheng Yuan actually gets into Hai University, I’ll change my last name to hers.”

She glanced at Cheng Yuan with thinly veiled disdain. Ever since class placements were announced, she’d been openly hostile. Cheng Yuan chose not to respond. There was no need—actions would speak louder than words.

“Some people just don’t know their limits,” Lin Juan scoffed, her voice full of mockery. “Hai University? Please. That’s like a toad dreaming of eating a swan!”

Laughter rippled through the classroom. The looks on their faces said it all: She’s aiming way too high.

“A goal? Do you even know what that is?” Bei Xiaolin snapped, her face flushed with frustration and guilt. If she hadn’t spoken so loudly earlier, maybe the others wouldn’t be mocking Cheng Yuan now.

“A goal you’ll never reach isn’t a goal—it’s delusion,” Lin Juan sneered, her jealousy of Cheng Yuan’s looks simmering beneath every word.

“What’s wrong with dreaming big?” Bei Xiaolin retorted. “Who doesn’t want to go to Hai University? I want to go too! Can’t we even say it? Since when did working toward a dream become something to laugh at?”

“Xiaolin.” Cheng Yuan tugged her back into her seat, calm and unbothered. She took out her homework and quietly got to work, ignoring Lin Juan entirely—which only made the girl more agitated.

By lunchtime, rumors were flying. Word had spread that Cheng Yuan had “declared” her intention to apply to Hai University. Her name was now on everyone’s lips in the senior class.

The worst student in class wants to go to Hai University? What a joke.

Even the teachers tried to “gently” caution her—saying dreams were good, but she should be realistic. Right now, their focus should be just getting into any college.

When the news reached Meng Yue in Class Seven, she frowned. “Are you sure Cheng Yuan really said that?”

Liu Shasha nodded confidently. “Everyone’s talking about it. And I know Lin Juan from Class Ten—she heard it firsthand.”

“Meng Yue, do you think she’s gone crazy?” Liu Shasha snorted. “She ranked in the bottom thirty—or thirty-one, I think—in the last mock exam. With those scores, she won’t even get into a third-rate school, let alone Hai University.”

Meng Yue said nothing, staring absently at the homework in her hands.

Back in Class Ten, Bei Xiaolin was practically beside herself. “Yuanyuan, I’m so sorry—it’s my fault. I was too loud, and now everyone’s mocking you.”

“Xiaolin,” Cheng Yuan said calmly, “I was always planning to apply to Hai University. And I will get in.”

The look of shock on Bei Xiaolin’s face was priceless. She looked like she could’ve swallowed an entire chicken.

“You… you’re serious?” she stammered.

Cheng Yuan nodded. “Of course.”

The memory of those mocking stares from earlier flashed through Bei Xiaolin’s mind. Fueled by guilt and admiration, she grabbed Cheng Yuan’s hand. “Then I’ll study with you. I’ll apply to Hai University too!”

“Don’t go for Hai University,” Cheng Yuan said. “Aim for Hai Drama University. It fits your dream of becoming a star—and the entry scores are lower.”

“Really?” Bei Xiaolin’s eyes lit up. “Then you’ll teach me how to fight?”

“I will. But first, starting tomorrow, we run—to and from school.”

“Deal!” Bei Xiaolin agreed instantly.

Normally, their walk to school took just over ten minutes.

Cheng Yuan: “I’ll be at your place at 5:30 a.m.”

“Wait, that early? We live right by the school!” Bei Xiaolin protested.

But the next morning, it all made sense.

“Yuanyuan, are we… running the wrong way?” she panted. “The school’s that way!”

“We’re not lost,” Cheng Yuan said evenly. “We’re running a full loop around the county. Better workout.”

Bei Xiaolin instantly regretted every life choice that led her to this point. “I can’t… breathe…”

“Don’t breathe through your mouth. Use your nose. Follow me,” Cheng Yuan instructed, jogging at a steady pace beside her.

Though exhausted, Bei Xiaolin found her breathing easing as she mimicked Cheng Yuan’s rhythm.

By the time they reached school, both girls were dripping with sweat. They walked through the gates, catching their breath.

“When are you teaching me to fight?” Bei Xiaolin asked eagerly, still thinking about Cheng Yuan’s powerful moves.

“Let’s work on your stamina first,” Cheng Yuan said. “Just running leaves you breathless. How will you manage fighting techniques?”

“Right…” Bei Xiaolin groaned, imagining herself gasping mid-punch. “Okay, I’ll run with you every day!”

Back in class, Lin Juan spotted them and couldn’t resist. “Well, well. So early? Getting serious about that Hai University dream, huh? Isn’t it a little late to start cramming now?”

“Looking for a fight?!” Bei Xiaolin growled, pushing her hair back. She lunged, but Cheng Yuan caught her arm.

“Yuanyuan!”

Cheng Yuan stepped forward, her presence commanding. Taller and calm as ever, she looked Lin Juan square in the eyes, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

“Whether or not I get into Hai University is none of your business,” she said coolly. “Instead of worrying about me, focus on yourself. Don’t end up failing the vocational college entrance exam again. That’d be…”

She trailed off deliberately. The unspoken insult hit harder than words.

The class went silent. Everyone remembered Lin Juan’s abysmal scores from last year—so bad she hadn’t even qualified for vocational college.

“You motherless bastard! How dare you curse me!” Lin Juan screamed. She shoved the books off Cheng Yuan’s desk in a fit of rage.

In the next instant, Cheng Yuan slapped her—hard.

The room erupted.

Before anyone could react, Cheng Yuan had Lin Juan pinned against a desk. Books scattered across the floor. The slap rang through the air like a gunshot.

No one had expected it. Cheng Yuan, usually quiet and composed, had moved with lightning speed and brutal precision.

Her hand pressed Lin Juan’s face so firmly into the desk that her features contorted.

“Next time you insult my mother,” Cheng Yuan said coldly, “it won’t end with just a slap.”

She released her grip with a final push, sending Lin Juan sprawling to the ground.

Then she stood tall, gaze unwavering, daring anyone else to speak.