Chapter 46: I’m a Wooden Dummy

Bei Xiaolin hesitated. “What’s the surprise?”

“You’re better off not knowing,” Cheng Yuan replied, teasingly. “I’m afraid you’ll want to bang your head against the wall.”

The more mysterious Cheng Yuan acted, the more desperate Bei Xiaolin became to know.

“Yuanyuan, tell me now!” Bei Xiaolin leaned forward, eyes wide with impatience and curiosity.

“Can you score 300 on the exam?” Cheng Yuan dodged the question smoothly.

Bei Xiaolin: “……”

“Exactly. You’re better off not knowing.” Cheng Yuan opened her math textbook. Class hadn’t officially started yet—she could still get through half a practice set. When it came to math, there was only one way to improve: brute force.

“No, Yuanyuan, tell me first! The suspense is killing me!” Bei Xiaolin whined, like a cat with its tail caught, squirming with discomfort.

Cheng Yuan crooked her finger, beckoning her closer.

Bei Xiaolin leaned in without hesitation.

Cupping her hand around her mouth, Cheng Yuan whispered, “We’re going to Xia Wanwan’s concert.”

“Ahhh—!”

Bei Xiaolin’s scream made the entire class turn their heads.

Forgetting all decorum, she leapt to her feet and spun in circles, so giddy it looked like she’d lost her mind.

After what felt like an eternity, Bei Xiaolin finally calmed down. Swallowing hard, she lowered her voice. “You mean the Xia Wanwan—the singer? Not just someone with the same name?”

“Of course the real one,” Cheng Yuan said matter-of-factly. “Xia Wanwan, the superstar singer you adore.”

“Yuanyuan, I’m going to die.” Bei Xiaolin grabbed her into a hug. “I’m literally dying of happiness!”

“So, are you aiming for 300 points now?” Cheng Yuan asked, smiling slyly. After all, best friends should share the same idol.

“Yes, yes, yes! Absolutely!” Bei Xiaolin nodded furiously. Gritting her teeth, she promised, “I’ll get 300, no matter what. But you can’t go back on your word!”

“I won’t.”

With Cheng Yuan’s guarantee, Bei Xiaolin dove into her studies like a warrior. Even at lunch, she brought her unfinished homework to ask Yu Qing for help.

As she stepped out of the classroom, she ran into Ye Mingyu.

Bei Xiaolin glanced at Cheng Yuan and instinctively moved to the side, but Cheng Yuan caught her wrist and turned to Ye Mingyu. “What do you want?”

“I…” Ye Mingyu’s eyes landed on Bei Xiaolin.

“I’m a wooden dummy,” Bei Xiaolin announced flatly, leaning stiffly against the wall like a statue.

Cheng Yuan frowned, clearly impatient. “Spit it out already. I’ve got practice problems waiting.”

She had no interest in getting tangled up with Ye Mingyu, who brought nothing but drama. She wasn’t afraid of Meng Yue, but she didn’t want to waste time on pointless conflict. Her eyes were fixed on Shanghai University. Meng Yue would have her own problems to worry about soon enough.

“Here,” Ye Mingyu said, holding out a paper bag.

Cheng Yuan didn’t take it. “What is it?” Please don’t let it be more study materials…

She added coolly, “I already have plenty of review books. Thanks, but no thanks.”

“It’s not that.” Ye Mingyu opened the bag. “It’s a cassette player—same model as yours.”

Inside was a portable Walkman identical to Cheng Yuan’s.

Bei Xiaolin leaned in. “Wow. Generous.”

That thing must’ve cost over a thousand yuan… just giving it away? she thought, glancing between Ye Mingyu and Cheng Yuan. If they weren’t sleeping in separate homes, she would’ve sworn they were secretly dating.

“It’s too expensive,” Cheng Yuan said, stepping back. As she moved, she felt a chill run down her spine—sure enough, Meng Yue was standing right outside the Seventh Class door.

“You can use it to listen to English tapes,” Ye Mingyu explained, cheeks flushed. “Listening and reading more will help improve your English scores.”

“Aren’t you aiming for Hai University?” he added gently.

Cheng Yuan refused without hesitation. “My English is perfect. I don’t need it.”

Ouch.

Bei Xiaolin felt her soul leave her body. Was Ye Mingyu about to hurl the gift at her?

But he didn’t. He just stood there, persistent and polite.

“Then use it for music. You’ll feel more relaxed,” he said quietly.

Cheng Yuan groaned inwardly. Why hadn’t he been this persistent before?

Noticing Meng Yue’s group approaching, she suddenly had an idea. “Actually, you should give it to Meng Yue. Her Walkman’s broken too.”

Behind Ye Mingyu, Meng Yue froze in place, caught off guard.

She looked at Ye Mingyu’s back, unsure whether to speak or keep silent. Her lips parted, but in that moment of hesitation, the chance slipped away.

“She doesn’t need it,” Ye Mingyu said coldly, his tone turning icy at the mention of Meng Yue.

Shame, heartbreak, and rage flashed through Meng Yue’s expression. Straightening her posture and lifting her chin, she sneered, “I don’t need anyone to give me what I want. Only people who can’t afford things treat a Walkman like it’s some kind of treasure.”

“Every penny we earn with our own hands is clean and worth cherishing,” Cheng Yuan said sharply, her words filled with quiet defiance. She had never known how to back down in front of Meng Yue.

Is she suggesting my family’s money is dirty?

Furious, Meng Yue pushed past Ye Mingyu and stormed up to Cheng Yuan. “What did you mean by that? Explain yourself!”

“Even a child could understand what I meant,” Cheng Yuan replied with a faint smile. Since starting her daily runs, she’d grown a few centimeters—finally passing 160 cm. She didn’t have to look up at Meng Yue anymore.

“You’re saying my family’s money is dirty!” Meng Yue snapped.

Cheng Yuan took a step back calmly. “People with dirty money know it in their hearts. I never said your family’s money was dirty. Why are you getting so defensive? Unless…”

“You…” Meng Yue jabbed a finger at her.

Cheng Yuan slapped her hand away. “Didn’t your parents teach you? It’s rude to point at people. Terrible manners.”

“How dare you hit me?” Meng Yue lunged forward, hand raised to slap her—only to be held back at the last second. Turning, she saw Ye Mingyu’s face, cold and serious.

She bit back her fury and demanded, “Ye Mingyu, are you taking her side? Didn’t you see her hit me?”

“If you hadn’t pointed at her, would she have slapped your hand? That barely even counts as hitting you,” Ye Mingyu replied flatly.

“Barely?” Meng Yue scoffed and thrust her reddened hand in front of his face. “A light tap wouldn’t leave a mark like this!”

Cheng Yuan smiled coolly. “Your skin must be too delicate. Even a gentle touch leaves a red mark.”