Chapter 4: His CP Can’t Be Believable!

Today was the first day of school, and No. 1 Middle School required students to wear their school uniforms. Jiang Yao had just left school, still wearing her short-sleeved uniform. The Lincheng No. 1 Middle School logo was clearly printed on it.

Jiang Yao suddenly realized something and quickly let go of Cheng Lie’s hand, moving away, ready to run at any moment. “Do you believe me when I say I didn’t mean to do that?”

She honestly hadn’t considered this. After all, when she first came in, Jiang Yao was just trying to pretend to be her cousin and help him get on with his blind date. But this expression and tone made it seem like a conspiracy.

Jiang Yao suggested, “How about I go explain to that sister that I’m an adult and that you’re not a beast?”

After scolding Cheng Lie, Ning Zhen stormed off, bag in hand.

Cheng Lie said nothing.

Seeing the situation was dire, Jiang Yao quickly grabbed her crutches and stood up. “I have something to do, so I’m leaving now. Don’t forget to fix my car.”

Knowing she’d gotten into trouble, she scurried away, not daring to glance back at Cheng Lie’s expression.

Cheng Lie’s only respite was that the café wasn’t crowded at that hour, and no one else had noticed the commotion. With a sullen face, he picked up the half-cold coffee on the table and gulped it down. His anger at Jiang Yao finally subsided slightly.

After he returned home, Xu Chaoyang, who hadn’t texted him in a while, finally called.

Xu Chaoyang whispered, like a shady contact, “Brother Lie, I asked my sister-in-law to rescue you. Did you get out of this terrible situation?”

Cheng Lie had finally put the incident behind him, but Xu Chaoyang’s words, “my sister-in-law,” brought back the awkward scene in the café. A vein twitched in his forehead. “She’s not your sister-in-law. Don’t call her that.”

“Did you two have a fight?” Xu Chaoyang didn’t get Cheng Lie’s point. “No, talk it out. There’s no conflict that can’t be resolved.”

Cheng Lie remained silent. Xu Chaoyang, terrified, worried his support for the couple might end. He offered a suggestion: “How about this? Call your sister-in-law and tell her you were forced to go on the blind date. She should understand.”

“I don’t have her number. And don’t call her—”

“What?” “Little sister-in-law blocked you?” Xu Chaoyang interrupted him in surprise. “It’s okay. I have her WeChat. Can I help you?”

Cheng Lie was almost exasperated: “Don’t call her little sister-in-law. She’s even younger than you.”

Xu Chaoyang was stunned and muttered softly, “I know. That’s why I call her little sister-in-law.”

He always had good sense, and when he saw the situation was not looking good, he immediately changed his tone: “Okay, okay, no, no, no, just call her Jiang Yao, okay?”

“Jiang Yao?”

Cheng Lie finally realized that “Jiang Yao” was the name of an elementary school kid. They had only met three times, and each encounter was not pleasant. So much so that Cheng Lie hadn’t noticed that they didn’t even know each other’s names.

Oh no, who cares about knowing this troublemaker’s name?

Cheng Lie thought.

Xu Chaoyang lived in a world of his own making. Seeing that he couldn’t convince him, Cheng Lie stopped talking.

Jiang Yao, on the other hand, felt no guilt at all. She had a quick memory and had dinner out, so she forgot about the incident when she got home.

Today was the first day of school for No. 1 Middle School, with classes officially starting tomorrow. Jiang Yao, a senior year student and a day student, arrived at school at noon the next day because she hadn’t heard the alarm.

No. 1 Middle School had a relaxed schedule, allowing students to go out for lunch. Jiang Yao, without a schoolbag, blended in with the crowd.

Jiang Yao’s class was on the fourth floor, and she was carrying a cane. People going up and down the stairs made way for her. After finally reaching the fourth floor, as she ascended the last few stairs, a pair of legs blocked Jiang Yao’s path.

She took a step to the right, and the legs followed suit, continuing to block her view.

Jiang Yao tutted impatiently, her cane swiping past without even looking up.

The person opposite was startled and quickly took a few steps back. Jiang Yao took advantage of this moment to calmly climb the stairs.

“Jiang Yao!”

An angry voice came from behind, but Jiang Yao ignored it and turned into Class 7.

The middle of lunchtime had passed, and Class 7 had almost returned. There had been no reassignment from the sophomore to junior year, so everyone was familiar. After a summer of absence, they had a lot to talk about, and the classroom was bustling. The air conditioner was on, and the front and back doors were closed. Jiang Yao pushed open the door, and the cold air hit her face.

The classroom suddenly quieted at the sight of the unfamiliar face, and everyone looked at Jiang Yao.

She had arrived late, and she had no idea how the homeroom teacher had assigned the seats. The tables were piled high with things, and she couldn’t find an empty one.

As she was searching for a seat, a weak voice called out, “Are you Jiang Yao?”

The girl who spoke sat in the middle of the first row, near the desk. She had shoulder-length hair and large eyes. Seeing Jiang Yao nod, she gestured to the seat next to her: “You should sit next to me.”

The girl pursed her lips and stared at her nervously, looking a little afraid of her.

Jiang Yao said, “Thank you,” and walked over to sit down.

The class had fallen completely silent since she entered, and only became lively again when Jiang Yao sat down and took out her phone.

Jiang Yao was replying to Chen Qing and the others on her phone when she felt a poke on her arm.

She took off her headphones, turned around, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

The girl quickly retracted her hand, as if startled. After hearing Jiang Yao’s words, she pointed to her cane, which was leaning against the desk: “You can put it over here. I have some space.”

The cane was a bit high, and it wasn’t stable against the desk. Jiang Yao uttered an “ah,” and handed it to her: “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, thank you.” The girl looked flattered. After putting it down, she paused and whispered, “My name is Li You.”

Jiang Yao, who was about to put on her headphones, paused, looked at her, and nodded: “My name is Jiang Yao.”

“I, I know.” Li You clenched her pen, feeling a little nervous under Jiang Yao’s gaze.

The phone buzzed again. Jiang Yao put on her headphones, listened to music, and replied.

Chen Qing: How’s your new class?

Jiang Yao: Not bad.

Chen Qing: Didn’t you run into that idiot?

Jiang Yao: …

Chen Qing:? I got bullied.

Jiang Yao thought about the crutch she’d used on the way up the stairs, raised an eyebrow, and replied: “That can’t be right. Who am I?”

Chen Qing was very perfunctory: “Yeah, I’m a cycling enthusiast who can even fall into a pit while riding a bike.”

Jiang Yao didn’t want to bother with him anymore, so she closed the chat and went to play a game. Halfway through, there was a sudden knock on the table.

Jiang Yao looked up, and the tall boy in front of her took two steps back, stammering nervously. “Jiang, Jiang Yao, the homeroom teacher wants you to go to the office.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Yao turned around, and Li You quickly handed her his crutches. Summoning the courage, he asked, “Do you want me to go with you?”

Jiang Yao was stunned and shook her head. “No.”

She stood up and walked out, pausing as she passed the boy who had delivered the message. “Thank you.”

The boy was startled and only realized what was happening after she left the classroom. He quickly shook his head, “You’re welcome, thank you.”

“Everyone’s gone,” Li You whispered.

“Huh?” Zhao Tianci finally realized, sighing with relief. He patted his chest and sighed, “I was scared to death.”

Li You glanced at him and continued working on the homework. Zhao Tianci sat down next to her. “Hey, Li You, I don’t think Jiang Yao is that scary after all. She just said thank you to me.”

“She said thank you to me too.”

Someone behind her leaned over and asked, “Haven’t you heard about her glorious deeds? Someone in Class 5 who knows her says she’s quite worldly.”

Li You paused writing and pursed her lips. “No, she just doesn’t smile much.”

“But wasn’t there a rumor that she was hospitalized after beating someone up during the college entrance exam last year, and that’s why she missed the exam to come to our class for a retake?” “Is that right?”

“Fu Mingyi,” Li You frowned and turned, his face full of seriousness. “Rumors aren’t necessarily true. I don’t think it’s good for us to talk about others behind their backs.”

“I, I was just joking. Besides, everyone says she’s fierce.” Fu Mingyi scratched his head awkwardly and looked at his deskmate. “Tianci, right?”

Zhao Tianci touched his nose. “I don’t think it’s good either. She’s just a little girl, after all.”

Fu Mingyi didn’t expect his deskmate to change sides so quickly. Without someone to discuss gossip with, he retreated quietly.

Elsewhere, Jiang Yao walked to the office with familiarity, knocked on the door, and entered.

It was noon, and there was only one teacher in the small office. Zhou Yuhong looked up at the knock. “You’re here.”

An old acquaintance.