Chapter 25: Xu Yueyao and the Female Protagonist’s First Confrontation

For three consecutive days, Xu Yueyao hadn’t seen Fu Xiaosi at school. She watched as Shen Yi went up to the rooftop alone and decided to follow him.

It was her first time on the rooftop, and from there, she could take in the full view of the entire school. No wonder so many protagonists in stories liked to come up here—the scenery was indeed quite nice.

“What are you doing here?” Shen Yi stood behind her, his expression impatient, clearly displeased that she had intruded on his space.

Admiring the view, Xu Yueyao casually asked, “Where’s Fu Xiaosi? Why hasn’t he been coming to school?” She hadn’t seen him these past few days and was unsure if his attitude toward her had changed.

Shen Yi walked over to her side, mimicking her as he looked down at the school below. “He’s probably kneeling in the Fu family’s ancestral hall.”

Xu Yueyao was shocked. “Huh? Why?”

“His mother was originally his father’s secretary. The Fu family’s old madam never liked her, and she likes him even less. She believes he offended the Zhan family and punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall for three days and three nights without food or water, as a lesson. The 10% shares transferred to you by the Fu family belonged to his mother. Now, he and his mother have nothing left in the Fu family.” Shen Yi spoke as if he were telling a story, his tone calm and indifferent.

Xu Yueyao, however, was anything but calm. She anxiously paced back and forth, her words stumbling, “His… his older brother? What about Fu Zheng? Didn’t he say anything? Explain the situation?”

“His older brother has always resented Fu Xiaosi’s mother, believing that she ruined his parents’ marriage.” Shen Yi gazed into the distance. He knew that despite Fu Xiaosi’s rebellious exterior, he was actually emotionally sensitive and fragile.

Xu Yueyao was furious. This Fu Zheng was as scheming as ever—using someone else’s shares to curry favor, killing two birds with one stone. Not only did he get revenge on someone he disliked, but he also used her to build connections with the Zhan family. How clever.

So, this was the so-called male lead—a business tycoon, charming and elegant, always smiling, yet constantly plotting in the background, using others to achieve his own goals. Meticulous, unreadable. That was how the author had designed him—the cherished character, the epitome of a domineering CEO.

Fine. This time, Xu Yueyao’s fighting spirit was ignited. She decided—Fu Xiaosi was under her protection now.

“Will Fu Xiaosi be coming to school tomorrow? If he does, tell him to come find me immediately.” With that, she turned and left the rooftop.

After she left, Shen Yi remained there for a long time. He didn’t know what Xu Yueyao would do, but if Fu Zheng thought he could step on Fu Xiaosi to climb higher, then he shouldn’t blame him for ruining his plans.

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After coming down from the rooftop, Xu Yueyao noticed that her classmates were whispering and pointing at her. Confused, she returned to the classroom. Zhang Beilu hurried over to her, but before she could speak, Gao Yuyan sneered, “It’s really something, isn’t it? Clinging to the new rising star, easily extorting a hotel from the Shen family and 10% of the Fu family’s shares.”

“Exactly! And she’s still here acting all fine.”

“Such arrogance—nothing but a bandit’s behavior.”

“Seriously, the way she acts is just disgraceful.”

“She’s from the lower class, after all. Lacking in basic decency.”

“I really don’t get what Young Master Zhan sees in her.”

“What else? She must be good at seduction…”

The chatter grew more and more unpleasant. Xu Yueyao clenched her fists at her sides, catching a glimpse of An Zhiyi’s schadenfreude-filled gaze. She instantly understood—neither the Shen family nor the Fu family would spread this kind of information. The only other person who knew all the details was An Zhiyi.

Xu Yueyao smirked. Without the halo of the male and female protagonists, they were nothing special after all.

She turned to Gao Yuyan and said, “Do you have proof of what you’re saying? Are you sure the Shen family gave me a hotel? That the Fu family gave me 10% of their shares? If not, are you going to compensate me for the rest?”

Gao Yuyan hesitated. She didn’t actually know for sure—she had only heard it from others. The Shen family had hotels all over the country, and given Shen Yan’s connection with Young Master Zhan, it wasn’t impossible for them to give away a few. As for the Fu Group, it was a family business, and shares wouldn’t be easily handed out. Even Fu Xiaosi’s mother, who had dedicated her life to the company and had given birth to Fu Xiaosi, only had 10%.

For the first time, Gao Yuyan doubted the rumors. Was the information incorrect?

She turned to her followers. “Who started this? Speak up.”

The group looked at each other nervously. Everyone had heard the rumors, but no one could pinpoint the source.

“Wu Haolin, Xiao Beichen, do you know if it’s true?”

Wu Haolin and Xiao Beichen shook their heads. They really didn’t know.

Since Fu Xiaosi wasn’t around, someone went up to the rooftop to ask Shen Yi. A while later, they returned, their face flushed.

“What did Shen Yi say?” The class pressed for an answer.

“He said… ‘Get lost.’”

Laughter erupted.

Xu Yueyao smiled at An Zhiyi, feeling better and better as she noticed An Zhiyi’s forced smile fading.

“Right, An Zhiyi was there at the time too. We can just ask her.”

“Yeah, didn’t she leave in Fu Zheng’s car?” Someone recalled seeing An Zhiyi going to the hospital with him. Wu Haolin also turned to her—he was certain she had been there.

“An Zhiyi, is it true? Did the Shen family give up a hotel? Did the Fu family hand over 10% of their shares?” the classmate from the rooftop asked.

An Zhiyi frowned. She didn’t want to get involved, but Xu Yueyao had skillfully passed the ball back to her.

Biting her lip, An Zhiyi feigned hesitation and said, “Sorry, Xu Yueyao, I can’t lie.”

The class erupted into discussions.

Zhang Beilu frowned. “What do you mean? Yes or no? Why are you being so vague?”

Xia Nuannuan, An Zhiyi’s best friend, immediately defended her. “Are you stupid? It means it’s true—Xu Yueyao faked an injury to scam them!”

Xu Yueyao smiled at An Zhiyi. “Oh? So you’re the one spreading the rumors.”

The room fell silent. An Zhiyi was the class’s cool, distant goddess. Everyone loved gossip, but being the one who spread it while pretending to be innocent left a bad taste.

Xu Yueyao wanted to rip off her mask completely. If An Zhiyi wanted to stir trouble behind the scenes, then she should be prepared to bear the consequences.

An Zhiyi’s eyes turned red under the scrutiny. Xia Nuannuan came to her defense again. “Xu Yueyao, stop changing the subject! You obviously got all those things for nothing—don’t you feel ashamed?”

Gao Yuyan frowned. “Xu Yueyao, are you really innocent this time?”

Xu Yueyao smiled. “Not innocent. But An Zhiyi, you were there too. Tell everyone—was it extortion, or did they offer it voluntarily?”

“Wait, they gave it to you voluntarily?” A classmate was skeptical. The rich might be generous, but this was too much. And Xu Yueyao didn’t even look injured.

The class started buzzing with discussions again—some believing her, some doubting her.