Chapter 7: She Forgot

The very next second, the school forum exploded once again.

This time, someone posted a clear photo where the faces of both Shang Ying and Shang Yi could be seen distinctly. In the photo, the two were standing very close together, and Shang Ying’s hand was even resting on Shang Yi’s shoulder.

To make matters even more intense, the post was accompanied by text: “The top student said his meal card was with that girl!!!”

A distance like this appearing with Shang Yi was simply unbelievable! Anyone who knew him knew that if anyone got even slightly close to him, he would push them away with an icy glare, let alone allow direct physical contact.

[Erudite Hamburger]: This is as clear as day! This distance, this atmosphere… gosh, bundle them up and send them off to film an idol drama!

[I Am the Bureau Chief]: Looking at such pleasing photos while taking a break from studying helps organizational progress. Post more!

[Century Egg Solo Porridge]: Hey! Isn't that Shang Ying? She wore her uniform so I almost didn't recognize her. If it's Shang Ying, there's a reason for them standing together like that.

[Romeo and the Pig Pass the Night]: Person above, please tell us your story!

[Century Egg Solo Porridge]: Here's the deal: Shang Ying and I used to be classmates. Her temper is just as bad as her face is pretty. Quick-tempered, easily angered, and explosive. Don't provoke her for no reason, or you won't hear the end of it!

[Too Melancholy Being Chased to be Axed]: So, giving the meal card to that girl... is it that kind of relationship I'm thinking of?

[Sand Dune]: Probably. The top student's family is really rich. The watch he wore today costs tens of thousands, but that girl didn't look like much, and her shoes didn't seem to be any big brand name either.

Besides the original poster, other people shared photos of the two in the comments from various angles. Walking side by side, talking, physical contact. At least a dozen pictures, all taken by different people.

Comments scrolled down line by line, and the post's view count climbed higher and higher. Xia Zhi stared at the two acting intimate in the photos, gripping her phone tightly, a flash of jealousy in her eyes.

Remembering Shang Ying's words "I've known him forever," her heart twisted in pain, sour and uncomfortable. Unable to find an outlet, she felt an urge to grab a knife and slash a hole to vent.

Xia Zhi silently put her phone back into her bag and placed her hand on the doorknob.

"The post is up. The girl's name is Shang Ying, from Class 13 of Grade 10. Should we go to her class to find her?"

"No need." The sound of running water came from the sink, followed by the rustle of paper towels. Lin Yuan wiped her hands clean and threw the used paper into the trash bin. "Just find someone else."

The other girls instantly understood what she meant by "find someone else."

"But I checked. She has a car picking her up every day, so she's not easy to target."

The bathroom door was pushed open, drawing the attention of the chatting girls.

"I can help you."

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the end-of-class bell rang. Shang Ying packed the test papers passed down by the teacher and the homework for various subjects into her backpack. Originally, she didn't want to bring her bag back home, but because Shang Heng had scolded her again that morning, she chose to err on the side of caution to avoid arguing with that menopausal old man.

A notification sound for a payment received popped up on her phone app. She smiled with satisfaction. In order to get the girl who picked a fight this morning to pay her back, she had specifically switched through five accounts to post on the school forum, accusing the other party of bullying people and refusing to pay debts. Under immense pressure from public discussion, Lin Yuan had no choice but to surrender, finding her alt account in private messages to transfer the money.

‘Kid, you're still too green to play with me~’

Zipping up her bag, Xia Zhi walked over. Shang Ying threw her backpack over her shoulders, her movements pausing almost imperceptibly.

"What's up?"

A woman's intuition was a strange thing. She didn't have a good impression of Xia Zhi, so she had deliberately maintained a distance during school hours and rarely talked to her, though Xia Zhi hadn't really approached her to chat much either.

However, since the other party came up to her on her own initiative now, Shang Ying still put on a polite smile. After all, they were friends in the original host's life; she couldn't just cut ties for no reason.

Xia Zhi smiled gently, her eyes darting toward the figure standing near the classroom door, and said, "Yingying, let's walk out of the school gates together."

Shang Ying wanted to decline. She still needed to find Shang Yi, and bringing an extra person felt a bit impolite. Besides, Shang Yi's cold face practically screamed "stay away from me," which might make the atmosphere painfully awkward.

Then again, she didn't really want to walk with Xia Zhi either. She couldn't muster much interest in this former friend of the original host.

However, Xia Zhi spoke rapidly this time, leaving her no room to refuse.

"My friend left with her boyfriend today, so Yingying, just walk with me as far as the middle school building. I'll take a car from the back gate."

Since she put it that way, Shang Ying couldn't decline. Girls were thin-skinned, and she didn't have the heart to make her feel awkward. Besides, it was only a short walk.

Stepping out of the classroom, she immediately spotted Shang Yi leaning against the wall.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me at your classroom door? Why did you come over here?"

Shang Yi straightened up.

"It's the same."

Shang Ying nodded, not paying much mind to it. She glanced at Xia Zhi beside her and casually introduced her.

"This is my classmate. She's walking with us for a bit."

Xia Zhi looked a bit shy, a blush dusting her cheeks. Her bangs swept past her eyebrows, her braided hair styled meticulously. Upon closer inspection, even her lip color was slightly red.

"Hello, my name is Xia Zhi. Thank you for treating me to noodles earlier."

Shang Yi remained as cold and distant as ever, not uttering a single word. He stayed close to Shang Ying, silently accelerating his pace.

"Yingying, how about we go to that dessert shop on the street opposite the school after class next Tuesday? We've made plans for that several times before."

Looking at Xia Zhi's sincere gaze, Shang Ying agreed after a moment of hesitation.

"Sure."

Capital No. 1 High School was massive, covering about 140 mu. Coming out of the main teaching building hall, one had to go down the stairs and walk a long path to reach the middle school building. When Xia Zhi bid them goodbye, her eyes kept darting toward Shang Yi's face as she said farewell.

The car picking them up after school was still parked in its usual spot slightly ahead of the school gates, facing against the flow of people, so they didn't have to squeeze into the crowd of cars, nor did it look too flashy.

Seeing Shang Yi actually walking together with Shang Ying today, the driver was quite surprised and blurted out, "Young Master, aren't you going to your club activities today?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it.

His mouth really was too quick! Why ask that? The Young Master wouldn't answer anyway. Asking was just looking for awkwardness.

The air conditioning inside the car was already running. Shang Ying, who had gotten warm from walking, pulled out a wet wipe from a small box in the car to wipe off her sweat, then casually tossed one to Shang Yi.

"Right, he's not going today. Do you have club activities every day? Are they fun?"

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, feeling a bit touched that the Young Mistress took up his conversation.

Shang Yi wiped his hands with the wet wipe and answered faintly.

"So-so."

"If it's not fun, why go? Just come home and lie down to play."

Shang Ying spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Seeing Shang Yi staring at her, she couldn't help reaching out to flick his forehead again.

"What are you looking at me for, you silly log?"

The driver twitched his mouth, thinking to himself that the Young Master was far from silly. He was a genius...

Shang Yi gave an "Mm" and turned his head to look out the car window.

She had forgotten, it was because she hadn't wanted to go home from school with him that he stayed at school for an extra hour for club activities.

Now things have changed again.

Would she kick him off the car again later?