Translator: Tuiwen Editor: Tuiwen
They will be tested on only three subjects on Monday morning’s pop quiz.
The students in Class Eight did not get good grades. Getting regular exams was something they were used to. Even though some effort would be put into studying, many of them would still get zeroes on their tests. It was a waste in the end.
During the exams, some students would be fast asleep, while others read from extra-curricular books and some were even staring down at their exam questions in a complete daze. Huang Liang, the teacher responsible for supervising the exams in the lecture hall, pretended none of this was happening. Besides, he had very little expectations for these little ancestors. If they kept out of trouble, the school would be so lucky.
Only Hu Tian and Ming Jing were different. Their postures were ramrod straight and they wrote rapidly on their exam papers. These two studious students were the exception to the rule.
While yawning Tao Xingxing, looked over at her deskmate who was turning all her focus on her test questions. She leaned on her desk rather restlessly waiting for class to be done.
On their way to the cafeteria at noon, Tao Xingxing clutched Ming Jing’s arm and said, “You scared me to death when you jumped into the waters that night. Why did you do that to save Zhu Xiangxiang? The sea is so deep and vast. If something were to happen to you, how would Zhu Xiangxiang ever go about repaying you?”
“Besides, she has so many followers. If those people don’t do something about it, what right do we have to risk our lives to save her?” They nagged like this all the way to the cafeteria.
The two of them each reached out for a tray of food and just as they were about to find a place to sit down, Zhu Xiangxiang raised her hand up from out of the crowd. “Ming Jing, come over here.”
Zhu Xiangxiang was the belle of the school. In a crowd of people, she would be the main attraction. Even just eating in the cafeteria, all eyes would be turned to her.
This girl again? What did she do to deserve the campus belle’s favor?
There was no one sitting in the seat opposite from Zhu Xiangxiang, so Ming Jing made her way over and sat down there. Tao Xingxing sat down in the chair next to Ming Jing.
“Hello, my name is Zhu Xiangxiang. Ming Jing’s…” Zhu Xiangxiang looked over at Ming Jing for some help.
“Good friend.”
Those words were for Tao Xingxing’s benefit. Hearing this, Tao Xinxing lifted both her eyebrows in surprise and said in a graceful manner, “I’m Ming Jing’s deskmate. You can call me Tao Xingxing. By the way, how do you and Ming Jing know each other?”
Initially, she had thought that Ming Jing had leaped down into the cold waters that night to save her because she was a kind-hearted person. Little did she know that they were old acquaintances.
Zhu Xiangxiang smiled at her. “It’s a long story. I’m sure you don’t want me to get into all of that.”
“Yo, it’s so lively here.” A hateful voice sounded in her ear. Zhu Xiangxiang turned her head to see a figure taking a seat right next to her.
She looked over to see the taunting face of Li Jiaojiao.
“You two sisters are acting really interesting. Good friends? Zhu Xiangxiang, you certainly have thick skin. Thicker than the city wall, I might add.” Li Jiaojiao’s tone was filled with sarcasm.
Hearing Li Jiaojiao say this, Tao Xingxing nearly choked on her food. While coughing violently, she said, “Wh… what? Did you say ‘sisters’?”
She turned to give Zhu Xiangxiang and Ming Jing each a look. Their features were not similar at all…
All of a sudden, she recalled the recent rumor that Zhu Xiangxiang was the fake daughter of the Zhu family and for that reason, a lot of people were talking about her and laughing at her behind her back.
Does this mean Ming Jing was the real daughter according to the rumors?
Oh God… What kind of drama was this? She had always thought her life was far away from the plotlines of the eight o’clock plays, but here it was happening right in front of her.
Ming Jing had been through so much, but she still put her life aside to save Zhu Xiangxiang. This kind of rare generosity was one in a million.
Many people were keeping a close eye on the going-ons of this group in the cafeteria, so naturally, when Li Jiaojiao’s words entered their ears, they were all thinking the same things as Tao Xingxing was.
For a moment there, they became the talk of the campus. The matter between Zhu Xiangxiang and Ming Jing became a hot topic within the school.
But Zhu Xiangxiang was not moved by the tide of discussion at all. She was still the same gentle and dignified girl she always was. Her temperament as the school’s belle was completely under control. “Ming Jing likes her peace and quiet, so I didn’t want to trouble her by revealing my identity.”
“You can put it that way. But Miss Ming Jing, don’t be fooled by her. If it wasn’t because of her, you would be the sole daughter of the Zhu family. You’d be both well-fed and pampered, and the position of the top socialite in Jiang City would be yours. It was this girl who took all that away from you and made you suffer from a young age. Do you really think she is being sincere to you?” Li Jiaojiao continued to stoke the fire.
Zhu Xiangxiang glared her eyes at Li Jiaojiao, the anger on her face very apparent. “I’ll make up for everything that I might owe Ming Jing someday. It’s not your turn to start spouting nonsense.”
“I’m the one spouting nonsense? Well, now that the biological daughter has returned, don’t you want to go back to wherever it is you came from? You’ve been taking advantage of her for 16 years. Do you still want to take advantage of her?”
Ming Jing, the protagonist of this incident, ate her meal in a calm manner as if unfazed by all that was happening around her at that point.
She chewed very slowly with an indescribable grace. Even though she took her time, it wasn’t long before the rice on her plate ran out. Picking up a napkin to wipe her mouth, she got up, and left with the plate in her hand, without even giving the two people in front of her a second glance.
Li Jiaojiao was startled. She shouted, “Zhu Ming Jing, stop right where you are. Can’t you see that I’m defending you? What’s up with your attitude?”
Ming Jing’s footsteps stopped but she did not look back. Her cold voice in the quiet room came across as clear and powerful. “First of all, my surname isn’t Zhu. Second, if you want to stir up trouble with Zhu Xiangxiang, don’t get me involved. Third, Zhu Xiangxiang was just an infant at that time. She did nothing wrong.” Then she made her way out of the cafeteria without another look back.
But her cold and firm voice remained in the cafeteria for a long time, like a reverberating echo.
Zhu Xiangxiang stared at Ming Jing’s receding back and both her hands tightened into fists. Did Ming Jing just stand up for her just now?
Li Jiaojiao could not help but snort loudly. “You have no idea what’s good for you. Don’t come running to me crying and begging me for help someday.”
“Li Jiaojiao, whatever have I done to offend you? Why are you always trying to bite me like a dog?”
Li Jiaojiao slammed her hand onto the table. “You’re the one who is a dog. Your entire family are dogs. You know full well what it is you’ve done to offend me.”
Zhu Xiangxiang couldn’t be bothered with her anymore, so she grabbed her tray and walked away.
As soon as she left, the cafeteria exploded with gossip.
“My God, the new transfer student from Class Eight turns out to be the real daughter of the Zhu family. Isn’t that outrageous?”
“It’s obvious she’s from the countryside. Her looks and the way she carries herself are so different from Zhu Xiangxiang…”
“It’s clear Zhu Xiangxiang took everything away from her. I feel sorry for that girl.”
“Also, I think the real daughter has a good figure, a good temperament, and proves to be very kind. Didn’t you see how she stood up for Zhu Xiangxiang just now?”
“If I were the real daughter, I wouldn’t be able to bear it seeing the fake daughter’s face at the dining table every day. Like what Li Jiaojiao said, since the real daughter has returned, why would the fake daughter still stay around? Is she so partial to the wealth of a rich family that she can’t bear it to part ways with them?”
“Are you joking? If I were the fake daughter, I wouldn’t leave even if they threaten me with death.”
“Alas, the poor real daughter.. Such a horrible fate…”