Chapter 22: Bringing Bad Luck
The resentment from being kicked out of the Xia family by Xia Chenge that morning had not yet subsided. Xu Jingyun hated Xia Chenge even more, but she feigned magnanimity, saying, “She’s an orphan. I can’t just watch her end up on the streets. No matter what she does, she’s still my sister. I will absolutely not give up on her.”
“You speak better than you sing. Has anyone ever told you that the Oscars owe you a statuette?” A cold and unique voice echoed from the classroom entrance, filled with mockery.
Xu Jingyun frowned and followed the sound. Her eyes met Ling Hanmu’s icy gaze, and her heart trembled. Fear washed over her like a tide, engulfing her.
“Wow, what a handsome guy!”
“Is this a new transfer student?”
“I swear this is the most handsome guy I’ve ever seen!”
…
Apart from Xu Jingyun, the girls in Class 2-1 were extremely excited, almost screaming.
At the same time, Xia Chenge walked out from behind Ling Hanmu. Her charming and cute appearance, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ling Hanmu, was incredibly well-matched, forming a beautiful and eye-pleasing scene.
Everyone immediately fell silent, staring blankly at the perfectly matched pair.
The moment Xu Jingyun saw Xia Chenge, she immediately remembered Xia Chenge’s words from that morning. She screamed uncontrollably, “Xia Chenge, what are you doing here?”
“Xia Chenge?”
“She’s Xia Chenge?”
“Why is she different from the rumors?”
“She’s so beautiful!”
“Even prettier than Jingyun.”
After the initial surprise, everyone was shocked by Xia Chenge’s appearance.
Hearing herself being outshone by Xia Chenge, Xu Jingyun trembled with anger. This was precisely why she hated Xia Chenge so much, even desperately wishing for Xia Chenge to disappear from this world.
A jinx who had killed her parents, why should she steal all the spotlight and make her seem so dim?
“Xu Jingyun, step out!” Ling Hanmu’s gaze was sharp, like a judgment, fixed on Xu Jingyun.
“Ling, Young Master Ling…” Xu Jingyun’s legs felt weak. She shakily stood up, her face full of terror. “You, you…”
Ling Hanmu declared with overwhelming dominance, “Stop shouting. This Young Master is here to cause trouble for you!”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present widened their eyes, instinctively feeling fear.
“Young Master Ling, what did I do wrong?” Xu Jingyun was on the verge of collapse.
“What you’ve done, don’t you have any idea? Hmm?” Ling Hanmu sneered. “When you were bullying her, why did you think others deserved it? This Young Master clearly told you not to bully Xia Chenge, but you insisted on turning a deaf ear and challenging this Young Master’s bottom line.”
“Tell me, should this Young Master settle the score with you? Otherwise, what face will this Young Master have if word gets out?”
Xu Jingyun slumped to the ground. She had been fine all morning and thought Xia Chenge was just trying to scare her by mentioning Ling Hanmu… Who would have thought Xia Chenge would actually bring Ling Hanmu to settle the score with her!
Xu Jingyun’s complexion turned ashen. She recoiled in terror. She glanced at Xia Chenge beside her, who was watching her with a half-smile.
Ling Hanmu walked towards Xu Jingyun. An unprecedented sense of oppression filled Class 2-1.
“Young Master Ling, please spare me. I’m willing to be your servant,” Xu Jingyun gritted her teeth and knelt down with a thud. “Chenge, I was wrong. Please give me a chance to make amends, okay? I promise I won’t obstruct anything you do from now on.”
Ling Hanmu’s eyes turned cold. “You still haven’t repented!”
Xu Jingyun trembled. “Young Master Ling, I haven’t, I really haven’t.”
“You were the one who found people from the vocational middle school, right? As a student of Third Middle School, you dared to teach your sister a lesson at Yan Sheng High School. Relying on your dad marrying a wife who saved him thirty years of struggle, you think you’re part of high society? What are you?”
“This Young Master is telling you, without the Xia family, your Xu family is nothing in Haicheng!”
Ling Hanmu looked down at Xu Jingyun, bombarding her with arrogance.
He paused, then said contemptuously, “This Young Master heard that you and your mother were also eyeing the Ling family’s young madam? Has no one told you that this Young Master detests women like you who have no self-awareness and are utterly foolish?”
Xu Jingyun was stunned. Her mother had only just brought this up, how did Ling Hanmu know so clearly?
Moreover, the power of Ling Hanmu’s last sentence was immense, leaving Xu Jingyun’s mind blank and buzzing, a feeling worse than death.
In that instant, Xu Jingyun’s unwillingness transformed into unprecedented courage. She suddenly stood up, pointed at Xia Chenge, and accused her sternly, “Xia Chenge, I’ve tolerated you time and again, but I never expected you to be so shameless, speaking about me like this behind my back. You’ve gone too far!”
“Over the years, our Xu family has put in effort for you, if not merit. Yet, in the end, we receive such ungrateful behavior from you. If you still have any conscience, please let me go, okay? I won’t fight you for anything. I’d rather stay far away from here. Just give me a way to live, okay?”
Xu Jingyun’s acting skills exploded. Tears streamed down her face, and in an instant, she transformed into a pitiful, wronged little cabbage.
“Young Master Ling, can’t you see that Xia Chenge is scheming against you? Everyone says she’s an idiot and a waste, but her current behavior clearly shows she’s a deeply calculating woman. All her previous acts of weakness were intentional. Don’t be fooled by her!”
Facing Xu Jingyun’s accusations, Xia Chenge remained calm and unfazed.
The students of Class 2-1 snapped back to reality. Out of a desire to be noticed by Ling Hanmu, they bravely spoke up in support of Xu Jingyun:
“Young Master Ling, Jingyun has always been kind and friendly. She even secretly helps classmates from disadvantaged families. How could she be a vicious person who bullies Xia Chenge?”
“That’s right, Young Master Ling. Xia Chenge is the one with the schemes, deliberately acting weak to gain your attention.”
“Young Master Ling, please think carefully about the changes in this situation. I hope you’re not being used!”
…
With the support of her classmates, Xu Jingyun regained her confidence and sobbed, “Chenge, no matter how dissatisfied you are with me, you could have told me privately. Why use such ruthless methods? I thought we were at least sisters…”
Xu Jingyun’s words were cut short. The rest were forcefully silenced by the video playing on Xia Chenge’s mobile phone. She stared at the video in disbelief, a chill creeping up from her feet:
She angrily pushed her mother aside and forcefully swept the bowls and chopsticks from in front of Xia Chenge.
With a “smash,” porcelain shards scattered across the floor.
Then, with a ferocious expression, she yelled at Xia Chenge, “I’ll let you eat your fill! You really think you can fly?”
The video, lasting only a little over ten seconds, played repeatedly, brutally tearing off the mask Xu Jingyun usually wore.
The students of Class 2-1 couldn’t believe that the ill-mannered girl in the video was the goddess Xu Jingyun they admired!
So, the so-called goddess was like this in private.
So, all her good manners were just an act.
Xu Jingyun repeatedly claimed how good she was to Xia Chenge, yet she was a wicked supporting character who wouldn’t even give someone breakfast!
