A Self-Cultivation of a Stand-in [Transmigration GL] - Chapter 17

Outside the office.

Cai Xinyue kept her head down, looking at the flowers scattered on the ground. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s all my fault for being too impulsive.”

“It’s fine,” Hua Luoyue replied. “It started because of me anyway.”

Cai Xinyue stole a glance at Yuan Xiaoxiao at the other end of the hall, her expression turning to one of pure disgust. “I didn’t expect to find someone so low even in university.” She looked at the closed office door, asking uneasily, “That sister of yours… she won’t be mad at you, will she? Maybe I should explain things to her later…”

Hua Luoyue shook her head. “I was the one who hit her. Besides, with people like her, if you give an inch, she’ll take a mile. If I back down now, she’ll only get worse.”

The glaring black eye on Yuan Xiaoxiao’s face was indeed Hua Luoyue’s handiwork.

Before she had arrived, Cai Xinyue and Yuan Xiaoxiao were already brawling. Outnumbered, Cai Xinyue was naturally losing. There weren’t many onlookers, but those who were there had panicked and run to find a teacher, shouting that people were fighting. According to school regulations, serious cases of brawling could lead to a demerit or even expulsion.

Although Yuan Xiaoxiao had more people on her side, her reputation preceded her. Given her disheveled appearance, no teacher would necessarily believe that Cai Xinyue hadn’t fought back or was a passive victim. The two sides had been locked in a struggle; if Hua Luoyue hadn’t stepped in with a direct punch to Yuan Xiaoxiao, the fight might have continued until security arrived.

It was the first time Yuan Xiaoxiao had faced Hua Luoyue’s cold aggression. She seemed stunned by the blow and didn’t dare provoke her further, choosing instead to bury her face and cry.

Getting into two fights within a single month was serious. If either side’s guardian expressed strong objection, this matter wouldn’t be settled as easily as the last time.

Now that she had calmed down, Cai Xinyue felt a wave of regret. She should have gone straight to a teacher instead of letting her temper flare and getting into a physical scuffle. She had initially wanted to stand up for Hua Luoyue, but now she had dragged her into the mess as well.

Looking at the ruined flowers on the ground, and thinking about how Hua Luoyue had repeatedly told her not to impulsively take the blame, Cai Xinyue felt a mix of emotions. “Did you… miss your chance to visit your mom?”

“Mhm…” Hua Luoyue noticed her gaze and looked at the bouquet. She had received the message from her classmate while buying flowers at the hospital gates; she hadn’t thought twice before rushing back. In the middle of the chaotic conflict, the flowers had “heroically sacrificed” themselves.

“It’s okay,” Hua Luoyue said indifferently. “I’ll just buy another bunch when I go tonight.”

Cai Xinyue lowered her head even further. “Then… let me go with you tonight.”

Hua Luoyue glanced at the office behind her. “Next time. Today… it might not be convenient.”

Just as she spoke, the sound of footsteps inside the office grew closer. With a light click, the door opened, and the conversation outside stopped instantly.

The teacher’s gaze lingered on Hua Luoyue for a moment before turning to the others. “Hua Luoyue, Cai Xinyue—you two can go home now.”

Cai Xinyue was stunned. “But what about my dad…?”

“I just spoke with your father over the phone,” the teacher said. “This incident doesn’t have much to do with you. Go back and reflect. Think carefully before you act next time. Don’t be so impulsive.”

In other words, the matter was settled for them.

Cai Xinyue nodded in a daze, unable to understand why the teacher’s attitude had shifted so quickly. She looked at Yu Zhezhi walking out behind the teacher; there was no sign of anger or dissatisfaction on her face. In fact, she looked more relaxed than when she had gone in.

Yu Zhezhi beckoned to Hua Luoyue, signaling her to follow, then looked at Cai Xinyue. “Do you need a ride?”

Cai Xinyue shook her head frantically.

Hua Luoyue bent down to pick up the fallen flowers and told her friend to head back to the dorm first.

The teacher turned to Yuan Xiaoxiao, but didn’t let her off so easily. “Yuan Xiaoxiao, your father will be here in ten minutes. Come inside and wait. We need to have a serious talk.”

As Cai Xinyue followed Yu Zhezhi and Hua Luoyue downstairs, Yuan Xiaoxiao was left shuffling slowly back into the office.

Walking ahead, Yu Zhezhi told Hua Luoyue the result of her talk with the teacher. “I promised her there wouldn’t be a next time. But you still have to write a self-reflection—at least two thousand words. Hand it to her before next Monday.”

Cai Xinyue finally couldn’t help but ask, “What about Yuan Xiaoxiao?”

Yu Zhezhi looked back at her. “Her situation is much more serious. Did you know that a student she bullied previously became so depressed they jumped off a building and nearly died?”

“I’ve heard rumors about that,” Cai Xinyue said. Though that had happened before university.

“With a record like that, there’s no guarantee there won’t be a next time,” Yu Zhezhi said. “Even in university, this isn’t the first or second time she’s bullied classmates.”

Schools are terrified of life-and-death lawsuits. The previous counselor had been incompetent, accepting gifts from parents and students under the table. As long as nothing happened on his watch, he turned a blind eye—or even blatantly favored the bully. But the new teacher took such matters very seriously. Once she learned about Yuan Xiaoxiao’s history, she realized where the real problem lay.

Compared to Yuan Xiaoxiao’s long-term bullying, a mutual schoolyard scuffle like the one between Cai Xinyue and Hua Luoyue was barely an issue—at least no blood was shed and no extreme psychological trauma was inflicted.

However, the fact that Yu Zhezhi had spoken privately with the teacher for so long suggested there were other reasons involved. Yu Zhezhi didn’t elaborate, simply continuing to instruct Hua Luoyue not to act so impulsively next time. Cai Xinyue walked behind them, keeping her head down.

Eventually, they reached the fork in the path leading to the dorms. Hua Luoyue found a trash can and tossed the pathetic bouquet inside. Cai Xinyue whispered to her, “I’ll buy you a new bunch next time.”

“It’s fine,” Hua Luoyue replied.

“Are you still coming on Sunday?” Cai Xinyue asked.

Hua Luoyue nodded. “If nothing else happens.”

Yu Zhezhi stood a short distance away, watching them wave goodbye. Occasionally, other students passed by and greeted them. Compared to the first few times she’d seen Hua Luoyue on campus, the girl seemed much less isolated and much more cheerful now. Last time they met, the relationship between Hua Luoyue and Cai Xinyue clearly wasn’t as close as it was now.

Once Hua Luoyue walked over and they headed toward the school gate together, Yu Zhezhi suddenly spoke: “You remember the terms of our agreement, right?”

Hua Luoyue nodded. “I remember…”

“It doesn’t matter who you’re friends with, who you spend time with, or even who you like or dislike,” Yu Zhezhi continued. “But as long as the agreement is in effect, I don’t want any improper rumors or photos surfacing. My patience has limits.”

“I know,” Hua Luoyue said. “During my time at school, as long as there isn’t a second Yuan Xiaoxiao jumping out like this, I promise there won’t be a third time.”

Yu Zhezhi gave a lukewarm snort. “You’d better mean that.”

“But those flowers,” Hua Luoyue continued, “I had originally planned to take them to the hospital to see my mom.”

Yu Zhezhi stopped at the crosswalk and turned to look at her. “And instead of entering the hospital, you rushed back to take the fall for your good friend?”

Hua Luoyue replied without hesitation, “I really was the one who hit her.”

“Would you have hit her if your friend hadn’t started it?” Yu Zhezhi countered.

“Maybe not,” Hua Luoyue answered honestly. “But this whole thing started because of me. Besides, I already have a father in prison. One more demerit on my record isn’t a big deal.”

But Cai Xinyue, aside from her little hobbies, had a clean record. Of course, the best outcome would have been solving it through communication.

Yu Zhezhi was almost amused by her logic. “Are you banking on the fact that I won’t just leave you be?”

Hua Luoyue paused, then finally said, “Maybe…”

“Your friend better be worth your efforts,” Yu Zhezhi mocked.

Hua Luoyue asked her, “Do you not like her?”

Yu Zhezhi dodged the question, asking instead, “If I said I didn’t, would you stop being friends with her?”

Hua Luoyue thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook her head. “I would try my best to make sure she doesn’t appear in front of you again.”

“You actually seriously considered ending the friendship?” Yu Zhezhi didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. Should she call the girl “obedient,” “cold-hearted,” or just “stupid”?

She couldn’t quite figure Hua Luoyue out. Before the contract, the girl was timid and cowering; now that she wasn’t so fearful, she was sometimes like a block of wood without independent thought, yet she was so good at causing trouble. Sarcasm seemed to slide right off her.

Hua Luoyue wasn’t angry or confused. She answered the questions seriously and literally, like an obedient primary student.

“I just want you to be happy when you’re here,” Hua Luoyue said.

Whether Yu Zhezhi treated her as a substitute or used the place as a temporary hotel, she didn’t mind as long as Yu Zhezhi was happy. If she could, she wouldn’t have caused so many conflicts and troubles for Yu Zhezhi either. Ending a friendship was too much, but there was a middle ground.

She thought about it seriously not because she was used to taking orders, but because it was Yu Zhezhi’s “wish.” Yu Zhezhi had no doubt that if she casually mentioned anything else Hua Luoyue could do, the girl would execute it immediately.

This kind of “obedience” actually made Yu Zhezhi feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Are you…” Yu Zhezhi didn’t finish her sentence; the words would have been too unpleasant to say to her face. She frowned and changed her approach. “You don’t need to be so cautious around me. The agreement didn’t say I was looking for a servant.”

Hua Luoyue looked at her and actually smiled. “It’s not to flatter you.” She paused, realizing the sentence was ambiguous. In a way, she did want to please Yu Zhezhi. “I just have no other way to repay you. If I don’t even pay attention to these small things, I’d feel very bad taking your money.”

With the way you cause trouble, you look like someone who’d feel bad? Yu Zhezhi bit back the remark.

“No need…” Yu Zhezhi said, then remembered the invitation. “Occasionally, I’ll need you to attend events with me. When the time comes, just follow me—speak little, look little, and don’t ask questions.”

She looked Hua Luoyue up and down, her critical expression softening slightly. “And pay attention to your appearance. Stop making it look like I’m mistreating you.”

“By the way, I had a good talk with that teacher. If you encounter similar situations in the future, you can go straight to her.” Yu Zhezhi offered a rare bit of praise. “She’s not bad.” At least not as rigid as she looked.

Hua Luoyue didn’t ask further. If Yuan Xiaoxiao stopped jumping out to cause trouble, her school life should be quite stable.

Leaving the school, they should have gone straight home, or Yu Zhezhi should have proposed returning to the office. Hua Luoyue was thinking she’d just have to find time to go to the hospital the next day.

They crossed the road to where a car was pulling up to the curb.

“Get in,” Yu Zhezhi said.

Hua Luoyue nodded and opened the back door. A moment later, Yu Zhezhi climbed in from the other side.

“To the hospital…” Yu Zhezhi gave the driver the address.

“What is President Yu going to the hospital for?” Hua Luoyue asked, surprised.

“We’ve been married for so long,” Yu Zhezhi said. “It’s about time I visited my mother-in-law.”