Just Wanting to Divorce My Love Rival - Chapter 15

Liu Sihui clutched the expulsion notice, looking at the bald, round-faced middle-aged man before her with a fawning expression. “Uncle, you can’t just abandon me. I’m graduating this year; I can’t be expelled like this.”

The bald man was the Dean of Students at Xuanfeng. It was precisely because Liu Sihui had her uncle’s protection that she had been able to act like a tyrant on campus without facing much repercussion.

“So you actually remember you’re graduating this year? If you knew that, why couldn’t you behave? I warned you many times to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble.”

Sitting behind his desk with his legs crossed, the bald man shook his head. “It’s too late now. There’s nothing I can do. Pack your things and go home.”

Liu Sihui tossed the notice aside, ran to his side, and tugged at his arm, acting spoiled. “Uncle, please think of something. I know you must have a way. As long as I’m not expelled this time, I promise to be quiet and never cause trouble again.”

The bald man pulled his arm away, his face grim. “I’ll tell you the truth: the order came from the very top. Not just you, but every single one of your lackeys is finished. Suspensions, expulsions—not one of you will remain.”

Liu Sihui scratched her mess of green hair, frustrated. “What exactly does Zhong Yingzhi want? I hit her person, and she hit me back—isn’t that enough to settle the score? Why is she still hounding me?”

She rolled up her sleeve and thrust her arm in front of the Dean. It was covered in bruises from the club. “Look, Uncle. These injuries on my arms and body were all from Zhong Yingzhi hitting me with a stick. I’m a victim too!”

The Dean slammed his hand on the desk, seemingly reaching his limit. He roared, “Victim? What do you have to be aggrieved about? I’m the one who should be aggrieved! I was supposed to be promoted to Vice Principal next year, but because of this, my promotion has been put on indefinite hold. I don’t even know if I can keep my job as Dean! And your father—his company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Did you know that?”

“What?” Liu Sihui’s eyes widened in shock. “The company was fine! Why would it go bankrupt? That’s impossible!”

The Dean suppressed his rage. “Nothing is impossible. If Zhong Yingzhi wants it done, your father’s little company is like an ant she can crush with one foot. He doesn’t even have the room to fight back.”

Liu Sihui stumbled back, her eyes full of regret and helplessness. Why had she been stupid enough to provoke Mu Cheng? Now her uncle couldn’t help her, and her father’s company was failing.

She had fallen from the heights to the bottom of the valley in an instant.

Liu Sihui was expelled, and her lackeys were all withdrawn from school. The foul atmosphere of the gang was uprooted. The students who had suffered under their bullying were all smiles, cheering at the news.

On the school track, a few girls were gathered, chatting.

“Did you hear? Liu Sihui got expelled.”

“Not just her—all her little followers were kicked out too.”

“That’s great news. I’ve dealt with so much crap from them. Acting like they owned the place just because of her uncle. They finally got what was coming to them. Good riddance.”

“Why were they expelled now? I remember the school never used to care.”

“What else could it be? They offended Zhong Yingzhi. Didn’t you see her face when she was carrying Mu Cheng to the infirmary that day? She looked like she wanted to kill someone.”

“What is her relationship with Mu Cheng anyway…”

Mu Cheng arrived for her morning jog just in time to catch the tail end of the gossip. She gave a light cough, interrupting them.

Hearing her, the group turned to look, immediately went silent, and dispersed.

Liu Sihui had been untouchable for a long time; usually, she’d get a demerit at most. To be expelled directly—it was obvious who had helped.

Mu Cheng’s gaze drifted toward Zhong Yingzhi, who was currently jogging.

Mu Cheng grinned and jogged up to her side. “Why didn’t you wait for me today? Didn’t we agree to run together in the mornings?”

Zhong Yingzhi gave her a cold glance. “When did I ever agree to that?”

Mu Cheng giggled. “Well, it’s not too late to agree now. You have to wait for me tomorrow.”

Zhong Yingzhi said nothing. It was impossible to tell if she was agreeing or if she just didn’t care to talk to her.

Zhong Yingzhi’s arms moved in small, rhythmic motions. She looked straight ahead, her breathing steady. Even after three laps, she was still in top form.

Mu Cheng, on the other hand, was already panting after half a lap. Despite her exhaustion, she didn’t forget to ask: “Was it you who got Liu Sihui expelled?”

Zhong Yingzhi didn’t answer, and Mu Cheng didn’t mind the cold shoulder. She continued, “I’ll treat you to a meal next month.”

Zhong Yingzhi stopped, turned her head, and asked with total seriousness, “Are you asking me out?”

Mu Cheng was stunned by the question and laughed. “Asking you out? What are you thinking? I’m inviting you to a meal to thank you. It’s called being polite, okay?”

Zhong Yingzhi huffed and started jogging again. “Aren’t you out of money?”

Mu Cheng: “That’s why I said next month! I can’t afford shark fin or bird’s nest, but a small restaurant or a roadside stall is no problem. Don’t look down on it; think of it as ‘the gift is small, but the sentiment is deep’…”

Mu Cheng was being polite, but Zhong Yingzhi really wasn’t someone who understood social niceties.

Zhong Yingzhi: “Since the gift is too small, don’t bother giving it.”

Mu Cheng didn’t get upset; she just laughed. “I have even smaller gifts. I’m going to buy water—want me to bring you a bottle? A two-yuan gift, is that small enough? Do you want it?”

Zhong Yingzhi returned to her “ignoring everyone” mode.

Mu Cheng shrugged and ran to the kiosk to buy two bottles of water. By the time she got back, Zhong Yingzhi’s jog was over, and she was doing post-workout stretches.

Mu Cheng ran up and held a bottle out to her. “Bought it for you. Drink up.”

Zhong Yingzhi didn’t take it, saying flatly, “I don’t drink water for half an hour after exercise.”

Mu Cheng tutted and pulled the bottle back. “Fine. I’ll take it back for Li-zi.”

Zhong Yingzhi’s brow furrowed. She thinned her lips and suddenly reached out to snatch the water.

Mu Cheng looked at her empty hand, startled. She laughed, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t drink it?”

Zhong Yingzhi: “I said I wouldn’t drink it now. I didn’t say I wouldn’t drink it in half an hour.”

After the run, the two walked toward the dorm together. Mu Cheng chattered away the whole time. Zhong Yingzhi remained expressionless, not replying once, as if she wasn’t even listening. Even so, Mu Cheng remained enthusiastic.

As they walked, Mu Cheng suddenly linked her arm through Zhong Yingzhi’s.

This was Mu Cheng’s habit; once she was on good terms with someone, she’d instinctively link arms while walking. It was a common gesture between friends.

Feeling her arm grabbed, Zhong Yingzhi’s body went rigid. She stopped immediately, looked down at Mu Cheng’s hand on her arm, and frowned.

Mu Cheng tutted. “Look how stingy you are. Linking arms isn’t going to kill you.”

Zhong Yingzhi pulled her arm back, pushing the girl a step away. She said coldly, “Don’t get so close to me.”

Mu Cheng held out her hands and gave a helpless smile.

When they reached the dormitory, they happened to run into Xiao Xiaoli. Mu Cheng greeted her and habitually linked arms with her.

Zhong Yingzhi stopped in her tracks. Her face darkened, her eyes turned cold, and her gaze fixed intensely on their linked hands.

Mu Cheng noticed she had stopped. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you moving?”

Zhong Yingzhi started walking again, acting natural. Instead of taking the wide-open path, she insisted on walking right between Mu Cheng and Xiao Xiaoli, not stopping until she had successfully forced their arms apart.

Mu Cheng didn’t think much of it. She turned around and linked arms with Xiao Xiaoli again.

A nameless fire rose in Zhong Yingzhi’s heart. Once again, she “naturally” squeezed through the middle of them. After forcing them apart a second time, she cast a sharp glare at Mu Cheng.

After the glare, she simply left, leaving a dazed Xiao Xiaoli and Mu Cheng standing there.

Mu Cheng watched her departing back, confused. “What is she doing? The road is so wide—why does she keep insisting on walking right between us? She did it twice!”

Xiao Xiaoli shook her head. “I don’t know. So weird.”

While passing Zhong Yingzhi’s desk, Mu Cheng noticed her ID card lying there. Out of curiosity, she picked it up for a look.

I bet the ID photo looks terrible, Mu Cheng thought. I’ve gotta sneak a peek.

When she looked, she pouted. Who said ID photos are always ugly?

The person on the card had blonde hair, blue eyes, and sharp, deep features. It looked as beautiful as a professional art portrait. The only flaw was the lack of a smile; she looked icy.

Mu Cheng was about to put it back when her eyes caught the birth date.

The 9th.

Her birthday was on the 9th. September 9th.

Mu Cheng’s heart skipped a beat.

Is it a coincidence? The first time she traveled to the future, the date was September 9th. Since then, she traveled on the 9th of every month.

The 9th. Why the 9th? And why nine years later? Every number seemed to involve nine.

Mu Cheng had always wondered why it wasn’t the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd—why specifically the 9th? Seeing Zhong Yingzhi’s birthday, strange suspicions flooded her mind.

Zhong Yingzhi walked over. “What are you doing with my ID?”

Mu Cheng answered with a question. “Is your birthday really on the 9th?”

Zhong Yingzhi snatched the card back. “Whether it’s the 9th or not, what does it have to do with you?”

Mu Cheng fell into deep thought as chaotic theories raced through her head. The timing of the time travel matched Zhong Yingzhi’s birthday. Every time she traveled, she always saw Zhong Yingzhi. Everything was linked to her.

Could it be that the reason she had this ability… was because of Zhong Yingzhi?

What exactly was the relationship between her future self and Zhong Yingzhi?