Just Wanting to Divorce My Love Rival - Chapter 8

The cafeteria was a sea of people, bustling and noisy. A single glance revealed rows of blue stools and white tables, every single seat occupied.

“It’s all your fault,” Xiao Xiaoli grumbled, holding her tray of food. “Can you please fix that dawdling habit of yours? You just kept lingering in the dorm, and now look—no seats. We’ll have to eat standing up.”

Mu Cheng craned her neck, searching everywhere for a spot. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “It’s fine! There are seats over there.”

With that, Mu Cheng led Xiao Xiaoli toward a spot by the window.

While every other table was packed, this particular area had three empty seats.

There was a reason for the vacancy: Zhong Yingzhi was sitting there by the window.

Everyone in the school knew that Zhong Yingzhi disliked people getting too close to her, and since the cafeteria seats were designed quite narrowly, sitting together inevitably meant physical contact.

Furthermore, the family power behind Zhong Yingzhi was so immense that most people didn’t dare to act out in front of her. Since she didn’t like people sitting next to her, everyone tacitly understood not to provoke her, lest they invite trouble.

Consequently, wherever Zhong Yingzhi sat, the neighboring seats usually remained empty.

“No way, you want to sit next to Yingzhi?” Xiao Xiaoli started to back out.

Mu Cheng remained undeterred. “What are you afraid of? It’s not like she eats people. I don’t want to eat standing up, so I’m sitting next to her. We’re roommates; she won’t say much.”

Xuanfeng University wasn’t a top-tier school, but it wasn’t bad either. For commoners, getting in meant they were reasonably successful. However, for a wealthy heiress like Zhong Yingzhi to study here seemed highly unusual.

Mu Cheng had always been curious: Why did she choose this place?

Children from wealthy families had endless options. Moreover, Zhong Yingzhi had entered the school with the highest score in the college entrance exams. With her grades and family background, she undoubtedly had better choices.

Given her credentials, she could have picked any prestigious university in the country or even the world. Her presence here felt out of place, to the point where no one even dared to sit near her during a meal.

Mu Cheng carried her tray and stood before Zhong Yingzhi, giving a fawning grin. “There are no seats left. Can Li-zi and I sit next to you?”

Zhong Yingzhi chewed on her vegetables without even lifting her head, ignoring them completely.

If she doesn’t say no, it means yes, Mu Cheng thought.

Over the past two years in the cafeteria, aside from a few tactless people trying to curry favor, no one had ever voluntarily sat next to her.

Usually, if someone sat down, she would immediately stand up and leave, her expression of repulsion and disdain clear for all to see. It was incredibly embarrassing for the other party.

But this time, when Mu Cheng sat down, she didn’t leave. She continued eating as if she didn’t mind.

Students nearby found this fascinating and cast curious glances their way.

Being stared at made Mu Cheng feel a bit uneasy, and she briefly regretted sitting there. But on second thought, being watched was better than eating standing up.

Let them look, she thought. It doesn’t matter.

Mu Cheng and Xiao Xiaoli chatted and laughed non-stop, like two chirping birds.

Zhong Yingzhi’s brow furrowed several times as she listened.

The topic suddenly turned to Zhong Yingzhi. Xiao Xiaoli said, “I think we don’t need to rush to the cafeteria anymore. We can just sit with Yingzhi; it’s so convenient. Yingzhi, you don’t mind us sitting here, do you?”

Zhong Yingzhi looked up at them. “Don’t talk while eating. You guys are too noisy.”

The implication was clear: she minded.

The atmosphere turned awkward. Mu Cheng patted Xiao Xiaoli’s shoulder. “I won’t dawdle in the dorm anymore. We’d better come early and grab a proper seat.”

Otherwise, they’d end up with indigestion from being snubbed by her.

Zhong Yingzhi glanced at Mu Cheng. “You can,” she said, then swept a look at Xiao Xiaoli. “She can’t.”

Mu Cheng: “???”

Xiao Xiaoli was offended. Pouting, she asked, “Why? Yingzhi, how can you play favorites? Why can she sit next to you but I can’t?”

Zhong Yingzhi offered no explanation. She picked up her metal tray, stood up, and walked away.

Mu Cheng blinked, watching her leave. It took a moment to register. “What just happened? Was I… specially treated?”

Xiao Xiaoli poked at the rice in her box, looking hurt. “We’re both roommates. Why do you get the special treatment?”

Mu Cheng leaned in mischievously. “Look how pained you are. This is called personal charm—you can’t envy it. Here, here, I’ll award you my chicken leg. Don’t be sad.”

Xiao Xiaoli rolled her eyes and reached out to hit her.

Mu Cheng dodged slightly, but unfortunately, someone was passing by. The collision caused the person to accidentally spill a bowl of scalding hot soup—splash—right onto Mu Cheng’s arm.

Mu Cheng stood up in pain, hissing through her teeth. A large patch of her skin turned red, and blisters began to form instantly.

A girl with green hair, heavy smoky eye makeup, and Doc Martens tutted. “Moving around while eating—what’s wrong with you? Don’t you have eyes? You made me spill my soup.”

Mu Cheng blew on her burned skin, too pained to even process the words yet.

The green-haired girl wouldn’t let it go. She shoved Mu Cheng. “I’m talking to you! Did you hear me? Don’t you know how to apologize? Are you deaf or mute?”

It was true that moving around was a mistake, but Mu Cheng was the one who got burned. She hadn’t even complained, yet this girl was already aggressively pushing her.

Mu Cheng’s temper flared. “What are you pushing for? It’s just spilled soup. I’ll buy you another bowl!”

Xiao Xiaoli pulled at Mu Cheng’s sleeve from behind, whispering, “Don’t fight with her.”

Mu Cheng turned to her, bewildered. “Whose side are you on? Am I fighting her? She pushed me first!”

Xiao Xiaoli winked frantically. “That girl is Liu Sihui. She’s a famous gang leader in our school. You’ll get beaten up! Forget it, don’t provoke her. We should just leave.”

Liu Sihui had three or four girls behind her, all with multicolored hair, looking like a formidable wall. They tilted their heads arrogantly, glaring at Mu Cheng as if ready to pounce. It was terrifying.

Mu Cheng, never having dealt with such a scene, immediately lost her nerve. A wise person doesn’t fight a losing battle; she decided to tuck her tail and leave.

But Liu Sihui was used to getting her way. She blocked Mu Cheng’s path. “Where do you think you’re going? Weren’t you just acting all tough saying you’d buy me a bowl of soup? Buy it then! I want to see what kind of soup you can produce.”

As she spoke, Liu Sihui shoved Mu Cheng’s shoulder again. “Do you know who I am? Acting so arrogant… you’re looking for a beating, aren’t you?”

Xiao Xiaoli quickly stepped in front, pressing her palms together. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! She’s immature and accidentally offended you.”

Liu Sihui scanned Xiao Xiaoli and sneered, “And what the hell are you?”

She slapped the top of Xiao Xiaoli’s head. Once wasn’t enough; she did it again, quite hard.

Students nearby watched the drama and whispered, but no one dared to help. Few people wanted to mess with the school bully.

Mu Cheng’s fists clenched. Gritting her teeth, she pulled Xiao Xiaoli behind her and summoned the courage to shout, “What do you want?! You want to hit someone? Fine! Hit me if you want. You think I’m afraid of you?”

Liu Sihui scoffed. Her lackeys joined in the mocking laughter.

Liu Sihui: “Ooh, quite the spine. I think you’re looking for death.”

With those words, Liu Sihui raised her hand high to deliver a slap. Mu Cheng closed her eyes, resigned to her fate.

She waited for a long time, but the blow never fell. Mu Cheng opened her eyes in confusion.

Someone had grabbed Liu Sihui’s wrist.

“Who the hell is interfering with my—” Liu Sihui turned around impatiently, but her voice died in her throat once she saw the person. She didn’t dare finish.

Zhong Yingzhi stood there, half a head taller than them, looking down with a cold, grim face. Her eyes were dark. “I’m interfering. What do you want to do about it?”

Zhong Yingzhi applied a bit of force and shoved Liu Sihui to the ground.

As Liu Sihui fell, her lackeys rushed to help her. “Boss, are you okay?”

Liu Sihui scrambled up, looking disheveled. she glanced at Zhong Yingzhi with fear. “Miss Zhong… do you know these two?”

“I don’t,” Zhong Yingzhi said coldly. “But I felt like interfering. So?”

Liu Sihui gave a dry laugh, her previous arrogance completely gone. She bowed and scraped. “It’s nothing. Whatever makes you happy.”

Zhong Yingzhi sneered.

“Let’s go.” Liu Sihui led her group away in a hurry.

Once they were out of the cafeteria, a girl with yellow hair caught up. “Boss, are we just going to let it go? That was so embarrassing.”

Liu Sihui spat on the ground, her eyes malicious. “Of course we aren’t letting it go. I can’t touch Zhong Yingzhi, but you think I can’t handle that other girl? Damn it, I can’t swallow this. Just wait; I’m going to make her pay.”

Bullies always pick the easiest target, and Mu Cheng was clearly the “soft persimmon” on the chopping block.

Watching the gang walk away, Mu Cheng let out a massive sigh of relief. She thought she was going to get pulverized.

Mu Cheng looked at Zhong Yingzhi gratefully. “Thank you for just now.”

Zhong Yingzhi thinned her lips, her gaze landing on the red, blistered burn on Mu Cheng’s arm.

Mu Cheng smiled. “It’s fine. I’m thick-skinned; it’ll be okay in a bit.”

Zhong Yingzhi retracted her gaze. “Whether you’re okay or not has nothing to do with me.”

With that, she walked away.

Once she was out of Mu Cheng’s sight, Zhong Yingzhi took out her phone and called Lin Zhuo.

“Bring burn ointment to my dorm.” It was brief and to the point; she hung up immediately.

Doctor Lin didn’t even have time to ask a question before the line went dead. Worried that Zhong Yingzhi had been burned, he grabbed his medical kit and rushed to the dormitory.

When he arrived, he found that the person burned wasn’t Zhong Yingzhi at all.

“Who is this ointment for? Don’t tell me it’s your little roommate again?” Doctor Lin raised an eyebrow, hitting the nail on the head.

Zhong Yingzhi took the ointment. “The ointment is here. You can leave now,” she said coldly, dismissing him.

Doctor Lin shrugged, wisely shut his mouth, and left.

Zhong Yingzhi looked at the ointment, hesitated for a moment, and then tossed it onto Mu Cheng’s desk.

The burn on her arm wasn’t severe, but it throbbed. Mu Cheng was about to go buy some ointment, but before she could leave, she noticed a tube already sitting on her desk.

Mu Cheng picked it up. “Li-zi, did you buy this for me?”

Xiao Xiaoli shook her head. “No.”

Mu Cheng frowned, glancing at Zhong Yingzhi, who was reading. She had a hunch.

“Did you buy this?” Mu Cheng walked over and asked.

“No.” Zhong Yingzhi flipped a page, her eyes never leaving the book.

Mu Cheng raised an eyebrow, understanding perfectly. “Fine. Regardless of who bought it, I’m very thankful. If you happen to know who it was, thank them for me.”

Zhong Yingzhi looked up. “Don’t talk to me. It’s distracting me from my reading.”

Mu Cheng: “…”

A wooden gourd. Doesn’t like to talk and loves to put on a stinky face, but still…

“Okay, okay, I won’t talk to you.” Mu Cheng shook her head with a smile. This person was so stubborn.

Zhong Yingzhi had helped her out in the cafeteria and then bought her ointment; after these events, Mu Cheng’s negative impression of her had vanished.

In fact, even without these events, Mu Cheng didn’t really dislike her. After all, if Zhong Yingzhi was truly as annoying as she seemed, she wouldn’t have been the one guarding her bedside nine years in the future.

Someone who can care for me so patiently must be a good person at heart. At least, a friend worth having.

Mu Cheng placed a hand on Zhong Yingzhi’s shoulder. “About the cafeteria and this ointment—I’ll remember this favor. I might not be able to pay it back, and you probably don’t need me to, but I’ll remember it.”

Zhong Yingzhi’s brow furrowed. She stared silently at the hand on her shoulder.

Mu Cheng pouted and pulled her hand back. “I know, I know. You don’t like being touched. My mistake; I’ll be careful next time.”

Zhong Yingzhi let out a huff and dismissively brushed off the shoulder Mu Cheng had touched.

Mu Cheng’s eyes twinkled. As if playing a prank, she extended a finger and quickly poked Zhong Yingzhi’s shoulder again.

Before Zhong Yingzhi could react, Mu Cheng ran away, sticking her tongue out. “Bleh! I’m gonna touch you. I’ll touch you in the future too!”

Zhong Yingzhi: “Crazy.”

After saying that, Zhong Yingzhi turned back to her book. However, the corner of her mouth twitched into an imperceptible smile—a fleeting expression that vanished instantly, as if it had never happened.