Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 18

The corner was completely empty. Time seemed to slow down, yet Yun Wu’s senses were magnified infinitely.

The hallway light was dim. The faint, shifting light and shadow neatly cut across Yun Wu’s slender back.

In the quiet wait, Jiang Shangxue’s answer clearly drifted over.

“Mr. Zhao, that is none of your concern. You only need to know that whether she is my biological child or not, she is the future heir of the Yun Group.”

Yun Wu’s hand, clenched in the shadow, tightened further. The breath held in her throat slowly eased out.

The answer was impeccable. Yun Wu couldn’t tell if she felt relieved or disappointed.

Watching from afar, Jiang Shangxue’s demeanor and expression remained completely unchanged.

Genuine or fake? Yun Wu couldn’t tell the difference.

Lowering her eyes, she turned and walked toward the restroom. After washing her hands and passing the corner, Yun Wu glanced toward the door again.

Jiang Shangxue looked composed and unperturbed. Zhao Ji, across from her, looked very angry, having slammed the table several times.

Returning to her seat, Yun Wu took a deep breath and continued to take notes diligently.

The lecturer in the book bar was tall and thin, and his teaching level was surprisingly good—very effective.

The pace was brisk, and the knowledge framework for each section was clear at a glance. For the Gaokao alone, it was highly targeted, perfectly suited for the current Yun Wu.

Seizing the moment while looking up, Yun Wu glanced around and noticed that besides Ye Mei and her followers, there was no one else nearby.

Upon thinking about it, Yun Wu understood.

Ye Mei was sitting right next to Yun Wu. Noticing her gaze, she looked up, confused.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you deep in note-taking?”

The teacher on the podium was writing new concepts on the board. Yun Wu blinked and looked away nonchalantly.

Just as Ye Mei found Yun Wu inexplicable, Yun Wu’s deliberately lowered voice reached her.

“Is the teacher at the book bar really giving free lectures?”

Of course not.

Ye Mei opened her mouth, then silently closed it. She didn’t like attending classes at school, but that didn’t mean she didn’t like studying. By the twelfth grade, all courses at East Villa High School were primarily geared toward preparing for the independent admissions exams. The Gaokao review was entirely left to the students to arrange after class.

It was completely insane.

Ye Mei didn’t have the genius gene. Since she vehemently refused to attend school classes, Ye Jianwei simply hired a specialist for Gaokao review and arranged private instruction.

The location was set at Mu Ye Book Bar, and Ye Jianwei simply bought the book bar and put it under Ye Mei’s name.

That was why many East Villa High School students were in the book bar, but no one came near this large, soundproof central area.

Yun Wu seemed strongly averse to owing people favors. Ye Mei, who thought Yun Wu was still upset with her, immediately decided to play dumb, pretending she hadn’t heard or didn’t know.

Catching sight of Ye Mei’s ever-changing expression, Yun Wu’s lips moved slightly, but she didn’t say anything else.

During the break, Yun Wu glanced toward Jiang Shangxue’s location.

She was still there, and Zhao Ji hadn’t left either. It seemed they hadn’t reached an agreement yet.

The night was quiet and deep. By the time the teacher finished today’s lecture, it was half past nine.

Ye Mei was drowsy, but seeing the reflective Yun Wu next to her, she suddenly became energized and leaned in cheekily.

“Yun Wu, are you still mad?”

“No.”

“Then… who was that woman who came to the book bar with you this afternoon? She looks familiar somehow.”

Ye Mei had been bottling it up all evening. She was gay, and when she saw Jiang Shangxue’s profile up close that afternoon, her brain had instantly crashed, leaving only four words: Stunning Beyond Belief.

Yun Wu glanced at her, not answering.

Restless with curiosity, Ye Mei clung shamelessly to Yun Wu. “Please, just tell your sister. Who was that person you came with?”

Although she was fooling around, Ye Mei was careful of the boundary. She pinched Yun Wu’s sleeve with her thumb and forefinger, looking so ridiculously funny that the buzz-cuts next to them burst out laughing.

Yun Wu constrained herself. Just as she was about to speak, a gentle voice sounded behind the two of them.

“I am Wu Wu’s auntie.”

In the warm light, Jiang Shangxue’s neck was fair and slender. Her eyes were warm. When she smiled, her eyelids drooped slightly. Coupled with her rather vintage clothing today, her every gesture was captivating.

Ye Mei was stunned. She stammered, “Aun… heh heh heh, hello Auntie.”

Yun Wu was also surprised, but she quickly calmed down. She glanced behind Jiang Shangxue and didn’t see Zhao Ji.

“Auntie Jiang.”

“Mhm. Have some fruit, then we’ll go home.”

Jiang Shangxue carried a fruit platter with cantaloupe, one of Yun Wu’s favorite fruits.

Setting down the platter, Jiang Shangxue sat down opposite them and smiled at Ye Mei. “Are you Wu Wu’s friend?”

“Yes! I’m Yun Wu’s deskmate,” Ye Mei was very enthusiastic. Although she had a buzz-cut, her smile was bright and amiable.

Jiang Shangxue had seen the interaction between Yun Wu and Ye Mei and her smile deepened.

“That’s wonderful. I was always worried that Wu Wu was alone. I feel much better knowing she has friends.”

Faced with such beauty, Ye Mei’s head was spinning. She waved her hands. “Don’t worry, Auntie! How could we let Yun Wu be alone? She has me and my buddies!”

The multi-colored buzz-cuts immediately rushed over in unison, their voices neat and loud. “Hello, Auntie Jiang!”

Jiang Shangxue was visibly surprised. “Hello to all of you.”

Yun Wu: “…”

Yun Wu felt embarrassed, which was rare for her. Ye Mei, however, was exceptionally excited. Most parents considered them delinquent teens. Only Jiang Shangxue’s attitude remained consistently welcoming.

Her demeanor was gentle, and her smile was friendly.

Jiang Shangxue and Ye Mei conversed back and forth. Yun Wu noticed that Jiang Shangxue’s lips remained curved upwards, just as they were when she talked to her—looking impossibly gentle.

Her eyes darkening slightly, Yun Wu abruptly increased the speed at which she ate the cantaloupe.

When did Jiang Shangxue become so easy to talk to? Was she this gentle and patient with all children?

She must be faking it.

Yun Wu suddenly felt a heavy blockage in her heart, but she didn’t show it at all, quietly eating her cantaloupe.

Perhaps older people naturally carried a sense of pressure. Jokes aside, when Yun Wu and Ye Mei sat down to eat the fruit, they looked well-behaved and polite.

Ye Mei ate while observing Jiang Shangxue out of the corner of her eye. Jiang Shangxue’s handbag had no visible logo, but Ye Mei recognized it.

It was the same highly customized bag from the Chuncui series that she wanted to buy for her mother—costing six figures and, more importantly, not necessarily available even if you had the money.

Outwardly composed, Ye Mei’s mind was a tempest.

Looking at their appearances, Auntie Jiang and Yun Wu weren’t that far apart in age, and there was a similar mysterious quality about them.

The doubt in Ye Mei’s mind was resolved. I knew it. Given Yun Wu’s situation, it was impossible for her to know the intricate conflicts between the Zhao and Ye families, let alone predict stock trends.

Someone was obviously guiding her! Ye Mei firmly believed that Jiang Shangxue was the expert behind Yun Wu! Her gaze grew even more intense. She wanted to ask more, but as she opened her mouth, Yun Wu preempted her.

“Auntie Jiang, I’m finished eating. Shall we go?”

Yun Wu had packed her bag earlier. She could leave immediately. Her voice and expression were flat. She then looked at Ye Mei.

“Ye Mei, see you tomorrow,” she said, her tone slightly stiff.

It was already late. Jiang Shangxue, seeing Yun Wu proactively suggest leaving, naturally didn’t refuse. She nodded and stood up, but then spoke. “Wait a moment.”

Yun Wu felt a strange sense of guilt and stopped where she was after slinging on her bag.

A faint, elegant lily-of-the-valley scent, accompanied by a shadow, quietly enveloped Yun Wu.

The next second, a pale, slender fingertip touched Yun Wu’s lip, gently rubbing it.

“No one is competing with you. Eat slower next time.”

Jiang Shangxue’s eyes were softer than usual. As she spoke, her warm breath fanned Yun Wu’s cheek, making it tingle. Even the lip she had just touched felt like it had been scorched.

Yun Wu lowered her head. On Jiang Shangxue’s fingertip was a small, white cantaloupe seed.

Clenching her hand, faint sweat seeped into Yun Wu’s palm.

“I understand, Auntie Jiang,” her voice was very low and slightly hoarse.

Yun Wu’s skin was fair, her hair soft, and her dense, curled eyelashes were plated with a faint light, trembling slightly. She looked exceptionally docile.

Jiang Shangxue’s gaze was calm, but her heart involuntarily softened a few degrees more.

“Let’s go. Time to go home.”