“The school is going to persuade Shu Lu to leave?”
Wen Ying was a bit surprised.
She thought this time they’d only deal with Shu Guobing, but Shu Lu being expelled was an unexpected bonus.
Soon, Wen Ying learned why Shu Lu was being forced out.
Wen Dongrong had actually gone to Vice Principal Guo Xia.
In her previous life, Wen Dongrong had pulled strings for Shu Lu, guiding her to choose a major, pass the civil service exam, and vouching for her high-status marriage.
What Wen Dongrong felt when he pleaded with Shu Lu’s future father-in-law, Wen Ying no longer knew. But in this life, Wen Dongrong went to Guo Xia for Wen Ying’s sake to get Shu Lu expelled… Wen Ying’s feelings were complicated.
In this life, she wasn’t as obedient to Wen Dongrong as before, not holding back when she needed to confront him. Yet, Old Wen treated her better than in her past life. Who could she reason with about that?
It all came down to being outstanding herself—only then did she hold more weight with her parents!
Wen Dongrong didn’t use his limited authority to pressure Guo Xia; his minor position couldn’t sway her. He simply told her about Shu Lu’s actions.
After Guo Xia investigated and confirmed Wen Dongrong wasn’t lying, Shu Lu’s character was indeed deeply flawed.
At a provincial key school, even students with weaker grades weren’t a big issue—there were many paths to success. If academics weren’t their strength, they could pursue arts or sports and still get into university.
Having a degree, mastering a skill, and becoming a useful member of society made the school proud.
But a major character flaw was far worse than poor grades.
Vanity or competitiveness were minor issues. Parents might not care, and the school wouldn’t intervene if it only harmed the student themselves.
Shu Lu, however, harmed others!
For whatever reason, hiring a delinquent to extort another student was something Vice Principal Guo Xia absolutely couldn’t tolerate.
Yue Shanni’s school had expelled her—would the provincial key school be outdone by an ordinary high school?
Shu Lu wasn’t a Rongcheng resident; her transfer had been arranged through Cai Youren’s connections. When the school decided to expel her, they asked Cai Youren what to do.
Cai Youren, busy trying to bail out Xiao Cai, had no time for Shu Lu and told them to handle it as they saw fit.
The person assisting Cai Youren understood immediately—Cai didn’t want to get involved.
For Guo Xia, a vice principal, expelling a transfer student from the junior high section faced little resistance without anyone stirring trouble.
Once the school made its decision, Shu Lu’s homeroom teacher summoned Wen Hongyan to the school to discuss the matter.
Wen Hongyan, of course, objected. Shu Lu had worked hard to get into the provincial key school—how could they just force her to transfer?
If not for ensuring Shu Lu could study at the provincial key school, why had they paid back Chen Ru?
They should’ve never returned that money!
Wen Hongyan argued with the teacher in the office, and Shu Lu cried hard, giving the homeroom teacher a headache.
“This is the school’s decision.”
Ignoring Wen Hongyan’s tantrum, the teacher said, “Just handle Shu Lu’s transfer procedures. It’s best for everyone. Rongcheng is big—there’s bound to be a school suitable for Shu Lu.”
But how could other schools compare to the provincial key school?
The only rival was Rongcheng No. 9 Middle School.
The provincial key school was hard to get into, and No. 9’s threshold was just as high!
Shu Lu cried, insisting she hadn’t done those things, but the teacher didn’t engage.
The police didn’t fully believe Shu Lu either, but as a minor, even if she had hired Yue Shanni for extortion, they could only educate her, not punish her harshly.
The school was different.
While it couldn’t convict or sentence Shu Lu, it had its own rules and standards. Even if Shu Lu appealed to the education bureau, the school’s decision was defensible!
Wen Hongyan’s chaotic tantrum didn’t faze the school. If she caused too much trouble, they could ban her from campus.
Shu Lu’s homeroom teacher genuinely considered the mother and daughter’s situation, “With Shu Lu’s father detained, your family’s finances are likely tighter. Continuing at the provincial key school requires a yearly borrowing fee…”
At the mention of money, Wen Hongyan shut up.
She’d almost forgotten about money!
With money, anything was possible; without it, things got tough. These past few days, Wen Hongyan had been focused on the police station, neglecting the seafood wholesale store at Qingshi Bridge and the night market stall. With Shu Guobing and Xiao Cai detained, who was running those shops?
Thinking her business revenue might be taken by the workers, Wen Hongyan panicked and rushed to leave.
“Mom?!”
Shu Lu couldn’t believe it.
Wen Hongyan snapped, “With money, you can study anywhere. Without it, how do we pay tuition? No, I need to check on the shop!”
Shu Lu couldn’t stop her.
What was there to check? Shu Lu already knew the truth about the shops. If Zhao Dong still acknowledged her, the shops were the Shu family’s assets. If he didn’t, they had nothing to do with the Shus—it was all Cai Youren’s money.
Wen Hongyan abandoned Shu Lu and ran off, leaving Shu Lu shivering with a chill.
She suddenly realised the Shu family had nothing. What she thought she owned was all someone else’s charity, retractable at any time… No wonder she was so jealous of Wen Ying!
“Shu Lu?”
The homeroom teacher called her several times. Shu Lu, dazed, nodded, “…I’ll transfer.”
What choice did she have but to transfer?
Leaving the teacher’s office, Shu Lu stumbled to the high school building, lingering outside Class 16, Grade 1.
Wen Ying saw her.
Xie Qian saw her.
Li Mengjiao saw her.
“Don’t go out, Wen Ying, she looks off,” Li Mengjiao warned.
A person’s expression could shift so much.
Resentful one moment, hateful the next, then aggrieved.
Shu Lu, young but cunning, was quite the actress.
Wen Ying looked away, shaking her head, “Why would I go out? To confront her? I’m not indulging her like that!”
Fate can’t always be fully controlled, but every choice a person makes leads to outcomes, positive or negative.
When Shu Lu involved Yue Shanni, she should’ve anticipated this result.
Can’t handle the consequences?
If you can’t handle the consequences, why do bad things!
Shu Lu did want to confront Wen Ying and had an impulse to spill Zhao Dong’s plans, hoping Wen Ying would let her off or even gain Xie Qian’s protection… But neither Wen Ying nor Xie Qian acknowledged her. When the bell rang, Shu Lu was still outside Class 16, her odd behaviour catching a teacher’s attention.
“Which class are you from? Why aren’t you in class?”
Shu Lu didn’t answer, and her homeroom teacher, concerned, came looking.
Shu Lu pushed past the teacher and ran toward the school gate.
She wanted to find Zhao Dong.
But Zhao Dong didn’t reply to her messages or answer her calls. Shu Lu only knew he was wealthy, but what he did, where he lived, or where his company was—she knew nothing.
Going home? No one was there either.
Shu Lu ended up at Qingshi Bridge.
The wholesale store employees tensed when they saw her.
Wen Hongyan had already been there, causing a scene.
She’d tried to take the past few days’ revenue, but the employees, following the real boss Cai Youren’s orders, wouldn’t give her a cent. The wholesale store handled massive daily stock—two days’ revenue was tens of thousands. If Wen Hongyan took it, the employees would have to pay out of pocket.
No employee could afford such a sum, so how could they let Wen Hongyan take it?
They even complained to Shu Lu, “Boss Cai said Manager Shu’s been fired. We only listen to Boss Cai. Don’t make things hard for us—we’re just workers, we don’t call the shots!”
Shu Lu glared at the speaking employee.
Just days ago, their attitude toward her was completely different.
The change was stark.
Leaving the seafood market, Shu Lu took a taxi to the night market street.
Sure enough, Wen Hongyan was making a scene at Shu’s Seafood Stall, cursing with hands on hips. The stall’s door was locked from inside, with shadows moving, but no one opened it.
“Mom, forget it.”
In broad daylight, the night market wasn’t open yet, and the whole street was watching Wen Hongyan’s tirade. Shu Lu felt humiliated.
Wen Hongyan turned and scolded her, “Why should I forget it? You know nothing, don’t get in my way of getting money!”
Without money, let alone studying, even eating was a problem.
Wen Hongyan had no patience left, even for her own daughter.
Shu Lu cried from the scolding.
A wave of grievance surged, and she pushed through the crowd, running off.
Passing the nearly finished ‘Shrimp King’ shop, Yang Xi leaned against the wall, directing workers to install lights, the shop bustling with activity.
Shu Lu was indignant.
“Why are you helping Wen Ying? Did she drug you to make you so loyal?”
If Yang Xi had followed Yue Shanni’s demands and robbed Wen Ying’s money, none of this would’ve happened!
Instead, Yang Xi not only didn’t rob Wen Ying but turned on Yue Shanni, beating her up.
That beating must’ve rattled Yue Shanni’s brain, making her run to the police station to confess like she was possessed.
Yue Shanni didn’t want to study, but Shu Lu did—why should she be dragged down!
Shu Lu was now resentful of everyone, feeling the world owed her. Since Wen Ying ignored her and Yue Shanni was out of reach, her anger targeted Yang Xi.
Yang Xi squinted, smirking at Shu Lu, her hand itching.
Who was this kid talking to, so disrespectful?
“You got money?”
Yang Xi asked abruptly, catching Shu Lu off guard.
“What money…”
“Three thousand a month, you got that? If you can pay me three thousand a month, I’ll do whatever you want.”
Yang Xi named her price.
Shu Lu wanted to say three thousand was nothing—Cai Youren took her shopping, and a single bag cost more than that. She had several bags worth far more!
But she couldn’t produce three thousand in cash.
Paying Yang Xi three thousand monthly was even less feasible.
Even before her dad was arrested, Shu Guobing wouldn’t have spent three thousand a month to keep a delinquent. With that money, you could hire three diligent waiters who’d work tirelessly without complaint!
Shu Lu got it, and she was furious, “You’re just doing it for money!”
Yang Xi rolled her eyes, “And you’re not? If your family wasn’t desperate for cash, would your mom be out there cursing like a shrew for half an hour because she’s got nothing better to do?”
Shu Lu tried to argue, but Yang Xi’s face darkened, “No money and you dare waste my time? Get lost!”
Why work if not for money? Because you look pitiful?
Does a decent face mean people should work for free? Shameless!
Yang Xi shooed Shu Lu away.
After all, Yang Xi was the fierce one who’d subdued two knife-wielding thugs barehanded. Shu Lu didn’t dare clash with her and wandered aimlessly through the streets.
Rongcheng’s streets were far more vibrant than her hometown.
Having tasted such prosperity, how could she bear returning to her old life?
Shu Lu wanted to stay!
A car trailed behind her. When Shu Lu sat on a roadside planter, the car stopped.
Shu Lu’s face lit up, “Mr. Zhao—”
The window rolled down, but it wasn’t Zhao Dong inside—it was Cai Youren.
Cai Youren glared at Shu Lu, wanting to strangle her.
“What did you tell the police?”
Shu Guobing was useless and caused trouble, and Shu Lu was no better. Cai Youren had tried everything but couldn’t bail out Xiao Cai.
Xiao Cai was dragged down by the Shu father and daughter.
Especially this Shu Lu, thinking she’s so clever!
