Wen Ying rushed out of the house.
She reckoned Chen Li and Deng Shangwei would come after her.
Wen Ying had no intention of going back with them.
Chen Li and Deng Shangwei might try to persuade her to return and apologise, letting Chen Ru scold her a bit, and then this argument at the dinner table could be brushed aside as if it never happened… She didn’t blame her aunt and uncle for not understanding. After all, phrases like “harmony in the family brings prosperity,” “no parents are ever wrong,” and “they’re strict with you because they love you” were things Wen Ying had heard plenty of in her past life.
In her previous life, when Wen Ying went to Shanghai to make a living against the wishes of Wen Dongrong and Chen Ru, she faced a barrage of criticism from relatives. They took turns calling her, accusing her of being unfilial and urging her to hurry back home to apologise to her parents.
In the eyes of relatives and friends, Wen Ying, the unfilial daughter, had abandoned her parents in their hometown to live it up in the big city, completely letting down their efforts to raise her.
At first, Wen Ying tried to explain herself, but later she realised the truth and simply blocked all those relatives. Her world instantly became peaceful.
Thinking it over, worried that Chen Li and her husband might be anxious, Wen Ying sent a text to Chen Li’s phone saying she’d gone to Teacher Lin’s house early to revise. Then she headed straight for the villa district.
Of course, she had no real intention of going in.
That would be far too tactless—Teacher Lin’s family was probably having lunch right now.
Wen Ying hadn’t eaten much of the lavish meal Deng Yaomei had精心 prepared, but with a belly full of frustration, she didn’t feel hungry anyway. She found a bench in the villa district, sat down, and pulled a magazine out of her schoolbag to read.
Though she’d returned to being 16 and was once again a minor, Wen Ying was independent to her core.
Financially dependent on her parents—how could she talk of living independently or having mental freedom?
Writing for magazines wasn’t just about earning pocket money or chasing dreams anymore. Wen Ying planned to rely on this part-time gig to support herself for the next three years. Doing consultations on forums took time to build up, but writing for magazines was quicker. As long as she nailed the style and preferences of the magazine, the payment would come the month after publication.
After reading a few articles, she noticed the stories’ cores weren’t complicated—it was mostly about word choice and phrasing.
The short and medium-length stories in these magazines varied in the authors’ skill. Most suffered from over-the-top whining or piling on fancy words.
Wen Ying didn’t look down on them, though.
Which stories got accepted might seem like the editors’ choice, but the editors were picking based on the magazine’s direction and readers’ tastes.
The audience for these magazines was teenagers. If the writing was too profound or too realistic, the readers wouldn’t like it. Expecting them to fork out money for the magazine then would be a pipe dream!
After finishing an issue of *Huahuo* (Fireworks), Wen Ying closed her eyes and thought for a bit. She reckoned she could write something similar.
She could give it a go tonight!
While Wen Ying sat on the bench flipping through magazines and plotting her money-making scheme, Xie Qian was on the villa’s balcony playing chess with his cousin Lin Lin’s father-in-law, Jiang Xuekun.
If Wen Ying saw this scene, she’d probably sigh again about how her idol was so multi-talented.
Jiang Xuekun was busy with work and rarely ate at home during the week. Even on weekends, he had heaps of social engagements. Today, he’d finally snatched a rare moment of leisure, and his chess itch kicked in. Right after putting down his chopsticks, he dragged Xie Qian into a game.
Halfway through the match, Jiang Xuekun was frowning in deep thought, while Xie Qian seemed patient but had already mentally wandered off.
Through the gaps in the balcony railing, he could see Wen Ying curled up on the bench below.
It was lunchtime—why wasn’t Wen Ying resting at home? Why had she come to the villa district early?
She’d made it to the doorstep but didn’t come in, clearly worried about disturbing the Jiang family—so why not stay home instead?
Perhaps her mid-term exam results had disappointed her family.
But if Xie Qian was honest, given the foundation Wen Ying showed during tutoring, scoring 578 was already an exceptional performance. Her family ought to be satisfied…
Xie Qian watched for a while, then looked away. After making a move, his gaze drifted downward again.
The more he looked, the more Wen Ying, curled up on the bench, resembled a chubby little hamster.
Perhaps distracted by this “hamster,” Jiang Xuekun seized the chance to turn the game around and burst into triumphant laughter.
Xie Qian usually traded wins and losses with Jiang Xuekun, but this loss felt particularly unjust. He figured Wen Ying was at least half to blame.
By the time Wen Ying lingered on the bench until tutoring time, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Xie Qian’s gaze carried a sharp, icy edge.
Was it her imagination?
Her idol was the warm-hearted type despite his cool exterior—how could there be any hostility?
Wen Ying flashed Xie Qian a bright smile, but he seemed a bit put off. Not only did she look like a hamster, but her brain didn’t seem much sharper than one either.
Something unpleasant must’ve happened at noon, and with her tiny hamster brain, she was back to grinning like a fool.
The thought struck Xie Qian, and he jolted inwardly.
Was he paying too much attention to Wen Ying?
Whether she was upset or grinning like an idiot—what did it have to do with him?
Xie Qian reined in his focus on Wen Ying. During the afternoon’s physics and chemistry tutoring, he was noticeably cold towards her.
Wen Ying was utterly baffled.
Today was just one thing after another—how had she managed to offend her idol too?
After tutoring, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong showed up at the Jiangs’ with gifts.
Though Wen Ying’s mid-term score was solid enough to get into the provincial key high school, it fell short of the experimental class cutoff.
Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong figured building a closer tie with Lin Lin couldn’t hurt, so they naturally came bearing gifts.
When Wen Ying came downstairs, she saw her parents, Chen Li, and Deng Shangwei all there. Chen Ru was eagerly inviting Lin Lin’s family to dinner, saying it was to thank Lin Lin for looking after Wen Ying these past few days.
Seeing Wen Ying and Xie Qian come down, Lin Lin smiled and said,
“Honestly, I haven’t done much. Your Wen Ying is lively and outgoing. She’s been studying with my cousin, and the two kids have been learning from each other and improving together. I should be thanking Wen Ying!”
Wen Ying’s face flushed.
Learning from each other and improving together? More like she’d shamelessly slowed down Xie, the top student.
Chen Ru looked up and caught sight of Xie Qian.
Xie Qian was ridiculously good-looking!
Chen Ru was momentarily stunned.
Then, seeing Wen Ying blush, her mind started buzzing.
No wonder Wen Ying had suddenly started dressing up—this was why!
Chen Ru was itching to drag Wen Ying home and interrogate her, but in the Jiangs’ house, she had to keep up appearances and play the open-minded mum. Wen Ying didn’t want to air her family’s dirty laundry in front of Teacher Lin either, so she had to play along with her parents’ act.
After much insistence from the four adults, Lin Lin finally agreed to dinner another day. They then took Wen Ying home.
Chen Ru held it in the whole way back. As soon as they got to Chen Li’s place and the door shut, she exploded.
“Are you in an early relationship?!”
Wen Ying knew the noon incident wouldn’t blow over easily, but this accusation of an early romance? She genuinely didn’t get where it came from.
“With who?”
Wen Ying hadn’t even thought of Xie Qian at that moment. Chen Ru’s question made her think of He Zhen instead—He Zhen was abroad in a passionate romance with his senior, while she was stuck here dealing with mess after mess. Where was the chance for an early relationship?
Chen Ru gritted her teeth. “Who else? Teacher Lin’s cousin, that Xie Qian!”
Wen Ying burst out laughing despite herself.
Her and Xie Qian in an early relationship?!
—Her mum really had some imagination!
