1) Removed highlights and italics
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Wen Ying had finally found a legit way to make quick cash.
Whether it’d work, she’d have to try to find out.
He Zhen once said few succeed on their first business try, after rebirth, Wen Ying didn’t have a burning need for money, she valued this bonus youth more. Still, living better than last time was a must, financial independence, or with extra effort, even freedom, would make this redo more relaxed.
That night, mulling over the crayfish venture, she couldn’t sleep, she got up to do something.
With an early start tomorrow, she skipped homework and writing, instead redrafting an agreement for Detective Luo in just over half an hour.
Done, she crawled back into bed and slept soundly.
For her overnight at Longtan Lake, Chen Li packed her a suitcase with toiletries and spare clothes.
Xie Qian just carried a simple backpack, light and neat.
Boss Qin sent a Toyota Prado to pick up Wen Ying and Xie Qian, Qin Jiao, Wang Shuang, and Li Mengjiao were aboard, while Tang Yifeng and Geng Xiao rode in another car.
The drivers were Boss Qin’s bodyguards.
His other plans stayed under wraps.
Wang Shuang didn’t comment on Wen Ying squeezing in a “friend” for Longtan Lake, but inwardly thought she was a freeloader, fine, he’d let it slide!
He didn’t mind her taking advantage, he just didn’t want her to stop, how else could he expose her true colors?
Behind Qin Jiao’s back, he griped to Li Mengjiao and the others.
“She’s like that, so her friends are probably nobodies too.”
Wen Ying wasn’t from downtown Rongcheng, her hometown was a suburban county, no way she knew decent folks, just clinging to Qin Jiao!
The slap in the face came fast.
No one could call Xie Qian a nobody.
Even the Jiang family’s nanny, Aunt Wang, instinctively called him “Young Master Xie.”
When Wen Ying and Xie Qian stepped out of the complex, Wang Shuang’s casual slouch vanished, he straightened up, glancing at Qin Jiao.
Li Mengjiao poked her head out the window and gasped, “So handsome!”
Wang Shuang shot her a glare, “You’re such a sucker for looks!”
Li Mengjiao bristled, “He’s hotter than you, can’t I state facts?”
She nearly died laughing.
Wang Shuang had said Wen Ying’s friend was low-class, but this guy was top-tier, Wang Shuang’s blunder was hilarious!
Everyone loves beauty, even Qin Jiao stole a few admiring glances at Xie Qian.
Seeing Qin Jiao’s reaction soured Wang Shuang’s mood further.
Wen Ying, clueless to his thoughts, made introductions and kept an eye on Li Mengjiao, her eyes did light up at Xie Qian, but after a greeting, she just whispered to Wang Shuang.
Huh, that’s off.
Last life, Wen Ying heard Li Mengjiao fell for Xie Qian at first sight, chasing him hard despite school rules against dating, it was so loud that, even with Xie Qian ignoring her, she got hauled in front of her parents.
Li Mengjiao’s mom was a riot, called to school, she insisted her sweet girl couldn’t possibly date, must be that “Xie Qian” corrupting her, then, seeing him in the office, she flipped, asking if Li Mengjiao had sealed the deal yet.
Li Mengjiao said no but vowed to keep trying, her mom nodded, upped her allowance on the spot, clearly greenlighting “love funds,” it spread like wildfire at school, Wen Ying’s homeroom teacher nearly blew a gasket and booted the mom out.
Counting on parents like that to rein in kids? Dream on!
Recalling Li Mengjiao’s past antics, Wen Ying was stumped.
This life, so much was different.
Was Xie Qian less charming now?
She snuck a peek, nope, just sitting there, he oozed appeal.
Wen Ying started doubting reality.
Wang Shuang eyed her, then Xie Qian, like he’d cracked some big secret.
All the way, he chatted Xie Qian up, casually digging for info.
Before reaching Longtan Lake, Wang Shuang had practically crowned himself Xie Qian’s “friend,” Lin Lin and Xie Qian’s grandma would’ve been thrilled.
Cold personality? No problem, thick skin wins friends.
Self-appointed ones count too.
After half a day’s talk, Wang Shuang only learned Xie Qian was from Beijing, here for the summer at a relative’s, how he knew Wen Ying? Still a mystery.
Wen Ying fumed.
Wang Shuang, that shameless jerk, stole her lane, where was she supposed to go?
Thick skin gave Wang Shuang a gender edge.
Off the car, Li Mengjiao nudged Wen Ying’s arm and whispered, “Nice catch! I’ve never seen a hotter guy than Xie Qian!”
Wen Ying chuckled.
Qin Jiao frowned, “Mengjiao, don’t judge by looks alone, Wen Ying bringing Xie Qian means she vouches for him.”
Wen Ying nodded hard.
“Jiao Jie’s right, Xie Qian’s awesome, like a guy version of Jiao Jie.”
Li Mengjiao clucked her tongue, “Too bad he’s two years younger, Jiao Jie, mind that?”
Qin Jiao’s cheeks flushed, “You and your nonsense, if you put that brain to studying, you’re smart enough for the provincial key’s elite class!”
Li Mengjiao surrendered instantly.
Wen Ying glanced at Xie Qian’s back, then Qin Jiao.
God and goddess, huh?
Last life, she’d heard no gossip about them.
When Xie Qian transferred in, Qin Jiao was a senior, swamped with college prep, no overlap.
But who knows? Reborn at sixteen, Wen Ying found tons didn’t match her old timeline.
Uncle Deng Shangwei’s “affair” was a setup.
Class beauty Li Mengjiao was Qin Jiao’s pal.
Li Mengjiao didn’t fall for Xie Qian on sight.
So Qin Jiao and Xie Qian crossing paths? She might’ve missed it last time.
Figuring that out, Wen Ying chilled.
Living again, if everything stayed the same, it’d be dull, this unpredictability kept it fresh!
The cars parked at an agritourism spot.
A tanned guy, waiting ages, laughed when he saw Wang Shuang, “Grills and food are ready, you going now or resting first?”
This was Fang Long, Wang Shuang’s classmate.
Another high school senior Wen Ying recalled.
Fang Long’s family ran this Longtan Lake spot and leased hundreds of acres for orchards, he was generous, when fruits ripened, he’d haul boxes to school, enough for every classmate and teacher.
Teachers tried refusing, but he’d say it was homegrown, cheap, just a gesture.
Over time, classmates dubbed him “Fruit King,” three years at the key school, his class ate free fruit while others drooled.
He was a year ahead, Wen Ying in first year, Fang Long in second.
She’d heard of the Fruit King.
So he and Wang Shuang were tight.
Was Wang Shuang transferring soon?
Probably two months from now, last life, she’d never heard of playboy Wang Shuang because he’d left.
Fang Long asked if they’d rest or head to the lake, teens after a short ride weren’t tired, no one wanted to lounge, he led them to the shore.
Longtan Lake sat amid woods, its grassy edges home to egrets and waterbirds, the water mirrored the green hills, shimmering, the air crisp.
Less famous than Qingcheng Mountain, but just as nice, Xie Qian knew “scouting” was Lin Lin’s excuse to get him out with Wen Ying’s crew, but since he was here, he’d check it out.
Fang Long had grills set up by the lake, Wang Shuang and Geng Xiao handled the fire, guys figured Xie Qian’s pristine look didn’t fit with charcoal, so they tasked him with tents.
Wang Shuang tossed him a camping pack, “Know how?”
Xie Qian smiled, “Shouldn’t be hard.”
High IQ folks think everything’s easy, Wen Ying dragged Qin Jiao and Li Mengjiao to help.
“Wang Shuang and them didn’t hassle you, right?” she whispered while the girls cleared space.
Xie Qian glanced at her coolly, “Why would they? You hiding something?”
Wen Ying forced a laugh, “Just thought Wang Shuang was too chummy.”
Xie Qian didn’t get her worry, tons of people fawned over him, Wang Shuang wasn’t the worst.
Truth be told, he was a bit surprised, on the ride, Wang Shuang tried prying, but Xie Qian turned it around, learning this crew had solid Rongcheng roots, how’d Wen Ying mix with them?
Now she flagged Wang Shuang’s friendliness, making Xie Qian wonder.
Had she faced the opposite?
Why?
Because she’d bumbled into a clique that didn’t want her?
That’d be odd.
Wen Ying charmed Lin Lin and Aunt Wang, if she tried, she could win these kids over, unless they snubbed her for her modest background, if so, they were too shallow to be his friends.
“I get it,” he said lightly, focusing on the tent, leaving Wen Ying baffled.
Get what?!
This felt weird, like she was badmouthing Wang Shuang to Xie Qian, she gasped, did she secretly not want Li Mengjiao chasing him or Wang Shuang getting close?
She couldn’t face this twisted side of herself!
