Chapter 23

With the memory of their conversation still fresh, Yun Nianyi had already guessed the reason. The system’s reply only confirmed it.
[Because the heroine’s appearance has derailed their storyline.]
[Please repair the original plot ASAP so the side characters’ romances stay on track.]
“Why do their issues have to be my problem?” Yun Nianyi refused without hesitation.
Ever since she was five, there’d been a voice in her head insisting she was the wicked supporting actress of a novel, the Yun family’s true daughter was the real heroine. Once the heroine returned, she’d be kicked out of the Yuns and lose everything she’d ever had. The voice called itself “the system,” promising to help her get rid of the heroine so she could remain the Yun family’s only daughter, forever.
From then on, Yun Nianyi had played by its rules: she hid her real self, learned every possible skill, and worked her way into the perfect image of a rich girl that everyone adored. Her parents praised her to the skies, and the entire social circle accepted her as the true heiress of the Yuns.
But even all that couldn't truly change her fate.
Recently, the system had informed her that the heroine had transferred into her class. From now on, everyone around her would, under the power of the plot, start falling for the main girl and eventually help her return to the Yun family. Meanwhile, she'd be forced to leave in disgrace, with years of effort turning into ashes.
Yun Nianyi would never allow that to happen. What she’d worked so hard to claim, would stay hers, forever. If the main girl was unlucky, well, that was her problem.
[Host, please take immediate action.] The system droned the same reminder, mechanical and cold.
Yun Nianyi wasn’t worried. She’d already devised her strategy for dealing with the heroine.
A girl raised in the slums, so what if she had Yun blood? She could never compete with someone who's had over a decade of elite education.
All these years, Yun Nianyi had studied hard, and not just for show.
She allowed herself a small smile, eyes icy with resolve.
A passing salesgirl caught that look and nudged her coworker in awe. “No wonder Miss Yun’s the real deal. She’s got more presence than anyone else. Some people are just born lucky.”
In the car, the assistant in the passenger seat turned around to report to Yun Qingsui, “Miss just ran into the eldest Miss Song and Young Master Wen at the mall. Should we keep digging?”
Yun Qingsui didn’t even look up. “No need.”
He wouldn’t waste energy on such trivialities. Yun Nianyi wasn't a baby, and he certainly wasn’t her parent. Any more concern would be out of line.
Besides, to him, Yun Qingsui wasn’t especially invested in this little sister, blood or not. Even his parents’ obsession with their missing daughter just annoyed him; they dumped all company matters on his head. The only time he’d wanted that girl back was when he’d been so busy he hadn’t even had time to sleep. Most of the time, whether it was his parents, his adopted sister, or his real sister, it made little difference to him.
Worrying about others was just a waste of brain cells.
All the way home, Song Hanyue vented to Wen Shuran.
“And who put you in charge of my life? Just because you think you’re better than me doesn’t mean you get to boss me around. Since when do I need your permission for anything? Wen Shuran, get over yourself.” The more she replayed the conversation in her head, the more ticked off Song Hanyue became. She was just as good as Wen Shuran, why did he have to deny her every move like he was some big shot? And it’s not like he’s Yun Zhuoqing! How would he know what she thinks, anyway?
The more she brooded, the angrier she got. With all the flair of a spoiled young miss, she announced, “Fine, eat without me. I don’t care anyway.”
Wen Shuran stopped and watched her fold her arms, glaring off to the side. “Hanyue, enough with the tantrum. Can’t you, just once, see things from someone else’s perspective?”
Song Hanyue’s eyes flew wide open. She jabbed a finger at herself in outrage. “Are you lecturing me? Wen Shuran, do you honestly think you matter that much?”
“If you see her as a friend, then stop being so stubborn.”
Her breathing quickened. “And what gives you the right to talk to me like that? Don’t flatter yourself, like I even care about being her friend! I’ve got plenty of people lining up to be friends with me; why would I play matchmaker between you two?”
Having said her piece, Song Hanyue stalked off in the opposite direction without so much as a backward glance.
Wen Shuran watched her retreat. He knew, this time he’d really pissed Hanyue off. He’d seen it coming, and yet didn’t regret a word he said.
No one knew Song Hanyue better than he did. The moment she realized Yun Zhuoqing wouldn’t bend over backward to please her like everyone else, sparks would fly. Years of friendship hadn’t changed that. Better he be the one to burst her bubble now, at least that way, he’d be the only one she truly hated when it all blew up.
As for Yun Zhuoqing, at most Hanyue would just keep her at arm’s length. Unlike him, who’d just gotten roasted to his face.
What he hadn’t said was, Yun Zhuoqing had already left. There was never going to be a group lunch.
And as for himself? Wen Shuran knew he couldn’t let himself get closer to Yun Zhuoqing. Hanyue was right, he’d only drag her into messes. At least for now, distance was safer.
His heart twisted, and he lowered his head, expression bleak.
To onlookers, it was classic: couple fight, girlfriend storms off, boyfriend left awkward and alone.
Feng Mingxuan watched Wen Shuran’s solitary figure and felt her confusion grow.
Didn’t Hanyue insist there was nothing going on with Wen Shuran? Because this did not look like “nothing.”
“Mingxuan, what’s got your attention?”
Feng Mingxuan hurriedly spun toward the voice. “Little Yi, guess who I just saw? Song Hanyue and Wen Shuran got into a massive fight, then she stormed off! I didn’t catch what they were saying, but come on, Wen Shuran looked so into her, and Hanyue was acting all heartbroken. There’s no way they’re ‘just friends.’”
She was still smarting over getting humiliated a few days ago, and muttered bitterly, “They clearly have feelings for each other but refuse to admit it, then they go and defend that transfer kid. I swear, they’re doing it just to spite me!”
By then, Wen Shuran had already left, and Yun Nianyi, without so much as a glance his way, spoke up first. “Don’t call me Little Yi, Mingxuan. I told you already.”
Feng Mingxuan was baffled. “Why not? I’ve always called you that, it just comes naturally! Why do I have to stop, out of nowhere?”
Yun Nianyi looked momentarily lost, but didn’t answer.
Then Feng Mingxuan’s eyes lit up with sudden realization. She asked, tentatively, “Wait… did your real family find you? And now they want you to give the name back?”
Half of Feng Mingxuan was buzzing for juicy gossip; the other half was genuinely concerned for Yun Nianyi.
Before she could answer, Feng Mingxuan fumed, “How could the Yun family treat you like this? After all you’ve given to them? If you ask me, she’s the outsider, not you! Why should you be the one to give up your name?”
Yun Nianyi simply denied it: “No, Mingxuan, drop it.” Anyway, the name they’d given that other girl wasn’t the same as her own.
Yun Qingyi, put next to Yun Qingsui, anyone could see they were siblings at a glance.
Her own name was Yun Nianyi.
She didn’t bother explaining further, letting Feng Mingxuan’s wild speculations run unchecked.
“Oh, by the way, didn’t you run into some drama with them the other day? What happened?” Yun Nianyi looked concerned.
When classes started on Monday, Yun Zhuoqing noticed the seats around her, normally ghost town territory, were suddenly swarming with people.
“Miss Yun, this is a souvenir I picked up for you while vacationing abroad. Please, you have to accept it.”
“Nianyi, thank you for the gift you gave me. I love it! Let’s hang out this weekend, okay?”
“These are my notes. I wrote down everything from the last few classes. If you don’t mind, maybe you can have a look?”
Yun Nianyi handled the chaos of admirers with perfect poise, accepting every gesture graciously.
“Thank you, I heard these were impossible to get. You went to a lot of trouble.”
“Sounds good, been ages since we’ve hung out.”
“Thanks! Your handwriting is amazing. This helps me a ton.”
On the other side of the wall of bodies, Yun Zhuoqing couldn’t even see her own seat, much less push through.
Truthfully, she had no plans to try, those people wouldn’t clear out anytime soon, and she had no desire to get stuck in the middle of it.
Just then, she spotted Chen Huo sauntering up beside her, trying to play it casual. “Stuck out here? Want me to clear a path?”
His breathing was uneven, like he’d just sprinted over.
Yun Zhuoqing turned to look at him. Chen Huo tensed, bracing for rejection, but she showed no particular emotion at all.
“No need. I’ll go in later.”
Chen Huo pressed his lips together, forcing nonchalance as he looked away. “Oh. Cool.”
So he gave up. But someone else had other plans.
Suddenly, Yun Nianyi glanced up from her circle of chatty classmates and “just happened” to spot Yun Zhuoqing on the edge. She stood and raised her voice slightly so the newcomer could see her. “You must be my new desk mate, right?”
The crowd parted on cue, making sure Yun Zhuoqing had a clear view of Yun Nianyi’s face.
Nianyi greeted her with a bright smile, like she really was seeing her for the first time. “Hi! So glad to be sitting next to you. I hope we’ll get along well.”
All eyes were on Yun Zhuoqing, waiting for her reply. With everyone staring, she simply nodded, cool and distant.
Someone in the crowd frowned at her lackluster response. Was that any way to react when Miss Yun herself was welcoming you?
But those who knew Yun Zhuoqing weren’t fazed, if she ever got flustered just because Yun Nianyi said hello, that would be the real shocker.
As the bell rang, Yun Nianyi gently shooed the crowd away. Her words worked like magic, within seconds, everyone dispersed, and Yun Zhuoqing finally made it to her seat.
As soon as Yun Zhuoqing sat, Chen Huo decided he had no reason to linger. He had just started walking back to his desk when someone shoved a cup of soy milk into his hand.
Yue Hao, clutching another cup himself, eyed him suspiciously. “Dude, didn’t you say you hate soy milk? What’s up with you wanting some today?”
Chen Huo suddenly remembered, when he got to the door earlier, he’d made up some random excuse just to send Yue Hao away, then rushed to the classroom himself, all so he could talk to Yun Zhuoqing alone. His face froze. “I... I just wanted soy milk out of nowhere today. Is that a crime?”
“Oh? So why didn’t you wait for me? Didn’t you say this classroom feels like a prison, and you wanted to spend as little time in here as possible?” Yue Hao’s confusion was all over his face. Why was his bro acting so weird today?
Chen Huo grew more and more flustered, and in a panic, he blurted out, “I like hanging out in class now, okay?”
Just then, their teacher stepped inside and caught that last line. “Chen Huo, are you finally maturing? This is wonderful news! I’m genuinely happy for you.”
Chen Huo looked utterly defeated. Under the teacher’s loving gaze, he somehow managed not to whip out his phone. For a whole class period, he actually stared at the clean, crisp pages of his textbook.
When the bell rang, he grabbed Yue Hao by the collar. “You little punk, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”