Chapter 11

The day before the college entrance exam, she headed home early.
On the way back, she passed an artificial lake, willows drooping in dense green curtains along the shore.
Once she crossed the bridge, she’d be almost home.
“Jiang Wei!”
A clear male voice called her from behind.
She turned to see Wen Ji, in a white shirt, jogging toward her.
Sweat beaded on his forehead; his dark eyes were bright.
She hadn’t seen him in a long time. Jiang Wei had assumed he was still angry about all the messy entanglements between her, Ling Ze, and Mu Yang.
It had never occurred to her that he’d come find her on the eve of the college entrance exam.
In her dream, her story with Wen Ji had ended in high school. After that, they’d never met again.
“Wen Ji, I… I’m sorry, about that day,” she blurted. “I really just wanted to cheer you up.”
Once again, she tried to explain herself.
She didn’t want to be that kind of person in his eyes. She didn’t even want to think about how he saw her now.
“Ah, that day was my fault. My temper was bad, it had nothing to do with you,” he said quickly. “Here, this is from A University. A peace offering.”
He pulled out a small, lush sprig of olive and held it out.
“This is…?” Jiang Wei stared. Is this how academic toppers give gifts?
“When I went to A University for the competition, I wanted to bring something back,” Wen Ji explained, a little stiff. “The campus is full of olive trees. The teachers say they symbolize future success for A University students. It’s a blessing. The exams are coming, so, good luck.”
By the end, he was clearly uncomfortable.
He’d always been quiet to begin with. This probably took a lot of courage.
He was completely different from Ling Ze, who was slowly evolving into a smiling tiger.
The words were awkward, but Jiang Wei was genuinely happy.
The original Jiang Wei’s wish had been the same: get into A University, find a respectable career.
Wen Ji had really thought this through.
On impulse, she hugged him.
He’d always looked out for her, maybe out of pity, maybe out of sympathy, but the care and the food he brought were real.
He defended her in class when others whispered behind her back, even though he disliked conflict.
Being hugged, Wen Ji’s ears turned red. His whole body went stiff, like he didn’t even dare breathe.
Does she… know I like her?
“Thank you, Wen Ji. I hope your future is bright too,” she said, smiling.
She could feel how rigid he was and found it a bit adorable, like a very serious Samoyed pretending to be dignified.
After a moment, she let go.
The boy bolted like he had a pack of dogs chasing him.
Jiang Wei scratched her head.
Was that… too forward?
When the results came out, she didn’t hesitate, A University it was. With her score, the law faculty was well within reach.
Ling Ze even carved time out of his schedule to celebrate with her.
“Mu Yang hasn’t come to bother you lately, has he?” he asked.
“No, no, no,” she said, head shaking like a rattle drum.
“Good.”
“Did… something happen to him?” she ventured.
“He’s fine. Someone else isn’t. Forget it, it has nothing to do with you,” Ling Ze said lightly.
He lifted a hand and ruffled her hair, fingers brushing her scalp.
She was so flattered she almost jumped.
Everything about this felt like a red-flag prelude to the nightmare, but she had no idea how to stop it.
Heaven above, please hear this humble student’s prayer, she thought desperately.
Let Senior Ling lose his memory…Or cut ties with me. Anything is fine.
The next morning, she was half-dozing while working the breakfast shift, eyes barely open as the 5 a.m. news droned on from the old TV on the wall.
She was exhausted.
Who wouldn’t be at that hour?
“Here is this morning’s news brief.
“At 00:20, a serious chain collision involving sixteen vehicles occurred on the Dongping Islet overpass. Among them, a Koenigsegg worth over forty million was hit from behind by a red heavy truck, forced over the guardrail, and fell into the Jieling River. Traffic police are currently on site maintaining order. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the luxury car may be the only fatality in this accident.”
Hearing that, Jiang Wei barely reacted.
Her thoughts were elsewhere.
If Ling Ze wanted to spend money on her, that was his business.
She reminded herself not to get sucked into his “righteous, loyal, repaying kindness” performance. She absolutely couldn’t start believing the act herself.
With that in mind, she straightened a little, glancing at the TV again.
The anchor was still saying that so far there were no confirmed casualties, but the overpass was already packed with firefighters and police.
A reporter had even found a likely cause.
On screen, a scruffy man with stubble on his chin looked utterly miserable.
“I really don’t know. That little white car kept cutting me off… it ain’t my fault…” he muttered.
The owner of the “little white car” immediately snapped back.
“I was driving just fine! I saw you yakking on the phone while driving!”
“You’re one to talk! If you hadn’t been crawling along in front-”
Voices rose, faces flushed. Everyone was desperate to shake off responsibility. If the police and reporters hadn’t been there, they probably would’ve started swinging.
“Based on the current investigation,” the female reporter said, voice calm and soothing, “the driver of the vehicle that fell into the river is most likely the eldest son of the Ling Group here in City C. Further details will be released after recovery of the vehicle.”
What?! The Ling Group’s eldest young master? Senior Ling?!