A Happy Ending with my Fiancée's Arch-enemy - Chapter 7

Yu Ning had thought being punished with cleaning duty was already unlucky enough, but she never expected to run into Su Yien at the school plaza.

What a stroke of bad luck.

At that moment, Su Yien was sitting on the edge of a flower bed, eating grapes while directing others nearby.

“Sweep over there can’t you see that huge leaf?”

“Go take out the trash.”

The person being directed showed no signs of anger. Instead, they happily accepted her commands, even double-checking with Su Yien after each instruction and only proceeding once they received her approval.

Clearly, they had been pushed around for so long that they no longer dared to show their true feelings in front of Su Yien.

Yu Ning snorted coldly. “Is that all you’re capable of? Just bossing people around?”

Su Yien, still chewing on a grape, gave her a strange look, wondering where she had come from. Before Su Yien could say anything, the person who had been following her orders spoke up first.

“Who are you? What business is it of yours?” Li Xiaojuan planted her hands on her hips, looking as if she might throw the trash in her hands at Yu Ning if she said another word.

Yu Ning: “…”

“I’m speaking up for you, okay? She’s ordering you around that’s school bullying. If you don’t want to do it, you can tell”

Before Yu Ning could finish, Li Xiaojuan cut her off. “I’m doing this willingly!”

Yu Ning shook her head. No, this definitely wasn’t voluntary. She must have been threatened.

Everyone in the school knew how domineering and unreasonable Su Yien was, always bullying her classmates. Yu Ning had seen Li Xiaojuan before a quiet and diligent class representative. There was no way she would willingly hang out with someone like Su Yien.

Yu Ning reached out and patted her arm. “I know you’re scared because of her bad reputation. Don’t worry, I’ll help you get justice.”

Li Xiaojuan was an alpha, naturally taller and stronger than Yu Ning. She had thought that by acting a little fiercer, Yu Ning would back off. Instead, Yu Ning didn’t retreat and even patted her shoulder as if to comfort her. Li Xiaojuan froze, unsure of what Yu Ning was trying to do.

It wasn’t hard to guess that Su Yien must have done something wrong and been assigned cleaning duty as punishment. Previously, Su Yien’s cleaning area had been the basketball court, so the two had never crossed paths. But now, after Yu Ning had finished her own punishment, Su Yien had been assigned to the same area.

“Get up,” Yu Ning said as she walked up to Su Yien.

Su Yien raised an eyebrow, her expression seeming to ask if Yu Ning had lost her mind.

“Otherwise, I’ll report you to the teacher for bullying.”

Su Yien had expected something more serious, but all Yu Ning came up with was “school bullying”?

That’s it?

Feeling mischievous, Su Yien decided to play along and replied in a mock-fearful tone, “I’m so scared. Let’s talk this out please don’t report me to the teacher.”

Yu Ning’s face lit up with an “I knew it” expression. She had been sure that someone like Su Yien, a troublemaker, only dared to bully the weak.

Su Yien could tell exactly what she was thinking and chuckled softly. Turning to the person behind Yu Ning, she said, “You can go now. Make sure to thank this classmate properly. If it weren’t for her, you would’ve been bullied badly by me.”

Yu Ning found her words odd, as if she were being mocked.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“How would I dare mock someone who has the teacher’s backing?”

Yu Ning: “…”

With that tone, there was no doubt she was being sarcastic.

“Forget it, can’t be bothered to argue with this troublemaker.”

Yes, in her eyes, Su Yien had already become a troublemaker.

Yu Ning turned around intending to speak to Li Xiaojuan, only to find her staring back with a resentful look.

Yu Ning: “?”

“Classmate, you should head back to the classroom now, or else I might get reported for school bullying,” Su Yien said as she hopped down from the flower bed, clapping her hands lightly.

The flower bed wasn’t very high to begin with; it was less of a jump and more like standing up.

Only then did Yu Ning realize that Li Xiaojuan had willingly allowed herself to be ordered around.

Why?

When Su Yien was sitting on the flower bed, Yu Ning didn’t feel much pressure making eye contact. But now that Su Yien had stood up, the sense of intimidation when their eyes met was overwhelming.

Especially with that faintly mocking, almost-smiling expression after hearing what Li Xiaojuan had said to her it was dripping with sarcasm.

Yu Ning: “…”

She was just helping a fellow student. Others might be afraid of Su Yien, but Yu Ning wasn’t.

Yu Ning overheard Su Yien instruct Li Xiaojuan before she left: “Tell Zhao Meng and Zhang Ying to come over.”

Yu Ning: “…”

What’s the difference?

Now, the vast school plaza held only her and Su Yien.

From the moment Li Xiaojuan left, Su Yien’s gaze hadn’t left Yu Ning.

Noticing her stare, Yu Ning glared back: “What are you looking at? Don’t tell me you expect me to help you sweep!”

As if afraid Su Yien would say “yes,” Yu Ning quickly grabbed the broom leaning against the flower bed, drew a vertical line down the middle of the plaza, and looked at her challengingly: “Half for you, half for me. Fair.”

“Just you alone?”

“Hmm…” Yu Ning had just spoken when she remembered Sun Yiyi, whom she’d almost forgotten still being lectured in the office.

“Yeah,” Yu Ning replied confidently.

Su Yien didn’t press further on that topic but instead recalled what Yu Ning had said earlier and asked, “You just said I have a bad reputation? That I like to bully classmates? Who told you that?”

Su Yien looked into her eyes, the distance between them less than a meter.

Only then did Yu Ning truly grasp the difference between them. She suspected that if Su Yien suddenly lost her temper and lashed out, she might be lifted and tossed aside as easily as a ball.

Yu Ning quickly shook her head, clearing away the wild thoughts, took two steps back, straightened her posture, lifted her chin, and answered loudly:

“Everyone knows about the bad things you’ve done, okay? Who needs to tell me? Ridiculous.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Su Yien couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Despite her efforts to raise her voice, the truth remained she was still as soft as a kitten.

Hearing no reply, Yu Ning thought Su Yien had been intimidated by her boldness and grew even more smug.

“Are the ‘bad things everyone knows’ about me winning against Lin Yanqing on the basketball court and at the sports meet, causing her to be laughed at?”

“That was because she had a cold and wasn’t at her best. Don’t act all high and mighty just because you won once, gloating like you want the whole world to know.”

“Does winning once not count as winning?” Su Yien suddenly asked softly, looking straight into her eyes.

Caught off guard by Su Yien’s sudden shift in tone, Yu Ning replied without thinking, “Well… it does, but don’t you feel ashamed for mocking someone over one victory?”

“Once?” Su Yien seemed to have heard something amusing. “Friendly reminder, I’ve never lost a basketball match. Lin Yanqing is no match for me.”

Yu Ning froze for a second. That couldn’t be right she remembered Lin Yanqing had been part of a championship-winning basketball team. Oh, wait, that was in middle school. What about high school? He must have won something in high school too.

“Stop overthinking it. How about I invite you someday to witness Lin Yanqing’s defeat firsthand?”

“Get lost! Are we even that close?” Yu Ning realized the distance between them, originally about two meters, had unintentionally shrunk to less than a meter. Annoyed, she swept the broom fiercely across the ground in front of her, sending a flurry of leaves straight at Su Yien, who ended up with a mouthful of dust before she could react.

Su Yien: “…”

Just as Su Yien was about to accuse her of flying into a rage out of humiliation, she noticed Yu Ning clutching her stomach and laughing heartily, her eyes and brows brimming with the smug satisfaction of a successful prank. The words on the tip of her tongue shifted to: “Seriously though, your eyesight isn’t great.”

Instantly, Yu Ning stopped laughing and angrily swatted at her with the broom. “Your eyesight is the one that’s terrible! Are we even that close?!”

Su Yien hadn’t expected Yu Ning to have such a fiery temper nothing like the sweet, gentle demeanor she displayed around Lin Yanqing. Honestly, this version of her was far more appealing.

Just as Sun Yiyi arrived at the school plaza, she witnessed the scene of Yu Ning and Su Yien “chasing and play-fighting.”

To be precise, she also heard Su Yien’s taunts and Yu Ning’s indignant retorts:

“When I said your eyesight is bad, I meant you should see a doctor sooner, get your vision fixed, and find yourself a decent person.”

“You’re the one with bad eyesight and eye problems! Why do you always target my Yanqing? Are you just jealous and too afraid to admit it?”

“Seems to me you’ve got more than just vision issues your brain isn’t working right either. Probably beyond saving.”

After observing the scene for two minutes, a stunned Sun Yiyi muttered, “Am I going crazy? They’re supposed to be enemies fighting, so why does it feel so harmonious?”

“Is that really our boss?”

Zhao Meng and Zhang Ying, who had just slipped out of the classroom, echoed Sun Yiyi’s confusion.

Having followed Su Yien for a long time, they had never seen her bicker with anyone like this, let alone be chased around and hit with a broom. Even with Lin Yanqing, it was just sarcastic remarks and provocations she rarely bothered speaking much to ordinary people. But now…

Still, she did seem to be enjoying herself, didn’t she?

The three fell silent, none daring to interrupt.

A few minutes later, Yu Ning, exhausted and panting, finally stopped. Spotting Sun Yiyi standing not far away, she turned back to Su Yien and issued a final warning: “You’re the blind one! I’m warning you stay away from Lin Yanqing.”

Over the past few minutes, their argument had escalated from “bad eyesight” to “eye disease” and finally to “blind.”

Su Yien couldn’t be bothered to engage in a physical fight with someone who hadn’t even differentiated yet. Lucky for Yu Ning, she was in a good mood today and had merely indulged in some playful banter.

Instead of a verbal response, Yu Ning was met with Su Yien’s school jacket flung right into her face, covering it completely.

“You hit me three times with that broom, and it landed right on my jacket. I’m being generous by not making a big deal out of it, but you have to wash it for me.”

“Wait, you insult me, and then expect me to wash your jacket?” Yu Ning couldn’t believe her ears.

“You cursed at me too, so we’re even. But I didn’t hit you, you know.” Su Yien spread her hands, wearing an innocent smile.

“No way.” Yu Ning wasn’t stupid, why would she do whatever Su Yien told her to? She absolutely wouldn’t.

“Fine, then I’ll just go find your Lin Yanqing. It’s only a matter of arranging a fight. I’m sure she’ll agree if I say it’s to settle a debt for her fiancée. Even though exams are coming up, I’m sure she can spare the time. And don’t worry, I won’t hit her too hard.”

“You scoundrel!”

Yu Ning was speechless. She never expected Su Yien to be this shameless.

She snatched the jacket from Su Yien’s hands and reminded her in a fierce tone, “The washing machine is old and often ruins clothes.”

After that, she ignored Su Yien and focused on cleaning the assigned area of the square with Sun Yiyi.

Sun Yiyi looked like she had something to say but held back. Finally, when they finished sweeping and went to throw out the trash, she found the right moment.

“Don’t you think Su Yien is actually pretty nice? She really lets you have your way. You and Su Yien get along much better than you and Lin Yanqing.”

Yu Ning suspected Sun Yiyi was trying to annoy her. After tossing the trash into the bin, she replied, “Didn’t you hear her just now? She forced me to wash her uniform! This one, see? There’s not a single stain on it, and she still wants me to wash it. Otherwise, she’ll go bother Yanqing. And you still think she’s nice?”

“She is nice! She’s challenging Lin Yanqing to a fight, not you. It won’t hurt you. Honestly, you’re always the one fighting and arguing for Lin Yanqing. Maybe it’s time she gets a taste of her own medicine.”

“What are you talking about, Sun Yiyi? Do you even know what you’re saying?!”

Sun Yiyi remained unfazed by Yu Ning’s warning glare.

“I really hope one day you’ll wake up and realize how wonderful the world is without Lin Yanqing and how free and happy you are without her.”

“Stop talking nonsense! The world is only beautiful with Lin Yanqing in it, okay? I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t ever say that again!!”

As she retorted, Yu Ning threw the uniform jacket Su Yien had tossed to her into the trash bin. Luckily, Sun Yiyi quickly snatched it back.

“Don’t throw it away! Aren’t you afraid she’ll go cause trouble for Lin Yanqing now?”

“I never said I wouldn’t pick it back up,” Yu Ning muttered under her breath.

“Think about what I said earlier. Su Yien is actually quite good. Why don’t you try liking her?”

Yu Ning: “Yuck, yuck, yuck! Even if I were the last person on Earth, I would never like Su Yien. Can you please stop cursing me?”

“Alright, alright, it was just a joke.”

Seeing how firm Yu Ning was, Sun Yiyi didn’t press further. The two walked back to the classroom after disposing of the trash.

After they left, three people emerged from the cleaning supplies storage area.

Su Yien watched the two walk away and asked, “Did you hear anything?”

Wang Ying nodded. “She said even if she were the last person on Earth, she would never like you, boss.”

Su Yien: “Say that again. What did you hear?”

Wang Ying hesitated before replying, “She said even if…” Before she could finish, she caught Su Yien’s glare and paused. “Um… I didn’t hear anything.”

Zhao Meng, understanding the situation, answered Su Yien, “She said she only likes you in this world, boss!”

Su Yien raised an eyebrow. “What a pity. Even if I were the last person on Earth, I would never like her either.”

Wang Ying and Zhao Meng exchanged a glance, unable to believe that this narcissistic person before them was their boss.