Forced into a Secret Marriage with the Villain, We Now Have a Child - Chapter 29

Jian Chun watched Yu Siyi’s retreating figure, feeling that things weren’t quite as simple as they appeared.

Jian Chun was only at school because she had “awakened” her ambition to succeed. But what about Yu Siyi? The girl didn’t even need to try; she could casually take an exam and place first in the entire grade. If the city-wide joint examinations were currently held, Jian Chun was certain Yu Siyi would effortlessly take the top spot in the city as well.

So, why was she at school? Was staying home not fun enough? Was the National Day holiday too long?

The young woman stood at the school gate with her back to Jian Chun. Her smooth, short hair was tossed by the wind, and her skirt hem swirled around her legs. Simply standing there, she looked like an exquisite poster.

Perhaps because she hadn’t brought her school ID, Yu Siyi was stopped. The security guard asked a few routine questions, but likely recognizing her face, he let her through. Seeing this, Jian Chun ignored Leng Yujie beside her and turned to head into the campus.

Jian Chun didn’t have a face useful enough to bypass security like Yu Siyi did; she had to swipe her ID to enter.

Leng Yujie didn’t fall behind. He caught up, incessantly calling out, “Sister Chun, Sister Chun!”

Unable to take it anymore, Jian Chun turned and glared at him. Receiving her attention, Leng Yujie grinned broadly. “Hehe, I know—you don’t like that person.”

Jian Chun rolled her eyes.

“I know a lot of things. Sister Chun, don’t you want to ask me what I know?” Leng Yujie circled around her like a pesky puppy, tripping her up with his constant movement.

“Leng Yujie, if you don’t want me to hit you every time I see you from now on, stop acting weird.”

“Sister Chun…” Leng Yujie blinked his eyes pitifully.

Blink my foot.

Jian Chun’s temper was rising. Could things get any worse? Even if her original self hadn’t liked him, the current Jian Chun couldn’t find a reason to like him either. “Little puppy” boys were trendy now, but if she wanted a puppy, why wouldn’t she just get a real one?

“Sister Chun, don’t go. Sigh, I just haven’t talked to you in so long. Jing Ge said your temper has improved lately…” By the end, Leng Yujie’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It clearly hasn’t improved at all.”

As Leng Yujie muttered to himself, Jian Chun stopped in her tracks. She turned around, tilting her head slightly to look at the boy who was a full head taller than her. She narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, the corners curving upward as her lips pulled into a smile. She looked perfectly approachable.

“Is my temper bad?” Jian Chun smiled at him.

Leng Yujie shook his head quickly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It’s good, it’s good.”

“That’s more like it.” Jian Chun beckoned him with a finger. “We haven’t seen each other in a while. Why don’t you have a chat with your sister?”

Leng Yujie’s eyes lit up. His “loyal follower” persona switched on instantly; he was practically wagging an invisible tail.

It was just past ten o’clock. The sun was rising steadily, and the ground temperature was climbing, soon to be stiflingly hot. Amidst the cicadas’ chirping and the hum of voices, a row of osmanthus trees lined the road. Some people were taking photos beneath them, while others glanced around guiltily, trying to sneakily pluck a few blossoms.

The two maintained a brisk pace, walking from the school gate to the cafeteria, then circling the shade of the trees by the sports field. A few people were playing basketball on the courts, their shouts and cheers erupting from time to time.

Jian Chun kept a fake smile on her face as she chatted, but her eyes never strayed from the person ahead. She watched until Yu Siyi entered the teaching building and disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Meanwhile, Yu Siyi was climbing the stairs with a cold expression. She held up the hem of her skirt, her steps steady as she moved toward the higher floors.

She had led a smooth, successful life; this was the first time she had ever been threatened. She wasn’t one to lose her temper easily—likely because she didn’t care about much—so emotions like joy, anger, or sorrow didn’t come easily to her.

But today, she was angry. Not because of Jian Chun, but because of Feng Xue.

She and Feng Xue had known each other since childhood, but that was the extent of it. Many people wanted to be her friend, and she didn’t have to respond to everyone. Feng Xue had been a childhood friend and a neighbor; they attended the same kindergarten and primary school. In junior high, Feng Xue’s family went bankrupt and she transferred schools, only for them to meet again in high school.

Yu Siyi wasn’t close to Feng Xue. Her attitude toward her now was the same as it had always been. She wasn’t going to suddenly become friendly out of pity just because Feng Xue’s family had lost their fortune.

The past two years of school life had been peaceful, but recently, Feng Xue had been appearing before her repeatedly. Today, Feng Xue had told her things—secrets that should have remained hidden—and used them as bait to lure her to school.

Upon reaching the fifth floor, Yu Siyi’s pace slowed. The hallway was silent, save for the sound of her heels on the floor. A gentle breeze brushed against her neck, helping her calm down.

Was I not fully awake this morning? Did my brain malfunction? How did I almost fall for her trick?

The Senior Year Experimental Classes 1 and 2 were adjacent to each other, tucked away near the offices. In a sense, the secluded location was perfect for studying.

As her heart rate from the climb settled, Yu Siyi crossed her arms and walked casually past the back door of Class 2. Her gaze flickered over, and she couldn’t help but frown.

Just as Yu Siyi’s peripheral vision swept into Class 2, Feng Xue happened to turn around. The transition on her face from sorrow to delight was strikingly obvious.

In the stairwell, footsteps approached.

Jian Chun’s breathing was a bit heavy, and Leng Yujie had stopped talking, following submissively behind her. As they reached the top of the stairs, they witnessed the scene perfectly.

Yu Siyi walked past Class 2 and turned into Class 1.

“Yu Siyi!” A voice chased after her from Class 2—it was Feng Xue, who was a step too slow.

Jian Chun didn’t understand the situation, but she watched silently. Though she felt the plot was getting strange, it was finally aligning with the original story. Feng Xue’s secret crush on Yu Siyi was no secret at all.

“Sister Chun, don’t be sad. That woman is fickle. Just wait for me—” Leng Yujie lowered his voice to mutter a threat.

Jian Chun raised a fist and shoved Leng Yujie away as he tried to lean in. Leng Yujie, having hit a wall, settled down a bit. Though he had lowered his voice, he hadn’t exactly been quiet.

Feng Xue quickly noticed them. The disappointment of being ignored by Yu Siyi was instantly replaced by a new surge of energy.

Leng Yujie and Jian Chun!

Feng Xue turned her head as if in slow motion, her hair fluttering in the air. A look of lonely desolation settled on her face as she locked eyes with Jian Chun.

Jian Chun’s eyes were practically flashing with shock. Is this girl for real? Just because Jian Chun wasn’t following the plot, did Feng Xue have to force it? She really didn’t like this type of person.

“Jian Chun—you… you really like someone else now?” Feng Xue held back tears with an aggrieved expression. “Then what about me?”

Jian Chun wanted to walk away; she had no desire to watch this performance. But why should she be the one to leave? At that thought, she regained her composure.

“Are you insane? You want to two-time people!” Leng Yujie narrowed his eyes, his expression fierce. The “puppy” became a “wolf” in a second, ready to bite.

Seeing this, Feng Xue’s eyes grew redder. She gritted her teeth and looked at Leng Yujie with a timid gaze, saying, “Jian Chun, I didn’t. You have to believe me.”

Jian Chun: “…”

Jian Chun looked at the explosive Leng Yujie. For a moment, she was tempted to let her “enforcer” loose. But no, she couldn’t. Those who opposed the female lead never had a good ending. Who knew what kind of “face-slapping” plot armor she might trigger?

Meanwhile, seeing the tension between the two, the blush on Feng Xue’s face grew more intense. She was anxious. Why aren’t they bullying me yet? Come on, do something!

Feng Xue was practically stomping her feet in frustration. Hadn’t she planned this entire scene just to bring the little “cannon fodder” out for a spin? This cannon fodder was supposed to be a tool to bridge the relationship between her and her “Main Consort” (Yu Siyi). But tools were meant to be used wherever needed. Right now, she hadn’t won over anyone, let alone the Main Consort.

If Leng Yujie made a move, it would trigger someone’s pity for her, which would then blossom into love. She had hoped to kill two birds with one stone, but Yu Siyi had refused to take the bait!

Seeing Jian Chun stop for her, Feng Xue thought: Jian Chun still can’t bear to see me get hurt.

Jian Chun nudged the boy beside her. “Leng Yujie, I’m going back to study. You should head back now.”

Leng Yujie was furious. “How can you like this kind of thing? Every time I see her, I feel disgusted.”

Feng Xue was delighted. She looked at Jian Chun, expecting her to speak up in her defense.

And Jian Chun did speak: “I feel the same way. Don’t get a demerit from the teacher because of her. Get lost and go study.”

Upon hearing this, Leng Yujie’s anger vanished instantly. Sister Chun was concerned about him!

Feng Xue: “???”

Feng Xue had finally had enough of Jian Chun’s “cold violence” and total disregard for her.

With light steps, Jian Chun brushed past Feng Xue and returned to the classroom, nearly bumping into a group of “melon-eating” spectators running inside. Well, at least there weren’t many of them. It wasn’t her who was losing face, anyway.

Jian Chun scanned the classroom. Her gaze landed on the front row. Uncharacteristically, Yu Siyi was leaning over her desk, sleeping. Her head was pillowed on her arm…

She came all the way to school just to nap?

Jian Chun navigated the desks to her seat. She didn’t understand the “top student” mindset; perhaps the school environment just made for a better nap.

The sunlight was a bit piercing, so the curtains on the window side were drawn, and the classroom lights were on. Accustomed to the routine, Jian Chun took out her notebook of corrected mistakes—a categorized collection of every problem she had gotten wrong on her exams.

The sun eventually climbed to its zenith, peeking through the gaps in the curtains. The sound of chairs scraping filled the room as students stood up in groups of twos and threes, heading out of the school together. No one called out to Jian Chun, but she didn’t mind. She stood up to stretch, pulling down her shirt as it rode up to reveal her midriff.

She looked around the room. Yu Siyi was also alone. By now, she had woken up and was working on an assignment, her right hand moving a pen lazily across the page.

Jian Chun felt conflicted. The person who loved her was the future Yu Siyi; the current Yu Siyi clearly disliked her. Approaching her felt like asking for a snub, but staying away felt like she had a guilty conscience.

Perhaps she was overthinking it. She just wanted to look at the top student’s notes.

Jian Chun had wanted to see Yu Siyi’s notes for a long time. Ever since she realized that without notes, she’d have to flip through entire textbooks to find key points, she had been preparing to make her own. Most of the courses were nearing their end; the best she could do was mark her books well.

She trusted her own ability but doubted others’ levels. More importantly, most of the class was biased against her. Of all the people whose grades she respected enough to ask, there was only one choice.

Just as Jian Chun was hesitating, the very person she was debating about stood up. Yu Siyi grabbed a tissue, tucked her phone into her hand, and walked out.

Jian Chun, still caught in a mental battle over whether to call out to her, panicked. She glanced at Yu Siyi’s desk. Wait! This is the chance to sneak a peek!

But what if she got caught? She had never done something like that before. It was a dilemma.

However, her body moved faster than her brain. Abandoning her thoughts, she followed Yu Siyi out of the classroom. Wearing her white sneakers, she caught up in a few strides.

“Hey,” Jian Chun said. “Want to grab lunch together?”

Yu Siyi glanced at her—a lazy, sweeping look—before a mocking smile touched her lips.

Jian Chun understood. Fine. In Yu Siyi’s mind, she was still a “player.”

“I have nothing to do with that kid,” Jian Chun explained. Then, she added, “And for the record, I’m not hitting on you either.”

“Oh,” Yu Siyi let out a soft sound in response. Whether there was any sincerity in that “oh” was anyone’s guess.

Yu Siyi intended to eat at the Lin Family Shop. She wasn’t in a rush today, so she hadn’t pre-selected her dishes.

Neither spoke on the way. Yu Siyi wasn’t a talker; she kept everything bottled up inside. For instance, right now, she was wondering why Jian Chun was following her. Claims she isn’t hitting on me, yet she’s sticking to me like glue. She’s just like the rest.

Thinking of “the rest” brought Feng Xue to mind. The coldness in Yu Siyi’s eyes became almost tangible, though no one saw it.

Jian Chun was also wondering how to bring it up. Would asking directly be awkward? Which was more important: face or studies? Studies, obviously—but she didn’t want to lose face either.

After less than ten minutes of silence, Jian Chun was led into a shop. The storefront was familiar; she felt she had been here before. Even the owner looked familiar.

“Little Sister Yu, you have classes today too?” The owner greeted them warmly, wiping the table down personally. “Oh, is this a new friend?”

Yu Siyi didn’t answer. She simply looked toward Jian Chun. Jian Chun gave the owner a smile and nodded, quite thick-skinned.

The owner said, “Here are the menus. Order whatever you like and just call me when you’re ready.”

Jian Chun and Yu Siyi each took a menu. There were home-style dishes, specialty “Jianghu” dishes, and large platters like griddle-cooked pots and taro chicken. The home-style dishes were displayed behind a glass partition—small plates with price tags. The Jianghu dishes were seafood, like crayfish and snail meat.

Jian Chun looked at the names, and her mouth began to water. But the moment she saw the prices, she cooled down instantly.

Stir-fried seasonal greens: 8 yuan.

She didn’t see any fried rice, topped rice, noodles, or wontons. She calmly set the menu down and said to Yu Siyi, “My treat. You order.”

Yu Siyi looked up. Her light, casual gaze seemed to pierce right through Jian Chun. She reached out, her slender fingers pushing the menu back to Jian Chun, turning it so she could see it clearly. Several items were already checked in red.

Jian Chun looked at Yu Siyi, then down at the menu.

Griddle-cooked fish (with extra lettuce, potato slices, and bean curd skin…) Tomato and egg soup; Shredded pork with garlic sauce; Iced plum juice; Fruit dessert.

Jian Chun’s mental math was decent, but right now, she wished it wasn’t. Just a few dishes for two people—they probably couldn’t even finish it all—and yet, not including the rice and seating fee, it was nearly a hundred yuan.

Jian Chun’s gaze moved from the menu, up the smooth table, over Yu Siyi’s clothes, and finally to her face. Yu Siyi was tilting her head, watching her. This Yu Siyi looked remarkably like the future one, but her temperament was far more aggressive—like an unpolished stone with sharp edges that could cut you if you weren’t careful.

Jian Chun—a formerly poor student who now had to strictly control her spending—usually ate meals for under ten yuan. She never spent a hundred!

Yu Siyi actually smiled at her, her eyes full of amusement.

Jian Chun’s lips moved as she tried to figure out how to speak without losing face or starting a fight. Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “Did you do this on purpose?”

Yu Siyi’s fingertips tapped lightly on the table in a rhythmic beat. “Aren’t you looking for an opportunity to get on my good side?”

Jian Chun: “??”

Was I?!

She couldn’t help but blurt out, “Borrowing a set of notes is that expensive?”

Yu Siyi’s fingers stopped. She looked at Jian Chun—who looked heartbroken but was trying desperately to remain calm—and asked:

“What notes?