Green Tea Top Student Falls in Love with Me - Chapter 54

Shi Wangui’s heart tightened. Even though she had received an answer from her aunt once before, she felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of fear. She spoke slowly, “It’s true. We are together.”

There was a long silence on the other end.

“Do you realize what this means? You will be subjected to judgment, and you will become the subject of gossip. This will do nothing good for your future.”

Shi Wangui didn’t want Wen Youren to know about this call. Making an excuse, she headed downstairs to find a secluded corner. “I know all of that,” she said.

“No, you don’t. You’re still young, you’re only sixteen. You don’t understand love. It’s my fault. I should have taught you about sexuality sooner so you wouldn’t misunderstand your own heart. Break up with her, now.”

“Auntie, I know my own mind. I hate men. I hate Shi Qin, and I dislike every man in this family. I only love Wen Youren.”

Shi Wangui was nearing a breaking point, her voice bordering on a roar. She had not expected the demand to break up. She had no intention of doing so.

“You must break up. Your father already knows. You and Wen Youren are to come home tonight. You must return.”

The line went dead. Shi Wangui stood there for a long time, unable to recover. She leaned against the wall for support. The biting winter wind quickly turned her hands a frozen red.

The surroundings were festive. It was the New Year, after all. But Shi Wangui felt only terror. She felt as though her heart were being peeled away layer by layer, leaving her body hollow. She pressed her palms hard against the marble wall. The physical sting of the friction could not dull the pain inside.

Suddenly, someone embraced her. The familiar scent made her eyes sting, and her tears finally spilled over.

“How did you know I was here?”

Wen Youren took Shi Wangui’s freezing hands in hers. “I saw your expression change. I guessed some of it.”

In reality, Wen Yiyue had sent her a message. The insults were expected, but at the end, Wen Yiyue had told her, “I suppose you’ve finally done something good for me.”

After calming down slightly, Shi Wangui said, “Auntie told us to go back tonight.”

Wen Youren replied, “They were bound to find out eventually. Rather than having you face them alone while I’m away, it’s better that we face them together.”

Hearing Wen Youren’s words, Shi Wangui’s tension eased a bit. “Then I’ll ask Auntie to pick us up at eight.”

“Okay,” Wen Youren agreed.

They went back upstairs. Teacher Wang had finished cooking. Originally, she wanted everyone to stay the night, but Wen Youren explained that she and Shi Wangui had business to attend to and would return tomorrow.

Once the two of them left, Sun Yi and Wang Hu felt out of place as well. Hearing that the girls were returning to the city, they decided to head back to Wen Youren’s place first to wait for their return.

Since no buses run on New Year’s Eve, only private van drivers looking for extra cash were available. Shi Wangui did not mention that her aunt was coming, so she let Wen Youren call a van to send their friends back first.

Before 8:00 PM, they stood at the town intersection. Children from nearby houses were setting off firecrackers. The constant crackling and popping made Shi Wangui even more irritable.

Wen Youren noticed. She squeezed Shi Wangui’s hand. “Are you afraid?”

Shi Wangui’s eyelashes trembled. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. If it were Shi Qin who called, I might not feel anything, but it was my aunt.”

Her aunt’s discovery was what she feared most. That was why she had asked her aunt indirectly before. Her aunt was her only real family, the only one who loved her without schemes or resentment. Shi Wangui often acted like she did not care if classmates or teachers knew, because their opinions did not matter. But her aunt was different. She was the only relative Shi Wangui truly cared for.

Wen Youren said softly, “When the time comes, push all the blame onto me. Do not carry it yourself.”

“No,” Shi Wangui refused instantly. “This is mutual. Why should I blame you? We haven’t done anything wrong. If there is any fault, then I’ll just admit to puppy love.”

It was just underage dating. That was all. Nothing else was wrong.

Wen Youren smiled. “If it is puppy love, then I am the one who led you into it. You have to remember, in that house, I am technically your elder sister.”

“I don’t care,” Shi Wangui insisted. “They aren’t even legally married yet. Our status is the same. We are just temporary residents. We’re leaving as soon as we turn eighteen anyway, right?”

“Right,” Wen Youren promised.

A car pulled up in front of them. Their aunt had arrived early, fuming with anger. She had already been worried about outsiders splitting her niece’s inheritance, and now her niece was involved with the very person who might take it.

The aunt rolled down the window and said sharply, “Get in.”

Seeing both girls head for the back seat, she added, “Shi Wangui, sit in the front.”

Wen Youren signaled for Shi Wangui to sit up front. She knew that in these situations, families rarely accepted the truth. She had been through it herself. Her mother’s insults, her father’s passing.

Shi Wangui reluctantly sat in the passenger seat. After buckling her seatbelt, she watched the rearview mirror. The sky was dark, punctuated by the occasional burst of fireworks. Tonight, everyone else was happy, but they would not be.

The drive was silent. As they entered the city, the streets grew brighter. When they reached the house, the aunt stopped the car and leaned her head against the steering wheel for a long time, unable to bring herself to get out.

Seeing her aunt like this made Shi Wangui feel terrible. “Auntie.”

“Don’t call me that!”

Wen Youren spoke up, “I threatened her. It is my fault. If there is a problem, it is because of me. It has nothing to do with her.”

Shi Wangui’s heart ached hearing this. “No, that’s not true! She did not threaten me.”

The aunt sat up, her eyes bloodshot, her voice hoarse. “Do you two have any idea what you’re doing? Do you?”

Shi Wangui’s eyes reddened. She whispered, “I don’t think it is wrong. I love her, and she loves me. There is nothing wrong with that.”

“You don’t understand! You understand nothing!” the aunt cried. She turned to Wen Youren. “Do you know what you’re doing? Do you know what your relationship is? You are sisters!”

Wen Youren dropped to her knees. “I love her. No matter what, I will protect her. I won’t let her suffer.”

The aunt did not truly hate Wen Youren. They were both just pitiful children. She reached out to pull her up. “Don’t kneel to me. You need to think about how to face your parents. They already know, and they are waiting inside. I can’t help you anymore.”

“Auntie, if it comes down to it, I can break ties with him. I don’t care about his money. We can support ourselves,” Shi Wangui said.

The aunt sighed, rubbing her forehead. She was at a loss. If Wen Youren were a boy, she would have dismissed it as adolescent rebellion. But they were both girls, something she had never encountered in her life.

“Go inside. You have to face it eventually.”

They followed their aunt into the house. Shi Qin and Wen Yiyue were sitting on the sofa. One looked livid, while the other seemed almost pleased.

The moment Shi Qin saw Shi Wangui, he roared, “I thought you were capable, but I didn’t realize you were this capable.”

Shi Wangui did not back down. “Likewise.”

Infuriated, Shi Qin marched toward her to slap her, but Wen Youren stepped in and blocked him with her body.

Shi Qin remembered the other participant was there. Since she was not his biological daughter, he hesitated to strike her. Instead, he said, “Fine, you’re both so capable. This school can’t hold you anymore. Transfer.”

Wen Youren replied, “She can go anywhere. I can support her, and I will go with her.”

Wen Yiyue spoke then, her voice tinged with a strange joy. “By the way, your father and I are getting our marriage certificate tomorrow. Then we’ll transfer the household registration. We’ll be one family. We won’t pursue this matter too much. We’ll just treat it as two children being foolish and mistaking family affection for romance.”

Wen Youren froze. She understood now. She understood what Wen Yiyue’s message meant, why they weren’t angrier, and why Wen Yiyue looked so happy.

“You are truly vile,” Wen Youren said. “I didn’t think you would use us like this. Yes, I am sick, but I’m nothing compared to you two.”

“I won’t do it!” Shi Wangui screamed. “What right do you have to get married? If you get married, I’m cutting ties with you!”

Wen Yiyue did not give her an inch of hope. She gave a light laugh. “Wangui, isn’t it good to have a mother? I’ll be your mother on paper soon. Besides, you’re only sixteen. How are you going to cut ties?”

“Get out! You bitch, get out!” Shi Wangui broke down into tears. “You don’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as my mother. You’re both disgusting. Get out! Go die!”

Shi Wangui was hysterical. Her aunt held her tightly while Wen Youren stood between her and Shi Qin to protect her from any physical retaliation.

“You little brat, what did you say?” Shi Qin raised his hand again, but Wen Yiyue pulled him back, whispering something in his ear. He lowered his hand and spoke to his sister, “Take her to your place for a few days. Wen Youren stays here. I have something to say to her.”

“No!” Shi Wangui shouted.

Shi Qin said coldly, “If you continue to be stubborn, I can’t guarantee I won’t send one of you out of the country.”

Wen Youren looked down. It was true. Shi Qin was Shi Wangui’s guardian. He had the legal power to send one of them away with ease.

She hugged Shi Wangui and patted her back gently to calm her down. “Trust me. Go to your aunt’s for a few days.”

Shi Wangui protested, “I don’t want to leave you. We go together.”

Wen Youren whispered, “I won’t leave you. I’ll find a way to take you with me, even if we have to run to the ends of the earth.”

Shi Wangui finally agreed. She could not stand the sight of those two. She felt disgust and nausea.

With the others gone, Shi Qin got straight to the point. “The two of you cannot be together. You aren’t my daughter, so I’ll respect your decision to an extent. You know I have ways to keep you apart. I’m giving you one choice. Either you transfer schools, or she does.”

Support