Returning to High School to Save My Wife - Chapter 39

At the mere mention of the word “teacher,” Yue Suxin’s expression shifted slightly. Even though she was accustomed to being arrogant and willful at school, she still harbored a lingering fear of the faculty.

“Liang Qi, don’t think for a second that.”

“What are you afraid of them for?” Cheng Zhuocheng tilted his chin, looking at the two of them with a malicious gaze. “Even if things blow up and we end up in front of the teachers, we aren’t the ones who should be afraid.”

Yue Suxin was stunned for a moment, but she quickly realized what he was implying. She spoke up haughtily, “Exactly. As if we’d be embarrassed to tell a teacher. Tell them if you want. We aren’t the ones with a guilty conscience.”

“Don’t bother with people like them,” Cheng Zhuocheng said, glancing at the time on his phone. He lowered his arm from Yue Suxin’s shoulder. “Hurry up and get to class so you aren’t late.”

Yue Suxin gave him a sweet smile. “Mhm, I’m heading in now.”

She shot a provocative look at Jiang Yuan as she passed by her and returned to the classroom.

After Yue Suxin left, Cheng Zhuocheng’s gaze fell back on Jiang Yuan, his eyes filled with irony and disdain.

“Jiang Yuan,” he sneered, taking leisurely steps toward her. “I really didn’t expect it. You are far more ‘open-minded’ than I imagined.”

Liang Qi instinctively stepped in front of Jiang Yuan, refusing to yield an inch. She spoke coldly, “Cheng Zhuocheng, keep your mouth clean.”

Cheng Zhuocheng stopped, looking at Liang Qi with a half-smile. He said sarcastically, “Liang Qi, I heard your parents are decent, respectable people. Why are you hanging around someone like this?”

His gaze moved past her, returning to Jiang Yuan. His tone was full of mockery. “No matter how dirty my mouth is, it can’t compare to how filthy some people are.”

“I’m warning you, Cheng Zhuocheng, stop making these baseless accusations. You need evidence before you speak. If you continue this harassment, I promise I will not let this matter rest.”

“You want evidence? I have it. Does the person behind you even dare to ask for it?”

Cheng Zhuocheng’s fearless attitude gave Liang Qi an uneasy feeling. Her brow furrowed. “What did Yue Suxin tell you?”

“Heh, I don’t need anyone to tell me anything. If you’re afraid of people knowing, then don’t do it. Don’t act like a saint while doing dirty deeds. Jiang Yuan, you’ve got quite the nerve, daring to play even me.”

His attitude completely enraged Liang Qi, but Jiang Yuan timely grabbed Liang Qi’s wrist. In that instant, Jiang Yuan felt Liang Qi’s body stiffen.

“Liang Qi,” Jiang Yuan shook her head gently. She knew Liang Qi wanted to stand up for her, but she didn’t want Liang Qi to do anything impulsive. She didn’t want to drag Liang Qi down with her.

“We’ll see about this.” Cheng Zhuocheng pointed a finger at Jiang Yuan one last time, dropped those words, and turned to head upstairs.

Only then did Jiang Yuan slowly release her grip on Liang Qi’s hand.

A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched her lips. “I’m so sorry, making you worry about my problems again. I know you mean well, but they are targeting me. You don’t need to provoke them for my sake.”

“Jiang Yuan,” Liang Qi reached out and placed her hands on Jiang Yuan’s shoulders, staring at her with a rare seriousness. “Just because you don’t provoke them doesn’t mean they won’t provoke you. If you don’t fight back, they will think you are an easy target and will only bully you more. They will only stop once they realize there are consequences for bullying you.”

“I understand, but,” Jiang Yuan paused for a few seconds. Her breathing suddenly became rapid, and her voice dropped. “But, I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

She was like a blind fish living at the bottom of a dark well. When a ray of sunlight finally shone into the dry pit, she was grateful for its warmth. Even if she couldn’t rely on it to grow, she hoped it would remain warm and bright forever.

Watching this girl charge into battle for her time and again, she found herself wanting to protect someone too. She was afraid this girl would get hurt because of her, afraid she would be gossiped about just like her. She didn’t want to bring her misfortune. Liang Qi and her family were such wonderful people.

Liang Qi was stunned. She looked at Jiang Yuan’s flustered face, and her heart ached slightly.

“Don’t think like that,” she said. “Yuanyuan, we are a team. I won’t let anyone bully you.”

She stepped closer and took her hand again. “Don’t worry about anything, and don’t be afraid. Come, I’ll take you into class.”

With that, Liang Qi led Jiang Yuan up the steps and into the classroom under the watchful eyes of the entire class.

Their seats were at the very first table of the first row near the door, only a few steps away. For Jiang Yuan, these were the heaviest steps she had ever taken. In a distance of less than ten steps, she felt countless gazes pricking her like thorns. All the indistinguishable whispers were discussing her and her family.

Even when she sat back in her seat, Jiang Yuan did not feel at ease. The words spoken by Cheng Zhuocheng and Yue Suxin, along with the gossip she heard upon entering the school, kept flashing through her mind.

It wasn’t until Liang Qi reached under the desk and placed her hand over the back of Jiang Yuan’s hand that the noise of the world suddenly stopped. They didn’t exchange a single word, yet Jiang Yuan could feel Liang Qi trying to put her mind at rest.

Jiang Yuan settled her heart, trying her best not to pay attention to the rumors. Liang Qi turned her head, her gaze slowly sweeping over those who had been gossiping. She stared them down fearlessly until they each shut their mouths.

The classroom gradually became quiet. Liang Qi turned back, leaning close to Jiang Yuan’s ear to whisper, “Focus on the lecture. If there’s anything you can’t keep up with, I’ll explain it to you after class.”

“Okay.”

Although Jiang Yuan had missed some classes, she had a strong academic foundation. She had previewed and reviewed on her own during her leave and had kept up with her assignments. There were only a few minor details she wasn’t clear on, which she understood after a quick question to Liang Qi.

Near the end of class, He Wei checked the time on her phone and addressed the class. “Before we dismiss today, I have an announcement. Our Shengjiang No. 1 High School and the neighboring Shengjiang Foreign Languages Academy will be co-hosting a social mixer. I hope everyone can showcase their talents and actively sign up for performances. Musical instruments, dancing, recitations—anything is fine.”

“Think it over. Report your programs to the class monitor by the end of the week.”

“Alright, class dismissed!”

After class, the students began discussing the mixer mentioned by He Wei.

“It’s with Shengjiang Foreign Languages School!” “I heard there are so many handsome guys and pretty girls there.” “Shouldn’t we sign up?” “Don’t embarrass yourself. What can you even do? Go recite a poem?” “Hahaha, that’s not impossible!”

Liang Qi turned her head. “Yuanyuan, are you going to sign up? I remember you know how to dance, right?”

“I,” Jiang Yuan hesitated for a moment before eventually shaking her head. “I think I’ll pass.”

Dancing. Yes, she used to love dancing. When she danced, the appreciative gazes of countless people would gather on her, creating a radiance that belonged to her. But now, she didn’t want to stand at the center of attention at all. She didn’t want to be gossiped about anymore.

Afraid Liang Qi would overthink it, Jiang Yuan quickly explained, “I haven’t danced in a long time. And with my situation, you know, it’s best if I don’t take on anything else right now.”

As she spoke, Liang Qi did not miss the dimming light in her eyes.

Just then, a loud voice rang out. “Class monitor, sign me up!”

The voice made Jiang Yuan’s heart tighten suddenly. It was Yue Suxin. She smiled at Jiang Yuan as if nothing had happened, saying cheerfully, “I want to sign up for Latin dance. Put me down.”

Her tone was unpleasant, but since Jiang Yuan was the class monitor, this was part of her job. She took out an empty notebook and wrote Yue Suxin’s name at the top of the list.

Yue Suxin watched her finish and then waved toward the back of the classroom. “Let’s go, Jiayue, come upstairs with me!”

After Yue Suxin left, Tang Yiman, who sat behind Jiang Yuan, tapped Jiang Yuan’s shoulder with a pen.

“Jiang Yuan, where have you been these past few days?”

Hearing this question, Jiang Yuan’s shoulders stiffened. The inexplicable malice she had faced recently made her instinctively wary of anyone paying attention to her life. She turned her head hesitantly, her back against the chair, meeting Tang Yiman’s bright and clear eyes. “I, had some matters at home.”

Her voice carried a level of caution that wasn’t there before.

Liang Qi’s brow furrowed, but just as she was about to help Jiang Yuan out of the situation, she heard Tang Yiman speak again.

“Is someone in your family sick? You haven’t been here for days and we were worried sick. We thought something had happened to you.”

“Yeah,” added Duan Shuyu, who sat next to Tang Yiman. “If you need to copy any notes, we have them all. You can borrow from anyone.”

Jiang Yuan was stunned. Looking into their eyes, she could hardly believe it. She had received so much malice that someone suddenly choosing to believe her and showing kindness made her feel as if the clouds had parted, revealing a bright new world.

“Thank you,” she smiled at them. “But it’s okay. I’ll just borrow Liang Qi’s.”

Just as she was about to turn back, Tang Yiman called her name again. “Jiang Yuan.”

“What is it?”

Tang Yiman lowered her voice and shielded her mouth with her hand. “Is Yue Suxin making trouble for you again?”

“Yue Suxin?” Jiang Yuan’s heart sank. “Why do you say that?”

Cheng Zhuocheng had suddenly gotten together with Yue Suxin, his attitude toward her and Liang Qi had become exceptionally hostile, and false rumors about her were spreading through the school. When these things were connected, it seemed highly suspicious. Especially since Yue Suxin had often spoken ill of her in the past. If Yue Suxin had told Cheng Zhuocheng something and the two were now targeting her together while involving the rest of the student body, it all made sense.

“I don’t know how to put it,” Tang Yiman said with a conflicted expression. “It’s just that some unpleasant rumors about you have been going around the school lately. We all suspect Yue Suxin is behind them.”

“You don’t know yet? Yue Suxin and Cheng Zhuocheng are together now. While you were on leave, Yue Suxin went upstairs to find Cheng Zhuocheng frequently. A few days ago, Tang Yiman and I were going upstairs for something and passed by Class Five. We saw Yue Suxin gathered with her old group of friends, and it seemed like they were talking about you.”

“What did they say?” Jiang Yuan asked hurriedly. She could tolerate Yue Suxin disliking her or targeting her, but she could not accept groundless rumors and slander against her family.

“We don’t know,” Tang Yiman shook her head. “We were just passing by. There were a lot of them, and they seemed to be on good terms, so we didn’t dare ask too much.”

Jiang Yuan and Liang Qi exchanged a look. Given Yue Suxin’s personality and the events of the past few days, it was almost certain that Yue Suxin and Cheng Zhuocheng were the ones spreading rumors. However, Cheng Zhuocheng and Yue Suxin surely chose to tell people they were close with. Even if Liang Qi and the others went to ask, those people likely wouldn’t be willing to point the finger at them.

“Jiang Yuan, you should be careful from now on. Yue Suxin and Cheng Zhuocheng are very popular in school. Even though they are together now, there are still many people who listen to them. Plus, Yue Suxin’s family has a connection with the principal, so whatever you do, don’t go head-to-head with her,” Tang Yiman advised.

“Yeah, we’re telling you this just to give you a heads-up so you can try to avoid them,” Duan Shuyu said.

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll be careful.”

After the news of the mixer was announced, students eagerly signed up, and because Jiang Yuan was back in class, the gossip about her soon died down.

When school was dismissed in the afternoon, Liang Qi packed her bag and left the classroom with Jiang Yuan. On the way, she asked again, “Yuanyuan, are you really not signing up for the mixer?”

She knew Jiang Yuan had concerns, but she also knew Jiang Yuan definitely wanted to participate. If it weren’t for her deep love and care for it, Jiang Yuan wouldn’t have given up dancing forever in their previous life.

“No,” Jiang Yuan said softly. “It’s just a mixer. It’s not that important.”

Liang Qi fell silent. A long time passed.

“Yuanyuan. Do you remember that you owe me a favor?”

“I remember. I won’t go back on my word. I’ll repay it when you need it.”

Liang Qi stopped and looked at her. “Then how about right now?”

“Now?” Jiang Yuan was startled. “Liang Qi, what are you.”

“I want to see you dance.”

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