The Fake Girlfriend is Online - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Waves Before the Storm

They had expected that after today’s classes, Li Fei might grant the three of them permission to return to their original seats, but surprises always come suddenly.

Mu Jinxuan and Qing Moran were currently staring at Luo Qi with the kind of looks one usually saves for treasonous rebels.

“Big sisters, I was wrong, okay? Who the hell could have guessed that Li Fei would take a stroll through the classroom a minute before school let out?” Luo Qi had a bitter face. He deeply regretted his habit of checking WeChat a minute before the bell; Li Fei, standing just outside the window, had caught him red-handed. Originally, Li Fei had intended to let them move back, but seeing Luo Qi playing on his phone, he confiscated the device and ordered Luo Qi to stay in the front row for another week. Naturally, Qing Moran and Mu Jinxuan were punished by association.

“Honestly, I have no problem with you sitting in the front row, but I really miss my old seat,” Qing Moran said with a gentle, yet heavy-hearted smile.

“Sister Ran, can you take that smile back? It’s a bit creepy,” Luo Qi muttered, instinctively wiping away non-existent cold sweat.

“Am I that scary?” Qing Moran asked, looking at Mu Jinxuan.

“How could you be? You’re clearly so cute,” Mu Jinxuan replied. Then, she turned and shot Luo Qi a look that felt like a flying dagger.

“Oh, come on, you two have had enough! I only played on my phone because both of you ignored me in class. What was I supposed to do? My only friend is my phone! Can’t I look at it to soothe my inner misery? And now my phone has been confiscated too,” Luo Qi wailed, clutching his chest. These two—it was one thing that they didn’t pay attention in class, but every time he tried to chat with them, they gave him the cold shoulder.

“My condolences. But this only proves your phone-sneaking skills aren’t up to par,” Qing Moran said while packing her bag. Since things had turned out this way, she could only accept it; it was just one week, after all.

“My condolences. Also, you really brought this on yourself.” Mu Jinxuan patted Luo Qi’s shoulder and stood up, preparing to walk Qing Moran to the bus station.

“You two are heartless! I’m the most tragic one today!”

Ignoring Luo Qi’s ghost-like wailing, Mu Jinxuan helped Qing Moran slowly shuffle toward the classroom door. A few students who hadn’t left yet followed them in small groups.

When they reached the stairwell, Mu Jinxuan was about to carry Qing Moran down when she noticed the group still following them at an awkward distance.

“Seriously, what do you all want? Why are you being so timid?” Mu Jinxuan crossed her arms and looked at the group.

The five or six boys and girls exchanged awkward smiles and pushed each other forward. Luo Qi, who had just caught up, seemed to have a sudden realization: “I know!”

“Speak.”

“You guys want autographs, don’t you?” Luo Qi asked.

This question seemed to open the floodgates. Everyone started talking at once, a chaotic jumble of voices. Before Mu Jinxuan could even process it, Qing Moran’s brow furrowed.

Seeing the slight frown on Qing Moran’s face, Mu Jinxuan didn’t waste words. She turned and squatted in front of her, firmly hooking her arms under Moran’s knees. With a soft gasp of surprise, Qing Moran landed on her back. Ignoring the shocked onlookers, Mu Jinxuan carried her straight toward the bus station.

After seeing Qing Moran off, Mu Jinxuan walked in the opposite direction of the bus route and stopped in front of a familiar figure. “Uncle Fu? Why are you here today?”

Generally, Uncle Fu only drove over to pick her up when she was going back to Jincheng. However, since Mu Jinxuan’s mother, Ye Xi, was frequently away, Mu Jinxuan rarely wanted to return to that lifeless house. Usually, the property was left in Uncle Fu’s care. Uncle Fu had watched her grow up and knew everything the Mu family had been through. If Mu Jinxuan didn’t call him to pick her up, it meant she wasn’t going back. In fact, she hadn’t returned since her last argument with her mother.

“The Madam just got back today. The first thing she thought of was having you return to Jincheng tonight. She misses you very much,” Uncle Fu said with a smile, leading her toward the car.

“She came back today?”

“The Madam sent you a message as soon as she got off the plane.”

Mu Jinxuan pulled out her phone. Indeed, there was a message from Ye Xi on WeChat.

[The Stream]: Jinxuan, Mom is back. Just got off the plane. I’ll have Uncle Fu pick you up tonight.

Always like this. A tone that brooked no discussion. Her mother never asked for her opinion, never asked if she had plans, and never asked if she wanted to go back. It was as if whatever she said had to be followed. Mu Jinxuan sighed and got into the car.

“Actually, the Madam cares about you both very much.” Uncle Fu used the plural “you.” Mu Jinxuan knew exactly who the other person was.

“I know. Uncle Fu, you’re going to say Mom cares about us but just doesn’t know how to express it, right?” In front of Uncle Fu, Mu Jinxuan’s words lost their sharp edge.

“Haha, you girl. If you know what I’m going to say, why do you still fight with her?” Uncle Fu laughed, shifted into gear, and drove off.

“Gosh, it’s not just my fault. You know she’s been nitpicking everything about me ever since I cut my hair.”

“Then have you considered why the Madam is angry? You could have just told her about that matter and let her handle it.”

“And become the target of the entire school?” In a place where Uncle Fu couldn’t see, Mu Jinxuan let out a cold laugh. “If the people at school knew who my mother was, would anyone actually treat me sincerely? I’m not like her—I don’t use my power to control others.”

The “her” naturally referred to Ye Xi. Uncle Fu didn’t argue. After a long silence, he spoke: “Jinxuan, you can’t entirely blame the Madam. After the Master passed away, everyone in the family lost their pillar. This was the only way she could protect you.”

“I’d be satisfied if Mom cared about me even half as much as you do, Uncle Fu.” Mu Jinxuan flashed a brilliant smile at him through the rearview mirror.

“Haha, you’re the family treasure. Everyone cares about you.” Uncle Fu laughed heartily.

That night back in Jincheng, the two of them—mother and daughter—miraculously didn’t fight, but the atmosphere remained heavy with silence. Since no one initiated a conversation, there was nothing to talk about.

Once Mu Jinxuan finished cleaning up and lay down on the bed she hadn’t slept in for weeks, she discovered that her QQ had been bombarded by Li Jingjing and Luo Qi. There were already forty or fifty unread messages.

She picked the most recent one from Li Jingjing to reply to.

[Spinning in Circles]: What’s up, dear English Rep?

[Jing not Qian]: Sister, if you hadn’t replied soon, Luo Qi and I were going to call the police.

[Spinning in Circles]: Are you two plotting something again?

[Spinning in Circles]: Let me tell you, I’ve “retired” from the game. I don’t do that stuff anymore. (Sent with a proud emoji)

[Jing not Qian]: Why are you being so dramatic…

[Jing not Qian]: We have something to tell you. Wait, I’ll start a group and pull Luo Qi in.

“Strange and Weird” has joined the group chat.

[Spinning in Circles]: Spill it.

[Strange and Weird]: So, Xuan-ge, I was wondering if you’d like to make a “score” recently? (Hand-rubbing emoji)

[Spinning in Circles]: For what? I’m not doing anything illegal.

[Strange and Weird]: What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like I haven’t been to the station before.

[Jing not Qian]: ?????

[Spinning in Circles]: ?????

[Strange and Weird]: That basketball incident… don’t ask, it’s embarrassing.

[Spinning in Circles]: …I thought you’d actually done something. I was going to say, where would you get the guts? What are you two actually trying to say? If you don’t speak up, I’m going to sleep.

[Strange and Weird]: Sleep? It’s only 9:30! (Shocked emoji)

[Jing not Qian]: Xuan-ge, are you secretly a health-conscious senior citizen?

[Spinning in Circles]: Early to bed, early to rise. If you’re not talking, I’m out.

[Strange and Weird]: Wait wait wait! I’ll say it. But it depends on whether you agree. We’re just making a suggestion.

After a lengthy explanation, Mu Jinxuan finally understood their “bad idea.” It was still about the forum situation. Since the relationship between Mu Jinyu and Mu Jinxuan had been revealed that morning, many people in the school were itching to get Mu Jinyu’s autograph through her. To gamers, Mu Jinyu was a legend, an idol. Having a chance to get this close to their idol was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If they could get a few autographs from Mu Jinxuan, they’d be bragging about it forever. No wonder a group had followed her after school.

[Strange and Weird]: So that’s the situation. I was thinking, if you can’t fend off the passion of the entire student body and end up asking for autographs anyway, we shouldn’t do it for free. Anything that can be solved with money isn’t a problem, hehe.

[Spinning in Circles]: I see. You basically want me to sell out my brother.

[Strange and Weird]: I didn’t! I wouldn’t!

[Jing not Qian]: We’re just giving you an option. You might have to agree eventually anyway. Plus, we have a feeling that someone is intentionally stirring the pot on the forum.

Mu Jinxuan understood what Li Jingjing meant. Now that the secret was out, if people asked for autographs—one or two would be fine—but if a crowd asked and she refused, people would gossip. While envy is a disease, it’s one that can’t be cured.

[Spinning in Circles]: Actually, I’m quite willing to sell out my brother.

[Spinning in Circles]: What does Sister Jing think?

In truth, after seeing the forum posts and the person secretly taking photos this morning, Mu Jinxuan had also sensed something was off. Li Jingjing’s point confirmed her suspicions.

[Jing not Qian]: Have you offended anyone recently?

[Strange and Weird]: Yeah, like that person who came to take secret photos of Moran because of the forum post this morning.

[Spinning in Circles]: I haven’t offended anyone these past few days.

[Jing not Qian]: Don’t just think about the last few days. Think about the three months since school started. Have you offended anyone with a significant background?

[Spinning in Circles]: Now that you mention it…

[Jing not Qian]: You remembered?

[Spinning in Circles]: I remembered several, actually. I just don’t know which one it is.

[Jing not Qian]: “Street-wise Xuan-ge”…

[Strange and Weird]: “Street-wise Xuan-ge”…

[Spinning in Circles]: I think we can beat them at their own game.

The three of them engaged in a discussion about this plan for over an hour, until Mu Jinxuan insisted she had to sleep.

The next day, school went on as usual. However, Mu Jinxuan messaged Uncle Fu ahead of time telling him not to pick her up, as she had business to attend to. After school, she saw Qing Moran onto the bus and then boarded a car heading toward “Qingyu Clinic.”