The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 12

“Now that you’ve rested, it’s time to return to school,” Zheng Qi reminded Xiao San, who was still standing by the window.

Xiao San shook her head, the flesh on her cheeks instantly drooping. “But…” She wanted to find an excuse, at least to delay going back to school a little longer.

“San’er, don’t be afraid,” Zheng Qi said, taking Xiao San’s hand and gently patting the back of it. “This time, you definitely won’t be alone.”

“Huh?” This time?

Xiao San looked at Zheng Qi in confusion, as if Zheng Qi knew something she didn’t. She wanted to ask, but Zheng Qi had already pulled her toward the door.

“Ah Qi.”

“Let’s go.”

Xiao San still wanted to act spoiled, but her feet had already carried her out of the room. She tried to look back several times, but before she knew it, they had arrived at the gates of A University.

The thought of the expressions those people at school might have made Xiao San’s legs go weak.

[This time, you definitely won’t be alone.]

Even though Xiao San tried to escape several times, Zheng Qi held her back.

The two of them entered the school together. Just as Zheng Qi had said, this time, at least she wasn’t alone.

Looking at Zheng Qi’s hand, Xiao San was genuinely moved by her.

Zheng Qi had always been the type to endure hardships silently, yet she was willing to stand up for her.

Zheng Qi truly was the best female lead in her heart.

“Xiao San.”

Shen Lin had been waiting by the roadside for a long time. His phone number had been blocked by Xiao San, so he had to call Lü Yu to find out that Xiao San had been taken away by Zheng Qi.

He had been worried all night, both sending people to find out who was spreading the rumors and worrying about what Zheng Qi might do to Xiao San.

Only now, seeing Xiao San safe and sound, did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Shen Lin?” Xiao San looked at the newcomer in confusion. Why was he here?

“Why haven’t you unblocked my number yet?” Shen Lin’s first words upon seeing Xiao San were these. Quickly, noticing Xiao San’s puzzled expression, he realized it wasn’t the right time to bring this up. “Are you okay?”

It was rare for Xiao San to see Shen Lin show such concern. She stared blankly and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Honestly, being cared for by the male lead still warmed her heart.

“I thought you’d died out there. It’s just some rumors, no need to make such a big deal out of it.Xiao San’s lips twitched, and the affection she had just felt for Shen Lin plummeted again. “Thanks so much for your concern.”

“I’m not concerned about you. I just think it’s embarrassing to see you so fragile,” Shen Lin snorted, his tone dripping with annoyance.

“Whether I embarrass myself or not, what does it have to do with you?”

“Of course it has something to do with me. If people found out that my maid was trying to hook up with some nouveau riche, wouldn’t that make it seem like the Shen family isn’t even as good as some upstart?”

“Heh.” Xiao San really couldn’t stand talking to Shen Lin. What maid? What nouveau riche? Was he here to comfort her or to make her angry?

Still, her mood had indeed improved. At least she wasn’t as sad anymore now she was just angry.

“Thank you for your concern, young master. Now, if you could please move your noble feet back to the Shen family, this humble maid needs to return to her dorm to pack up and attend her classes.”

After speaking, Xiao San was about to head into the dormitory building when she suddenly remembered Zheng Qi, whom she had overlooked. She quickly turned back and said, “Ah Qi, do you want to come back to the dorm with me?”

“No, I should head back too.”

“Alright then, Ah Qi, don’t worry, I’m fine. You should go back to class as well.” After bidding farewell to Zheng Qi, Xiao San shot Shen Lin a glare.

“Go ahead and leave, but don’t forget to take me out of your phone’s blacklist,” Shen Lin grumbled from behind.

Xiao San didn’t even look back.

Oh no.

It wasn’t until Xiao San reached the dormitory entrance that she remembered.

She had left Zheng Qi alone with Shen Lin. Would this cause Zheng Qi to develop feelings for Shen Lin again?

Ugh!

Xiao San thought about Shen Lin, with his foul mouth.

Zheng Qi’s taste shouldn’t be that bad.

“Can’t you just stop bothering me? I really don’t like you,” Shen Lin snapped at Zheng Qi.

Zheng Qi looked at Shen Lin as if he were a piece of art. Even with Shen Lin’s unpleasant expression, Zheng Qi showed no sign of anger or sadness. “But I like you,” she said.

“Enough, I have nothing more to say to you. I need to find the person who framed Xiao San,” Shen Lin replied.

Zheng Qi didn’t move. She spoke softly, but her words only fueled Shen Lin’s anger. “Don’t you know yet? I’ve already found out who it is.”

“You know?”

“Yes, I do.”

Shen Lin looked Zheng Qi up and down. “It wasn’t you who framed Xiao San, was it?”

“Is that how you see me?”

“What else am I supposed to think?” Shen Lin retorted irritably. “Xiao San has been so good to you, and when someone framed her, you didn’t help her. Instead, you’re using that person to threaten me?”

“Who said I’m not helping San’er? San’er is my friend,” Zheng Qi said, seemingly genuinely hurt. Even though Shen Lin had said so many harsh things, Zheng Qi hadn’t been upset. But when Shen Lin showed not even a shred of trust in her and even suspected her, she was truly wounded.

“If you’re helping her, why come to me and say this? Let me tell you,” Shen Lin pointed at Zheng Qi, “I don’t care whether you know who framed Xiao San or not. I won’t date you because of this.”

Zheng Qi froze. She lowered her head, strands of hair falling over her forehead, and the corners of her eyes seemed to redden.

Her neck was pale and delicate, now hanging even more weakly. She took a step forward without looking up and walked past Shen Lin.

The scent of Zheng Qi’s perfume was like watermelon shaved ice, a light, fruity fragrance, not overpowering enough to make one want to get close, yet carrying the coolness of summer.

Shen Lin watched Zheng Qi’s retreating figure.

She had never seemed so hopeless before.

Had he really misunderstood her?

No, this woman was like seaweed, always entangling him.

This time, it must just be another trick to deceive him.

He turned around, trying hard to suppress the slight flutter in his heart.

The person he liked had always been Xiao San, and that had never changed. No matter what tricks Zheng Qi used, the one he loved was still Xiao San.

Even if Xiao San was just a driver’s daughter, he loved her, and he would never betray her.

“San’er…” Seeing Xiao San return, Lü Yu immediately hugged her. “Wuwu, I was so afraid something had happened to you.”

Xiao San stopped the enthusiastic Lü Yu. “Alright, I’m fine. I just rested outside the school for one night. Did anyone check the dorm last night? I hope I won’t get any demerits.”

“Don’t worry, I already asked for leave from the teacher. It’s fine.”

Lü Yu looked Xiao San up and down. “Your eyes are a bit red. Did you cry all night, my San’er?”

“I’m fine.” Xiao San touched her eyes. The redness had faded, but they were still a little swollen.

“You really scared me yesterday. But San’er, you don’t need to worry at all anymore.”

“Huh?” Xiao San made a questioning sound from her throat.

“Our school forum was taken down yesterday. I don’t know what happened, but the account that was spreading rumors about you suddenly posted a bunch of porn links and completely flooded the forum. The school probably found out and immediately shut the forum down.”

“Ah, porn links?” That’s just too.

“Yeah, I guess the school can’t just sweep this under the rug now. After all, something like this happened at our school, it’s completely embarrassing. We don’t have classes today.”

“What does this have to do with not having classes?”

Lü Yu chuckled, even her fingers showing her schadenfreude. “Because they need to catch the person who posted the links. I heard the school specially brought in experts. If that person is found, they’re definitely going to be punished.”

Their gossip had just started when Lü Yu received a call from their homeroom teacher.

Lü Yu nodded repeatedly into the phone, trying hard not to laugh out loud. “Okay, teacher, I’ll bring San’er over right away.”

“What’s going on?”

“My San’er, haha, the person who spread the rumors was caught! You’ll never guess who it is!”

“Who?”

“Luo Tengfei!”

“Who is Luo Tengfei?” Xiao San genuinely didn’t remember. Even as she tried hard to recall under Lü Yu’s shocked expression, she couldn’t figure out who this person was.

“You don’t even know who Luo Tengfei is?”

“Should, I know?”

“He’s been pursuing you for a long time! Since we first started university, he sent you flowers several times, saved seats for you in the library, and even bought you breakfast. How could you not know?” Lü Yu took a deep breath. Something even more unbelievable than Luo Tengfei deliberately spreading rumors had happened Xiao San didn’t remember this person at all.

Xiao San shook her head.

What flowers? What saved seats? What breakfast? She had no idea.

“Ah,” Lü Yu covered her head. “I forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

“The times he gave you flowers, you thought he was selling them and ran off with your head down, saying you had no money. And that time in the library when we were studying overnight for exams, you were already fast asleep in the dorm. As for breakfast.”

“There were that many things?” Xiao San’s eyes widened in surprise. Had she really been pursued like this? She had no impression at all.

As for the library, since she didn’t particularly like reading, studying in the dorm versus studying in the library made no difference to her.

When it came to buying flowers, although she had a relatively cheerful personality, she simply couldn’t refuse others’ sales pitches. So, whenever she encountered those street vendors trying to lure in customers and sell their goods, she would usually lower her head and run away.

“Breakfast? I really never had breakfast back then.”

“Right, you didn’t eat it.” Lü Yu felt a bit guilty.

“Huh?”

“Ah, alright, I’ll confess. At that time, I had just started university and was short on money. He bought breakfast for you every day, and I passed it to you. But you said you didn’t like eating breakfast. Back and forth, I couldn’t refuse him, and when I gave it to you, you wouldn’t eat it. Anyway, I had no money to buy breakfast myself, so I just.” Lü Yu laughed awkwardly. “I thought you knew about it. Who would’ve guessed you really didn’t remember?”

Xiao San shook her head. “So back then, the breakfast you brought me every day was actually from him?”

“Yeah, I thought you knew. Turns out you had no idea at all. You’re really out of it, aren’t you?”

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