Chapter – 24
She Slipped the Card into Yu Zhi’s Hand.
Everyone else in the classroom was stunned.
Compared to Wen Ying’s few hundred yuan, the young lady’s one sentence — “I’ll cover the medical expenses” — sounded almost effortless.
But instead of “throwing money at people,” she had actually helped a classmate in need.
How could anyone dislike that?
Pei Nian’an pulled Yu Zhi back to her seat, then glanced at the still-frozen Wen Ying.
She pushed the few hundred yuan back toward her and said coldly:
“Stop insulting people with your few hundred bucks — just get out of here.”
Then she slumped back over her desk.
“Disturbing my morning nap… so annoying.”
Some classmates had recorded the whole scene and uploaded it to the school forum.
Before long, it stirred up another wave of gossip:
Fresh Gossip & Melons for Sale: [Breaking! Pei Nian’an’s fierce words this morning — Wen Ying instantly shut down. Who do you side with?]
1L (Original Poster): Here’s the video link. I’m Team Pei Nian’an. Wish I had a rich boss like her…
2L: Damn, this Wen Ying is such a fake. Who says stuff about other people’s families in class? What’s wrong with her?
3L: Is it just me, or does Wen Ying seem totally fake? Giving money in front of everyone? I counted — 700 yuan total. Straight-up insulting!
4L: Honestly, neither of them seems great. One’s a fake angel, the other’s just showing off her wealth.
5L: Didn’t like Pei Nian’an before, but after this? Wen Ying’s the real manipulator here!
6L: +1! And what’s worse, that girl’s been trying to flirt with Senior Gu these days. Unbelievable!
7L: Exactly! If Gu were with Pei Nian’an, fine. But Wen Ying? Seriously?!
The post’s popularity just kept climbing.
Looking at those harsh comments, Wen Ying’s fingers trembled slightly.
She didn’t understand — she had only wanted to help Yu Zhi.
Why did everyone treat her like she’d done something wrong?
That money — though not much — had come from her savings, earned through scrimping and hard work.
Did the amount make her kindness worthless?
When Wen Ying turned off her phone, the screen was already smudged with tears.
She had no afternoon classes, and her part-time job at the hair salon had just ended.
The long corridor was empty that afternoon.
Wen Ying curled up behind a wisteria-covered pillar and buried her face in her knees.
Then a familiar voice came:
“So this is where you were.”
A pair of sneakers stopped in front of her.
Wen Ying looked up. Against the light, Gu Chengnian stood there, holding out a tissue.
“Didn’t think you were such a crybaby.”
“I—I’m not…” Wen Ying took the tissue, hurriedly wiping her tears, but the more she wiped, the more they came.
Gu Chengnian sat down beside her, turned his head slightly, and said:
“If you want to cry, then cry. Tears don’t just stop because you tell them to.”
“But I’m curious — what happened? Why are you hiding here alone, little crybaby?”
Wen Ying opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
The sorrow she’d been holding back broke free like a dam bursting — soon her quiet sobs turned into full-on crying.
Gu Chengnian didn’t interrupt. He just sat with her silently until her tears finally ran dry.
When she finally wiped her eyes, she said softly, embarrassed:
“Sorry, Senior Chengnian… you must think I’m pathetic.”
“Is it because of this?”
He took out his phone — the screen showed the same trending forum post.
Wen Ying nodded, then shook her head.
She wanted to explain, but didn’t know how.
Suddenly, Gu Chengnian stood up and said:
“Come with me.”
He pulled her up and led her away.
Ten minutes later, they were in a nearby internet café.
Gu Chengnian pressed her gently into a chair in front of a computer.
“Senior Chengnian, what are we doing here?”
He didn’t answer.
Leaning over her, he began typing quickly, his long fingers flying over the keyboard.
Wen Ying watched as he logged into the school forum’s backend, entered a string of complex code, and one by one — the hateful posts about her disappeared from the site.
“See? Problem solved.”
Gu Chengnian straightened up, looked at her, and asked softly:
“Still sad?”
Wen Ying froze for a second — then suddenly burst out laughing.
Seeing her smile, Gu Chengnian finally relaxed.
They left the café and wandered aimlessly down the tree-lined street.
Wen Ying kicked at a small stone on the path.
When it bounced away, she stopped walking and finally asked the question that had been on her mind all along:
“Senior Chengnian… I really want to know — was I wrong?
I know a few hundred yuan isn’t much, but it was everything I’d saved up.
I just wanted to help her, that’s all.”
Gu Chengnian stopped walking and looked straight at her.
“You weren’t wrong.”
He brushed a fallen leaf off her shoulder and said gently:
“Those people only see money. You’re not like them.
Wen Ying, I believe in you.”
That afternoon, Yu Zhi accompanied Pei Nian’an to pick out a dress.
The crystal chandelier in the boutique gleamed brightly.
Yu Zhi sat on the sofa, nibbling on macarons while waiting.
Soon, Pei Nian’an emerged from the fitting room — heels clicking, spinning once before the mirror.
“How’s this one?”
She tugged slightly at the hem of her champagne-colored gown, its fabric glittering with tiny crystals.
Yu Zhi’s eyes lit up instantly.
She put down her dessert and gasped:
“Beautiful! It’s perfect — just get this one!”
“But…”
Pei Nian’an looked at her reflection, her shoulders drooping a little.
“Isn’t it too flashy? Chengnian-ge said he doesn’t like me dressing too showy…”
Yu Zhi nearly choked on her macaron.
She looked at the gorgeous girl in the mirror —
The champagne gown highlighted her snow-pale skin, the cinched waist traced perfect curves, and every inch of her seemed to shine.
Flashy?
This wasn’t “too much” — it was absolutely stunning!
The boutique clerk, quick to read the room, hurried over with another dress — a plain white tulle gown.
“Miss Pei, perhaps you’d like to try this one? It’s simple, elegant…”
Pei Nian’an’s eyes brightened slightly, but before she could answer, Yu Zhi darted forward.
“Stop right there!”
She grabbed the plain gown.
“Pei-jie, don’t you think this one looks like you’re wearing a mosquito net?”
Pei Nian’an hesitated.
“Maybe I should try it… If I change my style, maybe Chengnian-ge would like me a bit more?”
Yu Zhi stepped closer, gripping her shoulders.
“Listen, Pei-jie.”
She pointed at the mirror.
“That’s you — confident, dazzling, the center of attention.
Why hide your beauty just to please a man?”
Taking a deep breath, Yu Zhi continued:
“If Gu truly likes you, it should be for who you are, not for some version you’ve shaped to suit his taste.”
The shop fell silent.
Pei Nian’an blinked, then slowly smiled.
She looked down at her gown again — and her lips curved upward.
“So… this one, then?”
“Mm-hmm!”
Decision made, they went to a nearby café afterward.
While Yu Zhi queued for coffee, Pei Nian’an sat waiting — then suddenly pulled a card from her wallet.
When Yu Zhi returned with their drinks, Pei Nian’an stood up and slipped the card into her hand.
“Here. For you.”
