Chapter 11: Is the New Head of the Zhou Family a Sycophant?

"What rumor did I spread about you?" Ruan MiaoMiao struggled to pull her hand back, but Wen Ling tightly held her hand and wouldn't let go, saying each word: "You spread rumors that I committed campus violence, gathered people to isolate you, acting arrogantly and domineeringly."

"I didn't; those are all spread by them, and it has nothing to do with me." Ruan MiaoMiao bit her lip tightly, glaring fiercely at Wen Ling: "Does senior Zhou Yinghe know what you're like now? Perhaps he's still being deceived by your appearance; aren't you worried he'll find out?"

Wen Ling chuckled lightly, then countered: "Why should I worry that he knows? I want to win him back, but I don't intend to change my personality for him."

After coming to Hua Guo, she acted pitiful and innocent in front of Zhou Yinhe, but her true nature Zhou Yinhe had long known; even if he didn't, if Zhou Yinhe truly disliked her, she wouldn't change, and she dares to guarantee she won't like Zhou Yinhe anymore!

Wen Ling shook off her hand, disdainfully glancing at the palm that had been holding her hand; Ruan MiaoMiao's cheeks flushed with anger, unable to fight back, she turned and strode away.

Wen Ling shook her hand and let out a light snort.

From nearby came the sound of applause; Wen Ling glanced sideways and saw it was Zhao Xingtang.

Wen Ling raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile as she asked: "Looks good?"

"Looks good." Zhao Xingtang crossed her arms, teasingly looking at Wen Ling: "I heard from Qi Zhan that you've returned, but I just haven't seen you yet."

Wen Ling's lips curved in a smile as she began to recall the original plot from the book.

Zhao Xingtang, the eldest daughter of the Zhao Family, in the original book was portrayed similarly to her—arrogant and domineering, and because she grew up as a childhood friend with Zhou Yinhe and the others, she most despised the delicate, pitiful little white flower type, so she often mocked Ruan MiaoMiao; as for how the later ending turned out, Wen Ling doesn't know, because at that time Wen Ling had already been kidnapped and murdered.

However, according to the author's female lead group pampering plot, the ending probably wouldn't be good either.

"You should know Zhou Yinhe gave resources to Ruan MiaoMiao, right?" Zhao Xingtang approached Wen Ling and said softly.

Wen Ling's expression showed no change; she gave a soft "hmm". How could she not know? Knowing it would make her furious.

Zhao Xingtang laughed and said: "Since then, rumors have spread in Sijiucheng that Ruan MiaoMiao would become the Fifth Young Master's wife of the Zhou Family; when people asked her about it, she feigned ignorance and gave no explanation, which only made them believe it more."

Wen Ling only knew the general plot; she didn't know what happened after her death, nor why Zhou Yinhe suddenly gave resources to Ruan MiaoMiao, which is why she was angry—but on the day she jumped into the lake, she felt that in Zhou Yinhe's eyes, Ruan MiaoMiao wasn't anything important.

"What do you want to say, Miss Zhao?" Wen Ling smiled brightly and spoke frankly: "Let's be direct—I don't like beating around the bush."

Zhao Xingtang was somewhat surprised, paused for a moment, then laughed: "I like your personality."

"I despise people who are full of schemes yet pretend to be naive and ignorant. You came to Hua Guo not just to settle scores with Ruan MiaoMiao, right? To cooperate? I can also help you pursue Zhou Yinhe."

Wen Ling felt a stir in her heart, feigning incomprehension: "Miss Zhao, why do you dislike Ruan MiaoMiao so much?"

"Ah, a secret." Zhao Xingtang blinked her eyes. "Want to cooperate?"

Regardless of Zhao Xingtang's reasons, as long as she dislikes Ruan MiaoMiao and poses no threat to her, Wen Ling naturally wants to befriend her; besides, the conditions Zhao Xingtang offered are fantastic, and it just so happens that Wen Ling still doesn't know where to start.

"Sure."

Wen Ling proactively added Zhao Xingtang as a friend, found an excuse and left; Zhao Xingtang watched her retreating back, her expression unreadable.

A man stepped out from the nearby corner, stood behind Zhao Xingtang, and together they gazed at Wen Ling, smiling as he said: "Miss Wen really is completely different from how she's portrayed in the book."

"Hmm, back when she was with Zhou Yinhe she was about the same as now, just much smarter these days." Zhao Xingtang said lightly.

"After all, having awakened from the book, some change is inevitable; otherwise it'd be just as dull as what that foolish author wrote." The man shrugged, turned, and walked away alone.

Zhao Xingtang didn't even glance at him, rubbed her sore shoulders, and left in the opposite direction.

Zhou Yinhe came out of the room and saw Ning Qing and his elder sister Zhou Zhaoning huddled together, whispering.

He guessed they were talking about him; Zhou Yinhe lightened his steps going downstairs, and the two had no idea he was already standing behind them.

"Who on earth does my useless brother's personality take after?"

"..." Ning Qing felt embarrassed: "Like your father."

"Was my father like that back then?"

"Of course." Ning Qing immediately started making things up, describing the Zhou Family's former stern and proper head as someone who lowered himself for love—a sycophant.

Zhou Yinhe felt a headache, bent over to look at the mother and daughter, his voice drifting into their ears like a ghost.

"Does my father know he's like that?"

Ning Qing was terrified, she sprang to her feet and stepped back a few paces; Zhou Zhaoning, quick-eyed and quick-handed, steadied her beloved mother and rolled her eyes at Zhou Yinhe.

"How can you scare your own mother and sister like that?" Zhou Zhaoning shouted angrily.

Zhou Yinhe countered: "Do you mothers and sisters often say your own children and younger brothers are useless?"

Mother and daughter: "..."

Zhou Yinhe straightened up, put his hands in his pockets, and drawled: "Don't worry about my affairs—I'm heading back."

Seeing him turn and walk away, Ning Qing nudged Zhou Zhaoning's arm, and Zhou Zhaoning caught up with Zhou Yinhe, frowning as she asked: "Do you still like Wen Ling?"

Zhou Yinhe lowered his gaze to look at his sister, who was a bit shorter than him, then withdrew his sight and said indifferently: "I don't like her."

"Really?" Zhou Zhaoning didn't believe it; if he truly didn't like her, their mother wouldn't be so anxious to call her back.

Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips, recalling himself three years ago; that pain had finally ceased tormenting him, and he didn't want to go through it again.

"Really." Zhou Yinhe said coldly.

Zhou Zhaoning let out a light hum and said: "Then that's good."

Zhou Yinhe left without looking back; the driver was smoking beside the car, seeing him approach felt a bit embarrassed, so he hastily stubbed out the cigarette and waved away the smoke in the air.

"Sorry, Fifth Young Master, I couldn't hold back." The driver apologized.

Zhou Yinhe shook his head and said, "It's fine." He lowered his gaze to the driver's extinguished cigarette; people say when one is upset, besides drinking, one smokes. After Wen Ling left, he kept company with alcohol, never having tried smoking, only because Wen Ling once said she disliked the smell of smoke.

He reached out, saying, "Give me one."

The driver was somewhat surprised, but still produced the cigarette pack from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Yinhe.

Zhou Yinhe lit one for himself; after taking a puff he couldn't stop coughing. The driver grew nervous; Zhou Yinhe waved his hand, and after the coughing subsided he continued.

"Fifth Young Master, maybe we should just stop..." The driver said, looking at Zhou Yinhe whose eyes were red from coughing, trying to intervene.