NOVPUBShen Ying's loud shout cut through the malice directed at Xia Meng.
The crowd's attention shifted back to her, their expressions a mix of wariness and complexity.
The reason? The previous day, Zhong Chen had posted a warning on the school forum using his official account, forbidding anyone from causing trouble for Shen Ying under any pretext.
Even if they saw ambiguous photos—or even if they witnessed him getting beaten—no one was allowed to intervene.
This announcement had set the forum ablaze all night, though no one dared discuss it openly. Privately, however, class group chats were buzzing with the topic.
The consensus? Zhong Chen had clearly been manipulated by that scholarship student again.
For her to wriggle out of such a situation proved just how skilled she was.
Thanks to Zhong Chen's warning, even Shen Zuola—who usually clashed with Shen Ying the most—hesitated to speak up when Shen Ying now stood in opposition.
Zhong Chen, seeing Shen Ying shielding Xia Meng, immediately stood up and pulled her aside. "You're defending the wrong person," he said.
"We've already investigated. She's the mastermind behind this whole mess."
"She never considered you a friend. Those two idiots were hired by her to set you up. They were just too stupid to get any damning photos—otherwise, the rumors about you would’ve been far worse."
"You treat her like a sister, but she stabbed you in the back without hesitation."
His expression was one of exasperation, as if frustrated by her naivety.
Shen Ying waved him off with absolute confidence. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
"What do any of you know? My sister has done more for me in real ways than you could ever understand. How dare you question our bond?"
Zhong Chen, along with the other two, could only look at her with helpless disappointment. "You're too trusting," he said. "You never learn to guard yourself."
Then, turning his glare on Xia Meng, he demanded, "Tell her yourself what you did."
Xia Meng lifted her head, meeting his gaze with a complexity that seemed to hold countless unspoken words.
But under his hostility, her expression dimmed, and she stayed silent.
Zhong Chen grew even angrier. Because of this woman, he’d been demoted to "ex-boyfriend." And now, caught red-handed, she still refused to speak?
Just as he was about to pressure her further, Shen Ying pushed him away.
"Wow, impressive," she sneered. "I told you to reflect on your own mistakes, and instead you throw my sister under the bus?"
"Even if there’s something between us, that’s our business. I’m the one involved—how I react is my choice."
"Who asked you to meddle?"
Xing Jiale stepped forward. "Actually, it’s not just your business."
"She was clearly targeting Zhong Chen. But after the photo incident, you stopped coming to school, and he was too distracted worrying about you."
"Her original plan never had a chance to play out."
Gong Zhaoxi nodded in agreement. "You want to protect your sister, but all she wanted was to take advantage of your boyfriend’s misunderstanding to slip into his arms."
He handed Shen Ying a thick folder of documents—detailed investigations on Xia Meng, along with evidence of her schemes.
The first page showed Xia Meng’s childhood name and photo, starkly different from her current appearance. As a child, she’d been plain, with none of her current beauty.
She had attended the school’s affiliated kindergarten, where she’d been classmates with Zhong Chen and the others. But after moving abroad, she returned completely transformed—proof she’d come back with an agenda.
Gong Zhaoxi began, "Now you see? She’s only here because—"
But Shen Ying cut him off. "I know."
The reaction wasn’t just from Zhong Chen and the others—even Xia Meng jerked her head up, staring at Shen Ying in shock.
Shen Ying scanned the room. "Let’s talk in the lounge." Clearly, she didn’t want to expose Xia Meng’s secrets publicly.
Zhong Chen was frustrated that even now, Shen Ying still shielded the woman. But Xing Jiale and Gong Zhaoxi exchanged a thoughtful glance.
As for Xia Meng, trailing behind Shen Ying, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
Once in the lounge, Shen Ying leisurely poured herself a glass of water.
She’d rushed over the moment she heard her sister was in trouble, even shouting herself hoarse.
"Want some?" she asked Xia Meng casually.
Zhong Chen, irritated by her nonchalance, snapped, "Did you even read the documents?"
"I remember her now. She confessed to me as a kid, and I yelled at her until she left. She transferred schools after that."
"Turns out she went abroad for a full-body makeover. She deliberately befriended you to get close to me."
"She knew you were loyal and used you as a shield while she tested the waters."
"Those two idiots were hired by her—the bank transfers are right there. The plan was to take worse photos of you."
"Still think she’s innocent?"
Shen Ying glanced at the transaction records—both were sizable sums.
Then she looked at Xia Meng, who couldn’t even meet her eyes.
Xia Meng had schemed against Shen Ying countless times, even their friendship a lie. Yet in the end, Shen Ying was the only one who stood up for her.
Even with all the evidence laid bare, Shen Ying still protected her, refusing to expose her past or her surgeries—sparing her from future ridicule.
Guilt overwhelmed Xia Meng, but she couldn’t even muster the courage to apologize.
Yet after a long silence, Shen Ying only said, "You really went all out."
"Huh?" Zhong Chen and the others blinked, wondering if they’d misheard.
Xia Meng, too, was caught off guard, her face blank with confusion.
Zhong Chen pressed, "Wake up. She wasn’t even planning to stop."
Gong Zhaoxi tossed another stack of photos onto the table. "After those two failed and you reacted the way you did at school, she realized it wasn’t enough to break you two apart."
"So she started contacting other men. Honestly, her taste is impeccable—she could’ve been a talent scout instead of wasting it on drama."
Shen Ying picked up the photos, her breath growing heated.
Her sister’s taste was undeniable. The men in the photos were all in their early twenties, each with a distinct charm.
Frankly, the variety rivaled that of a high-end club—except these young men had a freshness that couldn’t be replicated.
Heartache gripped Shen Ying as she gritted her teeth. "All I have to say is—"
"Why did you have to interfere?"
"Let us sisters handle our own problems. What business do men have sticking their noses into women’s affairs?"
"This is a duel between us. Even if I didn’t notice the first time, or the second—even if it took eight, nine, or a hundred times, let me uncover the truth myself!"
"Did you really have to meddle?"
Zhong Chen hurriedly said, "I know you're strong-willed and prefer to handle things yourself, but—"
Before he could finish, Xing Jiale and Gong Zhaoxi pulled him back.
Xing Jiale scolded, "Haven’t you figured it out yet? This guy is practically begging for it."
"I always wondered why she kept falling into that woman’s traps despite knowing she was up to no good. Now it makes sense."
Shen Ying ignored his words, holding Xia Meng’s hand as she said, "Don’t mind them."
"You’re my sister now, and that’s never changing."
Xia Meng was at a loss for how to react. She looked up and asked softly, "If you knew I had ulterior motives, why did you still trust me?"
After Shen Ying revealed she knew, Xia Meng pieced together all the meaningful things Shen Ying had said to her before.
So it wasn’t just her imagination—Shen Ying had seen through everything from the start.
Then why had she let her continue?
Shen Ying answered without hesitation, "Because no matter what you intended, everything you did actually helped me."
"I judge actions, not intentions."
Compared to past adversaries like Qiao Mingfei or Yu Shishi, Xia Meng—a classic "villainess" from an older story—was still amateurish.
She had schemed against Shen Ying multiple times but couldn’t bring herself to cross certain lines.
Besides, given Xia Meng’s sharp eye for handsome men and her inexplicably vast network of connections, Shen Ying couldn’t take her motives seriously.
Xia Meng listened, recognizing the arrogance in Shen Ying’s words.
It was almost enviable. From the moment she made her move, everything had unfolded exactly as she predicted. Her judgment about those four had been spot-on.
The key to everything lay with Shen Ying. She was too powerful—both in character and resolve.
No matter who doubted her, no matter how much malice the world threw her way, she remained unshaken.
Maybe that was what Zhong Chen loved about her.
Xia Meng lowered her head. "I’ll leave tomorrow."
Shen Ying immediately panicked. "No! You’re my only friend here. What am I supposed to do without you?"
Xia Meng looked up, seeing genuine distress in her eyes—no teasing, no jokes. Shen Ying truly didn’t want her to go.
The realization only made her feel worse.
After Xia Meng left the lounge, Shen Ying ordered Zhong Chen to post a statement on the forum, forbidding anyone from causing trouble for her.
Zhong Chen had no choice but to comply. Once done, he lingered near Shen Ying and said, "Now that everything’s cleared up… can we make up?"
Shen Ying eyed him lazily. "Oh? You think it’s all settled?"
"Then tell me—what conclusions did you reach after thinking it over?"
Zhong Chen knew this was the real test. He took a deep breath. "I’ve realized my privileged background has put invisible pressure on you and made you suffer unfairly."
"But I can’t change where I come from. All I can do is try my best to minimize its impact."
"I’ve already warned everyone today. No one will interfere in our relationship again."
Xing Jiale couldn’t take it anymore. "Why not just cut ties with your family? That’d solve the root of the problem."
"The question is—would she even want that?"
Shen Ying shrugged at Zhong Chen. "Your friend seems to have a lot of opinions about me."
Zhong Chen glared at Xing Jiale. "Shut up. Do you not see how the only redeeming quality I have left in her eyes is my money?"
"Are you trying to ruin me?"
Xing Jiale fell silent for a long moment before finally groaning, "Xiao Yun, come back already. I can’t handle this alone."
"Handle what?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a voice came from the lounge entrance.
They turned to see Xiao Yun, who had left just three weeks ago, standing before them.
The three froze—only for Shen Ying to burst into laughter beside them.
She pulled four cards from her bag, the stakes from their million-dollar bet on how long it’d take Xiao Yun to return. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
Shen Ying grinned triumphantly. "Looks like I won."
