Chapter 7: Wei Qingyu Clearly Heard A Faint "Bang" Coming From Her Heart
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The quiet stairwell was lit by a bright yellow small light, highlighting the astonishment in Wei Qingyu's eyes.
She glanced sideways at the arm supporting her, unsure if Ji Xiao did it intentionally, only her wrist pressed tightly against her waist, and her slender white hand was slightly open, not touching her at all.
The thin school uniform conveyed the warmth of the girl, carrying the scent of peach wine, landing on her shoulder.
Wei Qingyu clearly heard a faint "bang" coming from her heart.
"Stand properly on your own, I've let go," Ji Xiao reminded.
Wei Qingyu calmly withdrew her gaze and softly said, "Thank you."
"It's fine, your ability to walk properly is the biggest 'thank you' to me. Stop bothering others all the time," Ji Xiao said, slipping her hand into her side pocket and leaving without looking back.
Watching Ji Xiao's back as she ascended, Wei Qingyu's turquoise eyes showed a different emotion for the first time.
After a pause, she held onto the stair railing and ascended as well.
Hearing slow and steady footsteps behind her, Ji Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The hand that tightly gripped the inner lining of her pocket finally relaxed.
Some people seem cool when they leave, but in private, their pockets are soaked with sweat.
She was worried that Wei Qingyu might be affected by Ji Qingyun's pheromones, so she found an excuse and left the dining table. It was fortunate that she left in time, otherwise, if this happened, Wei Qingyu would surely have been taken to the hospital by Ji Qingyun.
Ji Xiao felt relieved and pushed open her room door, settling down at the desk.
However, the thought of having to follow her own words and spend time alone with Wei Qingyu made Ji Xiao lose her enthusiasm.
Even after spending so much time together, Ji Xiao still feared the female lead, who would eventually kill her.
She randomly pulled out an exam paper from her bag, made a few circles on it, gritted her teeth, and mustered up the courage to knock on Wei Qingyu's door.
Footsteps approached softly and then abruptly stopped. Sunlight poured into the room, and Wei Qingyu, with an expressionless face, opened the door for Ji Xiao.
She still stood tall, her opening of the door effortless, appearing to have fully recovered from the influence of Ji Qingyun's pheromones.
"Please come in." Wei Qingyu slightly shifted to the side, allowing Ji Xiao to enter.
Ji Xiao felt slightly relieved and walked into the room.
In an attempt to appear more imposing, Ji Xiao crossed her legs when she sat down on the chair. "Have a look first, I'll play for a while.”
Finishing her words, she slapped the paper in front of Wei Qingyu.
This rude action brought a hint of dissatisfaction to Wei Qingyu's brow, but it quickly faded.
Ji Xiao brought a math paper; Wei Qingyu was good at math and had already done it. Glancing through each question, she already came up with ideas on how to solve the problems.
As Wei Qingyu flipped to the second page of the exam paper, her turquoise eyes halted, fixating on the final question for a long while.
Ji Xiao paid no attention to this, shaking her leg while observing Wei Qingyu's room.
If the original owner's room, filled with various anime posters and piled with all sorts of dolls, was a typical heiress' extravagant room, then Wei Qingyu's room was a typical female lead's room.
The pure white walls held a monotonous clock, the soft bedspread had not a single crease, and the entire space was neat and clean. Even the sunlight streaming in from the same direction felt exceptionally gentle to Ji Xiao.
Ji Xiao looked at the delicate little night lamp placed by Wei Qingyu's bedside, feeling emotional.
Even in adverse circumstances, Wei Qingyu maintained her dignity from the past, not giving up on her life.
It was truly admirable.
"Can we start now?"
Wei Qingyu's voice came coldly from beside Ji Xiao. Ji Xiao quickly withdrew her carefree posture and prepared to obediently act as a machine listening to Wei Qingyu's explanations.
However, what Ji Xiao didn't expect was that Wei Qingyu's first sentence wasn't about the problem-solving steps but a question: "Are you sure you can't do this question?"
Ji Xiao looked at the multiple-choice question pointed out by Wei Qingyu, her heart skipping a beat.
This was serious. What she brought was actually the most perfectly answered math paper she had.
Ji Xiao tried to suppress her inner uneasiness, looked at the blank page, nodded, and asked in return, "Yeah, why not?"
Wei Qingyu remained silent. Her turquoise eyes seemed to see through lies as she looked at Ji Xiao.
She reached out and took out the second paper. Her jade-like fingers landed on the last major question. "Then tell me, how did you solve this question?"
Ji Xiao's heart skipped a beat.
She had a habit of keeping the layout of her answer sheets clean. She would roughly jot down the workings for major questions on the paper.
Wei Qingyu glanced at Ji Xiao and ruthlessly exposed her, saying, "Stop pretending. You know how to solve these questions. What are you up to? Speak."
I just wanted to help you get rid of that scumbag Ji Qingyun. Would you believe me?
The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The clock on the wall ticked away, each sound torturing Ji Xiao.
Given the original owner's past behavior towards Wei Qingyu, even if she told the truth, she probably wouldn't be believed. Perhaps she would think Ji Xiao was up to some trick again.
Looking at the solution steps on the paper in front of her, Ji Xiao realized she had once again trapped herself.
This paper wasn't a remedy; consuming it wouldn't prove her innocence.
Dang dang.
Aunt Wu stood at the door. "Is Miss here? The master needs to leave; would you see him off downstairs?"
Suddenly, two knocks sounded from the room.
Ji Xiao felt as if she had grasped a life-saving straw. She stood up abruptly, "Okay!"
For the first time, she felt like the scumbag Ji Qingyun might actually have some use, and she fled as fast as she could.
However, the forgotten exam paper remained in Wei Qingyu's hand, and the girl's gaze toward Ji Xiao's departure became ambiguous and unclear.
Wei Qingyu realized clearly that this paper was completed by Ji Xiao herself. Therefore, she grew more puzzled about why Ji Xiao would bring a paper she knew how to solve and ask her to explain it.
Was it just an impulse to humiliate her?
Then why did Ji Xiao fall silent when exposed by Wei Qingyu, instead of reacting as before, erupting with anger and striking back?
Thinking carefully, Wei Qingyu recalled that Ji Xiao's request for her to explain the paper was made when Ji Qingyun intended to take her away from home.
At that moment, when the shameless alpha Ji Qingyun released his pheromones, his motives for taking her away were far from pure.
Wei Qingyu was deeply disturbed, she was certain that Ji Xiao, that Alpha, had definitely smelled Ji Qingyun's pheromones too.
By releasing pheromones, and unjustly driving her away, Ji Qingyun's plan fell through...
Wei Qingyu gently paused her fingers that were playing with the exam paper. She was somewhat incredulous of her own deduction.
—It seemed like Ji Xiao asked her to explain the paper to help her.
….
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The next day, the weather was bright and clear.
Ji Xiao finished breakfast alone and sat in the car with her backpack, casting an expectant yet anxious glance at the passenger seat, only to find Wei Qingyu, who had been missing since early morning, absent.
Driver: "Miss, Miss Wei has already gone to school."
At first, Ji Xiao felt relieved, but then inexplicably downcast.
Was Wei Qingyu starting to detest her more because of yesterday's incident? Was she unwilling even to share a ride with her?
Ji Xiao couldn't fathom and waved her hand for the driver to start the car.
Soon, the car stopped at the school gate, and Ji Xiao eagerly glanced towards the entrance. She didn't see Wei Qingyu but noticed Qi Qi and Fang Yiming.
These two recognized her family's car. Spotting Ji Xiao, they waved enthusiastically from afar.
"Good morning!" Qi Qi greeted Ji Xiao with her bright and exuberant smile.
"Good morning," Ji Xiao replied with an exceptionally cheerful smile.
It had been a long time since she had smiled like this, almost like she had truly returned to high school.
"Oh, Sister Xiao seems to be in a good mood today. Did you digest everything?" Fang Yiming teased beside her.
Ji Xiao was caught off guard and felt a pang in her heart and responded with an especially gloomy expression.
"Let's go. I heard the exam results are out. We'll find out whether we live or die."
Qi Qi spoke and then pulled the two of them towards the announcement board on the first-floor patio.
The three of them arrived a bit late, and there was already a crowd gathered around the bulletin board. Fang Yiming squeezed through the crowd and finally reached the last section.
Uncertain about her own grades, Ji Xiao searched for her name alongside Fang Yiming in the last section.
However, as she skimmed through the names listed row by row, Ji Xiao's eyes were getting tired, yet she hadn't found her name yet.
At that moment, Ji Xiao overheard some hushed discussions behind her.
"Is it her?"
"Seems like it... Why don't you go check?"
"No way! I'm not going."
"Wasn't she a slacker? How did she score this high?"
"I don't know, maybe she cheated..."
“Then it's too obvious that she cheated. She only got 7 points in Biology..."
….
Ji Xiao felt increasingly like they were talking about her. Turning to the sound, she noticed two Omegas trembling for a moment as they made eye contact.
Did she appear that frightening?
Before Ji Xiao could ponder how scary her expression might be, Qi Qi's voice came from the other end of the announcement board: "Hey! Ji Xiao, You're dead! You ranked 35th in the year! You might get into the experimental class!"
"What?!"
Ji Xiao stood frozen in place.
She hurried towards Qi Qi, only to see her name clearly written behind the number 35.
Her grades were remarkably good: Chinese 81, Mathematics 147, English 123, Physics 91, Chemistry 76, second only to Wei Qingyu, who held the first position.
However, that damn Biology, with a meager score of 7, stood out conspicuously among the group of top-performing students.
"Did you bring your phone in?" Qi nudged Ji Xiao.
"If I had brought my phone, I wouldn't have scored 7 in Biology." Ji Xiao looked at her grades, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"Yeah, if she brought her phone and still got 7 in Biology, that would be next-level foolishness."
"Could it be that she ran out of time during Biology, hence the low score..."
"How's that possible? You know our school has signal jammers during exams. Where could she find answers?"
"What if she copied from those around her?"
"Brother, she's last, and the people around her are too. Look at her math score, damn, just 3 points below the perfect score!"
...
The surrounding people heard Ji Xiao's words and started discussing fervently, toggling between whether she achieved those grades on her own or through cheating.
At that moment, an Omega approached from the discipline office. She tugged at Ji Xiao's sleeve and whispered, "Ji Xiao, Director Liu wants to see you in the discipline office."
As the voice faded, a silence fell over the surroundings.
Director Liu was famously strict and conservative, especially towards slackers like Ji Xiao.
Particularly now, with Ji Xiao's strange results, it was unknown how he would trouble her further.
In no time, the iron door of the discipline office emitted a heavy creak.
Ji Xiao pushed open the door and entered.
Director Liu sat at his desk, while several teachers Ji Xiao wasn't familiar with occupied the sofas nearby.
Several pairs of eyes stared at her, emitting an unfriendly vibe.
The teachers present sided with Director Liu and, like the students earlier, suspected Ji Xiao. Even though they found no evidence of cheating from the surveillance footage, they still didn't believe her.
"Ji Xiao, come here," the leading teacher motioned for Ji Xiao to approach.
"Okay." Ji Xiao nodded and calmly took a seat, without being humble or arrogant.
Perhaps displaying a bit too much integrity for a young girl.
Suddenly, the room became strangely quiet.
A female teacher cleared her throat and said, "Ji Xiao, based on your recent results, we might need to conduct a test for you. As for the class transfer, for now, you'll remain in your current class. We'll discuss the possibility of moving to the experimental class after a few days when the results are out. Is that acceptable?"
Her words were veiled, but Ji Xiao understood clearly.
It was a lack of trust, they don't want a “rat shit” spoiling a good porridge, which is the experimental class.
Having interned at the school, Ji Xiao was familiar with its regulations. She knew they must have reviewed the exam hall surveillance and discussed her grades.
She believed that the public announcement of the rankings was an acknowledgment of her achievement. But why, in the end, did they still doubt her?
By making her grades public, letting all classmates know about it, and openly suspecting her – didn't they consider the potential harm to the self-esteem of a minor student?
Ji Xiao looked at Director Liu, calmly sipping tea nearby, and instantly grasped that he fundamentally distrusted her.
He had deemed her grades fraudulent, wanting to set an example and discipline the school's atmosphere.
"Wait a few days?" Ji Xiao asked in return.
"Well..." The female teacher hesitated, glancing at the other teachers.
"If I agree to another test, how will the results be evaluated? If my performance matches the level required for the experimental class, how will you compensate for the criticism I've endured from other students while awaiting these results?" Ji Xiao continued to inquire.
Several teachers appeared speechless, but Director Liu disdainfully snorted, "Children nowadays think they can fool adults with any tricks."
The teacup lid tapped against the cup, producing a clinking sound. Director Liu raised his eyes and countered, "Ji Xiao, did you really achieve these scores?"
"Yes," Ji Xiao confidently replied.
Director Liu chuckled lightly, patting Ji Xiao's shoulder. "However, no one can provide proof."
"Ji Xiao, as a student, one should possess a sense of shame. Don't assume your little tricks can deceive everyone. Obtaining scores through dishonest means isn't just a blemish on your records; it's also a stain on your moral character."
As these words hung in the air, the office became even quieter. The late summer breeze carried a slight chill, brushing against Ji Xiao's arm through the open window.
She looked at Director Liu, whose serious and just face was marked by suspicion. Ji Xiao had always excelled and had never experienced such humiliation.
Could it be just because the former owner had a poor reputation at school that they could dismiss a fact that had been thoroughly examined and found no issues?
"I can prove it."
A clear, cold voice emerged from the doorway. Wei Qingyu stood upright at the door, holding an exam paper.
