Chapter 31: The Submissive, Obsessive Top Student

The school had dug out an old copper gong from the warehouse for the sports festival. The referee struck the gong and called a halt, and the players gradually left the court. They happened to overhear her righteous declaration.

After laughing, Shi Qingyi pulled her to sit on the steps beside the sports field. The lush branches of the camphor tree cast dappled shadows on the ground. Jiang Zhiyi’s ears turned completely red, like they were dyed with the crimson glow of the sunset sky.

She was like a cat caught in the act of staking her claim.

Shi Qingyi extended a hand, and Jiang Zhiyi hurriedly handed her a bottle of beverage. It was ice-cold to the touch, and Shi Qingyi paused for a moment.

Jiang Zhiyi quickly looked up, asking cautiously, “What’s wrong?”

She had bought it because everyone else was getting this kind, but she wasn’t sure if Shi Qingyi would like it.

“It’s nothing.” The girl’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. A sports drink—whether it tasted good was one thing, but the price was surprisingly high. It was nothing to Shi Qingyi, of course, but to Jiang Zhiyi, it was the cost of three or four days’ breakfast.

The blonde girl took a sip of water, as if finally recovering a bit. She propped her chin on one hand and looked at her with a half-smile. “You just said I should study hard and not date. When did I ever say that?”

Jiang Zhiyi: “…”

Crimson flushed from her earlobes across her cheeks. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if struck by a thought. “So, do you want to date?!”

“Ahem.” Shi Qingyi nearly choked on her unique train of thought. Jiang Zhiyi’s usually downcast, quiet gaze suddenly brightened, staring intently in a way that made her cheeks heat up.

“What are you thinking? Study hard, got it?” The blonde girl coughed to cover it up and tapped the girl’s forehead. Even as a poor student, she said it with perfect confidence.

“Oh…” Jiang Zhiyi lowered her head in disappointment, rubbing her forehead dejectedly, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief deep down.

It was fine. If she wasn’t planning to date, that was even better, right? Then she’d have a reason to turn down all those boys.

She couldn’t help lifting her head. The fragmented gold of the sunset fell on the girl’s golden short hair. Her eyes curved slightly at the corners, gathering all the sunset light into a gentle lake—gentle, yet carrying a hint of aloof distance that kept others at bay.

Jiang Zhiyi hugged her school uniform tightly and sat obediently beside her. The beautiful girl seemed to glow at every moment. Even just sitting there, boys from afar kept glancing their way.

Suddenly, she felt like a dragon guarding its princess. No matter who tried to take her away, she would rush forward without hesitation and tear them apart.

—Even though she was still living under Shi Qingyi’s protection for now.

This was good too. Bathed in the warm sunlight, she narrowed her eyes slightly. Until she grew claws and fangs, the dragon was content to be the little cat in the princess’s arms.

“Ahem.” The person beside her suddenly coughed twice more, as if to cover something up. Under Jiang Zhiyi’s concerned gaze—wondering if she’d choked—she turned her face away slightly. “Not possible now… doesn’t mean not possible later…”

Jiang Zhiyi blanked for a moment, not yet processing what she meant. The blonde girl had already stood up first. “Let’s go—”

Did she mean what Jiang Zhiyi thought? She followed her steps, feeling light as air beneath her feet. But as they walked, urgency built up. Countless fireworks seemed to explode in her heart, each filled with the sweetness of honey.

Finally, before reaching the classroom, she mustered her courage, quickened her pace, and rushed forward to grab the girl’s hand—to ask what she meant by that. Would she be willing to date later?

And would she mind if the partner was a girl?

She didn’t catch Shi Qingyi’s hand. The girl pushed open the classroom door, where the class monitor and academic committee members stood ready in formation, staring over with strange gazes.

Sunlight flowed in the nearly suffocating atmosphere.

It was normal for close female friends to hold hands or hug, but that absolutely didn’t include the daughter of a murderer like Jiang Zhiyi or the so-called disgusting lesbian. Her hand clenched at empty air before she restrained herself and pulled it back.

Everyone’s gazes converged on Jiang Zhiyi, like thorns that wounded. Shi Qingyi’s heart sank—a bad feeling. She frowned slightly. “What’s going on?”

Her expression was natural as she walked to her seat with her things, unflinching. “Why are you all crowded around my desk?”

Song Zhiming’s heart stuttered, but he stepped forward first, frowning at the girl shrinking behind Shi Qingyi, seeming hesitant to speak. “Sisi’s money went missing. We just checked everyone’s desks, and we found it in Jiang’s desk.”

Shi Qingyi paused, then strode over. “And?”

No one expected her to stay so calm. Song Zhiming’s breath hitched, but he continued, “Not only that, we also found… Shi, your necklace in her desk.”

Jiang Zhiyi’s face turned ghastly pale in an instant.

Shi Qingyi instinctively touched her neck—it was bare. Only then did she remember that before the sports festival started, she’d taken off the necklace to avoid losing it.

Song Zhiming pulled out the necklace: a chain with a turquoise pendant, a gift from her family on her eighteenth birthday.

Shi Qingyi’s expression chilled abruptly. “Give it to me.”

Song Zhiming’s face showed deliberate awkwardness and regret. “We found it like this…”

A small crack marred the green-blue turquoise bead, so glaring it made their pupils contract. Gold had a price, but jade was priceless. The students didn’t know the exact value, but from Shi Qingyi’s reaction, they could tell it was expensive.

Standing at the back, Jiang Zhiyi felt her blood turn to ice, inch by inch.

Shi Qingyi never took off that necklace. Even when she did, she stored it carefully. How could it end up cracked in her desk?

Her heart turned cold, yet a gloomy fire ignited within, burning gradually. After the extreme panic passed, she even began to—

“Sisi’s stolen money exceeds five hundred now—a significant amount. This turquoise necklace is valuable too,” Song Zhiming said gravely. “This is a serious theft. We already called the police and sent Jiang Jun to get the principal and homeroom teacher—”

Calling the police meant a criminal record.

Jiang Zhiyi’s nails dug into her palms inch by inch. A police report, and she’d carry the thief label forever. Wasn’t being the daughter of a murderer and a disgusting lesbian enough?

Was she doomed to never rise? She’d struggled so long to escape this quagmire—why was it so hard?

In that instant, crazed thoughts surged in her mind, terrifying branches stretching from the powerless mire. If everyone thought she was that kind of person, then—

“Who said she stole it?” Shi Qingyi lifted her gaze, gripped the turquoise necklace, and pushed it into Jiang Zhiyi’s hand.

Jiang Zhiyi’s grip was so tight it nearly pierced her flesh, but it loosened instantly at Shi Qingyi’s touch, afraid to hurt her even a little.

“Who told you she stole it? Maybe I gave it to her?”

Song Zhiming hadn’t expected this twist. His expression turned unnatural. “Shi, are you sure you gave it to her?”

Anyone with eyes could see the necklace’s value. His family had some money; he’d seen such things. This turquoise piece was worth at least seven figures—not something casually given away.

“I said I gave it to her. Do I need to repeat it?”

Jiang Zhiyi’s hands trembled for no reason. Shi Qingyi held the turquoise—and her hand—tight in her palm.

“Fine, say you gave her the necklace. What about the money? Sisi just lost six hundred, and it’s found in her desk? Isn’t that right, Sisi?” Song Zhiming persisted, a hint of malice breaking through his usual gentle demeanor.

“Right,” Deng Sisi snapped back to attention. “I’ve already called the police. If you have anything to say, tell it to them.”

The crowd, stunned by Shi Qingyi’s generosity, snapped out of it. Strange gazes swept over the two girls.

They’d heard Jiang Zhiyi, the murderer’s daughter, was a lesbian with feelings for Shi Qingyi. Maybe Shi Qingyi reciprocated.

Why else protect her like this? Give away something worth seven figures?

Those looks stabbed Jiang Zhiyi, but she didn’t care about herself. How dare they look at Shi Qingyi with such disgust? In that moment, she wanted to rush forward and shield her princess firmly behind her.

But Shi Qingyi didn’t give her the chance. She just sneered coldly. “What? Does the money have your name on it? You lost six hundred, so anyone with six hundred is a suspect? I have more than that on me—am I a suspect too?”

“You…” Deng Sisi bit her lip. “Everyone knows Jiang Zhiyi’s situation. She’s so poor she can’t even afford printing fees. How could she have that much money?”

“Can’t I have paid her for tutoring?” Shi Qingyi’s eyes were icy, pressing relentlessly without yielding. “She was with me on the sports field all day. When would she have time to sneak back and steal? Oh, right—I almost forgot. Money has fingerprints. We’ll test for hers right away. A few thousand for identification? I can afford it.”

Her gaze swept over everyone present. “If there are no prints, I won’t mind suing for defamation.”

The sunset had unknowingly fallen. The classroom was dim and yellow. Suddenly, someone flicked on the light with a click. The thin, cold glow fell on the girl’s exposed neck, like a layer of icy glaze—inhumanly distant.

Jiang Jun panted at the door, oblivious to the storm inside. “The principal and homeroom teacher are here…”

The lights were blindingly harsh. Even Song Zhiming broke into a cold sweat.

The police car never entered the school. The principal turned it away at the gate, earnestly advising everyone to settle privately. They were all high school seniors at a pivotal time—better no incidents. No. 3 Middle School was a key high school; it couldn’t afford a student theft scandal.

When Jiang Zhiyi emerged from the office, it was already eight at night. It was Friday—they should’ve been dismissed early—but they’d kept her until now.

The school urged her to just pay Deng Sisi and let it go. Shi Qingyi told her to hold firm—otherwise, the thief label wouldn’t lift. Why pay if you didn’t steal?

She held firm, and the principal had no choice. Shi Qingyi insisted they were slandering her; they’d call police for prints and sue if not. To avoid escalation, Deng Sisi swallowed her broken teeth in the end.

Admitting they’d wronged her.

The thief accusation lifted. Jiang Zhiyi slowly exhaled. The late summer evening breeze was slightly cool, blowing over her and bringing inexplicable fatigue. Some burdens weighed too long; when finally lifted, she suddenly felt wronged enough to cry.

She’d been wrongly accused before, baseless blame, but no one ever stood by her. This was the first time.

She couldn’t help searching around for that blonde figure. But around the teaching building, there was no sign—only glares from Deng Sisi and Jiang Jun.

Had she left?

Maybe something urgent came up. But why not tell her? She wanted to wait longer, so she sat on the bench outside the building, hugging her backpack and curling up.

Maybe she wouldn’t come back. She had no contact info, not even a phone…

Jiang Zhiyi suddenly grew inexplicably restless. She’d gradually realized her possessiveness was growing stronger. Before, just stealing glances was enough. Why now…

Perhaps because Shi Qingyi was too good to her, making her greedy, wanting to encroach on her life, not letting her out of sight—hating others’ prying eyes on her—

“Fallen asleep?” Someone suddenly patted her shoulder, very lightly.

The agitation faded from Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes. She whipped her head around. “No!”

The blonde girl beside her nearly laughed seeing the listless eyes light up instantly. She reached out and ruffled her hair. “Good girl.”

The principal had droned on forever. Thinking Jiang Zhiyi hadn’t eaten much at lunch and must be hungry, she’d gone out to buy food from the snack street.

She held street food in hand and fed a bite of grilled cold noodles to her mouth. Jiang Zhiyi nibbled carefully, sneaking a glance at her expression.

“Eat it already. Do I have to feed you bite by bite?”

“Oh…” Having lost the privilege of being fed, Jiang Zhiyi found that the food in her mouth didn’t taste as good anymore.

“Hold onto that six hundred yuan from Deng Sisi properly. If she wants it back, don’t give it to her. This is what you deserve, got it?”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded and forked up a piece to hold it to Shi Qingyi’s mouth. “Have you eaten?”

Shi Qingyi instinctively pulled back a little, but under Jiang Zhiyi’s hurt and aggrieved gaze, she was forced to lean in and take a bite. “I ate a long time ago.”

She only took a dainty nibble, her face full of refusal. Jiang Zhiyi withdrew her hand in some disappointment and then bit into the spot where Shi Qingyi had just eaten.

Shi Qingyi: “…”

It was already nearly nine when they left the school. Shi Qingyi walked her home before leaving. As she departed, Jiang Zhiyi stood under the streetlamp, watching her go. The dim yellow light stretched the girl’s shadow out long.

Jiang Zhiyi suddenly grew very worried about whether something might happen to her on the way home that night. There were always all sorts of little thugs in this neighborhood who liked to corner pretty girls—

She wanted to escort her home, but if they kept doing that, it would never end. Only after that figure vanished at the end of the road did she abruptly think of a solution.

If we lived together, wouldn’t that be perfect? Eating and living together, she would always, always stay by her side, forever.

Some inexplicable emotion seemed to burst forth in her heart. The thought filled her entire chest, and suddenly she felt that happiness was probably no more than this—one glance and she could see all her future.

She walked home under the moonlight. The moment she pushed open the door, a liquor bottle smashed into her forehead. The furious man charged like an enraged bull, the pungent, heavy stench of alcohol filling the cramped room.

“You goddamn broom star with a mother but no upbringing! You dare steal shit? Just like your slut of a mom, shameless. I let you live in my house, not so you could embarrass me. Seeing you brings me nothing but bad luck—”

Warm blood trickled down from her forehead, dripping steadily and soaking her entire collar. Jiang Zhiyi’s fingers dug into the doorframe. In that instant, she suddenly found it hard to breathe, as surging malice nearly swallowed her whole.

The drunk kept on cursing.

“You shameless bitch, and I still have to put up with it? What the hell are you? Like mother, like filthy daughter. Seeing your dead-fish face reminds me of your mom. Should’ve starved you to death back when you were little, you jinx!”