The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 14

Chapter 14: The Cold School Beauty’s Fierce Love

The defense “I didn’t do it” always sounded weak and unconvincing when facing the victim.

But Tao Ning still said it. She didn’t even put down the jacket, just looked at Xu Qiuyi and said, “I didn’t do it.”

This scene, not to mention the teacher, even the students who had gathered around found absurd.

Near the end of the school day, students who wanted to change and leave early would return to the changing room ten minutes beforehand. There were quite a few people present now.

To those who didn’t know the truth, Tao Ning’s words sounded indifferent and even arrogant, more like a provocation than a defense.

But in reality, Tao Ning’s face simply had a naturally nonchalant and sarcastic look when she wasn’t smiling.

I bet she’ll believe me, based on her sense of justice… Before she could finish the thought, Tao Ning saw Xu Qiuyi move.

Xu Qiuyi walked over, took the jacket by the collar, and draped it over her arm, the fabric now carrying Tao Ning’s warmth.

Her eyes flickered, the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows catching Tao Ning’s gaze for a moment before disappearing.

See, they really are enemies. The forum posts shipping them are nonsense, I never believed it.

The esteemed Tao heiress, how could she possibly associate with a poor girl from the slums?

Before the junior could gloat, she heard Xu Qiuyi speak in the same tone she used for student representative speeches on the podium: “I believe there are surveillance cameras outside. Check the footage, see who entered with what, and the truth will be clear.”

The junior blurted out, “No!”

Xu Qiuyi looked at her: “Why not?”

Everyone looked at the junior, their eyes filled with confusion.

The junior knew she had misspoken, but she pressed on: “You can’t. The school’s circuits are being repaired today, the cameras are off.”

Tao Ning smiled: “Oh, they’re off, that’s why…”

Her tone was smug. Realizing that Tao Ning wasn’t an ally, Wu, the junior, wanted to glare at her but didn’t dare to be too obvious, her face turning red.

Wu: “Anyway, it wasn’t me, I wasn’t holding the clothes.”

Her words were weak, and anyone could tell who the culprit was, especially with Tao Ning’s overly calm and detached demeanor.

Her detachment wasn’t a denial, but rather a “I didn’t do it, but if you think so, I don’t care” attitude.

The teacher: “Uh… this…”

The teacher wasn’t a subject teacher, but a school administrator in charge of classrooms, well-versed in the school’s social dynamics and keen to avoid offending anyone.

However, one was the Tao heiress, the other the pampered granddaughter of the Wu family. Neither was easy to offend.

It seemed this matter wouldn’t be resolved. Xu Qiuyi sighed softly, about to suggest letting it go.

Tao Ning suddenly raised her hand and said, “Fine, I confess. This junior here is the mastermind, I’m the accomplice and provider of the tools.”

Wu was shocked by Tao Ning’s sudden confession.

Tao Ning waved the marker in her hand: “This marker is permanent. This little miss and I agreed to vandalize Xu Qiuyi’s uniform during PE class while the school’s circuits were being repaired. But we had a disagreement about how to divide the ‘canvas’.”

This completely twisted the truth, and the junior shouted, “When did I conspire with you?!”

Her words sounded sincere, her eyes filled with a complex mix of shock, anger, and confusion.

The students watching thought that if this was an act, she deserved an Oscar.

Could it really be Tao Ning directing and acting this out herself?

Tao Ning spoke eloquently: “Yesterday, yesterday afternoon, you plotted this with me. I said your idea was great, our schedules aligned, so why not? I even volunteered to get the permanent marker. The school uniform is navy blue, so gold would be very noticeable. Don’t you remember?”

The junior: “You’re lying! I prepared a green marker!”

Tao Ning: “Where is yours?”

The junior raised her hand, revealing the marker in her hand: “Here’s mine!”

Silence fell over the room.

“So it’s green.” Tao Ning uncapped the marker, revealing the fluorescent green tip. She glanced at it, then recapped it and tossed it to the teacher. “Alright, the truth is out. Teacher, did you hear that?”

She looked at Xu Qiuyi when she said “the truth is out,” then turned to the administrator for the last sentence.

The teacher caught the marker: “Vandalizing a school uniform. Come with me to the disciplinary office.”

Tao Ning added, “She has another marker in her pocket. The evidence is conclusive.”

Wu finally realized, “Tao Ning, you did this on purpose?!”

Tao Ning waved at her: “Just figured it out? Let’s go, before the disciplinary head leaves. Let’s aim for a shorter self-criticism essay.”

Despite her indignation, Wu was taken away.

Xu Qiuyi watched the drama unfold and end, the culprits gone, leaving her, the victim, standing there holding her jacket, bewildered.

For the first time, something that happened to her had a resolution, and she felt strangely unaccustomed, unsure what to feel.

Seeing her in a daze, Tao Ning asked, “Did you have any other issues with that junior? I would have made it more than just writing a self-criticism essay if I knew.”

Xu Qiuyi asked, “You don’t know her?”

Tao Ning blinked: “I don’t.” She wouldn’t waste her energy on irrelevant people and things.

She didn’t even know the junior’s last name, she was just playing along.

Xu Qiuyi: “Then why did you… expose her?” Wouldn’t it be better to stay out of it? She wouldn’t be punished for it anyway.

Tao Ning held up the tennis ball she had picked up from under the locker: “Would you believe me if I said I was being a good Samaritan?”

Xu Qiuyi’s gaze followed the tennis ball, and she nodded: “I believe you.”

Some people, while saying “I believe you,” had a look in their eyes that said, “Okay, okay, I’ll believe whatever you say, just say it and I’ll agree.”

Tao Ning continued, “Then would you believe me if I said I’ll protect you from now on?”

Xu Qiuyi, feeling like she had walked onto a movie set, said, “Huh?”

Tao Ning touched her nose, a little embarrassed: “But there’s a condition, that is, I…”

The rest of her sentence was mumbled, and Xu Qiuyi couldn’t hear clearly, so she involuntarily leaned closer: “What did you say?”

Tao Ning had to raise her voice, though it sounded like she was gritting her teeth: “I said, I have an important task to complete, and the prerequisite is that you tutor me in my studies. I’ll pay you the market rate for tutoring.”

Scratching her face, Tao Ning looked everywhere but at Xu Qiuyi and added, “Of course, if you think I’m wasting your time, you can refuse…”

The more she listened, the more complex Xu Qiuyi’s expression became: “Why me?”

Tao Ning knew this meant there was a chance. Xu Qiuyi’s part-time jobs weren’t limited to making bubble tea, crushing ice at coffee shops, or waiting tables at restaurants. Tutoring was also a source of income for her.

Children from poor families matured early. With two money pits at home, Guan Ruolin was the only one with a stable income. She had to deal with her husband stealing money to gamble and pay for her younger daughter’s medical expenses. Xu Qiuyi was naturally short of money, and she needed to save for university as well.

However, Tao Ning currently needed someone to help her organize her thoughts and create the image of gradual improvement.

In the original worldline, Xu Qiuyi’s final year of high school was tumultuous, but she still maintained her grades. Although she missed out on being the top scorer, she still got into her ideal university.

What if she had a smooth year? Would she surpass her own record?

“Because…” After hesitating for a moment, Tao Ning whispered something in Xu Qiuyi’s ear.

In the not-so-quiet changing room, students came and went, picking up their belongings.

Suddenly having someone whisper in her ear, Xu Qiuyi felt warm breath on her ear, and her ears turned red without her realizing it.

She tried to focus on Tao Ning’s words. After listening carefully, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Tao Ning straightened up, feigning indifference: “It’s just this. If it gets out, it’ll be a big deal, one teacher for each subject, all hovering around me. It makes my head spin just thinking about it.”

“Yeah, that does sound terrifying.” Xu Qiuyi imagined the scene and wanted to laugh even more.

The young miss also had her own troubles, and these troubles, in Xu Qiuyi’s eyes, were endearing and amusing.

Tao Ning finally found someone who understood: “Right? You think so too.”

“Tao Ning, Ningning, we couldn’t find you anywhere, so you were here.” Lü Xinxi’s boisterous voice echoed through the almost empty changing room.

Then she saw the two standing close together.

Jin Yue stopped first, a subtle look flashing across her eyes, as if thinking of something.

Tao Ning said, “I was just discussing something with the study god, didn’t forget about you guys.”

Lü Xinxi seemed shocked and took a step back: “No way, you actually said that out loud.”

“Xixi, please, I’m begging you, don’t say anything.” Tao Ning strode over, trying to cover her mouth.

Lü Xinxi, the big radish, dodged Tao Ning’s hand, which had touched the dirty tennis ball, refusing to be touched, and ran around a chair.

Jin Yue pondered for a moment, then approached Xu Qiuyi: “Would you consider starting a class?”

Xu Qiuyi was surprised: “A class?”

Jin Yue looked at her two foolish friends with a noble and aloof air, saying earnestly, “I’m not comfortable letting those two roam free.”

Xu Qiuyi: “…?” Not comfortable with whom? Does that include Tao Ning?

Jin Yue: “And it’ll save you a lot of trouble in your final year. It’s a good deal.”

This was the first time Xu Qiuyi realized that the yellow and green lights had such clear, foolish eyes. The red light didn’t count.