Chapter 11: Her Lover, the Deceiver

Ignoring the scorching gazes around her, Jia Hua looked at the large, generous portion of food in front of her and raised an eyebrow. “For me?”

Zhen Yan answered a different question. “Zhang Juan had something to do. I didn’t want to eat alone.”

“Oh,” Jia Hua nodded. “In that case, you can always find me to eat with you. I can keep you company.”

Zhen Yan’s chopsticks, which were picking up food, paused for a split second. She gave a tiny nod, her eyes carrying a trace of confusion.

Before, when Jia Hua pestered her daily, eating with her, she found it incredibly annoying. She hated it. So why now—was it her turn to cling to Jia Hua and ask her to eat together? Was she being cheap?

During the meal, Zhen Yan casually and seemingly without care lifted her eyes to glance at Jia Hua, who sat opposite her, quietly eating without stirring up any trouble. She then shook her head, denying the thought.

The old Jia Hua, she had intensely disliked. But this version of Jia Hua, she didn’t dislike.

After the two finished eating, they walked back towards the teaching building together. Meanwhile, students who had spent over half an hour on their meal still sat in the canteen, watching their retreating figures.

Poor Liu Yangyang, toyed with by that couple. Such sincere feelings, and they were just fake-breaking-up to mess with her!

When they reached the base of the teaching building, Zhen Yan suddenly stopped. “You go back to the classroom. I have something to do. I need to go out at noon.”

At An City No. 2 High School, the school gates were open during the midday and afternoon breaks. Students could freely leave and enter during these times.

“Alright, bye. Be careful,” Jia Hua said, not asking about Zhen Yan’s plans—or rather, not caring.

Zhen Yan nodded silently. After Jia Hua turned and went upstairs, she clutched her phone and sprinted out of the school.

Up on the second floor, Jia Hua leaned on the railing and watched Zhen Yan’s running figure, shaking her head.

Running right after eating… that’s bad for digestion. Truly a young person, neglecting health principles. She’ll know the pain when she’s old.

Jia Hua returned to the classroom and started reading and studying. Following Zhen Yan’s schedule, she spent the last half-hour with her head pillowed on her arms on the desk for a midday nap.

“Ring-a-ling—” The bell for the first afternoon class rang. Jia Hua groggily lifted her head from the desk, rubbed her eyes, and saw the person next to her—Zhen Yan—sitting there with damp hair and a flushed face.

“Why are you all wet?” Jia Hua could easily tell it was water, not sweat, because she could smell the faint fragrance of shower gel.

“Took a shower,” Zhen Yan replied simply. But as the sound entered Jia Hua’s ears, it carried a slight tremor.

Jia Hua discreetly observed Zhen Yan but didn’t ask anything further.

Still, a curiosity arose in her heart regarding the “something” Zhen Yan had mentioned at noon.

The last class of the afternoon was a self-study period. Uncharacteristically, Zhen Yan fell asleep during it. In her sleep, her brow was tightly furrowed; she didn’t look comfortable.

Only when the Homeroom Teacher walked in near the end of class did Jia Hua nudge Zhen Yan awake. Meeting her questioning gaze, Jia Hua whispered, “The Homeroom Teacher is here.”

The Homeroom Teacher hadn’t come to check if students were studying hard. She came to announce some good news.

“Next Monday is our entire Senior Grade’s autumn outing! We’ll be going to the Top Scholar Resort, all paid for by the school. We want you to relieve some stress from the intense study schedule. It’ll be two days and one night—departing Monday morning, returning Tuesday afternoon.”

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHH—” As soon as the teacher finished speaking, Senior 3 Class 1 erupted with whoops and howls.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The Homeroom Teacher smacked the lectern several times.

“Quiet! I’m not finished yet!”

The entire class instantly fell silent, staring at the teacher with sparkling eyes. Everyone thought she looked exceptionally beautiful today.

“Since today is Friday and we have the weekend off, I’ll hand out permission slips later for you to take home. Have your parents sign them and then send me a photo. Remember to send me the original image, not a blurry one. Then bring the physical slip to school on Monday and give it to the Class Monitor. Also, anyone who isn’t going, remember to send me a message before midnight tonight—then you don’t have to go. This trip is entirely voluntary.”

The Homeroom Teacher took a sip of water and continued: “One more thing I need to remind you: we’re only staying there for one night. Don’t bring an entire suitcase full of clothes and makeup. You’re still students; your studies come first—”

Ding-ding-ding… The dismissal bell rang.

The teacher cut short her lengthy speech. With a sweeping wave of her arm: “Class Monitor, come up and hand out the permission slips. Everyone, remember to send me the photo tonight! You absolutely must remember!” She shoved the slips at the monitor, who had come up to the lectern, then grabbed her thermos and hurried away.

The teachers still had to listen to the school leadership’s lengthy speeches.

“Woooooo—” During student life, regardless of the grade, the most anticipated event was a group outing together. Thus, everyone in Senior 3 Class 1 was ecstatic. They swarmed the Class Monitor, and as soon as they got their slips, they ran home.

“The last two are for you guys.” The Class Monitor delivered the final two slips to Jia Hua and Zhen Yan, then wiped the sweat from her forehead.

The whole class had scrambled for the slips earlier; only those two hadn’t fought for them. The others had been a chaotic swarm.

“Sister Yan, let’s go wander around the supermarket and the pedestrian street later! Buy some snacks and clothes—I’m completely out of clothes to wear!”

A whole-grade trip! So many Omegas on the same trip! She absolutely had to outfit herself in the most stunning attire, the kind that would make all the Omegas’ eyes light up at once!

But Zhen Yan directly refused. “No, it’s Friday. I have to go home early to help with things. I don’t have time. How about the weekend? I’ll go shopping with you then.”

Zhen Yan packed her backpack as she spoke. By the time she finished, her bag was ready. She slung it over one shoulder and looked down at Jia Hua, who was still seated, her expression neutral. “Do you want to walk home with me?”

Jia Hua hadn’t expected Zhen Yan to ask her, and was a bit surprised. She nodded and stood up. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

She packed her textbooks and the comprehensive workbook into her backpack, making it bulge out.

Top Student Zhen Yan blinked, not understanding why she needed to bring the heavy textbooks home just to do the workbook. But she quickly realized: although Jia Hua had been diligently studying every day lately, her weak foundational knowledge wasn’t so easy to apply fluently.

The two left, one after the other, disappearing before Zhang Juan’s eyes. Zhang Juan puffed out her cheeks.

“Stupid Sister Yan, bad Sister Yan. You forget your friends when you see a pretty face. Truly unreliable. I need to switch sides and become Jia Hua’s little follower soon… but I don’t even dare to look at her…”

Jia Hua and Zhen Yan walked side-by-side on the road home. As they passed a large tree, a female Alpha with a light smile approached them and greeted Jia Hua: “Hello. Remember me?”

Beside her, Zhen Yan frowned the moment she saw this female Alpha.

Who’s this? Knows Jia Hua? Since when do they know each other? She commutes with Jia Hua almost every day and sits next to her in class—how does she not know when Jia Hua got acquainted with this Alpha?

Jia Hua, being greeted, raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, “What a coincidence.”

The female Alpha shook her head, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Not a coincidence. I was waiting for you here. Shi Di—that’s my name. I told you yesterday; I wonder if you still remember it.”

Jia Hua: “Of course I remember. Do I look like a goldfish with such a short memory?”

Shi Di looked at Jia Hua. “I still don’t know your name. So I came to find you.”

Jia Hua glanced at her blandly. “Jia Hua. That’s my name. Was there something else?”

Shi Di shook her head and stepped aside. “Goodbye, Jia Hua. I will come find you again.” She then slowly walked away.

Jia Hua shrugged at Zhen Yan, showing no intention of explaining. “Let’s go, or Grandma Zhen will be too busy later.”

This time, Jia Hua walked ahead. Zhen Yan followed behind, head lowered, messaging Zhang Juan on her phone the whole way. She sent many messages before getting a reply.

【Zhen Yan: Who is Shi Di?】

【Zhang Juan: I don’t know…】

【Zhen Yan: Who is Shi Di?】

【Zhang Juan: I really don’t know. Stop asking. I admit it! I ate a baked bun at the school gate first before going after Jia Hua. By the time I caught up, she was almost home! So, I honestly don’t know who Shi Di is!】

【Zhen Yan: You’re not lying?】

【Zhang Juan: Really, truly not!】

【Zhen Yan: (Get lost)】

【Zhang Juan: …】

The two parted ways once they reached Old Street. Zhen Yan went to help Grandma Zhen thread skewers and prepare the barbecue. Jia Hua, on the other hand, sat in the swivel chair in her bedroom, biting her pen as she carefully pored over her textbooks. Exams were next month; she didn’t like the feeling of being at the bottom.

The weekend had arrived, and it was blissful.

A distant relative on Song Qiaoyi’s side was getting married and holding a banquet. Jia Hui and Song Qiaoyi both went out of town for the wedding feast. They asked Jia Hua; she declined to go, so they left her a hundred Star Coins. The two adults left early in the morning.

Jia Hua slept in until noon, pulled from sleep by a ringing phone call.

“Hello…” Half-asleep, her voice was very sluggish.

“Hello. May I ask if you know a Zhen Yan?” A gentle male voice asked over the phone.

“Mm, I do. What’s wrong?” Jia Hua’s drowsiness vanished completely.

“Well, she fainted in the pressure resistance room. We’ve called an ambulance. I was wondering if you could come over?”

“Okay. Send me the address, I’ll head over now.” Jia Hua hurriedly changed out of her pajamas, grabbed her phone, wallet, and keys, and strode out the door.

What was this pressure resistance room? And what was Zhen Yan doing there?