CHAPTER 200: 090 SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS_3

The girl stood awkwardly in place, opened her mouth, but was unable to say a word.

Yu Ruohuan smiled politely, "Would you still like to discuss opera with me?"

The girl stood there dumbly, her pearly teeth biting onto her pale lips.

Yu Ruohuan didn’t spare her another glance and turned to leave the restroom.

Just then, a call came through, snapping the girl out of her daze. She answered.

She immediately started cursing: "Who does she think she is? Just because she knows a bit about art and opera, she thinks she’s so amazing! If she hadn’t been born lucky, who would even bother with her?"

"Haha, I don’t care if she hears me or not. It’s broad daylight—what’s she going to do, kill me?"

"Bang." Suddenly, the sound of a door slamming came from behind.

The girl jumped in fright and whipped around to look.

Leng Xingshuang strolled over to the sink nonchalantly.

The girl nervously stared at her back.

"Did... Did you hear everything?"

Leng Xingshuang pulled out a tissue, wiped her hands, tossed the tissue into the trash bin, and then turned around.

As she passed the girl, she smirked slightly, "If you had the guts to say it in front of her, I’d at least respect you for being brave. But alas..."

Her words trailed off, and she shook her head, lifting her feet to walk away.

The girl was left nibbling on her lips, uncertain and looking upset.

~

The opera concluded, and the four of them exited the theater through the VIP passage.

Two men dressed in black followed closely behind—not too far, not too near.

Leng Xingshuang clicked her tongue in disdain. The Yu family and the Wen family really do hold themselves to a higher standard; wherever they go, they’re followed with bodyguards, as if terrified something might happen.

Yu Ruohuan and Gu Bichen walked side by side. The two seemed to have plenty to talk about regarding the opera.

The longer they spoke, the better their understanding of each other seemed to grow. Gu Bichen remained composed, but the grin on Yu Ruohuan’s face almost stretched to her ears.

Leng Xingshuang rolled her eyes and glanced at Wen Yu beside her.

"You’re the one who came with her to see the opera, yet she’s leaving you aside to chat so excitedly with someone else. What’s the deal here?"

Her tone had a subtle hint of provocation.

Wen Yu smiled gently and glanced at the backs of the two in front.

"As long as Huanhuan is happy, that’s all that matters."

"Such generosity, huh? Wen Yu, you should remember your last name is Wen. Do you really have to be such a lapdog?"

Yu Ruohuan suggested the four of them go out for dinner. Gu Bichen declined politely and left the theater with Leng Xingshuang.

Wen Yu chuckled lightly, "You seem a bit disappointed?"

Yu Ruohuan withdrew her gaze, "I’m just curious about what kind of place Lanya High School truly is."

Wen Yu chuckled dryly, "No matter how remarkable, its educational resources can’t compare to Jingzhou. I really don’t understand why Gu Bichen made this choice."

Even more inexplicable was the fact that the Gu family actually agreed.

Yu Ruohuan replied indifferently, "Clearly, it has what he seeks to pursue."

Wen Yu was even more perplexed. Compared to Jingzhou, Qingzhou is just an insignificant countryside; what is Gu Bichen trying to chase there? Improved wheat hybrids and production yields?

Yu Ruohuan frowned slightly, "I’m tired. I’ll head back first. You should go back early too."

Wen Yu quickly offered, "Let me take you home."

"No need."

With that, the Yu family’s driver pulled a car up in front of Yu Ruohuan. After exchanging brief goodbyes with Wen Yu, she got into the vehicle.

Through the rearview mirror, she saw Wen Yu standing in place, watching her until he faded into a distant black dot. Yu Ruohuan withdrew her gaze indifferently.

"Miss, everything has been handled per your instructions," the black-suited bodyguard in the passenger seat turned to speak respectfully.

Yu Ruohuan gazed out of the car window faintly. The elegance and grace that adorned her features vanished in an instant, replaced by an unfathomable coldness and iciness deep within her eyes.

"Only by committing wrongdoings can one understand reason. Let’s hope this lesson serves its purpose for them."

Wrongdoings not only impart lessons but also come at a cost.

At the intersection west of the theater, a taxi idled at a red light.

Inside the taxi, the girl suddenly felt a wave of unease, her heartbeat racing uncontrollably...

"Bang." A van traveling south suddenly lost control and slammed directly into the taxi with chilling precision.

The girl’s rapidly shrinking pupils reflected the incoming van, radiating deep fear.

The scene was thick with smoke, the devastation so catastrophic it was hard to look directly.

A black sedan drove past nearby, its half-lowered window revealing Leng Xingshuang’s shocked expression.

"A car accident happened..."

Nearby, a red Mary Jane shoe lay alone on the road.

Leng Xingshuang suddenly thought the shoe looked familiar.

Good Samaritans rushed to rescue the passengers trapped in the taxi, finally pulling the girl from the back seat.

Her face was smeared with blood, pale and lifeless, utterly silent.

"Ah..." Leng Xingshuang suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth and let out a scream.

Gu Bichen immediately placed his hand over her eyes, "Forget the scene you just saw."

Leng Xingshuang collapsed into his arms, trembling all over.

Gu Bichen assumed she was frightened by the grisly car accident scene and gently patted her back to comfort her.

Leng Xingshuang clung tightly to Gu Bichen’s clothes, her voice trembling, "I... I just saw her in the restroom at the theater."

"I overheard her insulting Yu Ruohuan. How could it be such a coincidence that she had a car accident just after leaving the theater..."

Gu Bichen’s brows furrowed instantly, his lips pressed tightly. He spoke coldly, "These words will rot in your stomach from now on. No one else is to know, understand?"

Leng Xingshuang sobbed, "Brother Chen, I’m so scared."

The Yu family really is terrifying...

Yu Ruohuan won’t target her next, will she?

Leng Xingshuang trembled in Gu Bichen’s embrace.

She swore she’d never provoke Yu Ruohuan again.

Her life depended on it.

~

The holiday passed in the blink of an eye.

These past few days, online forums had been buzzing endlessly about Shen You’an and Leng Yunyang, the interest only growing stronger.

Many expressed regret.

Leng Yunyang was far more skilled than his classmates, but it couldn’t be helped—Shen You’an was simply too extraordinary.

To surpass Shen You’an, first, one would need to overcome two mountains: Gu Bichen and Liu Runxi.

Especially Liu Runxi, who’s now humorously nicknamed "Second Liu," for always being second place.

Of course, everyone only dared make such jokes anonymously on forums—no one had the guts to say it to his face.

Thus, when these prominent figures arrived at school, they were met with gazes that burned far hotter than usual.

Fortunately, these individuals were well-accustomed to being the center of attention. Their calm demeanor left those eager for drama feeling deflated.

As everyone focused on these central figures of discussion, no one noticed Jiang Shengyao loitering around A-Class’s doorway multiple times.

"Ayao, are you looking for me?" Qin Xiangge noticed Jiang Shengyao outside A-Class and instinctively assumed he was there for her.

Jiang Shengyao withdrew his gaze, his expression a bit agitated.

Shen You’an kept her head down, leaving him unable to see her face clearly.

He wanted to stride in and grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

But if he did that, he and Shen You’an would end up dominating forum gossip for days.

When Qin Xiangge noticed Jiang Shengyao ignoring her completely, she frowned slightly, feeling displeased.

Recently, Jiang Shengyao had been acting increasingly unusual. She thought back carefully and realized it seemed to have started after Lii Yinyin dropped out of school.

"Ayao?" Qin Xiangge called out to him again.

This time, Jiang Shengyao finally snapped out of his thoughts. Seeing Qin Xiangge, he offered a perfunctory greeting.

Then, he briskly walked away.

No matter what, it wasn’t urgent at the moment. Shen You’an—he would eventually uncover her true self.

Qin Xiangge turned her head to watch Jiang Shengyao’s hurriedly retreating figure, her eyes narrowing slightly.

What exactly had happened without her knowing?

Standing in the spot Jiang Shengyao had just occupied, Qin Xiangge traced his gaze’s angle.

In the corner, a young girl slowly raised her head.

Under the soft autumn morning breeze, her profile was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her slender neck resembled the proud silhouette of a swan, icy and refined, with an unworldly grace.

Fingers silently dug into her palm, Qin Xiangge lowered her gaze discreetly and walked into the classroom.