CHAPTER 24: THE 024 SIDE CHARACTER IS DISAPPOINTING, SO UNLUCKY!_1

"Wen Jiang."

Guan Xixi clenched her palm, a hint of disbelief shining in her eyes. "Is it really you? You... how did you become like this?"

She was staring at the black coat Wen Jiang wore, a brand she recognized—one that retailed for tens of thousands.

In this world, due to the progress of civilization and the influence of cards, intellectual property rights were taken very seriously. Knock-offs were hardly spoken of, so a garment bearing that brand was naturally authentic.

But previously, Wen Jiang had only ever been seen in school uniforms, never in casual clothes. Not everyone knew just how poor Wen Jiang was, but Guan Xixi did.

How could she afford such clothes?

"Become what?" Wen Jiang tilted her head, seemingly amused. "My face hasn’t changed, I haven’t gained or lost weight, and you can’t recognize me? If your eyesight is that bad, you should go to the hospital. I’m not a doctor; I can’t cure you."

Now, Wen Jiang’s words dripped with sarcasm.

Guan Xixi was dumbstruck. "Wen Jiang... I... I..."

Her acting wasn’t bad. She simply started crying out loud. "I’ve been looking for you for a week. Did you change your number? I haven’t been able to reach you. I’ve been so worried about you."

Fan Jinan, who was following behind, frowned deeply. "Wen Jiang, Guan Xixi is your best friend. Is this how you treat your friend?"

"Oh." Wen Jiang turned her head and glanced at Fan Jinan. "None of your damn business."

Guan Xixi: "..."

Fan Jinan: "..."

His face was almost turning the color of liver.

Class schedules at the university varied, so quite a few students were wandering by the roadside. Seeing some excitement unfolding, they subtly drew closer.

One of them was somewhat recognizable—Wen Jiang. Wasn’t she quite famous at the school?

She was famous for being poor, yet she had somehow managed to get into this school for the Nobility.

Those in the know didn’t bother to say much, while those who weren’t were still aware of what had happened recently.

Wen Jiang had her face slashed at school and was immediately sent to the hospital.

No one knew who did it, although there were speculations. Wen Jiang had been in the hospital for several days, with no known follow-up.

With no backing and no money, it seemed the matter could only be swept under the rug.

Song Yingchen had also arrived. He stood at the back of the crowd, gazing at Wen Jiang from afar.

Seeing Wen Jiang, despite his outward composure, his heart roiled with ripples of shock and astonishment.

Was that... Wen Jiang?

Wen Jiang had naturally curly long hair, which she liked to tie up. She always appeared so proper, gentle, and docile.

Later, in Song Yingchen’s eyes, this had become a symbol of cowardice.

The Wen Jiang standing there now wore a black coat. Her tall frame seemed somewhat slender, her long hair fluttering with the gentle breeze. Compared to her former dimness, she suddenly seemed to radiate a new brightness. Standing in the crowd, she exuded an indescribable, aloof aura.

That... wasn’t Wen Jiang.

Song Yingchen’s pupils constricted.

The Wen Jiang he knew, the Wen Jiang he remembered, wasn’t like this.

Not like this.

He was just about to step forward when another girl suddenly walked through the crowd. Upon seeing her, his expression grew slightly stiff. He hesitated, then lowered his eyes and reined in his emotions, merely observing from afar.

The arriving girl didn’t focus her attention on him.

Qiao Yuxiao also saw Wen Jiang.

While with her friends, she’d heard passing students say there was some drama unfolding near the administration office. She vaguely heard Wen Jiang’s name. She knew about Wen Jiang.

Whenever Qiao Yuxiao interacted with someone, her family would thoroughly investigate all their minor dealings; Song Yingchen was no exception. So, knowing he had an enigmatic Wen Jiang by his side wasn’t surprising.

Qiao Yuxiao didn’t like Song Yingchen very much. Although she was pampered by the Qiao Family from a young age, she wasn’t foolish. She could see the ulterior motives hidden beneath the man’s gentle gaze.

Her initial assumption was quite natural: Wen Jiang was merely a canary Song Yingchen kept on the side. Among the Nobility, such affairs were common—even Qiao Yuxiao’s own father had one.

But after that fleeting glimpse in the supermarket, she felt Wen Jiang didn’t quite fit the image of a canary...

"Quick, quick, quick! Their anger is spiking right now. Provoke them a couple more times, and let’s fleece them for some Points!"

Zero Egg focused only on the emotional fluctuations of those nearby. Seeing Fan Jinan and Guan Xixi’s blood pressure rise, her mind was consumed with emotion Points, ruthlessly urging Wen Jiang to provoke them more fiercely.

Zero Egg said, "If I’d known Wen Jiang had this talent, why bother with the whole ’female protagonist’s comeback’ storyline? Just look at that mouth—what a tongue she has!"

Guan Xixi noticed Wen Jiang seemed different. She was unsure if the incident a week ago, when Wen Jiang was hospitalized, had affected her. She saw the scar on Wen Jiang’s face. Though the mark was already faint, and she was inwardly shocked at how quickly it was healing, she still instinctively asked, "Wen Jiang, is your face almost healed?"

Could it be because of this incident that Wen Jiang was taking her anger out on her?

Her tears fell even more fiercely. "It’s all my fault. If I had known earlier that they had taken you away, I would have definitely come to rescue you..."

Look, she was crying so miserably. Wen Jiang couldn’t possibly still suspect her, could she?

The people around were also whispering, "This girl... someone’s showing concern for her, and she’s still so cold..."

"Indeed, pitiable people often have their own detestable traits."

"But her face was slashed... She must be resentful, right?"

Wen Jiang looked at Guan Xixi with disdain. "Why are you crying? I wasn’t crying this hard even when I was getting treatment at the hospital. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were mourning at my grave! I’m standing right here, perfectly fine, and you’re wailing away—so unlucky. You’re just as unlucky as that Song fellow."

Song Yingchen, standing in the distance: "..."

Qiao Yuxiao was also somewhat startled, a hint of bewilderment towards Wen Jiang flickering in her bright pupils.

Zero Egg exclaimed, "That’s my Host for you! You really know how to lay into someone. Again, again! Her blood pressure is about to explode!"

Guan Xixi was completely stunned. "Wen Jiang, how could you say that about me? I’m clearly worried about you!"

"Concerned?" Wen Jiang had no interest in continuing the act with her. "When those people came for me, weren’t you watching from a distance, clear as day? Do you take me for a fool? Addicted to playing the tragic, innocent white lotus, are you? If you were so ’concerned,’ how come I never saw you visit me in the hospital, not once, to show your supposed filial piety? But the moment you heard I was back at school, you zipped over here like you had rocket boots. What’s the matter? Did those three idiots send you to gather intel, to see if I’d ratted them out?"

Fan Jinan: "..."

He suddenly felt that Wen Jiang’s earlier insults towards him had been relatively polite by comparison.

Guan Xixi was utterly dumbfounded.

Mainly, she had never heard such language before, but she could sense it was incredibly vulgar.

This time, her tears began to fall in earnest.

Zero Egg grew anxious. "Why is her anger level dropping? Has she been scolded into a stupor?"

Possibly, Wen Jiang echoed in her mind.

Zero Egg fumed, "How can this female supporting character be so useless? What a jinx!"

Wen Jiang: "..."