CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 257: ULTERIOR MOTIVES

"No, thank you for your invitation." Zhen Yu politely refused. "Hey!" Li Lingling suddenly shouted, took a step forward, and lifted her head to say, "Don’t act all high and mighty!"

"If not, hmph! Who would even bother to be in a group with you!"

"Since you don’t care, it’s best I don’t disturb you. I’m leaving." As Zhen Yu said this, she attempted to walk past the two to return to the classroom.

Li Lingling just turned her head to glare furiously as Zhen Yu passed by, but Shen Qi abruptly stretched out an arm to block her.

"Take this advice while nobody knows about it yet, it’s best for you to join our group quickly! Otherwise..."

"No need to trouble yourself! Thank you." Zhen Yu smiled, but instead of walking around, she forcefully pushed down Shen Qi’s arm and brushed past her.

Otherwise what? Otherwise no group would be willing to accept her? Because they both understood, Shen Qi only uttered half of her threat.

"Ha..." Little did she know, Zhen Yu would prefer it this way! She would rather not participate in this study group!

She didn’t need to ask others for help at the moment, what good would joining a study group do for her?! It was simply a waste of her time!

Studying alone was much more comfortable, isn’t freedom precious?!

——

Sadly, Shen Qi, a girl from a small town, couldn’t understand the mindset of Zhen Yu, an adult who had been toughened by society.

Shen Qi firmly believed that nobody could bear being isolated by classmates for long, Zhen Yu included! She must have wanted to get along with her classmates all along!

She thought that by offering to accept Zhen Yu, Zhen Yu wouldn’t know how surprised to be! The first rejection was maybe because she was embarrassed! She would just get Li Lingling to try a few more times!

Once Zhen Yu joined the study group, she would still have to follow her commands!

In the afternoon, right before the physics class ended, the class teacher indeed announced the formation of study groups.

"This study group aims to allow students to help and supervise each other, to study together and make progress! The ideal group size should be four to six people because too many might lead to ineffective outcomes."

Seeing the students staring with wide eyes, Teacher Jiang showed a trace of a smile.

"Why the grim faces? Let’s not make this so serious! This is voluntary, not mandatory."

A bold student then raised their hand to ask, "Teacher! Are we allowed to form groups with anyone we want?"

"Yes! Everyone can freely form groups. The class representative should submit the list by tomorrow evening after school! Starting this weekend, everyone will gather in groups to study, whether on a rotation or fixed at one student’s house, to fully utilize the free time."

"Oh..." A sudden realization sounded across all corners of the classroom.

As soon as Teacher Jiang left, the classroom burst into action. Students were hustling about connecting with others, and Han Mingyue’s seat was surrounded tightly splintered around Bai Xue. Yet when they heard Bai Xue say "I want to include Zhen Yu," they shook their heads and walked away.

After three people left one after another, Zhen Yu grabbed Bai Xue’s wrist. She smiled and said, "Bai Xue! Form your team! Don’t worry about me!"

Bai Xue immediately gave her a sharp look, "How can that be! I won’t just abandon,"

"Listen to me!" Zhen Yu interrupted Bai Xue’s heartfelt objections. "Do you think I need to be in a study group? Do I need someone else’s help and supervision?

"Um!" Bai Xue was stuck because honestly, no!

"Go find your study group! I don’t like crowds!" Zhen Yu urged her, while also taking the opportunity to explain again.

Bai Xue hesitated and then said, "So... I’m going then?"

Zhen Yu quickly waved her off, "Go on."

Bai Xue then beamed with a smile and happily scampered away.

——

Zhen Yu had thought that Han Mingyue might also be unwilling to join that so-called study group.

After all, he likes quiet and is relatively introverted.

But when he actually told Zhen Yu word by word, "Study group, I rejected it.", Zhen Yu was still stunned on the way home from school.

"You rejected it? Didn’t join even one?"

Han Mingyue nodded.

Zhen Yu pursed her lips and continued walking, not saying much more.

Han Jiayang looked at Zhen Yu’s departing figure, grabbed his brother. He gestured silently, asking, "Why didn’t Zhen Yu say whether she joined the group or not? Should I ask?"

Han Mingyue instantly gestured silently to stop him and signaled his brother to hurry up and catch up.

Han Jiayang didn’t know, but Han Mingyue did! Definitely no classmates invited Zhen Yu to join their study groups, that’s why she avoided talking about her situation.

Actually, no group is better! Two people studying quietly at home, way more efficient than a bunch of people huddled together!

So, while Han Jiayang was torn whether it was better to ’join the study group’ or ’be a third wheel at home’, his brother had already excluded him...

——

What Zhen Yu didn’t expect was that the next day during the long break, the same people stopped her again.

Zhen Yu looked at them calmly, this time she decided not to initiate the conversation herself. She indeed wanted to hear what new stories these two could come up with!

"How about it, Zhen Yu? Have you made up your mind? Tonight is the deadline for handing in the list!" Li Lingling said proudly: "Don’t expect others to take you in, that’s just not going to happen!"

"How pitiful! To be so young and already deaf!" Zhen Yu retorted sarcastically: "I said ’no need’ yesterday! Not ’considering’! I personally suggest you go get a hearing aid!"

"You! You’re the one who’s deaf!" Li Lingling stomped her foot in anger, "If it wasn’t for Han Mingyue, I wouldn’t even bother with you!"

"Oh!" Zhen Yu shrugged, honestly saying, "I know!"

"You know?" Shen Qi’s heart sank.

Does this mean that Zhen Yu is purposely refusing to join her study group?! Does she actually like Han Mingyue?

"Of course I know! You don’t think I’m a fool, do you?" Zhen Yu rolled her eyes, "With your attitudes, anyone can tell you have ulterior motives!"

Shen Qi and Li Lingling exchanged a glance, then neither of them spoke again.

Seeing the two girls quiet down as their motives were exposed, Zhen Yu sighed and said, "Stop targeting me!"

That comment made Li Lingling explode, "Who’s targeting you! Shameless!"

"...I mean, whether you can persuade Han Mingyue to join the group, that’s your business! It has nothing to do with me!"

Li Lingling immediately retorted: "You won’t interfere?!"

"I’m nothing to him, why should I interfere?" Zhen Yu stated plainly.

"You said it now! If I find out you sabotaged it..."

"It’s just a study group, would I care that much?"

"So for other things, you would interfere?"

"...I’m leaving now!" Talking to Li Lingling was like casting pearls before swine! Zhen Yu didn’t want to entangle with her any longer and quickly left.