Chapter 88: It’s My Turn
Jian Yu felt conflicted.
Her chest felt tight, and she couldn’t help but press a hand to it.
A whirlwind of emotions assailed her. Her lips parted, but in the end, she just lowered her head.
’The Dean doesn’t want to talk about it.’
’And I don’t want to face it, either.’
The person on the other end of the line was also feeling conflicted.
Dean Zhang was a selfish but worldly-wise woman. Her daughter had inherited the selfishness, but none of the wisdom.
Things wouldn’t have been so serious. Even though the enemy outnumbered them and had higher Levels, their people had plenty of defensive gear. They could have kept the situation under control.
But Zhang Xin’er just had to be the weak link.
As soon as she heard Jian Yu was thriving at Weis Lan Academy, she got provoked and rushed over, giving Xu Shaoqing an opening.
"We transferred the two who were seriously injured to our own hospital. The doctors have already put them on the best medication and say they can be discharged the day after tomorrow."
"As for what happened with Zhang Xin’er, the Dean doesn’t intend to hide it. She said it isn’t Miss Jian’s fault and that she’ll find time to talk to Miss Jian. She just asked us to... keep it confidential for now."
HISS!
He suddenly realized.
’Why did I just say all that?’
His eyes darted around as he scrambled to change the subject.
"Oh, by the way, Family Head, Miss Jian transferred fifty million Star Coins to Dean Zhang, and Dean Zhang used it to go chase after some guy."
Jian Yu looked up, her eyes widening.
Her gaze accidentally met Pei Yin’s, and she quickly looked away.
Her voice softened unconsciously.
"The Dean probably just wants to give us girls a proper family."
’This feels weird.’
Jian Yu’s gaze drifted.
Xi Yu gently squeezed her foot with his fingers. "Baby, your face is so red."
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "You’re so cute, Baby."
Ling Yanzhi adjusted his hold on Jian Yu, hoisting her up slightly. "Never mind that," he said into the communicator. "And you don’t need to report these things to me in the future. I’ll deal with the Alliance. Your people don’t need to pull back for now."
He ended the call unilaterally.
He lowered his head, his fingers tightening around her slightly. "I’m sorry, Baby. My arrangements weren’t good enough."
Jian Yu didn’t know how to answer.
’Should I say it’s okay? But the ones who got hurt were the Dean and the others.’
’Tell him I don’t blame him? It wasn’t his fault in the first place.’
Jian Yu pressed her lips together.
She lowered her gaze, staring at her own feet resting on Ling Yanzhi’s thigh.
Her gaze shifted, and she could see Xi Yu still gently squeezing her foot.
She looked up and saw worry flash in Pei Yin’s cyan eyes.
The three men were all waiting for her reaction.
"Your arrangements were perfect. Thank you."
Jian Yu gave a small nod. ’Thanking him couldn’t be wrong.’
’No one wanted this to happen.’
’The Dean didn’t blame me, but she’s bound to be heartbroken.’
’The Dean had always been my source of emotional support. She understands how the world works, but this time, with what happened to big sister Xin’er...’
’Compare, compare, compare. This instinct to compare... Xin’er is dead, so why am I still thinking about who was more important?’
’I hate this part of myself.’
’I don’t want to dwell on it. People are bound to have passions and desires. You wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t have selfish wants.’
’As long as I can stop myself in time and not get bogged down, it’ll be fine.’
’This is just a fake novel world. The most important thing is for me to live happily and do whatever I want.’
"Baby, it won’t happen again. I promise."
His voice washed over her as he took her chin in his fingers, tilting it gently upward.
His gaze clung to her, as sweet and intense as molten sugar.
The raw assertiveness in his bones wasn’t the least bit hidden, yet it was somehow wrapped in a layer of tender affection.
Jian Yu was forced to meet his gaze. Her long lashes trembled, and her eyelids fluttered shut.
’I can see my own reflection in Ling Yanzhi’s eyes.’
’A person alive, yet half-dead, carrying a listless, sickly death wish.’
’This face of mine is far too deceptive.’
’The Dean was often taken in by this look.’
’They probably don’t realize that the people who are always talking about wanting to die, who carry that wish in their hearts, are the ones who want to live more than anyone.’
’The ones who truly want to die just wipe their tears and do it—jump in a river, take poison. It doesn’t even take two seconds.’
An ache spread through her chest, and the tip of her nose turned red.
She couldn’t tell if she was moved, or if she was sad over someone or something.
Or perhaps she was just using this incident to gain their pity and solidify their affection for her.
Perhaps it was all of the above. In fact, the latter was even more likely.
Red Snake switched to its red form and flew onto Jian Yu’s shoulder. Its voice was soft and childlike. "Yu Baby."
It didn’t dare nuzzle her cheek with its head, so it gently curled its tail around the very tip of a strand of her hair.
Not to be outdone, Yang Zhang leaped onto the back of her hand, hopping up and down in a cute little dance.
And Ting Ying...
Its talons were too sharp; there was nowhere for it to land.
Unwilling to be left out, Pei Yin chimed in, "Who doesn’t have a Level 2S on hand? I’m not reassured. I’ll call in some backup right now and send them over for protection."
"Mhm. Right," Xi Yu added in a low voice, lifting his chin in agreement.
Pei Yin didn’t like the lifeless aura clinging to Jian Yu.
He looked at the half-finished device in his hand. "Baby, would you prefer an earring or a necklace?"
Soul Beasts, wisps of smoke—whatever it was, it was all tied to one’s emotions.
When emotional fluctuations peaked, the speed of one’s Awakening would visibly accelerate.
He was going to make a monitor to keep a constant watch on Jian Yu’s emotional state.
Once he found the right trigger, he could tailor-make an Awakening plan for her. It might just speed up the process.
"Are you making a monitoring device?" Jian Yu asked, her eyes timid and full of innocence.
She lowered her gaze, her long lashes hiding the shrewd glint in her eyes.
’I’m wondering if I should refuse, even though I’m already wearing more than ten trackers.’
’Xi Yu alone put nine on me.’
’One more monitor really isn’t a big deal.’
’It’s just... if I agree too quickly, will I seem too easy?’
To them, Jian Yu’s silence was a form of quiet refusal.
She was in love with Sheng Yue. The only reason she even gave Pei Yin—a man so disagreeable even dogs would hate him—the time of day was because he reminded her of someone else.
They had only managed to tie her to them through various schemes. If Sheng Yue ever made a move, she probably wouldn’t even let them touch her feet.
The realization was crystal clear, and all three men felt their composure crack.
Pei Yin’s voice was strained, as if he were holding back his frustration. "I’m making it an earring. You’ll wear it whether you want to or not."
’A man who just gives you whatever you want is too much of a pushover. I don’t like men who are too easy.’
’But if I don’t want it and they force it on me...’
’...That’s okay.’
"We won’t watch you shower, Baby," Xi Yu suddenly blurted out. "It’s all for your protection."
He thought it was a tracking monitor.
Jian Yu thought so, too.
Ling Yanzhi, who had a vague idea, could tell that Pei Yin was making some kind of sensor, but he didn’t know what it was meant to sense.
An auxiliary device developed by Doctor Pei wouldn’t be some common, off-the-shelf tracker.
Certain that there was no malicious intent, Ling Yanzhi put it out of his mind. It didn’t seem that important anyway.
Jian Yu’s fingertips quietly clutched at her clothes, unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"Alright."
Her eyes trembled, her aura one of unblemished, unconscious innocence.
"Good girl." Pei Yin strode over and gave her a fierce kiss.
He spread the wings on his back and flew off toward his lab.
Ling Yanzhi had expected to fight over who would sleep with her tonight, but he hadn’t expected Pei Yin to just leave.
He remembered his promise to Jian Yu.
’After such a rotten evening, she needs to be cheered up.’
"I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be back so you can dry my hair... and see those wet abs you wanted."
Xi Yu’s ears perked up.
His gaze was dark as he stared at Ling Yanzhi’s retreating back.
The moment Ling Yanzhi was gone, Xi Yu immediately stripped off his shirt.
’Abs? I have those too.’
Xi Yu grabbed Jian Yu’s hand and pressed it against his stomach.
"They’re all secretly trying to seduce you, Baby. So I’m going to seduce you, too."