chapter2
1450 Words
"Grandfather told me to inform you to stay at school in the coming days and not wander around. If the family sends someone to pick up the eldest young master and young lady, you are to return home with them."
Qian Ye, hearing the person he yearned for speaking in such a cold and heartless tone, felt a pain so deep it was beyond repair. He adjusted his breathing, trying not to show his uncontrollable emotions.
"Understood," Qian Ling immediately hung up the phone, but her heart was filled with sorrow and hurt. 'I'm sorry.'
Qian Ye stared blankly at his phone. The profile picture showed Qian Ling with her beautiful wavy hair and a playful smile, but her eyes were looking elsewhere—clearly a candid shot.
The profile icon slowly turned gray, then disappeared into a small icon on the phone. Staring at the now-gray photo, Qian Ye lowered his head in anguish.
'Ling'er, you're still the same as ever—unwilling to say even one more word to me. It's been five years. You've been gone for five years, and you only answer one of my calls a year.' He closed his eyes in pain, slumped dejectedly on the sofa, images of her fading face replaying endlessly in his mind.
On the second floor of the villa,
Qian Zhen Nan, sitting in his wheelchair, watched the sorrowful and lonely young man below and sighed helplessly.
'Did I make a mistake? Xiao Ling'er doesn't like Qian Ye, but I've been trying to set them up. My time is running out; it seems this wish won't come true.' He turned away dejectedly, his aged figure looking even more dispirited.
In a corner of the luxurious living room, Qian Mu watched his boss's painful expression, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Over on the other side, Qian Ling was also suffering. Looking at the call history on her phone, she suddenly recalled her dream from earlier, and a chill ran down her spine.
The dream she just had foreshadowed her grandfather transferring his shares to her. If this wasn't just a coincidence, then tomorrow—tomorrow she would definitely get hurt. In the dream, her palms were covered in blood, then that place appeared, and then... the apocalypse descended!
The restless emotions lasted until dawn. Her dormmates had gone to class in groups, and the surroundings gradually grew quiet.
Qian Ling lay in bed, hesitating. 'If I don't go out, will nothing happen?'
"Hey, Ling, still lazing in bed? That's not like you. You know you ranked first in the training camp at H University. If you wanted, you could even join the military someday," Lan Ka suddenly burst in and pulled her up from the bed.
Lan Ka was a mixed-race girl, stunningly beautiful, but her temper was volatile, impulsive, and irritable, which made her unpopular among girls. However, she had an extraordinary identity—she was a princess of a small country. Only Qian Ling knew this secret; to others, she was just a socialite from the upper class of M Country. She was also Qian Ling's only female friend.
"What is it? Not going on a date? It's rare for you to stay so obediently at school," Qian Ling said, exasperated, as she looked at this scatterbrained girl. She could never handle her. She dodged her claws and hugged the blanket, unwilling to move.
"Oh, my prince hasn't shown up yet. Those losers are just my playthings. Get up. The weather outside is getting unbearably hot. Come on, come eat something with me," Lan Ka said, tossing her proud hair nonchalantly, then dragged Qian Ling out of bed forcefully.
Ten minutes later, Qian Ling was dragged to the best restaurant on campus. When she sat down at a familiar window seat and looked outside at the heatwaves distorting the distant view, a sudden panic seized her.
Her heart started pounding uncontrollably. It took several deep breaths to steady her heart rate a little...
While Lan Ka eagerly picked out her favorite foods and iced drinks, Qian Ling's heart could no longer find peace when she saw a certain group of people.
"Lan Ka, my princess, I am honored to have lunch with you," a flattering yet slightly frivolous voice sounded. A fairly handsome man sat down next to Qian Ling, gazing eagerly at the beauty opposite him. Meanwhile, his gang of friends also found seats around them.
Lan Ka frowned, glanced at the aloof Qian Ling, then continued flipping through the menu. She said coldly, "Young Master Lu, I don't have time for you. Leave before my bodyguard shows up, and stop disturbing my meal with Ling."
Qian Lu looked at Lan Ka in disappointment, then warily scanned the restaurant. He had experienced Lan Ka's formidable bodyguard before. Even though he was a scion of the world-famous Qian Corporation, he was no match for Lan Ka. Qian Lu didn't know Lan Ka's true identity; he called her "princess" as a flirtatious term, but he had accidentally hit close to the truth.
Qian Lu was somewhat in awe of Lan Ka. Reluctantly, he turned to Qian Ling and said, "You brat, aren't you my sister? Can't you at least put in a good word for me? I truly like Lan Ka. Would it kill you to help me?"
Lan Ka slammed the menu on the table and shouted angrily, "Young Master Lu, if it weren't for Ling's sake, do you think you'd even have the right to speak to me? Tang Rui, get him out of here. He's so annoying." With that, she called out a name, and a tall, handsome, blue-eyed blond bodyguard quickly rose from the adjacent sofa and stood by her side.
The warning and intimidation from the bodyguard were very effective. Qian Ling saw in Qian Lu's eyes that he was terrified.
"You—" Qian Lu's face darkened instantly, especially since all his friends were there. He was furious but dared not provoke Lan Ka. So he turned to Qian Ling and started yelling.
"Qian Ling, who do you think you are? I've already begged you so humbly, and you won't even give me any face? You've eaten the Qian family's food for so many years, what, you think just because you're not at home, you can bully me? When I inherit the Qian family, you'll be the first one kicked out!"
Qian Lu immediately backed down when he saw Tang Rui take another step forward. But he was humiliated in front of his friends, so he vented all his anger on Qian Ling.
"Qian Lu, leave right now! Don't you dare bully Ling!" Lan Ka was furious. She stood up and shouted at him.
Qian Ling looked at this familiar stranger with sarcasm and disdain. "Young Master Lu, your affairs have nothing to do with me. I've said it before: whether you can win Lan Ka's favor is up to you. I, Qian Ling, haven't spent a single cent of the Qian family's money since I was thirteen."
"You—fine, just wait. I'll deal with you later," Qian Lu said hatefully.
Since the age of thirteen, Qian Ling had worked part-time to support her studies. Even in less famous schools in H Country, she earned top grades and won the favor and sponsorship of the school.
Later, relying on her own abilities, she was admitted to a prestigious high school in M Country, paying tuition partly through work and partly through scholarships.
Upon graduating high school, she achieved even better results and was admitted to the renowned H University in M Country on a full tuition waiver. Her full scholarship was enough to cover her daily expenses.
Moreover, Qian Ling was very skilled with computers and could earn money online without ever leaving the house. So she didn't care about Qian Lu's words at all and retorted until he was speechless.
Qian Lu stepped back, glaring at her hatefully. "Hmph, don't put on airs here. Do you think we don't know that without Grandfather's support behind the scenes, you wouldn't be living such a good life?
But so what if your grades are good? You still live in a low-class dormitory for commoners. A young lady's fate but a maidservant's destiny—you'll always be a cheap piece that never makes it to the stage."
"Enough! Leave this instant, right now, or I'll make you," Lan Ka shouted angrily, smashing a glass on the table. The bodyguard behind her stirred.
"You dead girl, just wait until you get home. I'll make you pay," Qian Lu cursed at Qian Ling, then quickly left before the bodyguard could act.
"Scum,"
"Ah~~~"
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- Writer
