Rebirth of a Beautiful Diplomat

Chapter 3

Shen Tan returned to her eldest sister’s place. Why else? Where would a high school senior get 5000 yuan? In an era where the city’s average salary was 1280 yuan, the only ways to make 5000 yuan in a day were selling her body or borrowing from a loan shark. She wanted neither.

After thinking it over, the only way to continue her education was to ask her sister for money.

She knocked on the door again. Shen Ru looked at her impatiently. "Why are you back!"

"I need to borrow money. Today’s registration day," Shen Tan said firmly, refusing to back down.

"You’re crazy," Shen Ru scoffed. "When you can’t even eat, who cares about school? So what if you get into college—can you afford college tuition?"

"By then, I can work, apply for student loans, get a work-study job. I’ll never trouble you again." Shen Tan looked at her earnestly. "You’re the only one who can help me now. This is the last time I’ll ask you for money. I promise."

Shen Ru bit her lip, staring at her, her eyes flickering.

"I will get into college," Shen Tan said, pulling out paper and a pen from her backpack, her eyes filled with hope. "I’ll write you a promissory note, borrowing at a higher rate than the bank. I will pay you back. 5% annual interest—how about that? I’ll work next summer and definitely pay you back."

"Work," Shen Ru sneered, seeing her sister was serious. She turned around. "Wait here."

Shen Tan knew she’d agreed. She leaned against the door, quickly writing the promissory note. When Shen Ru came out, she handed it to her for review.

Shen Ru glanced at it—Shen Tan had clearly written the borrower, repayment date, and interest rate. She was to pay back the money by the same day next year.

Shen Ru handed her a stack of yuan. "Here. Didn’t you say my money was dirty? This is from that tacky rich guy earlier. After junior high, I worked in a factory. What future does a factory girl have? This nouveau riche opened a factory on the mainland and wanted a mistress—I latched onto him. Don’t feel sorry for me. He wants young, fresh women; I want money. Fair trade, no one owes anyone. This apartment is his—no way I’d let our parents move in, you know how they are."

Shen’s father was stupid and greedy, with a gambling problem. Shen’s mother was fine except for being weak-willed, treating men as her whole world. Without Shen’s father, she’d lose her backbone, and now all her hopes rested on their son.

Shen Tan clutched the money, her face stiffening. "I was stupid before, said mean things. I’m sorry, sister." She sniffled, lowering her eyes. "I’m leaving."

As she turned to go, Shen Ru called out behind her—her voice hoarse from years of drinking and smoking. "Shen Tan, I’m already like this. Don’t follow my path. I’ll handle the family stuff. Use the college entrance exam to get as far away as you can."

With that, she tore up the promissory note and closed the door.

Shen Tan had the money. She hugged her backpack to her chest, transferring buses three times to reach her key high school. It was registration day; people bustled in and out of the school gate under the hot sun. Shen Tan’s cheeks flushed with heat, a light sweat forming on her nose.

In the crowd, a tall boy stood under a tree. When he saw her, his eyes lit up. "Shen Tan, you’re here!"

Shen Tan had been in a daze all the way, only alert to protect the money. The rest of the time, she’d been thinking about her sister’s words. At the school gate, her tense nerves finally relaxed. Seeing this familiar yet unfamiliar boy, she cried again.

The boy panicked. "What’s wrong? Did someone bully you? Did you not borrow the tuition? It’s okay, it’s okay—don’t cry!" Even crying, Shen Tan was beautiful—her almond eyes red, tears sliding down her cheeks, her lips pursed, sniffling. He felt a sudden pain in his chest, but didn’t dare overstep, only fidgeting helplessly.

"Du Ruo..." Shen Tan tasted bitterness in her mouth as she spoke the name. The boy had clean black hair, fair skin, sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose, and a tall frame. He stood there in a white T-shirt and jeans, waiting for her—plunging her back into the past.

They’d been in the same junior high, from the same hometown. Du Ruo’s father was a somewhat famous figure in their county. Usually, it’s the woman who leaves her husband and child to marry into a wealthy family, but in their case, Du Ruo’s father had abandoned his wife and son to marry into a wealthy family. No one knew what spell that rich heiress was under—she’d fallen for a married man.

In high school, one was a campus belle, the other a campus heartthrob. Both knew each other’s hidden secrets, so they’d grown close.

Shen Tan’s backpack slipped between them. She reached out and hugged Du Ruo, burying her face in his chest and crying. The last time she’d seen Du Ruo in her past life was at a dinner party. He’d been trying to start a business, seeking investors, drinking like his life depended on it. Back then, Shen Tan had looked down on him—look at him, a top college graduate, nothing in front of rich people.

Later, Du Ruo had come to her, wanting to be with her. She’d scoffed. Why would she endure hardship with him? She wasn’t that stupid.

Shen Tan cried until she could barely breathe. Through teary eyes, she looked up at his furrowed, worried face, finally stopping.

This was Du Ruo’s first close contact with the girl he liked. She smelled nice, felt soft—he froze, wishing she’d hold him longer.

"It’s okay, I’ll figure something out. If all else fails, I’ll ask him for money," Du Ruo said, gritting his teeth.

Shen Tan knew who "him" was—Du Ruo always referred to his father that way. She looked up and smiled. "I borrowed it from my sister."

She picked up her backpack, hugged it to her chest, walked a few steps, and turned back. "Can you come with me to the registration classroom?"

"Let's go," Du Ruo said, recovering. He walked beside her, casually taking her other bag.

They walked into the campus side by side. Everyone who passed stared—walking under the shade, the late summer wind easing the heat, they looked like characters in a live-action campus drama. Their looks were off the charts.

The registration teacher was about to leave for lunch, packing up his teacup, locking the classroom door, and telling the line of people to come back in the afternoon. The line dispersed helplessly.

"Looks like we’ll have to come back this afternoon," Du Ruo said, lowering his head.

Shen Tan didn’t respond. She stepped in front of the teacher. "Teacher, I’m here to pay tuition."

"Bad timing—I’m about to go to lunch," the teacher said, smiling at her. He was nicer to pretty girls than to parents.

"I know, teacher. Please help me. I’m nervous carrying all this money around. I’ll feel better once I pay tuition," Shen Tan said, her eyes still teary, looking pitiful and obedient after crying.

The teacher looked at her, put his cup on the windowsill, and took out his keys. "Alright, teacher can eat later."

"Thank you, teacher," Shen Tan said, following him into the classroom. She paid tuition, textbook fees, and boarding fees, taking the receipt. A weight lifted from her heart.

In her past life, she hadn’t understood the importance of education. She’d been brainwashed by toxic rhetoric: "Studying well is worse than marrying well," "The college entrance exam isn’t the end of life—there are many paths to success," "Women are only happy with material things and money." For someone from her background, with parents who couldn’t help at all and couldn’t even give basic life advice, the college entrance exam was her only way out. Education was the most basic stepping stone in society.

Shen Tan said goodbye to the teacher, looking up to see Du Ruo’s cold, displeased expression. When he noticed her looking, he returned to his usual demeanor.

Shen Tan put the remaining 1000 yuan safely away, walking up and pulling his arm. "What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly angry?"

"Nothing," Du Ruo said, pressing his lips together.

Shen Tan wouldn’t let it go. She pulled his hand, shaking it gently. "Tell me."

Du Ruo stopped, looking down at her. "Why not wait until afternoon? Do you really need it right now? And you acting cute with that teacher—I don’t like that."

Shen Tan let go of his hand. Du Ruo immediately regretted his words, starting to apologize, but then he saw her almond eyes welling up with tears again, looking ready to cry. His heart ached.

She lowered her head, staring at her shoes. "Du Ruo, I don’t want to either, but using my advantages as a girl feels like protecting myself. It’s become a habit without me realizing."

Du Ruo was stunned. He hadn’t realized Shen Tan felt so insecure. But of course—with their backgrounds, the judgment from others, the mental anguish—they’d both developed protective shells. Only Shen Tan truly understood his situation; they were the most emotionally similar people.

Just thinking she was there made him feel less alone.

"I’m sorry," Du Ruo apologized. "I was being unreasonable. You must be scared carrying all that money around."

Shen Tan shook her head, taking his hand again. "It’s okay, as long as you’re not angry. Have you had lunch?"

"No."

"Ah, you waited for me this whole time?" Shen Tan smiled sheepishly, noticing his ears turning red—she’d hit the mark. She led him out of the school gate. "I already ate. I’ll keep you company while you get something."

"Okay," Du Ruo said, his eyes fixed on their joined hands. This was their first time holding hands, sudden but welcome. He was aware of the stares around them—by tomorrow, rumors of their relationship would probably spread through the grade—but he didn’t want to let go.

Walking by the roadside, a luxury car suddenly pulled up beside them. The driver’s window rolled down, revealing a handsome, refined face. The man smiled and greeted them. "Where are you two lovebirds off to?"