Chapter 9: Overt and Covert Exclusion
847 Words
A University，Qinru asked Gu Shenyan to drop her off at the same spot. She jumped out of the car, waving goodbye. "You should head to the office. I'll be at school all day."
"I'll pick you up in the evening," Gu Shenyan replied, watching her retreating figure with an intense gaze. He pulled out his phone and made a quick call, issuing a terse command. "You Te, I want He Shengming's company to declare bankruptcy by the end of the day."
"Understood," You Zhiyuan responded without question, knowing better than to inquire about the reasons behind Gu Shenyan's orders.
Gu Shenyan ended the call, tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, and drove away.
From a hidden corner, Li Shishi watched the car disappear, a peculiar smile playing on her lips. She had just seen Qinru get out of that car.
"That woman always acts so high and mighty, but in the end, she's just being kept by a rich man. Disgusting."
Inside the classroom, Li Shishi spotted Qinru chatting with Lin Xiaoya. She sneered, "Oh, Qinru, you finally decided to show up at school?"
"Li Shishi, stop with the snide comments," Lin Xiaoya retorted, glaring at her.
Li Shishi covered her mouth, laughing, "Xiaoya, don't let Qinru drag you down with her. She might be doing something shameful behind our backs."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Lin Xiaoya's temper flared.
"Xiaoya, don't waste your breath on her," Qinru interjected, pulling Lin Xiaoya back. She had no intention of engaging with Li Shishi, who had been subtly and overtly trying to isolate her since their first day at university.
"You're right, why should I argue with a mad dog?" Lin Xiaoya shot Li Shishi a contemptuous look before ignoring her entirely.
"Who are you calling a mad dog?" Li Shishi snapped, only for Lin Xiaoya to shoot back, "Who's barking now?"
"You!" Li Shishi instinctively responded, drawing laughter from the entire classroom.
Professor Xu Wen entered, bringing a hush over the room. Li Shishi cast a resentful glance at Qinru, who remained unbothered.
"We'll now distribute the exam papers. You have ninety minutes," Professor Xu announced, signaling his assistant, Wang Yuanshen, to hand out the papers. He paused briefly by Qinru, giving her an extra moment before moving on.
Lin Xiaoya nudged Qinru, whispering, "See? Yuanshen has his eyes on you."
Qinru frowned slightly, "Focus on the exam."
Yuanshen, a senior, had made his feelings clear before. However, Qinru, with a complicated past involving He Shengming and her current ties to Gu Shenyan, knew they could never be together. She had never given Yuanshen any reason to hope for more.
As the exam began, Qinru pushed all distractions aside, concentrating on her answers. Li Shishi, meanwhile, stole glances at her, her frustration mounting. She had little interest in the exam, knowing her father, Li Jun, was an influential investor in the college and her grades didn't concern her.
Noticing Yuanshen's lingering gaze on Qinru, Li Shishi's anger grew. Yuanshen's rejection of her confession, coupled with his clear preference for Qinru, fueled her animosity.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. Qinru breathed a sigh of relief. Despite missing two days of school, she felt confident, thanks to her usual diligence.
As Yuanshen collected the papers, he slipped a note to Qinru. She hesitated, then tore it up without reading it, discarding the pieces.
"What's in the note?" Lin Xiaoya asked eagerly.
"Nothing important," Qinru replied, heading for the trash can. Yuanshen's expression darkened as he watched her.
"Qinru, wait for me," Lin Xiaoya called, catching up. "You always shut him down. He must be heartbroken."
"It's better this way. He'll give up eventually," Qinru sighed. "I'm starving. Let's eat."
"I skipped breakfast. I'm famished," Lin Xiaoya said, linking arms with Qinru. "I missed you these past two days."
"Don't worry, lunch is on me," Qinru laughed, waving her meal card.
From a corner, Yuanshen sighed deeply. Turning to leave, he was surprised to see Li Shishi. "What are you doing here?"
"Senior, why don't you give up on Qinru? She's not worth it," Li Shishi spat out.
"That's my decision, not yours," Yuanshen replied coldly.
"Why her? She acts all pure, but she's being kept by a rich guy," Li Shishi snapped, infuriated.
"Stop slandering her. She has a boyfriend," Yuanshen said, frowning.
"A boyfriend? That guy can't afford such an expensive car. I'm not blind," Li Shishi retorted, knowing He Shengming's modest car couldn't compare.
"I believe she's not materialistic," Yuanshen stated, walking away.
"You're a fool, Yuanshen," Li Shishi shouted after him, frustration boiling over.
Qinru and Lin Xiaoya found a corner in the crowded cafeteria. Lin Xiaoya ate heartily, while Qinru picked at her food.
"Why aren't you eating?" Lin Xiaoya asked.
"I need to go out this afternoon. If the teacher calls roll, cover for me," Qinru requested.
"No problem," Lin Xiaoya said, noticing Li Shishi approaching with her tray. "Watch out, the mad dog is coming."
The drama continued, but Qinru was determined to navigate it with grace and resilience.
- Writer
