Chapter 18: She Is Her Best Friend

Chapter 18: She Is Her Best Friend

Shi Yu walked in, and the restaurant, which had been buzzing with gossip just moments ago, suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Shi Yu paid no attention to this strange atmosphere; after all, it was not uncommon for him wherever he went.

His sharp eyes caught sight of a table in the corner, and he walked over.

"Lin Yao, my..."

"Wow, what a coincidence! You're here to see Shi Nian? We were just about to go buy some milk tea."

Lin Yao stood up in a second, her eyes flitting nervously across the other tables where people pretended to eat but were actually eavesdropping. She hurriedly pulled out a seat next to Shi Yu.

As she pulled Shi Yu down to sit, she deliberately raised her voice, "Perfect timing, Shi Yu. Do you want some milk tea too? Join us."

In that short sentence, she conveyed a lot of information.

The people at the neighboring tables only then noticed that Shi Nian had been sitting in the corner all along.

None of them recognized Lin Yao, but everyone at No. 3 Middle School knew Shi Nian.

Hearing Lin Yao's words, they naturally assumed she was just Shi Nian's classmate who was inviting Shi Yu along as a courtesy.

Shi Yu's casual gaze swept over Lin Yao's face filled with hints, and he lightly raised his eyebrows, "Sure."

He became the one mooching off the milk tea.

Shi Yu pulled out a chair and sat down casually.

Lin Yao secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Shi Nian's voice.

Shi Nian: "Shi Yu, what's the deal with that photo? Do you have someone you like?"

Lin Yao instantly looked up at Shi Yu.

The atmosphere at the table became awkward.

Shi Yu's brows imperceptibly furrowed, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yao's tense face before turning to look at Shi Nian.

Shi Yu: "What photo?"

"You don't know?" Shi Nian was somewhat surprised and handed her phone to Shi Yu, "This one. Someone took a photo of you on the forum. Come clean, what's going on?"

Shi Yu propped his elbow on the table, slightly turning his head to glance at the phone screen.

Lin Yao lifted her gaze, her eyes landing precisely on his smooth, beautiful jawline.

Her hands unconsciously twisted together.

Shi Yu, please be reasonable... don't say anything that might get me into trouble.

Please...

"This one?" Shi Yu's voice sounded indifferent, "It's nothing. Just a girl I happened to bump into. We're not close..."

Lin Yao deeply exhaled in relief.

Finally, Shi Yu did the right thing and didn't say anything reckless.

Her lips couldn't help but curve upwards, and she relaxed, leaning back into her seat with a light heart.

She completely failed to notice the cold aura emanating from the person sitting opposite her.

Shi Nian: "Not close? If you're not close, why were you hugging her..."

Shi Nian's voice suddenly paused.

Realizing that many people around them were eavesdropping, she controlled her emotions and pulled Shi Yu closer, lowering her voice.

"Our family's current situation doesn't suit early romance. Whether you're really not close or pretending, don't drag others into it... Shi Yu, do you understand?"

Lin Yao nodded in agreement.

Shi Yu is a troublemaker. The fewer girls he flirts with, the better.

Shi Yu turned his dark, deep eyes straight towards the girl sitting opposite him, who seemed to share the same sentiment.

Seeing her curved lips and relaxed demeanor.

Truly... a heartless little green tea.

For whom had he lied just now?

For a moment, a malicious impulse stirred within the young man.

He wanted to dig this innocent little green tea out of the garden, take her home, and lock her away in a carefully crafted glass cage.

But... ultimately, he couldn't bear to do it.

Shi Yu lowered his eyes, his long, black lashes casting shadows, concealing his emotions.

He responded, "Got it."

Shi Nian smiled.

She knew that Shi Yu always kept his word. Whatever he promised, he would fulfill.

The incident at the restaurant quickly passed.

Even the specifics of that photo were swiftly posted on the forum by eavesdropping classmates, turning it into a topic of discussion.

Before long, replies such as "Just Happened to Run Into Classmates," "Shi Yu Said They Aren't Close," "Obviously Staged for the Shot," and "Ha, Probably Just for Attention" filled the forum.

While waiting in line for milk tea, Lin Yao took out her phone and secretly browsed through the forum, unable to suppress a smile.

No one suspected her. Even those who didn't believe it listed several possible suspects but never considered her.

Hehe, how nice.

Lin Yao's eyes curved into a smile as she swiped through the screen, growing more satisfied with each post.

"What are you laughing at?"

Suddenly, a low, cold, and casual voice sounded in her ear.

Lin Yao almost dropped her phone.

"N-nothing..." She quickly grabbed the phone, trying to hide it.

Shi Yu: "Don't bother hiding it; I've already seen."

Lin Yao: "..."

As Shi Yu spoke, he leaned against the wall.

Since entering the milk tea shop, he had been particularly noticeable.

The tall youth in a white top, with his casual demeanor, attracted many glances as he waited against the wall for Shi Nian and Lin Yao.

He slightly turned his head towards Lin Yao, his gaze sweeping past Shi Nian, who was taking the milk tea from the staff, and said softly, "Where's my jacket?"

Lin Yao, who had just put away her phone, looked at him in surprise. "Didn't you get it?"

Shi Yu raised an eyebrow. "Should I have gotten it?"

Lin Yao opened her mouth, then closed it.

Oh no, did he not go back to the classroom?

Just as she was about to explain to Shi Yu, Shi Nian returned with three cups of milk tea. "The milk tea is ready. Here you go."

Seeing the freshly made Snow King, Lin Yao's eyes immediately lit up.

She chose the cheapest yet best-tasting Snow King, careful not to spend too much to avoid arousing Xia Tingnan's suspicion.

Three iced milk teas, without any extra ingredients.

Seeing Lin Yao's smile, Shi Yu inexplicably recalled the unfulfilled promise of milk tea from that day.

His gaze lowered as he took the milk tea and used the excuse of having something to do to leave.

Watching the youth's retreating back, Lin Yao felt a sense of relief.

Good thing he left...

With Shi Yu around, it would hinder her time with Shi Nian.

Lin Yao and Shi Nian walked back to school, each holding a cup of milk tea.

It had been a long time since they had walked side by side like this, reminiscent of their childhood when they held hands going to school.

On the tree-lined street at the school gate, the shadows danced gently.

The early spring breeze brought a pleasant laziness, and with her favorite milk tea, Lin Yao felt a peak of satisfaction.

But everything came to a halt as they entered the campus.

A disheveled middle-aged woman with red-rimmed eyes suddenly rushed out and grabbed Shi Nian.

"I finally caught you, Shi Nian! Don't think you can escape by hiding in school! Give me back the money... give me back the money..."

The woman, Fang Yuhua, had some issues at home and was one of the most persistent debt collectors after the bald group.

Shi Nian's eyelids twitched, surprised that she had come to the school. Instinctively, she pulled Lin Yao behind her.

Fang Yuhua, however, seemed possessed. Seeing the milk tea in Shi Nian's hand, she snatched it.

"How dare you drink milk tea!" She pointed at the milk tea and yelled, "Your family has swindled over a million from us, leaving us with no way out. And here you are, claiming you have no money but still spending outside! You must be hiding money!"

"I understand your situation, but you've misunderstood... The milk tea was bought by my friend. As for the money, once we sell the house, it will be settled soon..."

"Bullshit! Stop lying to me! Zhang Qiang told me you're secretly selling the house to transfer the money! I warn you, you won't leave without paying today!"

Fang Yuhua angrily threw the milk tea at Shi Nian.

Splosh—

The milk tea, mixed with ice cubes, splashed all over Shi Nian in the timid sunlight of the early spring afternoon.

Shi Nian couldn't close her eyes in time, and the milk tea liquid clung to her eyelashes.

Cold and embarrassed.

It was the busiest time at the school gate during lunchtime.

Many students who had just returned from having lunch off-campus were stunned by this scene.

They had only ever seen Shi Nian as perfect and untouchable.

But now, drenched in milk tea and ice cubes, she had only managed to stretch out her arms to shield Lin Yao behind her.

"Shi Nian, are you okay?"

Lin Yao was terrified and clung to Shi Nian's arm, forgetting all about her germaphobia.

"I'm fine..." Shi Nian slightly pulled her away, her expression cold. "Go inside first."

Lin Yao: "But..."

"Oh! I get it. She's the friend you mentioned, right?" Fang Yuhua grabbed Lin Yao's arm. "She won't pay back the money? You'll pay for her! You love treating others, don't you? You pay!"

"What are you doing? Let go of me..." The young girl, never having encountered such a situation, panicked and slapped at Fang Yuhua's hand.

Shi Nian's face instantly turned serious and ugly as she stepped forward and pried Fang Yuhua's fingers away. "Fang Yuhua, if you want someone, it's me. Don't touch her..."

Hearing Fang Yuhua's name, Lin Yao paused and turned to look at Shi Nian with a surprised expression.

Fang Yuhua...

It was actually Fang Yuhua?

Fang Yuhua, who only wanted to cause trouble, didn't care about anything else.

Someone had told her that even if these siblings were driven to death, it would be fine.

As long as she could disrupt their lives and prevent them from attending school, making them destitute, the person would help cover the debt her husband had incurred through illegal loans.

In fact, both Fang Yuhua and Zhang Qiang were hired by that person.

However, unlike Zhang Qiang, who was foolish enough to risk causing harm, Fang Yuhua had one goal: either force Shi Nian to repay the debt herself or sacrifice these two children so that the person behind the scenes would cover the debt.

Their family was worse off; if they couldn't repay the debt, they would have to jump off a building together!

Thinking about her family's situation, Fang Yuhua steeled herself. Today, she would either make Shi Nian drop out or ensure she could never hold her head high again.

The middle-aged woman pushed Shi Nian down. "She's your friend, isn't she? If she has money, let her pay!"

She suddenly grabbed Lin Yao. "Are you her sister? You must have money, right? Quickly, help her pay back the debt!"

Fang Yuhua pretended to be crazy, gripping Lin Yao's wrists tightly, trying to scare her into submission.

"You... what are you doing... you're hurting my wrist, let go..."

To everyone's surprise, Lin Yao was more concerned about the milk tea in her hand being knocked away.

Plop—

Just as she finished speaking, the cup of milk tea fell to the ground, shattering.

Lin Yao froze.

She really seemed to have a natural aversion to milk tea.

Shi Nian ignored the pain from the fall and stood up. Seeing Lin Yao staring at the spilled milk tea with red-rimmed eyes, she felt a sudden pang of sympathy.

She moved to rescue Lin Yao.

Unexpectedly, the seemingly delicate Lin Yao lifted her misty, reddened eyes, bit her lip angrily, and rammed her shoulder into the middle-aged woman.

Shi Nian was stunned.

Fang Yuhua, who was hit, was also stunned.

She lost her balance and fell on her butt.

Fang Yuhua was in shock for a moment until the pain in her buttocks and thighs registered, and she jumped up like an angry cat.

Fang Yuhua: "You little..."

"Ouch, my hand hurts... Shi Nian, she hurt my hand. Look, I need to call the police."

Lin Yao deliberately raised her slender, pale hands for Shi Nian to see, letting her wrists hang limply, revealing the red marks for the surrounding students to see.

Fang Yuhua was shocked and exclaimed, "What... what are you calling the police for! Debt repayment is a matter of justice..."

Lin Yao blinked, her voice timid. "But... but I don't owe you any money. You hurt me, and my hand really hurts. Why can't I call the police?"

Fang Yuhua was at a loss for words. "You..."

No way, she wouldn't be intimidated by this little girl!

Fang Yuhua rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the ground, screaming loudly.

"Ouch, ouch, it hurts so much... ouch... students from No. 3 Middle School are bullying people, attacking someone in public and crying wolf! Ouch... it hurts so much... ouch, my back is breaking..."

Fang Yuhua held her lower back and wailed.

Shi Nian had never seen anyone so shameless and was about to expose Fang Yuhua.

But Lin Yao pulled her back.

"Shi Nian... look at my hand, it hurts so much. It's so red. Will I be able to hold a pen in the future?"

The young girl looked terrified, her eyes red and watery, hiding behind Shi Nian, pointing fearfully at the middle-aged woman on the ground.

"I haven't even taken the college entrance exam yet, and she's preventing me from taking it... I won't let her off the hook. I'll have my parents sue her. I want her to pay for my medical bills; she must be responsible for the rest of my life!"

Lin Yao's emotions flared up faster than Fang Yuhua's.

Tears began to fall as she spoke.

Fang Yuhua was stunned. How could this young girl be such a better actress?

She had just grabbed Lin Yao a few times. Even if she was a bit rough, it shouldn't have left Lin Yao unable to hold a pen and take an exam!

Fang Yuhua, furious, exclaimed, "You... You're lying! My back still hurts because of you! It's broken!"

The contrast between the two was stark.

One acted like an injured tiger, while the other, without saying a word, looked like a pitiful little deer.

How could a little deer bully a tiger?

It must be the tiger bullying the deer.

"Hey, don't go too far, trying to scam us at our school gate!"

"That's right. We all saw that you were the one who grabbed Lin Yao first. She didn't touch you at all..."

"If you want money, fine, but bullying Lin Yao is just disgraceful! Lying on the ground pretending to be pitiful—do you think you can fool anyone?"

Three girls wearing No. 3 Middle School uniforms stepped forward first.

They seemed quite formidable, chattering away, each adding their own comments, leaving the middle-aged woman speechless.

Fang Yuhua gasped, "You... You're lying... She pushed me first, and I hurt my back!"

The three girls responded:

"Auntie, are you asking us to quote that famous line?"

"You fell on your butt, so you should be feeling pain there..."

"...not in your back, silly!"

After they finished, everyone burst into laughter.

This line from a popular TV show was well-known among students, a classic that everyone remembered.

Seeing these three girls speak up so confidently, others joined in, not wanting to be left behind.

After all, if someone wants to collect a debt, they should do it properly, not by scamming people at the school gate.

"Junior, call the police. I saw her attack you first; I can be a witness!"

"That's right, I saw it too! Yes, we all saw it!"

"Let's go to the security office; there are cameras there... attacking our schoolmates and trying to extort money—don't let her get away!"

More and more students gathered.

Initially, most people just watched silently, but once someone took the lead, more and more joined in.

The middle-aged woman hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Seeing the students calling security guards, she quickly got up, brushed off the dust, and ran away.

"Hey, security guards, chase her! Don't let her escape!"

Some kind-hearted students led the security guards in pursuit.

Shi Nian and Lin Yao hadn't anticipated this outcome.

But Shi Nian was more concerned about Lin Yao: "Is your hand okay? Let me take you to the hospital..."

"No need... My hand is fine," Lin Yao said, shaking her wrist to show her. "It just hurts a bit, but it's not broken. But later, if they catch that woman named Fang Yuhua, we can't let her off the hook. We should report her to the police."

Shi Nian felt a bit uneasy; she hadn't intended for Lin Yao to get involved.

Shi Nian asked, "What will you charge her with?"

Lin Yao's eyes flashed mischievously: "For intentional harm. There are cameras at the school gate... She caused trouble and injured me. We have witnesses and evidence."

She didn't tell Shi Nian that when she heard her say "Fang Yuhua," a scene from a book she had read flashed through her mind.

"Fang Yuhua, under someone's instructions, deliberately made things difficult for Shi Nian during the debt collection, not for repayment but to make life unbearable for the Shi siblings. Later, Shi Nian faced bullying at school, and it was Qi Yanye, the school bully, who intervened to protect her."

Lin Yao knew the details weren't clear, but she remembered enough.

Shi Nian thought it over and still felt it wasn't right: "I should handle this alone..."

Before she could finish, a voice came from behind them—

"Lin Yao, you got some milk tea on you. I have tissues; you should wipe it off."

The three girls who had come to Lin Yao's defense earlier appeared behind them.

The leader handed her a pack of tissues, smiling warmly at Lin Yao.

Clearly, Shi Nian was the one who had been drenched in milk tea.

Yet, the three girls were only concerned about Lin Yao, not even looking at Shi Nian.

Lin Yao was completely bewildered.

She didn't know these three people, and given the situation, it seemed that Shi Nian needed the tissues more than she did.

She had never been the center of attention, and all her friendships and goodwill came from her deliberate efforts to maintain a perfect image.

Lin Yao had never been treated with such kindness by strangers before.

She instinctively glanced at Shi Nian.

Shi Nian gave her an encouraging look.

"Thank you."

Lin Yao took the tissues.

The moment her fingertips touched the tissues, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

Lin Yao looked up at the three of them. "You're the ones from that day..."

The three—

"Yes, it's us."

"The dark-skinned, ugly ones with broad backs and bear-like waists, who can eat twenty packets of spicy snacks in one go..."

"That day in the restroom, you handed us tissues too, remember?"

Lin Yao recalled the scene from that day.

It was those three girls who were talking about her in the restroom stall and happened to be overheard by her.

But... But when they spoke about her like that, they must have become enemies, right?

"How could we become enemies... It was our prejudice that led to misunderstanding you. You're so well-behaved; seeing your puffed-up face that day, we knew how hard it was for you to be misunderstood..."

"That's right, we misunderstood you first, yet you still explained things to us so cutely and seriously."

"Lin Yao, I really like your gentle demeanor. My name is Ye Lanyue, from Class 2, Grade 10. Call on us if you need any help."

"I'm also from Class 2, my name is Xie Yao."

"I'm Tan Xiaoyou, Lin Yao. Nice to meet you."

Ye Lanyue, Xie Yao, Tan Xiaoyou...

After transferring schools to get away from Shi Yu and Shi Nian, Lin Yao began to intentionally change herself.

All her 'friends' were carefully selected and cultivated through her efforts to present a perfect image, actively approaching and befriending them.

A hurt puppy is hesitant to give its heart away easily.

She only dared to befriend those who seemed easy-going or had casual personalities, not overly dominant.

From elementary school through junior high and high school, there had never been a time like this.

Girls from other classes approached her, introduced themselves, and wanted to be friends with her.

Lin Yao's heart swelled with joy, and she even forgot about the pain in her wrist.

She looked at Shi Nian, then at Ye Lanyue, Xie Yao, and Tan Xiaoyou, nodding lightly as if trying to appear calm.

"I'm Lin Yao. Nice to meet you too."

She said softly.

*

The incident where Shi Nian and Lin Yao were stopped by debt collectors at the school gate quickly became the hottest topic on the forum.

Even the speculation about Shi Yu's girlfriend in the school uniform was temporarily forgotten.

In the classroom of Class 1, Grade 10.

Qiu Xueer, as usual, returned from the cafeteria and sat down, casually pulling out a packet of chips for an extra snack.

But she noticed the pink thermos cup she had placed in her drawer.

That was Lin Yao's thermos cup, which she had forgotten to take.

Qiu Xueer shoved the thermos cup to the back of the drawer, not wanting to see it.

The homeroom teacher asked her to bring it to Lin Yao, but she didn't want to go to Class 13.

And... Lin Yao's lack of loyalty and coldness disappointed her, so she didn't want to see Lin Yao for now.

"Qiu Xueer, how can you still eat snacks? Haven't you seen the latest gossip on the forum?"

Her desk mate entered and nudged her arm, seeing Qiu Xueer acting as if nothing had happened.

Qiu Xueer, holding the newly opened chips, looked up. "Why can't I eat? What new gossip is there on the forum?"

"It's about Shi Nian! Oh, no, actually, it's about Lin Yao too... Turns out Lin Yao isn't cold-hearted at all. She helped Shi Nian chase away the troublemakers at the school gate. And apparently, the injury on her forehead was from a brick thrown while protecting Shi Nian."

Her desk mate pointed to a photo on her phone, showing Lin Yao standing up to a crazy woman while protecting Shi Nian. The photo clearly showed white bandages on the girl's forehead.

Her desk mate shook her head. "We all misunderstood Lin Yao... especially you, her best friend..."

Qiu Xueer froze, and hurriedly reached into the drawer to touch the thermos cup she had just pushed to the back.

The newly opened bag of chips fell from her hands, scattering all over the floor.