Chapter 26 She Doesn’t Want Shi Yu Anymore

Chapter 26 She Doesn't Want Shi Yu Anymore

Inside the convenience store.

Lin Yao watched Shen Chaowen get up from the sofa.

"You... What do you want to do..."

Lin Yao stepped back, her heart racing uncontrollably, watching Shen Chaowen approach with fear and vigilance.

"I told you, I just want to get to know you. Give me your phone." Shen Chaowen's face lit up with a beautiful, harmless smile as he beckoned her with his finger, his voice pleasant and melodious.

If Lin Yao didn't know that Shen Chaowen was the book's twisted and dark antagonist, she might have believed him.

"No... I don't have my phone with me..."

"Is that so?" Shen Chaowen raised an eyebrow, seemingly disbelieving.

"Yes, I—"

"Brother Shen, her phone is here." The boy who had confiscated Lin Yao's phone earlier shook it in his hand and passed it through the curtain.

Lin Yao turned around angrily, her red-rimmed eyes glaring at him indignantly.

How could he do this!

Shen Chaowen clearly didn't know she had her phone; why did he betray her? It was too much!

The boy with the yellow hair, under Lin Yao's red-eyed glare, almost dropped the phone.

Damn, this girl's red-eyed glare wasn't intimidating at all; it made her look strangely pitiful and wronged.

He quickly handed the phone to Shen Chaowen and hurried out, feeling inexplicably guilty.

Shen Chaowen glanced at the phone and handed it to Lin Yao. "Unlock it."

"No, no way." Lin Yao closed her eyes and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

She wouldn't unlock it for him! Who knew what he would do with her phone.

Shen Chaowen was momentarily taken aback.

He stared at Lin Yao, who had turned her head and closed her eyes, biting her lower lip tightly. She looked stubborn and determined, but her trembling eyelashes betrayed her fear. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "If you don't unlock it, I'll wait for you outside No. 3 Middle School every day after school."

Lin Yao instantly opened her eyes wide, tears welling up. "You're being too much!"

At the moment she opened her eyes, Shen Chaowen held the phone screen in front of her face.

Swipe—unlock successful.

"Thanks."

Shen Chaowen smiled charmingly, ruffling her hair like petting a puppy before sitting back on the sofa.

"Just kidding, I'm not interested in bullying someone like you."

Lin Yao: ...Kidding her?

This person was too much; how could he joke about something like this.

Ignoring her, Shen Chaowen played with the unlocked phone, lounging on the sofa with his long legs casually resting on the coffee table.

He lowered his head, fiddling with the phone for a while, then suddenly lifted his amber eyes to stare at her.

Shen Chaowen's expression soured. "You don't have Qi Yanye as a friend?"

Lin Yao looked as if she had heard incorrectly. "What?"

Should she have?

Shen Chaowen continued scrolling, his tone becoming more critical. "And no WeChat contact with Shi Yu either."

Lin Yao: "..."

What was this person talking about?

Why should she have Qi Yanye and Shi Yu's WeChat?

Finally, after thoroughly searching her WeChat, Shen Chaowen found neither of the two people he was looking for, and his handsome face darkened completely.

The previously normal atmosphere in the room suddenly became oppressive.

The boys familiar with Shen Chaowen's temperament dared not play games or watch TV anymore, silently putting down their phones and lowering the volume.

Shen Chaowen lifted his eyes and smiled at Zhou Yuwei standing behind Lin Yao. "You said she was Shi Nian's best friend. Why doesn't she have any contact information for Shi Yu or Qi Yanye?"

"Zhou Yuwei, are you lying to me?"

"I'm not... Brother Shen, how could I dare to lie to you."

Zhou Yuwei's heart trembled, her legs going weak from Shen Chaowen's smile.

"I'm telling the truth... Lin Yao really is close to Shi Nian. She even helped shield her from a brick. Look, there's still a scar on her forehead as proof."

Shen Chaowen glanced at Lin Yao. "With your build, how could you shield someone from a brick?"

It seemed he didn't believe her.

But as he tilted his head, his gaze caught the scar on her forehead that hadn't fully healed yet.

Lin Yao had no time to address Shen Chaowen's doubts; she turned around and glared at Zhou Yuwei, both shocked and angry.

Zhou Yuwei had brought her here with such an expression, making Lin Yao think that Zhou Yuwei was also coerced or forced.

She never expected that Zhou Yuwei had actually approached Shen Chaowen to betray her?

They were classmates, how could she do something like this!?

But before Lin Yao could even question her, Zhou Yuwei couldn't wait to speak.

"As long as you catch her, Shi Nian will definitely make Qi Yanye come over, but..." Zhou Yuwei thought of something and said worriedly, "You didn't tell me you were also going to deal with Shi Yu. This has nothing to do with him..."

Shen Chaowen raised an eyebrow and glanced at her coldly, "You're talking too much."

Zhou Yuwei was speechless: "..."

Shen Chaowen: "Take her out."

He nodded towards Zhou Yuwei, his jawline perfectly smooth, but his pale, cold face darkened.

The others got up and silently led Zhou Yuwei out, leaving the space for the two of them.

In an instant, the small room was left with only Shen Chaowen and Lin Yao.

Shen Chaowen gestured for her to come closer, "Come here."

Lin Yao still clung tightly to the back of the single sofa in front of her, afraid she would collapse to the ground if she let go.

"I don't..." The girl bit her lip, her eyes red, tears welling up but not falling, shaking her head desperately.

Shen Chaowen's face darkened, "Don't make me say it twice."

Lin Yao: "..."

But she still held onto the sofa tightly, not daring to move.

It was the first time Shen Chaowen encountered someone like Lin Yao, who looked timid like a quail but dared to confront him face-to-face.

The strange young man slightly lifted his chin to look at her. His profile was beautifully defined, but the amber eyes under his indigo hair grew colder, like the most beautiful yet venomous snake in the world.

"Lin... Yao."

He deliberately slowed down his tone, emphasizing her name.

"Do you know what happened to the last person who didn't listen to me?"

Lin Yao choked back a sob, thinking of Shen Chaowen's character in the novel, her legs trembling more and more.

In the original novel, Shen Chaowen was the most competitive antagonist vying for Shi Nian against Qi Yanye.

It was mentioned that Shen Chaowen was a nobleman who could easily get whatever he wanted since childhood, except when it came to Shi Nian and Qi Yanye.

This is why he discovered Shi Nian's uniqueness and became fixated on her, from their high school days to later adulthood, always entangled with Shi Nian and Qi Yanye.

The novel also mentioned that those who offended Shen Chaowen often met terrible fates.

Even Shi Nian being forced to transfer to No. 3 Middle School was said to be related to Shen Chaowen.

The more Lin Yao thought about it, the more scared she became.

If Shen Chaowen really targeted her, she, as a minor character, would be easily crushed by him.

She wanted to study hard, take the college entrance exam, and go to university properly.

How unlucky could she be to be targeted by Shen Chaowen?

"What... what happened, do you think I don't know? How dare I not listen to you... It's not that I don't want to move, it's just... my legs are weak, I can't walk, why scare me..."

A huge wave of grievance welled up in the girl's chest, and she could no longer hold it back.

Lin Yao's tears finally burst forth, and she clung to the sofa, crying uncontrollably.

"You didn't move... because your legs were weak?" Shen Chaowen raised an eyebrow.

His deliberately stern face, meant to scare her, showed a hint of surprise when he heard the girl's cry filled with grievance.

Shen Chaowen tilted his head, his amber eyes staring at Lin Yao's tear-streaked face, seemingly trying to discern the truth.

After a long pause, he suddenly stood up, stepped forward, and forcefully grabbed Lin Yao's wrist.

The girl, already sobbing uncontrollably, looked down at her wrist in his grip and felt even more like crying, "What are you doing?"

"I never believe such words."

Shen Chaowen looked at her, his icy and critical gaze filled with disdain.

"I've seen too many performances like yours. Unless you prove to me that you really can't stand."

With that, he pulled Lin Yao's wrist, forcing her away from the sofa.

The next moment, the girl, already blinded by tears, lost her balance and pitifully fell towards the cold floor.

...

...

Outside the convenience store, a little further away on the basketball court.

Zhou Yuwei was forcefully stuffing several hundred-yuan bills into the hands of a few other boys from No. 5 Middle School.

Her mood wasn't particularly good or bad, as if she had just resolved a heavy burden.

But thinking about Lin Yao's gaze as she left, she felt a hollow emptiness in her heart.

Had she gone too far?

But... but who could blame her when Lin Yao was so close to Shi Yu, and they were even photographed together like that.

Shi Yu's school uniform was even draped over Lin Yao's head.

Zhou Yuwei turned to look at the nearby convenience store.

She had seen Shen Chaowen specifically call someone to bring something inside, but she didn't know what had happened there.

It's fine... Zhou Yuwei told herself not to worry and not to think about Lin Yao.

Although Shen Chaowen was known for his vindictiveness and was hard to deal with, he never hit girls. Lin Yao was timid; as long as she could scare her into transferring schools, this matter would be over.

"Hey, Zhou Yuwei, we don't want your money, take it back."

The yellow-haired boy who had confiscated Lin Yao's phone earlier shoved the money back at Zhou Yuwei, looking at her with disdain.

"Brother Shen doesn't need money. He just wants to deal with the school bully next door and teach Shi Yu a lesson, but we don't bully girls. We see through your tricks; it's not worth it."

The others chimed in, "Yeah, Zhou Yuwei, that girl must have offended you. You deliberately brought her here to meet Brother Shen."

They were referring to yesterday when Zhou Yuwei suddenly approached Shen Chaowen, saying that the girl named Lin Yao from the neighboring school was close to Shi Nian, and bringing her here would surely lure Qi Yanye out.

Everyone at No. 5 Middle School knew that Shen Chaowen had a deep grudge against Qi Yanye.

Originally, Brother Shen planned to find an opportunity to lure Shi Nian out and use her to catch Qi Yanye.

But after the incident before Shi Nian transferred schools, she became very cautious and couldn't be easily tricked.

Just then, Zhou Yuwei came forward.

Though it was a roundabout way, compared to tricking Shi Nian, the timid and compliant girl named Lin Yao was indeed an easier target.

However, no one expected Zhou Yuwei's information to be so off.

The girl's phone had neither Qi Yanye's nor Shi Yu's contact information... what best friend? She didn't even have the contacts of the two people Shi Nian cared about most, completely wasting their time.

"If you don't want it, then don't take it..." Zhou Yuwei didn't care whether these people misunderstood her.

Anyway, she was terrible. It didn't matter as long as she could scare Lin Yao into transferring schools, leaving Shi Yu alone again.

Suddenly, two familiar figures appeared in Zhou Yuwei's line of sight, one ahead and one behind.

Shi Yu appeared outside the convenience store first, while Shi Nian, due to her weaker stamina, lagged slightly behind.

Zhou Yuwei's face turned deathly pale, and she quickly hid behind the yellow-haired boy.

Shi Yu, why did he come personally...

*

Shi Yu arrived at the convenience store where the truant students from No. 5 Middle School usually gathered, only to find no one around.

According to his knowledge, this place was usually crowded with people smoking, but now it was empty.

Shi Yu's face turned cold, and he pushed open the door of the convenience store and walked in.

"Creak—"

As he opened the door, a familiar sobbing sound faintly came from a room inside the store.

Shi Yu narrowed his eyes, a dangerous and cold glint passing through them, and he quickly entered.

The curtain separating the rooms was pulled aside, and when he saw Lin Yao inside, his heart was jolted.

"You... it's all your fault... you scared me... it's all your fault..." The girl, crying uncontrollably and facing away from the door, sat on an old single sofa, holding three cups of milk tea and crying while sipping.

Shen Chaowen was squatting in front of her, earnestly trying to console the tearful Lin Yao, unaware of anyone entering.

His amber eyes filled with helplessness: "Didn't I catch you just now? You didn't really fall... I don't have anyone around me who tells the truth. This is my first time encountering someone like you."

"You keep saying that... I already told you I was really trembling. Is it my fault that you don't have anyone around you who tells the truth..."

She took another sip of milk tea, her voice thick with tears and grievance, "Also, you bought the wrong milk tea. I clearly asked for extra boba, but you didn't add any boba. Do you even know what boba is..."

"..." Shen Chaowen's handsome face froze for a second.

Lin Yao's disdain was too real.

He never drank milk tea and genuinely didn't know what boba was.

When Shi Yu entered, he saw this scene.

The notoriously difficult and rebellious Shen Chaowen from the neighboring school was squatting down, softly consoling the girl in front of him.

The dark and anxious feelings in his heart dissipated the moment he saw Lin Yao unharmed.

But the darkness in his eyes remained unchanged.

His eyes were black and cold as he silently scanned the two people in the room, calling out her name in a low, cold voice: "Yoyo..."

Hearing Shi Yu's voice, the girl holding the milk tea froze and turned around.

She seemed stunned, not expecting Shi Yu to appear here.

Shen Chaowen saw Shi Yu slowly stand up, his eyes filled with a cold and provocative glare as he warily stared at Shi Yu, all the patience he had shown in trying to console Lin Yao just now was now completely withdrawn.

Shi Yu didn't spare a single glance for Shen Chaowen.

He only looked at Lin Yao, approaching her step by step, then crouching down beside her, his gaze level with hers.

Seeing her red, tearful eyes and her trembling lips, looking so aggrieved, the coldness in Shi Yu's eyes began to melt away.

His slender fingers subconsciously wiped away the tears hanging from her eyelashes, softly coaxing, "Don't be afraid, Youyou, I'll take you home."

His hand reached out to hold hers.

But Lin Yao, as if frightened, instinctively pulled back, avoiding his touch.

At that moment, Shi Nian rushed in.

"Youyou, are you okay..." Pulling aside the curtain, Shi Nian was still catching his breath, having run so fast that his legs almost gave way before Lin Yao.

But Shi Nian only focused on the girl sitting on the sofa with red-rimmed eyes, wanting to check if Lin Yao was hurt anywhere.

"Let me see, are you hurt anywhere..."

In the next second, Lin Yao, who had been staring at Shi Yu without any reaction, pushed aside her milk tea and threw herself into Shi Nian's arms.

"Wah, Shi Nian, I'm so scared, I'm so scared..."

She did not take Shi Yu's outstretched hand.

She did not even speak to him.

She could not forget how coldly Shi Yu had pushed her away, time and time again.

"They all bullied me, I miss you so much..." Lin Yao tightly hugged Shi Nian.

Unable to warm Shi Yu, she would only warm Shi Nian.

She thought, she no longer needed Shi Yu.