Chapter 14

Chapter 14

He had been using the school belle, intentionally or not, to belittle Yan Ning, but Yan Ning, that difficult woman, remained silent. At seventeen, she was still in the seventh grade because she and Yan Wan had their identities swapped, leaving her unable to afford school.

He had been hitting her where it hurts all along. How should he treat her from now on?

Wait, that's not it!

"If Yan Ning really lived a poor life in the countryside as you said, how do you explain all that jewelry?" Shi Lei had a sudden realization.

"Here's the kicker. From what I've heard, Ningning disappeared at the age of twelve for unknown reasons. But five years later, she suddenly appeared in City B, and that's when the Yan family found her," Qiao Yingxue said.

"You investigated her?"

"Because I was a bit curious, I looked into it casually," Qiao Yingxue said nonchalantly. "No one knows what happened during those five years Ningning was gone. But she doesn't seem like someone who's been wandering alone for five years. Something more bizarre than just being a homeless wanderer might have happened to her. And the Yan family doesn't seem to have noticed this, treating her like a fool. The school belle Yan Wan also doesn't seem to realize this. The further this beauty contest goes, the more interesting it gets."

Shi Lei shivered: "The young lady is really something else."

Zhao Xiaolu and Zhou Ye were used to Qiao Yingxue's methods and didn't make a fuss.

"Compared to the school belle, I actually prefer Ningning, so for the second round of the competition, I will do my best to help her," Zhao Xiaolu suddenly declared.

"I don't mind that. I also really want to see how far Ningning will go," Qiao Yingxue said with a smile.

Yan Ning had no idea about the discussions among her little teachers. When she returned to the Yan residence, Yan Wan and Yan Yu were downstairs, sitting together and seemingly chatting about something. Yan Yu looked very happy, completely different from when he faced Yan Ning.

"Ningning, you're back. How was the interview?" Yan Wan greeted Yan Ning warmly, like a caring older sister.

"I'm not sure, the results will be out this afternoon."

"Ah, I forgot. Auntie just prepared some fruit, come and have some, let's chat for a while," Yan Wan pointed to a large plate of fruit on the dining table, all peeled and neatly cut.

Yan Ning walked over and sat down. She figured Yan Wan would approach her sooner or later.

"I didn't talk to you this morning. You're not mad at me, are you?" Yan Wan spoke in a gentle tone, frowning slightly, looking very guilty.

"How could I be mad? I'm not," Yan Ning said expressionlessly.

She really wasn't mad, but with no one else at home, she found it tiring to act and gave up on managing her expressions. As long as her tone was lively, that was enough.

"Sis, you didn't do anything wrong, why are you saying all this to her? I already told her not to get too close to you at school," Yan Yu frowned.

That little punk Yan Yu, she would catch him red-handed sooner or later and teach him a lesson.

"Ningning, don't read too much into it. Xiao Yu is just a kid and doesn't get it. When he grows up a bit more and you spend more time together, he won't be like this anymore."

Yan Wan spoke like a protective parent, always saying "don't overthink it" and "he's still young." Yan Ning thought of her classmates, who were a year younger than Yan Yu. Even the most direct Shi Lei wasn't as clueless as Yan Yu.

"I'm not overthinking it, and neither should you," Yan Ning didn't want to waste time with Yan Wan here and was very perfunctory in her attitude.

"Ningning, do you not enjoy talking to me?" Yan Wan's voice carried a hint of tears.

No way, no way? Suddenly pulling this stunt?

Yan Ning was stunned, but she reacted quickly: "How could that be? How could I possibly not like talking to you?"

Uh... she spoke too quickly.

Well, she actually meant to do that.

Tears suddenly welled up in Yan Wan's eyes, giving her no chance to hold them back. She covered her eyes with her hand, looking completely heartbroken.

Yan Yu glared fiercely at Yan Ning and moved closer to comfort Yan Wan.

"What's going on?" Tang Minrou's voice suddenly rang out. "Why is Wanwan crying?"

Tang Minrou was wearing a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her wet hair, as if she had just finished showering. She held a water glass in her hand, probably having come downstairs to get some water.

"Mom," Yan Ning called out.

Tang Minrou casually set the glass aside and walked over to check on Yan Wan, not hearing Yan Ning call her. "Wanwan, what happened? Tell me what's wrong, don't cry."

"It's her who made Wanwan sad," Yan Yu pointed at Yan Ning.

"Mom, I'm fine," Yan Wan said, tears streaming down her face. "Don't blame Ningning. It's normal for sisters to have little disagreements. It's all my fault for being so useless. Even though it's just a small matter, I can't help but cry."

"Ningning, come here and apologize to Wanwan," Tang Minrou said sternly, looking at Yan Ning.

Yan Ning finally realized. Tang Minrou had come home today, and Yan Wan and Yan Yu must have known about it in advance. She hadn't seen Tang Minrou's shoes at the door, probably because someone had put them away. Yan Wan had deliberately waited for her downstairs, all for this scene.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?" Yan Ning stubbornly replied. She knew she had miscalculated today, letting Yan Wan set her up. She also knew that apologizing now would be the quickest way to resolve the situation, but she didn't want to indulge Yan Wan.

Honestly, she didn't mind having another person around the house, and she could accept her parents' favoritism. But Yan Wan had too many schemes, always trying to outdo her.

If coming back meant putting up with this kind of nonsense, she might as well go back to Xinghua Village and help her grandfather with the pigweed.

"Yan Ning," Tang Minrou said sharply, using her full name.

"Mom, I really didn't do anything wrong. She asked me if I didn't like talking to her, and I said, 'How could that be?' Then she started crying, and then you showed up."

"Yan Ning!" Tang Minrou refused to listen.

Yan Wan stood up, her speech interrupted by sobs from crying too hard. "Mom, don't force Ningning. It's my fault. I wanted to get along with Ningning, but I don't deserve it. It's only because of you and Dad's kindness that I was adopted."

"I thought you didn't know," Yan Ning shot back.

"Yan Ning, go upstairs now!" Tang Minrou ordered, one arm holding Yan Wan while pointing at Yan Ning.

Yan Ning turned around and left. Tang Minrou ignored her, instead bending down to comfort the tearful Yan Wan.

Yan Ning returned to her room, closed the door, and walked to the balcony she loved so much. She grabbed a cushion and sat down, lost in thought.

She had fantasized about her parents' love, and it would be a lie to say she hadn't.

When Tang Minrou and Yan Zhengjun came to Xinghua Village to get her, she thought they must really love her, more than they had shown, to come all this way for her.

After finding out about Yan Wan, she quickly adjusted her attitude. As long as the other party didn't cause trouble, she could peacefully coexist. But Yan Wan clearly didn't think the same way.

For now, it was just small disagreements, but one day, she and Yan Wan would become enemies.

She collapsed weakly onto the carpet. Her phone suddenly buzzed, and she listlessly pulled it out. It was a text message: "Congratulations to contestant No. 216, Miss Yan Ning, for successfully passing the preliminary selection of the individual events at the school sports meet. Your number has been changed to 20. The second round of the competition will be held on the evening of April 30th at the Minghua Middle School auditorium. The theme of the competition is talent, and there are no restrictions. The top ten contestants with the most votes from the audience will advance directly to the next round. We look forward to your wonderful performance!"

Yan Ning sat up. Now was not the time to be disheartened.