2 002

Meng Mingzhu stood frozen for two seconds, then nearly panicked as she asked her transmigration system, “What’s going on? Why did she suddenly insult me? Could she hear our conversation?”

In her flustered state, Meng Mingzhu forgot one crucial point: if Yu Linghuan could indeed hear her dialogue with the system, then her own words would have been clearly transmitted to the other side.

The transmigration system responded, “Miss, please don’t panic. I have not detected any system traces on Yu Linghuan. She probably just wants to insult you out of pure spite.”

Relieved by the system’s denial, the panic on Meng Mingzhu’s face finally eased somewhat.

“Th-then that’s good!” she breathed out.

“So, what exactly is going on with Yu Linghuan?” Meng Mingzhu asked again. “Isn’t she the vicious antagonist in the novel? Why isn’t she opposing the protagonist, Meng Xin, but instead insulting me?”

“Perhaps it’s because you suddenly approached Meng Xin, altering the original plot and triggering a butterfly effect,” the system explained.

While Meng Mingzhu conversed with her system, elsewhere, Yu Linghuan’s cannon fodder system was wailing in desperation.

“Host, what are you doing?! Why are you insulting Meng Mingzhu?! I’m just a cannon fodder system, far weaker than Meng Mingzhu’s transmigration system! If you provoke her, your life won’t be easy!”

“I’m sorry, someone insulted me first. I can’t stand it—I have to fight back,” Yu Linghuan said calmly.

There was no helping it; that was just her fiery nature.

“…”

Yu Linghuan pondered aloud, “But I have a question: If Meng Mingzhu’s system is so powerful, why can I hear her system’s voice, yet her system cannot detect you?”

“That’s because our two systems focus on different functions. The transmigration system is offensive, specializing in suppressing opponents. The cannon fodder system prioritizes survival, with stronger detection and counter-surveillance capabilities,” the system replied.

Yu Linghuan considered this. “So, Meng Mingzhu’s transmigration system is strong in attack but weaker in detection compared to yours?”

“Exactly!” the system confirmed.

Yu Linghuan mentally acknowledged this and glanced at the few people standing beside Meng Mingzhu.

Blocking Meng Xin at the teaching building’s entrance were not only Meng Mingzhu but also several of her friends from the international class—two boys and two girls.

Perhaps it was more accurate to call them Meng Mingzhu’s followers.

At this moment, seeing Meng Mingzhu stunned by Yu Linghuan’s insults, her companions exchanged glances.

After a brief silence, one male classmate stepped forward to defend Meng Mingzhu. “Miss, how can you speak to Mingzhu like that?”

Yu Linghuan rolled her eyes. “What’s it to you? Or are you looking for a scolding too?”

The boy was intimidated by Yu Linghuan’s fierce aura and took a half step back, stammering, “You’re being unreasonable!”

Yu Linghuan sneered, “Unreasonable? You all ganged up on one girl at the school entrance. Who’s really being unreasonable here?”

Another girl spoke up, “Yu Linghuan, don’t be so aggressive. Mingzhu just wanted to say a few words to her family. She meant no harm.”

“Just a few words to family?” Yu Linghuan repeated sarcastically. “Then why bring such a big group? Exhibitionist personality disorder?”

Few people could argue as sharp-tongued as Yu Linghuan.

The girl was momentarily speechless and instinctively looked at their leader—Meng Mingzhu.

Meng Mingzhu’s face was ashen, expression extremely displeased, yet she said nothing.

Her system required her to maintain her novel persona, or points would be deducted depending on how much she deviated.

Originally, “Meng Mingzhu” was a pampered young lady raised in privilege, who would never argue so bluntly as Yu Linghuan did.

Even without the system’s restrictions, she had to guard her image—how else to distinguish herself from Meng Xin and let others believe she was the truly refined Miss Meng?

But being insulted so directly by Yu Linghuan was unbearable.

In her mind, Meng Mingzhu asked the system, “Doesn’t the suppression aura last five minutes? It shouldn’t have expired yet. Why is Yu Linghuan so brazen in front of me?”

The transmigration system replied, “The basic suppression aura has a limited range and only affects the protagonist and a few key supporting characters. Yu Linghuan is a cannon fodder character, so the basic aura doesn’t affect her.”

Without hesitation, Meng Mingzhu said, “Then exchange for the advanced aura!”

“Your current points balance is 400. The advanced aura costs 300 points. Confirm exchange?” the system prompted.

Meng Mingzhu’s expression froze.

She had only just arrived and hadn’t had time to earn more points through tasks.

Her starting points were 500; she had already spent 100 on the basic aura. If she spent another 300…

She bit her lip. “Better not for now.”

Points were her leverage. Spending 300 on a mere cannon fodder was far from worthwhile.

Unable to rely on the aura to suppress Yu Linghuan, and needing to maintain her dignified image, Meng Mingzhu took a deep breath.

“Yu Linghuan,” she forced a smile, “Sorry for the misunderstanding, but I truly have no intention of troubling Meng Xin. If you don’t believe me, I can—”

Her smile froze midway.

She was patiently trying to explain, but Yu Linghuan ignored her and walked straight to Meng Xin.

“Are you okay?” Yu Linghuan lightly touched Meng Xin’s arm.

Meng Xin shook her head.

Since Meng Mingzhu had come looking for her, Meng Xin had felt strange—like most of her strength had suddenly drained away.

When Yu Linghuan argued with Meng Mingzhu and her group just now, Meng Xin had wanted to step forward several times to help but felt as if some force held her back. Approaching Meng Mingzhu was extremely difficult, and trying to speak made her throat hurt terribly.

Only now did the sensation finally subside.

Clearing her dry throat, Meng Xin said with difficulty, “Thank you.”

Yu Linghuan smiled. “You’re welcome. Are you heading back to class?”

Meng Xin’s throat still hurt, and she simply nodded.

Yu Linghuan said, “Let’s go then. It’s still early; you can get some rest after returning.”

Meng Xin nodded, and the two of them walked past Meng Mingzhu and into the teaching building.

Seeing them completely ignore her, Meng Mingzhu was about to burst with anger and even regretted not boldly exchanging for the advanced suppression aura earlier.

Noticing Meng Mingzhu’s sour expression, the boy who had defended her earlier stepped forward to console her. “Mingzhu, don’t be mad. We don’t need to bother with those country bumpkins!”

…

As they walked into the building, Yu Linghuan’s mind was still swirling over the afternoon’s events.

So much had happened at lunch that her thoughts were a mess.

Especially the conversation she overheard between Meng Mingzhu and her system—she needed to carefully piece it together.

Only when she felt a tug on her sleeve did Yu Linghuan snap back to reality and turn to Meng Xin.

“Hm?”

Meng Xin was shorter than Yu Linghuan.

She looked up timidly, eyes hesitant. “Huanhuan, I thought… you wouldn’t come find me again.”

Yu Linghuan’s expression faltered.

In the previous two months, she had been the one to distance herself from Meng Xin.

Only half an hour ago, she had just chased Meng Xin away from the cafeteria.

Although she had acted under the control of the plot and had her reasons, from Meng Xin’s perspective, it was like her best friend suddenly gave her the cold shoulder, which was genuinely hurtful.

Yu Linghuan’s eyes brimmed with guilt. “I’m sorry, I…”

Before she could finish, a hand gently covered the lower half of her face.

“No need to apologize,” Meng Xin said firmly. “So we’re still friends, right?”

Yu Linghuan was silent.

Her heart ached slightly as she nodded softly. “Yes, of course.”

Meng Xin smiled.

“Huanhuan,” she said, pulling a small dark green box from her pocket. “This is for you.”

She had wanted to give Yu Linghuan this gift all day but hadn’t had the chance.

Now, finally finding the opportunity, she opened the box without waiting for a response.

Inside lay a pink mechanical watch.

This brand was well-known, with even the cheapest series costing tens of thousands of yuan, and the expensive ones reaching into the hundreds of thousands or even millions.

Yu Linghuan’s family was not poor, but neither were they wealthy—definitely not among the rich.

Such an expensive watch was absolutely beyond her spending range.

“This is too valuable,” Yu Linghuan instinctively shook her head. “I can’t…”

Meng Xin interrupted, “Huanhuan, you’re my best friend. When I give you a gift, it’s not about value.”

“But…”

Meng Xin seemed to guess what Yu Linghuan was about to say and quickly explained, “I’m using money my mom left me. Don’t worry, I can use it freely, and my family can’t control me.”

After being recognized as a member of the Meng family, Meng Xin had learned that her biological mother, Chen Wanzhi, had passed away seventeen years ago.

The Chen family was prominent, and Chen Wanzhi had left her daughter a substantial inheritance, including large sums of cash and shares in several Chen family companies.

Originally, this inheritance would have officially transferred to Meng Mingzhu on her eighteenth birthday, two weeks from now.

But everything had changed.

After the truth came out, Meng Mingzhu’s father, out of guilt toward his biological daughter, had transferred Chen Wanzhi’s assets early into Meng Xin’s name.

Meng Xin was used to a frugal life, with few avenues to spend money. Now, she couldn’t even spend all the daily dividends, let alone squander the inheritance.

Seeing Yu Linghuan hesitate, Meng Xin said no more, silently holding out the box.

Meng Xin was slender, with especially delicate wrists, as if they might snap with a light bend.

In sharp contrast was the stubborn determination in her eyes.

Yu Linguan nodded slightly and accepted the gift.

As the two smiled at each other, a female voice called from behind.

“Meng Xin,” said their homeroom teacher from Senior Class One, “If you have time, please come to my office. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Meng Xin glanced at Yu Linghuan.

Yu Linghuan understood. “Go ahead. I’ll head back to class first.”

…

Inside Senior Class One’s classroom, students were chatting in small groups.

As Yu Linghuan entered, all eyes instantly focused on her.

Everyone had seen Yu Linghuan leave to find Meng Mingzhu and Meng Xin earlier.

Since the classroom was on the fourth floor, they couldn’t hear what was said downstairs, and the actions alone left them guessing.

Now that one of the key players had returned, their curiosity was obvious.

Though Yu Linghuan was known to be “not someone to mess with,” her outbursts were always justified, never arbitrary or temperamental.

Coupled with her straightforward personality, she was quite well-liked in class.

Questions erupted from all directions:

“Yu Linghuan? Why did you come back alone?”

“Yeah, where’s Meng Xin?”

Yu Linghuan answered honestly, “The homeroom teacher called her.”

Such a simple answer could not satisfy their gossip.

Several students exchanged glances.

Li Hongwen, who had been itching to speak, finally couldn’t hold back.

“Oh, Yu Linghuan, don’t be so stubborn about saving face.”

Li Hongwen’s family was in business and was originally the wealthiest in the class. Although not as rich as the international class’s elite families, he was still quite privileged among classmates.

The boys all called him “Brother Wen,” partly due to his family’s status.

But since Meng Xin had stolen the spotlight, many teased him, “Brother Wen, with Meng Xin’s family fortune, you might have to start calling her Sister Xin!”

Li Hongwen pretended not to care but had been annoyed for a long time.

Now, seizing the opportunity, he put on a righteous face as if he were championing justice.

“Yu Linghuan, I support you breaking off with Meng Xin! Wealthy people abandon friends—that kind of ungrateful person deserves to be distanced!”