Chapter 60-Part 2

“Today is an auspicious day for exams.”

Shen Zhi raised an eyebrow and said softly, “The almanac actually says that?”

Ji Ran noticed his skeptical look and quickly responded, “I saw it with my own eyes. It said today is suitable for exams.”

“Suitable for exams, huh? Does that mean it’s good for me to take exams too?”

Shen Zhi’s remark made Ji Ran pause for a moment. He was right; the almanac wasn’t exclusive to her.

What was meant to be a psychological advantage before the exam suddenly felt like a complete defeat for Ji Ran. She no longer wanted to talk to Shen Zhi before the exam; he was truly annoying.

The two days of exams flew by for everyone.

When the last subject, Science Comprehensive, was over, everyone felt not a sigh of relief but a sense of helplessness. This time, the final exams were citywide, with varied question types and significantly higher difficulty than the midterms.

Since grading the papers would take some time, the school gave the students a two-day break, asking them to return next Monday to get their report cards.

When Ji Ran got home, she saw boxes at the entrance.

Jiang Yi had been picked up by Jiang Liqi right after the exams.

With winter break approaching, Jiang Liqi had probably been complaining to Ji Ran’s father, Ji Qingli, for some time, which was why she was allowed to take Jiang Yi home. This time, Jiang Liqi didn’t dare provoke Ji Ran. When she saw her return, she quickly told Jiang Yi to go upstairs.

“Ran Ran, how did your exams go?” Jiang Liqi asked, pretending to be concerned.

Ji Ran glanced at her and said calmly, “You should be more concerned about Jiang Yi’s grades.”

There was no mockery in her tone, but Jiang Yi’s grades had been consistently declining. They were barely passable before, but in the last monthly exams, she had plummeted to the bottom of her grade.

If the seating arrangement for the final exams were based on those results, Jiang Yi would surely have been in the last exam venue.

The next day, Wen Qianxia called Ji Ran, inviting her to sing karaoke at Sky Realm.

This time, it was a class activity, with many classmates attending. Ji Ran, wanting to see Shen Zhi and knowing everyone was going, immediately agreed.

In the afternoon, she changed clothes and went downstairs.

Jiang Yi was on the phone, barely glancing at Ji Ran as she left. However, when Ji Ran asked the driver to take her to Sky Realm, Jiang Yi’s lips curled into a smile.

After Ji Ran left, Jiang Yi made another call.

“What is it?” The voice on the other end wasn’t particularly warm.

Shen Yue was a man with many women around him. Initially, he was enthusiastic about Jiang Yi because she was a student and seemed quite innocent. But ever since he saw Ji Ran at the gate of 4th Middle School, he realized there were always more impressive people out there.

Not knowing Ji Ran’s name and unable to get it from Jiang Yi, Shen Yue had lost interest in her over time, keeping other girls around him instead.

Jiang Yi understood Shen Yue’s type well. She knew he wasn’t stable, but he was very generous. When they first met, Shen Yue had taken her shopping and bought her several bags. Jiang Yi wasn’t ready to let go of such a big catch.

However, with his recent coldness, even when she initiated contact, he was indifferent.

Seeing Ji Ran leave earlier reminded Jiang Yi of Shen Yue’s interest in her. Since this playboy was losing interest in her, she decided to use this bit of information for some final benefits.

After everything she had been through, Jiang Yi felt she had changed.

In her view, even if Jiang Liqi married into a wealthy family, living cautiously was worse than death. She couldn’t even buy something slightly expensive without Jiang Liqi lecturing her, fearing what Ji Qingli might think.

Now, Jiang Yi was making men willingly spend money on her, no longer needing to please anyone.

She cast a venomous glance at the door, thinking Shen Yue might not be good for much, but he was great at wooing women.

If he could snatch Ji Ran from Shen Zhi, it would be perfect.

Once the call connected, Jiang Yi said, “You’ve been wanting to know about that girl we saw at school, right?”

Shen Yue didn’t expect her to bring this up. He had indeed lost interest in Jiang Yi, surrounded as he was by other beautiful women. But hearing her mention that girl reignited his curiosity.

That girl had definitely caught his interest.

“Her name is Ji Ran, and she’s the school beauty.”

Sky Realm was always lively, and it was especially so during the holidays. Despite being pricey, it never lacked visitors.

Xia Jiangming had booked a private room. When Wen Qianxia sent the room number to Ji Ran, she had just gotten out of the car.

A moment later, she took the elevator up.

Wen Qianxia was waiting at the door for her. When they entered, the class monitor was singing passionately, a grand song playing on the big screen.

“I feel like once the final exam results are out, I won’t survive even five seconds, let alone five hundred years.”

A girl nearby threw a pistachio from the snack tray at him, annoyed. “We agreed not to talk about exams.”

“Exactly. Even if tomorrow is execution day, let’s enjoy today.”

The proposal was quickly accepted.

A boy with short hair shouted, “Let’s have ‘Nunchucks’!”

Ji Ran looked around but didn’t see Shen Zhi. Just as she took out her phone to text him, Xia Jiangming appeared beside her like a ghost and sat down.

He said, “Ranran, are you looking for Shen Zhi? I just called him. He went to his grandfather’s house today, so he might be a bit late.”

Ji Ran responded with a nonchalant “Oh.”

After a few seconds, she turned to Xia Jiangming and asked, “Why do you know his schedule so well?”

He even knew better than she did.

Xia Jiangming was taken aback by her question.

Ji Ran wasn’t very good at singing, so when someone suggested she sing a song, she quickly used the excuse of going to the bathroom to slip away.

However, Ji Ran didn’t just go to the bathroom; she went downstairs.

She remembered there was a milk tea shop downstairs, and their milk tea was quite good.

But as soon as she got downstairs, she unexpectedly found herself being watched.

After receiving Jiang Yi’s call, Shen Yue had indeed come to Sky Realm with some friends. While this place was considered upscale for high school students, Shen Yue wasn’t particularly impressed.

Not knowing where Ji Ran was, he had planned to call Jiang Yi again for more information.

As he sat in the lobby, the elevator doors opened, and out walked the girl in a white coat, exactly as Jiang Yi had described.

Today, Ji Ran wore a white coat with a fur-trimmed hood, making her look especially soft and gentle.

She had tied her hair up, revealing a smooth, full forehead, with soft strands framing her face delicately.

She looked just as pure and innocent as Shen Yue had imagined, making his heart race.

After buying two cups of milk tea and starting to head back, Shen Yue immediately stepped forward to block her path.

His friends watched from a distance, not following but clearly surprised.

“Did Young Master Shen come here just for this little girl?”

“Isn’t she too young? She looks like a minor.”

“But she’s so pure. She must be one of those innocent schoolgirls. That makes her even more appealing.”

“You are such fu*king beasts, you bastards.”

Ji Ran didn’t hear their comments. She only knew she was being blocked by a man. This man was quite handsome, with a tall and striking appearance, but he gave off a feeling of frivolity.

Yes, that was it—frivolity.

Ji Ran didn’t like it at all.

Shen Yue smiled at her and said, “Little girl, my phone is dead. Could you lend me your phone to make a call?”

It was a poor excuse, but Shen Yue found it effective. After all, he was dressed in designer clothes, and his watch was one of those that looked expensive even to those who knew nothing about watches.

A wealthy, young, and somewhat handsome man trying to strike up a conversation—most girls couldn’t resist, right?

But Ji Ran wasn’t like most girls.

She gave Shen Yue a brief glance, then looked at his watch—Patek Philippe, worth over a million. Clearly, he was rich.

But Ji Ran had seen plenty of rich people in her life.

Whether it was from her own social circle or her professional life in the investment banking sector, she had encountered many wealthy individuals.

Men like Shen Yue, who can be seen at first glance as a second-generation rich man, are exactly the type she hates the most.

She smiled faintly, and Shen Yue’s heart lifted with her smile. He thought this girl would be easy to win over.

As she raised her hand, Shen Yue reached out, expecting to take her phone.

Instead, she pointed to the restaurant behind her and said calmly, “This restaurant offers charging services. You can ask the staff there.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Ji Ran had already called Wen Qianxia to come down for milk tea, but she hadn’t expected to be approached by someone who thought he was charming and tried to flirt with her.

Shen Yue quickly blocked her path again, saying helplessly, “I’m really not a bad person.”

Ji Ran frowned and replied calmly, “You said you needed to charge your phone. There’s the place.”

“Alright, I admit it.” Shen Yue sighed, showing a supposedly charming yet helpless expression. “I just wanted to ask for your number.”

Ji Ran’s expression turned cold.

“I have a boyfriend,” she said flatly.

Shen Yue was genuinely stunned. Ji Ran’s appearance was so deceivingly innocent. She looked like the type who would blush just from looking at a boy.

Yet here she was, claiming to have a boyfriend.

Naturally, Shen Yue suspected she was lying. He lowered his voice, saying, “Lying isn’t good, little girl.”

Ji Ran found his tone and the sweet, cloying smell of his cologne nauseating. She stepped back.

She felt she didn’t need the milk tea anymore and turned to head back to the elevator.

But Shen Yue, who was like a dog-skin plaster, mistook her retreat for shyness. He was more convinced that she didn’t have a boyfriend.

So he stood beside her, smiling, “Actually, I know your name.”

Ji Ran looked at him in surprise.

Shen Yue grinned, “Ranran, right? Your name is Ranran.”

At that moment, Ji Ran’s disgust reached its peak. Only one person called her Ranran. Neither Pei Yuan nor Ji Qingli, her parents, ever used nicknames. Especially Pei Yuan, who always called her by her full name, Ji Ran, regardless of her mood.

Only Shen Zhi called her Ranran.

Good morning, Ranran.

I’m going to sleep, Ranran.

The way Shen Zhi said it, like it was wrapped in honey, was irresistibly sweet.

As Ji Ran looked at Shen Yue with disgust, the elevator dinged and opened. Inside was Shen Zhi, who lifted his head.

Seeing Shen Yue next to Ji Ran, Shen Zhi’s expression darkened.

Shen Yue also saw him and sneered, “Well, look who it is. Isn’t it the little master of the Shen family?”

His tone was full of sarcasm and malice.

Ji Ran turned to Shen Zhi, surprised that this annoying man knew Shen Zhi and seemed to have a history with him.

Shen Zhi stepped out of the elevator, grabbed Ji Ran’s wrist, and said softly, “Wen Qianxia is looking for you upstairs.”

Ji Ran looked at him, and Shen Zhi continued, “Go upstairs.”

Shen Yue, recalling Ji Ran’s earlier claim of having a boyfriend, felt humiliated and angry. He shouted, “Girl, you weren’t really deceived by this young master of the Shen family, were you?”

When he said “Young Master of the Shen,” he emphasized it with contempt.

“Ranran, listen,” Shen Zhi ignored Shen Yue, pressed the elevator button, and when the doors opened, he gently pushed Ji Ran inside.

As Ji Ran entered the elevator, Shen Yue, infuriated by Shen Zhi’s disregard, shouted, “Who the hell do you think you are? You’re just a bastard…”

Suddenly, Shen Yue felt something hot and sticky splatter on his face. Turning, he saw the girl who had re-entered the elevator at the last second, her foot blocking the door.

Holding a milk tea cup, she was squirting its contents at him.

Ji Ran didn’t speak, but her actions were decisive. The cup was squeezed out of shape, with dark liquid spraying out of the straw.

“What the hell are you doing?” Shen Yue, full of lust for Ji Ran moments before, now jumped back in anger, cursing.

Ji Ran’s lips finally moved.

“Why are you talking about him like that?”

Her voice was soft, but Shen Yue, distracted by checking his jacket, didn’t catch it.

When he looked up again, furious, he demanded, “What did you say?”

Ji Ran, holding the milk tea cup, faced Shen Yue fearlessly and said, “I said, those who bully him…”

“…must die.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she hurled the entire milk tea at him. Shen Yue tried to block it, but the cup’s lid popped off, and the contents drenched him.

Shen Yue was left looking more disheveled than a drowned rat.