Chapter 106: Chapter 106

Ye Ling originally wanted to go to the company to find some peace and quiet, but didn’t expect that Zhao Guodong and the others would go as well. She guessed they decided over drinks at home this afternoon, but she didn’t mind too much. After all, she’s going to the company to escape this family, and enduring until high school when she can live on campus means she’ll finally be free from this quagmire.

Zhao Guodong was full of excitement. In the middle of summer, he wore only a tank top and knee-length shorts. He must have just finished running outside, as sweat was dripping from his short hair. Even standing still, every cell in his body seemed to be in motion, bursting with energy.

Looking at the always indifferent Ye Ling with his big eyes and thick eyebrows, Zhao Guodong grew displeased, "Why don’t you react? Are you unhappy that we’re going too?"

"Then why do you always find fault? Lose your temper at the drop of a hat?" Ye Ling retorted with a raise of her single eyelid. Zhao Guodong was struck dumb for a while and said nothing more.

Seeing him suddenly looking so dejected, Ye Ling felt a bit guilty and explained, "I’ve always been this way. Do you expect me to be as bouncy and excited as you when happy? Then would it still be me?"

Having often interacted with Zhao Guodong, Ye Ling felt like she was accommodating a child and didn’t know why she was so patient with him.

Zhao Guodong thought seriously, "To be honest, Wang Ping always used to say you were old-fashioned. And you still look the same."

Ye Ling twitched her mouth at that, noticing it was getting late, she said, "Alright, we’ll all go to the company together later; we’ll talk then. I’m going home now. But I’ll also tell you, even though you’ve gotten into high school, I won’t be able to help you once you’re there. How well you do will depend on yourself."

She could help them with the high school entrance exam because she knew the questions. As for high school, even she is new to it. Although she’s not worried about keeping up, doing well will really be challenging.

Zhao Guodong seemed to think Ye Ling didn’t want to help him anymore, and said angrily, "Fine, I won’t ask for your help again."

With that, he turned and stormed off.

Seeing his misunderstanding, Ye Ling was also frustrated. She wasn’t his mother, so why did she always have to accommodate his whims? She was tired of it and didn’t call him back, turning to walk home. Zhao Guodong, after a few steps, noticed there was no sound from behind. Turning around, he saw she had left too, and tightened his fist in anger.

"Ye Ling, you’re something," he shouted, then left quickly. This time, he really was gone.

Ye Ling stopped and looked back. He left faster than a rabbit and even scolded her—what a kid.

"Ah, they really look like a young couple," Song Mei’s sarcastic voice came through.

Along with Song Mei was Jiang Yan.

Seeing their depressed faces, Ye Ling laughed, "Failed the high school entrance exam, life hasn’t been easy for you, has it? I actually summed it up for you both. It’s because you’re always gossiping behind people’s backs, exhausting your energy on that, otherwise how could you not get into high school? Am I right?"

Seeing Song Mei’s furious face, Ye Ling laughed again, "Oh, I just heard what you said, a young couple? Is that something you should be saying at your age? Aren’t you embarrassed? To even consider high school, one shouldn’t be talking about couples all day—it’s a reflection of your upbringing. Your parents should hear this, see where the education went wrong, raising a daughter who talks all day, or maybe you’re just itching to get married yourself, so you project it onto others."

"Shameless, watch me tear your mouth apart," Song Mei lunged forward.

Jiang Yan held her back, "Forget it, why argue with her? You’ll only lower yourself."

After the scores came out, Jiang Yan hadn’t had it easy. At home, her parents blamed her for spending all her time with Song Mei. If she had spent some time with Ye Ling, she could’ve gotten into high school. The best example was Zhao Guodong and his group; everyone in the compound agreed they wouldn’t get in, but Ye Ling’s tutoring got them through, proving her effectiveness.

Jiang Yan secretly regretted it. If she hadn’t stayed with Song Mei, she wouldn’t have offended Ye Ling so badly. She overheard Wang Ping and the kids in the compound saying Ye Ling could accurately predict the exam questions. If she’d interacted with her earlier, she might not have missed out.

She also grew resentful towards Song Mei. When Song Mei asked her out these days, she didn’t want to go. Song Mei bluntly asked if she thought she affected her chance to get in, and Jiang Yan, unwilling to offend Song Mei, reluctantly went along.

The result? As soon as they went out, they ran into Song Mei and Ye Ling fighting. Jiang Yan regretted it so much, thinking she shouldn’t have left home.

"Exactly, even speaking a word to someone like you lowers my status," Ye Ling sneered.

Song Mei was about to pounce again, but Jiang Yan held her back.

In the midst of the argument, Bai Xue came out from the house without them realizing it, "What’s going on here?"

Ye Ling looked up and saw she was carrying a dustpan, guessing she was there to throw out trash; she didn’t say much. But Song Mei pointed at Ye Ling and still swore, "This shameless girl, saying anything she wants, I’m going to tear her apart now."

Bai Xue furrowed her brow. She didn’t like Song Mei ignoring her, but she still went to her eldest daughter first, "Ye Ling, apologize immediately."

Bai Xue’s words stopped the aggressive Song Mei. First, she cast Bai Xue a strange glance, then looked at Ye Ling with a triumphant expression.

Jiang Yan also frowned. She had often heard people in the compound say Aunt Bai was biased and disliked her eldest daughter. Now it seemed true—not even asking questions, just demanding her daughter to apologize, making her daughter seem less than an outsider.

Ye Ling looked at her mother coldly, "Why should I apologize? If anyone should apologize, it’s her. Mom, you didn’t even ask what’s going on and straight-up want me to apologize. Would you ask me to apologize even if she stabbed me? Or in your eyes, am I always wrong no matter what?"

"Ye Ling, you might argue with me at home, but don’t embarrass me outside. If you were really decent, why would you argue with everyone you meet? Why don’t we see Ye Qian getting into arguments with anyone? Know your place and apologize at once." Bai Xue’s eyes widened, scaring both Song Mei and Jiang Yan.

"Aunt Bai, just let it go," Jiang Yan didn’t want to escalate things. The outcome was clear: even without Ye Ling apologizing, she had already lost to Song Mei.

Song Mei thought otherwise, chest out, "Ye Ling, you won’t listen to your mom? I’m waiting for your apology."

Ye Ling ignored Song Mei, only staring at her mother, "Mom, do you want me to admit that Zhao Guodong and I are a couple? Song Mei says Zhao Guodong and I are a couple and you want me to apologize. Is that what you mean?" (To be continued. If you work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)