Chapter 284: Chapter 284

Facing Fu Lei and Ma Yue flaunting their love, Ye Ling didn’t get angry but laughed, starting with a smile, gradually turning into a loud laugh, and finally, she couldn’t help but throw her head back and laugh.

Laughing like a madwoman, Ma Yue was so frightened she clung tightly to Fu Lei’s arm, "She... she won’t actually go crazy, right?" This text is hosted at noᴠelfire.net

If she did go crazy, they’d really be in trouble. If the school and Ye Ling’s family pursued the matter, none of them would get away.

"Don’t worry, it’s just that she took the blow too hard." Fu Lei remained calm, with a hint of indescribable detachment in his eyes.

Then he laughed. He really was crazy. Since childhood, growing up in poverty, he had told himself that he must rely on his own efforts to give his parents a good life in the future. When he got accepted into university, the family’s excitement over the admission letter turned into tears because of the travel expenses. His parents sobbed for half the night, and in the end, they borrowed money from the team leader with thick-skinned words and even agreed that once he joined the workforce, he’d marry the team leader’s daughter, which was why they lent him the money.

For a mere travel expense, he sold his own marriage. He was discontent. He thought the team leader’s family had never respected his family, even though the team leader’s daughter was competent, had a good temperament, and was really kind to him, even secretly giving him food. But he never respected her.

After arriving at school, on the day of enrollment, he helped Ma Yue carry her things, and that’s how he met her. After half a semester of effort, when he received Ma Yue’s love letter, he knew he’d finally succeeded. But he still rejected Ma Yue and explained the engagement due to borrowed money with her. In her second letter, Ma Yue even enclosed a hundred yuan. Fu Lei sent the hundred yuan back home, and in his letter, he told his parents to repay a hundred yuan to the team leader’s family. The team leader’s family took the money but treated his parents even worse. Until later, he heard that the commune was going to disband, and no one knew how happy he was inside.

Then naturally, he got together with Ma Yue. It was through Ma Yue’s complaints and ideas that he started to approach Ye Ling, which led to the subsequent events. Actually, when he was with Ye Ling, Fu Lei felt he saw another version of himself. He felt sorry for Ye Ling, and sometimes the feelings he showed her were real. When he looked back later, he couldn’t believe it himself.

But he was a pragmatic person. Ye Ling’s father was nowhere near comparable to Ma Yue’s grandfather. He wanted to become stronger, so Ma Yue was the woman he should be with.

Now that the matter had come to light, Fu Lei also released a sigh of relief internally. Otherwise, he was really afraid that one day he’d fall in love with Ye Ling; wouldn’t all his efforts be in vain then? And Ye Ling’s slap had eliminated even the last bit of guilt in his heart. This matter could be considered settled.

Seeing Ye Ling laugh , Fu Lei even felt that Ye Ling had fallen too deeply for him. If his family situation wasn’t so poor, maybe he would have considered her seriously too. But this was just a fleeting thought that he quickly suppressed.

Ma Yue sighed in relief at Fu Lei’s words, then immediately put on a mocking smile, "Look at herself — really thinks anyone would like her? She brought the setback onto herself, disgracing herself."

Dong Minghui feared the situation would worsen, "Let’s leave."

Take advantage and withdraw while you can. They’ve already done what they’ve wanted, and felt the thrill. If something really happened to Ye Ling, none of them would escape.

Fu Lei also nodded. Although he was helping Ma Yue do this, he didn’t want the situation to blow up. The initial thought of this plan was also because he knew the school forbade dating, so even if the matter was exposed later, Ye Ling would swallow the insult to herself. Otherwise, if she blew it up, her affair with a male student would also be dragged out, and she’d still face punishment.

"Where to?" Before Fu Lei and the others could move, Ye Ling suddenly stopped laughing, looking at the three of them with a bright smile, "Now that we’re all here today, leaving just doesn’t seem right. I figured I should leave something behind."

"You... what are you planning to do?" Ye Ling’s expression was obviously not right, and even Ma Yue could see it, her hand instinctively tightening around Fu Lei’s arm.

Fu Lei also put away his smile and frowned at Ye Ling, "Ye Ling, I understand that knowing the truth is hurtful, but people always grow through being hurt. Consider this a free lesson for you; when you join the military, you won’t be so naive anymore."

"It does hurt, but not because of your tricks, but because someone like you would hurt those close to you and make them sad along with you." Ye Ling thought of Zhao Guodong, but she quickly regained focus. She couldn’t afford to be distracted at such a crucial moment. Her eyes coldly fixed on the three of them, "I’m not one with any grand abilities, but I can’t endure being wronged. You toyed with others’ emotions and expect gratitude in return. I’m here to tell you, Fu Lei, you’re not that charming. You’re neither a prince nor a considerate man. Why do you have such brazen confidence? Just because you can climb up with her?"

Ye Ling pointed at Ma Yue, "Her grandfather is a scholar, so what? Even if today’s matter spreads, do you think her grandfather will intervene? He wouldn’t even show his face, let alone send someone to handle it. Do you know why? Let’s analyze it: concocting such a plot to target someone shows a spiteful mind—such a person isn’t fit to stay in school. A person from an intellectual family only brings shame and disgrace to the family. Would the family really stand up for her? If they did, it could only mean the family’s entire character is just as poor, couldn’t it?

Although there was a smile on Ye Ling’s face, when her gaze swept over the three of them, it made them feel as though they were standing in a cold wind, freezing them to the core.

"If you expose the matter, you won’t get away either." Fu Lei’s voice was calm, without much change in his expression, but his eyes held a deep hue.

Earlier, he dared to scheme this way, thinking Ye Ling wouldn’t dare to expose it. But hearing Ye Ling’s words now, it was clear she intended to spill the beans. This deviation from the plan was troubling, and Fu Lei definitely didn’t want the affair to be exposed. If it was, he would also be punished, rendering all his efforts wasted.

Ma Yue, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid. With a grandfather who was a scholar, her face didn’t show any worry. But Dong Minghui was scared, "Ye Ling, actually, we were just joking around. We never thought you’d take it seriously and really fall for Fu Lei. Fu Lei was just embarrassed to tell you the truth, which resulted in today’s situation. Initially, we did have the intention of laughing at you, but later we genuinely didn’t intend to mock you. We just hadn’t figured out how to tell you." (To be continued. If you work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)