“Peng 2”
Meng Wange looked at Su Wanli’s cheeks, which already seemed flushed, and blinked quietly.
Did that gesture just now mean that if the teacher came, she was to warn her?
She had thought Su Wanli wouldn’t care about such things, but it seemed her previous investigation still needed improvement.
Meng Wange took out her water cup from her school bag, moistened her lips slightly, then tilted her head to observe Su Wanli’s expression.
She wondered if after the earlier exchange, Su Wanli had calmed down a little.
Since this morning, she had been doing things that went against Su Wanli’s wishes—whether it was her warning not to expose their relationship, or that brief self-introduction that didn’t meet Su Wanli’s expectations.
Even during the fourth period, when Su Xiaoli was determined to properly punish her, thanks to the intervention of the Physical Education Teacher, she had narrowly missed stealing Su Wanli’s first kiss.
Despite all that, the noble Miss Wanli was still willing to bring her an extra warm lunch…
Heh, her earlier investigation wasn’t just in need of improvement—it was completely opposite compared to the real Su Wanli.
Su Wanli, the eldest young lady of South City’s top family, and at the same time, Baiying Academy’s number one bully.
In the eyes of many, she was the embodiment of arrogance, recklessness, outrageous behavior, and ignorance.
… Yet beneath all these outward appearances was a soul of utmost gentleness.
Looking at Su Wanli’s ever-calm sleeping face, a warm current welled up in Meng Wange’s heart.
Long ago, during those days, she was often locked in a room of the orphanage by other children pretending not to notice. Back then, Meng Wange had already learned how to live an entire day by herself, so even when she heard teachers passing by outside, she wouldn’t actively seek help.
Learning alone allowed her to progress quickly there was no need to wait for others alongside the teacher, no wasted effort verifying new knowledge, and no ridiculous bullying to endure at school.
Time passed faster than usual.
Only when night fell, and the other children returned from school, chattering and noisy, looking at her flipping through books on the bed, would Meng Wange leave to find the orphanage teacher to get the energy she needed to survive.
She had long since learned how to enjoy this solitary time, with the only shortcoming being the lack of a warm meal.
But that didn’t matter. The bread she had stored beneath the bed was enough to sustain the energy needed for her thoughts. As long as she kept moving forward, her future would never be as cruel as her present.
Meng Wange took a deep breath, shook her head, and pulled herself out of those past memories.
Lately, she seemed to recall distant things more often.
Perhaps it was because these past few days had been too pleasant, and her brain was warning her not to lower her guard.
She glanced at the School Uniform Jacket draped over Su Wanli, smiled softly, and withdrew her gaze, sighing lightly.
She hadn’t expected that in less than three days by Su Wanli’s side, she would already feel the hope that “these carefree days could last forever.”
Don’t be greedy, Meng Wange. Don’t expect too much from the future.
If there is something you can do for Miss Wanli right now, then do it well.
Meng Wange imitated Su Wanli, placing the history textbook upright before her, flipping open the Notebook prepared for the new school term’s assessment, and focused on adjusting herself.
“Guzhe.”
Zhang Shiyu and the others stuffed the two hard-to-swallow rye bread slices Meng Wange had given them into their mouths, then gulped down several sips of water to wash away the lingering sour taste.
“Phew… Can people really eat this kind of stuff?”
“Seriously, I don’t know how Meng Wange can buy this…”
Du Xinxin silently pointed at the two in front of her, raising one finger near her lips.
Zhang Shiyu nodded knowingly, then placed a fresh white sheet of paper on the table and took out her pen.
Zhang Shiyu: So, have you guys figured out the reason? Was the punishment of running laps really just because the Old Boss got embarrassed?
Wen Manman: That seemed right before, but after their performance just now…
Du Xinxin: Damn it, could it really be the “Love Yet Unattainable” rumor? I thought it was unreliable and only placed it above “Forbidden Love of Distant Cousins.”
Zhang Shiyu: “Love Yet Unattainable”… So, during fourth period, did Meng Wange really reject the Old Boss’s confession?
Du Xinxin: No wonder the Old Boss got mad. So she vented her heartbreak anger on us.
Wen Manman: Wait, did the Old Boss really confess during fourth period?
Zhang Shiyu: Of course! Me and Tudoule were watching from outside the Equipment Room’s window! They were inside the Physical Education Equipment Room! They were almost pressed up against each other!
Du Xinxin: … But I didn’t hear anything because the Physical Education Teacher arrived too fast.
Wen Manman: I tried to stall, but I have to say it was all our fault—Xiaofen, Tudoule, Miss Wanli, and Meng Wange. Too few of us showed up.
Du Xinxin: Should blame Xiaofen for sneaking a peek.
Zhang Shiyu: You were enjoying watching it too! You nearly shoved me aside!
Wen Manman: Stop fighting, stop fighting. Were Miss Wanli and Meng Wange really both there? Because neither I nor the PE Teacher saw anyone inside the Equipment Room.
Zhang Shiyu: Huh?
Du Xinxin: Really? I thought the Old Boss got caught and that’s why she was mad.
Wen Manman: We really didn’t see anyone. It was empty everywhere—no place to hide unless someone moved a gymnastics mat and buried themselves under it.
Zhang Shiyu: No way. You know who the Old Boss is. Even if the PE Teacher caught her, she definitely wouldn’t want to be covered in that dirty mat!
Wen Manman: True. That little space would require everyone to squeeze together and get covered in dust.
Du Xinxin: So the Old Boss didn’t do anything and escaped by climbing out the window with Meng Wange? All because Xiaofen wanted to sneak a look and drew the PE Teacher here.
Zhang Shiyu: My bad, I’ll go watch myself next time…
The sheet was almost filled. Zhang Shiyu shook her head, pushed the paper aside, and prepared to end their discussion.
Just then, her toes suddenly felt damp.
“Wu 2”
Zhang Shiyu blinked in confusion and looked toward the front of her seat.
There hung Meng Wange’s School Uniform Jacket on the chair’s backrest, showing some damp water stains.
“Zui.”
Zhang Shiyu scratched her head, tore off a fresh sheet of paper, and placed it between the three.
“Under what circumstances do you think someone would need to wash their School Uniform Jacket during lunch break?”
Xiaofen and Da Zhuang immediately looked toward Meng Wange’s chair back, silently pressing their lips together, and without a word, followed up with:
“Covered in dust…”