Chapter -12
Consider the Extra My Reward to You
The classroom.
The professor of child psychology was lecturing on stages of cognitive development in early childhood.
Yu Zhi hadn’t taken in a single word.
She couldn’t — mainly because the air pressure beside her was so low. Pei Nian’an’s mood was so dark that Yu Zhi felt she had to keep monitoring her emotional state at all times.
She was terrified that if she so much as blinked, Miss Pei would explode.
And besides, this really wasn’t the right time to comfort her.
After all, the two people sitting up front were still shoulder to shoulder.
Saying anything consoling now would just add fuel to the fire.
It’d be better to wait until Pei Nian’an cooled off on her own.
Halfway through the class—
Pei Nian’an suddenly turned her head toward Yu Zhi.
Her voice was low and slightly hoarse as she asked,
“Do you also think I was wrong?”
Yu Zhi blinked. “Why would you ask that?”
“I just wanted to change seats so I could sit next to Brother Chengnian.”
“She didn’t have money, so I gave her some to trade seats. Was that wrong?”
Pei Nian’an’s eyes fixed on the two people sitting in front of her.
She truly couldn’t understand. Without waiting for Yu Zhi’s reply, she murmured to herself,
“Is it my fault that I have money?”
“Why did Chengnian scold me? Why would he choose to sit with her?”
Watching Pei Nian’an’s reddened eyes, Yu Zhi suddenly realized:
In this story, stripping away her rich-girl status, Pei Nian’an was just another poor soul — someone who loved but couldn’t be loved in return.
Simply because she was wealthy, she’d been branded “the vicious female supporting role.”
Everything she did was automatically labeled as wrong.
“Pei-jie, you’re not wrong,” Yu Zhi said sincerely.
“But do you know why Gu Shao chose to side with Wen Ying?”
Pei Nian’an turned her head toward her.
“Because Wen Ying looks like someone who needs to be protected.”
Pei Nian’an frowned, confused.
“So because she needs protection, I don’t?”
“I’m gentle around Chengnian too. Why doesn’t he protect me?”
Yu Zhi twirled her pen between her fingers, then said,
“That’s exactly it, Pei-jie. Think about it — you’re the dazzling daughter of the Pei family.”
At that, the system popped up:
[Villainess Blackening Value -1!]
[Ahhhh! Host, that’s it! Say more! Save this lost little girl, quick!]
Yu Zhi’s eyes brightened — she even had the mood to tease the system.
“Oh? Now you’re not calling me ‘Yu Zhi’ in that robotic tone anymore?”
System: [Hehe, misunderstanding! All a misunderstanding!]
Looking at Pei Nian’an in front of her, Yu Zhi did her best to continue persuading:
“Pei-jie, you have to understand — you’re a radiant young lady, admired by everyone. You’ve always lived life exactly the way you want. But because you like Gu Chengnian too much, you unconsciously tone yourself down around him, trying to please him…”
Patting Pei Nian’an’s hand, Yu Zhi went on,
“But think about it — doesn’t Gu Chengnian have plenty of women like that around him?”
“That’s why your gentle side doesn’t reach him. He knows you — knows that you’re bold, that you’ve got fire. Deep down, he sees you as the strong one.”
“But Wen Ying isn’t like that. She doesn’t cater to anyone. She treats money like dirt. When you offered her money, she felt insulted. She resisted you — she rejected your gesture. In Gu Chengnian’s eyes, that makes her seem… unique.”
Pei Nian’an froze.
After a few seconds, she looked at Yu Zhi again.
“She dared to defy me? And she looks down on me for being rich?”
“Heh! We’ll see about that. I’ll make sure she learns what I’m capable of!”
Yu Zhi: “…”
Wait—no, no, no! Miss Pei, that’s not what I meant!
She had completely missed the point!
After class.
Students slowly packed their bags and left.
Pei Nian’an stayed seated.
Seeing this, Yu Zhi could only sit quietly beside her.
Soon, Gu Chengnian walked over.
His face was expressionless as he said to Pei Nian’an,
“I’ve already apologized to Wen Ying on your behalf. You should go home and reflect on your behavior.”
Pei Nian’an’s head snapped up.
“Brother Chengnian, why should I apologize to—”
Before she could finish, Gu Chengnian turned and walked away.
Pei Nian’an stared at his retreating back, then suddenly grabbed her textbook and stood up.
“Pei-jie!” Yu Zhi hurried after her.
Pei Nian’an strode straight to Wen Ying, who was packing her things.
She looked down at her and gave a cold laugh.
“So your name is Wen Ying.”
Wen Ying looked up, her tone calm.
“Do you need something? Chengnian already apologized for you. I don’t want to make a fuss, so let’s just drop it.”
“‘Chengnian’?”
Pei Nian’an repeated the name, her voice sharp.
Her anger was bubbling over.
“Who said you could call my Chengnian like that?”
Wen Ying’s lips curved slightly, a trace of smugness showing.
“Of course he told me I could. Why, do you have a problem with that?”
Then she glanced deliberately at Yu Zhi.
“Sorry, but even if you do, I’m not changing it. I’m not like the money-grubbing lackeys you surround yourself with.”
Yu Zhi: “???”
For some reason, she suddenly wanted to slap Wen Ying. Hard.
Zipping up her bag, Wen Ying looked at Pei Nian’an with open provocation.
“Just so you know, not everyone can be bought.”
Then she turned to leave.
That was the final spark.
Pei Nian’an’s fury erupted.
She raised her thick textbook and smacked Wen Ying right in the face.
BANG!
The heavy book hit her forehead with a dull thud.
Wen Ying cried out in pain and crouched down, blood seeping between her fingers.
The classroom went wild.
“Oh my god! She’s bleeding!”
“Get the school nurse!”
“Pei Nian’an, are you insane?!”
Pei Nian’an, however, just shot the onlookers a cold glance, then looked down at Wen Ying with icy disdain.
“What’s wrong? Weren’t you so talkative just now?
Why so pathetic all of a sudden?”
Then she pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it onto Wen Ying.
“That should cover your medical bills.
Consider the extra my reward to you.”
The moment Pei Nian’an said it, Yu Zhi couldn’t help it — she felt thrilled.
But then she saw the blood trickling down Wen Ying’s forehead, and her conscience started warring with itself.
Dear god!
How could she enjoy that?
Wen Ying was supposed to be the righteous, kind heroine!
How could she side with the villainess?
What a sin, what a sin!
But… looking again at Wen Ying crouched on the floor, Yu Zhi couldn’t lie to herself—
It was so satisfying! She wanted to applaud!
In the classroom, Wen Ying lifted her head, hatred burning in her eyes.
Pei Nian’an stared right back, without a shred of remorse.
“Remember this — next time you see me, stay out of my way.
Otherwise, I won’t let you off.”
Then she turned and strode out, her high heels clicking crisply against the floor.
Yu Zhi quickly grabbed the fallen textbook and ran after her, ignoring the disgusted looks from the other students.
