215 Missing the Appointment

Jiang Xue bit her lower lip under Shen Xi’s gaze. Liu Cheng thought that Jiang Xue was so angry that she was at a loss for words. She gently held Jiang Xue’s arm, saying, “Xue’er, don’t worry. Those who are just need not fear those who are crooked. I’m sure Teacher Sun will side with us on this matter.”

Jiang Xue’s following words stunned Liu Cheng. In disbelief, she cried, “Xue’er, what are you saying?”

“Liu Cheng and I were feeling hot and decided to rinse ourselves off, Teacher Sun. It had nothing to do with Shen Xi,” Jiang Xue repeated.

All the students around them were in shock. No one had expected Jiang Xue to say those words.

Incredulous, Liu Cheng touched Jiang Xue’s forehead and asked, “Are you alright? Xue’er, are you saying these things because the heat has gotten to you?”

Jiang Xue batted Liu Cheng’s hand away, a touch of anger creeping into her tone, “I’m fine. After running those laps with you, I felt hot, so I sprayed some water on us for fun. Please don’t blame it on Shen Xi.”

The people around them cast doubtful looks at Liu Cheng. Displeased by Jiang Xue’s deception, Liu Cheng attempted to correct her, but a warning look from the latter shut her up.

Liu Cheng was confused but could only vent her feelings in the quiet confines of her heart, complaining about the injustice Jiang Xue wanted her to swallow. Although she was trying to curry favor with Jiang Xue, it did not translate to her willingness to accept abuse willy-nilly. However, remembering the difference in their respective statuses, and her desire to climb the social ladder, Liu Cheng bit her tongue and endured.

“… It was a joke. Jiang Xue and I were fooling around with water. Shen Xi just happened to be in the area as we were play-fighting,” Liu Cheng finished.

From Jiang Xue’s abnormal behavior, Liu Cheng surmised that Shen Xi had some blackmail material on her. Could she exploit this weakness to turn Jiang Xue into her stepping stone?

Sun Ling found Liu Cheng and Jiang Xue’s confession hard to believe. She pointed at their rapidly swelling faces which resembled bruised tomatoes, and asked, “Then what’s with those scratch marks on your faces?”

Jiang Xue covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. “Oh… Liu Cheng and I fell while having fun. Isn’t that right, Chengcheng?”

While extremely annoyed, Liu Cheng kept a tight lid on her emotions and agreed with Jiang Xue. What else could she say? Grudgingly, she nodded, “Yes, Teacher Sun. It was an accident.”

Since the individuals involved said they were fine, Sun Ling dropped the matter. She did not want more trouble when she could avoid it. She merely advised Jiang Xue and Liu Cheng against dousing themselves in cold water after strenuous exercise as it was not good for their health. Having said her piece, Sun Ling dismissed them, hurrying away.

Shen Xi was deeply pleased by Jiang Xue’s tact. Before she left, she reminded Jiang Xue, “The matter should end here. If my parents get involved, I can’t guarantee what will happen.”

Without waiting for a response from Jiang Xue, Shen Xi led Zhao Yuan away, leaving Jiang Xue and Liu Cheng wet and bedraggled, without any face left.

Eyeing Jiang Xue’s swollen face, Liu Cheng asked carefully, “Xue’er, are you still going to dinner with Xiang Cheng tonight?”

Jiang Xue had said that Xiang Cheng asked her on a date later that night so that he could introduce her to some of his friends and family.

Networking was very important. Those who could hang out with Xiang Cheng were the rich, powerful, or both. Liu Cheng wanted to piggyback on Jiang Xue’s connection to hook up with a good family with a solid background. That way, her status in the Liu family would rise, and her parents would value her more.

Liu Cheng had begged Jiang Xue for a long time for this opportunity, and she agreed only recently. If Jiang Xue did not go today, wouldn’t her opportunity slip through her fingers?

Jiang Xue was well aware of Liu Cheng’s thoughts. Furious, she glared at Liu Cheng and demanded, “What’s wrong? Are you afraid you’ll lose out on an opportunity to climb the social ladder if I choose not to go?”

Liu Cheng panicked when Jiang Xue exposed her thoughts so easily, “I-I didn’t mean it that way…”

“There’s no point denying it,” Jiang Xue cut in. “It’s written on your face. You can’t deny that you hope to reach greater heights; there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Jiang Xue was giving Liu Cheng a way out. The carrot and the stick were important when controlling people like Liu Cheng. Since she had forced Liu Cheng to accept the lie, she needed to dangle hope in front of her to reel her in.

Jiang Xue touched her face. It still smarted. It seemed that she could not go out with Xiang Cheng tonight. Xiang Cheng’s standards were very high; if he saw her like this, he would probably lose his appetite.

In front of Xiang Cheng, she could be nothing but perfect. Jiang Xue wanted to be so perfect that she could steal his heart.

Jiang Xue picked up her cell phone and told Xiang Cheng that she could not make it to their date later that night and would make it up to him on another day.

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