Chapter 053: You're So Great, So High and Mighty
When she caught up to Ye Zhen, Ye Fuli still wore a stern expression.
Her slightly disheveled hair and the faint rise and fall of her chest betrayed the anxiety she had just felt.
Ye Zhen called out politely yet distantly, "Classmate Ye Fuli."
"Don't go eating random things."
Ye Fuli pointed at the medicine box in her hand.
"All medicine has some toxicity."
Ye Zhen nodded. "I'll be vigilant about following the doctor's orders."
Her tone held no trace of emotion, yet it was precisely this lifeless inflection that infuriated Ye Fuli, making her want to give Ye Zhen a stern lecture.
But what exactly could she scold her for?
The only leverage she had over Ye Zhen was her status as a wealthy heiress.
Now that Ye Zhen had explicitly renounced it and no longer feared her threats of violence, appearing as lifeless as a dead fish waiting to be eaten, what leverage did she have left?
Ye Fuli pressed her lips together.
Her fingernails dug into her arm with such force that several deep indentations appeared.
The sensation of losing control was unbearable enough for anyone, let alone someone who had been reborn.
"Forget it. Do as you please. Life and death are your own concern. I couldn't care less."
Ye Fuli spoke words entirely at odds with her true feelings.
She turned and walked away, quickly disappearing at the end of the staircase.
Ye Zhen's gaze darkened as she clenched the medicine box tightly in her hand.
"Life and death have nothing to do with you—why are you rushing off like this? That damn Feng Aotian, always saying such hurtful things… Couldn't he just say plainly that he worries I'm too dumb to read the instructions and'll poison myself with the medicine?"
Ye Zhen was unexpectedly sharp for once.
Even the usually useless system couldn't help but marvel at how sharp its host could be.
[So, Host, what's your plan? If you keep this cold war with the female lead, she might get so angry and embarrassed that she does something irrational.]
Ye Zhen: "Like what?"
[Like locking you up like a canary? Or worse—torturing your body in every imaginable way, then crushing your spirit?]
Ye Zhen: "If my life is in danger, you'll save me, right?"
[This cute little me would naturally do everything in my power to protect the host's safety! But if the host isn't in mortal danger, that's a different story. (*￣rǒ￣)]
Ye Zhen: "Can I swear now?"
From the system's recent words, she grasped one thing: if she fell into Ye Fuli's hands, she'd likely vanish without a trace.
Expecting the law to matter in a Mary Sue comic?
That was naive.
So Ye Zhen, who had thought escaping would let her live comfortably as a slacker, now felt a twinge of dread.
Considering her future quality of life, she shouldn't push Ye Fuli too far.
After all, if she ended up locked in a dungeon…
Ye Fuli wouldn't starve her to death, nor would she serve bird's nest and abalone every meal. She might not even get any meat.
"Ugh, this is such a hassle."
Ye Zhen sighed deeply. After confirming with the system that the pills had no side effects and verifying the dosage, she quickly swallowed them.
"Wait, I am a woman, right? Why hasn't my period come yet after all this time?"
As her thoughts drifted, Ye Zhen suddenly realized this point.
She was an adult now—could she really still be underdeveloped?
"Ah, never mind. Not having periods is actually convenient! I don't plan on having kids anyway… Besides, I've never heard of not menstruating being life-threatening."
[There are cases where it can be fatal, Host.]
"If it kills me, so be it. What else can I do? As long as it doesn't hurt."
[Seems you fear pain more than death.]
Ye Zhen chuckled softly: "I just don't think I'm meant for a tragic storyline."
A deadbeat is a deadbeat—always so good at convincing themselves.
After taking the medicine, Ye Zhen's pain subsided quickly. She decided to take advantage of the downtime to walk downstairs and sort out her thoughts.
The flower beds downstairs were filled with people.
Some were discussing the exams they'd just finished, others were cramming last-minute, memorizing formulas for various subjects, and still others were chatting about the upcoming summer vacation.
Ye Zhen found an empty spot and sat down. Just as she reached for her phone out of habit, she paused. Feeling awkward, she pretended her waist was itchy and scratched it a couple of times.
"Ye Zhen?"
Another familiar voice called out.
Ye Zhen lifted her head, her gaze cutting through the crowd toward the source of the voice.
When she saw Bai Ruoting's face, she was genuinely startled.
How could this kid's entire appearance change in just a few days? He looked exactly like a minor villainous henchman destined to be written out after three episodes.
"Heard you got kicked out of your family home? How pitiful."
Bai Ruoting's lips curled upward into a smug grin.
"Do you really think you could survive on your own after leaving the Ye family?"
Ye Zhen chuckled coldly. "What, you're here looking for a fight again? Should I go notify Ye Fuli for you?"
At the mention of Ye Fuli's name, Bai Ruoting's expression instantly darkened.
He was likely suffering from post-traumatic stress—merely hearing her name made every part of his body ache.
Still, he forced himself to remain calm, walking over and sitting down in the empty seat beside Ye Zhen.
In a voice only they could hear, he said, "Ye Zhen, what's your deal? Others might not know, but I sure as hell do."
Seeing Ye Zhen's lack of response, he continued, "You're bending to Ye Fuli's will because of that secret, right? Do you plan to let her lead you around by the nose forever? Don't you want to truly complete the coup de grâce?"
Ye Zhen finally glanced at him. "Are you done?"
"Hey, what kind of attitude is that? Can't you see I'm doing this for your own good? If you follow my plan, I guarantee I can secure your position as the heiress. All I want in return is Ye Fuli!"
In Ye Zhen's eyes, Bai Ruoting could no longer see that mad, mindless obsession.
Plus, he hadn't received any harassment from Ye Zhen lately. He finally believed she no longer loved him.
Losing a loyal sycophant felt strange at first, but gradually, he grew indifferent.
Mainly, Ye Fuli's image filled his mind completely!
His hatred for Ye Fuli had twisted into a monstrous force, crawling and snarling in every corner of the world.
Therefore, taking down Ye Fuli was now his sole obsession.
"So, what do you say? Have you given this deal some serious thought?"
Ye Zhen curled the corner of her mouth and laughed. "With you?"
Those three words carried the destructive force of a nuclear bomb.
Before Bai Ruoting could react, Ye Zhen stood up, her gaze cold as ice. "Forgive my bluntness, but you're a grown man. You're strong, well-built—how can your mind be so simple? Is there nothing else in your head besides romance and relationships?"
Bai Ruoting was left dumbfounded by her rebuke.
Clearly, he'd never imagined hearing such words of wisdom from Ye Zhen in his lifetime.
"And you? You actually have the nerve to covet Ye Fuli? What makes you think you're worthy?"
Ye Zhen grew angrier with every word.
Even she, a time traveler with a system to some extent, dared not entertain improper thoughts about Ye Fuli. How could this incompetent, rage-filled man possibly be worthy?
Listen to him?
Get lost!
"Bai Ruoting, let me give you some advice: aim for something realistic. Like Cuihua, who drools and grins stupidly at you near the school gate—she'd be perfect. As for me obeying you? Hah! When your IQ hits 250, I'll definitely listen to you."
"Ye Zhen!!!"
White Ruoting, enraged by the insult, raised his hand to teach her a lesson.
But Ye Zhen reacted faster. She snatched a brick from the flower bed, raised it high, and glared at him menacingly.
Bai Ruoting sucked in a sharp breath.
His raised hand, no matter how hard it was, couldn't possibly be harder than that brick.
Moreover, judging by Ye Zhen's height, she wouldn't hit him in the head with it, but she could very well deliver a fatal blow elsewhere.
"Fine, you're so noble and self-righteous. Go ahead and play the saint. We'll see how far that gets you… AHHH!!!"
He glanced back at her while retreating awkwardly, his legs unsteady.
In a moment of carelessness, he tripped over a pipe on the ground and fell headfirst into the filthy greenbelt.
Ye Zhen burst out laughing.
But as she laughed, something felt off.
Why did it bother her so much when others made advances toward Ye Fuli?
Under the strange stares of the crowd, she silently lowered the brick in her hand…
"I guess I'm just overflowing with saintly compassion. Sigh, there aren't many kind souls like me anymore."
[Who knows which saintly soul would swing a brick without hesitation over a few words from someone else?]
"Shut up, you damn system."