Chapter 080: I'm Just Saying No to Things I Don't Like
The next morning.
Ye Zhen received rewards for two tasks.
The first was the optional mission she'd accepted before the graduation exam—that kissing mission—which allowed her to master one subject.
The second was a high-difficulty optional task: "Get the female lead, Ye Fuli, drunk once and record her drunken ramblings." It offered a chance for some wild, reckless fun.
Hmm…
In that sense, last night was a total win.
But the moment she thought about their current awkward relationship, Ye Zhen felt like she'd lost billions.
Even men who tried to cozy up to Feng Aotian didn't end well—let alone a villainous female supporting character?
She glanced at Ye Fuli beside her.
As if reading her mind, Ye Fuli opened her eyes, stretched lazily, and her chest rose and fell.
No matter how cold and vicious her personality was, her looks and figure were undeniably flawless. Her fair skin and striking beauty seemed to come with a built-in beauty filter—no wonder she could drive those young, handsome playboys completely mad.
Ye Zhen cleared her throat lightly, reminding her, "You can't leave now anyway. There are people in this courtyard during the day."
"Mm."
Ye Fuli sat up and scanned her surroundings.
Seeing the scattered empty bottles on the floor, she froze in shock.
The realization that she had indulged so recklessly—and foolishly trusted Ye Zhen—sent a chill down her spine.
If Ye Zhen had done anything to her last night—like taking compromising photos of her half-naked—she would be ruined beyond redemption!
"Huff…"
Ye Fuli felt a headache coming on and rubbed her temples.
She'd have to hack into Ye Zhen's phone later and see if he'd saved anything strange.
Her own safety was paramount, no matter what.
Ye Fuli turned to look at Ye Zhen, who was still lying on the bed.
Ye Zhen was smiling back at her.
Between the two of them, they had a combined total of eight hundred tricks up their sleeves, but there wasn't a single romantic thought in sight.
"Last night, I distinctly remember we were already dating," Ye Fuli murmured, her red lips parting to utter those terrifying words.
Gulp.
Startled, Ye Zhen forced herself to swallow.
She rubbed the back of her head, lowered her gaze, and murmured a quiet "uh-huh."
"Then you should have helped me get dressed this morning." Ye Fuli sat back down on the edge of the bed, her long, fair legs glistening slightly in the sunlight.
"Oh."
Ye Zhen agreed verbally, but inwardly cursed, You bastard Feng Aotian! Is this dating? You think you're the emperor, right? Bestowing the privilege of having a favorite concubine serve you while changing clothes!
Is this what dating is?
Pfft. Good thing I never expected anything from you. Otherwise, I'd be miserable right now.
"Ye Zhen, what's with that impatient look?" Ye Fuli tilted her head slightly, her gaze turning displeased.
Ye Zhen didn't bother with pleasantries. She grabbed the small makeup mirror from the table and held it up, forcing her to see her own expression.
Seeing her reflection, Ye Fuli's eyes narrowed sharply.
She took a deep breath.
Then, with an intensely serious gaze, she fixed her eyes on Ye Zhen.
"Ye Zhen, the most crucial thing about being my person is never to contradict my opinions."
Ye Zhen tugged at the corner of her mouth, instinctively wanting to retort, but stopped herself.
Ha, challenge my authority?
I've already had my chance to screw things up. Just wait for the perfect moment—I'll vanish from your sight like the wind, leaving you with nothing but regret!
Of course, that was just Ye Zhen talking big. She didn't believe that if she really vanished like the wind one day, Ye Fuli would regret it bitterly.
Did Ye Fuli even have a heart?
She had no heart.
How could you expect someone without a heart to understand regret?
All Ye Zhen's words ultimately dissolved into a self-mocking laugh, reminding herself not to take things too seriously.
"Oh, got it."
What's it like to change clothes for a stunningly elegant woman?
Ye Zhen quickly realized…
What might be seen as bullying to others was, for her, pure bliss.
…
After changing, Ye Fuli sat down in Ye Zhen's usual spot, naturally picking up the test paper Ye Zhen had been working on and began checking it for her.
"Go make me a cup of coffee. No sugar."
Ye Zhen stood there for a moment before finally asking, "Ye Fuli, do you think this is how you're supposed to date?"
Why was she constantly bossing people around?
Was this even reasonable? Was she, Ye Zhen, some kind of maid?!
Ye Fuli looked up at her. "What else?"
She wouldn't reveal her own ignorance about romance.
But she had her own logic.
"I check your homework, you make me coffee—it's a fair trade. Besides, my work is far more difficult than yours. You're not losing out."
Ye Fuli waved the pen in her hand.
Her long, straight legs crossed in a new pattern.
Her tone carried a habitual, lofty sense of superiority.
"Go on, Ye Zhen. I hope you'll be more proactive in the future and not always need me to remind you."
Ye Zhen wasn't one to indulge her. She stepped forward and took her homework paper.
Under Ye Fuli's distinctly displeased gaze, Ye Zhen said deliberately, "I'll correct it myself using the answer key. No need to trouble Miss Ye Fuli."
The atmosphere froze for a few seconds.
Ye Fuli touched her nose thoughtfully.
"Ye Zhen, are you arguing with me?"
"No, I'm just refusing to do things I dislike."
"Is it that you dislike me checking your homework, or that you dislike making me coffee?"
"I—"
"See? Neither of those things is truly something you dislike. Stop throwing pointless tantrums and just do as you're told."
Ye Fuli smiled, looking rather smug, as if she'd caught her by the tail.
But Ye Zhen couldn't muster a smile.
Her gaze fixed on Ye Fuli as she said, "I dislike being ordered around by you. I dislike being controlled by you. I dislike being looked down upon with your arrogant disrespect."
Clack—
The pen in Ye Fuli's hand fell onto the tabletop.
She shifted her gaze to a more refined expression as she looked at Ye Zhen.
"Ye Fuli, I believe that for a relationship to begin, we must at least stand on equal footing…"
Before she could finish, Ye Fuli grabbed her collar and yanked her forward.
The motion was abrupt and forceful, sending Ye Zhen's upper body crashing onto her lap in a somewhat awkward heap.
Before Ye Zhen could react, she was completely pinned down.
Her back ached from the pressure!
Ye Fuli gripped the back of her neck, leaning down to demand, "Ye Zhen, what makes you think you're on equal footing with me?"
The faint sting at the back of her neck and the tinge of cold sent a shiver through Ye Zhen.
"Have you got something wrong, Ye Zhen?"
"The little bit of goodwill I had toward you doesn't entitle you to such a high status."
"Ye Zhen, I must reiterate: the most crucial rule for anyone under me is never to contradict my decisions."
After speaking, Ye Fuli felt something was amiss.
But she quickly suppressed those uneasy feelings.
She could do many things for Ye Zhen—like shielding her from outsiders' bullying, safeguarding her position within the Ye family, and allowing her to live comfortably as the young miss of the Ye household…
But she couldn't let Ye Zhen become spoiled.
She had witnessed Ye Zhen's arrogant and tyrannical nature, her cunning and ruthless ways—to her, that was the very picture of being spoiled rotten.
She refused to let Ye Zhen of this lifetime become that person again.
"Alright, I understand."
Ye Zhen, her spirit crushed, slowly lowered her head.
She closed her eyes, hiding the last glimmer of light within them.
"I won't argue with you anymore."
Love? It's not even worth a dog's consideration. What was she hoping for?
Ye Zhen silently gave herself two sharp mental slaps, extinguishing that tiny, already insignificant flicker of hope.