Chapter 051: Even a Cute Little Lolita Has Her Limits
"Ye Zhen, what did you say? Say it again?"
The smile on Ye Fuli's lips instantly faded.
This seemed to be the first time Ye Zhen had ever defied her, as far as she could recall.
Facing her increasingly darkening gaze, Ye Zhen felt her legs grow weak, yet she stubbornly stuck out her neck and repeated those three words: "I don't want it."
"Reason."
Ye Fuli suppressed her rising anger, her gaze fixed intently on her.
"Tell me. Your reason."
She had bestowed this wealth and privilege upon Ye Zhen, demanding only that she maintain the status quo and remain obedient forever.
Was that too much to ask?
Besides, Ye Zhen was the one favored by her parents!
Ye Zhen could enjoy the complete parental love she had never known, along with this wealth and prestige. Why could she still refuse?
Was it just being dramatic?
Or was it a mockery of her, Ye Fuli?
Mocking her for being unable to attain something even a fool could easily obtain?
"The reason is…"
"Speak."
"Heh, Ye Fuli, I've actually said it before." Ye Zhen struggled to maintain her composure, feigning calmness. "I told you—this seat was always meant for you. I never once coveted it."
Ye Fuli sneered coldly: "You think I'd believe that…"
"Of course you wouldn't! Truthfully, I never expected you to believe me anyway."
At that moment, Ye Zhen smiled, revealing an expression that felt unfamiliar to Ye Fuli.
What kind of smile was that?
Sadness?
Or perhaps… release?
A sharp pang of pain shot through Ye Fuli's heart. Her fingernails dug into her arm.
Yet her face remained utterly expressionless.
"Ye Fuli, you only ever trust yourself. You'll never believe anyone else, no matter how much I do or how well I behave. You'll never trust me."
Ye Zhen spread her hands and shook her head.
"So I gave up."
Nothing in this world is impossible—as long as you're willing to give up.
Yet, as the words left her lips, Ye Zhen felt a pang of unease.
She quickly realized she'd spoken words of immense weight to Ye Fuli—words more hurtful than any direct insult. So much so that she saw in Ye Fuli's eyes the look of someone ready to jump off a building the moment she stepped outside.
But upon reflection, wasn't what she said the truth?
Who exactly was overstepping here, huh?
"Oh, is that so?"
Ye Fuli's expression was grim, though she herself was likely unaware.
Her tone remained defiant.
"Ye Zhen, I never give people second chances. This is your last one. Since you refuse to comply with my arrangements, I won't guarantee your future path. You're on your own from now on."
Without pausing, Ye Fuli finished her speech, rose to her feet, and drifted like a ghost toward the villa's entrance. She opened the door a crack, slipped sideways, and squeezed her way out.
…
Ye Fuli didn't know how she managed to leave the villa.
Standing in the darkness, the cool breeze of early summer morning blowing against her, her expression grew blank.
The chill seemed to seep into her very soul.
Her mind raced through the details of her interactions with Ye Zhen. The final image frozen in her mind was Ye Zhen's expression when she uttered the words, "I've given up."
Thud—
The trash can by the villa entrance flew away with a kick from Ye Fuli.
The metal bin rolled down the slope in the darkness, clattering and clanking.
Ye Fuli knew this outburst was nothing but a fit of rage.
"Why the hell should I?"
She had plenty of vicious methods for dealing with disobedient people, yet when it came to Ye Zhen, she found herself utterly at a loss.
Ye Zhen, just Ye Zhen…
Thud—
The trash can that had just rolled to the edge of the slope was kicked again by her foot, tumbling even farther away.
Ye Fuli gritted her teeth, yet had no outlet for her pent-up frustration.
After walking a considerable distance, she turned back as if compelled by some unseen force, gazing at the villa.
Crouching by the roadside, she pulled out her phone and sent Ye Zhen a message.
Ye Fuli: "I'm giving you one last chance to change your foolish decision."
Ye Zhen: "I don't want it."
When this girl got stubborn, she was as unyielding as a wall.
"You really dare disobey? If you're not afraid of death, you should at least fear pain!"
After sending the message, Ye Zhen took a long time to reply.
Hmm…
How long exactly?
Ye Fuli remained crouched by the roadside in that same position for a full two hours.
Only when the sun climbed high and pedestrians began filling the streets did she rise dazedly, her expression blank as she staggered forward.
In that moment, she felt as though she had lost everything once again.
Since her rebirth, that sense of the world being within her grasp was gone.
Two streams of hot tears slowly slid down her numb face.
She felt nothing.
Only when the stinging heat on her cheeks became unbearable did she raise her hand to wipe away the tears covering her face.
"Maybe the Black Spider damaged my brain—now I cry for no reason while walking down the street."
Ye Fuli closed her eyes, hiding the exhaustion in her gaze.
"I really need to get myself properly treated."
……
……
At school.
Ye Fuli's unexcused absence caused great concern among her homeroom teacher, the dean of students, and others.
"What is that girl thinking?"
The dean paced back and forth in his office, muttering to himself for a long while, repeating the same question over and over.
Soon, his gaze settled on Ye Fuli's homeroom teacher.
His piercing gaze seemed capable of seeing right through her.
Ye Fuli's homeroom teacher jumped in surprise. "It's not my fault! I've always been kind to her and looked out for her."
The principal sneered coldly, "Is that so? Then where is she? She hasn't attended class for days, and you claim to know nothing about her whereabouts!"
"The exams are coming up soon. She can't possibly not come back, right?"
This was the biggest bargaining chip the homeroom teacher held at that moment.
She made her promise with unwavering confidence.
"Just wait! I'm sure she'll show up for this exam at least."
The Dean's smile vanished completely. "And what if she doesn't show up? Who do you think will bear the responsibility—you or me?"
The homeroom teacher looked as if she might cry.
Thud—
The principal slammed his palm on the desk, sending the pencil holder crashing to the floor in a scattered heap.
"What are you standing there for? Go find her! Search every place Ye Fuli might be. Find her, no matter what."
Just then.
Ye Fuli's listless voice drifted in from outside.
"No need to look for me. I'm back."
Hearing that voice, the homeroom teacher nearly wept with joy.
But the next second, Ye Fuli said something that made her want to cry again: "Don't get too excited. I'm just here to pick up the bonus they're handing out. I'll leave right after I get it."
"Then… what about the exam?"
Ye Fuli smiled faintly. "Oh, that? I don't see the point. Let's just skip it."
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, she dropped her smile and adopted a more serious tone—only to deliver some infuriatingly blunt words:
"For me, whether or not I have this diploma in my future life won't make much difference."
"I'm fundamentally different from you all. I do everything for the sake of finding joy, not for money or some honor."
"At the end of the day, the hardest thing for me to obtain in life is actually… fun…"
At this point, Ye Fuli paused noticeably.
Out of nowhere, she recalled that night she and Ye Zhen had gone to the back mountain to set off fireworks. And Ye Zhen’s words, spoken long ago: "Don’t be foolish. This position was always meant for you, Ye Fuli."
Ye Fuli exhaled slowly.
Her mind cleared a little.
If she didn't take the exam, she wouldn't be able to attend the same school as Ye Zhen.
If they weren't in the same school, how could she ever drag her over to light fireworks for her again?
"Forget it. I've changed my mind. I'll be at the exam on time. Goodbye."
Watching Ye Fuli's rapidly shifting moods, the crowd fell silent once more.
As they watched the academic prodigy walk away, even the staid dean couldn't resist muttering, "What sign is she? Her personality is way too split."