Chapter 8: Rumors – I heard you two are dating~

Fang Chuning had no energy for school and no strength for basketball these past few days, which was evident to everyone in the school. The teacher even called her to the office for a round of caring questions, but unfortunately didn’t get a single word out of her.

Once again missing a ball, Fang Chuning stared blankly at a spot, oblivious to everything.

It wasn’t until someone called her name that she reacted, then walked off the court and sat down to continue spacing out.

The touch of a towel lightly brushed her forehead. Fang Chuning turned her head in a daze to look at the boy wiping her sweat. Jiang Luoyu’s face was slightly red, but he still stubbornly wiped the beads of sweat from her face and explained softly, “You have sweat on your face. If you don’t wipe it off, you’ll easily catch a cold.”

Fang Chuning didn’t make a sound. Jiang Luoyu thought she approved of him and his heart bloomed with joy. His cheeks flushed red as he continued to wipe her sweat with a bashful smile.

Fang Chuning was completely unaware of the young man’s budding feelings. After school, she floated back to the villa like a ghost, passing everyone and floating back to her room, finally collapsing on the bed and roaming the four seas in her mind.

These past few days, the two questions she thought about the most were “Fang Hong cheated” and “What will Dad do?”

When Fang Chuning finally calmed down, she chose to face reality. This matter had hit her too hard. She never thought that even though her parents usually had such a good relationship, why would her mother have someone else outside?

Was it because she was getting older and wanted to seek some excitement?

Her subconscious told her that her mother was not that kind of person, but there was no way to explain what happened that day, after all, she saw it with her own eyes.

Thinking of this, Fang Chuning began to plan for the future. If Dad found out about the affair, not only would he not forgive it, but she also wouldn’t allow her dad to continue living with such a scumbag woman.

Fang Chuning suddenly bounced up from the bed, her expression resolute.

Right!

Exactly!

This matter can’t be kept from Dad. She has to find the right opportunity to expose Fang Hong’s false affection, and then make Dad divorce her! She will take Dad and leave the Fang family. At that time, she will no longer be the young miss of the Fang family. She will live with Dad in an ordinary civilian house, and she will drop out of Xingxing because she can’t afford the tuition. In order to make a living and support Dad, she will need to work two jobs outside! Living a life that is hard but simple and happy.

When Fang Chuning was excitedly imagining this, she couldn’t help pacing back and forth in the room. At this moment, she was completely immersed in her future life of hardship and bitterness, yet full of flavor and happiness, completely forgetting that even if they really got divorced, her dad’s family would have endless money to spend.

She felt that she needed to prepare in advance now to avoid being unaccustomed when the time came.

So Fang Chuning happily called Gao Qiong, “Hey Qiong, find me a job tomorrow.”

Gao Qiong, on the other end of the phone, heard the girl’s voice that seemed to have been reborn and couldn’t help but be stunned. She subconsciously said, “Did your family go bankrupt?”

…

Although Gao Qiong was usually not very serious, she was quite efficient when it came to getting things done. The next morning, she brought news.

“This job is as a cashier in a small supermarket. The boss said it’s very easy, just stand there and collect money, simple and easy to understand.”

It indeed sounded very simple. Fang Chuning nodded, “So how is the salary calculated?”

“Of course it’s paid monthly. This isn’t like pocket money from home that can be given every day. You just go collect money for a few hours after school, it can only be considered a part-time job. You get paid for the number of hours you work.”

“So when do I start?”

“You can go this afternoon after school.”

As Gao Qiong said, Fang Chuning rushed over there after school in the afternoon. The small supermarket had a total of two cashiers. Besides her, there was a boy who said he was also here for a temporary job.

“You just stand here. When someone comes, you scan what they bought here and then collect the money…”

The boy explained the operation process to her with a red face and ears. Fang Chuning listened attentively and finally nodded in understanding.

The location of this supermarket was good, and many people came in the afternoon. Fang Chuning was a bit overwhelmed. There were two checkout lines, but there were only one or two rare customers in the boy’s line, while her line had a long queue, mostly teenage boys.

When paying, problems like this were not uncommon:

“Little sister, can I get your contact information?”

“No.”

Or deliberately making things difficult:

“I only have one item, no need to scan it. I’ll give you the money directly.”

“Must scan.”

“Why are you so stubborn? I said no need to scan, just don’t scan. Big brother will give you the money directly.”

“Must scan.”

“……”

There were also some who kept staring at her after paying. Fang Chuning was not affected in the slightest. Around ten o’clock, she happily finished work and headed home.

The boy who got off work with her seemed to be called Xu Yue.

“Where are you going to catch the bus? There’s only one stop ahead, is there one that goes to your home?”

Fang Chuning glanced at the bus stop, “I’ll take a taxi back.”

“Ah, I see.” Xu Yue smiled shyly, “Then never mind. We’re going different ways. But taking a taxi here is very expensive. Is your home nearby? If it’s too far, a day’s work wages won’t even be enough for the taxi fare.”

Fang Chuning felt that this was indeed a problem. How could she take a taxi every day in the future?

“Then I’ll take the bus with you.”

“Mm.”

Fang Chuning remembered that there was a bus stop not too far from her home. It was still possible to walk back from the stop. While riding the same bus, Fang Chuning discovered that the boy was unusually… talkative. Even if she didn’t make a sound, he could talk to himself for a long time. Fang Chuning had never seen someone who could chatter so much, and this person was about the same age as her.

After doing this job for a few days, Fang Chuning was a bit dissatisfied. After all, she was going to work two jobs in the future. This job was too easy, and she would still have difficulty adapting when things got tough in the future.

So she asked Gao Qiong to find her another job. This time, Gao Qiong’s efficiency wasn’t as fast, and it wasn’t until the next day that she brought news.

Fang Chuning looked at the recruitment advertisement paper in her hand. It was a recruitment advertisement for a ranch. It was quite realistic, directly stating what needed to be done: only two hours of work time, just clean up the manure. Requirement: not afraid of dirt and stench.

Fang Chuning smiled kindly, “You want me to shovel manure?”

“I searched for a long time before finding this for you. The working hours are short, and the owner of that ranch said that as long as you go do it, he can give you a bottle of fresh milk every day. At that time, you’ll save money on buying milk, how great!”

Seeing her “thoughtfulness” for herself, Fang Chuning couldn’t help but shed “moved” tears, “Qiong, you’re really—too good to me.”

Gao Qiong put her arm around her shoulder and quite righteously patted her chest, “We’ve been friends for so many years. If you fall on hard times, how could I stand by and do nothing? This is what sisters should do!”

Fang Chuning kicked her away and turned to leave expressionlessly.

A few more days passed. When Fang Hong left the company after work, Fang Chuning pulled Gao Qiong to secretly follow her. Sure enough, she saw that man with her again. The two of them were holding hands intimately.

“What are you going to do?” Gao Qiong asked in a low voice.

“What? Of course, catch them in the act.” Fang Chuning said coldly with a curl of her lips.

“Even if you catch them, what can you do? Don’t waste your energy, let’s go back and play games.”

Fang Chuning covered her mouth, indicating for her to be quiet.

The two of them sneakily tailed behind. They watched as the two reluctantly parted outside a villa complex. Fang Chuning seized the opportunity and charged forward in a swift step, “Fang Hong, how can you face my dad and me!?”

Fang Hong obviously didn’t expect her to appear here. After a slight surprise, she frowned, “What did you call me?”

Fang Chuning flicked her hand arrogantly, “You don’t need to care what I call you! I’m telling you, I will take Dad and leave the Fang family to live outside. Even if life is hard, I will work to support Dad. I won’t let Dad suffer any grievances. We’ll live a simple and happy life, although difficult, far away from you!”

Gao Qiong, who was hiding in the distance and peeking, felt like she was watching an exaggerated stage play, the kind with emotional entanglements.

Fang Chuning, who was a bit excited, couldn’t control herself and blurted out her ambition. Seeing Fang Hong’s face gradually darkening, she felt even more thrilled.

“Ning Ning?”

The man standing beside Fang Hong suddenly called out to her.

Fang Chuning glanced at him sideways, not paying attention to him.

The man suddenly reached out as if wanting to touch her head. Fang Chuning quickly stepped back two big steps, “What are you doing!?”

The man showed a nostalgic smile and said warmly, “Ning Ning, you don’t remember me? I’m your Aunt Nian.”

Fang Chuning’s expression was strange, “Catfish? What catfish? I don’t know you. Don’t pretend to be close.”

The “man” lifted “his” bangs and smiled, “You don’t remember me? I even helped you pee when you were little.”

Under the “man’s” bangs, a birthmark the size of a thumb was clearly visible. Fang Chuning’s eyelids twitched fiercely, and her heart felt chilled.

The “man” she had misunderstood was actually a woman, and moreover, an old sister who had grown up wearing the same pants as Fang Hong. Fang Chuning never thought that she didn’t even dare to look at Fang Hong’s face and could only pull out an embarrassed smile, “Aunt Nian, it’s you…”

“Who else did you think it was?” Fang Hong’s voice was cold.

Nian Yao fiddled with her short hair and laughed, “It’s been so long, so it’s hard to recognize me at first, right?”

It wasn’t just hard to recognize at first. If she hadn’t explicitly said it and revealed her birthmark, Fang Chuning would have never recognized her. “Aunt Nian… why are you dressed like this?”

“This androgynous style is popular now. Does it look good?”

“Hehe, yeah.”

Androgynous is one thing, but the key is that these two people interact like a couple. Isn’t this tricking people?

While the two adults were chatting, Fang Chuning shrank to the side and secretly glanced back, frantically making eye contact with Gao Qiong, who was licking an ice pop and watching the show, to signal for help.

Gao Qiong, who misunderstood, happily raised her ice pop and waved it at her.

Fang Chuning’s expression went numb. At this moment, her mind was filled with images of herself being hung up and beaten. The more arrogant she was a moment ago, the more miserable she was now.

After the woman entered the villa, only the mother and daughter were left. Fang Hong put her hands behind her back and showed her a kind smile, “You were really ambitious just now.”

In front of Fang Hong, even making excuses was superfluous. She might as well act as if nothing had happened, lowering her head and staring blankly at her leather shoes.

In the end, even if she pretended to be obedient and innocent, she couldn’t escape a round of rattan cane and braised pork.

Until the next day at school, her back was still uncomfortably hot and painful, but her spirit was no longer as dispirited as before. Entering the classroom, Fang Chuning had just put down her backpack when she felt that something was a bit off.

The gazes in the class seemed to be even more focused and passionate than usual, and the air was filled with the scent of gossip.

It wasn’t until Gao Qiong came over and mysteriously said to her, “Do you know what the school is spreading about you now?”

Fang Chuning was drinking hot water. Upon hearing this, she glanced at her sideways, indicating that she should speak up if she had something to say.

Gao Qiong glanced at the boy sitting in the back row, his face slightly red, and deliberately raised her voice, “The whole school is saying that you and Classmate Jiang Luoyu are dating~”

The gazes in the classroom instantly gathered towards them.

Jiang Luoyu, who was sitting behind the two girls, also became the focus. He lowered his eyelids, his face flushed red, and his hand was drawing circles on the book with a pen.

Fang Chuning, who was in the middle of drinking water, almost choked to death.