Rong Yu was engrossed in her book, reading voraciously.
It wasn’t until the evening self-study bell rang that she snapped out of her daze.
She packed her books and went to the homeroom teacher’s office. "Teacher, I want to transfer to the science stream. What procedures do I need to complete?"
The homeroom teacher looked at her in disbelief. "What did you say? Transfer streams?"
A liberal arts student switching to science during a repeat year—wasn’t this just throwing her future away?
Moreover, after three years of liberal arts, her grades were still so poor. Science would only be worse.
Rong Yu spoke firmly. "Teacher, I’ve already made up my mind."
"This isn’t something you can decide on your own." The teacher shook her head and pulled out a form from her desk. "A parent’s signature is required in this section. I doubt your parents would agree."
Rong Yu took the form. "Thank you, teacher."
As soon as she stepped out of the school, a whistle sounded in her ears. She looked up and saw a boy with pink highlights standing on a skateboard, flanked by a few followers, blocking her path at the alley entrance.
She smirked coldly. "What do you want?"
"Repeater, we’ve got a score to settle from this morning." Ji Zhouye crossed his arms. "But if you apologize properly, I might let you off."
Rong Yu set down her backpack.
She kicked up a stick from the ground and swung it at the group of boys.
"Instead of studying properly, all you do is gang up on and bully female classmates."
"With your hair dyed in rainbow colors and dressed like clowns, do you even look like students?"
"Your parents must be so disappointed..."
The boys yelped in pain as the stick landed on them.
Ji Zhouye clenched his fists. "I don’t have parents."
Rong Yu paused, glancing at him. "Then your parents are lucky. If they were alive, you’d probably have driven them to an early grave."
"You—!"
Ji Zhouye’s fury ignited.
Rong Yu bent down to pick up her backpack. "Don’t provoke me again."
She walked away.
Just then, Ji Zhouye’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and reluctantly answered. "Eldest Brother, what’s up?"
"I’m at your school gate. Come out. We’re going to the airport to pick up Grandfather."
"Got it."
Ji Zhouye tossed his skateboard to one of his lackeys and strode out of the alley, hands in his pockets.
Rong Yu sat in the car, scrolling through her phone to clear her mind.
A news headline caught her attention:
"Ji Family’s patriarch, Ji Shunying, will arrive at Haicheng Airport tonight at 11 PM..."
She immediately spoke up. "Turn around. Head to the airport."
The driver hesitated. "Miss, it’s already 10 PM. The round trip to the airport will take nearly two hours..."
Rong Yu nodded. "If you’re in a hurry to clock out, I can take a taxi."
The driver fell silent.
The car sped smoothly along the road, arriving at the airport just before 11 PM.
The airport exit was swarmed by dozens of reporters, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse inside.
Rong Yu strode toward the crowd.
Then, a familiar voice sounded from the side.
"Seriously, are you stalking me?" Ji Zhouye laughed mockingly. "No wonder a woman would dare provoke me—she’s trying to get my attention."
Rong Yu turned her head.
The boy was now wearing a cap, his pink hair hidden completely. His earrings were gone, and he was dressed in a plain white outfit, looking like a clean-cut young man.
She replied, "I have no interest in stalking you."
She checked her phone. One minute until Ji Shunying’s plane landed.
She pushed her way into the crowd.
Ji Zhouye received a message: "Grandfather suddenly fell ill. Distract the reporters."
Pulling his cap lower, he pointed dramatically toward another exit and shouted, "Look! Old Master Ji is over there! Hurry, or you’ll miss him!"
Hearing this, the reporters stampeded in that direction, elbowing each other to secure an exclusive interview.
Rong Yu frowned.
Just as she was about to leave, she caught Ji Zhouye smirking in amusement—as if laughing at the reporters’ gullibility.
She froze.
The next moment, a group of people rushed out from the VIP passage, carrying a stretcher.
On it lay an elderly man with snow-white hair.
Rong Yu felt as if she’d been struck by lightning.
The photo she’d seen on her phone showed Ji Shunying in his prime.
But now, in person, he looked ancient—his face deeply wrinkled, lips tinged blue, his expression twisted in agony...
"Yingbao—!"
Rong Yu cried out involuntarily.
"What the hell are you yelling about—?" Ji Zhouye yanked her aside. "Move!"
Medical staff and bodyguards shielded the stretcher from onlookers, swiftly loading it into a car before vanishing from the airport entrance.
Ji Shunying’s eyelids fluttered weakly.
Had he just heard someone call him by his childhood name, Yingbao...?
How many years had it been since anyone called him that?
Was he dying? Was his mother coming to take him away?
Ji Zhiyuan asked what had happened.
An assistant whispered, "On the plane, the passenger next to him was a disabled young man. When Grandfather asked and learned it was due to a car accident, he suddenly collapsed..."
Ji Zhiyuan pressed his lips together.
Seventy years ago, Ji Shunying’s mother—his great-grandmother—had been struck by a speeding car while shielding him.
Watching his mother’s body flung into the air, then crushed beneath the wheels, blood pooling everywhere... The trauma had left Ji Shunying with a severe psychological disorder. Even after all these years, the condition remained unhealed.
Just hearing the words "car accident" would trigger the memory, sending him into a sudden, violent episode—sometimes leaving him unconscious for months...
By the time Rong Yu returned home, it was already midnight.
The living room lights were still on.
"Sister, are you okay?" Rong Ruoyao approached her. "The school forum says Ji Zhouye and his gang confronted you. I’m on decent terms with him—I’ll tell him to back off tomorrow."
Rong Wangtian’s face darkened. "Sneaking out at night to fight and cause trouble—what kind of disgraceful child have I raised?"
Rong Yu pulled out the transfer consent form from her backpack and said calmly, "Please sign this."
"Sister wants to switch to science?" Rong Ruoyao glanced at the form, feigning concern. "You’re already struggling with liberal arts. Science will be even harder. How about this—I’ll tutor you in my free time. You should still be able to get into university."
Shen Lin set down her magazine. "Rong Yu studied in the countryside before. The teaching standards were poor, so it’s normal that she’s behind. We’ll hire a tutor."
Her own daughter was the top student in liberal arts—no need to waste time on someone else.
"I don’t need tutoring." Rong Yu handed a pen to Shen Lin. "Auntie, could you help?"
Shen Lin studied her.
Something about this stepdaughter felt different...
Before, she had always kept her head down, timid and insecure—an embarrassment to the Rong family.
But now, there was a composed, unshakable aura about her. She seemed sharper, yet was making reckless decisions.
"Fine. I respect your choice."
Shen Lin signed the consent form.
