The cafeteria was getting more crowded, and more people were gossiping about Lin Mo.
Zhao Zixin really wanted to smash each of them with a lunch tray!
Yesterday, she had asked her sister and only then found out that Lin Mo was actually her sister’s best friend.
She never would’ve guessed her sister had such good taste!
When they were kids, she used to beg her sister to take her along when she hung out with friends, but her sister always refused, calling her dumb.
So annoying!
If only she had been allowed to tag along, she could’ve met her goddess way earlier!
But it wasn’t too late now!
A twenty-nine-year-old persevering through high school again—what incredible determination!
She admired Lin Mo even more now!
And she could use her sister’s connection to strike up a conversation with her!
She could hardly imagine how happy and lively she’d be from now on!
“What do you think of Lin Mo?” Shen Jing asked Zhao Zixin casually while waiting in line for food.
Zhao Zixin: “She’s gorgeous!”
Shen Jing: “…”
After a brief pause, Shen Jing said, “I meant the forum incident. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a big deal, but it could damage our school’s reputation and rankings. That wouldn’t be fair to everyone else, right?”
It was Zhao Zixin’s turn to get her food.
She randomly pointed at two dishes, completely missing Shen Jing’s follow-up remarks, then grabbed her tray and walked off.
Straight toward Lin Mo’s table.
Shen Jing was surprised. Was she going to confront Lin Mo already?
She hadn’t even started manipulating her yet.
So stupid!
“Just cabbage and broccoli, please,” Shen Jing said to the cafeteria lady.
This cafeteria was too low-class, and the food was terrible.
Beneath her status!
Shen Jing rarely ate in the cafeteria, and now several boys were sneaking glances at her.
When they saw her holding her tray, a few rushed to pay for her meal.
Last time she was here, the boys had fought to pay for her too.
A hint of arrogance flashed in Shen Jing’s eyes.
See? She was the real campus queen!
Did anyone ever offer to pay for Lin Mo?
Beep!
One of the boys successfully swiped his card, grinning. “Jingjing, if you want more, just let me know.”
Shen Jing didn’t even glance at him as she walked away.
Being allowed to pay for her was his privilege—she wasn’t about to thank him!
She was in a hurry to watch the drama unfold.
Lin Mo took a bite of spicy shredded potatoes and set her phone down.
Zhao Ziling was probably still asleep, exhausted.
When she looked up, she noticed Shen Ji’an was no longer sitting across from her.
She glanced around and spotted the lean, brooding boy radiating fury as he grabbed a male student by the collar.
“Say it again. I dare you.”
The boy trembled under Shen Ji’an’s sharp, venomous glare, his bangs shadowing eyes that burned with menace.
He looked like a snake ready to strike.
The guy’s legs shook so badly he nearly wet himself.
Everyone nearby held their breath.
Was this the legendary intimidation of Third High’s notorious delinquent?
What an idiot—of all the things to say, he had to spread disgusting rumors about Lin Mo and that so-called “Buddha Prince” from the capital!
Claiming their relationship was shady and that Lin Mo was being kept as a mistress.
Zhao Zixin overheard the comment too and immediately changed course, heading toward Shen Ji’an instead of Lin Mo.
Shen Jing, trailing behind Zhao Zixin, frowned.
What was she doing?
Trying to stop Shen Ji’an from throwing punches?
That could be entertaining.
Even better if Shen Ji’an lost control and hurt Zhao Zixin in the process.
Then he and Lin Mo could both get expelled!
She knew about Shen Ji’an.
Rumors said he’d gone missing, but now he was back.
Disgusting. Why did bad people like them always get lucky?
“I won’t say it again! I’m sorry, I swear!” The rumor-monger frantically shook his head.
Shen Ji’an’s fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.
In the past, he would’ve already beaten the guy bloody.
But his sister had forbidden him from fighting.
First High’s disciplinary policies were stricter than Third High’s—he could even get expelled.
He tried to suppress his rage.
But in the end, he couldn’t hold back. Just as his fist was about to connect—
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a short-haired girl snatch an empty tray from a student who had just finished eating and was heading to wash it.
BANG!
She leaped up and smashed the tray over the guy’s head.
“Spread disgusting rumors about my goddess? I’ll smash your skull in!” Zhao Zixin roared, her other hand still clutching her own tray, now splattered with food.
Shen Ji’an’s sharp eyes flickered behind his bangs.
Wait, someone was stealing his chance to defend his sister?
Shen Jing’s jaw dropped, nearly losing her grip on her tray.
What was Zhao Zixin doing?!
What had she just called Lin Mo?!
The boy who got tray-smacked saw stars.
Clutching his head, he wailed, “Ahhh! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
Zhao Zixin glared around the room, one hand holding her full tray, the other gripping the empty one like a weapon.
“If anyone dares to badmouth my goddess again, you’re getting a tray to the face!”
Zhao Zixin had always been a low-key presence at school, shadowing Shen Jing.
But everyone knew she was a young miss from the wealthy Zhao family—someone had dug up her background on the forums.
And they all knew she had a temper.
Once, a boy who kept harassing Shen Jing got chased around campus by her for three straight days.
Now, faced with her fury, the crowd shrank back, silent as mice.
This time, Shen Jing heard her clearly.
Zhao Zixin had called Lin Mo her goddess and was forbidding anyone from gossiping about her.
Her eyes nearly popped out of her skull.
What was happening?!
Wasn’t Zhao Zixin her lackey?!
Since when did she become Lin Mo’s?!
Shen Jing’s plan to manipulate Zhao Zixin into targeting Lin Mo had failed before it even started.
Her hands clenched around her tray so hard she nearly crushed it.
How dare that old witch Lin Mo steal her follower?!
Furious, Shen Jing lost her appetite.
She dumped her entire meal—tray and all—into the trash.
But as she turned to leave, she spotted Gu Jingzhou watching her.
For the sake of her image, she hastily fished the tray back out.
“Oh, it accidentally fell in,” she lied. “Gu Jingzhou, what a coincidence.”
Gu Jingzhou didn’t care about the tray. “Not a coincidence. I came to find you.”
Shen Jing’s face lit up. “You were looking for me?”
Was he going to ask her to eat together?
Her mind filled with rosy fantasies—until Gu Jingzhou’s icy voice cut in.
“I know you posted that forum thread. Take it down. Now.”
Shen Jing: “…”
Her face cycled through every color of the rainbow, like a spilled paint bucket.
How did Gu Jingzhou know?!
It had to be Lin Mo who told him!
Lin Mo had sent the guy she liked to threaten her.
Did she have any idea how much this hurt?!
Shen Jing’s nails dug into her palms.
Lin Mo—she would never forgive her!
“It wasn’t me!” she snapped. “You’ve got the wrong person!”
With that, she stormed off.
It was an anonymous post—no one could prove it was her!
Meanwhile, Zhao Zixin stood with both trays, scanning the room with a warning glare.
But when she spotted a certain radiant figure approaching, she immediately set the empty tray down.
Now holding only her own, she stood straight, suddenly bashful.
Oh no—had she scared her goddess?!
Meeting Lin Mo’s gaze, she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Goddess, I’m not usually like this. I’m actually really gentle—ask anyone!”
The crowd shook their heads in unison like windshield wipers.
Zhao Zixin: “…”
Lin Mo smiled at her, "You were great just now too. Thanks for standing up for me."
Being hot-tempered is also good?
Zhao Zixin blinked, "Really? My dad always scolds me for not acting like a girl at all."
She’d kept her hair short since childhood, never wore dresses, and loved checking out pretty women.
Lin Mo looked at her, "Don’t listen to your dad. A girl is whoever you are."
Zhao Zixin froze for a second—this was the first time she’d heard something like that. When it sank in, her heart swelled with warmth, "Ahhh! Goddess, I love you!"
"Oh, by the way, I’m Zhao Ziling’s younger sister. My name’s Zhao Zixin."
Shen Ji'an watched the scene, his lips pressing into a tight line.
If he’d known his sister wouldn’t get mad, he’d have thrown a few punches himself.
Then this short-haired girl wouldn’t have had a chance to swoop in and play the hero!
