After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 28: Love-Sick Brain

Chapter 28: Love-Sick Brain

Zhou Yining got another recording. She walked to the teaching building in a great mood.

She still thought about the confession wall. Since it was deleted last time, all clues had stopped. A surveillance video alone couldn’t identify the culprit unless they slipped up again.

Zhou Yining believed the person who posted the original Yining’s love letter hated her deeply. They might act again, so she needed to stay alert. After all, this person was as bad as Lin Shaohui’s group, causing great harm to the original Yining.

She thought about this while heading to the teaching building.

The next two days were calm for Zhou Yining. The original Yining’s relatives, embarrassed after being confronted by her, didn’t visit again. They stayed in Nanchuan City for two days before returning to the county.

Zhou Yuanfei and Zhou Jiaming, unable to outtalk Zhou Yining, hadn’t troubled her recently.

On Friday morning, Zhou Yining received another acceptance notice from a magazine, also at 150 yuan per thousand words. Her bank account gained another 900 yuan.

After lunch, she left home early. She was done with her lousy phone.

With 1,800 yuan in her account and 200 yuan from Zhou Yuanfei, Zhou Yining figured it was enough for a new phone.

She didn’t want an expensive one, just a domestic brand with enough storage.

Zhou Yining went to a nearby mall selling phones and picked one for 1,800 yuan with 1TB storage.

After paying, the staff offered free screen protection and gave her a phone case.

With her new phone, Zhou Yining swapped her SIM card and transferred data from the old phone. She sold the old phone to a vendor in the mall for 200 yuan.

She now had 600 yuan total, enough for emergencies.

With the new phone, Zhou Yining felt relieved. She no longer worried about it failing during recordings.

After buying the phone, she went to her classroom. School had just started, and some girls were waiting at her desk with snacks.

Zhou Yining looked at the girls wanting help, her eyes curving. “Did you memorize the theorem I explained yesterday?”

“I did. I practiced similar problems last night,” Yu Yang said, smiling.

She felt she’d improved lately. Zhou Yining’s explanations were clear and easier to remember than her tutor’s. She brought snacks daily for Zhou Yining to teach her.

“Really? Then I’ll test you with a variation,” Zhou Yining teased, writing on scrap paper. Having eaten Yu Yang’s snacks, she felt obliged to teach her well.

“No problem. Teacher Zhou is strict, giving tests, but I like it,” Yu Yang said, her eyes bright as she watched Zhou Yining write. Zhou Yining’s handwriting was beautiful, pleasing to look at.

Zhou Yining focused on making the problem, not noticing Jiang Xianzhi at the classroom door.

Jiang Xianzhi arrived early that afternoon. Remembering Zhou Yining’s snacks, she wanted to return the favor. Friends exchanged gifts, right?

She bought a big bag of snacks at the supermarket, excited to find Zhou Yining. But she saw Zhou Yining surrounded by girls offering snacks, one seeming very close to her.

Jiang Xianzhi pursed her lips, her grip on the bag tightening.

A student leaving the class saw an outsider and asked, “Need me to call someone?”

“No need,” Jiang Xianzhi said, quickly walking away with the bag.

She couldn’t explain why, but she felt upset. Zhou Yining didn’t just help her but other girls too. Thinking this, Jiang Xianzhi felt sour and uncomfortable.

She went downstairs to Class 1 and put the bag on Shi Yuanyuan’s desk. “Eat up.”

Shi Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up, thanking her. “Thanks, Zhizhi. I’m a bit hungry.”

She and Si Yaqing felt Jiang Xianzhi had been distant lately. They hadn’t expected her to buy them snacks, showing she still cared.

Jiang Xianzhi, in a bad mood, ignored them and returned to her seat. She fiddled with her phone, wanting to message Zhou Yining but unsure how to start.

She lay on her desk, annoyed, feeling her reaction was like when girls approached Zhang Ye before.

Realizing this, Jiang Xianzhi startled and shook her head, stopping her thoughts. She and Zhou Yining were both girls. How could she be jealous?

She sighed, covering her face with her arms.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yining hadn’t noticed Jiang Xianzhi’s visit. She gave Yu Yang a problem to do during self-study and review later.

Soon, the bell rang. The math teacher entered with yesterday’s homework, explaining problems and reviewing concepts.

Zhou Yining listened briefly before working on her novel outline. Xu Yueming, beside her, was stunned. He never saw Zhou Yining focus in class, yet her grades were top-notch. Comparing himself, he felt frustrated.

Zhou Yining didn’t care what others thought. She had no time for novels, no laptop, and tutoring Zhong Yumeng on Sunday afternoon left her little free time. To write, she’d have to skip lunch breaks for the internet café.

At 9:30 p.m., Zhou Yining and Tian Xue left the classroom, exhausted.

Even without physical work, a day in class was draining.

Tian Xue sighed. “Math problems are getting harder. I didn’t finish in a whole self-study period. I can’t remember formulas. How do you memorize them?”

“Memorize formulas by problem type and understand their applications. The best way is to review the textbook thoroughly, including example problems. Do them multiple times until you can solve them at a glance. Once you reach that level, practice problems become easier. Try my method, starting with the first book from sophomore year,” Zhou Yining said, sharing her previous life’s study tips.

She believed there were no geniuses, at least not her. Her high scores came from hard work in her past life.

“Okay, I’ll try. English is hard too. I always score in the nineties, can’t improve. With college exams next year, I’m scared I’ll only get into a vocational school,” Tian Xue sighed.

“English is easier than math and quicker to improve. If you trust me, start today: memorize fifty words daily, review every three days. You’ll see results in a month. Also, don’t just memorize textbook words. Summarize unknown words from cloze tests and reading comprehension. You don’t need to spell them, but know their meanings…” Zhou Yining said, sharing more past-life methods.

She later watched American shows and read English books to boost vocabulary, but that required a solid foundation first.

“Hmm, I’ll try,” Tian Xue said, deflated.

They parted, and Zhou Yining walked to her neighborhood under the moonlight. Her small bed was uncomfortable, worse than dorm bunks. She wanted to live on campus next semester, but the original Yining’s parents wouldn’t pay.

She needed to cut ties with this family, or it’d be more trouble later. First, she had to gather evidence.

Back home, Zhou Yining found the family in the living room, a rare sight. Zhou Jiaming huddled in a sofa corner, crying. Zhou Yuanfei looked angry. Zhao Xiuna sat aside, signaling Zhou Yining, her eyes red from crying.

Zhou Yining’s lips curved. This was unusual. This family was usually all lovey-dovey. What happened? Did Zhou Yuanfei’s precious son mess up?

Her gossip-hungry heart peaked, her day’s fatigue gone. Her eyes sparkled as she watched Zhou Yuanfei, pretending to be busy, putting down her bag and pacing the living room, waiting for drama.

Zhou Yuanfei ignored her, pointing at Zhou Jiaming angrily. “Zhou Jiaming, you’re something else. I wondered why my phone kept deducting money lately. I went to the bank for this, and it turns out you spent it all on gifts for a streamer, huh?”

“Father, I was wrong, really wrong. I only sent gifts a few times. I won’t dare again, I swear,” Zhou Jiaming sobbed.

“Cry? You dare cry? You’re so young, watching that stuff, mimicking online tycoons with gifts? How much do you earn monthly? Do you know you spent your father’s hard-earned money?” Zhou Yuanfei said, his chest heaving with anger.

Zhou Yining watched from afar, grabbing a washed cucumber from the kitchen, munching while enjoying the show.

“I won’t dare again. I was stressed from studying and watched casually. She comforted me, danced for me, so I sent gifts. Father, I really won’t dare,” Zhou Jiaming cried, tears streaming.

“I know how hard I work for money. One thousand yuan, a whole thousand, all spent on gifts. That’s half a month’s living expenses. You wasteful brat,” Zhou Yuanfei fumed.

“I swear I won’t, Father. I’ll study hard, never watch those streams again. Father, my teacher praised my progress recently. Don’t worry, I’ll rank in the top fifty this term. I’ll work hard, get you and Mother a big house,” Zhou Jiaming said, crying and pledging loyalty.

Zhou Yuanfei sighed. He couldn’t stay mad at his son. “Jiaming, I’m not against relaxing, but spending money on gifts is too costly. I work hard for money. You can’t do this again. If you used that money for tutoring or books, I wouldn’t say a word.”

“Hmm, I know I was wrong, Father. I’ll work hard to give you and Mother a good life,” Zhou Jiaming said, seizing Zhou Yuanfei’s softened tone to pledge more.

“Good, I’m waiting to enjoy that. Alright, let’s drop this. But can you get that thousand back?” Zhou Yuanfei asked, loving his son but aching over the lost money.

“Father, the money’s spent. How can I ask for it back? Don’t worry, when I earn money, I’ll treat you and Mother doubly well. Please don’t make me ask the streamer for it,” Zhou Jiaming said, squeezing out more tears.

Zhou Yuanfei sighed. “Fine, you’re my son. But no next time, got it?”

“Hmm, thanks, Father. I’ll work hard to honor you and Mother,” Zhou Jiaming said.

Zhou Yining burst out laughing. Zhou Jiaming sure knew how to make promises. But she felt sad for the original Yining. Zhou Jiaming did this, and Zhou Yuanfei let it slide lightly. If the original Yining had done it, Zhou Yuanfei might’ve beaten her half to death. This family loved their precious son.

While Zhou Yining thought this, the family hugged, all warm and fuzzy.

Zhou Yining grimaced, feeling nauseated. No more drama, so she slipped away.

Zhou Jiaming saw her leave, smugly tilting his head. He knew his parents loved him. Even when he messed up, they’d forgive him.

Zhou Yining washed up in the bathroom, changed into pajamas, and returned to the dining room.

On her small bed, she checked her new phone. Usually, after evening self-study, she and Jiang Xianzhi chatted about school or problems Jiang Xianzhi sent her. Zhou Yining would write solutions on scrap paper and send them.

But today was odd. Zhou Yining noticed Jiang Xianzhi hadn’t spoken to her since morning. Her “good morning” message went unanswered.

Too busy at school, Zhou Yining hadn’t checked her phone. Now, she decided to message Jiang Xianzhi.

Zhou Yining: [Home yet? What’re you doing? (Dog peeking jpg)]

Meanwhile, Jiang Xianzhi had just showered. She was off today, distracted at school, thinking of Zhou Yining smiling at other girls, zoning out in several classes.

Her lips pursed tightly, hands twisting. Was Zhou Yining this nice to all girls? Was she special to her?

Feeling irritable, she couldn’t study.

Jiang Xianzhi decided to get hot milk downstairs to sleep early and stop thinking about Zhou Yining. She grabbed her phone and went down.

At the dining room, she asked a servant to heat milk.

Sitting at the table, Jiang Xianzhi stared at the milk, lost in thought. She kept recalling the morning scene, feeling sour and angrier.

Jiang Yueyi, finishing work in her room, felt hungry. Coming downstairs, she saw her sister listlessly sitting, staring.

Jiang Yueyi frowned, walking over quickly. She tapped the table, asking softly, “What’s wrong? Who upset our little miss?”

Jiang Xianzhi glanced at her sister listlessly. “Sister, why’re you down?”

“Bit hungry. Asked them to make a late snack,” Jiang Yueyi said, giving instructions in the kitchen before returning.

She sat beside Jiang Xianzhi. “What’s up? Bad day at school? Tell me, I’ll fix it.”

Jiang Xianzhi shook her head, hands clenched. After hesitating, she felt she’d burst if she didn’t speak. “Sister, if you had a friend who was great to you, but one day you found she’s like that with everyone, would you be mad?”

Jiang Yueyi’s eyes shifted. “You mean Zhang Ye’s a central air conditioner? I told you that guy’s unreliable. Self-absorbed, acts aloof, but what can I do? You like him.”

“Sister, it’s not Zhang Ye,” Jiang Xianzhi said, sipping milk, too guilty to meet Jiang Yueyi’s eyes.

Jiang Yueyi’s heart sank. “Not him? You’ve fallen for another central air conditioner?”

“She’s not a central air conditioner,” Jiang Xianzhi mumbled.

Jiang Yueyi’s heart sank again. Her sister was great but had poor taste in people. First Zhang Ye, now another.

Jiang Yueyi sighed, thinking her sister liked another boy. “He’s nice to others, and you defend him? When will your love-sick brain heal?”

Jiang Xianzhi’s ears burned red. She glanced at Jiang Yueyi, muttering, “Not love-sick. I said friend.”

Jiang Yueyi took a deep breath, pinching her brow. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I wouldn’t like a central air conditioner, loving everyone, wanting to give every girl a home. Too fickle. I can’t stand it. I suggest you cut him off. Don’t be with a playboy.”

Jiang Xianzhi listened glumly, head down. As they talked, her phone screen lit up.

She glanced at the notification, seeing Zhou Yining’s message. Her eyes brightened, grabbing the phone.

Her lips curved as she opened WeChat, seeing Zhou Yining’s message with a dog peeking emoji.

Jiang Xianzhi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. Zhou Yining loved sending dog emojis.

She hadn’t replied to Zhou Yining’s morning message. Her fingers tapped the screen, typing a reply, then deleting it.

She was still upset. Should she talk to her?

But if she didn’t, what if Zhou Yining ignored her later?

Jiang Xianzhi’s lips curved one moment, then drooped sadly the next. Her fingers typed and deleted on the screen.

Jiang Yueyi, watching her sister’s mood swings, felt a headache. Who was this new central air conditioner? Making her sister smile and frown in moments. He seemed more dangerous than Zhang Ye.

When Jiang Xianzhi was into Zhang Ye, she wasn’t like this. Jiang Yueyi felt uneasy.

Jiang Xianzhi didn’t notice her sister watching. Her focus was on her phone. After thinking, she decided to reply, or Zhou Yining might get taken by others after days apart.

Jiang Xianzhi: [Home, drinking milk.]

She snapped a photo of her milk cup and sent it to Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining, playing with her phone, saw the reply instantly.

Seeing Jiang Xianzhi finally respond, her lips curved.

Zhou Yining: [So good, (Dog patting cat head jpg)]

Zhou Yining: [Bad mood today? You didn’t talk to me or ask questions.]

Jiang Xianzhi kept checking her phone. Seeing Zhou Yining’s reply, her eyes crinkled. Zhou Yining called her good.

Her lips pursed, ears tinged red.

She thought and typed on her phone.

Jiang Xianzhi: [You get along well with girls in your class. Do you always help them with problems?]

Zhou Yining: [It’s alright. I don’t help for free. They offer snacks, then I teach. But for you, it’s always free, hehe~]

Jiang Xianzhi’s swan-like neck tilted proudly after reading the reply, her eyes brimming with uncontainable joy. She knew Zhou Yining treated her specially.

Her day-long unease was cured by Zhou Yining’s few words.

Jiang Xianzhi: [That’s more like it. I bought you snacks. I’ll bring them tomorrow.]

Zhou Yining: [Great, I’m waiting to be fed. (Dog wagging tail jpg)]

Jiang Xianzhi couldn’t hide her smile at Zhou Yining’s reply. She sent an emoji back.

Jiang Xianzhi: [Petting dog jpg]

Jiang Yueyi, waiting for her snack, saw her sister’s mood swings. She pressed her forehead, sensing trouble.

This person’s charm outdid Zhang Ye, cheering her sister up so quickly?

She worried her sister’s love-sick brain was falling again. Glancing at her sister, then looking away, Jiang Yueyi couldn’t stand her lovesick look.

She needed to dig into this. Who was this person?