After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 4: Zhou Yining Is Cussing Out Zhang Ye?

Chapter 4: Zhou Yining Is Cussing Out Zhang Ye?

Zhou Yining ignored Teacher Cao and started reviewing. English was no challenge for her; her grammar and vocabulary far surpassed high school level.

She sat at her desk, casually flipping through an English workbook. The difficulty was similar to the test she’d just done, giving her confidence.

Xu Yueming, sitting beside her, stole glances at her now and then, but Zhou Yining ignored him.

Soon, class ended, and the class representative collected the tests.

Zhou Yining stayed in her seat. She didn’t know where the original Zhou Yining’s home was, so she took out the original’s phone, hoping to find some clues.

Opening a shopping app, Zhou Yining finally found an address.

She tidied her desk, thought for a moment, and decided to bring the diary with her. She stood up to leave.

Tian Xue, the thin girl from earlier, caught up. “Zhou Yining, wait for me! Let’s walk together.”

Zhou Yining paused, glancing at her. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Yeah, I feel like something’s off with you this morning,” Tian Xue said cautiously, looking at Zhou Yining.

“I’m fine. I’ll be like this from now on.” Zhou Yining didn’t want to say much to Tian Xue. She seemed to be the original’s friend, but Zhou Yining worried she’d slip up if she said too much.

They made small talk as they headed to the school gate. Before reaching it, Zhou Yining was stopped again.

She turned and saw a decent-looking boy with cold, sharp features, glaring at her unkindly.

“Zhou Yining, delete that stuff from the confession wall now. Your crap is affecting me.”

Zhou Yining met his gaze. “I didn’t post it. I’d love to delete it, but I’d need to know who posted it first, right?”

“I don’t care. It’s affecting me. And give it up—I’ll never like you.”

It was noon dismissal, and the school gate was crowded. Many noticed the scene, watching Zhou Yining for a laugh.

She met the boy’s eyes and sneered. “Narcissism is a disease. I suggest you get it treated fast instead of acting tough here. I’m over you, so stop bothering me, you nutcase.”

Jiang Xianzhi and her two followers were also heading out. Seeing Zhou Yining with Zhang Ye, Jiang Xianzhi thought she was clinging to him again and was about to charge over when she heard Zhou Yining’s words.

Jiang Xianzhi doubted her ears and asked her follower, “Was Zhou Yining just cussing out Zhang Ye?”

Shi Yuanyuan, the one with glasses, nodded. “Seems like it. She called Zhang Ye a nutcase.”

Jiang Xianzhi glared at Shi Yuanyuan, then pushed forward to see what was happening.

Zhang Ye’s face flushed red and pale from Zhou Yining’s retort. After a moment, he managed, “If you don’t like me, why write me love letters?”

“You’re blind sometimes, but my vision’s clear now. Sorry, stay out of my way.” Zhou Yining started to leave.

“You’re saying you were blind to like me?” Zhang Ye was furious. He was a top student, a big deal at Nanchuan No. 1 High School, and now Zhou Yining’s mockery made him feel humiliated.

“Yeah, I was trying to save you some face. I didn’t say it outright, but you had to push it.” Zhou Yining looked at him with an expression of having done her best.

Zhang Ye, still fuming, moved to block her, but a girl beside him stopped him.

Zhou Yining glanced at the girl. She looked pure and refined, clearly well-mannered. Zhou Yining smirked, thinking Zhang Ye didn’t deserve her.

She didn’t linger and walked toward the street.

“Zhou Yining, wait!”

Jiang Xianzhi caught up again.

Zhou Yining, stopped once more, turned cold and looked at Jiang Xianzhi.

“What now?”

Jiang Xianzhi straightened her back and stepped forward, looking like a proud little fox.

“So, you really don’t like Zhang Ye anymore?” Jiang Xianzhi asked after a pause.

Zhou Yining nodded. “Yeah, I made that clear. Anything else?”

“That notebook really wasn’t mine. If you want to find who took it, I can help. I don’t like being accused.” Jiang Xianzhi looked up at Zhou Yining, acting haughty.

Zhou Yining’s lips curved slightly. She stepped closer. “Not now, thanks. By the way, what’s your name?”

“Tch, you don’t even know our Zhizhi?” Jiang Xianzhi’s baby-faced follower looked at Zhou Yining with disdain.

Jiang Xianzhi glanced at Zhou Yining too. Her family was wealthy—the richest in Nanchuan City. Hardly anyone at school didn’t know her name. How dare Zhou Yining not know her?

Still, she said, “I’m Jiang Xianzhi. If you want to investigate the notebook later, I can help.”

Zhou Yining’s lips curved more, finding Jiang Xianzhi kind of cute. She stepped closer and chuckled. “Great, thanks, Jiang. You’re a good person.”

Jiang Xianzhi glared, feeling like Zhou Yining’s words were oddly like giving her a “nice guy” card.

Seeing Jiang Xianzhi didn’t respond, Zhou Yining waved. “If there’s nothing else, I’m off. Bye.”

“Bye,” Jiang Xianzhi mumbled. After replying, she regretted it. She wasn’t close to Zhou Yining—why say bye?

Zhou Yining didn’t think much of it. She checked her phone and followed the navigation toward home. Tian Xue caught up from the side.

When Zhang Ye confronted her earlier, Tian Xue had backed away. Zhou Yining thought she’d left.

“So, just now…”

Zhou Yining guessed what Tian Xue wanted to say—she was scared of getting involved. It seemed the original’s friend wasn’t that great.

“It’s fine. Let’s go. It’s late, and we need to eat.” Zhou Yining didn’t call her out. She was genuinely hungry.

She and Tian Xue made awkward small talk. Tian Xue mostly chatted about typical high school girl topics, like class gossip or which milk tea shop by the school was good. Honestly, Zhou Yining wasn’t interested, so she just kept up the awkward conversation.

Finally, Tian Xue headed down another street, and Zhou Yining got some peace.

Following the phone’s map, she arrived at an old neighborhood.

Using the address from the shopping app, Zhou Yining went to the fifth floor and knocked on room 501.

Soon, a woman in her forties opened the door. Seeing Zhou Yining, she smiled. “Come in quick. The last dish is almost ready. Wash your hands.”

“Okay.” Zhou Yining entered calmly.

Her gaze swept the house. At the dining table in the living room, a boy was already eating, holding his phone, probably playing a game.

Zhou Yining discreetly took out her phone, turned on the recording function, slipped it back into her pocket, and walked in.

The boy saw her enter and sneered. “No keys? Mom had to open the door for you? What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with you? No one’s at the table yet, and you’re eating. No manners.” Zhou Yining was already tired from dealing with school all morning, and now there was more nonsense at home.

The original’s brother didn’t seem like a good person. No wonder the outline in her mind mentioned the original family’s harm. The original Zhou Yining had it rough—bullied at school and no peace at home.

But since she was here, she wouldn’t take this crap for no reason.

Zhou Jiaming didn’t expect his quiet sister to talk back. He glared at her. “What’s wrong with you, Zhou Yining? On drugs? I didn’t do anything to you.”

“With that filthy mouth, you’re only brave at home, huh? Stop glaring. Don’t need those eyes? I’ll gouge them out for the dogs.” Zhou Yining looked at him coldly, not backing down.

She wasn’t the original’s meek lamb, letting people walk all over her.

Zhou Jiaming didn’t expect his tongue-tied sister to be so sharp. For a moment, he was speechless.

Just then, Zhao Xiuna came out of the kitchen with a plate. Zhou Jiaming immediately tattled. “Mom, look at Zhou Yining. She comes home and cusses me out like a mad dog.”

Zhao Xiuna glanced at Zhou Yining. “Yining, how can you talk to your brother like that? He’s your own brother. When your dad and I are gone, you two need to support each other.”

Zhou Yining’s lips curved slightly. In less than five minutes since entering, she already felt the original’s suffocation.

It was obvious—this family likely favored boys over girls. If she was right, the original’s parents probably wanted her to be a brother-supporting doormat.

“Tch, I don’t care about her. Mom, look at Zhou Yining’s grades. She’ll barely get into a private college. What good job will she get? I’m not dealing with her. So embarrassing.” Zhou Jiaming smirked, looking at Zhou Yining with disgust.

Zhou Yining’s lips curved more. “Good. I don’t want to deal with you either. Let’s stay out of each other’s way.”

Zhao Xiuna saw them about to argue and stopped them. “Both of you, stop fighting. What’s this behavior? Jiaming, how can you talk about your sister like that?”

Zhou Jiaming gave Zhou Yining a disdainful look and went back to his phone game.

Zhao Xiuna turned to Zhou Yining, speaking earnestly. “And you, your brother’s still young. How can you argue with him? You’re the closest siblings. How can you not care about him?”