After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 52: Are You Going to Come Over and Keep Me Company?

Chapter 52: Are You Going to Come Over and Keep Me Company?

When Zhao Xiuna returned home, she still felt dazed. Had her daughter really gotten first place in the entire class?

Zhou Jiaming had just finished playing his game at that moment. Hearing the noise, he rushed out from his bedroom. “Mother, you’re back? How was it? Did Zhou Yining fail again? Did her homeroom teacher criticize her again?”

Zhou Jiaming eagerly waited to see Zhou Yining’s embarrassment. He looked at Zhao Xiuna with anticipation.

Zhao Xiuna shook her head. “No, your sister got first place in her class this time, 18th in the grade, with a total score of 682. With this score, even a top-tier university shouldn’t be a problem.”

Zhou Jiaming’s smile froze on his face. “Impossible, impossible! How could she score that well? She must have cheated.”

Zhao Xiuna actually felt her daughter wasn’t the studying type. She felt both happy and anxious about Zhou Yining’s grades.

Zhou Yining heard the commotion and walked into the living room with a cold smirk. “What’s that? I got first place by cheating? It was a city-wide final exam, and the classroom cameras were on. How could I cheat? Zhou Jiaming, sometimes I really pity you. So young, yet already brain-damaged. You’ve got no hope for the rest of your life.”

“Zhou Yining, why’s your mouth so vicious? Did I say anything wrong? If you didn’t cheat, how could you get that score?” Zhou Jiaming retorted, still unconvinced.

“Crazy, huh? Is it that hard to admit someone’s better than you? And with your IQ, pretty much anyone’s better than you, right? Oh, sorry, I forgot about your brain damage.” Zhou Yining curled her lips at him.

Zhou Jiaming nearly exploded with anger. He shouted loudly, “Impossible! You definitely cheated, definitely cheated! Mother, look at her!”

“Enough, enough, both of you, say less. Your sister did well in her studies, and you should be happy for her,” Zhao Xiuna said hurriedly, seeing things getting out of control.

Zhou Yining glared at Zhou Jiaming, then went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water and lay down on her small bed.

High school life was truly exhausting. She loved lying on her bed so much.

At a little past six in the evening, Zhou Yuanfei arrived home. Zhao Xiuna had just finished preparing dinner and called everyone to eat.

After Zhou Yining sat down, Zhou Yuanfei seemed to remember something and asked, “How did Zhou Yining do on her exam?”

“Yining got first place in her class this time. Her homeroom teacher praised her to me for quite a while,” Zhao Xiuna said with a smile.

Zhou Yuanfei’s stern expression softened a bit. “Really?” he asked.

“Hmm, the teacher praised Yining in front of all the parents and even spoke to me privately, saying the child is very diligent now. As parents, we can’t hold her back,” Zhao Xiuna replied.

“Naturally,” Zhou Yuanfei said, his mood improving. He looked at Zhou Yining more favorably and softened his tone. “Yining, you got first place in your class. Why didn’t you tell us?”

Zhou Yining let out two cold laughs and looked at Zhou Yuanfei. “How would I dare? I got first place, and some people are so jealous they insist I cheated. I took the exam in Testing Room Six, where everyone else ranked outside the top 200 in the grade. I’d need superhuman vision to cheat my way to 18th place, right?”

Zhou Jiaming knew those words targeted him and immediately got upset. “That’s just how it is! Your grades were always bad before. What, I can’t reasonably suspect you?”

“You’re blind yourself, and you think all the teachers at our school are blind too? If I really cheated, my homeroom teacher would’ve told her already,” Zhou Yining said with a cold snort, continuing to eat her meal.

“Father, look at her!” Zhou Jiaming couldn’t outargue Zhou Yining and started seeking help from Zhou Yuanfei.

Zhou Yuanfei frowned slightly and glared at Zhou Jiaming. “Enough! Don’t talk about your sister like that. Her getting first place is a good thing.”

Then, Zhou Yuanfei smiled at Zhou Yining. “Yining, do well in your senior year. Your mother and I will definitely support you fully.”

“Fine. Didn’t you guys buy Zhou Jiaming an expensive pair of shoes a few days ago? I’m not asking for much—just give me a thousand yuan as a reward for getting first place this time,” Zhou Yining said lazily, leaning back in her chair after finishing her last bite.

Zhou Yuanfei’s expression changed. “Zhou Yining, don’t go too far.”

Zhou Yining gave him a cold smirk. “See? Your true colors are showing, huh? Stop pretending to be a good person. I know exactly what kind of person you are, Zhou Yuanfei. Even if I get good grades, don’t expect me to take care of you later. I’m telling you, dream on. You’d better focus on your precious son and stop acting like a kind father here. It’s disgusting.”

Ignoring Zhou Yuanfei’s ferocious glare, Zhou Yining got up and went to the bathroom, muttering as she walked, “So disgusting, I’m about to puke.”

“Damn it, Zhou Yining, you bastard! I show you some kindness, and you don’t even appreciate it. Why don’t you just puke to death? I’m so pissed, so pissed! I’m not eating!” Zhou Yuanfei threw down his chopsticks and stormed back to his room.

Zhou Jiaming pursed his lips. He was finding Zhou Yining harder and harder to understand.

Zhou Yining didn’t care at all about Zhou Yuanfei’s tantrum. She washed her face in the bathroom and returned to her small bed.

Zhou Yining took out yogurt and potato chips, placed them on the table, and played a movie on her phone while eating chips and drinking yogurt, feeling quite relaxed.

Zhou Jiaming passed through the dining room on his way back to his room. Seeing Zhou Yining so comfortable, his teeth itched with anger, but he didn’t provoke her and went back to his room.

After drinking some yogurt, Zhou Yining received a WeChat message from Jiang Xianzhi.

Jiang Xianzhi: [It’s the holidays, so boring. (Cat sprawling.jpg)]

Zhou Yining saw the emoji of a little cat sprawled out with its belly up, her lips curving slightly. She quickly typed a reply.

Zhou Yining: [With so many worksheets and practice books assigned, how can you be bored? (Dog smirking.jpg)]

Jiang Xianzhi sees Zhou Yining’s reply and eagerly opens her phone to read it. Seeing Zhou Yining mention homework, she instantly deflates.

Zhou Yining is great in every way, except for one thing: Zhou Yining loves studying too much and always nags her to study together.

Jiang Xianzhi pouts pitifully and types a few more lines on her phone.

Jiang Xianzhi: [Can we talk about something other than holiday homework? (Cat sighing.jpg)]

Zhou Yining: [So, what’s my little fox doing? Thinking of me?]

Jiang Xianzhi sees this message, lets out a soft hum, and rolls around on her soft bed before replying to Zhou Yining.

Jiang Xianzhi: [I do miss you a bit. Want to come stay with me for a few days? (Cat hopeful.jpg)]

Zhou Yining: [You want me to come?]

Jiang Xianzhi sees the reply, her ears turning red. She buries her face in the blanket, rubbing it and muttering softly, “Why do I always have to take the initiative?”

While Jiang Xianzhi mutters, a knock comes at the door, and then someone pushes it open from outside.

Liang Jing brings in a glass of milk for her. As soon as Liang Jing enters, she sees her daughter smiling brightly at her phone, muttering something under her breath.

“Zhizhi? Who’re you chatting with so happily? Is it Zhang Ye?”

Jiang Xianzhi rubs her face in the blanket. “It’s not Zhang Ye. I’m talking to Zhou Zhou.”

Liang Jing understands—it’s the girl who came to cheer up her daughter at her last birthday party. Her daughter treasures the little fox that girl gave her, not letting anyone else touch it.

“Oh, well, you two chat then. Don’t forget to drink the milk,” Liang Jing instructs.

“Hmm, got it,” Jiang Xianzhi replies, her eyes glued to her phone, not sparing Liang Jing a single glance.

Liang Jing feels a strange pang in her heart. Does her daughter like this classmate that much?

Jiang Xianzhi doesn’t know what her mother is thinking. She hurries to reply to Zhou Yining. Though being proactive feels a bit embarrassing, you’ve got to take the initiative for things to happen! If she doesn’t speak up, she won’t see Zhou Yining for days.

Jiang Xianzhi: [I do want you to come! So, are you coming to stay with me? (Cat hopeful.jpg)]

Zhou Yining: [Okay, but I can only stay a few days. I’ve got to attend a training camp for the essay contest soon.]

Jiang Xianzhi: [Really! When are you coming tomorrow?]

Zhou Yining: [I’ll come tomorrow morning. I’ll bring my worksheets and practice books, and we can do our summer homework together. (Dog proud.jpg)]

Jiang Xianzhi: [Crying~ Argh, is studying all you think about?]

Zhou Yining laughs at the young lady’s reaction, picturing Jiang Xianzhi’s adorable frustration. She eats a couple of chips, smiling as she continues typing.

Zhou Yining: [Alright, alright, just teasing you. But besides studying, all I’ve got in my head is you. (Dog nuzzling.jpg)]

Jiang Xianzhi sees this reply, her heart bubbling with joy. She happily rolls around on her bed a few times before continuing to reply.

Jiang Xianzhi: [That’s more like it. I’ll wait for you tomorrow morning!]

Zhou Yining: [Good, see you tomorrow morning.]

After chatting with Jiang Xianzhi for a while, Zhou Yining lies down to rest. High schoolers are always short on sleep, and at just ten o’clock, she’s already too tired to keep her eyes open.

Zhou Yining sleeps well for once. The next morning, a little past seven, Zhou Yuanfei’s noise wakes her up.

Zhou Yining gets up and starts getting ready. While eating breakfast, she says to Zhao Xiuna and Zhou Yuanfei, “I’m going to stay at a friend’s house for a few days. I’ll be back before the training.”

Zhao Xiuna frowns. “Which friend? Is it Tian Xue?”

Zhou Yining shakes her head. “No, it’s a friend from Class 1. I went to her birthday party last time. But how do you know Tian Xue?”

Zhao Xiuna’s eyes flicker. She says, “I ran into her in the classroom yesterday. She went back to get something.”

Zhou Yining feels something’s off but doesn’t ask further. “I’m leaving soon and won’t be back for a few days.”

“Is it really a female friend? Yining, don’t mess around. Your grades are finally improving. Don’t do anything foolish,” Zhao Xiuna nags.

Zhou Yuanfei snorts coldly. “Leave her be. Look at her attitude—like we owe her millions. Let her go. It’ll be more peaceful at home without her.”

Zhou Yining gives him a cold smirk. “Fine, I’ll leave now and make room for the three of you.”

With that, Zhou Yining gets up and goes to her room. She lifts her bedboard, revealing three big bags of snacks. Zhou Yining has no intention of leaving them here. Zhou Jiaming’s hands aren’t clean—she’s noticed her things being rummaged through many times.

She always carries her valuables with her, so there’s nothing valuable here, just some old clothes and such. This time, she’s not leaving her snacks for Zhou Jiaming either.

Zhou Yining takes out the three full bags of snacks and heads for the door.

Zhou Jiaming’s eyes widen. “Zhou Yining, where are you going with all those tasty snacks?”

Zhou Yining turns to him, smiling. “None of your damn business.”

With that, she ignores Zhou Jiaming’s furious outburst and walks straight out the door.

“Father, Mother, look at her! Zhou Yining’s getting worse and worse. So many tasty snacks—she can’t eat all that herself, and she took it all!” Zhou Jiaming says, nearly dying of anger.

Zhou Yuanfei taps the table. “Enough, enough. It’s just some snacks. Here’s a hundred yuan—go buy your own.”

“Come on, Father, one of her bags is full of imported snacks worth hundreds! Zhou Yining didn’t even think to let us try some. She took it all to her friend. What a traitor,” Zhou Jiaming continues angrily.

“Enough. Those are your sister’s things. If you want some, I’ll buy you more later,” Zhao Xiuna says soothingly.

“Mother, why are you taking her side now?” Zhou Jiaming can’t accept it and is furious.

“Jiaming, you’re still young. If your sister does well in her studies, she can get a good job in the future, marry into a good family, and help you out. Don’t keep making her mad,” Zhao Xiuna advises.

“Forget it! You think she’ll care about me? I bet she’d love to see me fail,” Zhou Jiaming complains.

“You’re siblings. Bl00d is thicker than water. You may fight now, but if something serious happens, your sister won’t abandon you. Just provoke her less, got it?” Zhao Xiuna continues to劝说.

“No way!” Zhou Jiaming, too angry to eat breakfast, storms back to his room.

Zhou Yuanfei finally speaks up. “I’m thinking the same as you. Since she’s still useful, we should treat her better. If she gets into a good university and finds a good job, she can help support the family. If she marries into a wealthy family, we can ask for a bigger dowry. After all, I’ve raised her this long.”

Sighing, Zhou Yuanfei continues, “When you get the chance, talk to Jiaming. Tell him to stop fighting with Zhou Yining. She’s young and doesn’t understand yet, but when she grows up, she’ll see. Having a sister to help him will make his life much easier.”

“That’s my plan too. I just don’t know if her grades will stay this good,” Zhao Xiuna says.

“We’ll take it one step at a time. If she only gets into a vocational school, I won’t pay a single cent for her tuition,” Zhou Yuanfei says, scheming further.