After Scumming The Eldest Lady Of A Wealthy Family - Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Wen Yan returned with the bowl of noodles and sat beside Xie Buyi. She tore open the disposable chopsticks and fiddled with them a bit, waiting for the noodles to cool down before eating. Meanwhile, she started a conversation:

“So, you sleep at school every day. What do you usually do when you get home? Study hard?”

Xie Buyi replied nonchalantly, “Study hard? That’s for kids trying to cram knowledge.”

She had just finished junior high and clearly wasn’t worried about hitting the books. In school, she was busy memorizing textbooks and reviewing lessons, but for Xie Buyi, all that seemed unnecessary.

Wen Yan blinked, trying to hide her disbelief. Who is this genius who can skip studying and still top the class? She forced a smile, trying not to let jealousy slip out, and said teasingly, “Wow, you’re really amazing then.”

She added quickly, “I’ve never seen anyone so effortlessly smart before.”

Her attempt at praise sounded sour, and Xie Buyi shot her a sharp look. Wen Yan immediately put on a fake laugh, feeling caught.

“Come on, don’t make it sound like I’m causing trouble.” Wen Yan smiled, trying to keep things light.

“Who said you’re causing trouble? I never thought that,” Xie Buyi responded.

Wen Yan continued, spinning a story to build her character: “Besides, you saved my life yesterday! I’m the kind of person who never forgets a kindness, even if it’s just a little favor — let alone something that big.”

Xie Buyi recalled the scene from last night, doubting the sincerity in Wen Yan’s words. She remembered how Wen Yan called the teacher, but even if she hadn’t, Wen Yan wouldn’t have been helpless. After all, Wen Yan could be ruthless when needed, and last night was no exception.

Wen Yan, unaware of the doubt, continued chatting as she twirled the noodles with her chopsticks: “It’s tough being isolated. Humans are social creatures. Locking yourself up and avoiding others makes things harder to bear.”

Xie Buyi shot her a sharp look. “So, you’re just feeling sorry for me?”

The words were blunt, her eyes sharp and unwavering. “I don’t need your pity or your friendship.”

If Xie Buyi truly wanted nothing to do with Wen Yan, she would have rejected her outright every time “life-saving kindness” was mentioned, drawing a cold boundary. Instead, she was like a hurt cat, licking her wounds but baring her claws at anyone who came close.

Clearly, she wanted Wen Yan to stay close, yet was afraid to admit it.

Wen Yan thought to herself: “Licking a dog is simple—you can do it any way. But winning over a proud and distant lady like her requires finesse and subtlety. You have to know when to bow your head.”

— From “One Hundred Ways to Win Thanks” by Wen Yan

“How could I pity you?” Wen Yan said with a strange mix of humor and sincerity. “If anyone deserves pity, it’s me. You’ve probably heard the rumors about my home life, right? With everything going on, why should I pity you? I’m the one who’s worse off!”

Her words, blunt and self-deprecating, caught Xie Buyi off guard. She grew quiet, uncertain what to say next.

Wen Yan smiled faintly and continued in a softer tone: “We’re both new transfers this semester. I have no friends here and hate feeling lonely. So I want to be friends with you.”

“You know how many kids in the school call me your ‘yes-man’ or say I’m just after your money. You might think that too… But I really just want to be your friend, nothing more.”

After a long pause, Xie Buyi finally spoke, quietly but clearly: “I don’t think that way.”

Wen Yan deliberately misread her: “What? You don’t think that? Or you don’t want to be friends?”

Xie Buyi lowered her head and said simply, “No.”

Wen Yan pressed gently: “No what?”

But Xie Buyi stayed silent.

Wen Yan smiled knowingly: “How am I supposed to know what you mean if you don’t tell me? Come on, speak up.”

Despite her coaxing, Xie Buyi remained tight-lipped, as if her mouth had been sewn shut.

Wen Yan sighed inwardly. How can someone be so stubborn with words?

Xie Buyi ignored her and quietly ate, but Wen Yan noticed how she didn’t slurp her noodles like normal people. Instead, she bit the noodles off in small pieces, putting them in her mouth without making a sound—so methodical, so unnatural.

Eating quietly and not talking seemed to be one of Xie Buyi’s unwritten rules. Wen Yan was determined to break that habit and spoke up again:

“Thanks, didn’t Aunt Chen just lend you an umbrella? Why don’t you use it?”

Xie Buyi froze and didn’t respond, her chopsticks paused mid-air.

“Too lazy to hold an umbrella. Too much trouble,” she finally muttered, sounding like a slow processor struggling to find a convincing excuse.

“It’s troublesome because you’d owe someone a favor,” she added, trying to justify it.

Wen Yan suddenly reached out and pinched Xie Buyi’s cheek gently. “Why’s it so hard to tell the truth? Are you embarrassed to admit you want to come with me?”

There it was—the tough exterior finally cracked.

Xie Buyi’s eyes widened in surprise and she pulled back quickly. “What are you doing?”

Wen Yan blinked innocently. “You’ve got some noodles on your cheek. I’m just cleaning it for you.”

Flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation, Xie Buyi lowered her head. After a moment, she stirred her noodles twice and said sharply, “I’m not eating rice.”

“Oh, noodles then,” Wen Yan teased.

Xie Buyi looked annoyed. “Wen Yan!”

Wen Yan smiled, resting her cheek on one hand and letting the other dangle under the table. “Yeah, it’s me.”

The soft, delicate touch lingered in her mind, and she rubbed her fingers gently, thinking to herself:

— Sleeping more really does make your skin better.

I might just have to touch it again.