Rumor Has It I Don’t Follow A-Class Morals - Chapter 50

Su Yin remembered that back in her third year of high school, her grades weren’t exactly top-tier, but scoring over 600 was never a problem. She was usually ranked in the top five of her class and within the top 100 of her grade—by all standards, a high-achieving student.

Even later, when she started working part-time to support herself, she didn’t fall too far behind in her studies. Getting into an Omega education college that only required a score in the 500s should’ve been a breeze.

But now, she was barely scraping by in every subject, hovering right at the passing line. Some long-answer questions had earned her just one or two points. Her total score barely added up to 400-something. Of course she was upset.

Most of the students in her class were repeaters—people who hadn’t been satisfied with last year’s college entrance exam results and decided to try again.

The training center had a pretty strict academic environment. Most students were buried in their books all day, and the non-closed setting only added to the pressure. Once the exam scores came out, the mood turned heavy. Besides Su Yin, several others also broke down in tears over their results, casting a gloomy shadow over the entire place.

Zhou Zhou had ranked dead last, but she had a carefree nature. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be sleeping through lessons at the center every day. Right now, she was hugging a box of tissues and trying to comfort Su Yin, whose eyes were red from crying. Seeing her like that made Zhou Zhou feel all kinds of unsettled.

Su Yin was pretty and well-behaved. When she cried like this, she looked just like a wronged little bunny, and Zhou Zhou’s heart couldn’t help but race. She quickly pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed Su Yin’s face, awkwardly saying, “Don’t cry, okay? Look at your red eyes. If your family shows up later, they’re gonna think I bullied you.”

Thinking about how Aunt Chen would be coming soon to drop off food, Su Yin finally took the tissue from Zhou Zhou and wiped away her tears, lowering her head without saying a word.

Zhou Zhou thought that was the end of it—but when she turned to check on her, Su Yin had started crying again. Her tears were falling one after another onto the desk like little beads, and Zhou Zhou almost started crying with her.

In the end, it was Zhou Zhou who picked up the takeout and the lunch Aunt Chen had brought. She sat with Su Yin and ate together.

Ming Muyao finished her work for the day and was ready to make a quick getaway. She’d already handed everything off to An Jinyao, so she was completely free and planned to sneak home to slack off a bit.

That trending topic from last night had really annoyed her. Luckily, Fang Qiongyan wasn’t clueless—she issued a clarification and had the post taken down. Still, it had boosted her popularity, which probably meant she could land a few more endorsement deals.

But none of that had anything to do with Ming Muyao. Entertainment industry gossip was none of her business—she didn’t have a say in it anyway. As long as it didn’t involve her directly, she usually turned a blind eye.

Back home, she thought about the all-night meeting she had later and already felt a headache coming on. She rubbed her sore shoulders and decided that after dinner, she’d ask Aunt Chen to massage the back of her neck.

“I’m home!”

Her voice was light and cheerful as she pushed open the door, kicked off her boots and coat, changed into house slippers, and headed for the living room. “Is it getting warmer today? I don’t think I can wear jackets anymore. Aunt Chen, can you help me bring out a few summer outfits? I think I have a silk velvet maxi dress—feels like the right time to wear it.”

Su Yin and Aunt Chen were sitting in the large living room. The moment Ming Muyao walked in, she could sense that the atmosphere wasn’t quite right. She glanced curiously at the two of them and asked, “What’s going on?”

Aunt Chen shot her a look and pulled her aside into the dining area, lowering her voice. “Su Yin’s in a bad mood. She came home and just started crying, but she won’t tell me what happened.”

Ming Muyao frowned. “Did someone bully her at the training center?”

Aunt Chen shook her head and gestured that she wasn’t sure. She glanced over at Su Yin in the living room and said to Ming Muyao, “She listens to you. Go talk to her. I’ll get started on dinner.”

Ming Muyao nodded and walked over to Su Yin.

“What’s wrong?” She came around the sofa and saw Su Yin’s red-rimmed eyes, pink-tinted nose and lips—clearly, she’d been crying for a while. Even her long lashes were still wet. She looked up at Ming Muyao with a pitiful frown.

Ming Muyao knew this girl kept everything bottled up and rarely spoke her mind. She sat down next to her and gently coaxed, “Don’t cry. Tell me what’s going on. Did something happen at school?”

Su Yin shook her head. She glanced at Ming Muyao, then cautiously pulled a stack of papers and a score sheet from her bag. Her voice was soft and timid. “I didn’t do well on the mock exam. I only got 441.”

441?

Ming Muyao took the papers, gave them a quick glance, then set them aside. She smiled helplessly at Su Yin. “You’re crying like a waterlogged bunny over this?”

Su Yin scrambled to defend herself. “I used to score over 600. My best was 713.”

“That’s impressive,” Ming Muyao said, scooting closer and holding Su Yin’s hand. “I only scored in the 500s for my entrance exam. You’ve already outdone me.”

“But now I can only get 400-something…”

Ming Muyao thought for a moment, then her expression turned serious, startling Su Yin a little.

“It’s my fault,” Ming Muyao said solemnly. “I shouldn’t have married you before your exams.”

She looked deeply “remorseful” as she continued, “The way your grades are now… it’s all because of me. If I’d taken better care of you, you’d already be in a top university.”

Su Yin, seeing the furrow in her brows, quickly rushed to comfort her. “It’s not your fault! You lost your memory, remember?”

“Even if I did, I’m still the one who caused all of this. Your grades turning out like this—it’s on me.”

“How could it be your fault?” Su Yin was completely caught off guard. She grabbed her hand and said, “I probably just haven’t adjusted well yet. I’ll do better on the next mock exam. Don’t say stuff like that anymore.”

After spending time together these past few weeks, Su Yin had already accepted the current version of Ming Muyao. She was gentle and considerate—like a completely different person. There was no trace left of the person she used to be.

Su Yin had nearly forgotten all the painful memories from before.

People have to look forward. Ming Muyao was treating her so well now. She couldn’t keep clinging to the past. At some point, she had to… give her a chance to make things right.

Seeming to read Su Yin’s thoughts, Ming Muyao felt a wave of emotion. She wrapped an arm around Su Yin’s waist and pulled her into an embrace, murmuring, “Your heart’s just too soft.”

If the soul inside this body hadn’t changed, who knew how the old Ming Muyao would’ve treated her. If she’d arrived just a little later, that version of Ming Muyao probably would’ve sold Su Yin off. And yet here this girl was, starting to feel sorry for her. Her heart was way too tender.

If this were one of those “win her back after hurting her” stories, she’d have followed the scumbag home by the end of chapter one.

Su Yin blinked at her in confusion, not really understanding why Ming Muyao suddenly said that. But thanks to her interruption, the heavy mood from earlier had lifted, and being held like this actually made Su Yin feel a little embarrassed.

Crying all day over a bad grade… It’s seriously embarrassing the more I think about it.

Her ears turned red just thinking about it. She looked up at Ming Muyao, only to find her eyes meeting hers head-on.

Ming Muyao had still been lost in thought, and their sudden eye contact made her heart skip a beat. She quickly let go of Su Yin.

The moment her arms were gone, Su Yin felt an odd emptiness inside.

She lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her dress and staring at the toes of her fuzzy slippers.

“…I’ll go upstairs and change real quick,” Ming Muyao said, also feeling a little awkward. But just two steps away, she stopped. Looking back at Su Yin, she hesitated, then walked back over.

Su Yin heard her footsteps and looked up just in time to see Ming Muyao bending down to kiss her forehead.

“Tonight, we’re doing a treatment session,” she said softly, looking into Su Yin’s eyes. “Wait for me in your room. Don’t overthink it. So what if you bombed this exam? There’s always next time. Even if you really don’t get in, I won’t blame you.”

Su Yin stared blankly at her, cheeks turning bright red.

At dinner, Su Yin didn’t have much of an appetite but still forced herself to finish a bowl of rice. Ming Muyao was very pleased with that.

☹

The night meeting wrapped up early at 9 p.m. By now, everyone had gotten the hang of the investigation process, so things went smoothly. After a quick shower, Ming Muyao walked upstairs and knocked on Su Yin’s door.

Knock knock knock—

It was late, and Aunt Chen had already gone back to her room. The sound of knocking on the second floor echoed clearly through the quiet house.

Su Yin looked up as the door opened. Her hands and feet felt hot for no reason.

Ming Muyao stood at the doorway, her long ponytail draped over one shoulder. She wore a dark green silk nightgown, looking like a graceful socialite just returning from a dinner party.

“Tonight’s meeting ran a bit long. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” she said as she walked in and sat on the bed beside Su Yin.

Su Yin’s face flushed, heart pounding. Her hands and feet started to tingle as she clutched the textbook in her lap and lowered her head.

Ming Muyao shot a glance at the book in the way and casually tossed it aside, leaning in closer. “How long did you cry today? Your eyes are still puffy.”

“I didn’t cry…” Su Yin opened her mouth, then bit her lip and whispered, “I just… couldn’t accept it.”

Ming Muyao felt her heart ache. She cupped Su Yin’s face and gently pressed on the lingering redness around her eyes. “Don’t cry next time. Even if you really don’t get in, we can always repeat another year.”

“Okay.” Su Yin nodded obediently and closed her eyes.

They were so close now that Su Yin could smell the familiar scent of her pheromones. It instantly calmed her restless heart. She leaned in, softly licking Ming Muyao’s lips with her delicate pink tongue.

It was rare for Su Yin to be this forward. Ming Muyao smiled faintly to herself, wrapped her arms around her, and pulled her into her lap, capturing her lips in a deep kiss.

As her fingers traced along Su Yin’s waist, she noticed the girl had gained a soft little layer of flesh—just like a small animal’s tender belly, irresistibly soft under her touch.

Su Yin was quickly overwhelmed by the kiss, cheeks flushing like peach blossoms in early spring. She clung to Ming Muyao’s shoulders, leaning in closer…