Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 42

The Zhi Family Residence.

When Zhi Qiu proactively requested to attend the ball, Zhi Ze’en initially planned to politely decline her request to represent the company, citing her leg injury as the reason.

As a father, he knew his daughter best. Over the years, Zhi Qiu had made no significant contributions to the company, making it inappropriate for her to overstep her position and attend as a company representative in a managerial capacity.

Just as he was about to voice his refusal, Zhi Qiu seemed to anticipate his objection. She suddenly freed herself from the wheelchair, planted her feet firmly on the ground, and stood up steadily.

“You…”

The man, dressed in a gray suit with a navy blue tie, stared at his daughter in shock. After a moment’s hesitation, he immediately reached for his phone, intending to confront his friend—the doctor who had treated Zhi Qiu a month earlier and claimed her legs would require at least a year to recover.

But before he could dial, Zhi Qiu, now standing perfectly healthy, gently stopped his hand.

She shook her head and murmured soothingly, “Father, don’t blame Uncle Mu. I insisted on concealing my discharge from the hospital. My leg injury wasn’t as severe as we thought; it’s fully healed now. This ball is crucial to me—I have compelling reasons to attend. Please… make an exception for me, okay?”

“Just make an exception for me?”

“It’s not that simple.”

Zhi Ze’en’s brow furrowed. Three years ago, he had barely managed to defend his daughter’s position as first heir during a heated debate at the family assembly.

He knew he was on shaky ground. If he now made another exception and allowed his daughter to attend the highly publicized, live-streamed Noadon Ball under the guise of a company representative, the vultures within the family would likely stir up chaos.

“You’re already a student at Noadon. You can come and go from the ball freely. Why insist on attending as a company representative, in your personal capacity?” Zhi Ze’en refused to budge. His sharp entrepreneurial instincts sensed something amiss.

His gaze locked onto his daughter, scrutinizing every flicker of her expression. “Unless you give me a valid reason, don’t bring this up again.”

Outside the window, a howling wind rustled the withered leaves on the green trees, as vibrant summer gradually gave way to deep autumn. The leaves rattled noisily, and the wind gently lifted strands of the girl’s hair, obscuring her dark, fathomless eyes, making it impossible to discern her emotions.

“I was the one who orchestrated the incident at the family reunion banquet.”

These days were always the busiest time of year at Noadon. The entire school, inside and out, was abuzz with preparations for the triennial Ball.

Since its founding, Noadon had maintained the tradition of hosting the Ball for decades, benefiting countless students. Some secured management positions at major corporations upon graduation, others met influential figures who would advance their careers, and still others, through their exceptional social skills, soared to new heights, transforming from ordinary birds into phoenixes.

The opportunities were endless.

After the Fu Jin Yan incident, Director Qian Yan’s overbearing arrogance was thoroughly doused with a bucket of ice water, forcing her to slink away on a month-long sick leave.

As a result, Ruan Ye had far fewer petty troubles at school these days. The incident had also significantly improved her relationships with her peers, most notably with the Omega clique led by Chen Nuo.

“Ruan Ye, I warmed up some milk for you!”

The male Omega, sporting freshly manicured nails, called out from across the classroom. Holding a steaming cup of milk, he strode gracefully down the long aisle, his slender legs moving with a seductive sway. He crossed the distance of four or five desks to personally deliver the milk to Ruan Ye’s table, eager to curry favor.

The boy’s voice was shrill, and a classmate nearby covered their ears in annoyance. But the girl remained oblivious, lost in her own thoughts.

She sat by the window, gazing at the rainy sky outside. Occasionally, rebellious raindrops dared to trespass into human territory, pattering softly on her neatly tied, jet-black hair.

Since losing Meng Yuan’s protection, Chen Nuo had endured countless glares from those he had previously offended.

Recently, he’d heard through the grapevine that the Omega in their class—the one with nothing but looks and a personality as transparent as glass—had grown close to many well-connected students in the academy. Even the heir to the Zhi Family from the neighboring class had transferred just to be near her.

Despite the recent cold treatment, Chen Nuo approached her with forced good humor, determined to recruit this scholarship student from a humble background into their group. He said earnestly:

“Ruan Ye, why aren’t you saying anything? I brought you this warm milk specially. The weather’s been awful lately—you shouldn’t keep the window open so much. If you catch a cold and miss the Ball, what will you do?”

Click. The window closed.

Chen Nuo looked up in surprise. The girl who had been ignoring all his advances suddenly responded to his words. It seemed that meticulous care was indeed the most effective way to win someone over—just as it had worked with Meng Yuan, the girl before him was no exception.

“You can leave the milk here. It’s almost time for school to end, so you don’t need to stay with me. Go home and rest early,” the girl said, turning from the window to give Chen Nuo a faint smile.

Having only seen her profile before, Chen Nuo was now struck by her full face. Her features were gentle, her complexion meticulously made up—fair with a rosy glow. Her perfectly defined lips added the finishing touch to her flawless appearance, making her instantly unforgettable.

Chen Nuo finally understood why someone as proud as Fu Jin Yan would lower himself to pursue this woman. His own appearance, which he had always taken pride in, had been utterly crushed by a superior Omega. Overwhelmed with shame, he stumbled back half a step.

“What foundation are you using? Your makeup looks so natural. You must have gotten a perfect score in the mandatory Omega makeup class,” Chen Nuo stammered, failing to notice the hint of bitterness in his tone.

“Think carefully about what I told you yesterday. Joining us is something you definitely won’t regret. I’ll be going now.”

Ruan Ye smiled faintly. Only after the man had left the classroom did the slight curve of her lips slowly fade, returning to her usual cold indifference.

Zhi Qiu was absent again today.

The girl by the window took out her mirror and regretfully examined the carefully applied makeup she had done that morning. Women adorn themselves for those they wish to please. If the person she wanted to see wasn’t there, what was the point of looking so beautiful? It only added to her frustration.

Summer in this city lingered exceptionally long. Even though the Autumnal Equinox had passed, the weather remained oppressively hot, making it feel like the season was still in full swing.

The rain outside intensified, as if torrential downpours always preceded the official arrival of autumn, as if summer needed to prove its existence to the world through these watery displays.

Ruan Ye held out her palm, intending to catch the raindrops blown in by the howling wind, only to realize she had already closed the window. A thick pane of glass separated her from the rain, an impenetrable barrier.

“Is autumn finally coming?”