novelbin Chapter 171: Drawing a Clear Line
Chapter 171: Drawing a Clear Line
Before she could even figure out what was going on, Yuan Min and the other two stormed into the dorm, furious.
The door slammed into the wall with a crash.
Yuan Min clutched a printed sheet of paper in her hand, her face flushed red.
The other two followed behind her, their eyes fixed on Shanshan.
"Whoa, what’s wrong with you guys? Who pissed you off?"
"Who else could it be! Those people were gossiping, saying my friend lives a life of luxury, decked out in gold and jewels because she’s some sugar baby! I was so mad when I heard it, I went off on them right then and there. They don’t know anything, just making wild guesses and talking like it’s the truth. I asked them who gave them the right to slander someone like that!"
"I know exactly what kind of person my friend is, and I don’t need outsiders pointing fingers. I stood up for her right away, refuting every single thing they said. No one could have stopped me."
Xiao Xiaojun had a short fuse, and she blurted it all out in a rush.
Yuan Min reached out to cover her mouth but was too late.
"Oh, so that’s why everyone’s been looking at me like that lately. So this is the rumor going around."
Shanshan just chuckled, neither annoyed nor angry.
"Don’t be angry, you guys. Just ignore that kind of gossip. To thank you for sticking up for me, how about I treat you all to dinner tonight? You can invite any friends you’d like to bring along, too."
"As long as you’re not upset, that’s what matters. You don’t have to treat us to dinner."
Yuan Min wanted to just move on, feeling the matter was over and done with.
But Shanshan blinked and insisted, "Nope, nope, we absolutely have to go!"
She had wanted to use this opportunity to clear things up anyway, to avoid being constantly misunderstood.
She didn’t really care about her reputation.
But she felt bad that her roommates were getting dragged into it.
After a great deal of persuasion, Shanshan finally convinced her three roommates to reluctantly agree.
Unexpectedly, Ling Anxun was also at the dinner that evening.
The students, who had been chattering noisily just a moment before, immediately fell silent upon seeing him.
"Don’t just stand there! Order whatever you want. My dad’s treating tonight!"
Shanshan announced cheerfully, beckoning everyone over.
Only then did a few of them pull their friends along and sit down.
Although everyone was astonished by her background, no one dared to ask a single question.
It was the bold Xiao Xiaojun who insisted Shanshan break the ice with a joke.
Once the food arrived, everyone toasted a few times with tea instead of wine. Finally, someone plucked up the courage to ask the question on everyone’s mind.
"Does Instructor Ling have a girlfriend?"
The moment the words were out, an awkward silence fell over the table.
Shanshan was a little annoyed, but she kept a smile on her face.
"My dad? He thinks getting married is too much trouble. Having me is already enough of a handful for him."
"Oh... is that so."
The girl gave an embarrassed laugh. ’What a shame,’ she lamented inwardly.
Yuan Min shot her friend a harsh glare.
’How could you ask something like that at a time like this?’
’So clueless.’
’I’d better keep my distance from her from now on. Best to draw the line sooner rather than later.’
She quickly changed the subject, and the atmosphere at the table slowly warmed up again.
Ling Anxun didn’t say a word the entire time, merely keeping his head down to place food on Shanshan’s plate and debone her fish.
Those watching nearby were half in shock, half in disbelief.
"Oh my god, who knew the instructor could be so considerate?"
"Sigh, too bad he’s doting on someone else. I’m so sour with jealousy."
Their eyes were practically glued to Ling Anxun, overflowing with envy.
After the meal, Shanshan’s and Ling Anxun’s respective problems were solved.
The voices that had been secretly gossiping about their relationship all quieted down after they witnessed Ling Anxun taking such good care of Shanshan.
But Shanshan didn’t want to rely on this method to solve her problems.
"And you say you don’t want to be famous? Look at you now. You got into the best university in the country at such a young age. You were bound to attract attention."
Her friend pointed out the fact bluntly.
"Yeah, Shanshan, we’re not buying that,"
Yuan Min and the other two teased with playful smiles.
Shanshan immediately changed her tune.
"Then just help me keep it a secret. My dad never intended to make our relationship public. He’s just afraid I’d use him as an excuse to slack off and not take training seriously. If he found out I was using his name to get special treatment, he’d skin me alive."
After speaking, she even stuck her tongue out, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The others could only nod in agreement and stopped bringing up the matter.
The rumors may have stopped, but for some strange reason, Shanshan’s life had become bustling with activity again.
Every day after class, a crowd of people would gather around her.
Some even carried cameras, blatantly filming her nonstop.
But as long as it didn’t disrupt her daily life, Shanshan just turned a blind eye.
The moment training paused, people would swarm her to chat about this and that.
Ling Anxun stood on the sidelines, unable to even get a word in.
He tried to get closer but was always blocked by the crowd.
He could only watch helplessly as more and more strangers gathered around the girl, a fire of frustration slowly building inside him.
When they finally got a break and went home, Shanshan could tell at a glance that something was wrong from the look on his face.
She had always been a firm believer in solving problems on the spot, so she turned and pulled him into her study.
The moment the door closed, she spun around, planted her hands on her hips, and stared at him.
"Dad, what’s wrong? Why the long face?"
"Hm? It’s nothing. I’m fine."
Ling Anxun smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"Don’t lie to me. Something’s definitely up!"
Shanshan took a step back, instinctively creating some distance between them.
Pinned by her stare, Ling Anxun’s hand froze in mid-air before he slowly withdrew it.
He lowered his head, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke.
"This is just a hurdle all parents have to cross sooner or later. Don’t overthink it. Seeing you have so many friends... Dad is actually very happy."
"Really?"
Shanshan raised a skeptical eyebrow, her gaze still locked on his face.
"Dad, don’t you dare hold back just to appease me."
After saying this, she suddenly lunged forward and threw her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly.
"No matter how many people are out there, home comes first, and you’re the most important person at home. If you’re unhappy, you have to tell me. Got it?"
She tilted her face up, her nose still pressed against the fabric of his clothes.
"I got it, you little nag."
Ling Anxun couldn’t help but boop her on the nose.
The frustration in his heart dissipated without him even realizing it.
Not long after military training ended, Shanshan officially began her university life.
She unpacked her bags, familiarized herself with the campus layout, and joined club group chats.
Her days fell into a regular and fulfilling routine: classroom, cafeteria, and dorm.
She had hoped for a peaceful student life, but things just wouldn’t stay calm.
Her class schedule wasn’t packed, leaving her with plenty of free time.
But just as she was getting into the rhythm of things, someone showed up and shattered the peace.
A month into the semester, an upperclassman from the school newspaper sought her out.
The girl approached her in the afternoon sun, a stack of papers in her arms.
Seeing Shanshan walk out of the academic building, she immediately went up to her.
"You’re Ling Xueshan, right? Hi, my name is Yu Xinxin. I’m a reporter for the school paper. Is now a good time? I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes."
She stated her identity directly after stopping, her speaking pace neither too fast nor too slow.
Shanshan sized up the girl before her. She had short, ear-length hair and clear, bright eyes.
Dressed in a simple, clean white shirt and jeans, she didn’t seem to be faking her friendliness.
Instead, she had a natural air about her that made people want to talk to her.
She agreed without a second thought.
Shanshan nodded, hitching her backpack higher on her shoulder.
"No problem," she said. "Go ahead."