novelbin Chapter 183: School-wide Deification
Chapter 183: School-wide Deification
It wasn’t often the school had a star student on the cusp of winning international awards.
Who would dare ruin the school’s reputation at a time like this?
The school board held an emergency overnight meeting and decided to take drastic measures to stop the public outcry from escalating.
A list of disciplinary actions was posted on the bulletin board at the school gate, naming several students.
Three were given demerits, and two were put on probation.
A general assembly was held in the academic lecture hall, recorded in its entirety, and uploaded to the campus intranet.
As soon as the assembly ended, she became a legend throughout the school.
The people who had attacked her online began receiving invitations for private "chats."
The meetings weren’t held at the school, but in an inconspicuous office building downtown.
After that, things around Shanshan suddenly grew quiet.
With the exception of influential people like Guo Wei.
Everyone else would turn and walk away the moment they saw her, looking more nervous than if they’d run into the dean.
She didn’t know what was happening behind the scenes, but she could feel the bizarre shift in the atmosphere.
It wasn’t until she deliberately stopped a boy who was taking a detour to avoid her and asked him what was going on that she finally learned the truth.
The boy hemmed and hawed, reluctant to say anything, but when she pressed him, he finally whispered the truth.
After hearing the whole story, her eyes welled up. As soon as she got home, she immediately picked out an expensive gift for her father.
"Dad’s birthday is coming up. What should I get him?"
She looked up toward the other end of the living room, where Ling Zhiwei was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.
He looked up at the sound of her voice and glanced over.
"Don’t get him anything. It’s easier that way."
Ling Zhiwei threw up his hands, his face completely deadpan.
"What? But he’s my dad!"
"Hey, I’m telling you, sis, have you not noticed? Every year on Uncle’s birthday, he looks more and more miserable."
Shanshan tilted her head, thinking.
"I don’t think so. Every time I give him a gift, he always seems so happy."
Ling Zhiwei looked exasperated.
"That’s because it’s you! You’re his precious daughter, the apple of his eye. Even if he’s furious inside, he’d never take it out on you. But me? I’m not so lucky. It’s a tragedy."
"Take his thirty-eighth birthday last year. You weren’t there, so you have no idea. The second you handed him your gift, he was all smiles accepting it. But when it was my turn, his face just fell. It got as dark as the bottom of a pot. Scared the hell out of me."
As he spoke, he hunched his shoulders and hugged himself, giving a little shiver.
"You’re exaggerating. Such a drama queen!"
"I’m not exaggerating!"
Ling Zhiwei said, exasperated.
"I’m telling you, I think Uncle is getting close to forty and his moods are getting really weird. He can be bright and sunny in the morning and a thundercloud by noon. He flies off the handle at the smallest thing, like he’s going through menopause or something."
"Fourth Brother!"
Shanshan tried to look stern, but her eyes were smiling.
"If you keep talking about Dad like that, I’m going to tell him you’ve been badmouthing him!"
"No, no, no! Have mercy, Your Highness!"
Ling Zhiwei immediately threw his hands up in surrender.
"I was wrong, okay? My lady, you are generous and forgiving. Please spare me this once!"
Bickering playfully, the two of them wandered through several stores.
When they entered the third menswear shop, a sales associate enthusiastically recommended a handmade, dark gray cashmere overcoat.
Ling Zhiwei felt the material and thought it was nice.
Just as he was about to say something, Shanshan shook her head. "Dad has never liked this color."
Next, they went to the high-end leather goods counter next door. A pricey crocodile-print belt was laid out on the display.
Ling Zhiwei pointed at it. "This is practical."
But Shanshan frowned. "Dad has one just like it. I gave it to him for his birthday last year."
Just as they were about to head to an accessory shop to try their luck, they suddenly heard someone call out from behind them.
"Ling Xueshan!"
The voice was sickeningly sweet. Shanshan turned around instinctively and saw Cao Jiajia.
She was decked out in designer brands—a Chanel jacket, a Dior handbag, and earrings that glittered in the light.
She had her arm linked with a young man’s, her nails painted a wine-red, and she was waving at Shanshan with a wide grin.
Seeing Shanshan’s surprised expression, her smile widened.
"Brother Kang, this is that ’brainiac sister’ I told you about. Well? Not bad looking, is she?"
"Oh? So this is that half-sister of yours?"
Hu Wenkang squinted, sizing up Shanshan as he stroked his chin. His gaze was lecherous, openly raking over her from head to toe.
Ling Zhiwei’s brow furrowed. He stepped to the side, shielding Shanshan behind him as he stared warily at the man.
’That face looks familiar,’ he thought, but he couldn’t quite place where he’d seen it before.
"My sister has brothers, not sisters."
His tone turned cold, and he shot a deliberate glare at Cao Jiajia.
But the Cao Jiajia of today was no longer the timid little girl who would tremble at the slightest fright.
Standing beside Hu Wenkang, her posture was ramrod straight, her shoulders thrown back, and her expression held a hint of defiance.
With a sugar daddy behind her, she no longer had to walk on eggshells around anyone. She stood tall and spoke with newfound confidence.
"Right, right. Ling Xueshan is a big shot now. She looked down on me back then, and now that she’s in university, she’s completely untouchable. Me? I just get to follow Brother Kang around and have a little fun."
As she spoke, she tightened her grip on the man’s arm, leaning against him and swaying coquettishly.
Her gaze swept over Ling Xueshan’s face, a mixture of flaunting and resentment.
"Brother Kang, that jacket from before... the more I think about it, the more I like it. You should just buy it for me~"
"That’s nothing. Just a few hundred bucks. Pocket change."
Hu Wenkang laughed magnanimously, his voice breezy as his fingers caressed the face of his watch.
His other hand, however, was restlessly rubbing her waist, the pads of his fingers sliding over the fabric.
His eyes, however, remained fixed on Shanshan, a playful glint in them, as if he were waiting for a reaction.
"Well, well, Ling Xueshan. Aren’t you the darling of the Ling family? How come you’ve been wandering around for so long and your hands are still empty? Don’t tell me you don’t have the money and can’t afford to buy what you like. How about I ask Brother Kang to do you a little favor and cover your bill?"
The moment she finished speaking, she turned to Hu Wenkang, her eyes full of sweet coquetry.
"Brother Kang, just do it for my sake, okay? How much could anything she likes possibly cost? A few dozen bucks, tops. You spend more than that on breakfast."
"Done. I’m in a good mood today. Just say the word, and I’ll buy you whatever you want. It’s all on me!"
Hu Wenkang puffed out his chest, his voice booming with smug satisfaction.
The two went back and forth like a well-rehearsed double act.
Ling Xueshan and her fourth brother exchanged a look, almost bursting out laughing.
"Ling Xueshan, you hear that? Hurry up and thank Brother Kang! An opportunity like this is rare. You’ll regret it if you miss it!"
"Got a little bit of dirty money and suddenly you’re acting all high and mighty? You really think you’re somebody?"
Ling Zhiwei scoffed, stuffing his hands into his pockets and taking half a step forward to stand in front of Ling Xueshan.
His voice wasn’t loud, but every word was crystal clear. "The things my sister sets her sights on? I’m afraid your card would be declined. You’d have to get on your knees and beg your daddy for a wire transfer. How humiliating would that be?"
His words were merciless, hitting them right where it hurt.
Cao Jiajia was so furious her lips trembled. She pointed a shaking finger at Ling Zhiwei, a retort stuck in her throat.
The color drained from her face, only to be replaced by a furious blush. Her chest heaved.
Utterly humiliated, Hu Wenkang raised his hand and slapped Cao Jiajia across the face.
He moved to strike her again, but Ling Xueshan reacted in a flash, yanking Cao Jiajia back half a step so she dodged the second blow.
Cao Jiajia wrenched her arm free from Shanshan’s grasp, her eyes filled with nothing but resentment.