Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Ding Jiayi shivered badly. Did they have to go to this extent?

  Seeing that Ding Jiayi still did not take the small knife, Qiao Zijin stubbornly forced it into her hands. “Mom, do you remember what I said?”

  “R-Remember.” Ding Jiayi broke out in a cold sweat. She did not know if this cold sweat was for her own sake or Qiao Nan’s, who was at school.

  Qiao Dongliang, who had suffered a great blow, had been in a deep slumber the whole morning. He even caught a cold. Besides going to school, Qiao Nan placed all her attention on caring for Qiao Dongliang.

  It never came to the father and daughter’s minds that Qiao Zijin, who was dismissed by the school, would be crazy enough to want to drag Qiao Nan to the grave with her.

  “Zijin, are you at home? It’s your family’s phone call again.”

  The voice of the auntie from the small retail stall shocked the mother-daughter pair. Ding Jiayi was so frightened that she dropped the small knife which Qiao Zijin forced into her hands. Qiao Zijin picked it up and forced it into Ding Jiayi’s hands again. “Mom, it’s not suitable for you to go out now. I’ll go and answer it. Don’t be anxious. We will discuss in detail again about what you need to do after you reach Ping Cheng High School.”

  It was either she did not do this at all or if she did, she had to do it successfully. She had to make Qiao Nan end up in the same plight as her: to be expelled from school!

  “Okay, sure. Then, you go and answer it.” Ding Jiayi’s hands that were holding the knife shivered badly. At the sight of the back of Qiao Zijin, who was leaving, not knowing why, Ding Jiayi could sense a gush of coldness in her heart. Ding Jiayi quickly used her left hand to grab on her right one, which was shivering, to calm it down.

  Didn’t Zijin say that she just needed to pretend? She was not really committing suicide. There was no need to fear.

  \r \r \r

  “Zijin, what a busy day today. However, the person who called is a guy. Don’t tell auntie that you’re in love. You’re already in the second year of senior high school. It’s important to focus on your studies. Don’t be like other young ladies who start dating at a young age instead of focusing on their studies,” the auntie from the small retail stall said affectionately. She sounded a little like a busybody but concerned nonetheless.

  Qiao Zijin forced a smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t be involved in any romantic relationship at a young age. I don’t have a boyfriend either. You said that the person who called me is a guy. Did he say who he is? I don’t even know who is calling me.”

  “Oh, so that’s the case. Then, the two of you, go ahead.” The auntie sat down. She did not look at Qiao Zijin, but her ears stood up as she really wanted to know the contents of the conversation.

  “Hello, who are you?” Qiao Zijin turned her body and lowered her voice.

  “You are Qiao Zijin?” True enough, the voice of a man came from the other end of the phone. The other party had a nice voice. For a moment, Qiao Zijin felt slightly better. However, the voice was unfamiliar.

  Most importantly, the voice might be nice, but there was a hint of coldness in it. This made Qiao Zijin’s mood, which just turned slightly better, worsened immediately.

  “You called me despite not knowing who I am? I don’t know you. Did you call the wrong number? I’m hanging up!”

  “It seems that you’re really Qiao Zijin. You’re already in dire straits, yet you still want to deal with Nan Nan and drag her down with you?” Listening to Qiao Zijin’s short-tempered voice, the other party seemed to have guessed what was on Qiao Zijin’s mind instantly, as if he had the ability to read minds.

  Qiao Zijin’s face turned pale. “Who are you? What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

  Impossible. How did this man know? Even her mother had been taken in by her just now. Her mother really thought that she had gone crazy and wanted to die. That was why she agreed to go and harm Nan Nan in her panic.

  Regardless of how bad the situation was, Qiao Zijin was only clear of one matter, and that was to make Qiao Nan suffer the same plight as her, especially when her mother was still devoted to her.

  Although her mother said that she only loved and doted on her, once Qiao Nan managed to outdo her, within two years, her mother would also go to Qiao Nan just like her father. They would then only acknowledge Qiao Nan as their daughter.

  “Since you don’t want to tell me who you are, I’m not interested to know either. I don’t wish to waste my breath on you.” Who exactly was this man? Why was he so scary? He actually could read her mind.

  Impossible! It was impossible!

  “You have already been dismissed from your school. Do you still wish to continue with your senior high school studies and go to college in the future?” The other party snorted without care. He completely saw through Qiao Zijin’s guilt and fear. This woman clearly refused to bend until she was faced with the grim reality. If it was not against the law to kill someone, there was no need for such a person to live on.

  “You…… Who exactly are you?!” Qiao Zijin started to tremble. She could not even control her teeth from chattering. A chattering sound could be heard from her mouth.

  Zhai Sheng, who was making this call in the army, slammed the table impatiently. “Let me ask you. Do you want or not want to?”

  Teacher Liu suddenly gave Zhai Sheng a call yesterday. Although he subsequently told Zhai Sheng not to be bothered with it anymore, how could Zhai Sheng feel at ease?

  During the two years, Zhai Sheng certainly knew that Qiao Zijin was someone who refused to give up before achieving her aims.

  Furthermore, Qiao Zijin most probably did not intend to plot against Nan Nan on this occasion, but coincidentally, all the matters were exposed together and Qiao Zijin was the only one that was affected badly. How could Zhai Sheng believe that Qiao Zijin would let this matter rest?

  This morning, Zhai Sheng made a phone call to inquire about the decision made by The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China.

  The school had a shock when they heard Zhai Sheng’s call. They thought that Qiao Zijin was related to Zhai Sheng and that they could not expel such a troublesome student.

  Only heaven knew. For this matter, Principal Wei was so furious that he had a sleepless night. He could not wait for morning to arrive. The next day, Principal Wei made a call to Elder Lee first thing in the morning even before having his breakfast.

  Qiao Zijin was introduced by Elder Lee into the school. If he really had to dismiss her, Principal Wei had to inform Elder Lee. It would be a problem if Elder Lee refused.

  Principal Wei did not expect that once he mentioned the situation to Elder Lee, the latter expressed immediately that he would definitely respect Principal Wei’s and the school’s decision.

  Once Elder Lee gave his blessings, Principal Wei immediately took action and asked the teacher in school to dismiss Qiao Zijin instantly!

  He had just settled Elder Lee and now came Zhai Sheng. When Principal Wei picked up Zhai Sheng’s call, his heart crumbled.

  When he was certain that Zhai Sheng did not have the intention to help Qiao Zijin and was only trying to understand the situation, he realized that Zhai Sheng actually wanted to help Qiao Nan and not Qiao Zijin.

  At the thought of Qiao Zijin’s character, Zhai Sheng made the phone call as he did not feel at ease.

  Once Zhai Sheng heard Qiao Zijin, he was certain that his worries were not unfounded. Qiao Zijin was as annoying as a cockroach that he could not get rid of!