Dedicated to studying, yet forced into a chaotic situation.

Chapter 20 I Just... Like You

Shi Sui took the elevator downstairs. When she got to the first floor and was about to head straight for the school gate, she saw Xiao Youran standing at the elevator entrance, clutching the shoulder straps of her backpack and looking around.

"Hmm? You Ran, why aren't you home yet?" Shi Sui asked. "Are you waiting for someone?"

"I've been waiting for you." Xiao Youran's eyes lit up as soon as she saw her.

The two walked side by side, and Shi Sui asked with some confusion, "Hmm? Are we going home on the same route?"

"Can't we leave the school gate together even if we're not going the same way?" Xiao Youran tilted her head and smiled. "You haven't forgotten about the dessert I treated you to, have you?"

Shi Sui paused for a moment, feeling embarrassed. She was so engrossed in watching the basketball game and cheering for the money tree that she completely forgot about the dessert.

"Okay, okay, I know you forgot, so I'll generously forgive you. Let's go." Xiao Youran took her arm; it was a very strong and muscular arm, which made her feel very safe.

Xiao Youran then said, "By the way, Shi Sui, you just transferred here, so you haven't joined any clubs or organizations yet, right?"

Shi Sui shook her head, somewhat confused, and asked, "My previous school didn't have these. Is this something I have to join?"

"Interested in joining the sports department?" Xiao Youran took her hand, her eyes shining with anticipation.

At the same time, the system's voice came through: [Host, there's no need to join clubs and organizations; it's a waste of time and energy. We just need to focus on studying.]

Shi Sui was being stared at with such intense gazes and couldn't bear to refuse, but the system in her mind told her that studying should come first.

Seeing her hesitation, afraid of being rejected, Xiao Youran said nervously, "I want you to join the sports department, not to help me move things. Don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand. There are quite a few boys in our sports department, but they all had something to do this afternoon."

[Host, you should refuse quickly.] The system urged Shi Sui.

“I want you to come to the sports department, it’s just… it’s just…” Xiao Youran lowered her head slightly, her face flushed, and she stammered nervously, “I just… like you.”

Caught off guard by the confession, Shi Sui exclaimed, "Huh?"

"No, don't misunderstand." Xiao Youran covered her burning cheeks and explained, "I just want to be friends with you, the kind of liking that comes from friendship. Don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand."

Straightforward and enthusiastic, pure and radiant, Xiao Youran likes this kind of girl.

"Oh, okay." Shi Sui chuckled lightly. "Then I'll join the sports club."

She simply couldn't bear to refuse the lovely girl, so Shi Sui repeatedly assured the system: "[I promise, I absolutely won't let it interfere with my studies. I'll go home and memorize three short English passages to prove my determination.]"

The system had nothing to say and could only trust the host.

"By the way, Shi Sui," Xiao Youran asked, "you kept cheering for Chi Yan during the game, do you like him?"

"No," Shi Sui admitted frankly. "He and I are deskmates, so it's normal to cheer for your deskmate, right?"

She likes Chi Yan, is she courting death?

You can be after money, but not after people.

"That's good." Xiao Youran was relieved and casually said, "There are quite a few girls in our class who have a crush on him, but Chi Yan has a bad attitude and a bad temper. Apart from his good looks, he's not very good at anything else."

Shi Sui wanted to say something nice to Chi Yan, but when she saw Xiao Youran speaking so earnestly and confidently, she fell silent.

What if you get into an argument about whether Chi Yan's temper is good or bad, and end up falling out with your new friend?

Although it might not be necessary, Shi Sui still sent a text message to the driver who picked her up from the Jiang family and went to a dessert shop outside the school with Xiao Youran.

As the sun sets in the west, the vibrant evening glow spreads across the sky like an overturned palette of paints. Before long, the sky is completely dark, and the starlight is sparse.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Youran lived in the next neighborhood, so she took Shi Sui back to the Jiang family home on the way.

The huge crystal chandelier shimmered with light, soft velvet carpets covered the floor, and various famous paintings hung on the walls. Three people sat on a white European-style carved sofa, laughing and talking, creating a warm and happy atmosphere.

Shi Sui opened the door and this was the scene she saw.

Not long ago, she fantasized that she could integrate into this family, receive affection, and find happiness. But now, she realizes that living a good life on her own is more important than anything else.

Let's just tie those three members of the Jiang family to the spot.

"Sister, sister is back." Jiang Tianyao was the first to notice her again.

Perhaps fearing that Shi Sui would return home and take away her parents, Jiang Tianyao was very wary and perceptive of Shi Sui, and was always the first to spot her.

Mr. Jiang looked over and saw the girl changing her shoes in the entryway, her head down and barely noticeable.

He was disappointed when he first saw Shi Sui; her poor, rural appearance only showed how important the environment is to a person.

Mr. Jiang had been away on a business trip for a week and only returned by plane this morning. After hearing a lot of things, he looked stern and said, "Shi Sui, come here."

Shi Sui walked over, her sixth sense telling her that she was definitely going to get scolded again.

Every time I see Jiang's father, it's never a good thing; he's either being scolded or on his way to apologize.

Two months ago, when she first arrived at the Jiang family, Jiang Tianyao gave her some old clothes. Just because she didn't wear those clothes, Shi Sui was scolded.

Is it wrong for her not to want to wear the clothes that Jiang Tianyao doesn't want?

Once, when Jiang's father returned from a business trip, he brought back two gifts. She casually took one and was scolded for being so ill-mannered. She was told that she had to wait until Jiang Tianyao had chosen before the rest were hers.

In just two months, there were countless similar incidents of being verbally abused.

"You slapped Chen Yi at school yesterday, didn't you?" Father Jiang frowned, looking at her coldly.

Shi Sui was taken aback: Hasn't this matter been put behind us yet?

"Because he insulted me yesterday..."

Before Shi Sui could finish speaking, Jiang's father said forcefully, "I don't need to hear your reasons. What's done is done, and what's wrong is wrong. This is how you behaved on your first day of school. After two months in our Jiang family, you haven't changed a bit of the bad habits you picked up in the countryside."

Shi Sui remained silent because she knew that her rebuttal would only add fuel to the fire and cause her father to scold her even more harshly.

Now is not the time to leave the Jiang family. There's no need to break ties. I can only curse him in my heart for being crazy.

“Dad, don’t be angry. My sister has only been here for two months, and she hasn’t changed many of her ways of thinking yet…” It was time for Jiang Tianyao to show her thoughtful side. “Let’s give her more time. She will definitely get better.”

Mr. Jiang was still furious: "Do you think I don't know why you hit Chen Yi? Isn't it because you want to steal this marriage? You've been targeting Tian Tian at every turn, and Tian Tian has been tolerating it time and time again. But let me tell you, this marriage belongs to Tian Tian and Chen Yi, and you can't take it away no matter what you do."

Shi Sui couldn't hold back any longer. Suppressing her anger, she forced herself to be polite and said, "I won't steal Jiang Tianyao's marriage. Don't worry about that."

Seeing her lower her head, as if she had repented, Jiang's father said a few more words and then said, "Come on, take the gift box on the table. Now, come with me to the Gu family to apologize to Chen Yi."

This was something the three of them had just discussed. As soon as Shi Sui returned, they would take her to the Gu family to apologize. They had already prepared an apology gift, which was placed on the table.

Shi Sui obediently picked up the gift box, but didn't smash it into Jiang's father's face.

During her two months at the Jiang family's house, her temper improved so much that her former junior high school classmates would never recognize her.

She's been patient and patient... she's practically a ninja turtle.

The Gu family lived in a villa near the Jiang family's home, just a few minutes' walk away. Shi Sui winked, gathering her emotions, trying her best to make herself look like she was apologizing, rather than about to slap someone.

Because I had called the Gu family in advance, I rang the doorbell and a nanny came to open the door.

Wearing a mask, Gu Chenyi sat on the sofa, feeling somewhat uneasy. When he heard the doorbell ring, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died.

Sure enough, he saw Jiang's father bring Jiang Tianyao and Shi Sui over, with Shi Sui holding a bright red gift box in her hand.

I told you not to come and apologize, so why did you come?

Gu Chenyi's mother, Chen Rong, immediately stood up and accepted the gift box with a smile: "I told you not to be so polite, no need to give me anything. This is your adopted daughter."

She handed the gift box to the nanny standing next to her and looked Shi Sui up and down.

The girl was still wearing her old-fashioned school uniform, with her backpack on her back. She had fair skin, a slender and thin figure, and her eyes were darting around. She looked timid and didn't seem like the kind of delinquent girl who would slap someone.

“Children raised in the countryside don’t have much manners,” said Mr. Jiang. “She has been learning at home for two months, but some of her deep-rooted bad habits still haven’t been corrected. Please be understanding and forgive her for her ill-mannered behavior.”

The Gu family and the Jiang family are business partners, and their relationship has become even closer through marriage.

"Not at all, not at all." Chen Rong smiled politely. "Your adopted daughter was just acting impulsively. If she apologizes, Chen Yi will forgive her."

After another round of polite exchanges, Jiang's father gave Shi Sui a push: "Go quickly and apologize to Chen Yi."

Shi Sui obediently stepped forward and stood in front of Gu Chenyi, her expression both cold and sincere: "I'm sorry."

Gone.

Jiang Tianyao couldn't stand it anymore. She took Chen Rong's hand, acting as intimately as a family member, and pointed at Shi Sui, saying, "Aunt Chen, look at her, she doesn't show any remorse at all."

Unexpectedly, Gu Chenyi, in front of everyone, bowed deeply to Shi Sui at a ninety-degree angle, his voice trembling slightly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

What's going on? Chen Rong reacted immediately and grabbed Gu Chenyi: "What are you apologizing for? Are you crazy? You're the one who got slapped, and you're apologizing to some country bumpkin?"

Gu Chenyi seemed to be forced, and stubbornly said, "Mom, I was also wrong. I was wrong first, and I need to apologize."

The atmosphere froze, creating a subtle tension.

"Haha, your Chenyi is so gentlemanly, not holding a grudge against our girl." Father Jiang pushed Shi Sui again, "Shi Sui, go quickly, go thank Chenyi."

Before Shi Sui could say anything, Gu Chenyi had already stepped forward, shouting, "No, no, no, no..."

I was embarrassed again.

Shi Sui roughly guessed what was going on.