Chapter Twenty-Three: Turn the Money into Cash and Transfer It to Me

The students in Science Class A were clearly very friendly. Upon hearing Jiang Wuyang’s "perfunctory" remark, they didn't take offense.

"I’ll go ask around next time, but I also think they’re probably better at track events. After all, aren’t they training for running every single day?"

"If that’s the case, I’d better avoid signing up for the sprints."

"Hilarious! As if we could outrun anyone other than the sports students anyway."

Someone made this comment, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

"What’s wrong with that? One should always be confident! What if we actually win?"

Jiang Wuyang felt the harmonious atmosphere and couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips. Back in Liberal Arts Class A, it wasn't as if there weren't such discussions, but she would always just sit to the side, pretending to read, never daring to join in.

"Are you signing up for the twenty-person twenty-one-legged race?" Sang Wan asked curiously, taking the registration form from Xi Wencheng’s hand.

As soon as group events were mentioned, everyone became excited.

"Of course! That sounds like so much fun. Last year, our class drew long-rope jumping; it was so boring."

"Same here! Our class got the drum-passing game. Hahaha, I’ve been wanting to play the twenty-person race for ages."

Sang Wan laughed along, then noticed the silent Jiang Wuyang and took the initiative to include her: "What about you, Yangyang? Are you signing up?"

Jiang Wuyang smiled and shook her head: "I think I’ll pass. I don’t have any experience with group events, and I’m afraid of holding everyone back."

Sang Wan looked at her disapprovingly: "Oh, come on! You can’t say that. The school sports meet is meant for fun, after all; everyone being happy is the most important thing!"

"Sign up, sign up, just keep me company."

Jiang Wuyang was still hesitant. She had wanted to participate in group events with her classmates before, always thinking it would help them bond. But back then, after only a few practice sessions, she realized she was always making mistakes—and always in the most unexpected ways. It left both her and the team unhappy, and she eventually quit. It wasn't until later, when she overheard Ruan An'an chatting with someone else, that she realized every one of her mistakes had been sabotaged by her. Even though she had switched classes, the cold sarcasm of those people still lingered in her mind.

Jiang Wuyang thought for a moment, still wanting to refuse Sang Wan. Sang Wan’s eyes darted around, and she grabbed Jiang Wuyang’s hand, acting spoiled.

"Just come with me, please? Everyone else is going with their deskmates, and I’ll be all alone; I’ll be so miserable."

"I won't even have a partner for training."

Seeing Jiang Wuyang waver, Sang Wan immediately turned and wrote her name down on the group event sign-up sheet.

***

Jiang Wuyang hesitated, but in the end, she didn't refuse. Looking at the kind faces around her, she couldn't help but harbor a sliver of hope that perhaps this time would be different.

Sang Wan was satisfied after filling in both their names and stood up to shout: "Anyone else want to sign up for the sports meet? Group or individual, come on!"

Following this shout, someone did approach, but not to sign up for an event. The person stood still in front of Jiang Wuyang.

"Jiang Wuyang, someone is looking for you outside."

Jiang Wuyang looked up at the messenger, then followed their gaze toward the door. A familiar figure stood in the doorway—cold-faced and standing straight.

What is he doing here?

Jiang Yiran stood at the door, his head throbbing with a dull pain. He didn't know why he felt compelled to come here, but there was a thought in his mind that he had to find Jiang Wuyang—an inexplicable, muddled impulse. He had to see her with his own eyes and demand to know where she had been last night. Why hadn't she come home all night?!

Everyone recognized Jiang Yiran as the pride of the senior science class. They just hadn't expected him to be looking for Jiang Wuyang. Did they know each other?

Eyes turned toward Jiang Wuyang. She stared at the doorway for a while, her expression cold and unreadable. Finally, she walked out.

"What do you want?"

Standing at the door with her hands in her pockets, Jiang Wuyang looked at him squarely, perhaps because of the distance between them.

"Why didn't you come home yesterday? Do you have any idea how I..."

Jiang Yiran suppressed his physical discomfort and raised his voice, only to stop abruptly. No, he couldn't admit that he had waited for her all night; otherwise, given her personality, she would surely become insufferably arrogant. He was here to ask why she hadn't come home and to warn her!

"How you what?" Jiang Wuyang raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding what he was trying to say.

***

"Nothing. Why didn't you come home? An'an said she saw you at Yipinge yesterday. Who is that friend of yours with the 'Heaven-tier' membership card?"

"I’m not saying this to be mean, Jiang Wuyang, but can’t you have some self-respect? Can a measly membership card really bribe you that easily?"

"How have you become so cheap?!"

It was unclear if Jiang Yiran was not thinking clearly, but his words were reckless. If it were the old Jiang Wuyang, she might have been hurt for a while. But the current Jiang Wuyang just sneered, her eyes filled with mockery as she said calmly: "You’re the one who took the membership card I kept in my bag, aren't you?"

Jiang Yiran froze. A cold breeze blew by, clearing his head slightly.

"I..." A flush rose to his face, and he frowned tightly, as if searching for an excuse. "I was just thinking you weren't using it and it was a waste. It just so happened that Lin Yan came back from his competition, so I threw a celebration dinner for him. Is there a problem with that?"

Jiang Yiran specifically mentioned Lin Yan to let her know that he hadn't just used the card for himself—he had used it for the person she cared about most! With that, surely she couldn't complain anymore, right? After all, Lin Yan was the person she had loved since childhood.

Jiang Wuyang’s eyes curved, and her lips turned up as if smiling, but there was no warmth in her gaze: "There is a problem."

"Taking something without asking is stealing. I don't care who you gave it to or what you used it for; stealing is stealing." She cast a look of disdain at him. "And you have the nerve to act righteous about it."

"It must have cost quite a bit yesterday, right? Transfer the cash to me, and I’ll pretend it never happened. How about that?"

Jiang Yiran’s breathing quickened. He hadn't expected his little sister, whom he had pampered since childhood, to be so calculating with him!

"You!"

"Fine, I’ll transfer it! I don’t have my phone on me; I’ll transfer it when I get back!" Jiang Yiran’s expression darkened, and he spoke with indignation.

Distracted by this, he no longer cared about his original purpose for coming here. Suppressing his anger, he spoke as if lecturing a wayward younger sister: "I don't care what you were doing yesterday, but I want to see you at home by six o'clock tonight!"

"You're a girl—do you even understand the meaning of self-respect?" His voice was low, but it was dripping with mockery.