***
After school, only the two of them remained in the classroom.
Since it was Friday, Shen Ji rarely had to stay in the dorms.
He was leisurely packing a few medicine bottles from his desk.
‘After this round of drug testing ends, not only can I collect a handsome reward, but my little sister’s medical fees will also be covered. I can also drop by the Black Market to ask around about the Blood Race trade.’
As for the mystery behind a woman like Ye Xi, he did not plan to ask her directly.
After all, their underlying relationship was merely a partnership; they hadn’t reached the point of baring their souls to each other.
Besides, who didn’t have a few secrets?
“Give me my bag.”
Ye Xi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it echoed through the empty classroom.
Shen Ji glanced at Ye Xi, who was sitting behind him with her legs crossed.
Acting as if he hadn’t heard her, he shouldered his own bag and prepared to leave.
“Shen Ji, is being Ye Xi’s boyfriend beneath you?”
Ever since they had made their relationship public that morning, Shen Ji had consistently treated her with this cold, indifferent attitude.
Shen Ji paused slightly.
He turned around and sat on a desk, looking down at her.
“School Beauty Ye, putting on a show for the others is one thing, but there’s no need for it here.”
“What was I acting out?”
Shen Ji waved his hand impatiently.
“Fine, fine, you weren’t acting. I’m perfectly happy to be your boyfriend, alright?”
Ye Xi’s so-called Official Announcement had undoubtedly tied their public identities together.
This meant that if something happened to Ye Xi, he would certainly be unable to escape the risk of being investigated.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Ye Xi furrowed her brows.
She stood up, grabbed Shen Ji’s throat with one hand, and tilted her chin up.
“Shen Ji, I’m doing this to protect you.”
Whether it was due to her agitation or something else, a crimson hue gradually emerged in her eyes, and her grip tightened unconsciously.
Shen Ji felt a wave of suffocation.
His survival instinct triggered a sudden burst of terrifying strength, allowing him to shove Ye Xi away.
“Cough, cough… are you freaking crazy?”
“I… I just couldn’t control myself for a moment.”
A flash of panic appeared on Ye Xi’s normally cold face.
She started to move closer to check Shen Ji’s neck.
Shen Ji instinctively recoiled, slamming hard against the door.
Hearing the loud thud, Ye Xi lowered her gaze.
She pulled her foot back and remained where she was.
For some reason, looking at Ye Xi in this state, Shen Ji couldn’t help but think of a stray cat he had encountered in his previous life.
He had kindly fed it, only to be bitten in return.
When he met the cat again later, it had that same pitiful look, begging for forgiveness.
Shen Ji shook his head.
This was Ye Xi; how could she be like an animal?
After giving Ye Xi a look filled with complex emotions, he left the troubled spot without looking back.
Watching Shen Ji’s retreating figure, Ye Xi punched the door, leaving an uneven dent in the wood.
Suddenly, a woman dressed in black robes drifted down to Ye Xi’s side.
Although she was masked, her crimson eyes were still visible.
“Miss, I’ve checked on Shen Wan. She…”
“What about her? Can’t she absorb blood?”
“She is a human.”
A hint of confusion flashed in Ye Xi’s eyes.
She continued, “Are the two siblings not biological?”
“Most likely not. After all, how could one be of the Blood Race while the other is human?”
“Then send someone to pay for her sister’s medical expenses first.”
“Yes. Also, Miss, when I arrived, I saw Mr. Shen get into a car with a girl. You…”
Ye Xi’s teeth ground together.
In that moment, two conflicting versions of herself appeared in her mind.
The first version thought, ‘I’m busy working for his sake, and not only is he ungrateful, but he’s already hooking up with another woman.’
The second version countered, ‘But he doesn’t know anything about all this. Ignorance isn’t a crime.’
After a moment of internal struggle, Ye Xi spoke.
“Follow him. Find out who that woman is. Also, he’s going to the Black Market tonight. Protect him for me.”
“Miss, he hasn’t even undergone a single evolution. Why do you value him so much?”
“Can’t I just like him?”
The masked woman froze for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. “You still love to joke, Miss.”
“Think whatever you want. Just make sure my father doesn’t find out about his business.”
“Yes, I understand.”
In the masked woman’s view, Ye Xi most likely wanted to cultivate her own confidant.
Actually liking him was impossible.
***
Inside a Maybach, Shen Ji was leisurely drinking sparkling water, naturally unaware that someone was currently worrying themselves sick over him.
Beside him sat a tall woman with an exceptionally large chest, who was currently rubbing his shoulders.
“Shen Ji, how… how is… the massage?”
“Hmm… it’s alright. The pressure is a bit light. Also, why hasn’t that stuttering habit of yours changed yet?”
“I… I…”
“Stop, stop. It’s frustrating just listening to you talk.”
“Oh.”
The girl’s name was Jiang Jianyue.
She was a childhood friend of the original host, and their relationship was far from ordinary.
Through the arrangements of fate, they had ended up at the same high school.
Furthermore, Jiang Jianyue’s family consisted of an official for a father and a businesswoman for a mother.
Compared to the original host, they were worlds apart.
Fortunately, the original host had been capable.
Because she had been antisocial and stuttered as a child, he had already won her over long ago.
Shen Ji looked at Jiang Jianyue’s slight baby fat.
She had a signature tear mole at the corner of her eye.
Overall, her looks didn’t seem inferior to Ye Xi’s.
It was only because of her personality that she often kept her head down and was rarely noticed.
Otherwise, the title of School Beauty would have definitely included her.
“Little Stutterer, just have your driver drop me off near the commercial street.”
The driver in the front seat tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
He gave a fake smile and said, “Mr. Shen, you can speak to me directly. Also, our Young Lady is not a massage technician.”
Before Shen Ji could speak, Jiang Jianyue beat him to it.
“Uncle… Uncle Ye, it’s… it’s fine.”
She then changed the subject.
“Shen Ji, are you… are you… not going home?”
Shen Ji gently pinched her cheek.
He thought to himself that this girl was much more likable than that woman Ye Xi.
Marrying a rich, beautiful woman in this world seemed like a pretty good option.
But then he thought of the damn system, the meddling Official, and Ye Xi with her unknown motives.
None of them would allow him to stop here.
The thousand words he had in mind eventually turned into a long sigh.
‘It’s hard…’
In an instant, Shen Ji felt his fingertips grow slightly warm.
He looked down and saw that Jiang Jianyue’s face was already flushed with embarrassment.
The driver in the front noticed this through the rearview mirror.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Are you freaking blind in the car ahead? Didn’t you see there’s a car behind you? If you can’t drive, then get the hell out of the way!”
Shen Ji’s mouth twitched.
Looking at the driver who was screaming at nothing, he knew that if he stayed any longer, the driver might hack him into pieces.
He spoke up.
“Uh, Uncle Ye, just drop me off here. It’s not far from the commercial street anyway. I’ll just take a stroll.”
Driver Ye gave him a look that suggested the kid knew what was good for him, then pulled the car over steadily at the curb.
Shen Ji gently patted Jiang Jianyue’s head.
“See you later, Little Stutterer.”
Jiang Jianyue instinctively touched her head.
She was about to speak, but remembering that he didn’t like seeing her stutter, she chose to simply wave goodbye.