Licking Dog 03

Gu Shaoting nodded silently, his mind already calculating as he observed the girl before him—she seemed quite decent.

Walking one after the other, they arrived at a low, modest house. Gu Shaoting said, "It's a bit messy inside. You should wait here. I’ll change and come right out."

Lin Xue nodded, glancing around. She hadn’t expected Gu Shaoting to live in such a place. Most people in this area had already moved away. Watching his retreating figure, her heart pounded with uncertainty. Though he was handsome and had the personality she liked, this was... too much. In the original storyline, she had only visited his home after they were officially together, so her mindset now was incomparable.

Just then, a short girl with thick bangs walked past her, clutching a stack of books. Their eyes met briefly, and the girl looked surprised. Lin Xue averted her gaze, sensing an odd familiarity, as if the girl somehow knew her.

Jiang Ran was astonished. Had the male and female leads already gotten involved this early? Remembering that after today, they would "accidentally" end up in an intimate situation, she gritted her teeth. What a scumbag!

"Host, the protagonists’ luck is still strong. You can’t interfere with them yet," her quick-transmigration system reminded her.

Jiang Ran lowered her head. "Hmph. I’ll take my time. None of them will escape."

Perhaps it was fate’s design that when Lin Xue watched Gu Shaoting working busily in the restaurant, her eyes automatically painted him in a flattering light. So what if he was poor? She would work hard alongside him, build a fortune, and one day slap those who looked down on her right in the face! The memory of Fang Zhiyi’s disdainful expression flashed in her mind, twisting her heart with discomfort.

Gu Shaoting was far better—despite his humble background, he had earned his place in this elite school through sheer academic excellence!

When she returned to the villa district, she was shocked to learn that her mother had been fired.

Lin Xue frantically pulled out her phone, only to find it dead. After finding a place to charge it, she immediately called her mother. On the other end, Lin's mother, frantic with worry and anger, unleashed a torrent of scolding—she had been searching for Lin Xue in a panic, and now, freshly unemployed, she dumped all her frustration onto her daughter.

Lin Xue, still carrying her backpack, arrived at a small apartment her mother had rented temporarily.

The moment they met, Lin's mother demanded to know what she had done wrong. Lin Xue had no idea—the only incident that came to mind was the awkward encounter on the bus, but she wouldn’t tell her mother. She didn’t want to be seen as a shallow, status-obsessed girl.

Unable to get an answer, Lin's mother switched to lamenting about how faithfully she had served the Fang family, tears streaming down her face. The sight made Lin Xue seethe with anger. She wished she could drag Fang Zhiyi before her and kick him twice!

Amid her mother’s sobbing, Lin Xue suddenly realized something—if her mother was fired, wouldn’t that mean she could no longer attend this school? The thought of Gu Shaoting sent a pang of panic through her.

"Mom, what about my studies...?" Lin Xue asked urgently.

Lin's mother paused, surprised that her daughter’s first concern was school. Though it stung, she didn’t dwell on it.

"Fang Zhiyi won’t pay your tuition anymore. How about transferring to a public school after this semester?"

Lin Xue shook her head. "No. The education here is top-tier. Graduating from this school will open doors for me."

After a long silence, Lin's mother nodded, pulling out her bank card. "I’ve saved up over the years, and with the severance pay from the Fang family, it’s enough to buy you an apartment. But if we use it for tuition... You have to work hard. Understand?"

Lin Xue nodded firmly.

The next day at school, Lin Xue spotted the luxury car she had ridden in so often parked at the entrance. Fang Zhiyi stepped out without a care, exchanging greetings with classmates, his smile effortless.

Lin Xue’s eyes burned with hatred.

She had decided—if Fang Zhiyi so much as glanced at her, she would turn away without a word!

But Fang Zhiyi didn’t even look in her direction, walking into school with his friends instead.

As she moved through the halls, Lin Xue felt like everyone was whispering about her. Yet when she scanned the crowd, no one seemed to be paying her any attention. The paranoia was driving her mad.

"Class is about to start. Why are you standing here?" A familiar voice sent a shiver through her heart. She turned to see the face she had missed all night.

Gu Shaoting had heard about yesterday’s incident, but unlike the others, he didn’t judge her. In his eyes, the real villain was Fang Zhiyi—the spoiled parasite who had everything handed to him!

Entering the classroom, Lin Xue felt lighter after seeing Gu Shaoting. With him by her side, she feared nothing! Her gaze flicked to Fang Zhiyi, who happened to be looking back, his expression amused. Lin Xue scoffed and marched to her seat.

Fang Zhiyi chuckled, shaking his head, just as someone stepped beside him. A fresh, sweet fragrance drifted into his senses. Turning, he saw Liu Shishi holding a carton of milk she had bought for him.

He accepted it with a smile. "You don’t have to keep buying this for me. Drink it yourself."

Liu Shishi shook her head, her eyes darting toward Lin Xue, who was glaring their way before turning away in disdain.

"Is she upset?" Liu Shishi whispered, feigning surprise.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at Lin Xue, then shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Because of me?" Liu Shishi’s voice was just loud enough. Fang Zhiyi knew she was referring to yesterday’s offer to escort her. Before he could respond, she bit her lip. "Should I apologize? I can explain it was my fault... I don’t want you two fighting because of me."

Fang Zhiyi nearly laughed. Who called her a schemer? Step forward! This was his precious, innocent little sister!

"Don’t mind her. We were never close anyway," he said, eyes twinkling.

Liu Shishi covered her mouth in mock shock. "But before, you always... Oh, I must’ve misunderstood. Forget I said anything. Drink the milk—I warmed it specially. Don’t be mad. You can tell me anything."

Watching her walk away, Fang Zhiyi grinned inwardly.

Perhaps due to the ripple effects of his presence, that afternoon, someone delivered a love letter to Lin Xue—sealed in a gilded envelope. The messenger loudly called her name, presenting it with both hands like an imperial edict, a scene so reminiscent of ancient court rituals that Fang Zhiyi couldn’t help but smirk.

Lin Xue frowned, tempted to toss it aside. But remembering Fang Zhiyi, she instead opened it with deliberate grace.