Chapter 17: The Malicious Classmate

Once Yuan Yong’s mother was comfortably settled into the hospital ward, Lin Xiao and Yuan Yu made their exit.

“Big Brother Lin, thank you,” Yuan Yu said softly with gratitude. “If it wasn’t for you, I’m afraid my mother…”

She trailed off, tears welling in her eyes.

The thought of her mother’s illness, inching so close to becoming terminal, was enough to send chills down her spine. Her mother’s condition was serious before, but it wasn’t deemed fatal.

“Stop thanking me, will you? I’ve told you, I’m your brother now,” Lin Xiao ruffled Yuan Yu’s hair with an assuring smile. “And you shouldn’t blame yourself either. It isn’t your fault things got this bad. Besides, we haven’t hit rock bottom yet. Everything can still be turned around. Your mother will recover, trust me.”

“Okay.”

Though Lin Xiao’s comforting words managed to console her a bit, the guilt in Yuan Yu’s heart remained. She blamed herself for not taking better care of her mother. Her spirits were noticeably low for the rest of the journey.

Lin Xiao quickly tried to divert her attention. “I’ve just landed a job, but my current wardrobe isn’t exactly office-ready. Since I’m new here, why don’t you help me pick out some clothes?”

“Sure, Big Brother Lin, I’ll take you right away.”

Yuan Yu guided Lin Xiao through various clothing stores. As she helped him select clothes, her mood visibly brightened, and her face lit up with a radiant smile. Lin Xiao, in turn, felt his spirits uplifted.

In the end, Yuan Yu was just an innocent seventeen-year-old high school student. A minor, yet bearing the burdens of life far beyond her tender years.

Every time Lin Xiao saw Yuan Yu, she seldom smiled. And when she did, it was fleeting, like a brief glimmer of sunshine on a gloomy day.

After browsing through a few stores, Yuan Yu finally chose a suit, a white shirt, and a pair of leather shoes for Lin Xiao from a fairly upscale men’s store.

“Brother Lin, try these on. I have a feeling they’ll look great on you.”

“Alright.”

Lin Xiao took the clothes from her and headed into the fitting room to try them on.

Yuan Yu waited outside when Lin Xiao went into the fitting room. It didn’t take long before the door swung open again, prompting Yuan Yu to lift her gaze. Her eyes widened in surprise as she gazed, dumbstruck, at the utterly transformed Lin Xiao.

She didn’t expect Lin Xiao, now decked out in formal attire, to seem like an entirely different person. It was a stark contrast to his previously unassuming appearance. His tall, muscular frame and his bright, piercing eyes, combined with the air he carried, gave off an extraordinary aura.

“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?” Lin Xiao asked, finding Yuan Yu’s stunned expression rather peculiar.

“No, nothing. Big Brother Lin, this outfit suits you really well. You look entirely different after putting it on,” she managed to say, her face turning a shade of red as she quickly averted her gaze.

“Really?” Lin Xiao strolled over to the mirror to take a look, finding himself quite satisfied. “Alright, let’s buy this one then.”

This outfit set cost Lin Xiao eight thousand yuan.

Truthfully, Lin Xiao didn’t pay much heed to the price tag of clothes. In his eyes, there was little difference between a ten-yuan knockoff and a high-end designer piece worth thousands, as long as it was wearable.

However, given his role as a personal bodyguard to the CEO of a large corporation, he couldn’t afford to dress too casually, lest he tarnish the reputation of his employer.

Having paid for his purchase and retrieved the plain clothes he’d changed out of, Lin Xiao and Yuan Yu exited the men’s clothing store.

“Big Brother Lin, it’s getting late. We should head back.”

“Why rush? We haven’t bought your clothes yet,” Lin Xiao noted, glancing at Yuan Yu.

He had observed earlier that Yuan Yu’s attire, albeit slightly superior to his own, was barely passable. The jeans she wore had noticeably faded from repeated washing. It seemed like an opportune moment to buy her some more clothes.

“Ah… There’s no need, Brother Lin. I have clothes,” Yuan Yu hurriedly protested.

“What do you mean you have clothes? Look at what you’re wearing, they’re all faded from washing.”

Ignoring Yuan Yu’s protest, Lin Xiao took her by the hand and led her to a women’s clothing store nearby.

Yuan Yu initially wanted to resist, but after Lin Xiao took her hand, she felt lightheaded and found herself being guided into the clothing store in a daze.

“Pick whatever clothes you like. I wouldn’t know what to choose. And don’t be shy. After all, I’m your brother, and there’s no need for formality between siblings.”

“Thank you, Big Brother Lin.”

“That’s enough. No need for thanks. We’re like family. You pick your clothes first. I need to use the restroom.”

Watching Lin Xiao’s retreating figure, Yuan Yu felt a wave of emotion.

“Brother, can you see? Your sister is doing well now, and mother’s illness will gradually improve. Although you’re gone, and I lost a brother, heaven has given me a new one, so don’t worry about us.”

“Hello, can I help you find anything? Is there something you need help with?”

A sales assistant from the store approached, interrupting Yuan Yu’s thoughts.

“No need, thank you. I’ll just browse on my own.”

With that, Yuan Yu started to peruse the store’s selections. If she was considering Lin Xiao as her brother, there was no need to be coy. Otherwise, Big Brother Lin would definitely get upset.

Which girl doesn’t like beautiful clothes? Even when Yuan Yu didn’t have much money, she occasionally kept up with fashion trends. Before long, she had picked out a few items in the store that she’d long wanted but never bought. The prices weren’t high, but they suited her well.

“Oh, isn’t this our school’s Ice Beauty? What’s this? You actually have money to shop today?”

A voice, laced with mockery and disdain, echoed in Yuan Yu’s ear.

Yuan Yu’s brows furrowed slightly. Looking up, she saw three girls not far off. The one who spoke was about her age, quite attractive, but with heavy makeup.

“Li Li?”

“Indeed, school beauty. How unexpected to bump into you here.” Li Li’s eyes were filled with a complicated mix of disdain, envy, and jealousy as she looked at Yuan Yu.

“Who is she, Li Li? Is she your friend?” A girl beside Li Li asked, her eyes filled with surprise as she looked at Yuan Yu.

“Oh, she is the Ice Beauty of our school, capturing countless hearts. How could I be friends with someone like her?” Li Li responded with a tinge of sarcasm in her voice.

Li Li’s words caused Yuan Yu to frown. Ignoring her, Yuan Yu prepared to leave with the clothes she had chosen.

But Li Li wasn’t about to let her off so easily. Looking at the clothes Yuan Yu had selected, she feigned surprise, “School beauty, didn’t I hear that your mother was ill? Even your school fees are covered by scholarship family assistance. How can you afford to buy clothes? Could it be…”

Though Li Li didn’t finish her sentence, anyone could infer her insinuation.

Yuan Yu broke her silence, “Li Li, stop slandering me. I know you’ve held a grudge ever since that incident, but it has nothing to do with me. Please have some respect when you speak about me.”

“Oh, my! I haven’t said anything yet. Why is our school beauty so quick to defend herself? Could it be that you really made this money by selling yourself?” Li Li feigned innocence, but her words were laced with venom.

“Ah, if the boys who chase you at our school found out, would they explode in anger or excitement? Who knows?”

“You…” Yuan Yu was taken aback by Li Li’s harsh words.

There wasn’t any deep-seated resentment between them. They used to have a decent relationship. However, when Li Li discovered that the boy she had been pursuing was interested in Yuan Yu, she allowed jealousy to cloud her judgment, even though Yuan Yu had shown no interest in him.

She often sought to provoke Yuan Yu at school. But since Yuan Yu usually went straight home after school, she didn’t provide Li Li with any opportunity. Now, seizing the moment, Li Li was relentless.

“What’s the matter, school beauty? Have you run out of words? I wonder, how much does the school beauty charge for one night? Given your beauty, I’m sure it’s not cheap, or else you wouldn’t be shopping here. School beauty, would you like me to introduce some clients to you? I guarantee you’ll be earning a fortune.”

Yuan Yu trembled with anger, but she was not one to engage in quarrels. She was defenseless against Li Li’s barrage of insults.