Chapter 14: Lin Anyi Went Too Far
Kong Yiyue had planned to have lunch with Fu Jinting, but he completely ignored her, treating her like a nobody!
Feeling upset, Kong Yiyue stood in the corridor outside Fu Jinting's classroom and openly criticized some of his negative traits.
“Fu Jinting, why are you so petty! Besides, I didn't do anything wrong! At most, I had foresight, and I'm smart and wise. You won't talk to me because of a few words this morning. Are you too much of a male chauvinist?”
Students who were hurrying to eat lunch after class walked past the corridor. Seeing Kong Yiyue standing outside Class 1's corridor talking to herself, they curiously stopped.
Fu Jinting couldn't stand her attracting attention, so he walked out of the classroom, frowning, “Can't you be quiet?”
Kong Yiyue played dumb, “Will you have lunch with me if I'm quiet?”
Fu Jinting scoffed dismissively, “You're dreaming!”
Kong Yiyue sighed, “I guess I am dreaming!” She then ignored Fu Jinting and waved to Zhong Ziyang, who was just coming out, “Zhong Ziyang, do you want to have lunch together?”
Zhong Ziyang and Xiang Yi were walking side-by-side. Seeing Kong Yiyue suddenly inviting him so enthusiastically, he felt uneasy and instinctively turned to Xiang Yi for help. Xiang Yi subtly shook his head.
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After being beaten twice at basketball by Fu Jinting, Zhong Ziyang had become a little wiser, “Kong Yiyue, don't trick me!”
Kong Yiyue was puzzled, “Is it wrong to treat you to a meal?”
Zhong Ziyang rarely spoke seriously, “I can't accept favors without doing anything in return.”
Seeing that her persistence wouldn't work today, Kong Yiyue stopped, smiling at Fu Jinting, “I'll look for you after school!”
Fu Jinting stood motionless. As Kong Yiyue quickly left, she heard girls gossiping behind her, “How can there be such a girl? She's shameless!”
“Yes, having someone like her in Qinglin High is a disgrace!”
Kong Yiyue clearly heard this insult, and she smiled indifferently. Well, she was shameless, but it seemed they had no right to interfere!
After school, Kong Yiyue planned to intercept Fu Jinting, but she was stopped by Yuan Meng, “Kong Yiyue, don't think about getting close to Fu Jinting today. The homeroom teacher said that you need to help with the back bulletin board!”
Kong Yiyue stopped packing her books and asked puzzledly, “Didn't the teacher assign you and a few other classmates to be responsible for the bulletin board?”
Yuan Meng nodded, “Yes! But someone has an urgent matter and needs to go home early, so I told the teacher, and the teacher asked you to help. Your handwriting is beautiful, so you'll be solely responsible for the final writing.”
“Ah?” Kong Yiyue felt gloomy, “I have something to do later...”
“No, it has to be finished tonight. Yiyue, I'm in charge. Do you want me to be criticized in front of the whole class tomorrow morning for not completing the task?”
Kong Yiyue blurted out, “Yes!” But remembering Yuan Meng's extra care for her when she was unwell a few weeks ago, she reluctantly agreed.
As for Fu Jinting, even if she didn't go to him tonight, he probably wouldn't care.
When all the students assigned to the bulletin board gathered, Kong Yiyue suddenly realized that Lin Anyi, the person she least wanted to be near, was among them.
Kong Yiyue pulled Yuan Meng aside and whispered, “Why didn't you tell me Lin Anyi was here?”
Yuan Meng was surprised, “Didn't you know? The teacher mentioned it in class. Were you daydreaming then?”
Kong Yiyue had been obviously absent-minded in class recently, mainly because she already understood the course content. The teacher's lectures were boring, and she couldn't use her phone like in university, and sleeping in class was not allowed in high school.
So she could only think about other things to get through the boring forty or so minutes.
Kong Yiyue awkwardly twitched the corner of her mouth, “I probably forgot.”
Yuan Meng gave her a “I knew it" look and then asked, “What's going on between you and Lin Anyi?”
Kong Yiyue answered without thinking, “Nothing. I have nothing to do with him.”
Yuan Meng didn't believe it, “Is that so? I always feel that you especially avoid him? Yiyue, Lin Anyi is a new student. We should take care of him. The teacher also said that the reason he's participating in the bulletin board this time is so that he can get to know us sooner.”
Yuan Meng made it seem like Kong Yiyue was the bad guy who bullied the new student.
Kong Yiyue didn't want to explain, only saying, “Yes, yes, I understand.”
Lin Anyi stood not far away, overhearing their conversation. Although their voices were low, he still heard a little. When he looked at Kong Yiyue again, he had a thoughtful expression.
The bulletin board plan hadn't been finalized yet. Kong Yiyue listened to Yuan Meng and the others discussing intensely and didn't intend to interrupt.
Suddenly having to deal with this kind of childish thing again at twenty-something years old, she only felt one thing: childish!
Since her sophomore year in university, she had been too lazy to help with the school bulletin boards. Mainly because people wouldn't take the time to appreciate them, so why bother spending the effort?
But high school was different. High school teachers considered making bulletin boards a way to train students' abilities.
Kong Yiyue listlessly flipped through the materials they had collected based on the theme. Lin Anyi quietly came to her side, “Aren't you participating in the discussion?”
Kong Yiyue stopped flipping the pages, then immediately turned the page. Without lifting her head, she replied, “I'm just temporarily here to help.”
“Does being temporary mean you can't participate in the discussion?” Lin Anyi asked sincerely, as if genuinely asking the question.
Kong Yiyue didn't want to answer. She simply didn't speak, hoping he'd leave on his own.
But Kong Yiyue's guess was wrong. Lin Anyi then sat down next to her, naturally flipping through several reference books on bulletin boards, occasionally chatting with those who were discussing.
Kong Yiyue wanted to leave, but seeing Yuan Meng, she held back.
Finally, they finished planning the layout, and those who were responsible for drawing or other tasks started working. Kong Yiyue was only responsible for writing the text. She watched them work listlessly.
When Yuan Meng finally said it was done, Kong Yiyue lazily took the materials and calculated the remaining space on the bulletin board and how much content there was, estimating what font size would be appropriate.
Yuan Meng saw that it was getting late and let some students leave to shower and have dinner one by one. When the campus lights flickered, Kong Yiyue put down the chalk and looked at the time. It was already past six o'clock.
It had taken this long?
Kong Yiyue was about to tell Yuan Meng that it was completed when she turned around and found that there was no one else behind her. It was probably because the classmates knew about the bulletin board, so no one came to the classroom early to study.
The only person left was...Lin Anyi.
After quickly scanning the classroom, Kong Yiyue silently packed up her books and chalk.
Seeing her expression change slightly, Lin Anyi asked, “What's wrong?”
“Nothing. I need to pack up before leaving.”
“Oh.” Lin Anyi continued, “Yuan Meng went to the restroom to get water. Other classmates have already left.”
“Hmm.” Kong Yiyue put the chalk back in its box. Just as she picked up the chalk box and wanted to put it back on the teacher's desk, Lin Anyi blocked her way, “Kong Yiyue, why do I feel like you hate me? What did I do wrong?”
Kong Yiyue smiled and replied, “Since you know I hate you, don't be so clueless and block my way.”
Lin Anyi, having finally gotten the opportunity and finally having the determination and courage to get to the bottom of this, certainly wouldn't back down so easily, “You should give me a reason, right?”
“Reason?” Kong Yiyue smiled, “Disgusting is a reason?”
Lin Anyi's ears immediately turned red, “You say I'm disgusting?! Kong Yiyue, you're even more disgusting!”
“Likewise.” Her expression was calm and indifferent, making Lin Anyi particularly angry, “Kong Yiyue, who do you think you are! I, Lin Anyi, would never be classmates with a shameless person like you!”
“Well, I think you can keep that word for yourself in the future.” Kong Yiyue spoke calmly, but she easily provoked others to lose their rationality.
Even though every word was an insult, she could parry them all, deflecting it back to him.
Lin Anyi had never experienced this before. He hated her so much that his teeth itched, but he couldn't retaliate for a moment.
Kong Yiyue's eyes were cold, “Lin Anyi, can you not disgustingly approach me? Get out of the way!”
“Kong Yiyue!”
At the moment he lost his rationality, even Lin Anyi was startled. He grabbed Kong Yiyue's arms tightly, his grip surprisingly strong.
Kong Yiyue's face paled, she shouted, “Lin Anyi, let go!”
“Let go! Let go! What can you do if I don't let go!” Lin Anyi threatened angrily, “Do you want Fu Jinting to save you? You're dreaming!”
While struggling, Kong Yiyue's nails scratched his neck. Seeing those red marks and his disgusting face, she inexplicably thought of the grievances she had suffered in her previous life. Her eyes welled up, and she couldn't help but curse, “Lin Anyi, you're a jerk!”
“Kong Yiyue, you dare to scratch me!” Then he pulled her closer towards him.
The strength of men and women was inherently different. As she was close to him, Lin Anyi saw her teary eyes and flushed lips. A strange feeling came over him, and he couldn't help but want to kiss her.
Kong Yiyue felt his face getting closer and pushed him even harder, “Lin Anyi, don't touch me!”
“Kong Yiyue, too late!” As soon as he spoke, tears uncontrollably streamed down Kong Yiyue's face.
At the same time, another cold voice came from outside the room, “What are you doing!”
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Translator's Rumbling:
As a reader, I find the female lead, Kong Yi Yue, to be somewhat close-minded. While I understand her anger towards Lin Anyi stemming from their past life, the current Lin Anyi hasn't done anything wrong to her. She provoked him, and the consequences were entirely self-inflicted. The author seems to be portraying her as human with baggage emotions, despite her adult mentality, but I, as a reader, hope she'll react with the maturity of an adult, not a teenager.
Lin Anyi's curiosity about someone who dislikes him, even without knowing the reason or having any prior interaction, is understandable. It's natural to want to know the source of that animosity. So, his questions were valid.
However, I don't approve of his subsequent actions.
My main issue is with Kong Yi Yue's behavior. Knowing her dislike for him is obvious, and considering their past life marriage, she should have anticipated the outcome of provoking him. Her actions lack the foresight and maturity one would expect from someone with her alleged adult mentality.
What are your thoughts on this chapter? Do you agree with my assessment, or do you have a different perspective? Share your comments below.
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Tbh reading young Lin Anyi's pov, he is just plain jerk. I think Yi Yue is responding to her trauma and revert to being "childish". She acts matured yes, but the traumatic baggage is there and we can't dismiss it as she is too childish.
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