Xuejiao knew that if she turned around and walked away, there was a high chance these girls would try to bully her. But this was the best plan she could come up with.
There were countless ways she could deal with them safely, but Xuejiao didn't want to wait. She wanted a permanent solution—one that would explain her past and future and get rid of these people once and for all.
However, Cheng Mingze's sudden appearance disrupted her plan.
Even so, Xuejiao couldn't blame the person who came to stand up for her. Instead, she subtly moved behind Cheng Mingze and tucked the knife in her pocket away.
"What are you doing?" Cheng Mingze demanded coldly, shaking off Li Wan's hand.
Cheng Mingze, the famous "male god" of No. 7 Middle School, was well-known for his looks, intelligence, and outstanding family background.
Li Wan, who had attended junior high with Cheng Mingze, regarded him as her god—just like many others.
"We…" she stammered, unable to explain.
"Brother…" Xuejiao grabbed the corner of Cheng Mingze's coat and, in a trembling voice, said, "They threatened me…"
Her eyes were filled with fear as she glanced at the girls in front of her. She clung to Cheng Mingze's coat, her hand shaking, her teary eyes full of trust as she looked up at him.
Cheng Mingze felt his heart soften in that moment.
"How did they threaten you?" he asked, not letting go of her hand. His tone was unusually gentle.
Xuejiao bit her lip. "I don't want to be friends with them anymore. I don't want to wear that kind of makeup or skip school like they do…"
A storm brewed in Cheng Mingze's eyes.
So, the girl who used to dress strangely and act out was influenced by these people? She skipped school and stayed with them?
Now that she didn't want to be associated with them, they were threatening her? Were they even planning to hurt her in public?
And before… was Gu Xuejiao's behavior truly voluntary?
The more Cheng Mingze thought about it, the angrier he became. His dark eyes seemed like a vortex, capable of swallowing everything in their path.
"You go back with the driver. I have something to take care of," he said firmly, patting Xuejiao's hand.
Xuejiao nodded and walked slowly toward the driver.
This was her first time using such a "mental trick," but she didn't regret it. These girls, while not directly at odds with her, had led Gu Xuejiao down a destructive path.
What's more, they had blackmailed her by recording videos, passing them on to Cheng Mingjiao, and eventually ruining her reputation. They had even played a role in her death in the wilderness.
These people were her enemies.
Xuejiao didn't care how Cheng Mingze planned to deal with them. She didn't want to interfere or even know. However, if they dared to harm her again in the future, she would make sure they received the punishment they deserved.
Once inside the car, Xuejiao said to the driver, "Uncle Xing, please take me shopping."
She had the afternoon free, but starting tomorrow, she would have evening study sessions every day and wouldn't have time to shop.
"Yes, miss. What do you need to buy?"
"Books and a watch."
Their first stop was Xinhua Bookstore, where Xuejiao quickly bought all the materials she needed. Then they drove to the mall to purchase a watch.
Gu Xuejiao's original watch had been lost, and Xuejiao found it inconvenient to be without one, especially since she frequently needed to check the time. With thousands of yuan on her card, she decided to buy a replacement similar to the original.
Most importantly, she didn't want Cheng Shuo to spend money on her. Although her stepfather didn't interfere much in her life, he had always treated her well.
Uncle Xing drove her to a mall in the most prosperous part of the city. Since Xuejiao wasn't familiar with the area, she asked a security guard for directions and followed his instructions.
The store she arrived at was tucked away in a quieter corner of the mall. From the outside, it looked unique—not a luxury shop, but certainly full of personality.
At first, Xuejiao hesitated to go in. But when she saw a watch in the window that looked identical to Gu Xuejiao's original, her lips curled into a smile, and she stepped inside.
Inside the shop, there were three men dressed in suits.
One looked young but tried hard to keep a serious expression. The second, in his thirties, had a rigid demeanor.
The third man sat with his back to her. Even while seated, his tall stature and long legs were evident. His meticulous attire exuded an air of refinement.
When he heard someone enter, the seated man turned around.
Xuejiao froze.
For a moment, only eight words flashed through her mind: The peach is in its infancy.
Although this phrase wasn't usually used to describe men, it was the only thing she could think of.
His face… she had never seen someone so handsome. She had thought Cheng Mingze was exceptionally good-looking, but this man was on a completely different level.
They were entirely different types. Cheng Mingze was a gentleman, while this man radiated calmness and authority, like a king surveying his kingdom.
He appeared to be in his twenties, yet his commanding presence made him seem far older. His sharp gaze caught her completely off guard.
The man's pupils shrank slightly, but Xuejiao quickly regained her composure. Coughing awkwardly, she asked, "Excuse me, who is the boss here?"
The seated man glanced at the man in his thirties before casually raising his hand to point at the youngest of the three. "He's the boss."
The man in his thirties immediately left the room without a word, leaving only the other two.
The "boss" hesitated for a moment, his stiff demeanor giving way to a smile. "Yes, I'm the boss. What can I do for you, miss?"
Xuejiao tried not to focus on the seated man as she gestured toward the watch in the window. "I'd like to buy that one."
The price tag read 5,888 yuan.
She had enough money to buy it, even though spending over 3,000 yuan on a watch felt extravagant. Anything cheaper would have confused the Cheng family.
She had already made up her mind. Why is this small watch so expensive? she wondered.
"All right!" The boss was about to retrieve the watch when the seated man interrupted.
"I think this one suits you better," he said, pointing to a different display case.
Xuejiao unconsciously stepped forward to look. Inside the case, there were only two watches—a men's and a women's model.
The women's watch was silver with a faint pink edge, delicate and stunning.
She loved it.
But it was clearly far more expensive than the one she had chosen. Judging by its intricate design, this watch must cost tens of thousands.
"No, no, I'll take the other one," Xuejiao said, shaking her head.
The seated man smiled faintly, opened the case, and took out the women's watch.
"I strongly recommend this one. The store is selling it at cost price—it's a much better deal," he said.
His magnetic voice was utterly captivating, and before Xuejiao knew it, she had extended her wrist.
The cold touch of the watch on her skin made her want to scream. The man's long fingers accidentally brushed against her wrist, and both of them stiffened.
His reaction was stronger than hers. His hand trembled slightly before he quickly withdrew it. Something flickered across his face, and his eyes seemed to deepen into pools of ink.
Xuejiao's gaze met his for a moment, and she felt as though she might be pulled into that dark abyss. She shivered and quickly looked down at the watch on her wrist.
"Does it look good?" he asked, his low, hoarse voice sending a shiver down her spine.
"Yes… it looks beautiful," she murmured.
Xuejiao couldn't take her eyes off the watch. It was already stunning before she wore it, but now, on her wrist, it seemed to radiate even more beauty.
She couldn't help but glance at the boss and hesitated. "How much is this?"
"Ah?" The boss seemed stunned for a moment. He glanced at Xuejiao, then at the seated man, as if waiting for his cue.
Xuejiao truly liked the watch. She had managed to resist temptation earlier, but now that it was on her wrist, it was hard to let go. Summoning her courage, she said pleadingly, "Boss, since this is being sold at cost price, could you sell it to me for less?"
The boss opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say, "10,000?"
Before he could, the seated man narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a soft but imposing voice, "Boss, isn't your price a bit high?"
His calm yet commanding tone made the boss flinch.
"Uh… 1,000?" the boss stammered after a pause.
"1,000?" Xuejiao's mind blanked. The diamonds on the watch—were they fake? Was the silver just cheap paint? Would the watch's finish peel off after a while?
But still, 1,000 yuan was much better than the 5,000 she had planned to spend. Without hesitation, she quickly pulled out her purse, paid, and placed the money on the counter.
After finalizing her purchase, she looked up, dazed. "Is the watch industry really this lucrative?"
The seated man chuckled softly. "Of course. Any industry, when done well, can be highly profitable."
He stood up as he spoke, and his imposing figure loomed over her. Xuejiao, who barely reached his chest, had to crane her neck to look up at him, which made her feel a little frustrated.
In her past life, she hadn't been particularly tall, but in this life, she seemed even shorter. Luckily, she was only sixteen. There was still hope for her to grow taller.
At that moment, she silently vowed to drink a glass of milk every morning.
Her expression was vivid, her thoughts written all over her face. The man couldn't help but chuckle again.
Then he bent down slightly, bringing himself to eye level with her. His sharp eyes locked onto hers as he extended his hand. "Hello, Lin Zhihua."
Xuejiao instinctively straightened her back and stared at him in surprise.
Lin Zhihua… Zhihua, as in flourishing like a peach blossom? The name sounded so poetic yet powerful.
His hand remained outstretched, and Xuejiao's cheeks turned slightly red. Slowly, she reached out her hand and said, "Gu Xuejiao… or just Xuejiao."
Their hands met briefly before Xuejiao quickly withdrew hers. Embarrassed, she stood on her toes and whispered, "Thank you for bargaining for me, sir. I'll leave now!"
With that, she turned and darted out of the store. Her schoolbag swayed behind her, emphasizing her youthful energy. Lin Zhihua glanced at his fingers, rubbing them absentmindedly. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Boss," Lin Zhihua's assistant, Tan Qi, muttered nervously from the corner. He looked like he had just witnessed something unbelievable.
At that moment, a portly man burst out of the back room, yelling furiously. "Ahhh! Why did you cover my mouth and lock me inside? Why did you sell my shop's treasure for 1,000 yuan?"
The man's face was red with anger as he shouted, "I'll report this! I'll call the police! This was the treasure of my shop! A thousand yuan isn't even enough to touch it! This was made by a famous master—"
"How much is it?" Lin Zhihua interrupted calmly, his voice as composed as ever.
The fat man froze, then muttered, "The lady's piece alone is worth 650,000 yuan…" His voice trailed off before rising again. "But it's a set! A couple's watch! Even if she bought the lady's one, what about the man's piece—"
"Both," Lin Zhihua cut in, his tone decisive. "I'll take them both."
The fat man's jaw dropped. His face flushed as if he had been hit by a wave of disbelief. "W-what? Both? Did you just say… both?"
Lin Zhihua gave a slight nod. "Yes, I'll buy both pieces. Now, what's the total?"
As the assistant and shop owner dealt with the stunned fat man, Lin Zhihua's gaze lingered on the shop door, where Xuejiao had just run out. His deep, dark eyes were unreadable, but a faint smile played on his lips.