The Misunderstanding

Suddenly, Jiang Zhe brought up the club matter, making Ning Ran pause. Once she regained her composure, she frowned in displeasure. She lightly shook her arm to free herself from Jiang Zhe’s grasp, then turned to face him directly. Her alluring, upturned eyes held a thoughtful expression as she gazed at him.

Thinking back to how Jiang Zhe had helped her earlier, and now seeing how he was clinging to her, she realized the truth.

Jiang Zhe was secretly in love with her!

‘Hmph!’ she thought. As the most beautiful campus queen in Windhua’s history, with unmatched good looks, it was only natural that even a plain special-admissions student like Jiang Zhe would fall for her. Their vast difference in status made it impossible for him to confess his feelings directly. He could only hide his intentions, even going so far as to associate with Su Lianlian just to conceal them. Of course, Su Lianlian was merely a tool, a shield to hide behind.

Ning Ran found Jiang Zhe increasingly appealing, but she knew they could never be together. She had so many suitors; Jiang Zhe was just one more face in the crowd, easily lost in the sea of admirers. Even her fiancé, Lin Moshu, was someone she never wanted. If not for her family’s pressure, she would have remained a proud, single woman. But once she turned twenty, she would inherit her grandfather’s overseas assets and leave the country to study and work abroad, free from any business marriages.

Ning Ran decided it was best to extinguish the spark of affection in Jiang Zhe’s heart early on. They were destined to part ways, and it was better not to waste each other’s time, unlike Su Lianlian, who was being groomed. With a serious expression, she looked into Jiang Zhe’s eyes and said, ‘Jiang Zhe, there’s no future for us. Forget about it and focus on your studies!’

For once, Ning Ran’s sharp tongue was held in check. Perhaps it was because Jiang Zhe had just helped her, or because his unrequited love seemed so painful, or maybe it was his handsome face that added to the appeal. Whatever the reason, Ning Ran decided they should part ways amicably.

But Jiang Zhe was confused. While he had a special purpose for Ning Ran and felt some affection, they had only just met. Seeing her expression and tone, it was as if he had been secretly admiring her for ages. ‘This feisty kitten has an overactive imagination!’ Jiang Zhe thought, amused by her serious demeanor and the pity in her eyes. He found this wealthy heiress quite entertaining.

Before entering the game, Jiang Zhe came from a powerful family and had seen many pampered daughters. While he didn’t dislike them, he had no interest in them. Now, with the mission to gain heart points to survive, he hoped his bond would be with someone interesting and vibrant, not boring or fake.

‘Jiang Zhe, even if you’re deeply in love with me, it’s hopeless. I hope you can sort out your feelings soon and not make the same mistake again.’

Jiang Zhe’s unmasked smile seemed forced to Ning Ran, who felt a pang of guilt for not being online for so long. She nervously bit her lip and played with the hem of her skirt, deciding it was best to clarify things: “It’s not that you’re not good enough, but I’m just too good. You might want to lower your standards a bit, or you’ll never find a girlfriend.” Her concern seemed genuine, and if Jiang Zhe weren’t the real person, he might have been swayed.

Jiang Zhe suppressed a smile and looked at Ning Ran, who was sincere in her advice. He didn’t bother to explain but stood silently, his expression neutral as he said, ‘It’s not what you think…’

To Ning Ran, this seemed like a weak excuse. She raised her hand to stop him from continuing.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke earnestly:

“Don’t explain. I already understand. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

Today, someone had framed her, and Jiang Zhe was an innocent bystander. Remembering her harsh words to him earlier, she felt he had suffered enough. Even if he secretly admired her, he shouldn’t be treated like this.

Besides not reciprocating his feelings, she would help ensure he wasn’t bullied. For instance, some special-admissions students used unfair means to secure scholarships, displacing those who truly deserved them. Those without powerful connections had no recourse and had to swallow their pride.

“All the scholarships and special allowances for this year at Windhua are yours, and don’t worry about any school activity fees. Additionally, I can give you a compensation…”

Ning Ran promised genuinely, making Jiang Zhe realize the joke had gone too far. If they continued, she might even offer to support him.

In the original game plot, Jiang Zhe, despite being the male lead, was ordinary except for his good looks. He never received a scholarship, only the special-admissions allowance, until his graduation.

”Wait, Ning Ran, you seem to have misunderstood something. I just thought Su Lianlian would be embarrassed and might use the club as an excuse to cause trouble, so we can’t be careless.”

This time, Jiang Zhe spoke plainly, his clear eyes filled with sincerity, showing no sign of romantic interest.

Ning Ran was momentarily stunned. Then, she clenched her fists, her face flushing red, feeling as if steam was coming out of her ears. Her misinterpretation left her embarrassed. Without another word, she glared at Jiang Zhe, stamped her foot angrily, and fled as if pursued by a wild beast. Jiang Zhe couldn’t hold back his smile, his eyes crinkling with amusement. He suddenly found observing the male and female leads’ love story in school not so bad. He could enjoy teasing this feisty kitten every day.

”Szzz”

His pocket vibrated with a call from ‘Stepmother,’ dissipating his good mood. The original character’s terrible family was calling…