Lei Juan was stunned for a moment, then stifled a laugh.
“Mm, you may go.”
Qiu Hezi instructed:
“Xiao Yu, we depart tonight. Be at the Qiu family’s main gate at Xu Shi to wait for me.”
Nian Jiaojiao picked at her clothes, and said obediently in a small voice:
“Understood, Grandma.”
After speaking, she tiptoed out of the room.
Once Nian Jiaojiao had left, Lei Juan supported Qiu Hezi and laughed heartily:
“Hahaha, Junior Sister Nian is truly a remarkable talent!”
Qiu Hezi glanced at her and said:
“I have other matters. You can stay here and laugh by yourself.”
With that, she left the room with the Qiu family head.
After Lei Juan had laughed her fill, she straightened her back and looked sternly at Qiu Yu, commanding:
“Let us go as well.”
Qiu Yu felt like crying but had no tears.
She lowered her head and resignedly followed behind Lei Juan.
This Grandma Lei seemed a bit… insane.
She definitely did not want to offend her.
…
Hehuan Academy.
Nian Jiaojiao stood at the academy entrance with a dark expression.
This was the academy Qiu Yu attended.
It was not like the three great academies of Qingzhou, such as Baichuan Academy. The academy was even smaller than the one Nian Jiaojiao had attended in Fengcheng.
Hmm.
It looked ordinary.
However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the academy’s plaque indicated it was anything but simple.
“Xiao Yu, you’re going to be late. Why are you still standing at the entrance spacing out?”
Nian Jiaojiao looked back to see a square-faced woman in a blue robe grab her hand and pull her towards the academy.
Nian Jiaojiao didn’t break free from the other’s grasp. Being this close to Qiu Yu, there was no doubt that this person was Qiu Yu’s only friend, Bao Yushan.
After they entered their classroom, Bao Yushan breathed a sigh of relief:
“Good, good, the instructor hasn’t arrived yet.”
At this moment, Bao Yushan still hadn’t let go of Nian Jiaojiao’s hand. She lifted Nian Jiaojiao’s hand and felt it, asking in confusion:
“Huh? Xiao Yu, I knew your skin was good before, but it’s just too smooth now, isn’t it?”
Nian Jiaojiao’s mouth twitched slightly. Then, she quickly adjusted her demeanor and said:
“Bao Bao~ Your observation skills are truly amazing. I used a skin-brightening cream, and it seems to be quite effective~”
Bao Yushan disagreed somewhat:
“Xiao Yu, you’re already praised for your good looks by everyone. You really don’t need to use these things anymore.”
As expected, hearing Nian Jiaojiao say this, Bao Yushan didn’t suspect anything.
Just then, other classmates started to tease them.
“Quick, look, they’re at it again.”
“How disgusting!”
“What bad luck, to be in the same class as these two!”
At this moment, a woman with thick eyebrows and large eyes “slammed” her scroll onto the desk with a bang, and directly mocked them:
“Luo Zhanpeng, are you looking at Qiu Yu’s pretty face, and coupled with her possessing more masculine charm than some men, you want to pursue a ‘Feng Yin’ romance?”
Bao Yushan let go of Nian Jiaojiao’s hand, her face flushing as she shouted at the woman:
“Luo Zhanpeng, how dare you spout nonsense! Qiu Yu and I are sisters!”
“Heh, what kind of relationship you have, everyone knows.”
“You!”
The two began to argue.
Nian Jiaojiao fell into thought.
Clearly, Qiu Yu and Bao Yushan were ostracized by the entire academy.
However, their attacks were limited to words; they wouldn’t dare to do anything else.
Although Qiu Yu was just an ordinary Tong Sheng, she had the Qiu family standing behind her.
Thinking of this, Nian Jiaojiao interrupted:
“You two, stop arguing. It’s really not worth it to argue over me!”
Bao Yushan and Luo Zhanpeng were merely having a normal argument, but Nian Jiaojiao’s words changed the tone.
It sounded more like two women fighting over one woman.
Luo Zhanpeng’s voice faltered, and she then questioned Nian Jiaojiao:
“Qiu Yu, what nonsense are you spouting? Who is arguing over you?”
Nian Jiaojiao thought to herself: This is what they call ‘give them a taste of their own medicine,’ isn’t it just about who can talk nonsense better?
So, Nian Jiaojiao looked aggrieved:
“Isn’t that true? Didn’t you just mention me when you started arguing with Bao Bao? I know Bao Bao and I are close, and you can’t stand it.”
Seeing that Luo Zhanpeng was so angry she could barely speak, Bao Yushan quickly chimed in:
“I was wondering why you always jump out to seek attention whenever Qiu Yu and I are chatting. So, you’re jealous.”
The two of them, with their back-and-forth remarks, shifted the attention of the onlookers towards Luo Zhanpeng.
Yes, although they always made sarcastic remarks about the two, Luo Zhanpeng always reacted the most intensely.
Moreover, Qiu Yu had never approached Luo Zhanpeng; it was always Luo Zhanpeng who initiated contact with Qiu Yu.
Thinking this way, the gazes directed at Luo Zhanpeng changed.
Luo Zhanpeng naturally noticed the shift in their expressions. She angrily tried to defend herself:
“What’s wrong with all of you? When you always pick on Qiu Yu, aren’t you all involved?”
At this point, a classmate spoke up:
“Don’t be anxious. We haven’t said anything.”
Luo Zhanpeng opened her mouth, but could not say anything.
They hadn’t said anything, but their eyes had spoken volumes.
Seeing Luo Zhanpeng’s distressed appearance, Bao Yushan nudged Nian Jiaojiao with her elbow and whispered:
“Xiao Yu, you’re amazing. You’ve made Luo Zhanpeng speechless. So satisfying!”
Nian Jiaojiao blinked her eyes and said in a tone as pure as white lotus:
“Bao Bao, what are you talking about? Qiu Yu doesn’t understand.”
Bao Yushan carefully observed Nian Jiaojiao’s expression.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if her friend was doing this intentionally or unintentionally.
This farce finally ended with the instructor entering the classroom.
As Luo Zhanpeng left, she glared fiercely at Nian Jiaojiao.
After school, Bao Yushan was packing up her things. Seeing Nian Jiaojiao sitting still, she asked:
“Xiao Yu, aren’t you packing up to go home?”
Nian Jiaojiao looked up and said:
“I’m planning to ask the instructor for leave.”
“Leave?”
Bao Yushan stopped what she was doing.
“Yes, the family head is planning to take me to the royal city, so I need to ask the instructor for leave.”
“Qiu family head?”
Bao Yushan looked very surprised.
After all, for a collateral branch member like Qiu Yu, it was rare to see the Qiu family head.
“Mm.”
Bao Yushan wasn't one to pry endlessly. After a moment of silence, she asked:
“When will you be back?”
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head:
“It’s not certain yet, at least two months.”
Bao Yushan patted Nian Jiaojiao’s shoulder and encouraged her:
“Xiao Yu, perform well under the Qiu family head. This is a good thing.”
Nian Jiaojiao felt a sense of goodwill towards this woman.
This woman was quite good.
However, she maintained her “persona” outwardly, nervously picking at her nails and saying:
“Bao Bao, I, I will try my best.”
…
After Bao Yushan left, Nian Jiaojiao found the instructor with a letter from the Qiu family head and successfully obtained her leave.
She had a hearty meal at a roadside restaurant and then, at Xu Shi, arrived punctually at the Qiu family’s main gate.