Nian Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly after hearing Qi Qinghe's words, and said gratefully, "Thank you for the guidance, Qinghe. I will definitely keep an eye on Fang Fang."
Chen Jie couldn't help but say with a sliver of hope, "Qinghe, we didn't really offend her that much, did we? It was just a small disagreement. Speaking of which, we all came from Shanshui Town, so she shouldn't go so far, should she?"
Chen Jie's words caught Nian Zhenzhen's attention. "This Nian Jiaojiao is also from Shanshui Town? Why have I never heard of her?"
Chen Jie replied, "It's no wonder you don't know. She wasn't in your year for the imperial examinations. And although she was the top scholar, her reputation wasn't well-known before. Moreover, it seems she hasn't appeared in other public settings, so many people don't know about her."
"Damn, so low-key," Fang Fang immediately chimed in.
Nian Zhenzhen, however, was deep in thought. Soon, she found a flaw in the story. "Since you say this top scholar is from our Shanshui Town, then she wouldn't be some noble. Why did I only hear about her having a good family background?"
Her words made the three of them freeze.
Fang Fang, as if grasping at a handle, exclaimed excitedly, "Are you saying she lied to other classmates about being a noble?"
Nian Zhenzhen finally couldn't help but scold, "Fang Fang, why can't you watch your mouth? If you keep talking nonsense like this, you don't need to follow me anymore."
After speaking, she cautiously looked around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, she finally relaxed. Even if the other party wasn't a noble, she was the top scholar. Making an enemy of someone like that was clearly unwise.
Fang Fang felt wronged. Zhenzhen wouldn't have spoken to her like this before. Could it be that the other party now looked down on her, a village woman? However, to find Qingqing, she nodded and said, "I'm sorry, Zhenzhen, I won't gossip anymore."
...
After coming out from the dean's office, Nian Jiaojiao went to her newly assigned class. Sky Class Two. This class included previous top scholars from the Golden List, and even top scholars from the previous examinations. This time, besides herself, the new entrants to this class included several scholars who had ranked high on the Golden List. Among them was Chen Liangyu.
There was only one seat left. Seeing Chen Liangyu occupying another seat, Nian Jiaojiao sighed inwardly, "What a coincidence!"
When Chen Liangyu saw Nian Jiaojiao, her expression shifted to one of avoidance. Clearly, she remembered the incident at the Warm Grass Pavilion. What made her even more guilty was that her mother had eventually married that Young Master Mei Lan into the family...
Nian Jiaojiao, with great interest, observed the other's face flushing and paling like a Sichuan opera face-changer, and then took the seat beside her.
"Hmm? Why do you smell so fragrant?" Nian Jiaojiao asked casually.
To her surprise, the other party reacted quite strongly. "Fragrant? What fragrance! Don't talk nonsense! Are you trying to cause trouble right after enrolling?"
Nian Jiaojiao: ... Originally, she hadn't thought much of it, but judging by this reaction, something was indeed going on...
Nian Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes slightly and sized the other party up. Chen Liangyu felt her heart pounding with anxiety.
"You're reacting so strongly~" Nian Jiaojiao's elongated tone made Chen Liangyu uneasy, and the latter directly interrupted, "I am a dignified lady, and you insist on saying I smell fragrant. How can I not be angry?"
Nian Jiaojiao chuckled and said no more. The scent on the other person was clearly that of a man. But wasn't it normal for a woman to have a man? Yet, she was so secretive about it, clearly indicating that the man was not to be seen in public. However, she had no intention of getting involved in other people's family dramas, so she closed her eyes and began to recall the incantation for the second level, "Object Manipulation."
...
After school.
As soon as Nian Jiaojiao exited the gate, she was stopped by Nian Zhenzhen. She immediately guessed, "Could it be that she already recognized me?"
However, Nian Zhenzhen respectfully said to her, "Top Scholar Nian, do you have time? I would like to speak with you privately."
Got it! She definitely hadn't recognized her. Because the heroine would never speak to the original body like this. So Nian Jiaojiao also pretended not to know her: "Miss, I haven't seen you before. What do you need me for?"
Nian Zhenzhen said, "I am also from Shanshui Town! I've heard of you..." After speaking, Nian Zhenzhen gave a look that said, "Do you understand?"
Nian Jiaojiao frowned at the heroine's wink and subtle gestures. She didn't understand... However, the other party had successfully piqued her curiosity. She wanted to see what scheme this heroine was up to. So, she nodded and said, "Alright, lead the way."
A hint of joy flashed in Nian Zhenzhen's eyes, and she then led Nian Jiaojiao to a secluded spot by the river. She remained silent for a moment, then put on a troubled expression: "Top Scholar Nian, I know you don't want anyone to know about this. Don't worry, I will definitely keep it a secret for you."
Nian Jiaojiao truly couldn't understand. She calmly said, "Oh? Then I must thank you very much."
Nian Zhenzhen smiled shyly, "Top Scholar Nian, there's no need to be polite. We are both from Shanshui Town, and I naturally wish you the best."
Seeing the heroine mention Shanshui Town twice, Nian Jiaojiao pondered for a moment and said, "Yes, it's not easy for scholars from our Shanshui Town..."
Upon hearing this, Nian Zhenzhen's eyes lit up as if she had found a kindred spirit. Her voice even rose a notch: "Top Scholar Nian is right, so we must stick together when we are out! I understand that to establish yourself, you have joined the Noble Faction. But if they discover you are from a humble background, who knows what they will do to you! But what's wrong with being from a humble background? Is it a crime to be from a humble background?"
At this point, Nian Zhenzhen seemed to have a hint of cynicism. Hearing this, how could Nian Jiaojiao not understand the other party's intentions? It turned out she wanted to leverage her "humble background" identity to make her her supporter... What a shrewd plan. But didn't this heroine always look down on such behavior? Didn't she always claim to climb to the top by herself? (In reality, by her husband.) Now the plot was in disarray, and even the characters' personalities had changed.
Nian Jiaojiao observed Nian Zhenzhen closely. She suddenly smiled. It seemed that lacking many of her usual advantages, Nian Zhenzhen was no longer having a smooth ride. Naturally, the other party had experienced much "darkness" that wouldn't have happened in the book. So, had she become a little blackened...
Thinking of this, Nian Jiaojiao felt much more relaxed. All along, she had been worried about the heroine's halo, fearing that the other party was the unchangeable favored daughter of heaven. But now, a blackened heroine could not sustain the plot at all. Therefore, the heroine's halo would naturally shatter. Thinking of this, Nian Jiaojiao's smile deepened. She gently patted Nian Zhenzhen's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, as long as you stand on the side of truth, within my capabilities, I can still help you."
Finally obtaining the answer she desired, Nian Zhenzhen's heart surged with emotion. She valued not only that the other party was the top scholar but also the Noble Faction standing behind her. Nian Zhenzhen looked at the lake and silently vowed, "Young Master Huang, don't worry, I will definitely not disappoint you!"