Rebirth: Pampered by My Children and Husband-Chapter 165 - : The Crack in the Chest

Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Crack in the Chest

The vast high-speed train station, where the gazes of two collided.

After a long time apart, Wen Li saw Ji Tingyang again, her expression a fleeting moment of bewilderment.

Her red lips parted slightly, but before she could say anything, he indifferently shifted his gaze away.

Wen Li pursed her lips tightly, a multitude of emotions swirling in her heart at that moment.

Unlike the complex emotions in Wen Li’s heart, Lin Xu looked Xiao Yu up and down with dissatisfaction after seeing him.

The boy was dressed in casual clothes, his lean jawline a mix of youthful and sharp angles, his straight posture exuding a mature yet cool aura, indeed giving off a campus idol vibe.

Was he the male protagonist of the novel that Ji Yuqiao liked?

If Lin Xu had met Xiao Yu somewhere else, she might have complimented his handsomeness, but knowing he was the culprit behind her daughter’s heartache, Lin Xu simply couldn’t bring herself to like him.

Thinking this, a spark of anger surged in Lin Xu’s heart, and she glared at him fiercely.

Xiao Yu was utterly confused.

“It’s almost time; we should go check our tickets and board the train,” the teacher said, glancing at the clock before calling Ji Yuqiao and Xiao Yu over to gather.

It was just a simple trip to another place for an exam; there were no lingering goodbyes, just a brief reminder to be safe before the teacher led the two of them through the ticket gate.

Only the three of them were left outside the ticket gate.

Wen Li’s gaze unconsciously drifted to the side, meeting Lin Xu’s icy stare.

Remembering Lin Xu’s earlier warning not to appear before her again, Wen Li’s heart instinctively quivered, her steps retreating in fear.

Just when she was nervously on edge, a scoffing laugh intermixed with footsteps sounded by her ear.

Lifting her head, she saw that Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang had already walked far away.

Lin Xu’s figure was graceful; the pair of silver-white earrings on her ears swayed with her movements, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight that seemed to strike Wen Li’s eyes, causing a sharp pain.

The earrings looked very expensive.

Wen Li could even imagine Ji Tingyang collecting many pieces of jewelry to give to Lin Xu, just as he had done for her before.

She subconsciously touched her own earrings, feeling the cheap texture at her fingertips; the stinging in her eyes intensified, like a sharp blade slicing a small crack in her calm chest.

And when she saw Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang getting into a Maybach with poise as she jostled with others at the crowded public bus stop, the crack in her chest seemed to widen.

On the bus, swaying back and forth, Wen Li held onto the handrail, looking at the message from Xiao Yu on her phone, no longer having the desire to reply.

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——

The journey to the neighboring city wasn’t very far; less than two hours by high-speed rail and they had arrived.

Ji Yuqiao followed the teacher to the hotel they had booked, and it was only then she discovered that Zhao Jiayan was staying there too.

“What are you doing here?” she exclaimed in surprise.

There were many five-star hotels in the city, and Ji Yuqiao knew that people in their circles mostly refused to stay anywhere that wasn’t luxurious, so seeing him choose a hotel that couldn’t even be rated with stars was somewhat baffling to her.

Zhao Jiayan smiled and gave a very sound reason, “I picked it following the teacher, and besides, it’s close to the examination venue.”

Once they arrived at the hotel, the teacher no longer restricted their movements.

They could move around freely today, as long as they returned to their rooms by ten o’clock in the evening.

Ji Yuqiao carefully glanced at Xiao Yu, “Xiao Yu, do you have any plans later?”

“I plan to read in my room today, do not disturb me if it’s not important.” Xiao Yu’s voice was as light as the wind, and after speaking, he picked up his luggage and turned to leave.

Before Ji Yuqiao could finish speaking, her words got stuck in her throat, and the animated expression on her face quickly faded.

“Where do you want to go? I have time today and can accompany you for a stroll,” Zhao Jiayan’s gentle voice interjected.

Ji Yuqiao was not enthusiastic about the idea, “The exam is tomorrow, don’t you plan to go back to the room to read?”

“Let me, the top scorer, share some techniques with you. A proper relaxation can help you study better.”

“That’s for the top scorer. I, trailing behind, should go back and study hard. You go rest by yourself.”

Having said that, Ji Yuqiao was about to leave.

“Going out by myself doesn’t seem very fun,” Zhao Jiayan’s interest waned, but then his tone suddenly shifted, “However, now that you know the top scorer is right here, why don’t you ask him for some study tips?”

Ji Yuqiao’s steps halted on the spot, “Aren’t we competitors? Would you really teach me?”

The national competition was so intense, and the rankings were so competitive. Everyone was aiming for the top three for a substantial scholarship and the resources for postgraduate entrance exams, Xiao Yu included.

Wasn’t he afraid that after teaching her, she might bump him down a spot?

“Scholarships and postgraduate exams are not within my considerations. It’s just that the elders at home told me to achieve something in school, so I’m just participating for fun,” Zhao Jiayan said with a laugh.

“Participating for fun, that phrase is too Versailles. I suggest you don’t say it casually in the future, you could get beaten up,” Ji Yuqiao felt like he deserved a beating just listening to him.

In that period of time, she was so consumed by this damned competition, opening her eyes to books and problems, even dreaming of reading at night.

She was so exhausted she felt like vomiting, barely scraping through to the national level.

And there he was, saying he was just participating for fun, the gap between people was truly too big.

“Alright, I’ll remember that,” Zhao Jiayan’s eyes curved into a gentle smile, “Don’t hit me.”

A hint of embarrassment raced through Ji Yuqiao’s eyes, and she countered softly, “I wouldn’t hit someone.”

The two joked around, and in the end, none of them went out.

Zhao Jiayan explained some tips at a small table in the hotel lobby to Ji Yuqiao all afternoon.

Perhaps it really was those little methods that worked, Ji Yuqiao felt divinely inspired while writing her exam, like a fish in water.

After the exam, she hurried over to Zhao Jiayan to share her joy, “You’re amazing. There were even a few questions you predicted would be on the test!”

“You seem so happy, it looks like you did well.”

“All thanks to my master’s excellent guidance.”

Zhao Jiayan looked at her, his handsome lips curved into a faint smile, about to speak, when suddenly someone yanked his neck from the side, causing him to stumble a few steps.

“I was wondering why you disappeared right after the exam, turns out you were here chatting with a beauty.” A male student wrapped an arm familiarly around his neck, his tone teasing.

After speaking, he turned to Ji Yuqiao, “Hi there, beauty. The competition is over, why don’t we go out for supper tonight and relax?”

“I’d rather not…” she started to decline.

The boy added another line: “Student Xiao from your school will be there too.”

The next instant, she changed her tune, “Let’s go then.”