Wild Tranquility - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

When I got back to my rented room, I checked my back in the mirror. It was already bruising.

The System cried out, “Harsh. That was seriously harsh!

“If you can be that ruthless, what can’t you do?

“If you hadn’t been born so frail, those people would never have gotten the chance to strut around.”

That sentence dragged my thoughts straight back to the past.

My family was the richest in Beijing’s elite circle, and I was the sickly eldest daughter.

But no matter how outstanding I was, I would never be allowed to inherit the family fortune.

I fought for it anyway, and I got in their way.

The few people in my family who couldn’t wait for me to die poisoned me.

When I was lying half-dead in the hospital, the System appeared.

It created a new identity for me and sent me ten years into the past, telling me to seduce Shen Kuangye.

As long as I completed the mission, I would gain a healthy body.

The System softened and said, “Seeing as you’re working so hard, I’ll give you some medicine to ease the pain.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

After taking the medicine, I felt much better.

But the next day, I still asked my teacher for leave.

Lying on the narrow bed, I pondered how to take the final photo.

Just then, my phone chimed.

An unfamiliar number: [Why weren’t you in class?]

It was Shen Kuangye’s number.

Had he recognized me?

Or was he testing me?

I leaned toward the latter.

I got up, fetched some water, and splashed it on the bedsheets, leaving a dark stain.

Click. I took a photo and sent it.

I sat on the stool, waiting for his reply.

But until night fell, Shen Kuangye didn’t send another word.

I took two days off. By the time I went back to school, it was already Friday.

As usual, I brought Shen Kuangye breakfast.

This time, he didn’t throw it away in front of me.

Instead, he looked at me with a strange, probing gaze.

I pretended not to understand his scrutiny, blushed, lowered my head, turned around, and went back to my seat.

The sun was out today, and we had PE class. The teacher told everyone to run laps.

After only two laps, I was so hot I couldn’t stand it and took off my jacket.

During free time, I saw Shen Kuangye sitting in the shade beneath a large tree at the edge of the field.

I deliberately drifted in front of him and reached up for the leaves on the tree.

My top was short, exposing a small strip of my waist.

Shen Kuangye narrowed his eyes, staring at my waist without blinking.

Just as he was about to speak, I plucked two leaves, turned, and walked away.

With my back to him, I didn’t forget to touch my shoulder, pretending my back hurt badly.

Sure enough, after school, Shen Kuangye blocked my way.

“Ning Sheng, what are you trying to do?”

I looked utterly confused. “Trying to do what?”

His index finger slid ambiguously from my collarbone to the side of my waist.

“If you overdo the act, it stops being fun.”

He lowered his eyes to look at me, danger lurking in his gaze.

Frightened, I shrank back. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.

“But I want to be your girlfriend.

“Can I?”

I asked him carefully.

Shen Kuangye stared at me for a long while, then let out a mocking laugh. “Sure.”