Chapter 739 - 256: Lost too much blood last night, need to replenish today

「Modu University of Technology.」

Since Li Yuan wasn’t participating, Xia Zhijin skipped her class’s first autumn outing to visit her cousin, Chu Yanyan, at Modu University of Technology.

When the two girls, who looked remarkably similar and both possessed the divine beauty of a campus belle, met at the school gate, they instantly attracted the furtive glances of many hungry wolves nearby.

"Zhijin, if you hadn’t come today, I was just about to come looking for you."

Xia Zhijin looked at Chu Yanyan’s grave expression and asked with concern, "Yanyan, why do you look so unhappy? Is that guy harassing you again?"

Chu Yanyan stared at Xia Zhijin grimly. "Never mind my problems. I want to know about you and Li Yuan. What exactly is going on between you two?"

A sliver of panic crept into Xia Zhijin’s heart. She had no idea why her cousin was asking this. "Yanyan, Li Yuan and I are doing fine!"

Chu Yanyan frowned. "Zhijin, we’re cousins, you don’t have to lie to me. I already know everything. There’s so much news about Li Yuan online—a single search brings up a mountain of it! He has several other girlfriends besides you. What on earth is going on?"

Xia Zhijin’s heart plummeted. A terrible premonition washed over her as she instinctively lowered her head. Her body trembled slightly, like a child who had done something wrong, too afraid to look her cousin in the eye.

"Sigh!" Seeing her cousin’s reaction, Chu Yanyan sighed helplessly.

After her aunt and uncle died in an accident, her once-sweet and beautiful cousin had changed. The lively, cheerful little girl who loved to sing and dance had gradually become timid and withdrawn, afraid to interact with people. She usually walked with her head down, never daring to look up.

Chu Yanyan had thought that by convincing Xia Zhijin to attend university in Modu, she could help her escape that toxic environment and lead a normal college life. But to her dismay, just a few months into her first year, she had been taken advantage of by a scumbag.

Her heart ached for her cousin. She gently took Xia Zhijin’s small hand. "Zhijin," she said softly, "let’s go find a place to sit. We need to have a proper talk about you and Li Yuan..."

"Okay." Xia Zhijin nodded faintly. After the initial panic, her gaze slowly hardened with resolve.

Some things, if they’re true, are bound to be exposed. I’ll have to face this sooner or later. Ever since I found out Li Yuan had other girlfriends, I knew this day would come. I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.

The two girls made their way to the bleachers by the athletic field. The leaves of the plane trees overhead blocked the sun. A cool autumn breeze swept over them, playfully tossing strands of their soft hair as if joyfully welcoming the season’s arrival.

Chu Yanyan broke the silence. "Zhijin, did you know from the beginning that Li Yuan had other girlfriends?"

"I didn’t." Xia Zhijin shook her head slightly.

She had met the most important man in her life at the very first class meeting at Daxia University. It began when he offered her a part-time job at his company. Then he bought her a phone, a laptop, clothes, and cosmetics. He taught her how to use all these electronics. And so, through their daily chats and these close interactions, she had unwittingly fallen into the whirlpool of love. Before she even realized it, she was deeply in love with that man. Of course, she hadn’t known Li Yuan had other girlfriends. If she had, she would have never accepted him, no matter what.

Chu Yanyan’s voice suddenly sharpened. "So you’re saying Li Yuan already had a girlfriend when he started pursuing you? That damn scumbag! He’s a piece of trash, a bastard, a son of a bitch!"

Seeing Chu Yanyan curse Li Yuan, Xia Zhijin quickly rushed to his defense. "Yanyan, please don’t say that about him. Everything was my choice. He treats me very well, and I’m very happy with my life right now."

"Hmph! He deceived you, and you’re still defending him." Chu Yanyan looked at Xia Zhijin with exasperation. Her opinion of Li Yuan had plummeted from a favorable first impression to utter disgust. "So what are you going to do now? Continue like this, or break up with that scumbag?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xia Zhijin answered directly, "I’m not breaking up with him. Not unless he tells me he doesn’t want me anymore."

If that happens, I’ll silently leave this world and join my parents in the next.

Chu Yanyan was stunned by Xia Zhijin’s words. Seeing her usually timid and withdrawn cousin display such firm resolve, she opened her mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say.

Xia Zhijin had a personality that was gentle on the outside but unyielding on the inside. She might seem soft and meek, as if she were easy to bully, but girls like her, once they’ve made a decision, will see it through to the end. They stick to their convictions stubbornly, often doing things that are difficult for others to comprehend. It was just like when she was choosing a university. Her grandmother and several of her uncles had all advised her to stay in Shancheng for college, but she had unflinchingly followed her cousin to Modu, a completely unfamiliar metropolis.

Chu Yanyan sighed, her expression one of helplessness. "Oh, you silly girl. I really don’t know what to say to you. Are you really unwilling to break up with him? You’ll just quietly accept this... complicated relationship?"

Xia Zhijin nodded firmly.

Chu Yanyan felt utterly helpless. Thinking of her cousin’s naivety, she was afraid Li Yuan would hurt her deeply and felt compelled to give her one more warning.