Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 22.1

Green Plum, Green Plum (14)

Cream and cherries are a perfect match.

“Xu Jiao, this student, repeatedly violates school rules, with a particularly severe nature. Principal Yu, as the grade director, seeing such an obstinate and incorrigible student, I am really heartbroken. I hope you can understand my difficulties…”

“If we can’t expel this student today, how will I manage other students in the future? How will I have the nerve to make them follow school rules? Where will I put my face as the grade director?”

In the principal’s office.

The well-insulated, finely crafted wooden door couldn’t block the sharp voice of the grade director. Xu Jiao stood on one side with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, her eyes downcast as she communicated with the system, repeatedly interrupted by the director’s rising pitch.

She glanced indifferently at the director who was clamoring to expel her and thought to herself:

“This person is really wasting her talent as a teacher. She’s a singer delayed by the teaching profession. If she went to the Vienna Music Hall, would there be anything left for other singers?”

System: “…”

It responded woodenly: “Host, please don’t change the subject. You seem very unwilling to see the female lead develop a liking for you. Why?”

Xu Jiao lazily responded with a “hmm?” She noticed the principal soothing the director with a warm voice, then withdrew her gaze and continued in her mind: “I don’t want to date her, so why do I need her to have such a high level of affection for me?”

As she spoke, she recalled what had just happened—

Originally, she just wanted to help Shen Yelan get rid of Lu Pei once and for all. Who knew that the seemingly fine young girl had mental activities comparable to a raging storm, changing at the drop of a hat.

A negative 80 favorability suddenly turned positive, and even increased by 10 points.

What does a 90 favorability mean?

The little junior sister in the previous world is an example. On the surface, she appeared respectful as usual, but once she found the opportunity, she immediately started binding and imprisoning her in various ways.

Young in age but full of tricks, showing two faces at such a young age.

The system, hearing her inner thoughts: “…”

After reminiscing about the previous world’s developments, Xu Jiao thought for a moment and added: “I think it’s better to stay away from Shen Yelan from now on. Anyway, now that she’s out of the mire of her relatives, her life should be positive, sunny, and upward, with no more need for help.”

They should keep their bridges and roads separate, and that’s fine.

The system, however, said: “But don’t you find it strange? How did the negative 80 favorability instantly turn positive—”

It was interrupted by an accusation from the side: “Principal Yu, look, look at this student. Since entering the office, she hasn’t shown the demeanor of a student, has no respect for teachers, and usually loves to bully classmates. Such a person, when she enters society in the future, will be a cancer, disgracing our No. 18 High School!”

Xu Jiao suddenly raised her hand, making a gesture to interrupt.

She didn’t rush to answer the system’s question but looked indifferently at the director, squinting her eyes, her gaze cold: “Sorry to interrupt your complaint, Director.”

“But I must remind you, since people like you, who can’t distinguish right from wrong, are intentionally biased, always talk about rules, but make decisions based only on stereotypes and prejudices, can stay at No. 18 High School and even hold the position of director, then why can’t I be a student here?”

Maybe this director’s character was set based on a disliked teacher from Xu Jiao’s school days, so even though she knew the other party’s words were just respecting the character design, she couldn’t help but speak up.

Although her voice was as calm as ever, only she knew she wasn’t steady.

Worlds similar to the real setting have this downside…

If not careful, those things buried deep in her heart, which she originally planned never to reveal, also floated up with the bubbles emitted by the decayed leaves at the bottom of the pond.

“Principal Yu! Listen! Listen to what she’s saying!” The director’s high-pitched voice, which had finally lowered, rose again by an octave.

Principal Yu sighed inwardly, handed a cup of tea to the director, and mediated: “Alright, alright, Xu Jiao, you can’t speak to Director Zou like that. Director Zou, have some tea—”

“Teaching students sometimes requires patience. Look, Xu Jiao’s monthly exam scores have improved significantly. This shows that our No. 18 High School’s education model is successful. Under Director Zou’s leadership, homeroom teachers have reported that discipline in their classes has improved a lot…”

Principal Yu had a good relationship with Xu Jiao’s mother and knew that Xu Jiao had relatives working in the Ministry of Education. Since this student first came to the school, he knew her situation.

So, Director Zou’s request was destined to be unmet.

Xu Jiao received Principal Yu’s repeated glances, getting the hint, raised her eyebrows, and couldn’t be bothered to argue with this NPC director anymore. After a few seconds of silence, she got up and walked out of the office.

“Uncle Yu, I’ll go back to class first.”

Principal Yu nodded quickly: “Oh, study hard. Your mom called me a few days ago. She has no other demands, just that she’d be very happy if you can maintain your rank in the next exam.”

Xu Jiao nodded, didn’t say she’d perform better next time, and opened the office door.

……

She had just taken two steps and was about to turn the corner in the hallway when she almost bumped into someone poking their head out from behind the wall.

Xu Jiao stopped in time and helplessly smiled at Su Xi, who was craning her neck to look over: “What are you doing here?”

Su Xi raised her hand to adjust the bow headband on her head and grinned at her: “Isn’t it because of that old witch? She was shouting so fiercely just now, I was worried the principal might actually listen to her nonsense and give you a demerit or something.”

“I heard that someone called Peiqi even called their parents to the school, even called that Shen person. Do you want to go take a look?”

(LP: “Peiqi” (佩奇) is the transliteration of “Peppa” in Mandarin Chinese. So it’s short for… Peppa Pig….)

Su Xi grabbed Xu Jiao’s wrist affectionately, pulling her towards the classroom while gossiping about the recent events in a sing-song tone.

She thought, given how much Xu Jiao was concerned about Shen Yelan, Sister Jiaojiao would probably want to intervene, right?

After all…

Sister Jiaojiao isn’t the type to stand up for just anyone.

Shen Yelan, this stiff and dazed fellow, would be one of them in the future, Su Xi thought to herself.

“No.”

Xu Jiao’s indifferent voice interrupted her thoughts, and before she could react, Xu Jiao, looking as usual, continued: “I still have some exercises to finish. I won’t join the fun. Besides, in Uncle Yu’s office just now, the matter with the director was enough to give him a headache. Let’s not add to his troubles.”

Su Xi dumbfoundedly uttered an “oh.”

She understood Xu Jiao’s refusal.

Seeing that they were about to turn into the teaching area, Su Xi suddenly said: “But I saw that she was being scolded terribly by that Peiqi’s parents. If it weren’t for your homeroom teacher stopping them, she would have been beaten.”

Xu Jiao responded and corrected her: “It’s Lu Pei.”

After a pause, she added: “I’m not going.”

Su Xi, hearing her firm refusal, looked at her puzzled for a long time, but quickly gave up thinking about it—

After all, she didn’t have a brain, so why think about such difficult things?

No matter what Sister Jiaojiao does, she must have her reasons.

……

Shen Yelan recently found Xu Jiao to be particularly cold towards her.

It’s not that she was very enthusiastic before, but…

She just felt that she was even more distant from this person.

It’s strange, even though she helped her so much, even letting her use this opportunity to sever ties with her uncle and aunt, successfully leaving that quagmire. But when she expressed her desire to thank her, Xu Jiao only calmly said:

“I wasn’t helping you.”

“I simply dislike people like Lu Pei, so there’s nothing to thank.”

Hearing this, Shen Yelan’s blood, which would start bubbling as if to steam herself whenever she got close to Xu Jiao, instantly cooled down.

She stammered: “I know, but you indirectly helped me after all. Besides, I’m temporarily staying at your house now. Reasonably, I should at least treat you to a meal…”

Her voice weakened.

Because Xu Jiao slightly furrowed her brows and looked over, her pen, which was calculating on the draft, stopped as if her rambling had interrupted her train of thought.

Shen Yelan silently pursed her lips. Just seeing that hint of gloom between her brows, she couldn’t even manage to apologize, not knowing where to place her hands and feet.

Until Xu Jiao started calculating again, responding indifferently:

“No need.”

“You’ve paid rent, and the food at home is delicious.”

“If this matter bothers you, just pretend I never helped you, forget about it, okay?”

Shen Yelan’s breath caught.

How could she forget?

Maybe for Xu Jiao it was just a small gesture, but for her, it was a rescue.

But she didn’t dare insist any further, afraid that her gratitude would trouble Xu Jiao. Nervously gripping her pen, she silently turned back to her own problems, remaining listless all day.

Until after school, she heard Su Xi running into the classroom: “Sister Jiaojiao! It’s almost Saturday, do you remember what day it is?”

Xu Jiao was packing her schoolbag. Hearing this, she replied without looking up, “Your birthday.”

Her voice carried a hint of amusement that Shen Yelan hadn’t heard all day.

She remembered because in the original work, Shen Yelan’s birthday was the same day as Su Xi’s.

According to the original trajectory, Shen Yelan got into trouble with Lu Pei on her birthday, was beaten by her aunt, and went out alone at night, looking for a quiet corner to celebrate her birthday. She happened to run into Su Xi and Xu Jiao’s group and had another stroke of bad luck.

Hearing Su Xi’s words, Shen Yelan’s throat moved as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back down, just silently listening to the two of them talking and laughing as they walked out.