Chapter 8

Jiang Yue sighed as she gazed out at the messy classroom, her mind heavy with the punishment she had received. Cleaning the classroom was not her idea of fun, especially not after a long day of school. But she had no choice, having been disciplined by their strict teacher, Mrs. Li.

Just as she began to sweep the floor, she heard a snicker behind her. She turned to see Su Ye, her classmate and arch-nemesis, grinning mischievously.

"Hey, Jiang Yue, looks like you're in trouble again," Su Ye sneered, her voice dripping with malice.

Jiang Yue felt her face flush with anger, but before she could respond, a gentle voice intervened.

"Hey, Su Ye, leave her alone. She's just trying to get her work done."

It was Kang Jian, his calm and kind demeanor a stark contrast to Su Ye's cruelty. Jiang Yue felt a surge of gratitude towards him as he walked over to assist her.

"Thanks, Kang Jian," she said softly, her eyes meeting his in a moment of understanding.

Together, they began to clean the classroom, Su Ye's snickers and snide comments unable to dampen their spirits.

Jiang Yue's eyes flashed with defiance as she stood up straight, her voice steady. "Su Ye, you should be happy I haven't reported you yet."

Su Ye's smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"

Jiang Yue took a step forward, her eyes locked on Su Ye's. "I'm talking about how you snuck out to play video games at the arcade. You're always talking about how great you are, but you're just a hypocrite."

Su Ye's face paled, her eyes darting around the classroom as if searching for anyone who might have heard about it. "Shut up, Jiang Yue!"

But Jiang Yue continued, her voice growing stronger. "You're always bullying me, but you're the one who's breaking the rules. You're the one who's hiding secrets."

Kang Jian's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze shifting from Jiang Yue to Su Ye.

Su Ye's face twisted with anger, his voice low and menacing. "You'll regret saying that, Jiang Yue."

As they finished cleaning the classroom, Su Ye's expression suddenly shifted from anger to a sweet smile. "Hey, Jiang Yue, let's work on our project together. Follow me home and we can get started."

Jiang Yue's instincts screamed warning, but she hesitated, unsure how to refuse. Before she could respond, Kang Jian stepped forward.

"I'll come too," he said firmly, his eyes locked on Su Ye's. "I can't let her go with you alone."

Su Ye's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "No! You're not in our group. It's just me and Jiang Yue. Go look for your partner."

Jiang Yue felt a surge of gratitude towards Kang Jian knowing he's got her back.

"It's fine. I'll go with him. I don't want to fail. Go find your partner too. I'll chat you up later." Jiang Yue smiled.

"Hey, Su Ye, slow down," Jiang Yue called out, struggling to keep up.

Su Ye turned back, her eyes glinting with a sinister light. "Come on, Jiang Yue. We don't have all day."

Kang Jian's hand brushed against Jiang Yue's, a gentle reminder that he was there to support her. Jiang Yue smiled and hugged him.

"Talk to you later, worthless Kang."

As they walked, a sleek, black car pulled up to the curb, its engine purring smoothly. Su Ye's eyes lit up with excitement as he opened the door and gestured for Jiang Yue to get in.

"Come on! My dad's driver will take us to my place. We can work on the project in my study."

Jiang Yue's eyes widened as she gazed at the luxurious interior, feeling a little out of place.

As they drove through the city, the scenery shifted from bustling streets to grand mansions and manicured lawns. Su Ye's home was a sprawling estate, its gates opening to reveal a stunning facade and perfectly manicured gardens.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Su Ye said with a grin, leading them into a lavish study filled with books, gadgets, and a stunning view of the city.

Jiang Yue's eyes were wide with wonder, her mind racing with questions. How could Su Ye's family afford such a place?

As they settled in to work on their project, Jiang Yue couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Su Ye's behavior was too perfect, too polished. And what was he hiding behind her bright smile and lavish lifestyle? Jiang Yue wondered if Su Ye wanted to pick on her again because his smile was suspicious.

Jiang Yue decided to focus on her own work, trying to put the strange encounter with Su Ye out of her mind. She sat at her desk, typing away on her laptop as she worked on their project.

As she worked, she couldn't help but text Kang Jian, filling him in on the strange happenings at Su Ye's mansion.

"Hey, Kang Jian! You won't believe what I just found out about Su Ye..." she typed, her fingers flying across the screen.

Kang Jian's responses were quick and supportive, his messages making her feel a little less alone in her suspicions.

"What did you find out? Hope you're not in trouble again? Let me know if you need any help or support!"

Jiang Yue smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest at Kang Jian's words. She was grateful for his friendship and support, especially in this strange and uncertain situation.

As she continued to work and text, Jiang Yue's mind raced with questions and doubts. What was Su Ye hiding? And how far would he go to keep his secrets safe?

Jiang Yue's smile grew wider as she texted Kang Jian, their conversation flowing easily. She couldn't help but giggle at his jokes and teasing.

"Hey, Jiang Yue, I heard you're a super sleuth now," Kang Jian wrote. "Solving mysteries and uncovering secrets like a pro!"

Jiang Yue's eyes sparkled as she responded, "Hey, someone's got to keep an eye on Su Ye! I have to find a way to report him so he can let me be and get punished also. Why do you think I followed him home?"

Just then, Su Ye himself appeared beside her, his eyes narrowing as he snatched the phone from her hand.

"Ah-ah, I don't think you want to be sharing our little secrets with your friend, Jiang Yue. What If he copies our project ideas?" he said, his voice low and menacing.

Jiang Yue's heart skipped a beat as she tried to grab her phone back, but Su Ye held it out of reach.

"Hey, that's mine! Give it back, Su Ye! I wasn't even talking about our project." she protested, trying to keep her voice steady.

Su Ye just chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think I'll hold onto this for a little while longer. You don't want to be spreading rumors or making accusations without proof, do you, Jiang Yue? Let's work together on our project."

"How did he know I was here to check out his house if I could find anything about him?"