Chapter 6: If You Want to Date, Do It Somewhere Else—Don’t Block the Way!

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Lin Nian stood there, wearing a school uniform, with a fresh slap mark on her tear-streaked face. She looked as vulnerable as a frightened little rabbit. Beside her, a tall, handsome boy with a close-cropped haircut was gently comforting her.

This was Chen Feng, the boy who, in another life, should have been with Qin Ju.

In the novel of life, Chen Feng was destined to play the male protagonist's role. He wasn't just good-looking and academically brilliant; he was also popular and well-liked by everyone.

Later, Chen Feng's mother remarried into the Shen family, making him Shen Yi's nominal cousin. With few boys in the Shen family, and Chen Feng being both talented and promising, he quickly became a favored figure in the household. His mother, Li Xiaomei, was adept at managing relationships, and with Lin Nian's help, they were well-regarded by the entire Shen family.

But due to Shen Yi's bad temper and paranoia, all of the Shen family's wealth eventually fell into Chen Feng's hands. By then, Chen Feng had changed his name to Shen Feng.

In their previous life, the drama between Qin Ju and Shen Yi had caused Chen Feng's good opinion of Qin Ju to vanish overnight. Not long after, news spread that Chen Feng and Lin Nian were a couple. They both got into the same university, and after graduation, they naturally married, fulfilling Lin Nian's dream of becoming a wealthy wife.

Meanwhile, Qin Ju and Shen Yi were trapped in a cycle of hurting each other, their lives spiraling into chaos and misery.

But now, as Qin Ju looked at Chen Feng, she felt nothing. The fleeting excitement of youth had long been swept away by the winds of time and buried under the sands of experience.

She knew better now—relying on herself was far wiser than depending on others. Having lived more than a decade longer, armed with the Space Spirit Spring and the opportunities that time would bring, she was determined to lead her parents and sister to a life far better than the one they had in her previous life.

Qin Ju had no intention of engaging with Chen Feng and moved to head back to her dormitory. But Chen Feng stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

He frowned, his expression stern. "Qin Ju, how could you hit someone? And you even tore up your classmate's student ID!"

Chen Feng had always thought of Qin Ju as a good person, but the events of the past few days had shaken his perception of her.

Qin Ju looked at the righteousness etched on Chen Feng's face and suddenly smiled. "Oh? Did Lin Nian conveniently forget to tell you why I hit her and why I tore up her student ID?"

Lin Nian, standing nearby, tugged timidly at Chen Feng's sleeve. "Let it go, Chen Feng."

But Chen Feng shook his head. "We can't just let this go! And didn't you say it was a misunderstanding, that Qin Ju was just taking her anger out on you? But that doesn't justify hitting someone! And now, without your student ID, how will you find a job during the summer?"

As the two of them played out their little scene, Qin Ju lazily yawned, squinting like a cat basking in the sun. "What's all this about? If you two want to date, do it somewhere else. Don't block the way."

Chen Feng's face flushed a deep red. "What? We're not dating!"

Lin Nian bit her lip, her expression conflicted.

Qin Ju suddenly remembered—oh, it's only the second semester of their second year in high school. It seems these two were still in the ambiguous stage. They wouldn't officially get together until the second semester of their third year.

Qin Ju's smile widened. "Either get out of my sight right now, or I'll go tell the teacher you two are dating. Look, she's still holding onto your arm."

Chen Feng, as if burned, quickly shook off Lin Nian's grip. "I have something else to do, so I'm leaving," he stammered nervously before turning and walking away.

Lin Nian bit her lip harder as she watched Chen Feng's retreating figure. When she turned back, Qin Ju had already disappeared into the dormitory.

After all, they still lived in the same dormitory.

Lin Nian deliberately avoided Qin Ju, and the two hardly exchanged a word all night. With Lin Nian around, it wasn't convenient for Qin Ju to check her space. After organizing her belongings, she fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Qin Ju headed to the bus station. Coincidentally, Lin Nian was also there, as their hometowns were in neighboring villages. Without her student ID, Lin Nian couldn't work during the summer, so she had to go home first. Unfortunately, they ended up taking the same bus, and Lin Nian looked visibly unhappy.

Qin Ju, however, ignored her.

Qin Ju's home was in Sanjiazi Village, where most of the residents shared one of three surnames: Sun, Liu, or Qin. As the bus neared her stop, Qin Ju leaned in close to Lin Nian and whispered, "Keep your mouth shut. If you dare spread any nonsense, I'll make sure you understand the true power of rumors."

Lin Nian's body stiffened in response.

Qin Ju got off the bus with her travel bag in hand and made her way toward the Qin family home.

The Qin family was once the wealthiest in Sanjiazi Village, but over time, their fortunes waned. However, even in decline, they were still considered well-off compared to others in the village. They owned a lot of land and several houses, a testament to their former glory.

Old Master Qin had five children. His first was a daughter who had passed away. He then had two sons, Qin Bogang and Qin Zhonghui, with Qin Ju being the eldest daughter of Qin Zhonghui.

Later, Old Master Qin had another daughter, Qin Na, and a son, Qin Jiqun, who, being the youngest, was the apple of the family's eye.

(End of this chapter)