Ji Chuxing Has No Special Talents

The people who had come to see Ji Chuxing earlier also noticed Tang Chuxing.

Tang Chuxing had no choice but to step forward, her expression resolute despite the unease bubbling beneath the surface.

"This time, it was indeed our mistake. We caused psychological harm to Classmate Ji, and she has every right not to forgive us. Everyone, please stop pressuring her. Let's go back, sincerely apologize, and accept whatever punishment comes our way. I'll stand by you all as we work together to make amends."

Her words struck a chord with her small group of devoted fans, tears welling up in their eyes.

"No, Chuxin! This has nothing to do with you. We'll take full responsibility for our actions!" one of them exclaimed passionately.

"Exactly," another chimed in. "If others refuse to forgive us, then we'll just have to become better versions of ourselves!"

But Zhao Feifei, seething with anger, couldn't hold back any longer. "Tang Chuxing, aren't you nauseating? Playing the innocent victim so often that you've perfected the art of manipulation? Did pretending to be pure finally turn you into a scheming opportunist? Goddess Ji doesn't owe you forgiveness, and yet here you are, acting like you're the ones wronged!"

Tang Chuxing's face faltered slightly, her voice tinged with hurt. "Feifei, I know you don't like me, but I'm being sincere."

Zhao Feifei rolled her eyes in disgust. "Are you addicted to this act or something? You're laying it on thicker than ever."

Lu Xing, the blunt and straightforward guy, finally caught on to the tension in the air. "I always thought there was something off about the way you talk—so this is what they mean by 'playing innocent.' Thanks for the lesson. But hey, even if you're insufferable, I still don't hit women."

Wen Xinyue's face paled at his words. "Lu Xing! What exactly are you planning to do?"

Lu Xing smirked, glancing around at the gathered crowd. "What? Haven't you all heard how I ended up transferring to Nan High School? Push me too far, and I might just pull another stunt like last time."

The reminder sent a ripple through the group. Rumors had spread about Lu Xing causing trouble at his previous school, which led to his transfer.

Tang Chuxing and her companions exchanged uneasy glances.

Lu Xing cracked his knuckles, his posture suggesting he was ready to throw a punch if provoked.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. Seizing the opportunity, the group hastily dispersed, leaving Class 16 behind.

Tang Chuxing had initially hoped to approach Ji Chuxing to plead her case and reinforce her image as a kind-hearted person. Instead, she left feeling humiliated and rejected.

With both Lu Xing and Zhao Feifei clearly protective of Ji Chuxing, Tang Chuxing knew better than to provoke them further. This plan, it seemed, was a dead end.

Still, she couldn't shake off the indignation simmering inside her. In all of Nan High School, no one had ever treated her with such blatant disregard—except for Lu Xing. Though she looked down on him, his attitude still rankled.

"Lu Xing," she muttered under her breath, her jaw tightening. "One day, I'll make you kneel before me."

---

To mitigate the online backlash, Tang Chuxin reluctantly joined her loyal followers in cleaning the school grounds and emptying trash bins.

Of course, her fans wouldn't let her lift a finger. Every time she made a move to help, someone would rush over to stop her, insisting she only needed to put on a show of effort.

As one of her closest friends, Wen Xinyue naturally came to assist.

Though Tang Chuxin had stumbled once, the influence of the Tang family ensured the trending topic was quickly buried. By mid-afternoon, she felt marginally more at ease.

For now, she could afford to push the matter out of her mind.

The two girls huddled together, whispering conspiratorially.

"Xinyue, isn't Ji Chuxing from the countryside? They said she was timid when she first arrived at Nan High School, but now…" Tang Chuxing trailed off, her brow furrowing. Something about the situation didn't sit right with her.

Wen Xinyue hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "She got into an argument with my mom and ran away from home. While she was out there, she met some… friends. Her personality changed after that."

She spoke with a hint of shame, her cheeks flushing faintly.

Tang Chuxing immediately understood. Years spent navigating the entertainment industry had taught her exactly what kind of "friends" Wen Xinyue was referring to.

No wonder Ji Chuxing had grown so bold. She must have found someone to back her up. That face of hers was enough to attract support. But in Nan City, who could possibly stand against the combined influence of the Tang and Wen families—and for how long?

Ji Chuxing, Tang Chuxing thought bitterly, would soon learn who truly held power in this city. Especially considering how she'd ignored her earlier that morning, Tang Chuxing felt a fresh wave of irritation wash over her.

Changing the subject, she asked, "When is Brother Liming coming back?"

Wen Liming, the second son of the Wen family and Wen Xinyue's older brother, was rumored to be the intended match for a potential alliance between the Wen and Tang families.

Though born into wealth, Wen Liming had little interest in family affairs. He rose to fame as a prodigious musician in his youth and, at just twenty-two, was already a celebrated figure in China's music scene.

At the mention of her brother, Wen Xinyue smiled. "Second Brother is busy preparing for his next concert. He's probably in seclusion right now. That's why he hasn't stepped in to help with this situation. Why are you so concerned?"

"Oh, I know he'd help me if he knew," Tang Chuxing replied breezily. "Why are you being so nosy?"

"We're practically family already. What's there to gossip about?" Wen Xinyue teased.

Tang Chuxing blushed, waving her off. "I'm not talking to you anymore."

The two were still whispering when the dismissal bell rang. As they prepared to leave, they spotted Ji Chuxing approaching from a distance.

She was carrying her usual black backpack, her expression distant and preoccupied. Seeing her, Tang Chuxing narrowed her eyes and walked over. "Classmate Ji, about what happened this morning…"

Ji Chuxing's thoughts were elsewhere, and she had no intention of engaging with anyone she deemed irrelevant.

Tang Chuxing hadn't planned to approach her, but the memory of Ji Chuxing's indifferent glance earlier gnawed at her. How dare she rely on her pretty face to find a protector and then ignore her like that?

No one at Nan High School had ever treated her with such disdain!

To her astonishment, Ji Chuxing continued to ignore her completely, not sparing her even a glance.

Tang Chuxing's face stiffened. "Classmate Ji!"

Wen Xinyue stepped in front of Ji Chuxing, trying to mediate. "Sister, Chuxin is calling you. Even if you're still upset, you shouldn't ignore her entirely."

Ji Chuxing finally stopped, though her interruption was met with visible impatience. "Who are you? Do I know you?"

Neither Tang Chuxing nor Wen Xinyue expected those words to leave Ji Chuxing's lips.

Even though she had been ignored before, hearing those words spoken aloud stung Tang Chuxing deeply. She was the nation's darling, beloved across the country. No one had ever dared to say, "Do I know you?" to her face.

"You don't know me?" Tang Chuxing repeated, incredulous.

"Why should I?" Ji Chuxing shot back coolly before turning on her heel and heading toward the science building.

Tang Chuxing's face darkened with barely suppressed fury.

How dare Ji Chuxing treat her this way—not once, but twice! Who gave her the audacity to act so arrogantly?

Wen Xinyue hesitated, attempting to smooth things over. "Chuxin, maybe she didn't mean it. She's probably just upset."

"Forget it," Tang Chuxing forced a smile, though her clenched fists betrayed her true feelings. "She's right. She has every right not to forgive me. After all, the incident just happened, and she can still be angry."

Wen Xinyue didn't press the issue, merely offering a faint smile.

Many of Tang Chuxing's fans nearby watched the exchange, feeling sorry for her.

Tang Chuxing reassured them, her tone gentle. "It's okay. It's not Classmate Ji's fault. I didn't handle things properly."

"This has nothing to do with you," one fan insisted. "If she had spoken nicely, none of this would have happened. Don't take it to heart—she's just a poor student, not worth your time."

Tang Chuxing offered a bitter smile, saying nothing.

She turned to watch Ji Chuxing's retreating figure. "Isn't that the science building? What's she doing there?"

"I think she's going to clean," Wen Xinyue replied uncertainly.

"By the way, I heard you're working with Professor Wu on an experiment. Congratulations."

"I'm just assisting," Wen Xinyue demurred. "It's an honor that Professor Wu chose me. Speaking of which, even though you're back to prepare for exams, will you still participate in the arts competition this year?"

"Of course. This is the last competition of my high school career. I've won the cello performance award for two years in a row, and I don't want to leave any regrets."

Wen Xinyue nodded, smiling warmly. "You'll definitely win again this year."

"If you participate in the painting competition, you'll definitely win too."

"By the way, will Ji Chuxing participate in the competition as well?"

Wen Xinyue looked troubled. "She studied in the countryside and never took any art classes, so she doesn't have any special talents…"

"Xinyue, you're not thinking it through," Tang Chuxing interrupted. "Maybe she can sing, dance, or even paint. These are basic skills taught in school. She might not have had the chance to perform before, but this could be her opportunity. After all, it's the last and only chance in her high school career."

Who knows if she'll even have a school to attend after graduation?

This is her chance to seize the stage and create a lasting memory of her high school years.

Wen Xinyue paused, then smiled. "You're right. I overlooked that. Sister can participate in the competition. She should sign up, right?"

The two shared a knowing smile.