3

Facing my questioning, a trace of guilt flashed across Gu Pei's face.

No idea how he disparages me to elevate himself while sitting in my family's car.

Probably afraid of exposing his lies if he keeps talking, Gu Pei walked over, his tone softened a bit: "Forget about the medicine, did you bring the ginger tea?"

"I drank it myself." I replied irritably.

"What? You drank it? I only asked you to buy it because Shen Meng's stomach hurt so much, what were you thinking by drinking it? You..."

"I feel just as awful as she does now. She's coddled for a stomach ache, but I have to endure mine alone, is that it?"

I shed my previously compliant demeanor, leaving Gu Pei speechless with my retort,

"Besides, I spent my own money to buy ginger tea for myself. When did it become your place to criticize?"

"You! Xiao Qing, you're something else! If you have any guts, don't come begging to me!"

With that, Gu Pei had a sullen expression and ignored me.

Beg you? Ha, this suits me just fine. I wonder how you'll keep up your act as a Maybach prince.

The Maybach parked at the gate to pick me up after school.

I stepped out of the school gate and went straight to the car.

The whole school now knows I've offended Gu Pei, waiting to see me make a fool of myself.

Seeing me "shamelessly" get in the car, they couldn't help but point and whisper, some even openly mocking.

"Didn't she fall out with our school's heartthrob? How can she still have the audacity to keep hitching rides in someone else's car?"

"Just a servant's daughter, does she think she's the master now? Even the heartthrob hasn't arrived, and she dares get in."

I couldn't be bothered with these people, just a bunch of fickle fence-sitters anyway.

Once in the car, I directly instructed, "Drive."

The driver was Gu Pei's mother, my family's maid Aunt Zhang; she turned around, her face full of shock and looked at me,

"What are you saying? Young master Gu Pei hasn't arrived yet; how can we leave?"

Thinking back, Gu Pei and his mother are alike. We took them in as maids out of kindness, and now they want to rise to power.

Especially Aunt Zhang, she even dares to show the airs of a mother-in-law when she sees me now.

"Aunt Zhang, my dad only has one daughter—me. What kind of young master is Gu Pei?"

"This…" Aunt Zhang froze, her eyes darted around, "Did you fight with Gu Pei? Qingqing, don't worry, I'll make sure to give him a good talking to!"

"No need." I said indifferently, "Just drive. I don't want to travel with him, nor do I wish to see him in the future."

"Ah, it's just along the way; saves me another trip and wasting fuel money!" Aunt Zhang mulled over for a while but could only muster this clumsy excuse.

"Save fuel?" I sneered. "This car is exclusively for picking me up from school. Even if it's idle, you don't get to use it. What? A couple of drives and you think it's yours?"

Aunt Zhang was stunned, not expecting my sudden change.

Yet she remained standing, showing no intention to drive.

"Are you leaving or not?" I frowned.

Ingrates, people like her aren't even worthy of serving our family. If it weren't for my past infatuation clouding my judgment for Gu Pei's sake, speaking on her behalf, she wouldn't have stayed here.

Couldn't believe they're now ignoring my words. Probably plotting together to control me.

"Hey, they're coming out!" Seeing Gu Pei appear at the gate, Aunt Zhang hurriedly changed the subject and got out of the car.

Gu Pei supported Shen Meng, and they came to the car.

Aunt Zhang opened the car door for him, and Gu Pei was about to help Shen Meng into the car.

Yet I sat inside, showing no intention to move.

Gu Pei frowned at me, about to scold me, but this time I spoke first.

"Who gave you permission to ride in my car?"