Chapter 9

Lunch break time.

The atmosphere in the classroom was no different from usual, because Quan Le's last words after being knocked down, spoken to preserve his dignity, were—

"No one is allowed to speak about what happened today!"

As a result, not many people knew about the incident, and the forum remained peaceful.

Song Yi was very satisfied with how Quan Le handled the situation, and after returning to the classroom, she rested her head on her desk.

Half-asleep, a hand knocked on Song Yi's desk, accompanied by a calm, detached voice saying, "Come with me for a moment."

Song Yi drowsily lifted her head to see Jiang Yiheng standing in front of her. Though somewhat reluctant, she rubbed her eyes and followed him.

At the corridor corner.

Jiang Yiheng stopped, turned around, and looked down at her, asking, "You hit Quan Le with a basketball?"

Song Yi felt a headache coming on. Wasn't everyone supposed to keep quiet about this? How did Jiang Yiheng find out? Quan Le's words were completely useless!

Song Yi asked, "May I ask which school rule I've violated this time?"

Jiang Yiheng didn't answer her question. His expression grew more serious as he said, "Song Yi, if you want to stay at Saint Slee until graduation peacefully, there are some people you shouldn't provoke."

Song Yi looked up at Jiang Yiheng with an amused expression. "What do you mean by that? Just because I'm a special honors student, I should endure others' bullying without fighting back? Is that what would satisfy you all and grant me your gracious permission to survive?"

Of course Song Yi wanted to graduate from Saint Slee peacefully and live well, but absolutely not by swallowing her pride and staying silent.

If one lives in this world always treading carefully and compromising on everything, then life itself loses its meaning.

When he met the young girl's eyes, the frankness and questioning in her gaze made Jiang Yiheng feel... guilty for a moment, instinctively wanting to look away.

Although his words were well-intentioned, he couldn't refute anything Song Yi had said. He hadn't meant it that way, but it seemed that's exactly what he had done.

Some beliefs are so deeply rooted they're like decayed leaves in the soil.

The usually cold and proud young man felt ashamed of his own words for the first time, to the point where he couldn't even look into Song Yi's clear eyes.

When the preparatory bell rang, Song Yi lost her patience and walked straight back to the classroom. seaʀᴄh thё Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Jiang Yiheng stood alone in place, silent for a long while.

*

The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye, and Song Yi was happy because she could finally get a good rest.

However, this wish was quickly dashed.

At nine o'clock on Saturday morning, Song Yi was completely dazed when she was awakened by a phone call.

Seeing Murong Huan's name on the incoming call screen, Song Yi hesitated for a few seconds before answering.

A cheerful voice came through, "I'm waiting outside your house, you have five minutes to come down."

Song Yi sat up in bed and pulled back the curtains to look down, seeing an eye-catchingly expensive Maybach parked below her building.

Song Yi expressed her current mood in a single word: "Huh?"

Murong Huan immediately became dissatisfied, "What do you mean 'huh'? Don't dawdle, I've never waited for anyone before."

With that, she hung up the phone.

Although unable to comprehend the situation, Song Yi still crawled out of bed, quickly finished her morning routine, changed clothes, and went downstairs.

The sunshine was pleasant, almost dazzling, warming anyone it touched.

Murong Huan had opened the car door and stuck her head out, waving, "Come quickly!"

Song Yi raised a hand to shield her forehead and walked to the car, asking puzzled: "Why are you here?"

Murong Huan said: "Tomorrow is Shen Yujing's birthday, what gift have you prepared for him?"

Song Yi was silent for a few seconds before answering sincerely: "Would sincere birthday wishes count?"

Murong Huan looked at her with an expression of exasperation, but only said: "Never mind, get in the car."

*

The largest mall in the Imperial Capital, a shopping paradise.

Song Yi asked puzzled: "Why are we here?"

Murong Huan linked arms with Song Yi, dragging her inside, "Of course to buy a birthday gift for Shen Yujing. Choose carefully, don't worry about the price when I'm here."

Song Yi: "No..."

Murong Huan: "Don't be polite."

Song Yi: "I haven't..."

Murong Huan: "It's fine, no need to thank me, it's just pocket change."

Song Yi: "I..."

Murong Huan: "I'll pay, take whatever you want."

Song Yi: "..."

Could she just get a word in?

Finally, Song Yi followed Murong Huan to the luxury brand counters with a numb expression.

Murong Huan was clearly a regular here, as the sales assistant immediately put down what she was doing when she saw her, enthusiastically bringing tea and snacks.

Song Yi looked at Murong Huan somewhat troubled, "We don't really need to get something so expensive, right?"

Murong Huan looked at her seriously, "I've already checked – several girls who like Shen Yujing are on the guest list for his birthday party. They're all your competitors! If your gift is too modest, they'll look down on you, and you'll lose at the starting line. I've also arranged a dress for you, though it's being air-shipped from abroad and won't arrive at your house until tonight."

Song Yi: "..."

Although she was touched and grateful for Murong Huan's kindness, the problem was that she didn't even like Shen Yujing at all.

At this moment, Murong Huan waved again, having the sales assistant bring over all the newest watch models.

Looking at the dazzling diamonds on the watches and the long string of zeros on the price tags, Song Yi felt her hands trembling slightly.

What exactly... was going on here?

Finally, under Murong Huan's expectant gaze, Song Yi could only point to the cheapest watch, though it still cost over ten thousand.

When they parted, Song Yi quietly slipped the watch into Murong Huan's pocket and got out of the car carrying an empty bag.

Song Yi didn't think Shen Yujing deserved such an expensive gift, and besides, she had thought of a more suitable present for him.

He would definitely like it.

He'd better like it.

Take it or leave it.

Sunday at five in the morning, at a hardware store in the market.

Song Yi stood at the counter and asked expressionlessly: "Excuse me, how much is your largest hammer?"

*

Sunday afternoon, at the Shen residence.

Shen Yujing's birthday party hadn't officially started yet, but most of the guests had already arrived.

The party's protagonist, Shen Yujing, was sitting at his desk, which was piled with gifts.

But none of these were what he wanted.

Until the door was knocked on once again, and Uncle Chen walked in carrying several bags, "Young Master, these are also from your classmates, everything is here now."

Shen Yujing nodded, "Alright, you can go now."

As soon as Uncle Chen left, Shen Yujing sat at his desk and began opening the gifts one by one.

A luxury brand suit – definitely not from her.

A necklace – not it.

Perfume – not it.

Car keys – certainly not from her.

...

After opening countless gifts to the point of exhaustion, Shen Yujing finally came across a special present.

A huge ordinary cardboard box, mismatched with the luxury shopping bag it came in, looking somewhat squeezed – clearly not the original packaging.

Instinct told Shen Yujing this must be the one.

He carelessly piled all the opened gifts to one side and cleared a space on his desk specifically for this present.

Tossing aside the luxury shopping bag, he placed the cardboard box on the desk and carefully opened it to reveal—

A large iron hammer.

Even bigger than the last one.

This was obviously from Song Yi.

The corners of Shen Yujing's lips curved upward as he picked up this utterly ordinary iron hammer to examine it carefully.

Look at that wooden handle, and the slightly rusty head – it couldn't have cost more than fifty yuan.

But that didn't matter. What mattered was that he and Song Yi were of one mind.

Shen Yujing pulled open the first drawer on his left and took out a pink gift box.

Inside lay a beautiful necklace, but this was no ordinary necklace.

Upon closer inspection, the pendant was made of a pink crystal carved into a hammer shape, with diamonds forming the hammerhead – perhaps not the most elegant piece, but certainly expensive.

Shen Yujing thought—

They must be the first couple in the world to use a hammer as their token of love.