After returning to her classroom, her friends bombarded her with many questions it overwhelmed her. She also vaguely noticed that some people whispered something about her behind her back.
Based on what Feng Nian said, the whole school was shocked when they witnessed the ever so calm and noble Young Master Meng thrown into a panic state when Li Caiyi was collapsed.
Everyone saw how he carried her to the infirmary with a worried-stricken face. It created various interpretations, and new rumors were spread in no time.
Li Caiyi massaged her temple in frustration. She didn't need to ask what kind of rumor was possibly circulating right now to know what happened.
Something similar happened in her previous life, so she felt a sense of déjà vu. The only difference was that the one who Meng Renshu pursued this time wasn't Li Chunhua but Li Caiyi instead.
Of course, this rumor also reached Li Chunhua. She came barging into her classroom during break time to demand an explanation. Li Caiyi had to exert more effort to convince her she wasn't hurt and that rumor was false. She didn't know if Li Chunhua would buy that, but at least it calmed her down a bit.
Thanks to this incident, Li Caiyi had ascended from a regular student to a famous student in a day. Everyone was curious to know what kind of girl successfully took Meng Renshu's attention? Li Caiyi felt she was being watched the whole day, and she couldn't wait for school to end.
She didn't have the mood to study in the library anymore, so she headed back to Shao Jingfei's place as soon as school was over.
'',
Li Caiyi waved her hand to her friends and parted ways with them. As she walked, she checked on her phone again to see if Dai Zhiqiang had messaged her, but there was still no new message.
Thinking about Dai Zhiqiang reminded her of the figure she saw last night. If he really was Dai Zhiqiang, she should be able to see him again if she went there around the same time, right? She should try checking it one more time, just to be sure.
"Hey, you, the girl with glasses."
Li Caiyi jerked her head instinctively, knowing that she was the only person in the vicinity. She had a bad premonition when a group of 4 girls stood behind her, with an aggressive look on their faces. Their face was very familiar, but Li Caiyi would rather not remember them.
"Can I help you?" Li Caiyi asked in a distant tone, clearly expressing her disinterest.
"We want to talk with you. Spare us some of your time." One of the girls with brownish curly hair stepped forward and declared with confidence. Her manner of talking wasn't that of a person asking for a favor but of someone giving an order to a person lower than her.
A sense of déjà vu hit Li Caiyi once again. This was probably her first time meeting with this girl again after her rebirth.
Li Caiyi remembered how she used to look down and avoid them whenever she spotted them in the hallway, as though she had owed them something. It was ridiculous if she thought about it again.
"What do you want from me? If it's really important, I CAN spare you some of my time." Li Caiyi replied with a polite smile, making the curly-haired girl's mouth twitch.
"Hmph, then don't blame us for being impolite. What is your relationship with Meng Renshu?"
'So straightforward, as always,' Li Caiyi murmured inwardly. 'I know they are Meng Renshu's fans, but seriously? Asking that to a person out of the blue in the middle of the street? These girls think they have nothing to fear just because they acted in a group.'
"There's nothing between us. Though, I doubt you will believe me, even if I said that."
The curly-haired girl sneered, "You're right. If you really want us to believe you, show us the proof by staying away from him. Don't get cocky just because you are his childhood friend."
"That's right, know your place!"
"Our Senior Meng is for everyone to admire but belongs to no one!"
"You are such an eyesore by hovering around him like a moth."
Li Caiyi snorted after hearing their remarks. It was amazing how words that could easily hurt her in the past could sound so hilarious now.
In her previous life, these girls had constantly been upset with her and Li Chunhua for hoarding Meng Renshu's attention, but they dared not to bother Li Chunhua as they feared she would collapse if they hounded her. Meng Renshu wouldn't let them go if that was the case, so they could do nothing but vent their frustration to the timid and weak Li Caiyi.
They would occasionally block Li Caiyi's way or 'accidentally' nudge or trip her in the hallway, making her the laughingstock of other students. She dared not to tell this to anyone, fearing the repercussion she would receive after that would be much bigger later.
Unfortunately for them, that stupid and na?ve Li Caiyi had long gone.
"Honestly, I don't care if you guys believe me or not. And I think you're barking at the wrong tree here. Why should you vent your petty jealousy on me when it was clear that he didn't have any interest in you guys? What? He is for everyone to admire but belongs to no one? Even his mother never thinks like this; when did it become your turn to decide that?"
Li Caiyi retorted calmly, but the meaning behind her words slapped her opponent right where it hurt. The group of girls in front of her all looked angry, hearing her conceited response.
Of course, the one who yelled at first was their leader, the curly-haired one. "Hah! Look at you, acting all high and mighty just because he took pity on your sorry state. If it weren't for you playing tricks on him, how could someone like you be able to steal his attention? You must be deliberately acting pitiful in front of him to gain his sympathy, you white lotus bitch!"
Li Caiyi snickered. "If you think he is the kind of person who could easily be seduced with tricks like that, why don't you go ahead and try it? If you are incapable, then you only have yourself to blame. Don't vent it on innocent people."
"I knew it. I knew you twins were suspicious from the beginning. Both of you are just shameless bitch who liked to leech on our prince. You have finally shown us your true color!"
"You guys are funny. What's the point of pretending to be pure celestial when you are ganging up on a single person? And it's not like I'm hiding anything. My eyes were just opened to the fact that I have nothing to fear here. If you like Meng Renshu so much, then go tell him that. I have no interest in listening to it."
"Y-you! Don't get too ahead of yourself!" The curly-haired girl pushed Li Caiyi's shoulder harshly.
"Why do we have to hear that from a nobody like you? You useless waste of space! Your presence tarnishes Senior Meng's reputation!"
Li Caiyi glared at them. "What are you? A cult? What did Meng Renshu ever do to you that made you guys worship him so much? I doubted he even remembered your existence at all."
The curly-haired girl finally couldn't take it anymore. "Bitch, you are courting death!"
'',
She raised her hand high in the air, ready to swing it down full of might. However, before Li Caiyi could defend herself, someone had already stopped that hand for her.