Chapter 397: 183 Beauty (One more update)_2

Translator: 549690339

Both of them cursed his blindness in their hearts, ignoring Ming Jing, his own sister, and getting close to a white-eyed wolf like Zhu Xiangxiang. Was there something wrong with his brain? Of course, the two of them only dared to complain in private.

Zhu Shaodan spat and said, “Bullshit, there’s no way my sister could be that kind of person. If I hear anyone spreading rumors again, I’ll beat them up.”

“Alright, Young Master Dan.”

“It must be Zhu Mingjing’s doing…” cursed Zhu Shaodan.

Ji Dagui straightforwardly retorted, “Young Master Dan, Mingjing isn’t that kind of person. Don’t slander her.”

Zhou Xiang hurriedly tugged at his sleeve. Wasn’t it asking for death to say that in front of Zhu Shaodan?

Zhu Shaodan stared at him, asking with a gloomy smile, “What did you say just now?”

As if not understanding Zhou Xiang’s hint, Ji Dagui stubbornly said, “Young Master Dan, I’m saying Ming Jing is a very kind person. If you had watched the show “Three Meals a Day,” you wouldn’t say such things. It’s an insult and blasphemy to her.”

Zhu Shaodan laughed out of anger, “Well, it turns out there’s a hardcore fan of Zhu Mingjing hiding by my side.”

Zhu Shaodan looked at Zhou Xiang, “Tell me, do you like Zhu Mingjing?”

Zhou Xiang coughed, “Young Master Dan, I can’t lie against my conscience. It would be disrespectful to you, though I don’t know what deep hatred you have with Mingjing, I really like her a lot… If I could be her brother, I would wake up laughing in my dreams…”

Zhou Xiang moved away from Zhu Shaodan after speaking.

Zhu Shaodan kicked the air angrily and shouted, “Get out of my sight.”

The cafeteria was crowded at noon.

Ming Jing had just sat down with her food when Zhao Qin took the seat opposite her. Then Li Jiaojiao and Sun Qingqing arrived too.

Four people filled the table.

Everyone else stared at the table, not daring to breathe.

When did Ming Jing start hanging out with Zhao Qin and Li Jiaojiao?

“I heard about the rumor. Zhu Xiangxiang, as I expected, I had a reason to look down on her. Thank you for helping to rid the world of such evil,” Li Jiaojiao patted Ming Jing’s shoulder, treating her like a close friend.

Ming Jing furrowed her brows, “It wasn’t me.”

Li Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows, “Fine, fine, it wasn’t you. Anyway, from now on, you’re under my protection. If you need anything, just say the word.”

Ming Jing narrowed her eyes. Li Jiaojiao suddenly felt a tingling in her hand, and like she had been shocked, she removed her hand from Ming Jing’s shoulder.

“What’s the deal with your brother? Instead of giving his eyes to blind people, he actually sided with Zhu Xiangxiang. This kid is naturally rebellious. After school, let’s give him a lesson for you,” said Li Jiaojiao, full of righteousness.

“No need.”

Li Jiaojiao found that talking to Ming Jing always left her feeling frustrated, like she couldn’t get a word out. She wasn’t the kind to take it lying down. She picked up her tray and left.

Sun Qingqing was her little sidekick. Seeing her leaving, she immediately picked up her own tray and followed.

Li Jiaojiao walked a few steps, noticed that Zhao Qin hadn’t followed, turned her head, and saw her sitting opposite Ming Jing, unmoving. “Qin, are you coming or not? Why are you sticking your hot face to her cold ass?”

Zhao Qin didn’t turn her head, waved her hand, urging her to hurry on.

Li Jiaojiao stamped her foot and turned to leave.

Zhao Qin silently picked at the ribs in her bowl, “Ming Jing, last time I saw you ride well at the horse farm. Let’s go horse racing this weekend?”

Ming Jing nodded, “Alright.”

Zhao Qin propped her chin with one hand, idly picking at the ribs in her bowl with the other, staring straight at Ming Jing’s face.

Ming Jing finished her meal, picked up the tray, and stood up, “I’m done eating. You take your time.”

She left without looking back.

Zhao Qin kept staring at her retreating figure until it disappeared then tossed her tray into the sink and left.

She’d hardly touched the sweet and sour pork ribs.

With the heavy course load in the senior year of high school, every seat was piled with thick textbooks and test papers. Zhao Qin sat in the middle of the third row, the best viewpoint in the class. Her grades were average, ranking neither high nor low in the class.

She never really focused on studying. If she put her mind to it, her grades wouldn’t be this way.Zhao Qin took out a mirror, looking at her reflection from different angles, and asked her deskmate, “Am I pretty?”

Her deskmate was a boy who had the highest grades in the entire grade. He had thick glasses and was very focused on his studies.

Upon hearing Zhao Qin’s question, he turned his head and took a glance at her. His ears turned slightly red.

“Pretty.”

“Who’s prettier between me and Ming Jing?”

This was practically a life-threatening question. Xie Jue hesitated for a moment and said, “Both are beautiful.”

“No, you must tell me the answer. Who is more beautiful?”

In the school forum’s beauty voting, Ming Jing ranked number one.

Zhao Qin’s reputation overshadowed her beauty. When people mentioned her, they only thought of her arrogant and domineering identity as the daughter of the Zhaos, casting a shadow over her beauty.

Xie Jue thought carefully and said, “Ming Jing is more beautiful.”

Zhao Qin slammed the mirror on the table with a loud “bang.” Startled, the students who were resting during lunch break glanced at her with discontent. Upon seeing it was Zhao Qin, they quickly turned their heads back.

Xie Jue said with some grievance, “You asked me to tell the truth.”

Zhao Qin took a deep breath, “In what way is she more beautiful than me?”

Xie Jue said, “Actually, I have only seen her from afar and haven’t seen what she really looks like. However, I’ve heard many rumors about her, and my grandma and mother really like watching the show she participated in. They discussed how her outer beauty would fade with age, but inner beauty is the true beauty.”

Zhao Qin sneered, “Are you implying that I’m not as kind-hearted as Ming Jing?”

Xie Jue shook his head, “Ancient people said beauty lies in the bone, not the skin. You are also beautiful. Why compare yourself with others? Everyone is unique and has their own value. Comparing yourself with others will only get you deeper into trouble.”

After saying that, Xie Jue lowered his head and continued working on his test papers without looking at Zhao Qin again.

Zhao Qin looked at herself in the mirror, questioning if, in a man’s eyes, Ming Jing was really more beautiful than her.

Unable to compare in appearance, height, or grades, her family background was only slightly better than Ming Jing’s.

Zhao Qin sighed.

At that moment, Xie Jue added, “Don’t be discouraged. As long as you study hard and mend your ways, even if you can’t surpass Ming Jing, many people will still like you.”

No male student in school had ever dared to pursue Zhao Qin.

Upon hearing Xie Jue utter those words so earnestly, Zhao Qin stared at his serious eyes and snapped, “Get lost.”

Xie Jue pushed up his glasses and lowered his head with some grievance.

While Ming Jing was cold and ethereal like a fairy, she was determined to be as passionate as fire, believing she could set his heart ablaze.

Zhao Qin secretly vowed in her heart.

“Dad?” When Zhu Xiangxiang returned home after school, she saw Zhu Wentao in the living room.

She immediately rushed over excitedly.

Haven’t seen him for several days, Zhu Wentao looked much paler and thinner. He had stubble and dark circles under his eyes.

Compared to the spirited, handsome Zhu Wentao of the past, the man in front of her seemed to have aged ten years.

“You’re back.” Zhu Wentao smiled and rubbed Zhu Xiangxiang’s head with a loving and gentle look on his face.

Granny Zhu had an unhappy expression, while Lin Qing turned her head away, making the atmosphere awkward and silent.

Zhu Shaodan greeted his father stiffly and went upstairs.

There wasn’t much father-son affection between them, and now he was expected to put on a show of love with Zhu Wentao; he just couldn’t do it.

“Shaodan.” Zhu Wentao called out with a hoarse voice. Zhu Shaodan didn’t look back and continued walking.

“Miss is back.” Uncle Wen’s respectful voice came from the courtyard.

The smile on Zhu Wentao’s face disappeared instantly without a trace.