Ch 22: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

A few seconds later, her phone buzzed again.

[Fu Chen]: Want to take first place?

Ruan Cha glanced at the message and typed back: “I do.”

Not just want—it was a necessity.

If she could take first place, she could completely suppress Ren Qingqing. The upgraded system, now at version 2.0, had probably calculated by now that Ren Qingqing’s success rate for rote memorization tasks was effectively zero.

Ruan Cha understood: if she approached things like Fu Chen—striving for excellence and consistently taking first place—she would not only stop being passive in the face of the system and Ren Qingqing but also take control of the situation.

With someone like her blocking the way at the top, the system would no longer set tasks for Ren Qingqing with modest goals like “Top 30” or “Top 3.” It would push her to aim for “First, first, first!”

Could the current Ren Qingqing achieve first place across every subject? The probability was slim. And unless Ren Qingqing was completely foolish, she would soon switch to the A-task path.

But…

Ruan Cha sighed, her lazy gaze dropping. Just thinking about it was exhausting. It was way too hard for a slacker like her to keep up such a pace. o(╥﹏╥)o

[Fu Chen]: Good.

Seeing the new message, Ruan Cha carefully reread the single word “Good” several times. Somehow, she detected a strange sense of certainty in it.

“Ruan Cha.”

A soft voice sounded from behind her. Ruan Cha’s expression immediately turned icy. She turned her head to see Ren Qingqing, all smiles and looking smug, walking toward her.

Ruan Cha: “…”

Feet, behave. Remember, don’t kick her in front of the school gates!

Ren Qingqing, recalling her freshly issued system task, smiled even more brightly as she stopped in front of Ruan Cha. “Ruan Cha, I’m performing a duet with Xu Shen at the art festival. Have you prepared anything yet?”

Ren Qingqing genuinely felt that the system task was tailor-made for her. As someone who had studied piano since childhood and had been told by her teacher that with three to four more years of training, she could qualify for Juilliard, how could she possibly fail to rank in the top three? The very thought was laughable.

And Ruan Cha?

Raised in a small town, what arts could she have possibly learned? Spending time on horseback riding must have already strained her schedule.

Ruan Cha, no longer concerned about maintaining any pretense of camaraderie, chuckled coldly. “A performance? One that’ll make you cry your way to heaven. Want to see it?”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, ignoring the stiff expression on Ren Qingqing’s face. Running into someone coveting her intelligence and looks so early in the morning was truly unlucky.

Ren Qingqing stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. She never expected the usually lazy, indifferent Ruan Cha to say something so pointedly aggressive.

But as she thought it over, a smug smile spread across her face. Clearly, Ruan Cha’s performance wasn’t well-prepared. Being questioned had clearly hit a sore spot. Between a novice and a seasoned performer, it was obvious whose scores would be higher.

Ren Qingqing smiled to herself, her attitude toward the system softening. “System, thank you.”

The system paused briefly at her words.

[System]: Host, based on calculations, the A-task has greater rewards than—

Ren Qingqing’s smile faded as she interrupted sharply, “Enough! I said I know what I’m doing!”

[System]: Understood, Host.

The system answered methodically, its programmed lines of code flashing rapidly. Amid them, a single phrase surfaced: Humans, how hypocritical.

Ren Qingqing couldn’t care less about the system’s thoughts. When she first bonded with it, she received 20 points. According to the system, she should have chosen the A-tasks and used 20 points to unlock the shop.

However, if she wanted to gain 10 beauty points, the A-task route required completing 100 tasks. In contrast, the B-tasks only needed three to ten completions. The massive time gap was impossible to ignore.

Now, after four failed tasks and using points to exchange for mock exam papers, she only had 13 points left. To spend another 10 points converting to A-tasks?

Am I stupid?

If the system hadn’t upgraded, Ren Qingqing might have considered it, given the danger of running out of points. But now, the tasks it assigned were clearly advantageous to her, weren’t they?

Smirking with satisfaction, Ren Qingqing resolved not to let Ruan Cha seize the upper hand in completing tasks again.

---

Class 10.

“Oh my god! Cha Cha, did you hear? Major news! Huge news!”

As soon as Ruan Cha entered the classroom, Huang Jiajia came rushing over like a whirlwind, waving both hands in the air for emphasis.

Her voice, naturally loud, was practically audible across the entire floor. “Lin Ling was taken to the police station!”

“Really?” Ruan Cha widened her eyes, feigning shock for a solid six seconds. “Lin Ling was actually taken to the station?”

Huang Jiajia, mid-excitement, suddenly paused, her expression skeptical. “Cha Cha, they say that when someone’s shocked expression lasts that long, they’re usually faking it.”

Ruan Cha: “…”

“My second cousin already told me this morning.”

She slung her backpack onto her chair, catching sight of one of Lin Ling’s former supporters passionately badmouthing her to classmates in the back row. The boy was critiquing everything from Lin Ling’s personality to her grades, even her appearance, as if he’d completely forgotten how he used to grovel at her feet.

Noticing Ruan Cha, Xie Chang’an sidled over. “Ruan Cha, who do you think Lin Ling tried to mess with?” Lowering his voice, he added, “I heard she incited people to… assault a female classmate.”

Honestly, Xie Chang’an couldn’t wrap his head around it. Lin Ling was a girl herself—why would she go out of her way to harm another girl?

Huang Jiajia pulled out her phone and showed Ruan Cha a page from the school’s [Bijiang] forum. “Cha Cha, look. The forum’s been completely dominated by Lin Ling’s scandal. People have dug up all sorts of dirt on her.”

Scrolling through the posts, Ruan Cha saw allegations of bullying, pressuring classmates to the point of attempted suicide, and countless other accusations—some credible, others dubious.

The three of them leaned in, heads together, reading the posts. Huang Jiajia added, “Oh, and I overheard my dad say that Lin Ling’s family business is having financial trouble. Looks like Lin Ling messed with someone she really shouldn’t have.”

Ruan Cha didn’t respond, keeping her thoughts to herself.

Though that night, she had taught the muscle-bound man and the bald man a harsh lesson without letting them lay a finger on anyone, the Liang family’s confidentiality measures were impeccable. Aside from Liang Cunjin, who had witnessed the latter half of the incident, only Zhou Xiaoran knew what had happened.

And Zhou Xiaoran was now at the police station as a witness. As for herself, Ruan Cha rubbed her nose. That morning, she had encountered police officers at home and given a brief statement.

Before leaving, the upright-looking officer had asked thoughtfully, “Young lady, have you ever considered applying to a military or police academy in the future?”

To beat two grown men to that state without causing any lasting damage wasn’t something just anyone could do.

Catching the implication in the officer’s eyes, Ruan Cha was speechless: I’m not, I didn’t, don’t make things up!

---

The first period in Class 10 was math. Homeroom teacher Liao Lan arrived early, scanned the room, and cleared her throat. “I have two announcements. First, regarding Lin Ling’s situation, I hope everyone will view it with caution. Treat it as a lesson and stay vigilant. High school is your last two years of the most innocent campus life; don’t pick up bad habits from questionable individuals outside.”

Though Liao Lan’s words suggested caution, her tone was noticeably biased. She was well aware of Lin Ling’s past, including an incident where a classmate nearly attempted suicide because of her. That matter had been suppressed by the school due to pressure from the Lin and Chen families.

Most students in the class, except for Ruan Cha, had grown up attending various social gatherings and understood the importance of maintaining a good reputation in elite circles. Families with any standing would never allow someone with a record of inciting criminal behavior to marry into their household. While some families weren’t above resorting to underhanded tactics, they at least kept their actions well-hidden to avoid public scandals.

Lin Ling’s situation had become a hot topic not only at school but also among reporters, who were now camping outside the police station, awaiting further developments. Still, most people understood that Lin Ling, being young and having caused no grave harm, wouldn’t face particularly severe consequences.

Even Lin Ling herself understood this. But despite that, she had a breakdown upon meeting the police. Part of it was fear, but the greater part was the realization that her reputation in social circles was utterly ruined.

For someone who hadn’t yet officially entered high society to lose their standing, how could the Xu family possibly consider her anymore?

Meanwhile, the Lin family’s company stock, implicated by Lin Ling’s actions, had started to plummet that very morning, with no signs of stopping. Whether the cause was human intervention or not, no one cared. Rivalries and overlapping interests among elite families meant everyone would chip in to worsen Lin Ling’s plight, leaving the Lin family scrambling in the coming days.

---

“Second,” Liao Lan continued, “Zhou Xiaoran will be taking a temporary leave of absence due to special circumstances.”

Ruan Cha paused mid-page-turn, while her classmates began speculating. The timing of the two announcements was too coincidental. Many suspected that Zhou Xiaoran was the student Lin Ling had tried to harm.

At that moment, Ruan Cha understood the meaning behind something Liang Cunjin had casually said that morning, while munching on a steamed bun: “Cha Cha, when you get to school, don’t worry about being talked about. Someone else will draw all the attention. Some people, after all, must pay the price for their actions.”

Liang Cunjin, having witnessed the latter part of the incident, naturally understood the entire context. Regardless of whether Zhou Xiaoran believed Lin Ling’s hired goons could actually harm Ruan Cha, the act of scheming itself was inexcusable.

That evening, Ruan Cha didn’t have to attend evening self-study due to English club rehearsals. On her way to the club, she walked while engrossed in her vocabulary book, reading as she moved with surprising speed.

It wasn’t until the third time she instinctively avoided an obstacle that she realized something was amiss. She looked up abruptly, only to see Fu Chen standing there, gazing at her with a mix of amusement and helplessness.

“You’re quite dedicated to your studies,” Fu Chen remarked. Then, with a sudden smile that softened the corners of his eyes, he added, “But what really impresses me is your ability to navigate obstacles without looking up. It rivals a sleepwalker’s.”

Ruan Cha: “…”

Oh my God, did I just develop a superpower from a month of serious studying?

She put away her notes and fell into step beside Fu Chen as they headed toward the English club’s classroom. Tilting her head, she asked, “Don’t you have a student council meeting tonight?”

After a few days of attending the English club, Ruan Cha had picked up on some details of Fu Chen’s schedule. While the club’s resources and funding largely came from his sponsorship, he rarely involved himself in day-to-day operations.

“The meeting got moved to tomorrow.” Fu Chen glanced at her face briefly, noting that she seemed as composed as usual, and felt a subtle sense of relief.

The incident in the alley the night before had been swiftly suppressed by the Liang family, but the Fu family had still caught wind of it. Although their familial ties weren’t as close as before due to Fu Chen’s mother’s passing, the two families maintained intricate business connections.

The challenges facing the Lin family were the result of both Liang and Fu family interventions.

“You mentioned this morning that you hope the English club’s performance will win first place. We’ll need to revise the script later. Based on how teachers have judged performances in previous years, the current script and format would likely only rank around third or fourth.”

Ruan Cha blinked at him, reevaluating Fu Chen as if seeing him in a new light. For a brief moment, she could’ve sworn there was a halo shimmering over his head.

As they spoke, the classroom marked with the English club sign came into view. On the same floor were the Cantonese club, journalism club, culinary club, and others.

Second High had a three-story club building. Aside from sports-related clubs like basketball and tennis, most other clubs were housed there. With its sheer variety of offerings, it was more vibrant than any club scene Ruan Cha had ever seen in a school-themed anime.

The English club had two rooms: one for meetings with the president and other management, and one for activities. By the time they arrived, six or seven people were already there, including three who were participating in the club’s performance for the art festival.

One of the students, a girl with short, ear-length hair named Tang Ruobing, was also in Class One. Seeing Fu Chen and Ruan Cha enter together, her gaze flickered briefly before she broke into a hearty smile.

“Fu Chen, Ruan Cha, you’re here! Did you run into each other at the door?”

“Met halfway,” Fu Chen replied casually.

Fu Chen casually responded, his gaze falling on Chu Shuwei, who was sitting up straight. “Senior Chu, let’s talk in the office about the art festival. There are a few points we need to revise.”

“Ah, sure,” Chu Shuwei replied, scratching his head in mild distress. He couldn’t figure it out—Fu Chen was always polite and composed, but somehow, being around him felt incredibly pressuring.

Ruan Cha greeted a few acquaintances and then glanced to the side. Her eyes lit up instantly, a visible gleam of excitement appearing on her face.

On one of the classroom tables lay an open case containing an elegant erhu. The python skin was even-textured, and the rod had a smooth, lustrous finish—it was stunning, to say the least.

Seeing Ruan Cha reaching out to touch it, Tang Ruobing quickly stopped her. “Ruan Cha, that erhu was probably borrowed by Fu Chen from one of his elders. It’s made of aged redwood—not only is it incredibly valuable, but also quite rare. It’s not something money can easily buy. If you don’t already have a practice erhu you’re comfortable with, I can take you to a music shop to find one.”

Ruan Cha froze for a moment, confused. “Fu Chen borrowed this?”

Before Tang Ruobing could answer, Hua Zhonghao, who had been practicing his lines, looked up with his chubby, fair face and chimed in with a laugh. “Someone dropped it off at the door about ten minutes ago. Ruobing said it’s some kind of aged redwood ‘Phoenix’ erhu. Super valuable. Other than Fu Chen, whose family dabbles in the musical instrument business, there’s no one else in the club who could’ve gotten this.”

Tang Ruobing picked up where Hua Zhonghao left off. “Ruan Cha, it’s true you’re related to Fu Chen, but if anything were to happen to this erhu, it’d put him in a tough spot. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve known him since we were kids, like siblings, so I have to think about these things for him.”

Then, lowering her voice slightly, she added, “Honestly, I’ve been meaning to say this: while erhu and suona are unique, they might not fit the program. Using them could make the performance seem mismatched, and people—especially Fu Chen—might—”

“Why worry about being judged when you’re not even performing?” Hua Zhonghao interrupted, rolling his eyes. “Besides, Ruoge isn’t afraid of criticism. Why should anyone else be?”

“And honestly, erhu and suona make a great combo. Catch people off guard, hit them with a rollercoaster of emotions. Big laughs and big tears. I’m all in.”

Hua Zhonghao had been one of the staunchest supporters of using erhu and suona in the program and a driving force behind steering the script in a comedic direction.

Incidentally, Ruan Cha had only suggested erhu and suona as a casual idea while reviewing the revised script. She hadn’t expected the club members to be so enthusiastic about having her perform both.

Tang Ruobing, while rebutted, didn’t appear upset. With a magnanimous demeanor, she earnestly continued advising Ruan Cha. “I just think you shouldn’t use Fu Chen’s borrowed erhu for practice. If it gets damaged or even slightly dirty—”

“Well, ‘Little Bird’ isn’t exactly clean to begin with.” Ruan Cha scratched her head and casually lifted the erhu out of its case. Pointing to a faint white scratch on the python skin, she remarked, “See? Its first mark. I made it.”

Hua Zhonghao: “…”

Tang Ruobing: “…”

What are you even talking about???

Oblivious to their inner monologues, Ruan Cha was genuinely puzzled. Is Little Bird really that expensive?

In Grandpa Yang’s house, there were dozens of erhus, and he never bothered with their maintenance. Eventually, it was Ruan Cha, unable to bear seeing such beautiful instruments neglected, who reluctantly sacrificed her gaming time to maintain them.

The first erhu she ever worked on was “Little Bird,” but in her inexperience, she accidentally left a scratch on it.

After finishing her explanation, Ruan Cha noticed Tang Ruobing and Hua Zhonghao staring at her. Only then did she realize she needed to clarify. “Our school music room doesn’t have erhus, right? So, I borrowed one from an elder.”

Who would’ve thought Tang Ruobing would assume Fu Chen had borrowed it?

Satisfied with her clarification, Ruan Cha affectionately stroked the erhu in her hands a few more times. “Grandpa Yang said it has a very fancy official name, but it was too long for me to remember when I was a kid. So, I’ve always just called it ‘Little Bird.’”

Hearing this, Tang Ruobing’s expression grew increasingly complicated. “You call a 300-400 thousand yuan erhu with a phoenix head carving crafted through intricate techniques ‘Little Bird’? Do you think the phoenix might feel insulted?”

Her words made Ruan Cha’s eyes widen in shock. She nearly dropped the erhu in her hands. “T-three or four hundred thousand?!” She had guessed it would be expensive but hadn’t imagined “expensive” meant six figures!

Grandpa Yang, didn’t you claim you only had a bunch of worthless junk lying around?!

A room full of this “junk” must be worth at least a couple of million yuan!!!

Ruan Cha suddenly felt her past understanding of the world crumbling bit by bit. Just like how Uncle He Wuwei, who claimed to be working odd jobs to make ends meet, turned out to be Seven Star’s renowned pastry chef. And now, Grandpa Yang, who supposedly only had a room full of “useless things,” turned out to have a collection of erhus collectively worth millions.

When Fu Chen and Chu Shuwei walked out, they were greeted by the sight of three people, with Ruan Cha seemingly at the center of their attention. Fu Chen couldn’t help but ask, “What were you all doing just now?”

Still dazed by Ruan Cha’s earlier comment, Hua Zhonghao muttered, “Watching Ruan Cha… rua a bird?” A 300-400 thousand yuan “bird”…?

His words fell into a deafening silence.

“……”

Ruan Cha’s hand, still resting on the erhu, trembled slightly. Should she put it down or keep holding it?