Ch 84: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

Hearing the system’s reply, Ruan Cha slowly sank into her chair, sitting in a daze for a long time. In the first timeline, Yu Zheng had manipulated Ren Qingqing into targeting her, and even planted suggestions during psychological treatment to push “Ruan Cha” toward suicide. Could it all have been part of some twisted plan to save someone in a coma?

But then why did Yu Zheng go after her parents, and the Liang family?

Forcing herself to calm down, Ruan Cha looked up at the system. “1128, do you know anything about the forbidden spell Yu Zheng used? Do you have any stored data on it?”

【Yes, Classmate Ruan Cha. My database contains some early records. Would you like to see them now?】

“Print a copy for me.”

Almost as soon as she spoke, several A4 documents appeared on the desk in front of her. Ruan Cha blinked slowly, then reopened her eyes and focused on the printed text, sinking into the dense content.

The material was very detailed. From it, Ruan Cha learned that what System 1128 called a “forbidden spell” was essentially a life-swap ritual.

If someone had died within two days, there was a chance to exchange that fate with someone still living. Of course, the person performing the ritual would also suffer severe backlash—unless…

The one whose life was to be taken had already developed a death wish.

As soon as she saw the words “death wish,” Ruan Cha’s suspicions were completely confirmed.

In the first timeline, didn’t Yu Zheng appear under the guise of a psychologist to subtly suggest that “Ruan Cha” commit suicide?

The forbidden spell had two conditions: first, the intended life-swap target had to harbor a desire to die. Second, both participants had to be in an enclosed space—one in the Yin side of the Bagua, the other in the Yang.

“1128, the first person Yu Zheng killed—did he hurt that person’s family too?”

【No. That first person was an orphan. She was Yu Zheng’s… senior in school.】

The system thought for a moment, then added:

【As for the forbidden spell, I don’t have detailed knowledge since I’d already unbound myself from Yu Zheng by then. But if he failed the first time, the requirements for a second attempt would be even more severe. His targeting of you and your family may be linked to that.】

Ruan Cha pushed the document forward. “1128, send a copy of this to my grandpa anonymously online. Then, use the stored DNA sample to locate Yu Zheng and send the location to Grandpa Shen.”

With Yu Zheng coming after her and the Liang family, Ruan Cha hoped her grandfather could be prepared.

【Classmate Ruan Cha, I can only track DNA twice within six months. Are you sure Grandpa Shen can handle Yu Zheng?】

“Not really sure,” Ruan Cha admitted, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. “Given where Yu Zheng’s hiding, I’d guess there’s very tight surveillance.”

She was curious—why had Yu Zheng needed the system in the first timeline to go after the Liang family? With his skills, he should have been able to break into Liang Corporation’s firewalls easily. But he didn’t. Maybe there was some restriction preventing him from making a direct move?

“But just because he prepared one or two backup plans perfectly doesn’t mean he’s ready for three or four. Based on his personality…” Ruan Cha paused, recalling what she’d learned from studying psychology. “There’s a high chance he only prepared one. The raid on his lab might’ve caught him off guard.”

【Okay, I’ll get to work.】

“Wait.” Ruan Cha stopped the system, then asked after some thought, “The person Yu Zheng originally tried to save—did she also have TS genetic deficiency? And another thing—can a normal person develop TS genetic symptoms due to certain medications?”

【Classmate Ruan Cha guessed correctly. The person Yu Zheng wanted to save… she was already his girlfriend when I bonded with him. They were very close. But later, her health declined suddenly, with joint pain and weakness. Yu Zheng sought help from many doctors before deciding to study medicine and metaphysics himself.】

【As for your second question—yes. There’s an 80% chance a normal person can develop TS symptoms due to medication.】

Ruan Cha nodded. If her second guess was right, then Yu Zhiyan… might also be a victim. From the moment he was adopted by Yu Zheng, he’d been trapped in a scheme.

“1128, wait until tomorrow morning to send everything. I’m afraid Grandpa and Grandpa Shen won’t be able to sleep tonight if they read it now.”

【Understood.】

This time, System 1128 didn’t act playfully like it usually did. Quietly, it rolled back into the antivirus program, planning to sort through the chaotic mess of data left untouched for years.

Having worked with the system for a while, Ruan Cha could tell it was feeling low. She offered a rare word of comfort. “1128, even if you hadn’t bonded with Yu Zheng, he still would’ve found a way to hurt that person. And the forbidden spell—he’s the one who discovered it, not you.”

【Thank you, Classmate Ruan Cha. I understand.】

Ruan Cha reached out and tapped the antivirus program’s interface. “Mm, if everything goes smoothly, we’ll be able to deal with Yu Zheng very soon. When the time comes, give it your all and hit him hard—vent it all out.”

“Very soon” wasn’t an exaggeration.

The system needed a large amount of energy to unlock the database, but that energy wouldn’t disappear afterward. Instead, it would remain stored in the energy pool, only being consumed when used to attack someone.

Ruan Cha did a rough estimate. If she kept reading two books a day, then in about a month and a half, the system would have enough energy to launch an attack on Yu Zheng’s mental domain.

She’d make that bastard turn into a complete idiot.

The system turned itself into a little chalk drawing on the panel and nodded excitedly.

【Mmhm!】

The next moment, its speed in sorting the database increased dramatically. Classmate Ruan Cha didn’t just trust it—she even comforted it. It couldn’t let her down!

——

The next day.

While Ruan Cha was on her way to school, a student snapped a picture of the school bulletin board and uploaded it to the school forum.

In the announcement, the results of the three students who participated in the advancement exam were revealed: Ruan Cha scored 746, Fu Chen 743, and Xu Nan 668. All three of them had clearly surpassed the 600-point threshold to qualify for grade skipping!

The notice also mentioned that the school had spoken to the three students that morning and received the following responses: Ruan Cha and Fu Chen would be advancing to the top class in the senior year (Class 1), while Xu Nan chose to remain in Class 1 of the second year to solidify her foundation.

3L: Say it loud—they’re incredible! All three of them are insane!

15L: Ruan Cha beat Fu Chen again hahaha, go girls!

16L: Hey sis above, watch the phrasing—don’t say she “beat” him! But yeah, she’s amazing!

69L: Wuwuwu, thank god Goddess Nan is staying in Year 2—speaking as a humble admirer.

109L: Hahahahaha y’all better go look! The original poster who said Ruan Cha wouldn’t pass is now saying she cheated, and got destroyed by Little F!

[Thread: 818—Looks like someone’s gotten cocky after taking first place twice and actually thinks she can skip a grade to senior year.]

OP: 746 points… None of you find it suspicious that Ruan Cha scored between 746 and 747 on all her tests—midterm, finals, and now advancement? In all the years of college entrance exams, how often does that happen? She seriously thinks she’s the next prodigy like that kid from three years ago? Maybe she’s using some kind of cheating trick.

568L: OP, shut up already! Stop showing off your superior IQ! I got confirmation straight from the source—there were four proctors that day, led by The Black-Faced Demon. You think anyone could cheat under his watch? Want to try and see for yourself? — [Pic: proctor][Pic: proctor][Pic: The Black-Faced Demon]

579L: I checked with the forum admin. OP’s account isn’t linked to a student ID, no wonder they’re so bold about tossing out cheating accusations—they think we won’t find out who they are.

584L: Hahahaha seriously though, gotta admit one thing—OP’s got great skin. That’s some thick skin right there!

“Damn it!”

In the dorm, Zheng Wei sat with a dark expression, staring at the growing flood of angry replies in the thread. They were saying Ruan Cha didn’t cheat? Impossible!

Unless she had some superhuman brain that could memorize everything at a glance, how could she review three semesters in one and score 746 points? What a joke!

Looking at comment 579, Zheng Wei sneered. That’s right—his thread-starter account wasn’t linked to a student ID, and he used the school’s public Wi-Fi. No one could trace it back to him!

Meanwhile, sitting in a car and watching high-definition footage via the system, Ruan Cha saw that comment and noticed Zheng Wei gearing up to reply again. She calmly said to the system, “Switch the account he’s replying with to the one tied to his student card.”

【Got it!】

Ruan Cha let out a soft sigh. She used to find the system’s functions a bit terrifying. Now, she was starting to use them herself to play mind games with others.

Just seconds after the system responded, Zheng Wei typed furiously and posted a new reply.

Moments later, some sharp-eyed users in the thread realized something was off—a comment had been posted using the tone of the original poster (lz), but the username showed as “aa” instead. Did the OP slip up and use the wrong account?!!

611L: Am I wrong?! Ruan Cha’s a girl—how good can her logic be?! Reviewing three semesters in one and scoring like that? What a joke! Four proctors? Big deal. Maybe her family’s just waiting for her to jump to senior year so they can donate another 30 buildings!

Zheng Wei, always terrified of being mocked, saw red. Hiding behind an unlinked account, he felt bold—enough to even question the school and its teachers.

He even casually insulted girls in STEM.

Which meant he’d probably done it in his head countless times before.

612L: LZ, stop being a sore loser. This is just about you not wanting to clean toilets for a whole semester, right? And now you’re insulting girls in science? You’re embarrassing all of us guys!

Zheng Wei, still unaware his alias had switched from “lz” to “aa,” instantly typed back: “I’m afraid of cleaning toilets?! I’m afraid of our school’s reputation being ruined by some spoiled rich cheater like Ruan Cha?!”

Before Ruan Cha even had time to tell the system to upload the prepared evidence, a red system admin account appeared.

615L: Both the “lz” and “aa” accounts have now been banned. After investigation, both belong to the same person—Zheng Wei, a student at this school. His defamatory remarks toward fellow students and teachers are being taken seriously. The school will be handling the matter. Please be advised.

For a solid six or seven seconds, the entire thread went silent—then new comments burst forth.

616L: Little F here, I’ll be live-reporting the school’s punishment of Zheng Wei AND personally checking whether he’s scrubbing toilets or not!

Zheng Wei stared at his now-banned account, face pale, legs giving way as he slumped into his chair. Sweat beaded on his forehead, lips trembling so much he nearly dropped his phone.

It was over. Completely over.

Everything he’d said in that thread… had been seen by the school administrators!

Creak.

The dorm room door opened. His roommate, having already heard the gossip on his way back from the bathroom, glanced at the pale-faced Zheng Wei, scoffed, and muttered, “Backstabbing scumbag.”

Grabbing his school jacket and getting ready to leave again, he sneered, “You can’t even make it into Class 1, yet you have the nerve to insult Ruan Cha and diss all the girls in school? Try stepping outside—see if any girl on campus gives you the time of day.”

What a disgrace to men.

“Sharing a dorm with you is embarrassing.”

With that, the roommate slammed the door and left.

Zheng Wei gripped his head in his trembling hands, burying his face. Regret filled his eyes. Why hadn’t he checked which account he was logged into before posting?!

——

By the time Ruan Cha arrived at Second High, the incident had already died down.

As soon as she stepped into Class 1, a loud round of applause erupted.

Though it was still early and only a dozen or so students were in the classroom, they clapped like there were a hundred.

Fu Chen glanced at Ruan Cha, who stood stunned by the door, and lowered his voice with a soft smile, “They did the same thing when I got here. Same for Xu Nan.”

Hearing that, Ruan Cha finally let out a breath and felt the pressure on her chest lift.

Once the clapping stopped, she stuffed her bag into her desk and put on a mock frown. “I thought you guys might at least pretend to miss us a little, but it seems like you’re counting down the minutes until Fu Chen and I head off to senior year.”

“Unfair! That’s slander!” Ji Feiyang raised his hand dramatically. “We’re clapping because we’re proud of you. You three brought glory to our class—and shut down that jerk Zheng Wei. Four proctors watching, and he still had the nerve to cry ‘cheating’? Shameful!”

He was absolutely going to supervise Zheng Wei scrubbing toilets himself—justice for Ruan Cha!

Ruan Cha and Fu Chen exchanged a glance and both chuckled.

They had feared someone might try to twist the truth and accuse them of cheating, so they had deliberately requested more proctors. Turns out it really paid off.

Xu Nan, sitting at her desk, smiled faintly.

Her score in the test had been decent, but not quite her usual level. She chose to stay in sophomore year, worried that going to senior year might impact her college entrance exam performance.

Besides, with Fu Chen going with Ruan Cha, she knew her friend wouldn’t be bullied.

Even so, now that two top students—both brilliant and beautiful—were leaving, the class couldn’t help feeling like they’d lost a fortune.

Correction: two fortunes!

Even homeroom teacher Wang was feeling bittersweet.

Still, she offered sincere encouragement. “It’ll be tougher in senior year—you’ll be jumping into the middle of second-round review. But I hope both of you can achieve great results in the college entrance exams and keep making our class proud.”

Ruan Cha raised her hand. “Teacher, Fu Chen and I will work hard!”

Everyone thought she was speaking for Fu Chen because he rarely responded to teachers directly, usually just giving a smile or a polite thank-you.

But the next second, Fu Chen followed up without missing a beat, “Mm. Teacher, Ruan Cha and I will work hard.”

Homeroom Teacher Wang: “…”

Did she imagine it, or had he just completely copied her?

Classmates: “…”

Fu Chen, you really are lazy—couldn’t even change the wording!