Chapter 85: Sinister Thoughts

There were only a few comments from people who were already Ruan Cha’s fans, all written in the tone of heartbroken, exasperated motherly types.

“Sweetheart! Please, I beg you!!! Let’s just rely on your beauty, okay!!!”

“Darling, can we just be a pretty flower vase? Your beauty is more than enough—we don’t need achievements! Anything not meant for you, just let it go!”

“Sweet girl!! You need to have a clear sense of yourself, ahhhh!!”

“My dear, can’t you understand your mother’s plight? I just fought with one hundred and forty-five haters on your behalf, I’m exhausted! Can’t we agree not to compete academically? Some things really do take talent, wuwuwu!”

Ruan Cha originally hadn’t planned to respond, but she hadn’t expected to have gathered so many online fans by now.

And they all seemed to worry about her to pieces.

Ruan Cha thoughtfully squeezed her fingers.

Perhaps it was best not to let her fans fret over her anymore.

A few minutes later, Ruan Cha took the initiative to repost the trending topic with an added line: “Let the grades speak for themselves. Battle.”

As soon as this post went live, her several thousand anxious motherly fans nearly coughed up blood.

Ah, this love.

In the end, they simply couldn’t take it anymore.

...

Gu Zhenzhi slept soundly all the way till evening.

When he finally regained consciousness, the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Ruan Cha, her eyes tightly shut, head resting on the edge of his bed.

Outside, the somber dusk and golden-orange afterglow merged, faint light filtering through the glass and scattering in mottled patterns across the hospital floor.

Ruan Cha was bathed in the hazy amber light, her soft hair gently lifting in the quiet air.

Gu Zhenzhi remained motionless. Lowering his gaze, he saw nothing but her in his long, narrow eyes.

All those restless, uneasy, uncontrollable feelings—he forced himself to push them down with all his might.

He withdrew his gaze, suppressing the dark, intense emotions in his eyes.

“You’re awake?” Ruan Cha opened her eyes to find Gu Zhenzhi staring at the air with a complicated expression.

She quickly scrambled up from the bed and rubbed her eyes, her voice still a little hoarse from sleep.

“Mm.”

Gu Zhenzhi glanced at her, quickly looking away. The next moment, his voice was low and rough. “Ruan Cha, between the two of us…”

He had only just begun to speak when the girl before him suddenly straightened her back and raised a hand. “Say no more, Gu Zhenzhi. I confess, it’s all my fault. The atmosphere during that livestream was just too intense, and I lost my head for a moment and got carried away by you. From now on, I promise to seriously reflect, to clarify our relationship, and never again cause you any trouble or disturbance!”

With that, Ruan Cha pressed three fingers together.

“I, Ruan Cha, swear to the heavens—if I ever have so much as a single wicked thought about you again, may lightning strike me down!”

Her tone was powerful and resolute, her expression determined—nothing and no one in the world could shake her resolve!

And yet.

The very next second.

The sky, just moments ago bathed in gentle afterglow, was suddenly overrun with rolling clouds.

Boom—

A deafening clap of thunder rumbled, so loud it made their eardrums tremble.

Immediately after, rain poured down in torrents, as if intent on washing the world clean.

Ruan Cha’s raised fingers froze in place.

She blinked her clear, dark eyes, pursed her lips, and turned awkwardly to glance back at the sky, now split in two by lightning.

When she looked at Gu Zhenzhi again, her gaze was a little evasive. “What a… what a coincidence, huh.”