Volume 1 Chapter 36 The White Lotus Is Exposed

Lu Ning frowned instinctively when she heard Qin Xiang’s voice.

Qin Xiang had already run under her umbrella, shielding her head with her schoolbag to block the rain. She wore a look of utter innocence. "My umbrella was lent to a classmate. Can we walk together?"

"No."

Lu Ning turned and walked away, giving Qin Xiang absolutely no chance.

Qin Xiang stood there in disbelief, her clothes quickly soaked by the heavy downpour. She hadn't expected that with so many people watching, Lu Ning would actually dare to refuse her.

Qin Xiang’s expression darkened. She had intended to take this opportunity to mend her relationship with Lu Ning. After all, she had noticed the changes in her second and sixth brothers and felt a sense of crisis. If Lu Ning were truly coaxed back home, would there still be a place for her in the Lu family? That was why she had wanted to coexist peacefully with Lu Ning.

Since Lu Ning was being so heartless, she shouldn't blame her for being unkind.

Inside a luxury car by the roadside, Gu Zifeng watched everything that had just unfolded. "Little Lemon has quite a temper, refusing her point-blank."

Ji Chiqian’s gaze was profound. "One shouldn't be too much of a saint."

Everything Lu Ning had endured was caused by Qin Xiang. Although those brothers of hers were blind, this girl named Qin Xiang was no simple character either.

Lu Ning returned to the classroom and hung her umbrella at the back. Before long, Qin Xiang returned, soaked to the bone and looking utterly wretched.

Seeing this, the teacher couldn't help but ask, "Qin Xiang, didn't you bring an umbrella today? Your clothes are soaked through; you'll catch a cold."

Qin Xiang revealed a pale, fragile face. "I'm fine."

Little Sidekick No. 2 immediately began to vent. "That’s only because Lu Ning abandoned Qin Xiang and walked away with the umbrella all by herself, causing Qin Xiang to get soaked in the rain. It’s just too much."

Lu Ning looked annoyed and impatient. *Here we go again.*

But before she could speak, the class monitor replied first. "I clearly saw Qin Xiang give her umbrella to someone else, and then she insisted on squeezing under Lu Ning’s. But Lu Ning didn't want to—is there a problem with that?"

Little Sidekick No. 2 retorted, "In such heavy rain, even if Lu Ning didn't want to, she shouldn't have abandoned someone like that."

The monitor shot back, "But Qin Xiang could have shared an umbrella with the person she gave hers to. Why did she insist on crowding Lu Ning? She knew Lu Ning didn't like her, yet she sought out unpleasantness, only to turn around and frame Lu Ning for 'abandoning' her. Who is really being excessive and engaging in moral kidnapping here?"

The monitor's hardcore statement clearly and logically laid out the sequence of events. Lu Ning was a bit surprised; the monitor had seen the whole thing and had even spoken up for her. After all, she hadn't had any friends before.

Little Sidekick No. 2 was rendered speechless. "Regardless, it's wrong for Lu Ning to abandon someone."

Qin Xiang was surprised that anyone would speak up for Lu Ning; previously, Lu Ning had always been an outcast in the class. Qin Xiang put on a sensible expression for the teacher. "Teacher, I’m really fine. It’s all just a misunderstanding."

The teacher coughed and didn't press further. "Alright, let’s begin the lesson."

Qin Xiang was left standing there. She hadn't expected the teacher to drop the matter. *Damn it! This isn't how it was supposed to go!*

After the class ended, Lu Ning immediately went to the restroom. As she emerged from a stall, she happened to run into Little Sidekick No. 2 gossiping with others. The washbasin area went silent the moment Lu Ning appeared.

Little Sidekick No. 2 spoke with sarcasm, "Some people act so righteous even after doing something wrong, just because they’re the daughter of a wealthy family. What's there to be so proud of?" She even intentionally splashed water from the sink onto Lu Ning.

Lu Ning was already irritable because she was on her period, and someone just had to keep provoking her. She kicked a mop bucket, sending it sliding toward them.

Little Sidekick No. 2 shrieked in terror. "What are you doing?"

Lu Ning raised her eyelids, her presence heavy and oppressive. "Try it again, and see if I don't force that water down your throat to wash out that filthy mouth of yours!"

She walked forward slowly, causing the sidekick to retreat repeatedly. Lu Ning’s voice was cold. "Since you know I’m a daughter of the Lu family, you’d better keep your tail tucked between your legs, lest I submit the evidence of you and your friends cheating for Qin Xiang to the school. Qin Xiang might be fine, but you certainly won't be."

Ever since the cheating incident, Little Sidekick No. 1 hadn't returned to school. Lu Ning looked pale, appearing irritable and not to be trifled with. Little Sidekick No. 2 was terrified and scurried away.

Only then did Lu Ning leave the restroom. The class monitor, Jiang Lu, came to her side. "Lu Ning, if Qin Xiang complains to the teacher, I can testify for you that the sidekick started it by insulting you and badmouthing you."

Seeing it was the monitor, Lu Ning’s expression softened slightly. "Thank you." She hadn't intended to deal with Qin Xiang and her group, but some people were simply begging to be taught a lesson.

Jiang Lu pushed up her black-rimmed glasses, looking somewhat guilty. "I'm sorry. For so long, we all misunderstood you and ostracized you because of Qin Xiang’s acting." Everyone had assumed Lu Ning was of poor character and was bullying Qin Xiang.

Lu Ning replied indifferently, "It’s in the past." It was true that because of Qin Xiang, she had had no friends in class. But she had too much to do now to dwell on these things.

When Lu Ning returned to the classroom, she didn't even glance at Qin Xiang. What she had said to the sidekick was also a warning to Qin Xiang.

The heavy rain fell all day. When school ended, Ji Chiqian sent her a message asking her to wait a moment. Lu Ning took her umbrella and headed straight to the infirmary. She didn't expect to see Qin Xiang lying on a hospital bed receiving an IV drip there.

*Wait, hadn't Qin Xiang been picked up by her family? Why was she here?*

Ji Chiqian was standing nearby, organizing IV bottles. When he saw Lu Ning, he said, "Wait a moment."

Lu Ning nodded.

Qin Xiang spoke in a sickly voice, "Sister Ningning, you're here. Second Brother said he would come to pick me up, but he hasn't arrived yet. Could you help me call him and ask?"

Lu Ning pursed her lips. "Don't you have hands of your own?"

"Xiangxiang, are you alright?" Lu Liu walked in through the rain. Seeing Qin Xiang on the bed, he frowned at Lu Ning. "Xiangxiang is sick. Is it that hard for you to help make a phone call? You can have your grievances against us, but Xiangxiang owes you nothing." He had heard Lu Ning’s cold, icy refusal earlier.

Lu Ning was accustomed to such familiar accusations.

Ji Chiqian, however, spoke coldly, "Isn't it your responsibility as her family? What does this have to do with Lu Ning?"

"It’s because Lu Ning refused to share her umbrella with Xiangxiang this morning, causing her to get sick in the rain!" Lu Liu was indignant. "Lu Ning, I know your grades have improved a lot, but you can't use such methods to make Xiangxiang sick. You know her health isn't good; how could you drive her away?"

Lu Ning’s expression remained unchanged. "Because I dislike her."

"Lu Ning! You’re being too much! Xiangxiang’s father saved your life! Is this how you treat the daughter of your savior?" Lu Liu couldn't control his anger. Seeing Lu Ning’s cold-heartedness, he felt disappointed. "Lu Ning, ever since you started hanging around this school doctor, you’ve become less and less like yourself."

Ji Chiqian scoffed, "You don't think Lu Ning has changed; you're just upset that she won't join your team, that she isn't acting like the person you used to bully—the one who was like a dog, hardworking and obedient. That’s why you’re so ashamed and angry. In the end, it’s just because you can no longer benefit from her."

Lu Liu was so furious he stomped his feet. "Lu Ning, is that what you think too?"