Chapter 103 - 103: A Bounty

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Jiang Yining stepped into the classroom as the bell rang at 10:30 a.m. Ye Xiaoxi was sitting at the front, wrapped up tightly. She didn’t warmly invite Jiang Yining to sit with her and just gave her nod.

Jiang Yining felt a little strange.

But she was an aloof person to begin with. If others didn’t approach her proactively, she wouldn’t reach out either.

She simply found another seat, sat down and opened her textbook.

Xiao Yeyu sneakily moved closer to her and said, “Morning, Yining.”

“Morning,” Jiang Yining replied coolly.

Xiao Yeyu took out a bento box, opened it and said softly, “These are snacks my mom made for me. Have a taste.”

“No, thanks. I’ve already eaten.”

“Alright then.”

Xiao Yeyu got the cold shoulder, but she didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

Jiang Yining listened attentively in class.

Xiao Yeyu, on the other hand, didn’t care about her classes. When she graduated, she would take over her family business, so she didn’t need these at all.

Applying for a double major at the university was just an excuse for her to get close to Jiang Yining.

The lesson sounded really boring.

Xiao Yeyu was bored out of her mind as she played with her pen and looked at Jiang Yining.

She noticed that Jiang Yining was looking at Ye Xiaoxi from time to time.

Suddenly, she had an idea and muttered, “Oh right, Yining. When I shared my snacks with Xiaoxi just now, I noticed some bruises on her arm like she’s been beaten. Also, I received a message from her last night, asking to borrow 100,000 yuan. Did something happen to her family?”

Jiang Yining’s face darkened.

Xiao Yeyu continued, “Many other students have also received the same message. A number of our classmates have already asked her today what’s going on. Xiaoxi should really let people know if she’s having trouble at home. We’re classmates after all. We’ll help out when we need to.”

Jiang Yining replied calmly, “Her account has been hacked. Those messages were sent by scammers.”

“Is that right?” Xiao Yeyu asked softly. “But 1 heard from the other students that her mother is a gambler and owes a lot of money. Her loan sharks have even come to school to chase Xiaoxi to repay her mother’s debts.”

Xiao Yeyu went up closer to Jiang Yining and whispered, “And… Her mother seems to be a drug addict… That thing is impossible to quit. Even if one managed to kick the habit, one could easily relapse.”

“Who did you hear that nonsense from?”

Jiang Yining’s voice turned cold, and her gaze turned sharp.

Xiao Yeyu was shocked by her sudden change in aura and quickly tried to distance herself, “Several classmates have told me, but 1 can’t remember exactly who. However, Yining, you’d better be careful.”

Jiang Yining said, “It’s better not to spread rumors. Ye Xiaoxi is my friend. 1 know her situation very well.”

Xiao Yeyu chuckled. “Yes, you’re right. 1 was just spouting nonsense. Yining, pretend that you didn’t hear what 1 said.”

Jiang Yining ignored her.

Xiao Yeyu turned her head away and smiled.

Jiang Yining treated Ye Xiaoxi rather coolly that she thought that they were just acquaintances.

She didn’t expect her to care so much about Ye Xiaoxi.

Perhaps she could use this.

Jiang Yining found Ye Xiaoxi after class and said, “Xiaoxi, 1 have something to tell you. Let’s leave together.”

“Yining, I have something on today. I’ll get going first.”

Ye Xiaoxi lowered her head and put on her mask.

She was in a hurry to leave when Jiang Yining grabbed her arm.

Ye Xiaoxi gasped in pain.

Jiang Yining noticed her reaction and pulled up her sleeves to look.

Her thin arms were covered in bruises.

Ye Xiaoxi hurriedly pulled down her sleeves. “Yining, let go of me.”

Jiang Yining didn’t speak and pulled her into a corner of the stairwell where they were away from the crowd.

Jiang Yining asked coldly, “You are already beaten up like this. How long more do you want to hide the truth?”

Ye Xiaoxi’s eyes reddened as she answered, “You’ve already helped me once. 1 don’t want you to get your sucked into my family’s matters again.”

“Then what about you? What do you plan to do? Your mother is a gambler and a drug addict. She’s already hopeless but are you going to let her drag you through the mud? Ye Xiaoxi, you’re only 20 and you have your whole life ahead of you. Are you going to give yourself up for such a despicable person?”

Jiang Yining was angry that she did not fight for herself.

Tears streamed down Ye Xiaoxi’s face. “I don’t want to either… But she’s my mom! Yining, I’ve already sent her to a drug rehabilitation center once, but she started using again less than two years after she quit. What can I do?”

She hated her mother more than anyone else.

But she had no other choice.

The drug rehabilitation center couldn’t possibly take care of her mother forever.

When they discharged her mother again, she could only be worse than before.

“Let’s contact the drug rehabilitation center and check her in first. We’ll work out the rest together.” Jiang Yining said calmly.

“It’s useless even if we contact them. Last night, she secretly took my phone and sent messages to everyone on my contact list to borrow money. 1 had a big fight with her. She beat me up at home and then ran off.” Ye Xiaoxi said softly. “If this continues, 1 can’t even show my face in school anymore.”

Because all her classmates knew that she had such a mother.

When she came to class today, she already felt that people were talking behind her back and staring at her strangely.

She didn’t dare to sit with Yining for fear of implicating her.

Jiang Yining took a tissue and handed it to her. “Wipe your tears dry.”

“Thank you.”

“A girl’s tears are very precious, but if you shed them too often, no one will cherish your tears anymore.”

Jiang Yining then said, “You go ahead and contact the drug rehabilitation center. I’ll find your mother.”

“Yining, that’s too much trouble for you…”

“I don’t care about this kind of small trouble.” Jiang Yining promised.

Ye Xiaoxi figured that since Jiang Yining’s husband seemed quite influential, she must have the means to find her mother.

So, she didn’t refuse.

Xiao Yeyu wanted to follow Jiang Yining out after class. She didn’t expect her to grab Ye Xiaoxi and run off the moment class ended.

She could only give up.

After leaving school, Xiao Yeyu looked at the message that Ye Xiaoxi had sent her last night. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

After pondering for a moment, she said to the driver in the front seat, “Go and investigate the whereabouts of Ye Xiaoxi’s mother.”

“Yes, Miss,” the driver replied.

He then started the car and drove away slowly.

After Jiang Yining parted ways with Ye Xiaoxi, she went to an internet cafe alone.

She accessed the dark web and posted a bounty.

“Find the mother of Ye Xiaoxi, a university student in A-City. Reward: 500,000 yuan.”

Meanwhile, Qi Feng’s computer started beeping.

He quickly sat in front of it and called Lu Zhi.

“Sir, Queen has appeared again. This time, the signal came from an internet cafe near Qing University.”

“Go and find her immediately.”

“Yes.”

Qi Feng hurriedly brought his men to Qing University..