Chapter 9: A Fated Connection

Since their second class was physical education, the students of Class 3, Grade 2 had relocated to a different venue.

Seated on the gymnasium’s polished wooden floor, Ji Wenyan’s gaze was fixed intently on Bai Mengze as she played volleyball. ‘How,’ he wondered incessantly, ‘can I possibly forge a good relationship with her?’

He certainly couldn’t just approach her and declare that she was the chosen one, destined to become a god-tier beauty…

Ji Wenyan was certain that such a declaration would land him promptly in a police station.

Yet, without revealing the truth, how could he possibly convince Bai Mengze that his intentions were harmless?

The sheer frustration was enough to make him go bald.

“Ji Wenyan, your persistence truly knows no bounds! Is it possible you’ve genuinely taken a liking to Bai Mengze?”

“Why do you always turn up? Shoo, go on, get away from me, don’t sit here.”

“Hmph, I’ll sit right beside you! Honestly, you’re utterly shameless. Bai Mengze’s parents just passed away, and she’s still deep in sorrow! Are you attempting to exploit her vulnerability?”

“What?! Her parents… passed away?”

Ji Wenyan shot a disdainful glance at Shen Hua, who had sidled closer with a grin. Just as he was contemplating standing up to leave, a piece of news from Shen Hua’s lips stunned him.

Bai Mengze’s parents had passed away?

If that were indeed true, it was no wonder she now appeared so distant, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

“Of course! Why would I deceive you? Her parents perished in a car accident. The driver responsible was a wealthy scion from the capital, a man of power and influence. He merely spent a sum of money and leveraged his connections, successfully evading all culpability before returning home to his life of hedonism.”

“…”

“However, Bai Mengze proved herself truly formidable. Upon seeing the man who caused the accident, she didn’t utter a single word. Before anyone else could even react, she charged forward, delivering a brutal beating that left him looking like a swollen pig’s head.”

As he silently absorbed Shen Hua’s words, Ji Wenyan’s brows furrowed deeply.

Ji Wenyan had encountered such individuals countless times—scum who merely wasted the air they breathed.

Yet, it was precisely their wealth and influence that afforded them privileges ordinary people could only dream of.

Compared to them, Shen Hua, despite his philandering ways, seemed like a pure white lotus blooming untainted from the mud!

At the very least, every woman he consorted with did so willingly; he had never once coerced anyone.

“Someone can cause a death and escape culpability, yet Bai Mengze, for actively striking someone, surely faced a far less favorable outcome.”

“Indeed, she was held in a detention center for a period. However, the wealthy scion, fearing the incident might spiral out of control, chose not to press further charges, demanding only financial compensation from Bai Mengze.”

“Compensation?”

“Precisely. I heard she even had to sell her house… It’s truly a miserable situation. You’d be wise not to antagonize her; living itself is difficult enough!”

Upon hearing Shen Hua’s account, Ji Wenyan found himself at a loss for words.

He felt a profound mix of anger and sympathy regarding Bai Mengze’s unfortunate circumstances.

Yet, if he ceased all contact with Bai Mengze, his own life would undoubtedly come to an end.

Thus, he had no right to choose.

“Oh, that’s right! You recall what transpired last night, don’t you? After hearing Bai Mengze’s words then, I was utterly perplexed, wondering when you two had ever met… Later, I had someone investigate, and wouldn’t you know, what a perfect coincidence!”

“How so?”

“Beg me! If you plead, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Oh.”

“What are you doing with your phone?”

“Calling Uncle Shen to inform him his son is misbehaving again, currently cavorting with a married woman.”

Observing Shen Hua’s deliberate withholding of information, Ji Wenyan wasted no further words. He swiftly pulled his phone from his pocket, poised to make a call.

However, in the very next second, Shen Hua snatched the phone from his grasp.

He cast a hurried glance at the phone, seeing his father’s number displayed on the screen, yet not dialed, a sight that caused Shen Hua to exhale in immense relief.

Immediately thereafter, fury flared.

“Ji Wenyan, you’re actually serious!”

“Now, will you speak, or will you not?”

“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you! Just make sure you never give me any leverage over you in the future! And for the record, I’ve never been involved with married women, so don’t you dare pin that false accusation on me.”

Ji Wenyan offered Shen Hua a faint smile. After retrieving his phone, he prepared to finally hear the true nature of Bai Mengze’s connection to him.

He was absolutely certain he had never encountered Bai Mengze prior to this.

Their meeting last night had been their very first.

“Do you recall the location where your car accident occurred? Bai Mengze’s parents died near that very stretch of highway. That day, she had gone to mourn them and instead found you, covered in blood, hanging lifelessly from the car window, eyes closed and still. It was then that she immediately called for emergency services.”

“So that’s the truth of it. No wonder I have no recollection! I was already unconscious at that point.”

“Regardless, Bai Mengze saved your life. You shouldn’t always be thinking of pestering her; a person should know how to repay kindness! And as for good people like me, try not to constantly call my dad; he’s quite busy, you see, and you…”

Disregarding Shen Hua’s incessant chatter, Ji Wenyan’s gaze intensified as he watched Bai Mengze swiftly move to receive the ball.

It seemed, then, that he and Bai Mengze truly shared a fated connection.