Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 109 Part 1 – Study Well and You Will Be Praised for Fighting (I)

Ear-Piercing Girl and Ponytail Girl both turned pale. Fan Xiaoman’s gaze toward Xia Mian grew sharper.

But Xia Mian acted like she didn’t notice and kept going. “Let’s continue our assumption—even if he accepts your confession, then what? How will the two of you date? A couple needs to have something in common.”

“He’s in the top three in our grade. Unless something goes wrong, he’ll easily get into Hua or Yan University,” Xia Mian asked Fan Xiaoman. “What about you? After graduation, what’s your plan—college or work? Will you two have anything in common at all?”

“You trying to lecture us?” the skinny guy said impatiently. “Who do you think you are, our homeroom teacher?”

Xia Mian said innocently, “I’m the hostage you guys dragged here, remember? I’m bored, and you can’t hit me, so I figured we could just chat to pass the time. Besides, I’m just asking practical questions.”

She looked at the group. “So tell me, with just over a week left before school starts, how are you going to help your Sis chase after Han Haoyan?”

“Tian Xueya is in the same class as he is. Even if he doesn’t like her now, she can still cling to him with excuses like ‘I took a hit for you,’ or ‘I want to ask about homework,’ or ‘Let’s improve together.’ What about you? How are you going to chase him?”

Ear-Piercing Girl said, “We’ll just wait for him after school. Can’t we bump into him on his way home?”

Xia Mian clicked her tongue. “You guys are too naïve. Our third years live in dorms, you know? Even if he doesn’t, after evening classes, it’s already ten at night. And even if you do catch him on his way home, then what? Walk him back?”

“Then what, spend half an hour telling him how you spent your days fooling around at school? Or let him spend half an hour explaining stuff you don’t understand?”

Fan Xiaoman’s brows slowly furrowed. Clearly, she was starting to think about life after summer break and realizing Xia Mian was making some real points.

They weren’t even at the same school. They wouldn’t even see each other.

“Or you could just wait. Wait until he graduates next year, then go after him,” Xia Mian said. “That is, if you still like him by then, and he’s still single.”

“He’ll be going to the top campus like Hua or Yan. As for you…” Xia Mian looked at Fan Xiaoman. “Are you going to college or starting work?”

Fan Xiaoman’s expression turned ugly. Ponytail Girl snapped, “Are you mocking us?” People like them going to college? As if!

Xia Mian said innocently, “Not at all. I’m just analyzing seriously. Tell me, what part of what I said was wrong?”

Ponytail Girl couldn’t answer.

Xia Mian said, “Fine. If you won’t say, I’ll make some assumptions. Say you keep going to school. What kind of university can you get into? How far is it from Hua or Yan? How much time will you have to chase him?”

“Guys like Han Haoyan probably have tons of girls chasing them. And let’s not talk about anything else. If you don’t even have the time, how do you expect to win?”

“Second scenario: you work nearby. But once you start working, you’ll only have your lunch break and evenings. That’s even worse than the first.”

“Third scenario: you don’t study or work. You’ve got all the time in the world to chase a top student at Hua University. But such a guy would be busy on his own—either in labs, in clubs, student bodies… How are you going to stand by his side? You won’t even understand what he’s talking about.”

Xia Mian said seriously, “Sis, if you really like him, you’d better think this through. Because this stuff? It’s just a year away. A year goes by fast.”

Fan Xiaoman took an irritated puff of her cigarette, while her underlings fell quiet. That’s right—no matter how rowdy they usually acted, they were still near the end of high school. How could they not have thought about the future?

Yet the future Xia Mian painted was one they knew they’d never touch.

Seeing the mood getting heavy, Xia Mian smiled and said, “Forget Han Haoyan for now and let’s talk about you.”

“Fan Xiaoman, has anyone ever liked you?”

Ear-Piercing Girl immediately looked at the tall, skinny guy. Fan Xiaoman also instinctively glanced in his direction.”

“So someone has,” Xia Mian said with a sweet smile. “What kind of people like you?”

Images of the Thirteen Protectors and the boys who always hung around them flashed through Fan Xiaoman’s mind.

Xia Mian continued, “And what kind of person do you think would like me?”

Even though she didn’t want to admit it, the image of someone like Han Haoyan popped into Fan Xiaoman’s mind.

Then Xia Mian asked, “Between your admirers and mine, who do you think others would envy more? Who would look better out in the real world?”

The skinny guy suddenly lunged forward to grab Xia Mian by the collar. “What the hell are you trying to say?”

Xia Mian grabbed his wrist, stopping him. “Chill out, man. If you’re reacting like this, it means even you know you’re not good enough.”

“Aren’t the Thirteen Protectors supposed to be so impressive?” Xia Mian said with a smile. “Being your girlfriend should be something to brag about, right?”

“Like, do you think the neighbors would say, ‘Wow, that thug’s girlfriend, she’s really lucky!ʼ”

Then her smile faded, her eyes turning sharp. “Or would they say, ‘Nah, that thug’s girlfriend? She probably isn’t any good either.ʼ”

She looked directly at the skinny guy, whose face was now red with anger. Xia Mian said calmly, “So you see, just by standing next to you, the girl you like will be judged unfairly. They won’t care who she is—they’ll see her with you, and that alone will be enough to look down on her.”

“You probably know that, don’t you? That’s why you never dared to confess. You just stand behind her, silently helping her chase after someone better.”

“The sad thing is, she’s the same. If a boy gets with her—no matter how amazing he is—people will say, ‘Eh, that guy must be no good too, otherwise why would he date some delinquent girl?ʼ”

“You’re dead meat!” The skinny guy suddenly threw a punch at Xia Mian.

Xia Mian quickly dodged to the side and tripped him with a swift kick. He hit the ground face first. Xia Mian, still seated on the stone, looked down at him with a calm, smiling expression. “You don’t dare confess to the person you love. You know you can’t win.”

“All because you’re not good enough.”

Fan Xiaoman clenched her fists and rushed forward, grabbing Xia Mian by the collar. “You—!”

Xia Mian didn’t flinch. She stared straight into her eyes and said, “Because you wasted your time. Maybe you were lazy. Maybe you were scared. Maybe you just couldn’t beat yourself. So when someone you like finally appears, you don’t even deserve the chance to try.”

She smiled again. “Tell me—was anything I said wrong?”

For some reason, Fan Xiaoman’s fist felt as heavy as lead—she simply couldn’t swing it down.

“Feeling weak, Sis?” Xia Mian smiled. “If you don’t want to be like this in the future, there’s still time to change.”

“Of course, just a suggestion. Whether you listen or not is up to you.”

“Fan Xiaoman!” Han Haoyan suddenly leapt down from the back wall not far away, sprinting toward them, his face filled with anger. “Let her go!”

Xia Mian: “…”

Apparently, you could get into No. 14 High from any wall—except the front gate.

Fan Xiaoman stared, stunned, at the boy racing toward her. Sweat covered his face, his eyes full of worry. He looked exactly as she’d imagined: rushing to save her from danger like a hero.

Sadly, that expression was for another girl.

Zhao Cheng jumped down right after him. Unlike the last time when he came to save Tian Xueya with a “whatever” attitude, this time his face was equally filled with anxiety and anger. “Hey! Let her go!”

“If she loses even a single hair, I swear I’ll make sure you Thirteen Protectors pay for it!”

Fan Xiaoman looked at the girl who had remained composed from beginning to end, and a voice inside her rang clear and cold: It’s true. I’m not worthy.

What she had put her heart and soul into—all her scheming—looked like nothing more than the annoying persistence of a clown in others’ eyes. Not even worth reacting to…

Suddenly, her hand was held by a soft, fair-skinned palm. Fan Xiaoman’s gaze instinctively dropped to the small burn scar on her own fingertip from smoking. Suddenly, she felt… ugly.

“All right, stop making a fuss. I’m fine,” said Xia Mian in a clear, calm voice. “We’re just chatting here.”

Still holding Fan Xiaoman’s hand, Xia Mian slowly stood up. Han Haoyan looked her over carefully. Seeing that she was indeed unharmed, he finally let out a breath—but the anger in his eyes remained. “What could she possibly want to talk to you about?”

Xia Mian said, “Don’t be like that. She just wanted to explain the matter with Tian Xueya.”

Fan Xiaoman looked at Xia Mian.

This time, Xia Mian looked back with gentleness in her eyes. “Go ahead. Explain properly. He’ll believe you.”

Fan Xiaoman turned toward Han Haoyan. And this time, he didn’t look at her with that cold, distant indifference.

Author’s Note:

Brother Sui: “Wishing everyone’s dreams come true! Thank you all, truly!”