Chapter 77: Mind Reading (18) (fixed)

Xiao Lingfei and Jin Yingyao were just as capable as Gu Li at uncovering information.

To obtain concrete evidence, Xiao Lingfei retrieved a full week’s worth of surveillance footage from the street corner.

Reviewing the footage from the time and location Jin Yingyao had specified, they saw Jin Yingyao sneakily tailing Yan Ling.

Yan Ling seemed to realize she was being followed and hid. Only after confirming that her pursuer was someone she knew did she approach Jin Yingyao.

In the video, the girl immediately exposed Jin Yingyao’s identity. Unable to deny it, he removed his mask.

Yan Ling took a few steps closer to Jin Yingyao, and then… the surveillance footage abruptly cut out… disappeared.

“What?! It’s gone!” Jin Yingyao exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. How could the most crucial part be missing?

Xiao Lingfei examined the footage carefully. “They moved out of the camera’s range. It wasn’t recorded.”

Jin Yingyao cursed inwardly. That psycho is too cunning. Maybe this was all part of her plan. How else could she have pinned him against the wall, ensuring the cameras captured nothing?

“She’s the one who forcibly kissed me right there!” Jin Yingyao insisted, seeing Xiao Lingfei’s disbelieving expression. “I’m serious! I’m not lying!”

“But I didn’t see anything,” Xiao Lingfei scoffed. “Besides…”

He pointed to the footage that followed.

A young woman emerged from beyond the camera’s view, biting her lip and stomping her foot in a display of anger and frustration. With her backpack slung over her shoulder, she hurried away from the street.

A few moments later, Jin Yingyao also appeared.

Unlike the enraged young woman, Jin Yingyao’s face was flushed crimson, and his eyes held a dazed, shimmering quality…

The moment Xiao Lingfei saw Jin Yingyao’s expression, he immediately made up his mind. “Pervert!”

“Lingling was so angry—you expect me to believe she kissed you?” Xiao Lingfei clenched his fists, his gaze toward Jin Yingyao hardening. “You’re taking advantage of the camera’s blind spot to smear her reputation! How utterly shameless!”

Xiao Lingfei: Just as Lingling predicted—a man she rejects would likely try to ruin her reputation. Jin Yingyao is no exception!

Jin Yingyao was now speechless, utterly cornered. “I-I…”

“If you ever dare approach my fiancée again, don’t blame me for getting rough with you!”

Xiao Lingfei clenched his fists, trying to restrain himself, but his patience finally snapped. He raised his fist and slammed it into Jin Yingyao’s face. “Damn it, Jin Yingyao! I was completely wrong about you!”

Xiao Lingfei… Go to hell, you sick bastard!

Jin Yingyao staggered from the blow, still dazed even after Xiao Lingfei stormed away.

“How could this happen…?” Jin Yingyao winced, his words cut short by a sharp intake of breath as the wound on his face throbbed.

Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why couldn’t he even prove his innocence?

Jin Yingyao racked his brain, desperately searching for any evidence that Yan Ling had manipulated him.

But there was nothing. Their second kiss had taken place in the academy’s secluded grove—a place with no surveillance cameras. Later, when he followed Yan Ling to her apartment, he’d deliberately chosen the most deserted backstreets, removed his jacket, and covered his face to avoid being seen with her.

As for his actions outside Yan Ling’s apartment, he’d hidden nearby, listening to her inner thoughts. Only when he heard her panic about being discovered did he dart inside. If that scene came to light, his behavior would look downright perverted…

Jin Yingyao fell silent.

He was now more determined than ever to expose Yan Ling’s true nature, not only to reveal her to others but also to restore his own tarnished reputation.

He wasn’t a pervert! He was the victim, taken advantage of by Yan Ling!

Meanwhile, Tong Ling sat in the classroom, opened the memo app on her phone, and began meticulously planning her schedule for tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the weekend, finally the day for her “dates” with her “friends.” To ensure everything went smoothly, she needed to prepare thoroughly.

M577 watched, his eyelid twitching involuntarily. Why are you always so meticulous when it comes to this kind of thing?

The memo contained detailed profiles of each “friend,” with their “dates” scheduled like a marathon of appointments, each assigned a specific time slot. Given Tong Ling’s usual dating style, her energy levels seemed almost superhuman!

“I always take my missions seriously,” Tong Ling mused solemnly. “Maybe I should invite the female lead along. I’m quite interested in her.”

M577 protested weakly, …Sister Ling, you already have too many “friends.” There’s no way you can fit her in.

Tong Ling calculated her schedule. Her days were completely booked, but she still had some free time in the evenings. “If I squeeze things in, I can always make time.”

[ M577… ] […]

As soon as class ended, Tong Ling stepped out of the classroom and heard someone shouting outside, “Big news! Jin Yingyao got beat up!”

“What?!” The students swarmed out of the classroom, eager to hear the details. “What happened to Jin Yingyao?”

The messenger explained, “Someone saw Jin Yingyao with bruises on his face. He definitely got beaten up.”

“Who would dare beat up Jin Yingyao? They must be incredibly strong!”

“Could it be Gu Li? They had a falling out this morning!”

“Impossible! President Gu Li is too gentle to resort to violence.”

“Then who could it be?” The curious students huddled together, buzzing with speculation.

“It’s probably Xiao Lingfei,” one student suggested. “He went to Jin Yingyao’s class today looking furious. When he didn’t find him there, he stormed off, muttering about going to his dorm.”

“No way! They’re such good friends…”

Tong Ling smiled at the System. “Looks like our little Yingyao won’t be able to hold back much longer…”

The more he failed to prove his suspicions, the more determined he became to investigate her by any means necessary.

Tong Ling was practically waiting for him to start digging.

M577 sighed deeply. This is exactly how the original plot unfolds… Great! The male lead’s own friends are now calling him a creepy stalker. Of course he can’t take it lying down!

But would Xiao Lingfei and the others even trust the information he uncovered?

Instead of going straight home, Tong Ling headed to the Drama Club.

The Drama Club had become the most popular club at St. Cyrillia. With Lu Yifan, Xiao Lingfei, Gu Li, and Yan Ling all confirmed to star in the new play, students swarmed outside the clubroom, eager to catch a glimpse of the rehearsals.

Even with “No Spectators” signs posted, students kept sneaking peeks. Eventually, the Drama Club closed its doors entirely, enforcing strict secrecy around the new production.

After being let in by a club member, Tong Ling arrived just in time to see Xiao Lingfei and Lu Yifan rehearsing the scene where the male and female leads elope to the forest.

In this scene, the male lead was supposed to confess his love and try to persuade the female lead to sleep with him.

Lu Yifan had already burst out laughing countless times at Xiao Lingfei’s face, which was as black as the bottom of a cooking pot. When they reached the line about sharing a bed, Lu Yifan was shaking with laughter.

“I messed up,” Lu Yifan said, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. “I shouldn’t have let Xiao Lingfei take this role. He can’t get into character at all! Seeing him makes me think the male lead should run away from the wedding right then and there instead of eloping! I can’t keep acting like this!”

Xiao Lingfei, already in a foul mood from waiting for Yan Ling, snapped irritably, “What kind of garbage dialogue is this? The female lead has to call the male lead ‘my darling’? It’s utterly disgusting! I can’t take it anymore!”

The Drama Club President wrung his hands in desperation. “How about I rewrite the lines for you? Please don’t quit! We can change them all!”

Tong Ling burst out laughing.

Seeing Yan Ling arrive, Lu Yifan immediately rushed to her side, complaining, “Lingling, look at Xiao Lingfei’s face! How am I supposed to deliver my lines to that?”

Although Xiao Lingfei had taken Gu Li’s advice and refrained from acting strangely around Yan Ling, he couldn’t help but feel a subconscious tension. His voice became noticeably softer whenever he spoke to her. “Lingling, it’s the script’s fault, not mine.”

Lu Yifan shuddered beside them, his face twisted in disgust. “Ew… Xiao Lingfei, you sound so gross when you talk like that.”

“Shut up…” Xiao Lingfei glared at Lu Yifan before turning back to Yan Ling, his voice gentle and deliberate. “Lingling, I’m really not good at acting. Could you help me rehearse my lines?”

Xiao Lingfei sensed that Yan Ling was keeping something from him, likely because their bond wasn’t strong enough. He resolved to deepen their connection during this time together.

Lu Yifan, ever the nuisance, immediately chimed in. “Then I want to rehearse with Lingling too, to get into character! Acting with Xiao Lingfei is torture—I’d rather rehearse with Lingling!”

The Drama Club President looked at Yan Ling as if she were his last hope. “Yan Ling, would you mind helping us out?”

If Yan Ling could get Xiao Lingfei and Lu Yifan to act properly, she would be his savior!

The Drama Club had finally managed to recruit these few members, and the president believed that if Xiao Lingfei and the others could perform at the academy’s festival, the club’s play would become a massive hit, significantly boosting their popularity.

“No problem,” Tong Ling replied with her usual good-natured smile. “I’ll do my best to help.”

Gu Li, who had been silently observing nearby, frowned slightly, concern etched on his face. “Won’t that be too tiring for you?” he asked.

Gu Li knew Xiao Lingfei wouldn’t make things easy, and Lu Yifan was being even more hyperactive than usual. With those two around, Yan Ling wouldn’t even have time to rest; just managing them would be exhausting.

Tong Ling smiled reassuringly at Gu Li, signaling that she was fine.

Gu Li reluctantly conceded, “If you get tired, you must tell me…”

“Gu Li, you’re such a worrywart! Don’t fret so much about her!” Lu Yifan called out, grabbing Yan Ling’s arm and pulling her away. “Let’s go, Yan Ling!”

“Hey!” Xiao Lingfei shouted, but he could only watch helplessly as his fiancée was dragged away. His face darkened with frustration. “That Lu Yifan is even more annoying than before!”

Gu Li thought Yan Ling would be better off with Lu Yifan than with Xiao Lingfei. At least with Lu Yifan, he wouldn’t have to worry about her being taken advantage of.

“Weren’t you supposed to be rehearsing? I can help you…”

“No, no, no,” Xiao Lingfei waved him off dismissively. “I only need Lingling to keep me company.”

A hint of mockery flickered in Gu Li’s eyes as he found a seat and quietly began memorizing his lines.

Lu Yifan led Yan Ling to a secluded corner of the drama club room. Once they were out of sight, a shadow of worry fell across his usually radiant face.

Lu Yifan was always cheerful and carefree, the kind of prince who seemed born without a care in the world. This was the first time Tong Ling had ever seen him so downcast.

“What’s wrong, Yifan?” Tong Ling asked gently. “Did something happen?”

Lu Yifan lowered his head, his golden hair falling softly to frame his cheeks. In this quiet moment, his beauty was striking, and Tong Ling couldn’t help but admire the young man’s exquisite features.

“Lingling, I feel like everyone’s changed,” Lu Yifan said, his voice tinged with sadness. His intuition had always been far sharper than others’. What had once been a vague sense of unease had now solidified into the realization that something was truly wrong with his friends. “They’re not friends anymore. It’s not just a conflict between two of them—all three of them have stopped being friends.”

Lu Yifan’s voice trembled with anguish. “Am I going to lose them?”

“Are you talking about Xiao Lingfei, Gu Li, and Jin Yingyao?” Tong Ling asked.

Lu Yifan raised his head, his emerald eyes locking onto the stunningly beautiful girl before him. “Lingling, who do you truly like?”

“I… I don’t understand anymore,” Lu Yifan said, his face etched with confusion. “Logically, you and Xiao Lingfei should be together. He adores you, and if you felt the same way, it would be a perfect romance.”

“But… your connection with Gu Li feels stronger than your connection with Xiao Lingfei.” Lu Yifan’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I-I’m not wrong, am I? I can see… I can see how close you two are.”

Once Lu Yifan started talking, he couldn’t seem to stop. As if determined to voice all his confusion at once, he rambled on, “Yaoyao is so strange. He’s trying to keep you away from us, and everything he does is so childish. Is that how you act when you like someone? I don’t really understand, but he’s definitely changed the most.”

“Xiao Lingfei utterly despises Yaoyao now, and Gu Li is hostile towards him too.” Lu Yifan pursed his lips. “I know they’re acting this way because of you, Lingling.”

“So, Lingling, who do you really like?” Lu Yifan asked again. “Just tell everyone openly. I don’t want my friends to fall apart over this. Even if you want to break off your engagement with Xiao Lingfei, I can help you.”

Perhaps dissolving the arranged marriage would be complicated for Xiao Lingfei and Yan Ling, but it posed no difficulty for Lu Yifan. His mother was a grand duchess, and he was deeply favored by the Queen of Olay. With a royal decree, what problem couldn’t be solved?

“Choose someone,” Lu Yifan pleaded, his eyes filled with hope, “so everyone can stop being enemies. Can’t we all just be good friends?”

m577 exclaimed in surprise, “There’s actually someone here who understands! All this conflict stems from you. Coming straight to you to resolve it is truly commendable.”

Lu Yifan, raised in the royal court, possessed exceptional perceptiveness, as one might expect. However, he had one glaring flaw…

“What a naive little prince,” Tong Ling remarked to the System with a sigh. “How could he possibly believe those people could still be friends?”

Emotions are the most irrational and illogical of all things. No one could solve such a conundrum.

“Yifan,” Tong Ling asked with a sweet smile, “do you want everyone to be friends?”

Lu Yifan nodded. “Is that possible?”

Throughout his life, his every wish had been granted. He hoped his friends could remain as they were. Was that too much to ask?

“Then…” Tong Ling said casually, “why don’t you just fall for me? Love me instead. That way, I’ll choose you. We’ll be together and publicly declare our relationship. No one will dare stop us, and then we can make everything go back to the way things were. How does that sound?”

m577 cried out, “What are you saying to such an innocent child?! Lu Yifan is such a good kid—how could you deceive him like this?!”

“Deceive him? He asked me to choose someone, and I’m simply fulfilling his request,” Tong Ling replied, her gentle gaze fixed on Lu Yifan. “It all depends on whether Yifan is willing to make a small ‘sacrifice’ for his friends.”

Lu Yifan froze. “You want me to… like you? To love you?”

He certainly liked Yan Ling—as a friend. But to love her…

His face flushed crimson.

He knew how wonderful Yan Ling was; if she weren’t, his friends wouldn’t like her so much. But this couldn’t be happening! He wanted her to choose Xiao Lingfei or one of the others, not him!