CHAPTER 294: CHAPTER 294: SHE HATES HER OUT OF JEALOUSY

"Ye Ya, don’t say anything more. We owe it to our cousin this time, or else we’d be in big trouble," Liu Yao quickly tried to persuade Ye Ya when she saw they were about to argue.

Ye Ya got even more worked up, shaking off Liu Yao, her eyes red with anger: "Yes, I’m broke and I’m here shopping, it’s embarrassing, but who made me like this? Isn’t it you? If it weren’t for you, the Ye Family wouldn’t have fallen, and I wouldn’t have ended up like this."

"You think the Ye Family’s situation is all my fault?" Ningwan asked coldly.

Ye Ya said, "Of course! If it weren’t for you, how could the Ye Family become like this? You should have died early, or left with that driver so none of this would have happened."

A slap echoed, making everyone flinch.

Nobody expected, including Ningwan, that Zhan Hanjue would personally strike a girl.

Ye Ya was slapped to the ground, half her face swollen, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.

Liu Yao and her friends covered their mouths in shock.

Several girls turned pale, afraid to even watch the drama unfold, fearing Zhan Hanjue’s status.

Quickly saying something to Liu Yao, they hurriedly left.

Soon, only Liu Yao and Ye Ya were left.

Ye Ya lay on the ground, dazed from the slap.

After all, she was a girl and had never been slapped like this before.

Liu Yao was trembling with fear, her heart pounding out of her throat.

Yet Ye Ya was still her cousin, and she cautiously helped her up.

Ye Ya burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ningwan also felt she deserved a beating; saying such things made her no different from Ye Xuan.

However, she was just a little girl after all.

That slap was enough.

So Ningwan said to Zhan Hanjue, "Let’s go!"

Zhan Hanjue glared at Ye Ya like a sharp sword and coldly warned, "If I hear such words again, not only will the Ye Family disappear, but you will too."

Ye Ya and Liu Yao trembled, Ye Ya’s face even paler.

Ningwan pulled Zhan Hanjue’s hand and left.

This trip to the street had been somewhat frustrating.

Zhan Hanjue felt even more guilty and apologized once they got in the car: "I’m sorry, today was supposed to be an apology to you, a day to relax, but then we ran into such people and such things."

"It’s not your fault. Why are you apologizing to me? Running into such situations isn’t something you can predict, and besides, these people are my relatives, not yours offending me," Ningwan said.

"If you’re still angry, I can..."

"I’m not angry, and you don’t need to do anything," Ningwan immediately stopped him.

However, Zhan Hanjue lowered his eyes and said coldly, "Some things should be nipped in the bud. I see she harbors deep resentment towards you; who knows what she’ll plot in the future."

"The future is unpredictable. It’s just a few words. While I’m no saint, I’m not malicious either. She’s still my cousin, and her parents have been kind to me. Honestly, I can understand her current feelings. Although she was in the Ye Family, she wasn’t favored by Ye Pengcheng. With Ye Xuan around, she was always overshadowed. But as the Ye Family’s fourth miss, although treated differently, at least she wasn’t lacking money. Now, she can’t even afford a suit costing over ten thousand, so her resentment towards me is understandable."

"But the downfall of the Ye Family wasn’t your fault," Zhan Hanjue said angrily. "Why does she pin the blame on you? It’s the Ye Family that’s wronged you, not the other way around."

"Do you think she doesn’t understand these things?" Ningwan replied, "From my first day in the Ye Family, everything I went through, she’s fully aware of. She knows exactly whether it’s me wronging the Ye Family or the Ye Family wronging me. But what can she do with this knowledge? The Ye Family’s fall made her lose her privileged lifestyle. Who should she hate? Ye Pengcheng? Or Ye Xuan? Even if she hates them deep down, they’re not around; hating them is pointless. But I’m around, living well, and as another granddaughter from the Ye Family, the difference in our lives is staggering. Of course, she resents me, but her hatred isn’t because I ruined the Ye Family, it’s because I live better than her. Saying those things was just for a moment’s satisfaction, a convenient excuse for herself."

"You’re very clear-sighted," Zhan Hanjue said, feeling even sorrier for her.

Ningwan said, "That’s why I’m not too upset. I know she’s just jealous I’m living better than her. So you don’t need to feel sorry for me, nor do you need to deal with her. She’s just a little girl, not worth it. That slap you gave her scared me. You shouldn’t have hit her; it lowers your standing."

"I was just so mad hearing her insult you like that. But it’s not like I enjoy hitting women. So far, I’ve only laid hands on two women," Zhan Hanjue explained.

The other one being Li Qingqing.

Ningwan nodded, "I know you’re not violent, not even to me."

"Of course, you never need to fear me," Zhan Hanjue said gently.

Just then, Zhan Hanjue’s phone rang; it was Jin Yingzi calling.

"Mr. Zhan, if Miss Ye is available, could you ask her to come over? Wen Jianan would like to speak with her personally."

"Does it have to be in person?" Zhan Hanjue frowned.

"Rest assured, I’ll be there too," Jin Yingzi said.

"I want to be there as well," Zhan Hanjue demanded.

Jin Yingzi said nothing, presumably asking Wen Jianan, and after getting his agreement, she said, "Alright, no problem."

Zhan Hanjue hung up and instructed the driver to head to the school.

Jin Yingzi was still at the school at this hour, so it was a chance meeting with them.

Upon returning to the school, Ningwan felt a surge of emotions.

It had been a long time since she’d been there; the familiar campus had changed so much.

Jin Yingzi and Wen Jianan were waiting for them at a nearby café.

They had booked a private room.

Ningwan and Zhan Hanjue entered, and the two stood up.

Jin Yingzi’s gaze was unfocused on Ningwan, seemingly unable to meet her eyes.

Whether it was because of the ridicule the other day or being angry with her, she wouldn’t meet her gaze.

"Jin Yingzi, I’m sorry," Ningwan immediately apologized.

Jin Yingzi was taken aback and looked at her in surprise.

Ningwan said, "I was reckless that day, making assumptions without knowing the facts. I’m sorry, I apologize to you."

Her straightforward apology caught Jin Yingzi off guard, leaving her unprepared.

"It’s... it’s okay."

"What’s going on? What happened between you two?" Wen Jianan asked in confusion.