Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Love at First Sight

To everyone else, however, this looked like undeniable proof of something more.

They mistakenly thought he was putting in all this effort to woo Shanshan, and they were sick with jealousy.

The girls who usually only dared to sneak glances at Ling Zhiwei’s back now gathered together, seething.

Low voices drifted from the break room.

"What gives her the right? So what if she’s pretty? She’s just a stuck-up snob!"

"As if we don’t know what she’s really after."

As their resentment festered, someone finally decided they couldn’t take it anymore.

Not daring to confront Ling Zhiwei, they took all their anger out on Shanshan.

A few of them planned a time and place, choosing the alley behind the school building after evening study hall.

The lighting there was dim and full of surveillance blind spots. They could make their move without being immediately discovered.

They cornered Shanshan just as she left the classroom, quickly forming a circle around her.

The group of girls immediately went on the offensive.

The leader lunged forward, shoving at Shanshan’s shoulder.

The others jeered from the sidelines, trying to overwhelm her with their numbers.

Shanshan sidestepped gracefully, and the push met nothing but air.

A flicker of shock crossed the girl’s face when her attack missed.

"Oh? You dare to dodge? You’ve got some nerve for someone so young! Think you can just steal someone’s boyfriend and get away with it? We’re going to teach you a lesson today!"

Her voice rose, dripping with provocation.

Her other hand swung out again, her fingertips almost touching Shanshan’s cheek.

"Excuse me, but can you at least get your facts straight first? My name is Ling Xueshan. Ling Zhiwei is my brother!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Shanshan’s hand shot out. She caught the girl’s wrist and gave it a light tug.

The girl stumbled, nearly collapsing to the ground.

She lost her balance, staggering a few steps before managing to stay upright.

"Picking fights without even knowing the facts... I’d never want someone like you for a sister-in-law."

Shanshan released her hand and took half a step back, her tone nonchalant.

Everyone else froze. The girl who had just steadied herself went pale as a sheet, as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground with a THUD.

Shanshan glanced at them, saw the regret on each of their faces, then snorted coldly, held her head high, and turned to leave.

The night wind lifted the ends of her hair, making her seem cold and distant.

"You’re always telling me I can’t date, right? Well, a bunch of guys at school are after me—sending me bubble tea, flowers, love letters... It’s so annoying! So Dad, how about you be my human shield?"

Without another word, she hooked her arm through Ling Anxun’s and leaned her head on his shoulder, practically hanging off of him.

From a distance, they looked just like a couple in the throes of a passionate romance.

Passersby couldn’t help but stare.

"Alright, I’ll be your shield. Whatever Shanshan says, goes."

Ling Anxun readily agreed, a warm feeling spreading through his chest.

But then he had another thought. One day, his daughter really would be holding someone else’s hand, and he couldn’t help the tightness in his chest.

"Hee hee, thanks, Daddy~"

The two were incredibly affectionate.

Neither was willing to let go first, so they walked forward a few more steps, snuggled together like that.

Just as they reached the entrance of the restaurant where they had reservations, they ran into an acquaintance. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The woman wore a light-colored dress, her eyes were slightly red, and she clutched a crumpled handkerchief in her hand.

"Ling? What are you doing here? And... who is she?"

Shanshan’s gaze turned cold as she stared at Cao Jiajia’s woeful expression.

The moment Ling Zhiwei saw Shanshan, he looked like he’d just seen his savior, bolting to hide behind her.

He practically ran over, his steps frantic and his voice trembling.

This Cao Jiajia was simply impossible to shake off.

’I’ve never even given her the time of day, but she’s still shamelessly clinging to me!’

"I was just minding my own business when she popped out of nowhere and started calling me ’brother’! I was about to snap, but she wouldn’t leave! Thank god you’re here, Shanshan, save me!"

He blurted it all out in a single, breathless rush.

"Ling, no! I just... I fell for you at first sight. I really admire you, and I’ve always wanted an older brother... so I..."

Cao Jiajia edged forward, her eyes welling with tears.

Terrified, Ling Zhiwei scrambled backward as if she were the plague itself.

Seeing his nephew’s complete lack of backbone, Ling Anxun was about to step in and handle things, but Shanshan beat him to it.

"Stop! Cao Jiajia, are you deaf or just dense? Was my brother not clear enough? He wants nothing to do with you, and he doesn’t need a ’sister’! Got it?"

"And who do you think you are? You’re not his real sister. If you can call him brother, why can’t I?"

Cao Jiajia retorted, biting her lip and craning her neck defiantly.

But one cold glance from Shanshan and she immediately wilted.

"You should know your place. Your own parents are alive and well, so why are you so desperate for someone else’s brother? Don’t tell me you’re an orphan all of a sudden?"

Shanshan looked her up and down, her brow furrowing slightly.

She noticed that the hem of Cao Jiajia’s dress was splattered with mud, and the toes of her shoes were scuffed and cracked.

A far cry from her usual, meticulously put-together appearance.

The last time she’d seen Cao Daqiang, he had been with a woman and a boy, all of them dressed splendidly.

Cao Jiajia felt Shanshan’s eyes on her, and it made her skin crawl.

This feeling of being scrutinized made her antsy.

She had picked out her most presentable outfit before leaving the house today.

But standing next to this girl, she still felt like a beggar next to a Miss.

Humiliated, she couldn’t stand to be there a second longer.

With a stiff-necked huff, she spun around and stalked off without a backward glance.

Shanshan didn’t stop her. She just watched her retreating back, a flash of pity in her eyes.

She had considered saying something to ease the tension.

But seeing the girl’s defiant attitude, she decided against it.

’When is she going to get a clue?’

Shanshan was lost in thought when Ling Anxun’s gaze fell on Ling Zhiwei.

Ling Zhiwei’s whole body tensed as if he had been electrocuted.

He subconsciously took half a step back, his shoulders rigid.

"Shouldn’t you be in class right now? What are you doing here?"

Ling Anxun’s tone was accusatory.

"I..." He opened his mouth, his Adam’s apple bobbing, but couldn’t seem to form a complete sentence.

The excuse he’d prepared instantly vanished from his mind, leaving only a complete blank.

The voice snapped Shanshan out of her thoughts. She saw her brother frantically winking at her and had to bite back a laugh.

She quickly lowered her head, pretending to adjust her cuffs, her shoulders shaking slightly.

Ling Zhiwei shot her a glare.

’Knew I couldn’t count on this little brat!’

’I never should have expected her to bail me out. Now look, I have to handle this on my own.’

"Well... I overheard you making a reservation..."

he mumbled, sneaking a glance at Ling Anxun.

When he saw his uncle’s expression wasn’t quite as terrifying, he dared to speak a little louder.

"I just wanted to crash dinner."

He finished with an embarrassed smile, scratching the back of his head.

"Heh."

A corner of Ling Anxun’s mouth twitched upward.

’What a kid. His own nephew, looking for a handout.’

Just as he was about to shoo him away, Shanshan suddenly stepped forward and took Ling Zhiwei’s arm.

"If you wanted to crash, you should have just said so! Who’s going to stop you? You’re sneaking around like a thief."

"Heh heh, I was just worried Uncle wouldn’t let me. As long as you don’t mind, Shanshan, it’s all good. I even brought you a gift! I’ll give it to you when we get home!"

He seized the opening, his tone much lighter now.

The two walked on ahead, laughing and chatting about school.

Ling Anxun watched them from behind and sighed heavily.