Unexpectedly Pampered Chapter 1: Back to the Second Year of High School

"Sister, I beg you. There are so many people down there, you don't want me to be unable to make it to school, do you?"

Meng Ting was pushed forward as soon as she regained consciousness.

Hearing the familiar voice, her heart trembled, and she instinctively turned and gripped the girl's hand tightly.

Shu Lan almost screamed, "Sister, it hurts! Let go of me!"

Meng Ting then realized something was wrong.

Everything went dark, as if a curtain had been drawn over the world.

Meng Ting touched her face blankly; she wore sunglasses, and her eyes stung. Shu Lan, who looked about sixteen or seventeen, had a more childish voice. Shu Lan glanced at her warily and said, "You promised me, you won't go back on your word, will you?"

Go back on her word?

Meng Ting looked around with her aching eyes. They were in a very dark place; the music from the front desk was fading into a muffled melody. Meng Ting looked down at her hands; her fair and slender hands were beautiful and delicate in the dim light, completely devoid of the grotesque appearance of burns. She was lost in thought.

Shulan noticed something was wrong with her and was startled, fearing she had noticed something. She lowered her voice, "Sister, this is a very important assessment. What if Dad has a relapse if you don't pass..."

Meng Ting then turned to look at her, wanting to ask Shulan why she had loosened the rope, causing her to die in the landslide.

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She knew she was dead. However, after a terrifying feeling of weightlessness, she opened her eyes again and found herself back five years in the past. The Shulan before her was young and innocent, and the scene was familiar. Meng Ting remembered this incident; that year, she was in her second year of high school, and Shulan had begged her to help her pass the art assessment.

Shulan said that if she didn't pass, she would be looked down upon at school. Shulan had only studied piano for two years and had no talent, at best a mediocre player. Meng Ting had been pestered for a long time, and considering Shulan's father's health, she finally agreed to help her sister this time.

Perhaps it was the first time she had done something wrong, and her life took a terrible turn from then on.

After being exposed for her substitution, her classmates looked at her with subtle expressions.

Two months later, her eyes recovered, and Meng Ting became the school beauty of No. 7 Middle School. For three years, she had been blind, and everyone assumed she was. Yet, her beauty blossomed unreservedly that year, captivating many boys at school.

Meng Ting, however, was burned and disfigured while saving Shu Lan, then Shu Lan's father met with misfortune, she was ostracized by relatives, and ultimately died tragically in a landslide.

Now, Shu Lan whispered to Meng Ting, "Sister, I promise, this is a routine assessment, not a ranking system. It won't affect other students. You don't want me to be looked down upon for three years of high school, do you? Our family is already poor, because of your eyes..." She abruptly stopped, glancing nervously at Meng Ting.

Meng Ting's heart trembled; almost instantly, she understood her meaning—our family is so poor now because of your eye treatment.

But ironically, Shu Lan's tuition at this school was exorbitantly high.

And having lived a second life, Meng Ting knew Shu Lan was lying.

This wasn't some art assessment; it was clearly for Jiang Ren in the audience. That year, Jiang Ren made a mistake and was expelled from the Jiang family to study at Licai Vocational High School. The entire grade of girls were preparing to curry favor with him.

At the start of the school year's talent competition, Shu Lan, driven by pride, signed up, only to realize at the last minute that her talent was lacking, and resorted to a substitute.

In H City, everyone knew the Jiang family.

A century-old clan, they owned a large portion of the real estate in this coastal city. Even the newly opened seaside villas were part of their development. No one knew what Jiang Ren had done wrong, but even if it was murder or arson, such a wealthy person was someone you might only encounter once in your life. As the sole heir of the Jiang family, everyone knew Jiang Ren wasn't a good person, yet they still tried their best to get close to him.

Shu Lan was no exception.

Shu Lan somehow learned of Old Jiang's feelings for his deceased wife. Jiang Ren's mother was a true aristocratic lady, exceptionally talented and aloof. Even after many years of her death, Old Jiang had never remarried.

So Shulan decided to use her talent to win over Jiang Ren.

Meng Ting felt dazed and confused, having been given a second chance. She was both grateful and bewildered. Putting aside everything else, facing this ungrateful younger sister, Meng Ting didn't know how to treat her.

And Jiang Ren?

She remembered the boy who climbed over the wall to see her in her past life, the Jiang Ren who chased the bus for three kilometers just to make her turn around and look at him.

Everyone knew that Jiang Ren had a temper and couldn't control his temper. But Meng Ting also knew that his emotions were almost pathological and obsessive. She didn't want to have anything to do with him in this life. In her memory, he killed someone a few years later. She couldn't

afford to offend this kind of person, so couldn't she at least avoid him?

"Please welcome Shulan from Class 8 of Grade 11."

The host's clear voice came over. Shulan gritted her teeth and quickly put the white lace hat with confetti on Meng Ting. She also reached out and took away her sunglasses.

In the dim light, Shulan met her bright and ethereal eyes and was momentarily lost in thought.

Who would have thought that behind the blind woman's sunglasses lay a pair of eyes more beautiful than the starry sky? Shu Lan felt a mixture of hatred and pleasure. Pleasant because for three years, everyone had assumed Meng Ting was a blind person.

Almost no one associated a blind woman with beauty. Her beauty was concealed, unseen by anyone.

Shu Lan snapped out of her reverie, knowing her sister was gentle and kind, and said softly, "Sister, I told my friend beforehand to use warm, dim lighting. If your eyes hurt later, just close them. You remember the piano keys, right? It should be fine. Please."

She thought of her father, whose health was declining day by day.

Meng Ting hesitated, her thoughts slowing. Until Shu Lan pushed her onto the stage. The lights shone on her instantly.

Shu Lan hadn't lied; the stage lights were a dim, warm color to accommodate her eyes, which couldn't tolerate strong light. Meng Ting had undergone corneal transplant surgery that year, had worn sunglasses for over three years, and always walked with a cane. She had surgery a month ago, and was originally supposed to be able to remove them in two months.

The audience fell silent the moment she appeared.

A white lace hat covered most of her face, only vaguely revealing her beautiful features and delicate, fair chin. She wore a white silk dress with a red sash at the waist, and her waist-length hair cascaded down her back. She wore black leather shoes.

She looked like a moon goddess straight out of a fairy tale.

Meng Ting lowered her gaze; she knew Jiang Ren was at the very back of the hall.

She told herself not to panic; he didn't even know her yet. She was now in Shu Lan's place.

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A piano stood not far away, its black and white keys gleaming with a unique elegance.

Meng Ting looked at it, a moment of tenderness in her heart.

She sat down on a stool, placing her hands on the keys. Warm memories from a long time ago washed over her, and the sound of the piano made her tremble slightly. She finally felt the reality of being reborn.

The audience fell silent.

This is a vocational high school; most people can play guitar, but very few choose to play the piano.

After a while, a soft voice murmured from below, "The girl from Class 8 is so beautiful." Although her features were indistinct, she inexplicably felt beautiful, an indescribable kind of beauty.

"What is she playing?"

someone knowledgeable about piano said, "Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor."

"Holy crap, what's that name?"

"...Also called the Moonlight Sonata."

"What's her name?"

"The host mentioned it, Shu Lan from Class 8."

Shu Lan secretly peeked from behind the curtain, both happy and resentful. She knew how amazing Meng Ting was; she'd known since childhood. If it weren't for her eye injury, which had somewhat diminished Meng Ting's beauty, she would have been famous throughout the school long ago.

However, she was happy because after this performance, the one who would become famous would be her.

So what if Meng Ting was amazing? All the honors would be hers.

Moreover, Shu Lan looked towards the back of the hall.

At the very back of the exhibition hall, the silver-haired boy threw down his last pair of piano keys, and the piano music began. He looked up at the stage.

Her heart raced; Jiang Ren.

Jiang Ren's hair was a brilliant silver that year. He wore a black shirt and jacket, the jacket open, giving him a somewhat rebellious air. Instead of sitting properly in the chair, he sat on the higher armrest, his legs casually bent, his feet resting on the soft seat of the boy next to him.

The boy, his seat soiled, dared not utter a sound and could only sit stiffly.

He Junming stared at the stage, his mouth agape, and after a long while, he came to his senses: "She's from our school?" He muttered to himself, "Doesn't seem like it."

Li Cai Vocational High School was a paradise for rich kids, a group of people with terrible grades, skilled in eating, drinking, and having fun, but there really wasn't a girl like this.

How to put it, she was so pure and innocent, making them look like petty thugs in comparison.

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Fang Tan also clicked his tongue in amazement and couldn't help but glance at Jiang Ren.

Jiang Ren lit a cigarette but didn't smoke it, holding it between his fingers. Noticing Fang Tan's gaze, he put the cigarette between his lips: "What are you looking at me for? You actually believe those rumors?"

Fang Tan was afraid he would get angry: "No."

They knew that Jiang Ren actually hated this kind of girl the most.

Because Ren Ge's mother despised his father for his vulgarity and ignorance, she always looked at Ren Ge and his father as if they were dirty things.

This kind of woman always has unrealistic ambitions. She doesn't realize that without money, her comfortable life and elegance wouldn't exist.

Jiang Ren was too far away to see her clearly. However, she was indeed a skilled pianist, and he took his cigarette with two fingers. His gaze remained fixed on her.

Meng Ting lowered her long eyelashes; she was most sensitive to Jiang Ren's gaze. This time, she wasn't stupid. She pressed down on a key, deliberately playing a wrong note. Meng Ting missed several black keys, and the audience's initial amazement faded, replaced by a noisy chatter as they went about their own business.

Shu Lan was stunned in disbelief.

How could Meng Ting have played it wrong?

Jiang Ren scoffed. This kind of person dared to embarrass herself like this? He looked away, letting He Junming reshuffle the deck.

Meng Ting didn't want to disappoint Shu Lan's father, but she wouldn't help Shu Lan anymore. In her past life, it was because she was so in the spotlight today that Shulan became a celebrity at school, and the revelation of the substitution incident had such a huge impact.

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After finishing her piece, she bowed and left the stage, her eyes stinging. Shulan quickly pulled her to the dressing room: "Why did you play it wrong..."

Meng Ting fumbled for her sunglasses, the light finally making her feel better. She didn't answer Shulan's question; Shulan was more anxious about other things and didn't care: "Let's change back quickly."

After the two sisters changed, Shulan, enduring the tightness in her waistline, instructed Meng Ting: "Remember to leave through the back door."

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Meng Ting suddenly grabbed her arm: "Shulan, do you hate me?"

Shulan's expression stiffened for a moment, then she smiled after a long while: "Sister, what are you thinking? You're so good, how could I hate you? Shu Yang doesn't like you, but I've always liked you."

Meng Ting released her hand and closed her eyes weakly. Lying.

Only after living again did she understand that Shulan and Shu Yang, these twin siblings, one outwardly liked her but wished she were dead. A seemingly indifferent person, yet willing to raise money to help her treat her burns. You can't see into someone's heart, and it takes so much to understand.

It's just a pity she died before she could grow up in her past life.

But not in this life.

Back in her second year of high school, everything can start anew.

Meng Ting watched Shu Lan hurriedly walk out, lifting her skirt. She knew she was going to find Jiang Ren. In her past life, Shu Lan was overjoyed because Jiang Ren casually remarked "not bad." This time? Would Jiang Ren still be interested in the imposter Shu Lan?

She picked up her blind cane, pushed open the back door, and stepped out. A golden October morning filled her vision, but everything before her was gray. The birdsong was crisp, carrying a hint of autumn chill. Flowers bloomed on both sides of the road, carrying a delicate fragrance after the rain.

The sun rose. Meng Ting closed her eyes and slowly walked forward. The surgery was successful. In two months, she could see the sky and the sunlight again. There's always time in this life.

"Ren-ge, look over there." He Junming hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. Looking outthe window of the lounge, the sky was a clear, bright blue. A girl in the uniform of No. 7 Middle School was walking towards the school gate, leaning on a cane.

Jiang Ren rested his hand on the windowsill, his gaze following He Junming's finger, landing on Meng Ting's slender back.

The Blind Man in Chapter 2 of the Main Text: Pampered by the Blind Man?

He Junming exclaimed in surprise, "Blind? And wearing the No. 7 Middle School uniform."

Jiang Ren chewed gum, stumbling and looking for her way, appearing quite disheveled and pitiful. It seemed this girl from No. 7 Middle School wasn't familiar with their vocational high school's layout, and she slowly disappeared from their sight.

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He Junming stopped paying attention after a while, remembering something and smiling ambiguously, "Remember that girl who played the piano earlier? She came over very openly and said she wanted to make friends."

"You like her? Then let's play around."

He Junming shrugged, "She came to you, Ren-ge, is it appropriate for you to say that?"

Jiang Ren recalled her fleeting glimpse on stage, "Sure, let her come over."

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Shu Lan walked over with bright eyes, blushing the moment she saw Jiang Ren, "Jiang Ren, classmate."

She held a white top hat in her hand.

She had a delicately made-up face and was quite good-looking. Jiang Ren glanced at Shu Lan and lazily asked, "You like me?"

Shu Lan hadn't expected him to be so direct. Her face flushed instantly, her heart pounded, and she felt a surge of excitement. She controlled her reaction, maintaining her elegant demeanor: "Jiang Ren, I just think you're very outstanding."

Jiang Ren laughed: "Then tell me, what the hell makes me outstanding?"

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Before Shu Lan could answer, Jiang Ren lit a cigarette: "Outstanding in smoking and fighting? Or outstanding in murder and arson? Or outstanding in beating up your teacher to the point of hospitalization the other day?"

Shu Lan's face paled: "I believe there's a misunderstanding. You're not that kind of person."

Jiang Ren crossed his legs: "Have you seen my medical report? Do you even know what a short temper is?"

Shu Lan had no idea about these things. She only knew Jiang Ren had a bad temper, but she never imagined he was ill. Her expression shifted several times before she finally said firmly, "I don't care!"

Jiang Ren flicked his cigarette ash, his tone mocking, "So desperate for money? But I do mind, you're too ugly. You should at least look like Shen Yuqing from the neighboring No. 7 Middle School. Didn't you realize I was just messing with you? Get lost."

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Shen Yuqing was the school beauty from the neighboring No. 7 Middle School, a second-year high school student.

Rumor had it she was Jiang Ren's current girlfriend, but many didn't believe it. Besides, even if she were, how often do new faces replace the old?

Shu Lan, humiliated and kicked out, knew Jiang Ren was unruly and unapproachable, so she dared not utter a sound.

She couldn't help but vent her anger on Meng Ting; if only she hadn't played the wrong note…

However, a thought struck her, and Shu Lan remembered the comment about being even prettier than Shen Yuqing. She paused, stunned.

She knew who was prettier than Shen Yuqing—it was Meng Ting. That pure, breathtaking beauty had been silently extinguished for years due to her eye injury.

From a young age, Meng Ting was the center of attention. Shu Lan still remembers the first time she saw ten-year-old Meng Ting, the unforgettable, stunning beauty she possessed. She was pure and beautiful, born to make others feel inferior.

She was like a crystal gift that everyone wanted to touch and yearn for.

She gritted her teeth, thinking on one hand, "Compared to Meng Ting, what is Shen Yuqing?" On the other hand, she thought, "Thank goodness Jiang Ren doesn't know the Meng Ting of the past.

"

Meng Ting walked out of Li Cai Vocational High School; the neighboring No. 7 Middle School had already let out for the day.

The two high schools were adjacent; on the left was the National No. 7 Middle School, filled with top students, while on the right was Li Cai, a private vocational high school, chaotic and filled with wealthy students. It was a paradise for spoiled brats.

From the very beginning, the students of No. 7 Middle School looked down on the lazy and academically challenged students of Li Cai, while the students of Li Cai looked down on the poor and arrogant students of No. 7 Middle School.

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Meng Ting couldn't help but look up at the electronic screen in her own school.

That year, the screen was always used to broadcast various important events. Red text scrolled across the black screen—"

Lecture by Professor Zhang Hong, a renowned professor at B University. Students are welcome to attend. Location…"

Her eyes stung, but she refused to blink.

The following text scrolled out: Today's time—October 11th, 20xx, 19:03, Thursday.

She wasn't dreaming; she had truly returned to five years ago. This was the turning point in her short life. Meng Ting almost burst into tears. Finally, looking at the deserted campus after school, she gripped her backpack strap and walked towards the bus stop.

There weren't many buses home, only one every half hour. Meng Ting took out her student transportation card from her bag and waited at the platform.

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She waited ten minutes, checking every stop. This was the way home. She had wanted to go home countless times in her past life, and in this life, her wish had finally come true.

However, the bus hadn't arrived yet, and the ear-piercing sound of mountain bike racing came from afar. She gripped her cane tightly, her eyelashes trembling slightly. A sense of foreboding filled her heart.

The motorcycle sped by, cutting through the wind.

He Junming whistled and exclaimed, "Hey, Ren-ge, the blind guy we saw at school!"

Jiang Ren's eyes, hidden beneath his helmet, swept over.

Then the motorcycle swerved and stopped in front of Meng Ting. Meng Ting couldn't help but take a step back.

The wind ruffled her hair, which was tucked behind her ears, her bangs slightly disheveled.

Jiang Ren stopped the motorcycle and took off his helmet.

He Junming and Fang Tan stopped right behind him.

Meng Ting remembered Jiang Ren from that year.

That year, he had a pierced ear with a black diamond. His short, silver hair was flamboyant and unruly; on others, it would be considered a "punk" look, but on him, it was handsome. Jiang Ren had a rather dashing appearance, not the kind of pretty boy that would become popular a few years later, but rather a wild and rugged one. He was a true delinquent. He Junming

couldn't resist asking her cheekily, "You're a top student from No. 7 Middle School, are you really blind?"

Meng Ting didn't know why they had stopped there. Hearing this, she paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Jiang Ren looked down at her for a long time, his gaze sweeping over her long hair: "From No. 7 High School, what are you doing at our vocational high school?"

Meng Ting's heart tightened; she didn't know how she would run into him here, so she simply stiffened and remained silent.

Fang Tan raised an eyebrow: "And you're mute?"

Meng Ting pursed her lips, her expression quiet, and nodded again.

She nodded twice without answering Jiang Ren's question. He hung his helmet on the hood of his bike and smiled: "High achiever, get on, I'll take you home. No charge, showing consideration for the disabled."

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He Junming almost burst out laughing. Holy crap, showing consideration for the disabled! Should I help you cross the street?

Fang Tan also suppressed his laughter.

Meng Ting slowly shook her head, not bothering to argue with him.

She stood very straight; because it was autumn, she wore a thin knitted sweater underneath, and the oversized school uniform and badge of No. 7 High School on top. Although her figure wasn't visible, her exposed neck was slender and her skin was fair. She had a delicate air about her.

Jiang Ren pulled out a lighter from his pocket and played with it.

The flame danced before his eyes as he looked at her, her sunglasses covering most of her face. She gripped her cane tightly, looking somewhat helpless and frail; she was nervous.

"What's in your bag? Take it out." Jiang Ren's gaze fell on the back of her jade-like hand. She was very fair, and the black cane made her look like a piece of black jade.

Meng Ting didn't want to provoke him; she just hoped he would leave quickly. So she obediently opened her bag to show him. She had actually forgotten what would be in her bag.

The zipper was open, revealing a physics book, an English book

, a pencil case, an eyeglasses case, a coin purse,

and finally, a small box of strawberries.

Strawberries were hard to find this season; these were greenhouse-grown strawberries that Shu's father had gone to great lengths to get from the lab. There was only one small box, which he told Meng Ting to take to school to eat if she got hungry.

However, that year, Meng Ting couldn't bear to eat them and gave them to her younger sister, Shu Lan.

Give me the strawberries."

Meng Ting's fingers trembled, and she didn't move at first.

Oh well, it's okay, don't make him angry. She handed over the strawberry box with her fair hand.

He Junming and the others were puzzled. They had humiliated her and taken her things, yet she showed no anger or resentment, her temper was unbelievably good. She had an aura completely different from theirs.

"Why are you standing so far away? Give it to me, or do you expect me to help you?"

Meng Ting raised her eyes, blinking uncomfortably. Seeing his direction, she handed the box over.

Jiang Ren looked down at her.

The October breeze was cool, and most of her fair face was obscured by sunglasses. She leaned closer, and he thought he could smell a faint floral fragrance.

She placed the box on the hood of his car and then stepped back.

The next second, the bus stopped.

Meng Ting pulled her backpack, silently grasped her white cane, and boarded the bus. She walked unhurriedly, as if she had never met them, nor did she expose their "robbery" to the passengers.

Fang Tan and his group stared in disbelief. He Junming couldn't help but whisper, "Why is Brother Ren bullying her?"

Does he feel a sense of accomplishment when he bullies a blind person? She was still a little mute.

Mute and blind, so pitiful.

Until the car drove away.

Jiang Ren flicked open the transparent strawberry box with her thumb, not caring whether it was washed or not, and popped a strawberry into her mouth.

Unexpectedly sweet.

He Junming, watching with envy, couldn't help but say, "Brother Ren, can you share one with me?"

Jiang Ren didn't even turn her head, throwing the box and strawberry together into the trash can, hitting the bullseye on the first try.

"Not ripe," he said.

"..."

"..."

Fine, if she doesn't want it, she doesn't want it.

Jiang Ren strode onto the car, not even wearing a helmet. She could accurately place the strawberry on his car—was she really blind? Or pretending?

~

Meng Ting returned home. She took out her keys from her coin purse and opened the door with trembling fingers. She could really go home again.

The boy on the living room sofa turned around at the sound, saw Meng Ting, and then coldly turned his head back to watch the game.

However, Mr. Shu, wearing an apron, quickly wiped his hands and came out of the kitchen, smiling gently: "Tingting, you're back! Wash your hands, dinner's ready. Didn't Xiaolan come back with you? Didn't you say you were going to see her performance today?"

Seeing Mr. Shu again, who had passed away, Meng Ting couldn't help but tear up.

Mr. Shu was Meng Ting's stepfather, named Shu Zhitong. After Meng Ting and her mother were in a car accident, her mother died, and Meng Ting's eyes were injured. Mr. Shu raised three children alone, but he never thought of abandoning Meng Ting; instead, he treated her as his own daughter.

Shu Lan and Shu Yang were Mr. Shu's biological fraternal twins.

Meng Ting used to feel awkward in this family, so she tried her best to be sensible and obedient, taking care of her younger siblings who were two months younger than her. But now she was incredibly grateful to God for giving her a second chance to repay Mr. Shu.

She would never let him have another accident and would let him enjoy his old age in peace.

She put down her schoolbag, thinking of Shulan, and said softly, "Shulan said she's eating out; she has a celebration party tonight."

However, Meng Ting knew in her heart that having just met Jiang Ren meant that Shulan had failed again.

Whether in this life or the past, Jiang Ren didn't really like Shulan. It was a strange twist of fate.

Before going to bed that night, she touched her schoolbag and saw her comical student ID photo.

To protect her eyes, Shulan's father kept Meng Ting's bedroom dimly lit. This photo was taken when she entered high school. At that time, Meng Ting's eyes were repeatedly infected and she couldn't tolerate any strong light, so the teacher had her take a photo with a white cloth covering her eyes, and then someone photoshopped eyes onto her.

Anyone who has been to school knows how terrible the school photography was. The Photoshop skills

back then were far less sophisticated than they would be a few years later; these eyes were lifeless, the colors mismatched, and extremely discordant. It even startled Meng Ting herself.

So, after seeing it for a long time, from her first to second year of high school, her classmates all thought that even if Meng Ting's eyes recovered, she would only look like this on her student ID.

Meng Ting carefully put it back in her schoolbag, without any disgust. She just missed her teachers and classmates.

Author's Note: Meng Ting, the fake blind girl, the little mute, pitiful.

At first, everyone thought: "Meng Ting is so pitiful! Her parents are gone, her eyes are ruined, and she's not even that pretty..."

Later—

Meng Ting, the true goddess, the great beauty, the all-around amazing, endured everyone's sympathetic gazes.

Everyone: ...

Pampered by Love, Chapter 3: The Little Mute

The next day was Friday.

After Meng Ting finished her milk, Shu Zhitong checked her eyes as usual. Then he said, "From now on, Dad can only come back on weekends to cook for you. The research institute is very busy. Can Tingting and Shu Yang eat at school from now on?"

Shu Yang nodded.

Meng Ting also nodded.

Shu Zhitong continued, "Shu Yang, take good care of Tingting, okay? She's your older sister. Her eyesight isn't good. You're in the same grade, so don't let anyone bully her."

Shu Yang said, "She doesn't need me to take care of her."

"This child..."

Shu Zhitong was a little embarrassed, then pulled Meng Ting aside and said apologetically, "Tingting, don't hold it against him."

Meng Ting smiled and said, "I won't. Shu Yang is tough on the outside but soft on the inside."

Shu Zhitong was a little embarrassed: "Dad, I need your help with something." "

Xiao Lan didn't come back last night. She said she slept at a classmate's house. She's grown up, and there are many things I can't control. I'm worried that at school..." He paused, and finally sighed, thinking of his daughter. "I'm afraid she'll go astray if she falls in love too early. You're so well-behaved and sensible, can you teach her a little more?"

Meng Ting was still bothered by Shu Lan's decision to let herself die in her previous life.

If Shulan hadn't untied the rope, she wouldn't have died. Besides, she risked going down there to find her stepson who had gone missing in the landslide. She didn't understand why Shulan had untied the rope, but a thorn remained in her heart.

However, looking at the man before her, burdened with debt and with graying temples for his children, Meng Ting couldn't say anything, and finally nodded.

Meng Ting and Shu Yang walked towards the school one after the other.

They were both in their second year of high school at No. 7 Middle School; Meng Ting was in Class 1, and Shu Yang was in Class 2.

Both were top students in their classes.

Meng Ting looked at the boy's thin back; after the burns, it was Shu Yang and his father who insisted on her treatment. They had never given up on her.

Shu Yang's figure grew farther and farther away. A long time before crossing the road, he turned back to look at Meng Ting, stopped, and silently waited for her.

The two arrived at school together at 7:45, and then quietly entered their respective classrooms.

As soon as Meng Ting entered, many students greeted her.

"Good morning, Meng Ting."

"Good morning."

That year, Meng Ting was the class's English representative.

Everyone knew she came from a poor family; she and her mother were in a car accident, and her mother passed away while she lost her sight. However, due to her outstanding academic performance, she was directly admitted to No. 7 Middle School from her original junior high school.

She consistently ranked first in every exam, except for the one she missed due to surgery—a true inspiration. So when she went to school with a cane and sunglasses, no one mocked her. They were even very friendly to her from the start.

Her deskmate was a boy with glasses. Shy and reserved, he rarely interacted with others in the class, studying very hard, but his grades never improved.

The girl in front of her turned around excitedly: "Tingting, you're here!"

Meng Ting smiled, a touch of nostalgia in her voice, as gentle as a March breeze: "Zhao Nuancheng."

Zhao Nuancheng smoothed Meng Ting's hair, ruffled by the morning breeze, and lowered her voice: "Tingting, remember to apply for the scholarship; the forms have been sent out." She knew Meng Ting's family situation wasn't good and felt sorry for this hard-working girl.

"Okay."

The first class was with their homeroom teacher, Ms. Tang Xiaoli, a Chinese language teacher—intellectual and elegant.

Meng Ting listened attentively to the familiar material, slowly taking notes.

Her hand holding the pen was clumsy, but she was exceptionally focused.

Her deskmate, Hong Hui, couldn't help but peek at what she was writing. He was eager to learn and anxious about his grades, and since the top student was next to him, he couldn't resist "secretly seeking advice."

Meng Ting noticed his gaze and showed him her book.

Her clean and gentle demeanor made Hong Hui feel embarrassed. He thought to himself, no wonder so many people think Meng Ting is a good person; she's truly gentle and lovely.

After the class, Meng Ting finally started to get a feel for high school.

This year, because the school didn't have much money, the desks and fans were old. The chairs were shaky and creaked easily.

The only brand-new thing in the classroom was the multimedia blackboard at the front.

Fortunately, fans weren't needed in the fall, but these facilities made everyone feel a huge sense of inadequacy.

After all, the vocational high school next door had long since installed air conditioning and heating.

They enjoyed their comforts while they suffered from the heat in summer and the cold in winter—it was truly unbelievable.

The difference between the rich and the poor is just that big.

After the first class ended, something happened at school.

A commotion erupted outside, and Meng Ting sat on her stool. A while later, Zhao Nuancheng came in, her face beaming with excitement at having learned some gossip: "Shen Yuqing from Class 14 is going to the vocational high school next door. She's skipping classes. Guess why?"

Meng Ting's heart skipped a beat.

Why? What could it be? Of course, it was because of Jiang Ren.

Sure enough, Zhao Nuancheng said, "She's actually going for a boy from the vocational high school. Look at how arrogant she is, she's got the title of school beauty, she looks down on everyone, and now she's going to steal a boyfriend from a girl from the vocational high school, isn't that ridiculous?"

Liu Xiaoyi, who sat behind him, also heard this and chimed in, "That's because that boy has a powerful background."

Information was scarce at No. 7 Middle School. Jiang Ren enrolled at Licai Vocational High School in September. He was famous there, but few of the good students at No. 7 Middle School knew about him.

Zhao Nuancheng rolled her eyes, a hint of superiority in her eyes as a model student creeping in: "How amazing can he be? Is he some kind of superhuman?"

Liu Xiaoyi shrugged: "He's practically superhuman. You know Junyang Group, right? The biggest real estate company in the country, that's his."

Zhao Nuancheng: "...Holy crap."

Liu Xiaoyi, always on the cutting edge of the news, couldn't help but add: "Last week he beat up their homeroom teacher in class, sending him to the hospital, and he's still perfectly fine at school. It's no wonder Shen Yuqing is interested in someone like that."

Being arrogant in youth is a kind of capital.

Many classmates gathered around: "Why did he hit the teacher?"

"Wow, he's got guts! He even dared to hit a teacher."

"So what if he's rich? Being so arrogant, society will teach him a lesson someday."

"So what? If he doesn't work hard, he'll just inherit the family fortune."

A group of people laughed and told him to get lost.

Amidst the chatter, Meng Ting suddenly stood up.

Zhao Nuancheng quickly asked, "Ting, where are you going?"

Meng Ting frowned. This matter wasn't her concern, but she knew. Who was the current school beauty, Shen Yuqing, going to see? Her younger sister, Shu Lan.

She didn't want to care about Shu Lan anymore, but Shu Lan's father's instructions from that morning still echoed in her ears.

Shu Lan's father was getting old, and his health was deteriorating. Sometimes, if he wasn't careful while working in the lab, the radiation could destroy him. His whole life had been about his children; one could say he died for Meng Ting.

Meng Ting turned to Zhao Nuancheng and said, "I'm not feeling well. Could you ask my teacher for leave for me?"

Zhao Nuancheng nodded quickly.

Meng Ting reached the school gate, but the security guard wouldn't let her out. She rarely lied, but thinking about what she would face if she didn't stop, she pointed to her eyes: "Uncle, my eyes are uncomfortable."

The guard recognized her—the school's famously well-behaved and inspiring girl—and quickly let her through.

The vocational high school next door was much easier to get into; the security was practically non-existent. When Meng Ting reached the door of Class 8, Grade 11, the classroom erupted in cheers.

Shen Yuqing hadn't come alone; she had a group of girlfriends.

Shu Lan was also stubborn. Meng Ting walked in and heard her say, "So what if you're Jiang Ren's girlfriend? Everyone knows he didn't even go to your birthday party the day before yesterday, and then he threw your wallet at you."

Shen Yuqing was arrogant, but her fighting spirit was not weak either: "Even if he doesn't care about me, I'm still his official girlfriend. How old are you to have learned to steal other people's boyfriends? Don't you have any manners?"

The people around cheered.

The wife was tearing into the mistress on the spot, all for the sake of the influential Jiang Ren. It was quite a show.

When Meng Ting came in, everyone's eyes fell on her.

Her blind person's outfit was too eye-catching. She walked around the crowd, grabbed Shu Lan who was about to retort, and walked out of the classroom. Shu Lan was angry: "What are you doing here? I know my place. Go back to your studies."

The scrutinizing gazes of others made Shu Lan feel ashamed, as if to say, "Is your sister blind?"

Meng Ting said calmly: "Shu's father told me this morning that he was very worried about you. It wasn't easy for him to raise us."

Shu Lan frowned, still wanting to retort.

"Even if you beat Shen Yuqing, how will others treat you? Jiang Ren doesn't even care about Shen Yuqing, why would he care about you?" Meng Ting asked. "Your friend knows about you asking me to play the piano, right? Can you guarantee she won't tell anyone?"

Shu Lan was startled.

She hadn't gone home last night, and many people saw her go to see Jiang Ren. Driven by vanity, rumors circulated the next day that Jiang Ren liked her and had taken her out all night. She didn't deny it, and then Shen Yuqing came looking for her.

Shu Lan hesitated, "They won't tell anyone, will they?" However, she still had some reservations. After returning home, she dropped the matter and told Shen Yuqing, "That's just a rumor. I slept at Lin Meng's house yesterday; she can testify."

Lin Meng nodded.

"That's true, don't you see what you're like?" Shen Yuqing said sarcastically, then stopped.

As she left, Shen Yuqing specifically glanced at Meng Ting outside the classroom. She knew this girl. The top student in their grade. Meng Ting from Class One, with poor eyesight. Did

Meng Ting know Shu Lan?

Shu Lan, thankfully, didn't confront Shen Yuqing out of vanity like she had in her past life.

Shu Lan's expression was grim: "Go back quickly, sister. Don't let anyone find out about your piano playing."

Meng Ting turned and went downstairs: "I know." Her purpose was different from Shu Lan's, but she also didn't want Jiang Ren to know that it was her who played the piano.

The campus was cool in October.

The environment at Li Cai was more than twice as good as No. 7 Middle School, with brand-new teaching buildings and facilities. The greenery here was good, and the school was large. Compared to it, No. 7 Middle School was indeed terribly bleak.

She went downstairs, crossed the path, and planned to hurry back to class.

A basketball grazed past the camphor tree and flew over. It barely passed her ear.

Fang Tan frowned: "Did it hit someone?"

Jiang Ren didn't move like a boss. He Junming ran over, saw Meng Ting, turned around and shouted: "Brother Ren, it's that blind classmate from yesterday."

Jiang Ren's gaze came over.

Meng Ting was stunned for a moment, then walked out of the school.

Jiang Ren caught the ball from Fang Tan, tossed it with a shooting motion, and the ball bounced far in front of Meng Ting, causing her to stop in her tracks.

Jiang Ren put his hands in his pockets; he was wearing a number five jersey, tall and long-legged, and had only been walking for two minutes.

He stepped on the ball, his smile cold: "Hey, can you see, classmate?"

Otherwise, why would you stop? A blind person wouldn't know the danger.

He was very close; despite it being autumn, his silver hair was damp with sweat from exercise. The upstairs neighbors were making a racket for him, but he didn't seem to care.

Meng Ting frowned. That year, he was 187 cm tall, 27 cm taller than her, and looking down at her was very intimidating.

When he reached for her sunglasses, she hurriedly used her white cane to deflect his hand.

The solid wood cane was heavy and hard, and the sound of it hitting bone was chilling.

Everyone present was stunned.

Jiang Ren's smile vanished. He said, "I don't have a principle of not hitting girls."

He Junming quickly pulled Jiang Ren back, "Brother Ren, let it go, she's blind. Maybe she just happened to hit her."

Jiang Ren had a violent temper, an uncontrollable condition.

No one dared to provoke him. Seeing the lack of a smile on his face, He Junming didn't dare pull him back.

Meng Ting knew this too.

The air was silent for a long time.

Meng Ting was a little scared and lowered her head, whispering, "I'm sorry, my eyes can't stand light." Her voice was soft, like the most lingering breeze in Jiangnan, with a sweet quality.

Jiang Ren was momentarily stunned.

When he came to his senses, she had already hurriedly walked away.

This time, her steps were unsteady, clearly believing he would hit her.

In the autumn colors of October, her blue and white school uniform silhouette was slender and graceful.

He Junming said blankly, "She's not mute." Her voice was quite pleasant, sweet to the core. Not overly coquettish, but unexpectedly sweet.

Jiang Ren looked down at the back of his hand; it was a large red patch.

That cane really hurt when it hit someone.

Fang Tan came over after a while and asked, "Brother Ren, why did you touch her sunglasses?"

He hadn't heard Jiang Ren say that Meng Ting wasn't blind, and based on his own understanding, he said, "She's blind, you know. What if she takes them off and stares at you with two empty holes without eyeballs?" He even made a gesture of gouging out his eyes; it was fucking terrifying, practically an eyesore.

Jiang Ren didn't say anything.

He watched her walk away, and for some reason, he suddenly remembered the box of strawberries he had snatched.

If she wasn't mute, why hadn't she spoken to him before? Did she look down on people from vocational high school?

He slapped his hand hard. Damn it, what's with the arrogance? Women like his mother at least had some assets.

And her? A blind woman with an eye problem, what was she so self-important about?

Author's Note: Have you guys who keep urging me to start writing on Weibo come yet?

We agreed that if you come, we'll be best friends. If you don't come… Waaah… Come on, take a look! (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

Tell me if you like it, be honest. Only kids give random compliments; we adults like to engage in mutual flattery.

For example: Zhizhi, I think it's beautiful.

Me: Thank you, you're beautiful too.

Reader: Zhizhi, the writing is ugly.

Me: Thank you, you're ugly too.

Got it? Now you know what to say?