Ten thousand and ten.

This world was like a tragic romance novel, where almost everyone opposed Meng Xin and Sheng Han being together. Even the Meng family sided with Meng Mingzhu.

So after transmigrating into this story, Meng Mingzhu needed to do nothing and already had an inherent backing.

Her primary goal now was to win over the male lead, Sheng Han.

In the novel, after Meng Xin transferred to the international class, her opportunities to interact with Sheng Han greatly increased, and gradually, feelings blossomed between them.

Therefore, the first thing Meng Mingzhu did after transmigrating was to find Meng Xin and persuade her not to join the international class to prevent future trouble.

It was during that time that Yu Linghuan suddenly appeared, repeatedly obstructing her.

Meng Mingzhu thought that since she had transmigrated, the most annoying person she had met was undoubtedly Yu Linghuan.

She didn’t understand why—Yu Linghuan was just a clumsy and foolish background character who hadn’t even lasted halfway through the novel’s progress before being sidelined. Yet suddenly, her presence had become overwhelmingly strong.

If Meng Mingzhu hadn’t repeatedly confirmed with the system, she might have suspected Yu Linghuan was also a transmigrator.

Now, seeing Yu Linghuan again and hearing her just now say something sinister under her breath, Meng Mingzhu barely restrained herself from losing her temper outright.

“Yu, do you have some prejudice against me? Why do you keep targeting me repeatedly?” Meng Mingzhu approached the two girls, speaking patiently.

Yu Linghuan raised her brow. “Prejudice?”

“Yes,” Meng Mingzhu stared intently. “If I’m not mistaken, we’ve never had any interaction before, right? Could it be…”

Her gaze shifted to Meng Xin across from them. “Has Xin Xin said something to you?”

The implication was clear: Meng Xin had been gossiping behind her back.

No sooner had she finished speaking than a short-haired girl who had come with her chimed in, “Yeah, Meng Xin, everyone in the international class agrees Mingzhu has a great personality. You mustn’t spread rumors about your own sister just because of selfish desires.”

The two of them spoke in unison, turning their hostility toward Meng Xin.

Yu Linghuan was strong in combat; it was difficult and unrewarding to deal with her directly, so it was better to focus all the firepower on the inarticulate Meng Xin.

This was the strategy Meng Mingzhu had agreed upon with her followers before coming here.

As expected, Meng Xin only moved her lips but didn’t utter a word.

She didn’t even know why, but every time she faced Meng Mingzhu, it felt as if an invisible force prevented her from defending herself.

It had been like this during lunch, and now the feeling had returned.

Biting her lip, Meng Xin’s eyes were nearly red with frustration.

Suddenly, a warm hand covered hers.

Meng Xin’s body was cold; even in summer, her hands were always chilly.

Unlike Yu Linghuan’s, whose hands were always warm and full of vitality.

Feeling Yu Linghuan gently squeeze her hand, Meng Xin’s heart steadied somewhat, and the invisible restraint on her lessened.

“I’ve never spoken ill of Mingzhu,” Meng Xin said firmly, looking at the short-haired girl who had spoken earlier. “Never.”

The short-haired girl faltered under that gaze, her voice weakening. “Who knows if you really haven’t said anything…”

Meng Mingzhu glanced disdainfully at the short-haired girl: useless, couldn’t even speak properly under a look.

She had to step in personally.

Clearing her throat, Meng Mingzhu said, “Xin Xin, I believe you didn’t intentionally say bad things about me, but look, your friends around you dislike me so much. This means…”

Before she could finish, a clear female voice interrupted.

“Meng Mingzhu, you’re mistaken.”

Meng Mingzhu’s expression stiffened.

Yu Linghuan spoke without emotion, “My dislike for you has nothing to do with others.”

She wrinkled her nose, casting a disdainful glance at Meng Mingzhu. “It’s simply because every time you open your mouth, every word you say, no, every single syllable that comes out, is utterly annoying.”

After that, Yu Linghuan nodded as if concluding, “Yes, from head to toe, you’re thoroughly irritating.”

Meng Mingzhu was nearly furious beyond control.

Who did Yu Linghuan think she was!

From childhood until now, before and after transmigrating, this was the first time Meng Mingzhu had been so thoroughly demeaned to her face.

What right did Yu Linghuan have!

“Suppressive Aura! I want to exchange for the Suppressive Aura!” Meng Mingzhu frantically called out to the system in her mind. “To suppress Yu Linghuan, I need an advanced aura, right? Give me one now!”

In the afternoon, she had worked hard on tasks and earned some points.

She absolutely had to get back at Yu Linghuan for this insult!

[Your current point balance is 800. The Advanced Suppressive Aura costs 300 points. Are you sure you want to proceed?]

Meng Mingzhu, losing all rationality in her anger, interrupted the system irritably: “Yes, yes! Can’t you understand me? I want it now!”

[Understood.]

With a “ding” signaling a successful exchange, a dark red halo briefly shimmered around Meng Mingzhu.

Of course, this aura was invisible to ordinary eyes.

Yu Linghuan’s brow twitched slightly as she tried to move her lips toward Meng Mingzhu.

Sure enough, a burning sensation rose from her throat.

So this was the power of the Suppressive Aura.

Seeing Yu Linghuan finally fall silent, pride gleamed in Meng Mingzhu’s eyes.

She was just a background character; Meng Mingzhu could casually equip an aura that silenced her.

She intended to seize this opportunity to teach this insolent nobody a lesson—make her taste the bitterness of being unable to retort.

Just as she took a step forward to look down at Yu Linghuan sitting there, Yu Linghuan turned to Meng Xin and said, “The milk tea shop sent me a notification that the drinks are ready. Shall we go?”

Meng Mingzhu was speechless.

Meng Xin nodded. She disliked conflicts and since Yu Linghuan had decided to leave, she was willing to go along.

Yu Linghuan took Meng Xin’s hand and stood up. The two ignored the words Meng Mingzhu was about to say and walked straight out of the dessert shop.

Step by step, their figures receded.

Meng Mingzhu finally snapped out of it and shouted after them, “Hey! I haven’t finished talking! Stop right there!”

Seeing them grow farther away, she anxiously asked the system, “What’s going on? Why did my Suppressive Aura suddenly stop working? Why did they run off?”

[Miss, the aura hasn’t failed. But the Suppressive Aura only prevents the target from rebutting, insulting, or physically attacking you; it does not prevent them from leaving.]

Meng Mingzhu stomped her foot, abandoning any lady-like composure, and hurried after them.

She had spent 300 points—there was no way she was letting them get away!

“Yu Linghuan! Meng Xin!” she pushed through the crowd. “Hey, wait for me!”

Yu Linghuan smiled at the milk tea shop clerk. “Order 2034: one red bean mochi milk tea and one strawberry crushed ice, thank you.”

“To drink here or take out?”

“To drink here.”

“Alright.” The clerk efficiently packed the two drinks and gave Meng Mingzhu a glare. “Dear customer, please queue up to collect drinks. Don’t shout and disturb others.”

Meng Mingzhu was left speechless.

Yu Linghuan took the hot drink, inserted a straw, and handed it to Meng Xin, then opened the iced one and took a big sip.

“Delicious!” Yu Linghuan said with a satisfied squint. “How’s yours?”

Meng Xin: “Not bad either.”

Yu Linghuan: “Let me try.”

Meng Xin handed over her cup, and Yu Linghuan drank from it naturally.

Meng Mingzhu: “Hey, you two…”

“Oh!” Yu Linghuan suddenly exclaimed dramatically, “It’s almost six o’clock. Let’s hurry back to school before the cafeteria closes.”

Meng Xin wasn’t as indifferent as Yu Linghuan in ignoring Meng Mingzhu.

But she could feel that responding now would only escalate the conflict.

That was not what she wanted.

So she merely glanced quickly at Meng Mingzhu and nodded to Yu Linghuan. “Okay.”

To Meng Mingzhu, that glance felt like a provocation.

After countless times being ignored, Meng Mingzhu finally lost it and blurted out a curse, “You—”

But she couldn’t finish the sentence.

[Beep—Detected inappropriate language violating the young lady’s character setting. Mute enforced and 100 points deducted as penalty.]

Meng Mingzhu: “?!”

Her face twisted in frustration as the system forcibly silenced her.

Yu Linghuan almost laughed aloud: being a background character had its perks—at least she could swear freely and didn’t have to suffer like poor Meng Mingzhu.

Though because Meng Xin disliked it, Yu Linghuan rarely cursed now and had become increasingly skilled at insulting without profanity.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Yu Linghuan cheerfully linked arms with Meng Xin. “Time to eat!”

On the car ride home, Meng Mingzhu’s face was deeply sullen.

The Meng family driver, seeing her expression, dared not speak to his young lady.

He thought of the other young lady recently added to the family—Meng Xin.

Unlike Miss Mingzhu, Meng Xin was always polite and never showed attitude before family or the staff.

So obedient it was almost heartbreaking.

The driver also noticed that neither the Meng family matriarch nor Madam Meng showed much genuine affection for Meng Xin.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be the only one tasked with fetching Meng Mingzhu home.

He sighed silently—this wasn’t something a mere driver could speculate on.

After twenty minutes, the car stopped in front of the Meng family villa.

As soon as Meng Mingzhu entered, her stepmother, Wu Minli, approached her.

“Mingzhu, you came back alone?” Wu Minli glanced outside. “Weren’t you supposed to bring Meng Xin home for dinner today?”

Meng Mingzhu lowered her eyes. “Mom, I told Meng Xin, but she not only refused to come back, she said… she hates me.”

Wu Minli raised an eyebrow, about to ask more.

A hoarse yet authoritative female voice interrupted sharply: “How disrespectful!”

Both Meng Mingzhu and Wu Minli turned around.

The Meng family matriarch, Tian Shuzhen, mother of Meng Mingzhu’s father, came out holding a cane.

“Girls raised in poor families just don’t know manners,” Tian Shuzhen frowned. “This Meng Xin is truly outrageous!”

At those words, a flicker of satisfaction crossed Meng Mingzhu’s face.

No matter what, at least in the eyes of the Meng family, Meng Xin was no match for her.

Tian Shuzhen’s gaze swept the living room as she asked her daughter-in-law, “Where’s Tianjiao? Why isn’t he home yet?”

Wu Minli responded respectfully, “Tianjiao had a club activity at school today. He’ll be home later.”

Tian Shuzhen snorted coldly, “None of them come home. It seems they don’t respect their old grandmother.”

“Mother, please don’t say that.” Wu Minli quickly soothed her. “Tianjiao just started high school; it’s the perfect time to cultivate his interests. When there are no club activities in a few days, I’ll make sure he comes home right after school to keep you company.”

Tian Shuzhen lifted her eyelids and gave a grunt of assent.

When Wu Minli first married into the family, Tian Shuzhen looked down on her, believing her ordinary origins unworthy of her son, and far inferior to his ex-wife.

But Wu Minli spoke well, knew how to flatter the matriarch, and soon gave birth to a boy for the Meng family.

Gradually, Tian Shuzhen accepted her.

For Tian Shuzhen, her son Meng Renping was busy with work and rarely home, and her eldest grandson Meng Qichuan lived abroad. Her greatest emotional support was her grandchildren Meng Tianjiao and Meng Mingzhu.

Seeing the matriarch’s softened expression, Wu Minli pressed her advantage, “As for Meng Xin, you heard what happened today. Mingzhu asked her to come home, but she refused. I’m afraid…”

Tian Shuzhen’s face darkened. “That little girl has too much attitude. Give me her phone; I’ll call her myself.”

“Yes, mother.” Wu Minli agreed and gave Meng Mingzhu a look.

Meng Mingzhu immediately searched for Meng Xin’s number in her contacts, dialed it, and handed the phone to her grandmother.

Elderly people usually had poor hearing, so Meng Mingzhu thoughtfully switched to speaker.

After two long rings, the call connected, and Meng Xin’s voice came through: “Hello?”

“It’s me,” Tian Shuzhen said sternly.

“…Grandma?”

“Hm.” Tian Shuzhen’s voice was severe. “Meng Xin, Mingzhu told you to come home for dinner tonight. Why won’t you?”

The girl on the other end hesitated for a moment. “Grandma, I’m not refusing…”

“Still saying you’re not?” Tian Shuzhen raised her voice a few decibels. “Mingzhu already told me. You not only refuse to come home for dinner, but you also spoke ill of your sister.”

“Grandma, I really don’t know…”

“Meng Xin,” Tian Shuzhen frowned, “Making mistakes is fine, but the important thing is to admit them, not to make excuses.”

There was silence on the other end.

Taking this silence as tacit agreement, Tian Shuzhen was about to continue lecturing when a familiar voice came through the phone.

It was Meng Mingzhu speaking.

Tian Shuzhen paused, realizing this must be a recording, since the real Meng Mingzhu was standing right beside her.

The recording played: “I asked you to teach Meng Xin a lesson during gym class. Did you lay a hand on her?”

As the recording ended, the living room fell into a profound silence where one could hear a pin drop.