The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 64

The spinning cup abruptly halted, the hum against the desk ceasing instantly.

Cui Mingyang, who had grown used to the noise, noticed Li Rong’s suddenly serious expression. His nerves tensed, and he warily asked, “What are you trying to do?”

Li Rong’s gaze lifted, piercing through Cui Mingyang’s desk and chair to the glass window beyond.

Outside, the sunlight was intense, tree branches tender and green, and the magnolia blossoms had already faded, their shriveled white petals scattered along the roadsides.

“Tell me more about the second one,” Li Rong said softly.

Though his tone was calm, and his figure still thin and pale, Cui Mingyang suddenly felt a pressure weighing on his chest. It was an inexplicable tension, as if something heavy loomed over him.

What was Li Rong up to now?

Why would he care about some street vendor?

Cui Mingyang had intentionally chosen trivial matters to mock Li Rong, hoping to make him leave. But the sudden change in Li Rong’s demeanor made his already overworked brain spin faster.

Cui Mingyang rubbed his temples in irritation. “What’s there to say? It’s not the first time A University has had stuff stolen.”

Li Rong retracted his gaze, took a deep breath, and asked coldly, “What was stolen?”

Cui Mingyang shifted uncomfortably under Li Rong’s sharp gaze. Annoyed, he replied, “How would I know? Anyway, every department sent out emails warning people to lock their office doors and secure their belongings. I didn’t read the details—I’ve been too busy.”

Li Rong had never been one to indulge in wishful thinking.

A street vendor, the computer lab, and Aunt Hui’s recent disappearance—all these coincidences couldn’t be unrelated.

After a few seconds of silence, Li Rong suddenly leaned forward and asked Cui Mingyang, “The top student at No. 1 High has always scored better than you, hasn’t he? Are you so sure you’ll be the city’s top scorer? But I always beat him—why do you think that is?”

Cui Mingyang was stunned. “…Because you’re smarter than him,” he blurted without thinking, his exhausted brain running on autopilot.

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Admitting Li Rong was smarter than No. 1 High’s top student was practically admitting that Li Rong was smarter than him, too.

Li Rong smiled faintly, his eyes narrowing in amusement. Patting Cui Mingyang’s shoulder, he said, “Tell me everything you know, and I’ll share my study methods with you.”

Cui Mingyang shuddered at that smile, goosebumps rising all over.

He had to admit, Li Rong was good-looking, and his smile was undeniably charming. But he wasn’t stupid—this was a classic case of carrot-and-stick persuasion. If the carrot failed, the stick was sure to follow.

Still, the offer was tempting.

After all, what harm could there be in sharing information about a mere street vendor? Cui Mingyang didn’t care why Li Rong was interested.

Swallowing hard, he turned his head slightly, stealing a glance at Cen Xiao’s expression.

He wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to look, but something about Li Rong’s hand on his shoulder felt overly friendly, and he thought Cen Xiao might have a reaction.

As expected, Cen Xiao was frowning slightly, his gaze fixed on Li Rong’s profile. However, he made no move to intervene.

Relieved, Cui Mingyang leaned back to put some distance between himself and Li Rong, then said earnestly, “Just so you know, I don’t have much information.”

Li Rong withdrew his hand and nodded, signaling for him to continue.

Cui Mingyang rubbed his temples, trying to recall the details he had heard in passing.

“It happened a while ago. A student was using a computer in the lab and stepped out for a bit. When they came back, something was missing. The security footage showed that the only outsider in the lab that day was a street vendor from the plaza—a middle-aged woman.

“The police were called, and they thought she was suspicious, but there wasn’t enough evidence to do anything. I don’t know how it ended. The school’s security department just issued a notice reminding everyone to lock up their belongings. I think they sent it to all the staff and student groups. I only skimmed through it.”

“No evidence,” Li Rong muttered, a faint sneer tugging at his lips.

Cui Mingyang, puzzled, asked, “Don’t tell me you have a knack for solving crimes. This matter is over. If there’s no evidence, the most they’ll do is offer some compensation to the student.”

“Compensation?” Li Rong’s eyes narrowed, his teeth clenching momentarily before he relaxed. “And how do you know it was her?”

Cui Mingyang gave Li Rong a suspicious look, clearly baffled as to why Li Rong cared so much about this matter. However, he had a strong aversion to being doubted, so his instinctive reaction was to start gathering arguments to support his stance.

“I told you she’s suspicious. She’s not even a student here, yet she has a campus card that lets her access the library and log into the campus network. Why would a street vendor have a student card unless she stole it? And if she found someone else’s card, why not report it as lost? The computer lab and library are hotspots for theft. A university, with well-educated and high-quality students, wouldn’t have people stealing things—it’s always these outsiders sneaking in to cause trouble!”

Cui Mingyang had heard this line of reasoning from his parents’ casual conversations. He hadn’t verified any of it himself and didn’t know the details, but that didn’t stop him from exaggerating and confidently presenting his claims as if they were the indisputable truth.

Li Rong understood that this was all Cui Mingyang knew. If he pressed further, Cui Mingyang would start making things up.

With a serious expression, Li Rong abruptly left him and returned to his seat.

Placing his thermos on the desk, Li Rong closed his eyes, falling silent.

Cen Xiao had never seen Li Rong like this before—restrained, repressed, yet visibly simmering with barely contained anger.

Reaching out, Cen Xiao placed a hand over Li Rong’s, his voice low. “Calm down.”

Li Rong felt the warmth from Cen Xiao’s palm. His eyelids twitched, and his lips parted slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.

Lowering his head, he pulled out his phone and expertly dialed a number that had no saved contact name.

A few seconds later:

“Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is temporarily unavailable…”

Li Rong held the phone, pressing his dry lips together as a light sweat formed at his temples.

Why couldn’t he reach her after so long?

Why had she told others she’d gone back to her hometown?

How was Aunt Hui doing now?

Not answering messages, not picking up calls—was she deliberately trying to sever ties with him?

The university’s public announcement—who was it really intended for?

Countless thoughts swirled in Li Rong’s mind. Normally, he didn’t shy away from analyzing and untangling complex situations, but concern clouded his reasoning, leaving him at a loss.

Cen Xiao glanced at the phone number on the screen and asked, “Are they someone important to you?”

Li Rong nodded lightly, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “An elder who’s been very kind to me. She might’ve gotten dragged into trouble because of me.”

Cen Xiao pulled out his own phone, dialed the number from Li Rong’s screen, and handed it over. “If she cares about you, she’s probably doing everything she can to protect you.”

Li Rong glanced at Cen Xiao’s phone and muttered, “She might have blocked me.”

Even as he voiced his suspicion, Li Rong dialed the number again.

This time, it connected.

After a few rings, a cautious voice with a slight accent answered. “Hello?”

Li Rong spoke softly, “Aunt Hui.”

The other end was silent for a few seconds before a panicked reply came. “You’ve got the wrong number. Don’t call again.”

The line went dead.

The sound of the disconnection made Li Rong bolt upright from his seat.

Yang Fenfang had just entered the classroom when she saw Li Rong standing alone, his expression grim.

“What… what’s wrong?” she stammered.

Cen Xiao also stood, grabbing Li Rong’s jacket from the chair and draping it over his shoulders. “We’re taking a leave.”

Without waiting for Yang Fenfang’s response, he led Li Rong out of the classroom, giving no explanation for their sudden departure.

Li Rong’s momentary lapse in composure lasted only a few minutes. The breeze in the hallway helped him regain his calm. “Can you help me find out where Aunt Hui is staying? I need to see her.”

Cen Xiao turned him around to face him, holding his shoulders firmly. After observing Li Rong for a few moments, he dropped his gaze and began adjusting Li Rong’s coat. “You know nothing, you haven’t prepared anything, and you can’t solve her problems right now. What’s the point of going to her?”

Li Rong hesitated, his brows furrowed. His lips moved as if to argue, but he said nothing. In frustration, he bit down on his lower lip, leaving a visible impression.

Cen Xiao pulled the zipper of his jacket up and gently pinched Li Rong’s chin, forcing him to release his lip. “What are you doing? If you don’t care about yourself, I do.”

Compared to Li Rong, Cen Xiao was much colder. 

He didn’t have many people he cared about, nor was he prone to sympathy. That detachment allowed him to remain composed in any situation.

But anything Li Rong wanted to protect, he was willing to shelter.

Li Rong gently clasped Cen Xiao’s hand, releasing his lip and lowering his gaze, momentarily revealing his vulnerability.

It lasted only a second. The red mark from Cen Xiao’s grip had yet to fade when Li Rong quickly steeled himself. “Come with me to A University. I’ll explain everything on the way.”

The A High campus was quiet as it wasn’t yet dismissal time. The security guard at the gate, checking the clock, made a few sarcastic remarks before reluctantly letting them out.

Cen Xiao’s family driver hadn’t arrived yet, so the two hailed a cab.

On the way, Li Rong recounted how he came to know Aunt Hui, carefully omitting anything that might reveal his rebirth.

Cen Xiao summed it up, “So, ‘they’ must’ve already suspected the paper’s publication was tied to you. That’s why they plan to revoke your guaranteed admission.”

Li Rong nodded, a trace of self-deprecation in his voice. “If Cui Mingyang hadn’t carelessly spilled the beans, we wouldn’t have had time to prepare. If they’d controlled the narrative first, not only could they cancel my admission, but they’d also drag my parents out for another public shaming.”

Cen Xiao looked at him with deep, inscrutable eyes, speaking calmly. “Then even the heavens are helping you this time. What’s there to fear?”