Chapter 7: Don’t Overestimate Her

The words "stray cat" carried a mocking tone as Wen You approached Wen Jin’s side.

Today, she wore high heels, making her considerably taller than Wen Jin.

When she glanced down at Wen Jin, her expression was openly condescending. “Comparing yourself to a stray cat? Wen Jin, let me kindly remind you: objectifying yourself isn’t something to be proud of.”

After speaking, she looked toward Sheng Yang, half-scolding, half-warning him: “Sheng Yang, you should teach her better—don’t just slap any lowly label on yourself.”

Sheng Yang lifted an eyebrow, releasing the wrist he had been holding. Casually, he moved to Wen You’s side and answered with a nonchalant tone, “Don’t overestimate her. Feminism isn’t for her. For her, objectification doesn’t make a difference, as long as she benefits enough.”

His words were light but deeply demeaning to Wen Jin’s core.

Wen You laughed at his remark, a smirk curling at her lips as she glanced at Wen Jin. “That’s rather sad.”

Wen Jin stood by the entrance, her expression unchanged, but her back straighter than before.

She said nothing.

She understood clearly that in such a situation, she was alone. Arguing with them would only waste her precious time.

And right now, her time was too valuable to spend on them.

She looked directly at Sheng Yang. “I have something else to attend to. I’m leaving.”

Sheng Yang paused, his gaze slowly settling on her, eyes narrowing slightly. “Not happy again?”

He clicked his tongue lightly and swept his gaze over the people around them without much weight. “How did you all get here?”

Though he diverted the conversation away from Wen Jin, he made no move to explain or defend her.

Sheng Yang always seemed self-centered, perpetually ignoring Wen Jin’s feelings.

Clearly, the hostility directed at Wen Jin was stirred up by him.

Yet he stood aloof as if it were none of his concern.

Then, like a savior, he appeared before Wen Jin, expecting her gratitude.

Wen Jin had lost the will to play along any longer.

She turned to leave, but Sheng Yang’s friends blocked her path.

One of them rudely grabbed her arm, displeased. “Wen Jin, what’s your meaning here? We grew up together, you want to drive a wedge between us and Sheng Yang? Who are you trying to impress with that sour face?”

A barrage of accusations rained down on Wen Jin.

Her eyes flickered briefly; she found it almost laughable how easily they pinned any crime on her.

She had truly grown accustomed to it.

Sheng Yang heard this too. He looked at Wen Jin, his lifted eyelids cold as ice. “Enough already. Have them raise a toast to apologize, then take you to buy a necklace. I don’t have time for anything else.”

His words sounded like a concession, but in fact, they were a warning for Wen Jin to know her limits.

It wasn’t that he lacked time—it was his patience that had run dry.

Whenever it came to matters involving Wen Jin, Sheng Yang was always impatient, as if time spent with her was forcibly shortened.

Seated and almost pinned in place, Wen Jin numbly listened to the laughter around her.

Beside her was Wen You, and next to Wen You stood Sheng Yang.

---

They were discussing Wen You’s recent tour.

“Shouldn’t Sheng Yang show some proper support for Wen You’s performance?” someone teased.

Leaning back casually, Sheng Yang replied, “Do you really have to remind me?”

Wen You smiled at him. “No trouble needed. Just having you come means a lot.”

Her words sparked another round of cheers, but Wen Jin only felt the noise overwhelming.

Her phone vibrated in her bag, but she had no desire to answer.

All she wanted was to leave, yet she was seated deep inside.

Any movement drew Sheng Yang’s gaze, as if he were watching a beloved pet.

It was deeply uncomfortable.

Yet no one cared about her discomfort.

“Wen Jin.” Wen You’s voice sounded beside her as she placed an invitation card before Wen Jin. “You’ll come, right? We were classmates once, after all.”

Wen You blinked teasingly. “I remember you liked dancing too—you even tried out for the dance team during the school anniversary, though it’s a shame you didn’t make it.”

When Wen You spoke to Wen Jin, she faced away from everyone else.

Only Wen Jin caught the flicker of malice flashing in Wen You’s eyes.

Wen You was now a somewhat renowned dancer, praised within the industry for her talent.

Her entry into the field owed much to a distinguished dance teacher who had visited the school for talent scouting and immediately recognized Wen You’s gift, taking her as a protégé.

This story was well-known, often recounted by Wen You in interviews, emphasizing the mentor’s importance.

What no one knew was that the teacher had originally wanted to take Wen Jin as her student.

Coincidentally, the school anniversary was used as an excuse for a formal selection, providing a legitimate reason to accept Wen Jin.

But that day, someone had placed broken glass inside Wen Jin’s shoes.

She refused to give up the opportunity and performed despite the pain.

The result was naturally disappointing.

The teacher who had hoped for her gave up on her immediately.

That day, Wen Jin’s feet were cut and bleeding severely.

Wen Jin’s mother cried bitterly in frustration but was powerless.

After all, Wen You’s family had donated a building to the school.

Wen Jin met Wen You’s gaze calmly, lowering her lashes to glance at the invitation before speaking. “Whether I go isn’t important. What matters is if Teacher Lin will attend. As your teacher, I don’t recall her ever watching any of your performances in person.”

Teacher Lin was the dance teacher who had taken Wen You but later fell out with her.

Wen You’s expression instantly darkened; her eyes grew colder as she noticed the cup of hot water freshly poured in front of Wen Jin.

A smile played at her lips as she mouthed, “Wen Jin, I think you still haven’t grasped the situation.”

---

The moment she finished speaking, she grabbed the cup of hot water and threw it beside her left hand, then cried out in pain.

“Wen Jin, even if you don’t want to watch my performance, you don’t have to go this far.”

Sheng Yang reacted faster than Wen Jin, pulling Wen You behind him with a frown and looking sharply at Wen Jin. “What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?”

Wen Jin remained seated, lifting her head to meet Sheng Yang’s gaze. The overhead light brightened her face.

She glanced at him once before looking away. “She did it to herself. Do you believe me or her?”

From the moment Wen You provocatively placed the invitation in front of her, Wen Jin knew exactly what she would do.

Wen You had used such tricks more than once.

So many times that Wen Jin found it pointless.

At first, she could have stopped it, but Wen Jin was tired and thought it unnecessary.

Anyway, once she returned to Yang City, she probably would never see these people again.

If she tangled with them too much now, it would only make things worse.

Wen Jin came from a humble background and lacked the capital to fight with these privileged children.

All she could do was return to Yang City as soon as possible.

As for how Sheng Yang would respond to her question, Wen Jin had long predicted.

Sure enough—

Sheng Yang’s brow furrowed, his once pale eyes turning even colder under the warm lighting.

“How many times has this happened? Everything has its limits,” he said condescendingly, looking down at her. “I apologized, took you out to dinner—you should be satisfied. How far do you intend to push this nonsense?”

Wen Jin clenched her fists tightly, her spine stiffening, lips pressed firmly together.

In Sheng Yang’s eyes, humiliating her in front of his friends was an apology.

Wen Jin lowered her lashes, concealing her emotions.

Slowly, she rose without a word and started to walk toward the exit.

But as she passed Sheng Yang, he grabbed her wrist.

A suppressed impatience showed between his brows. “Apologize to Wen You.”

Wen Jin’s breath seemed to stop. She looked up at him.

He was much taller, blocking her path, casting a shadow over her eyes.

Her voice was calm, but her words were crystal clear: “I didn’t do it. Why should I apologize?”

Wen Jin was certain Sheng Yang could see how clumsy Wen You’s trick was.

Unless he was in on it deliberately.