Volume 1, Chapter 7: The Peach Blossom Curse

The next day, when Ying Yuwei went to the cafeteria for lunch, she was met with a barrage of glances—some mocking, some probing, and others downright foul.

Since Qi Qi had fainted during military training and Fang Zizhi and Xia Yu had taken her to the infirmary, Ying Yuwei was eating alone. Midway through her meal, someone carrying a tray sat down opposite her.

Ying Yuwei looked up and sized up the stranger, whom she didn’t recognize. Just as she was about to resume eating, the person scoffed and slammed a wad of cash onto the table.

“What’s the act? Isn’t it just about money? I, Xie, may have nothing else, but I’ve got money. Following me is better than sticking with that old man, right?”

Ying Yuwei’s brows furrowed slightly, a chill flashing in her eyes. She didn’t want to get entangled with this person, so she picked up her tray, preparing to leave. Suddenly, her hand was grabbed, and she felt a rough rubbing against the back of her hand.

“Name your price! How much do you want?” Xie Ting murmured with a lecherous smile, his eyes gleaming with a hidden, unsavory delight.

A shiver ran through Ying Yuwei’s skin. Swiftly, she twisted her wrist, sending her food tumbling onto Xie Ting’s clothes. The scent of pumpkin soup wafted through the air. Furious, he jumped up, raising his hand to strike her.

“Shameless!” he yelled.

But before his hand could fall, a stronger grip seized it. An Yu grabbed his wrist and forcefully swung it aside. With a loud crack, Xie Ting’s hand slammed against the edge of the table. He winced in pain, grimacing, then turned around to curse.

“Damn it! That blind—”

The moment Xie Ting saw An Yu, he swallowed the insult mid-word, replacing it with a flatteringly obsequious expression.

“Ah... Young Master An, it’s you.” He even swallowed nervously.

An Yu showed no further expression, casting him a cold glare before uttering a single word: “Get lost!”

“Ahhh! It’s Young Master An! He’s so handsome!”

“Even when he scolds people, Young Master An looks so cool!”

Amid the cheers and admiration, a confused voice asked, “Who is Young Master An?” This was also the question running through Ying Yuwei’s mind.

“Aren’t you local? You don’t even know Young Master An? He’s the heir to the richest family here, the An family—good-looking and wealthy! Ahhh!” A girl gushed, cupping her face shyly.

Just as Ying Yuwei prepared to leave, An Yu blocked her path. Expecting hostility, she was surprised when his expression suddenly shifted. The icy demeanor melted away, replaced by a flattering smile as he struck what he considered his most charming pose toward her.

“Hehe, do you remember me?”

Ying Yuwei knit her brows—this guy seemed a little crazy. Yet, since he had helped her earlier, she answered seriously. “I remember. You took my seat at the opening ceremony.”

Hearing this, An Yu’s eyes lit up like fireworks. If he’d had a tail, it would’ve been wagging furiously. But Ying Yuwei’s next words deflated his spirits instantly.

“No, that was a misunderstanding. Master!” An Yu scratched his head anxiously, uncertain how to explain. “The person who brought you to school last time was my uncle, I…”

He trailed off, unwilling to say aloud, “I suspect you’re my uncle’s mistress.”

“Anyway, Ying, Master Ying! My family has an urgent matter, and my uncle said you’re the only one who can help.”

An Yu clasped Ying Yuwei’s hand, his eyes earnest and sincere.

So An Yu was Lin Dali’s nephew? And hearing that his family was wealthy meant… well, maybe this was a good opportunity.

As Ying Yuwei pondered, a clear cough sounded.

“Cough, cough, An Yu, I need to talk to you.”

A striking figure emerged from behind An Yu. She was adorned in the latest luxury brands, her hair styled in cascading waves, looking like a fairy-tale princess.

Jiang Yiyi’s gaze was fixed fiercely on Ying Yuwei and An Yu’s clasped hands, jealousy burning in her reddened eyes. She had a kind personality and a family well matched with An Yu’s, so why was he paying so much attention to this mysterious girl? It was like this at the opening ceremony and even now. Clearly, a mere social media post wouldn’t be enough to take her down.

An Yu frowned slightly at the voice, his tone tinged with impatience.

“I’m busy right now. It’s urgent.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yiyi’s eyes welled with tears. She murmured something but ultimately said nothing, storming off in anger.

The onlookers couldn’t sit still.

“What’s going on? An Yu rejected Jiang Yiyi for this immoral woman, Ying Yuwei?”

“Though Ying Yuwei is beautiful, in terms of morals and family background, Jiang Yiyi suits An Yu better.”

“What power does Ying Yuwei have anyway?”

Every word of the cafeteria’s gossip reached Ying Yuwei’s ears. She had just eaten a meal, yet somehow had become the center of a scandal. Seeing Jiang Yiyi’s spiteful gaze, she realized who must have posted that message.

Was she cursed with a peach blossom fate? If so, this job was one she shouldn’t accept. Yet, An Yu’s next words changed her mind.

“My uncle will give you three million. I’ll double it—six million!” An Yu made a hand gesture indicating six.

Laughable. As the successor of a line of celestial masters, would she fear a peach blossom curse? Yet, the money was just too generous.

Suddenly, the surrounding students caught wind of the figure: double the price? Six million?

Their thoughts ran wild: Ying Yuwei must be casting some enchantment on An Yu to make him offer such a sum to keep her.

An Yu leaned close to Ying Yuwei, lowering his voice mysteriously.

“Master, come to my house tomorrow. I have a way to prove your identity to everyone and clear the rumors.”

Ying Yuwei hadn’t fully understood his meaning until the next day, when she arrived at the An family’s villa and was utterly stunned.

She had taken a day off from military training with the instructor’s permission to visit the An family. To her surprise, all her classmates who should have been in training were gathered in the villa district. A huge banner hung overhead: “Warmly Welcome Master Ying to Exorcise Evil!”

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