High School Belle Fell in Love with Me-Chapter 57: I Have Backing Now

"Is that... Jiang Banxia?"

"Almost didn’t recognize her. They say she estimated 690 points and has already reserved this year’s Qingbei admission letter."

"So smart and beautiful, I can’t understand why she’d be interested in someone like Li Yang. Even Manqi didn’t like Li Yang. She’s really lowering her status..."

Wang Manqi felt these words were very harsh.

On the surface, they’re talking about Jiang Banxia lowering her status, but aren’t they really saying she was blind? Letting Li Yang slip away?

Putting aside academics, during high school, Li Yang was really flawless in every other aspect.

"What’s the point of being with Jiang Banxia? How long can they last?"

She turned around and went inside. Today, she was here to say goodbye to these girlfriends.

She had also finished estimating her scores; though the liberal arts are a bit harder to estimate, she felt hopeful about surpassing the second-tier university line, as she’s no longer in the same world as these fair-weather friends.

After all, she felt she’d improved a lot recently.

Getting into a second-tier university, she could meet someone better than Li Yang.

...

Walking on the street, Li Yang discovered Jiang Banxia also had a bit of a scheming side.

Fortunately, she didn’t pretend and ask if that was Wang Manqi afterward.

It indicated that Jiang Banxia was exploring her own life path, rather far from being conniving. With her personality, she might never reach that stage.

She doesn’t need to be scheming, there’s no benefit.

Just that the road sign on her exploration of a new life seems to be him?

"Li Yang, that last dance you did was so amazing, where did you learn it?"

Jiang Banxia wouldn’t stop praising Li Yang all the way.

Li Yang said, "It’s simple, you just go out and have fun, and you’ll learn naturally. Today I took you around; from now on you can come over and play by yourself."

"What about you? You won’t come anymore?"

"I need to study hard; I’m not like you. You’ve probably never lacked money since birth, but I’ve always lived in shortage. Your college is about experiencing life and growing, while I... still want to earn money."

Jiang Banxia eagerly replied, "We could make money together, how about setting up a stall together? I can help you attract customers."

Li Yang said, "Stop joking, alright? If your family finds out you’re setting up a stall with me and helping me call out sales, they’ll probably throw tens of thousands at me."

Jiang Banxia pondered for a moment and said, "That doesn’t sound bad..."

"Not bad at all. What about my dignity, huh? Tens of thousands can’t humiliate me; it’d have to be millions."

"Well... that might be difficult, my family probably can’t come up with that much money..."

Jiang Banxia didn’t know how much money her family had, but with Dou Ying’s salary, it must be three or four hundred thousand after tax annually.

Her dad wasn’t doing well, with just over six thousand a month. She couldn’t figure out if there was corruption or extra income.

Tens or hundreds of thousands might be possible, but millions were unrealistic.

Li Yang waved his hand, "No need, this is my own business. You enjoy your summer vacation, have fun around. I’ve already taken you to most of the places I should. Internet cafes are boring, staying up all night isn’t good for health. Tomorrow you’re free during the day, I can take you to the internet café for a while."

Jiang Banxia paused, "Are you... asking me to go home?"

We clearly agreed to grab a bite and then head to the internet café overnight.

"Otherwise? But let’s eat something first. Going back home in the middle of the night and having your parents fix something to eat for you would be troubling."

Jiang Banxia said, "I don’t want to go home."

Li Yang stopped walking and asked, "Why not?"

"I had a fight with my family when I left. I made it clear to them; I hope they won’t interfere too much in my life."

Li Yang asked puzzledly, "As far as I understand from this period, your family treats you well. Even though she’s a stepmom, you willingly call her that, right? It shows you’ve already accepted her."

"Yeah, she put work aside to help me study. I was willing to accept her. But she knew I had a good relationship with you and still stood up for those teachers. She knew I planned to have lunch with you, but still came over to call me. My dad too, Liu Dayou called saying I was in a relationship, and he truly believed it, taking my phone away and not letting me go to school."

Jiang Banxia never used to have the urge to confide, but now she couldn’t hold back.

She continued, "My parents divorced when I was ten. The court asked whom I wanted to stay with, and I chose Dad. My thought was simple: stay with Dad, perform well, maybe he’d value my opinions and bring Mom back.

After Dou Ying arrived, I would even deliberately act close to her as a strategy, hoping Dad would notice my attitude. The result is... he simply doesn’t care.

I know my own mom isn’t all that great, but among so many people, my only sources of reliance should be my parents, right? Without Mom around, I can only rely on Dad. I wouldn’t dare to contradict my dad’s wishes. I was afraid he’d abandon me for Dou Ying. When I said I wanted something for studying, Dad got it for me immediately. When I wanted a toy, the result was: I should study well, not play around."

Li Yang fell silent upon hearing this.

He could understand Jiang Banxia.

He had gone through the era of information explosion and although internet access is very convenient now, the information intake compared to the future years is vastly different.

Jiang Banxia is a sensitive girl. If she encounters a controlling family, she might surely fall into a depressive state.

This kind of emotion, if not timely resolved, could lead to either a reclusive personality or entirely letting go, reckless and free.

These things usually occur in well-off families.

Because those with worse conditions are busy living, hard at work to earn money, where’s the time to control?

"Li Yang, do you know? Actually, I’m quite a coward. I never had much courage to resist because I was afraid of being unwanted. The first rebellion in my life was when I heard they were considering bringing a child back from Dou Ying. At that time, I truly thought I was finished, that I would become a completely unwanted child, leaving me to run away from home for the first time and later being taken in by Ning."

When she said this, Jiang Banxia bowed her head.

Li Yang asked, "Then why did you make it clear to them today? Is it because the college entrance exams are over, so you want to be brave?"

Perhaps this was the beginning.

Jiang Banxia looked up. At some point, tears had welled up in her eyes, and she gently shook her head, "No, because now I have someone to rely on. Having support, I’m not afraid of being homeless."