Chapter 15: Trouble from the Mouth

Recognizing who the person before him was, Li Beichen first glanced back at Shen Yi’an.

Only after receiving permission did he turn to roll down the car window, his originally cheerful voice now turning low and serious. “Comrade Yin Qingqing, I believe you’ve approached the wrong person.”

“There is neither friendship nor interaction between us.”

“I don’t see that we have anything to discuss.”

As the car window was about to close again,

In her desperation, Yin Qingqing leaned half her body against the window. “Brother Li, at the dance hall the day before yesterday, you promised you would wait for me. Why did you leave later?”

“After finishing my business, I went back to look for you, only to hear from people inside that you had already left.”

Noticing the indifferent expression on Shen Yi’an’s face from the corner of her eye, she immediately shifted the topic to her. “Was it Shen Yi’an who stopped you from waiting for me?”

“I knew it, I knew she had ill intentions.”

“Brother Li, you mustn’t be fooled by her.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an, who hadn’t intended to explode at this moment, immediately darkened her expression. “Yin Qingqing, do I need to give you face?”

“I haven’t even settled the score with you for drugging the White Rabbit Creamy Candy.”

“What, now you think you can get away with it again?”

What nonsense!

If she weren’t in a hurry to see her family, she would have stayed in Jingshi to settle her revenge before returning home.

She never expected that trouble would come knocking even when she wasn’t looking for it.

It seemed that today, she could take a small step toward avenging the grudges from her past life.

Meeting Shen Yi’an’s icy, disdainful gaze, Yin Qingqing was momentarily startled.

But remembering her purpose for chasing them to the train station, the hesitation in her eyes vanished, replaced by a tone of self-righteousness. “What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever drug you?”

“I think you’re just overthinking things because you’re sick in the head!”

“Out of all our classmates, why were you the only one drugged? Instead of reflecting on yourself, you accuse me. You’re the one with the problem!”

Perhaps emboldened by her own retort, her expression grew even more arrogant. “It’s probably just your bad luck, or maybe it’s your character.”

“Otherwise, out of all our classmates, why would someone specifically drug you?”

“Instead of blaming me, you should look for the problem within yourself.”

Faced with such shameless words, Shen Yi’an couldn’t help but laugh in anger.

So, was it her fault for trusting too easily?

But then again, who would have thought that a friend she had spent four years with day and night would deliver a fatal blow when she least expected it?

She scoffed. Fine, let it be her own fault.

Fortunately, this short-lived friendship had already ended in her past life.

In this life, there would only be rivalry between them, no reconciliation!

Having made up her mind, Shen Yi’an’s gaze grew even colder. “If you put it that way, you’re right.”

“Who made me trust someone as hypocritical as you?”

After a pause, she continued, “But then again, if even someone you spend day and night with can stab you in the back, where does trust between people lie?”

“Moreover, if it really were my problem, why do you only have one friend, while I have many?”

“Can you explain why? Hmm?”

Hearing this, Yin Qingqing’s triumphant expression froze.

Damn it!

What’s wrong with this woman, Shen Yi’an?

Based on her past life’s experience, Shen Yi’an should be flustered and panicked right now.

Though naturally cheerful and outgoing, when faced with others’ slander, she still needed a moment to think of a response.

So why was she handling it so effortlessly now?

Despite inwardly cursing, she had no choice but to reply, “So what if you have many friends?”

“I’m very selective—not just anyone can become my friend.”

“Besides, I have both family status and background.”

“Who’d want to be friends with someone from a worker’s family like you?”

By the end, she even shot Shen Yi’an a fierce glare.

Originally, if these remarks had only targeted an individual, the bustling carriage might not have paid much attention.

But the phrase “Who’d want to be friends with someone from a worker’s family like you?” instantly ignited the anger of over seventy percent of the passengers around.

The first to speak up were the women.

“Can you even speak properly? What’s wrong with a worker’s family? Without the sickle and hammer, you’d be walking out naked!”

“Exactly, what kind of mindset is this? How dare you spout such nonsense so shamelessly?”

“You’re a student, right? Which school do you attend? We’re going to ask your teacher how they could educate such a snobbish student.”

Once someone stepped forward, it naturally stirred up the emotions of others.

“They say college students are impressive, but I see nothing special—their mindset is just too poor!”

“Who knows which official’s family raised this child, always looking down on us working class.”

“Right, we don’t steal or rob—what gives her the right to look down on us?”

Seeing the fierce stares from the crowd, Yin Qingqing, who had been stubbornly pressed against the window, was dumbfounded.

What? What did her argument with Shen Yi’an have to do with these people?

Was one phrase about “coming from a worker’s family” really such a big deal?

Without a second thought, she retorted, “I wasn’t talking about any of you—why are you meddling?”

“Besides, what exactly did I say that was wrong?”

“Being from a worker’s family isn’t anything to be proud of—just grab anyone off the street, and chances are their family has workers.”

“Can’t I even speak the truth?”

Perhaps influenced by her past life experiences, Yin Qingqing now resembled a rural woman throwing a tantrum.

She lashed out at anyone in sight, hurling insults without hesitation.

As if winning this argument would mean winning the whole world.

Little did she know, her words had completely enraged the onlookers.

Immediately, a middle-aged man who looked like an official stepped down from the train and strode quickly to the window where Yin Qingqing stood, reprimanding her coldly.

“At a time when the country is vigorously developing its economy, workers hold a pivotal position.”

“To put it simply, this very train in front of you is the result of countless workers laboring day and night.”

“And the worker families you deem unworthy of pride are the strong support for countless workers fighting on the front lines.”

“In other words, the nation’s vigorous development cannot happen without workers, nor without the families silently supporting them behind the scenes.”

After saying this, the middle-aged man’s expression was filled with unmistakable grief and indignation.

“Perhaps you’re a college student, or hold some other respectable position.”

“But you must firmly remember: the country’s progress relies on the contributions of countless worker families.”

“They may toil anonymously on the front lines, but they should never bear the weight of your dismissive denial.”

“Because your dismissal would render their efforts worthless, or worse, make me question whether reinstating the college entrance exam was the right decision.”

Education had progressed, but the mindset of the youth remained stagnant.

This was not what he wanted to see.

The middle-aged man’s resounding rebuttal landed, immediately met with a wave of applause from both inside and outside the bus.

Everyone began to speak their minds freely.

“That’s right. Who knows if reinstating the college entrance exam was the right move? It seems like the ideological awareness of college students isn’t much better.”

“Don’t say that. She alone doesn’t represent all college students. I thought the Female Comrade who spoke with her earlier made very reasoned points.”

“One bad apple spoils the whole barrel—that’s exactly what’s happening here.”

Faced with the middle-aged man’s stern reprimand and the surrounding clamor of discussion, Yin Qingqing finally began to feel a sense of panic.