Hidden Assassin 143

“Apologize!”

“Huh?”

Looking up, Jia Ming saw Dongfang Wan’s icy face looking down at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Apologize!”

It was seven o’clock. It was still raining outside. Because it was still early, there were only a few people in the classroom. But when Dongfang Wan walked to the corner at the back of the classroom, one or two students looked over with interest. After all, in this class, the rivalry between Dongfang Wan and Gu Jia Ming was a long-standing one.

“Why?”

“Don’t play dumb, yesterday’s thing, you need to apologize to me!”

“Um.” Jia Ming nodded, smiling, “I’m sorry, I was wrong yesterday.”

If purely speaking from Jia Ming’s perspective, there was no joke that couldn’t be made. But of course, that would require many dark things as a backdrop. For ordinary people, the joke was already enough. Hearing Jia Ming say this so directly, Dongfang Wan’s expression was immediately somewhat surprised.

“Uh…” No matter how many solutions she had planned beforehand, none of them seemed to apply in this situation. After being surprised, Dongfang Wan stared at him for a while, and then said, “Uh… it’s okay…”

“It’s okay, you still want me to apologize? Really…” Jia Ming laughed.

Dongfang Wan glared at him fiercely: “I won’t be as impolite as you!” After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away.

“Wait. Dongfang Wan, I have something I want to ask you.”

“Uh?” She turned her head in confusion. “What?”

Jia Ming looked up at her and smiled faintly: “Do you know about Lingjing? At the school’s anniversary celebration, why was the leading role for the dance she did for Fang Yusi taken away? Don’t tell me it’s because she didn’t dance well. I’ve seen her dance, and I even specially designed a few moves for her. I dare say that no one in the school can dance with the same feeling she has. Tan Suyan can’t do it.”

After hearing his words, Dongfang Wan’s eyes widened: “You… you designed moves for her? You mean… the last time Ye Lingjing said that she had some changes to the dance, and the teacher praised those minor changes… you did it? You… you can dance?”

“I told Lingjing not to say it, but that’s not important. What’s important is… why was she taken off the dance? Your brother is the president, I believe you know the inside story.”

“Um, last night… brother did seem to say something, he looked annoyed, but I didn’t pay attention.” Recalling last night, Dongfang Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly. For the entire night, she was dazed by Jia Ming’s ambiguous attitude. Although she knew in her heart that Jia Ming was deliberately teasing her, she couldn’t easily let go of the feeling. As for her relationship with Dongfang Lu, although their sibling relationship had been greatly strengthened after the hijacking incident, they were never as close as ordinary siblings. Under those emotions, how could she remember what her brother had casually said?

Just as she was reminiscing, Jia Ming’s face was already close to hers: “Please, do you remember?”

“Bah.” Dongfang Wan was startled, and then glared, “You say please when you have something to ask. When I say please, you say you don’t know, or even if you know, you won’t tell me!” After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away triumphantly. Jia Ming’s eyes flashed with a smile as he sat down and looked at the rain outside the window. After a moment, Dongfang Wan returned with a gloomy face: “Hey, you… you won’t do anything crazy, will you?”

“Who knows?” Jia Ming shrugged, “Maybe I’ll do everything, maybe I won’t do anything. I need to find out the reason first before I can decide.”

“I’ll go ask my brother tonight. Don’t do anything crazy.”

“Okay.” Jia Ming nodded, smiling sincerely.

…

…

When the second class ended, a beautiful figure appeared outside the classroom, immediately attracting the attention of most people. Dong Danwen, a big beauty with a star face, wearing a green top and a white dress with lace, knocked on the glass beside the classroom. The student sitting by the window was immediately startled and nodded. Dong Danwen whispered something, and the student turned around and shouted loudly, “Gu Jia Ming! Someone’s looking for you!”

Dong Danwen, a second-year student at Sacred Heart Academy, was one of the school’s most famous figures, just like Tan Suyan from the third year. It was said that they had both pursued Dongfang Lu – or were still pursuing him – but this beauty had no connection with Jia Ming, except for that time at the Christmas dinner at the North Europe Fantasy, when Jia Ming snatched a flower from her. However, when he saw the figure by the window, the feeling in Jia Ming’s heart wasn’t confusion or bewilderment, but: Finally, she’s here.

For Jia Ming, who had a photographic memory, since she was a famous figure in the school, after having seen her once, he could remember her, and he also knew how most people in the school thought of her. Over time, this woman clearly wanted to be famous, to be a singer, a star, and had been working towards that goal. Although Jia Ming had casually snatched the bouquet, Dong Danwen behind him could not escape his eyes. For someone like this, after knowing Jia Ming’s abilities, it was not surprising that she would beg him for help. It had been dragging on until now, Jia Ming was actually somewhat admiring her patience.

Yue Chi Xun outside looked at Dong Danwen faintly, giving up her seat. Jia Ming smiled and walked out, nodding rather innocently: “Senior…”

“Uh, I’m Dong Danwen from the second year, you can call me Danwen. There are some things I want to talk to you about. Can… uh, we find a place?” Dong Danwen smiled, seemingly carefree, but her eyes clearly still showed some restraint. When Jia Ming nodded, the two of them went down the stairs together, from the teaching building to the empty club activity room: “Actually… suddenly coming over like this, it’s a bit abrupt. Maybe this is a better way to say it, Jia Ming, last year on Christmas Eve, when you were performing that song ‘East Wind Breaks’ you were also there, that… Ye Lingjing is your good friend?”

“Um, what’s wrong?”

“Um, there’s something… originally Fang Yusi was going to come and perform, when the school was selecting students to lead the dance, the student union also thought about arranging me to lead the dance. At that time, I heard that Lingjing was also participating, so I declined. Of course, I’m not saying that if I had participated, Lingjing wouldn’t have had a chance, because she really dances very well, really!” Dong Danwen smiled awkwardly, turning her left hand in the air, “But, Lingjing was taken off the dance this time, you know that too, right Jia Ming?”

“I know.” Jia Ming smiled faintly, waiting for her to state her conditions.

“Actually, Lingjing dances very well, there was no mistake at all. The reason she was taken off, I heard that there’s a reason. Because they came to me too, and I still refused. I heard from someone in the know…” Instead of making a request first, Dong Danwen directly told Jia Ming what he wanted to know, then both of them frowned: “I know it’s hard to understand, but that’s probably the truth…”

“Um, thank you, Senior.” After a moment, Jia Ming nodded, “If there’s anything I can help with…”

“Actually, there really is.” Dong Dan smiled sweetly, “I hope you can write a song for me, Jia Ming. I wonder if…”

“One song is not enough, two songs. I don’t have any inspiration lately, and I only have two new songs. I really thank you, Senior.” Jia Ming nodded. If she had made the request first, Jia Ming would have at most given her one song, but since she had first revealed the answer, the remaining one was a reward. Anyway, the songs were just borrowed from others, he wasn’t heartbroken.

…

…

Just after one in the afternoon, Sha Sha rushed into the auditorium where the program was being rehearsed. The two student union members who tried to stop her were pushed aside by her: “I don’t care if you’re rehearsing, I want to find the person in charge of the dance!”

The auditorium, which could hold thousands of people, currently had only a few dozen people in it, which looked rather empty. Although there were a few people practicing moves on the stage, most were chatting and laughing. Dongfang Lu and Tan Suyan were both there. Seeing Sha Sha rushing in angrily, everyone looked over in confusion.

“Big Sis Sha Sha, what’s wrong?” The first to greet her with a smile was a male classmate of Sha Sha’s. Since he was a first-year student, he had just joined the student union. Sha Sha’s eyes swept over him, and then she said loudly: “I want to know why you wouldn’t let Ye Lingjing lead the dance, is it because she didn’t dance well, or what? Do you know how much effort she put into this dance? You say someone should dance, and they dance, you say no, and they’re immediately asked to leave! How did you guys make the decision! Where’s the dance teacher!?”

“Big Sis Sha Sha, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. The dance thing isn’t something that one person can decide. I think Lingjing dances very well, but Miss Fang is a big star, it’s not just about the feeling. Lingjing hasn’t had professional dance training…”

“What’s wrong with professional dance training? What’s wrong with Lingjing’s dancing? Say it! Fang Yusi has said that Lingjing dances very well…” At this point, Tan Suyan seemed to have heard something funny, and snorted slightly. Sha Sha gritted her teeth: “Or, who do you think is professional, let her have a competition with Lingjing! Let everyone see, and vote to decide!”

“Heh, classmate Huai Sha.” The performance hadn’t started yet, so naturally, they couldn’t dance for everyone to see first. Dongfang Lu smiled, waving his hand as he walked over. “Actually, the dance thing was decided by the whole student union. There are many reasons. I know it’s not good to do this, but there’s no way, it’s not good to explain clearly now…”

“Don’t use this kind of thing to fool people!”

“Let’s compete!” Before Sha Sha finished speaking, Tan Suyan also looked up and said, “I also think it’s a good idea to have a competition. I have no problem!”

“Okay, everyone heard that. When it comes to the competition, don’t go back on your word!”

“Time and place, you decide!”

Seeing the two of them clashing head-on, and then already discussing the details of the competition, Dongfang Lu and the others hurriedly intervened, saying that they couldn’t perform before the school celebration. After arguing for a while, Tan Suyan seemed to be tired of arguing: “Humph, what’s the big deal! No matter how we compete, Ye Lingjing can’t be the lead dancer. If she can’t, it’s because Miss Fang said so herself. Why must it be kept secret! You even said Miss Fang personally praised her… That’s just polite courtesy, okay!”

“You… what did you say?” Sha Sha’s voice was slightly dry. The people from the student union also quieted down. In fact, they also didn’t understand why Dongfang Lu insisted on keeping this secret, but if it was Jia Ming, he naturally knew that he was doing this to prevent Lingjing from being too disheartened. Sighing, Dongfang Lu softly explained.

“Cough… although it’s indeed Miss Fang’s request, but Miss Fang’s agent was also there at the time. It’s very likely that her agent made this request. Because entertainment companies require perfection and professionalism in this regard, we thought Lingjing danced very well, but…”

“But… Miss Fang said that Lingjing dances very well…” Sha Sha refuted, a little weakly, but her voice had lost all its strength.

“Um, I think removing Lingjing must not be Miss Fang’s own idea, but actually, entertainers… also have to follow arrangements from their agents…”

Dongfang Lu comforted her. Sha Sha wanted to speak again, but a figure walked over from the side, patting her shoulder. The familiar touch. Turning her head, it was indeed Jia Ming: “Don’t say anything, let’s go.”

“… Um.” Hesitantly nodding, she turned to look at everyone, and left with Jia Ming. Until they were outside the door, in a quiet and deserted place, she spoke in a confused voice: “How… how could this be?”

“Who knows? There could be many reasons, maybe Fang Yusi is going through menopause, or maybe she suddenly got her period, a woman who’s just been dumped by a man can do anything.”

“You know she’s been dumped…” Sha Sha rolled her eyes at him, “Why are you so calm? You’re not surprised at all, you already knew the reason?”

“I found out this morning, I don’t know if it’s true, so I didn’t say anything. At lunch, Lingjing and I were both asking you not to pursue it, who knew you’d rush to the auditorium like this.” Scratching her nose with his finger, Jia Ming laughed, “You, you’re always in a rush…”

Sha Sha smiled, then sighed again: “What should we do then? Lingjing will be very sad. Should we tell her the truth?”

“It’s better not to. Let her think that the student union bunch are abusing their power. If it’s Fang Yusi, she will be very depressed…” Putting his arm around Sha Sha’s shoulders, Jia Ming smiled faintly.

…

…

At two o’clock, when the alarm clock rang, Jia Ming walked into Ya Han’s office. Ya Han, who had been sleeping at her desk, had just woken up. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes were hazy.

“Ugh, Jia Ming, I’ve been looking for you all afternoon, I couldn’t find you…”

“I was taking Lingjing out for a walk. Can I borrow your phone?” Walking to the desk, Jia Ming pointed at her face, “A whole patch of red, rub it.”

“Oh.” She picked up the mirror and looked at it, Ya Han said, “Right, Lingjing is very sad… I just found out about Lingjing being taken off the lead role today, I went to ask about it. Right, don’t tell her…”

“Is it Fang Yusi’s idea? I know, I’m here to solve this problem now.”

“Um?”

“I… Oh, hello…” Jia Ming held up his finger to his mouth, smiling, “Hello, Mr. Zheng? This is Gu Jia Ming… Um, there’s something I want to ask you. The song you wanted from me this time, is it for Fang Yusi… No, I refuse to write a song for her, yes, absolutely not… Also, from today onwards, any celebrity involved with Fang Yusi, whether it’s collaboration or rumors, you are doing it for publicity or whatever, as long as there’s one time, I will put them all on the blacklist… Heh, how is that possible, I’m just a lyricist and composer, how can I block her? I’m just doing what I can. Anyway, I can guarantee that with three songs, I can make any newcomer famous… Um, please tell Old Huang… Goodbye.”

Jia Ming put down the phone after speaking like he was frying beans. Ya Han was dumbfounded as she looked at him.

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