Chapter 201: Chapter 81: Only Left to Envy

Qin Mei ran a hand through her hair, annoyed and dejected, as she paced around the room.

Jie Jingchen ignored Qin Mei, deciding it was necessary to explain things clearly to prevent the misunderstanding from getting worse. The cold expression on his face gradually softened.

"After graduating from high school, Shen Tong faced two choices: either accept her family’s arrangements to study abroad, or go to the countryside as an educated youth."

Qin Mei stopped pacing and stared at Jie Jingchen, stunned. From the Shen family’s point of view, studying abroad was the best option for Shen Tong. Clearly, Shen Tong had swallowed the grand picture she’d painted, hook, line, and sinker.

’Go to the countryside as an educated youth, wait for the college entrance exams to be reinstated, and then take them... that’s not a bad plan either,’ Qin Mei thought.

The only thing was, Shen Tong didn’t know the college entrance exams were going to be reinstated in October. She had given up the easy path her family had laid out for her and chosen a much harder one. Shen Tong’s courage was truly admirable.

"So Shen Tong chose the latter?" Qin Mei asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Because of your influence, she refused to listen to her family and resolutely chose the second option. She’s already registered," Jie Jingchen said helplessly. ’That mouth of Qin Mei’s... it’s far too persuasive.’

One was bold enough to say it, and the other was bold enough to believe it.

Qin Mei felt a little smug and asked tentatively, "Did Shen Tong act first and report later, or did she tell her family beforehand?"

A slight smile touched the corner of Jie Jingchen’s lips as he uttered four words. "Act first, report later."

Shen Tong wasn’t old, but she was incredibly headstrong. Knowing her family would object, she decided to act first and report later, catching the Shen family completely off guard.

’If Jing Qi had done something like this, I’d be furious too,’ he thought.

The Shen family had been racking their brains trying to arrange for Shen Tong to study abroad, but she went and registered to be an educated youth in the countryside. Her parents were livid. They called Shen Qing, hoping she could talk some sense into her sister. But when Shen Tong passionately repeated the words Qin Mei had told her, Mrs. Shen fainted from pure anger.

To the Shen family, the idea of the college entrance exams being reinstated was nothing more than a pipe dream. The exams had been abolished for so many years; even if there was a chance of them returning, it would be ages from now. They’d rather face reality and send their daughter to study abroad than pin their hopes on such an uncertainty.

If Shen Qing hadn’t stopped him, Mr. Shen would have reported Qin Mei for spreading misleading and dangerous ideas.

"That girl is so reckless! For such a major decision, she should have at least discussed it with her family," Qin Mei said, feigning indignation. Inwardly, however, she was full of admiration. ’In this day and age, most women either blindly obey their parents’ arrangements or fall for their coaxing. It’s so rare to see a woman like Shen Tong, who takes action the moment she’s inspired.’

Jie Jingchen watched Qin Mei, a complex emotion flickering in the depths of his eyes. He pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

"Does this make me the Shen family’s villain?" Qin Mei asked, the realization dawning on her a bit late.

Jie Jingchen shot Qin Mei a cold glance and squeezed three words out from between his teeth. "You tell me."

’First, I made an enemy of the Xu Family, and now I’m the villain in the Shen Family’s eyes,’ she thought. ’Thankfully, the Shens are a scholarly family. Mr. and Mrs. Shen aren’t like the Xus, and Shen Qing is no Xu Chunyan. If the Shens were like the Xus, her parents would have shown up at my door to demand a reckoning long ago.’

"A villain, then. So what? I don’t care." Qin Mei pulled a nearby chair over, sat down, and lazily crossed her legs, putting on an air of shameless indifference.

"Shen Tong was at a crossroads, torn and hesitant. All I did was give her a little push to help her make up her mind. It’s obvious she didn’t want to go abroad like her parents planned. Once a person is set on a goal, can they really be swayed by a few words from someone else? Jie Jingchen, tell me, am I wrong?"

Jie Jingchen remained silent, his gaze searching as he stared at her. He pursed his lips, then, without another word, turned and walked out of the room.

Hearing his receding footsteps, Qin Mei glanced toward the doorway. The smile froze on her face, her expression turning somber as she sank into thought.

When Jie Jinghun returned home, he was surprised to find Shen Qing complaining to him—a rare event. Shen Qing had a reserved nature and never burdened him with her family’s affairs. He usually heard any news, good or bad, from her younger sister or her mother.

This being the first time Shen Qing had ever complained to him about her family, Jie Jinghun felt almost honored.

"Honey, I fully support you going to have it out with our fourth sister-in-law. That woman is terrible, she just has to stir up trouble with everyone she meets." Jie Jinghun couldn’t hold back his smile.

Shen Qing shot Jie Jinghun a cold glare. "What’s the point of having it out with Qin Mei? Tongtong made the decision herself. No one forced her."

"No one forced her, but Qin Mei egged her on. If she hadn’t said all that, would Tongtong have made this decision?" Jie Jinghun had to admit, he was impressed with Qin Mei. She really had the guts to make such grand promises about things that were completely up in the air.

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