Chapter 49: Laugh it out
Chapter 49
Qinghe Bay
Kong Lian lowered her head and stood to the side, not daring to look at her mother.
Ruan Fengru casually arranged the flowers, silent, with a suppressed atmosphere filling the air.
"Sit down."
Kong Lian carefully sat down across from her mother, watching as she mercilessly snipped the blossoming flower. Her body involuntarily shivered.
"Have you decided what to do next?"
"I've decided."
"Speak."
The first attempt at cultivating a white rich beautiful persona had capsized. The second time helping a classmate to build good reputation had not only failed, but capsized again. The third time digging a pit for the opponent and falling into it herself. The fourth time wanting to salvage her reputation and gain good favor, she again made things worse.
Making move after move, each ending fruitlessly, and letting her reputation develop in an unfavorable direction.
The people surrounding her were all there to gain benefit from her.
She could take advantage of such people, and so could others, so their value was not high, far less than the word of mouth and value of the general public.
"I plan to surpass her in studying."
She had neglected much study time recently in order to cultivate her image and trample Ren Ran underfoot.
Relying on her own grades, she would surely be able to crush Ren Ran.
Other things might capsize, but the knowledge she had learned would not.
Ruan Fengru nodded in approval.
Seeing her mother nod, Kong Lian breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Go on."
Kong Lian was startled, silent, pondering bitterly again. After a long while, she timidly spoke, "Mother, I can't think of anything else."
Ruan Fengru put down the scissors in her hand, her red lips lightly uttering two words, "Hold up."
She was stunned, taking a good long while to understand her mother's intention.
"The enemy is strong, you are weak. Charging blindly forward will only lead to degradation. Show weakness, hold your opponent up high, then suppress them with absolute advantage. The reputation and glory she had previously accumulated will all transfer to you."
"Remember, she is your stepping stone. The higher the status of the stepping stone, the richer the fruits you will finally reap."
As Ruan Fengru's words faded, Kong Lian's eyes grew wider and wider, filled with worship in the gaze toward her.
Ruan Fengru grasped her hand. "Whether you can reap the final fruits of victory depends on if you can trample her underfoot. Mother knows you are very clever, my daughter will definitely not disappoint me, right?"
In academics, Kong Lian was still very confident.
Last monthly exam, she had just performed normally, without using her full strength. Once exerting all her effort, the first place would surely be hers.
"Don't worry mother, this time I definitely can do it."
Ruan Fengru nodded satisfactorily. "I've gotten you a spot in the Olympiad competition, seize this opportunity, don't disappoint me again."
"Yes mother. I will go do practice questions."
"Go on then."
Sitting at her desk, Kong Lian took Olympiad practice questions from the bookshelf, gaze firm.
"Ren Ran, this time I will definitely trample you under my feet."
Collecting her mind, she started engrossing herself in the practice questions.
In a villa halfway up the hill, Ren Ran got out of the car and received a call from Xu Zhaoyin.
"Miss Ren, we've arrived in Southeast Guizhou."
"Did you find the person?"
Xu Zhaoyin hesitated. "I have good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?"
Ren Ran's footsteps halted. "What's the bad news?"
"When we arrived at the Daoist temple, Grand Master Taixu went wandering again half a month ago."
Ren Ran: "......"
Somewhat speechless!
The corners of her mouth twitched.
"What's the good news?"