After Transmigrating into a Cannon Fodder Real Daughter, the Plot Changes

Chapter 108 Part 2 – Harmless (II)

After making an online reservation, Jiang Ruo secured a spot for a campus visit to Qin Zheng’s school. She was careful to keep her mask on during the visit. Although she was no longer as well-known as before, getting recognized would still be troublesome.

Jiang Ruo initially thought that even if she got onto campus, finding Qin Zheng wouldn’t be easy. However, after asking around, she was surprised to learn that there was a basketball game today, and as a key player for the Finance Department’s team, Qin Zheng would definitely be there.

After questioning several students, she finally found the basketball court. The moment she arrived, her eyes immediately landed on Qin Zheng, who was running across the court.

He looked much more mature than the last time they met, but his facial features hadn’t changed significantly. Compared to her gaunt and frail brother, Qin Zheng appeared full of energy—radiant and striking.

There were quite a few eye-catching players on the court, but Tong Yi and Qin Zheng were undoubtedly the most outstanding ones.

Back in junior high, Jiang Ruo had never imagined that a problem student like Tong Yi would be able to get into Capital University, let alone that he and Qin Zheng would one day be teammates, running side by side on the same basketball court.

During the halftime break, Jiang Ruo wanted to approach Qin Zheng, but she soon realized that many girls had already rushed over to offer him water.

Qin Zheng thanked them warmly, explaining that he had brought his own, yet they still enthusiastically handed him tissues and handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

By contrast, Tong Yi stood completely alone. It wasn’t that he was unpopular—rather, his entire demeanor radiated an unapproachable aura that keep others away. Even those who wanted to get close hesitated and backed away.

A girl next to Jiang Ruo patted her shoulder. “You’re not here for Tong Yi, are you? Forget it. He already has a girlfriend. Rumor has it she’s the campus beauty of Capital Medical University next door, though I’m not sure if that’s true.”

Jiang Ruo showed an awkward expression. Of course, she wasn’t here for Tong Yi. She had just been wondering why he had always treated Jiang Li differently.

When Jiang Li first transferred in, everyone had thought she was an orphan adopted by the Jiang family. Seeing her arrogant demeanor, many classmates instinctively chose to ostracize her.

Except for Tong Yi. He never got close with anyone, and yet he had shown Jiang Li a completely different attitude from the beginning—even going out of his way to bring her water and snacks.

Perhaps… it was just fate.

Once, she and Qin Zheng had shared such a strong bond too. But that connection had long since been severed.

Back in junior high, Qin Zheng had also loved playing basketball, but back then, no girls ever brought him water. Everyone knew that during every halftime break, he would run straight to her and take the bottle she had prepared for him.

No matter how hidden she was in the crowd, he could always spot her at a glance.

But now, years later, he didn’t even notice her presence even though she stood not far away.

Jiang Ruo sighed, took out her phone from her pocket, and dialed a once-familiar but now-strange number.

Qin Zheng’s phone was in the jacket he had left on a table outside the court. When it rang, one of the girls picked up both his phone and jacket and brought them to him.

He pulled the phone from his pocket and paused upon seeing an unfamiliar number. But seeing the number had a Minjiang area code, he eventually answered.

“Hello, who’s this?” Qin Zheng asked politely.

Jiang Ruo remained silent for a long time. Just as Qin Zheng frowned slightly, she finally spoke. “Don’t hang up. It’s me.”

Qin Zheng paused in confusion. “Sorry, who is this?”

“…” Jiang Ruo was stunned when she realized that Qin Zheng no recognized her voice.

On restrospect, it was actually understandable. They hadn’t seen each other in years, and everyone’s voice changes during growth period. Even Qin Zheng’s own voice had deepened.

Jiang Ruo stayed silent, and just as Qin Zheng was about to assume it was a wrong number and hang up, the voice on the other end finally spoke again.

“Qin Zheng, it’s me, Jiang Ruo.” Jiang Ruo struggled to get the words out. “Turn your head to the right, and you’ll see me.”

Hearing the name again after years of no contact, Qin Zheng felt nothing. He turned to the right, scanning the crowd, and sure enough, he spotted Jiang Ruo wearing a mask.

After hesitating for a couple of seconds, he hung up the call and walked toward her. Stopping before her, he asked in a low voice, “Did you come to see me for something?”

Jiang Ruo nodded. “I… I need your help. Can we talk in private? I won’t take up much of your time.”

“If you want to take our team’s ace away, you should ask for my permission first.” A lazy, mocking voice cut in. The moment Jiang Ruo recognized the voice belonged to Tong Yi, her expression changed.

Qin Zheng remained silent for a few seconds before finally speaking. “If it won’t take long, say it now.”

Jiang Ruo bit her lip and looked at him with hopeful eyes. “I can wait until your game is over. I—”

“No need,” Qin Zheng interrupted, shaking his head. “If you’re here about Jiang Zhou, I can’t help. You should ask someone else.”

Hearing him see right through her intentions, Jiang Ruo felt deeply humiliated. But for the sake of her brother, she lowered her pride and pleaded softly. “Qin Zheng, my brother did everything for me. I beg you, for the sake of our past—”

Tong Yi let out a mocking laugh, cutting her off. “Hold on, former child star. Why don’t I tell you a secret for free?”

“…” Jiang Ruo had no idea what “secret” Tong Yi was talking about, but she was sure it wasn’t good.

“The day Jiang Zhou got the kidney compatibility report between Jiang Xiao Li and you…” Tong Yi gave her a smirk. “…She already knew everything he had done. Did you know that?”

Jiang Ruo’s face was filled with shock. “You… you’re not lying?”

If that were true, it meant Jiang Li had known about her brother’s plan from the start, yet she had said nothing and simply waited for him to act.

Maybe all of her brother’s moves had been within Jiang Li’s expectations. Watching him do everything for her must have been like watching a clown perform.

Clearly, Jiang Li had been scheming against her brother. She had waited for him to come begging for her kidney, waited for Grandpa to be completely disappointed in him because of his actions.

Otherwise, why would Grandpa refuse to help Brother now? Why would he just watch without doing anything when his grandson was about to enter prison?

Was Jiang Li… really that calculating?

Seeing Jiang Ruo’s expression, Tong Yi knew she had figured out the truth. He sneered and continued, “Not only did Jiang Xiao Li know about it, but so did Third Master Feng. Do you want to know how they found out?”

Jiang Ruo murmured in a daze, “Was it… was it because Dr. Zheng had already been exposed?”

Tong Yi shook his head. He glanced at Qin Zheng before turning back to Jiang Ruo. “It had nothing to do with Dr. Zheng. At the time, Jiang Xiao Li and I were taking a driving class when she suddenly got a call from Qin Zheng. And that’s how we easily found out.”

Jiang Ruo’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She refused to believe what she had just heard… but Qin Zheng did not deny it.

Her face lost all color, though the mask hid it well. Still, her whole body trembled as if she were about to collapse.

So… so when Qin Zheng had come to the hospital to give her money, he hadn’t avoided her on purpose. He had overheard her conversation with her brother and had chosen to walk away!

Then… he had told Jiang Li everything.

Jiang Ruo looked at Qin Zheng, her voice shaking. “What Tong Yi just said… is it true?”

Qin Zheng nodded. “It’s true. When I learned that Jiang Zhou was scheming to take Jiang Li’s kidney for you, I couldn’t just stand by. And now that he has committed such a horrendous act, there’s even less of a reason for me to help him. So, give up.”

Jiang Ruo: “…”

Turns out, Qin Zheng had already stopped caring about her a long time ago. The money he had left back then was probably the last of his sympathy and pity!

Coming to him for help was simply asking for humiliation.

Without hesitation, Jiang Ruo turned and left the basketball court, walking so fast it looked as if someone was chasing her.

<  >