Most of the people sitting around Tang Yan were her dormmates. Everyone was talking about what had just happened, full of confusion and doubt.
“Tang Yan, what’s going on? You never skip class, and other than taking a short leave last semester, you’ve always done well.���
“Yeah, this report card just doesn’t make sense.”
“…”
Tang Yan sat straight in her seat, hands flat on the desk, head down, completely silent, her expression serious.
After being passed around, the report card made its way back to the counselor. He sorted through the stack of papers in his hand and looked up. “If anyone still has questions about the results, now’s your chance to speak up.”
Xia Zihan, clearly upset, immediately raised her hand. Just as she was about to say something, Tang Yan stopped her, gently pushing her arm down and silently shaking her head with a firm look.
The counselor seemed to notice and called out, “Xia Zihan, do you have something to say?”
Caught off guard, Xia Zihan pulled her hand back awkwardly. “N-no, nothing, sir.”
Class was dismissed.
A crowd quickly gathered around Tang Yan’s desk—some were just curious, others genuinely confused. They all wanted to know what happened. Someone even asked if she had offended a teacher, and that’s why they were picking on her and took away her scholarship.
Tang Yan stood up and quickly packed her bag. She didn’t want to say a single word about it. Grabbing Xia Zihan’s hand, she hurried out of the classroom.
Only she knew what really happened.
“Tang Yan, we can’t just let this go. Let’s report it to the school,” Xia Zihan said as they walked.
“This is my business,” Tang Yan replied. “I don’t want to drag you into it. If we upset him, the next three years could be rough. It might even affect graduation.”
“So you’re just going to take this lying down?” Xia Zihan said, clearly frustrated, nearly stomping her foot on the path in front of passing students.
Tang Yan suddenly stopped walking. She wasn’t okay with it either. She was angry and frustrated. But what could she do? Was she supposed to tell people she lost her scholarship because she tried to protect someone she shouldn’t have had feelings for?
She pressed her lips together. “Let’s just not talk about this in the dorm anymore.”
If giving up one scholarship meant peace—meant Aunt Ji wouldn’t be harassed—then she was willing to do it. Willingly, without regret.
Xia Zihan stood frozen, watching Tang Yan walk away with a confused look on her face. Why? The scholarship was a big deal, such a huge honor. How could she give it up so easily?
That Friday, Tang Yan got held up with club activities. Ji Yuqing waited downstairs at the dorm for a long time. Just then, Xia Zihan came down and spotted her. She quickly ran over. “Hi, Aunt Ji! I’m Tang Yan’s roommate!”
“Oh, it’s you! Hello.” Ji Yuqing smiled. “Why isn’t Tang Yan down yet?”
“She got called away by the club for something last-minute. She might be a while,” Xia Zihan said.
“I see… no wonder she hasn’t replied to my messages.” Ji Yuqing mumbled, then looked up and smiled again. She moved and spoke with such grace and kindness.
Xia Zihan glanced at the people walking past after class to make sure Tang Yan wasn’t nearby. Then she leaned in and asked quietly, “Did Tang Yan tell you she didn’t get the scholarship this time?”
Ji Yuqing looked surprised. “No, she didn’t.”
“I probably shouldn’t say too much… but all of us in the dorm think something’s off with the way they scored things. Anyway, I’ve gotta go, Auntie!”
“Alright, take care!” Ji Yuqing waved, then pulled out her phone to call Tang Yan. But just as she opened the contact, her finger hovered. She hesitated, then closed the app and decided to ask her about it face-to-face later that night.
About twenty minutes later, Tang Yan came rushing back, out of breath and sweaty, her cheeks red from the heat, and her bangs stuck to her forehead.
“Sorry, Aunt Ji! I’m late. The club had to help move some equipment for the school.”
“No worries. I didn’t wait long.” Ji Yuqing gave her a quick glance, then handed her a tissue from her bag. “Here, wipe your face.”
While Tang Yan wiped her sweat, Ji Yuqing asked casually, “Everything going okay at school?”
Tang Yan froze for a second, then smiled and nodded. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
“Alright, let’s get going. I’ll make something good for dinner tonight.”
On the ride home, Ji Yuqing didn’t bring it up. Once they arrived, she grabbed the groceries from the trunk and got busy in the kitchen. Tang Yan went straight to her room and didn’t come out.
Normally, she’d be hanging around in the kitchen, chatting or helping out. Today felt… off.
“Yan Yan, dinner’s ready!” Ji Yuqing called out from the hallway.
Dinner was braised meatballs, soy-glazed ribs, and dry-fried green beans.
Tang Yan, as usual, ate heartily. She finished her first bowl of rice quickly and went to get a second. Ji Yuqing had waited long enough and decided this was the right time to ask.
She set down her chopsticks and pretended to casually sip her water. “So how much is the scholarship this year?”
Tang Yan froze again. She looked nervous, avoiding eye contact. “I’m not really sure�� I guess we’ll find out when they give it out.”
Then she buried her head and kept eating, clearly trying to dodge the question.
But Ji Yuqing could see right through her.
“Yan Yan,” she said seriously, “I hope you’re not hiding anything from me. You didn’t get the scholarship this year, did you?”
Tang Yan finished chewing the last of her food, swallowed hard, then slowly set down her bowl and chopsticks. She lowered her head and nodded.
She hadn’t wanted Aunt Ji to find out. But even more, she didn’t want to lie to her.
“Can you tell me why?” Ji Yuqing asked gently. She had been a student at Hua University herself. With Tang Yan’s grades, there was no reason she shouldn’t have received the scholarship. It had to be something else.
“My… comprehensive score didn’t pass,” Tang Yan said quietly, barely audible.
“Why didn’t it pass? Yan Yan, I need to know what happened. That’s the only way I can help you, okay?”
Tang Yan shook her head, biting her lip. She didn’t know how to say it.
Seeing her struggle, Ji Yuqing reached out and held her hand, speaking softly, “If you trust me—if you see me as family—let me help, alright?”
Tang Yan was torn. If she didn’t say anything, Aunt Ji would be hurt and disappointed. But if she did say it—if she told her the truth about why she lost the scholarship—how would Aunt Ji see her?
“Last year, the counselor called me to his office. He asked for your WeChat… wanted me to help introduce him to you. I said no.” Tang Yan kept her head down. “I can’t think of any other reason he’d be upset with me.”
Ji Yuqing’s hand suddenly pulled back. She gasped quietly, overwhelmed with emotion. Of all the reasons she’d imagined… she hadn’t expected this.
“So… you lost your scholarship because of me?” she asked softly, heart aching.
Tang Yan bit her lip and didn’t respond.
Ji Yuqing stood up, walked around the table, and gently pulled her into a hug. Tang Yan rested her head against her stomach as Ji Yuqing stroked her hair and said softly, “Don’t worry. I won’t let your hard work go to waste like this.”
Tang Yan’s heart raced. She looked up suddenly. “Aunt Ji, it’s really okay. I don’t want this to blow up into something ugly. And I really don’t want anything bad to happen to you because of it.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t make a scene. But I’ll handle it properly,” Ji Yuqing promised.
That night, Tang Yan lay in bed, tossing and turning, regretting that she had told Aunt Ji. What if it made things worse? What if he threatened her or did something even more extreme?
Meanwhile, Ji Yuqing sat in her study, pulled out her contacts, and dialed a number. The name was Yin Qiuping.
As soon as it connected, a man’s voice came through, teasing, “Well, well—long time no talk, junior! I’m shocked you called.”
“Hey, senior. Long time no see—hope you’ve been doing well,” Ji Yuqing said with a smile.
He had graduated three years before her and stayed at the school for grad school. They once co-hosted a New Year’s party together. He’d had a crush on her back then, but nothing came of it. Even after all these years, he still worked at Hua University. When Tang Yan got in, Ji Yuqing never reached out to him—she didn’t want to trouble him.
But tonight, she didn’t beat around the bush.
“Are you free tomorrow? It’s Saturday. How about grabbing a meal?”
“You’re inviting me? Of course I’ll come! Just let me know—”
“I’ll pick the place,” she interrupted. “My treat. No way I’m letting you pay.”
After she hung up, Ji Yuqing let out a long breath.
This was why she always kept her network warm. Even if they rarely talked, she still sent holiday greetings and small gifts.
She knew one thing for sure—whatever had happened to Yan Yan at school needed to be looked into properly.