Volume 1, Chapter 12: The Daughter Is the Second Female Lead in a CEO Romance Novel 12

After class, Chen Rui inquired around and successfully learned that Shen Tingyu was in Training Class Three. She knew which building the math olympiad training was held in, though she had never been there before.

Since hearing Shen Tingyu’s name, Chen Rui couldn’t stop thinking about him during lessons.

During the morning break, she finally couldn’t hold back any longer and decided to seize the moment to find Shen Tingyu.

It was extra classes before the New Year now. Normally, during the break, there would be running exercises. If it were a regular day, Chen Rui would need to find a reason to skip the drill if she wanted to look for Shen Tingyu.

After overcoming many hurdles, Chen Rui finally arrived at the building where students from various schools gathered for the math olympiad training.

Climbing the stairs, she tidied her hair carefully, taking a small mirror from her winter uniform pocket to check her reflection.

“No problem, looks great,” she murmured, adjusting her hairpin and tucking all her hair behind her ears.

Thinking about meeting Shen Tingyu, her steps felt noticeably lighter.

This time, she was determined to make him remember her name.

Arriving at the back door of Training Class Three, just as someone was coming out, Chen Rui called after them.

“Hey, could you help me call out Shen Tingyu?”

The person glanced at her briefly. “If you’re looking for Shen Tingyu, he has already withdrawn from this training.”

“He withdrew?” Chen Rui couldn’t believe it. She wanted to ask more, but the person had already walked away.

Dispirited, Chen Rui returned to her classroom, wondering when she would get to see Shen Tingyu again.

Other than knowing he studied at Morian High School, she knew nothing else.

* * *

“There’s only about ten meters left! Lao Jiang, this time you’re definitely going to lose to me!” Jiang Ruoxue, seeing they were just meters from the mountain summit, suddenly surged forward with all her strength.

“I’ve won! Lao Jiang, you owe me lunch today!” Reaching the summit platform, she couldn’t help but jump up, turning back with a triumphant look at Shi Yan.

“Alright, lunch is on me today. You better think about what you want to eat,” Shi Yan said as he joined her on the platform.

Looking out at the expansive view, Shi Yan felt a sudden clarity wash over him.

“How do you feel? Better?” he asked, tilting his head.

“Dad.” Jiang Ruoxue lowered her defenses, her previous guardedness melting away.

“Dad, last night I saw Chen Rui. She’s Li Yanhong’s granddaughter. Seeing her reminded me of things from my childhood.”

“Dad, do you think I’m useless? After all these years, whenever I think of Li Yanhong, I can’t help but be scared. Even though so much time has passed, and I’m no longer the timid girl I was, I still feel afraid when I see Chen Rui. Dad, am I really that useless?”

Jiang Ruoxue couldn’t hold back her tears and buried her head in Shi Yan’s embrace.

“How could that be? My daughter is the bravest,” he soothed.

“Ruoxue, remember this: the one who did wrong is Li Yanhong, not you. The shame belongs to her and her family. No matter what, your father will always stand firmly behind you. I will always be your strongest support.”

Shi Yan grasped Jiang Ruoxue’s shoulders, speaking solemnly.

“Yes, Dad. From now on, I won’t be afraid of Li Yanhong anymore. She’s nothing to me.”

“I’ll never be afraid again!” Jiang Ruoxue released Shi Yan and moved to the edge of the platform. With her hands cupped around her mouth, she shouted out loud.

After so many years, the heavy burden in her heart had finally lifted.

“All right, little crybaby, let’s take the cable car down and get some food,” Shi Yan said, smiling at his daughter.

Though Jiang Ruoxue was nearly seventeen and stood close to 1.68 meters tall, looking almost like an adult, she was still a child at heart and sometimes acted a little childish.

Shi Yan didn’t see that as a flaw; on the contrary, he hoped she would always keep that innocence.

“I want Hunan cuisine—steamed fish head with chopped chili, stir-fried bacon with garlic sprouts, and spicy stir-fried beef.”

“That’s fine, as long as you can finish it.”

There was a cable car on Yunqing Mountain, costing fifteen yuan per person, which was not expensive. Since the mountain was not very high, the ride to the bottom took just a few minutes.

* * *

Because of the affordable price, many people took the cable car daily.

Shi Yan and Jiang Ruoxue waited in line for about ten minutes before it was their turn.

On the cable car, Jiang Ruoxue took out her phone to take pictures. “Dad, let’s take some photos?”

Shi Yan flashed a “peace” sign at the camera.

“Dad, try a different pose.” After several shots with Shi Yan always making the same gesture, Jiang Ruoxue started directing him. He happily cooperated, and the two took many pictures together.

During the meal, Jiang Ruoxue enjoyed exactly the dishes she had ordered on the mountaintop.

“No one’s competing with you, so slow down a bit—don’t choke,” Shi Yan warned as he poured her a glass of water.

“I’m just so hungry,” Jiang Ruoxue admitted, knowing she’d been eating too fast. She hadn’t done such intense exercise in a long time.

After a bowl of rice, her hunger eased, and she began to eat more slowly.

“Ruoxue, you’re already in your final year of high school. What are your plans for the future? Remember, no matter what you decide, I will always support you.”

Shi Yan wanted to ask about her academic and life plans, wondering if they still aligned with what they had agreed upon.

Jiang Ruoxue looked puzzled. “Dad, didn’t we already agree that I would study abroad? I’ve already taken the TOEFL and IELTS.”

“I just wanted to see if your plans had changed,” Shi Yan said awkwardly, secretly trying to probe.

Jiang Ruoxue’s plan to go abroad was set long ago, but Shen Tingyu’s target universities seemed to be in the country. Shi Yan worried that Shen Tingyu might cause her to change her plans. He didn’t want that to happen.

“Dad, didn’t you teach me to always make the best choice? I won’t make decisions that jeopardize my future for Shen Tingyu. And he won’t give up his plans for me. That’s our agreement—we both know what the right choice is.”

Jiang Ruoxue saw through Shi Yan’s concerns.

“Here, eat more. This is delicious. Want me to order another plate?”

People tend to get busy when they’re embarrassed; Shi Yan was exactly like that now.