After Rebirth, Minor Character Only Wants to Level Up
Chapter 22 - 021: Stand Out

Chapter 22: 021: Stand Out

On the way, after the little episode earlier, the three sitting at the back, including Song Mei, were quiet, but now they were whispering things to each other, inaudible from their previous soft discussions.

Ye Ling caught their little movements from the corner of her eye and didn’t pay them any mind. It’s all bad things anyway, and if she truly cared, she would only end up getting angry herself, which would only benefit them.

Besides, it’s not like what they say will harm her in any way. Ye Ling wasn’t as foolish as in her last life. Seeing Song Mei and the others point at her and talk quietly, she didn’t even bother to hear what they said about her, just raised her finger and cursed them, which naturally made her look like the wrong one.

Song Mei and the others would be gleeful. Thinking about it, in her past life, Ye Ling had suffered losses like this many times but never learned from them, falling into their trap repeatedly, allowing them to cause her to be scolded time after time.

As for Zhao Guodong, who sat beside Ye Ling, after he made things difficult for her earlier, he hadn’t spoken a word since. Ye Ling wasn’t worried about him; in the car, she could occasionally hear her mother’s faint voice coming from the front, as well as some praises for Ye Qian.

Ye Ling curled her lips in disdain, but she was also grateful to be reborn and able to see it all clearly, rather than showing an ugly expression whenever others praised Ye Qian, which only made the elders around say she was petty in her heart.

With the lesson from her past life, Ye Ling certainly wouldn’t make the same mistake.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Guodong, sitting next to her, looked over at some point. "Your sister looks like a princess, why are you so plain?"

Ye Ling barely lifted her eyelids to glance at him, then turned her head away, soon hearing Song Mei and the others chuckling softly from behind, evidently having overheard Zhao Guodong’s words.

Ye Ling remained silent, and Zhao Guodong wasn’t angry, but his foot under the seat kicked Ye Ling’s leg, "Are all of you from the village as timid as you are?"

Ye Ling still kept silent.

Instead, the laughter from behind, from Song Mei and the others, grew increasingly uncontrollable, getting louder, drawing occasional glances from the parents at the front.

The three of them then subdued their laughter and settled down.

Zhao Guodong couldn’t stand Song Mei and the others, turning his head back to shout, "What are you laughing at? Want me to tell Liu Zhiyuan how much of a gossip you all are usually?"

Jiang Yan and Gao Tian had always been centered around Song Mei. Seeing Zhao Guodong scolding, they didn’t dare to speak, waiting for Song Mei to respond. Song Mei disliked Zhao Guodong and didn’t care how he viewed her, she raised her chin defiantly, "Zhao Guodong, do you think

Liu Zhiyuan will believe you? Liu Zhiyuan has already gone to high school, just look at you, still muddling through eighth grade."

Zhao Guodong glared angrily, speechless.

Song Mei saw this and was very pleased, smiling with a cheerful face.

Ye Ling remembered the bullying from Song Mei and the others in her past life, and now, having the chance, she wouldn’t let it go. She mumbled something to herself as if speaking to herself, "It’s hilarious."

The voice was small, so Song Mei and the others behind couldn’t hear, but Zhao Guodong next to her did.

"Who are you laughing at?" Zhao Guodong shouted over.

The older Mrs. Zhao at the front had already heard and quickly called out, "Guodong, you behave yourself."

Zhao Guodong grunted, glaring at Ye Ling.

The ones sitting at the back, Song Mei and the others, watched Ye Ling with faces full of schadenfreude.

Ye Ling quietly replied, "Why is it that they can laugh at you without you daring to speak, but when I laugh, you dare to scold? Aren’t you just picking on the meek? That’s all you’ve got, no wonder they laugh at you."

"Who says I’m picking who to bully? We’re on the bus now, I’m not dealing with them yet, just wait until we get off." Zhao Guodong retorted harshly, then turned to look outside the bus without saying more.

Song Mei and the others obviously heard Ye Ling’s words, Jiang Yan and Gao Tian remained silent, but Song Mei scoffed, "Coming from the countryside, still trying to pit others against each other, a real clown."

Being spoiled growing up, Song Mei didn’t bother to lower her voice, and her words were heard by those nearby.

Wang Danhong, who had been speaking in front, had kept an eye on her daughter’s little movements all along, initially planning not to interfere. But with such a commotion now, and the fact that the only one from the countryside on the bus was the Ye Family’s eldest daughter, anyone could guess who it was about.

With her face sinking, she turned back and scolded softly, "Xiao Mei, be honest, young ladies shouldn’t act so unruly."

Song Mei received a warning look from her mother, pouted, and stopped talking.

Wang Danhong’s companions, of course, chimed in at the right moment, "They’re just kids, don’t take it too seriously."

And in front sat Bai Xue and her daughter.

Bai Xue didn’t know what was going on behind, but hearing something about coming from the countryside, she guessed it was about her eldest daughter. Seeing Wang Danhong speak up, she became more unsteady, but she couldn’t speak out either and could only pretend not to know anything, not daring to turn her head for fear of being dragged into it.

She was fuming inside, as indeed, trouble follows wherever her daughter goes.

Back to Zhao Guodong, Ye Ling’s earlier words had unsettled him, and upon further reflection, it indeed seemed like that. When Song Mei and the others laughed at him, he said nothing, but when the little girl from the countryside chuckled, he lost his temper, making it look like he picks on those from the countryside.

Zhao Guodong always prided himself on being a hero, willing to help those in need, never indulging in petty bullying, so after hearing Ye Ling’s words, he turned away, as he felt embarrassed.

Now seeing Song Mei bullying Ye Ling, and recalling his earlier ’bullying’ of Ye Ling, he shouted at Song Mei, "Song Mei, if you dare speak nonsense again, believe me, I’ll smack you across the face!"

In the compound, Zhao Guodong was like a rogue donkey, best approached with care. Whatever he decided to do, no one could change his mind, and he didn’t care how many times he got into trouble and was whipped by Mr. Zhao.

So, aside from a few like Liu Zhiyuan, most kids in the compound were afraid of him.

After all, Zhao Guodong was the kind that feared nothing and dared to cause any trouble.

At this moment, Zhao Guodong stood up and shouted, making it impossible for anyone on the bus not to hear.

Song Mei, although a girl, also cared about her reputation. Despite fearing Zhao Guodong, she couldn’t possibly remain silent after being scolded in front of so many people. She stood up and shouted back, "Don’t think just because people in the compound fear you, I do too. If you want to slap me, come on, I’m right here, let’s see if you dare."

Zhao Guodong saw Song Mei, chin raised and hands on hips, confronting him. Unable to suppress his anger, he grabbed the back of Ye Ling’s seat and the one in front of her, and with a light jump, he crossed over Ye Ling into the aisle.

The sudden commotion left everyone stunned. The first to react was of course, Song Mei’s mother, Wang Danhong, who quickly scolded, "Xiao Mei, it’s New Year’s, what’s all this fuss? Sit down."

Her words seemed like she was scolding her own daughter, but she was actually retreating to advance, ensuring her daughter wouldn’t be hit and making it appear in front of others that she was a good parent, reprimanding her own child instead of someone else’s.