After Rebirth, Minor Character Only Wants to Level Up
Chapter 23 - 022: Human Sentiment

Chapter 23: 022: Human Sentiment

Wang Danhong called her daughter, and then quickly apologized to Zhao Guodong, "Guodong, Xiao Mei is just like this, please bear with her, don’t hold it against her. Wait till Auntie gets home to talk to her, today Auntie is apologizing to you first."

Mrs. Zhao, sitting in the front, was also startled. Seeing her grandson standing in the aisle, without asking much, she scolded, "Dongzi, if you don’t behave, wait till we get to the company and see how your dad deals with you. Go back and sit down immediately."

The whole bus fell silent when Mrs. Zhao called out like that, and everyone turned to look at Zhao Guodong. Zhao Guodong didn’t feel embarrassed. Usually, he seemed like a loafer, but he was also filial. After listening to his grandma, he held the seatbacks with both hands and jumped back to his seat.

Twice, Ye Ling didn’t get a chance to move aside, but there were no incidents, so it was relatively safe. Zhao Guodong sat back down, and the matter seemed to be over.

Wang Danhong also got up and quietly explained a few things to Mrs. Zhao. Evidently, she was apologizing, but Ye Ling, sitting in the back, heard Mrs. Zhao continuously criticizing her grandson. She glanced sideways at Zhao Guodong, seeing that he could still act as if nothing had happened. She smiled secretly, thinking that living so carefree wasn’t bad.

As for Song Mei at the back, she felt embarrassed. She was first scared by Zhao Guodong suddenly standing out, and then called out by her mother in front of everyone on the bus. She was so angry that she wanted to find a place to hide. Her eyes were red, and every time she glanced at Ye Ling, she didn’t forget to give a fierce glare.

One must say that Song Mei wasn’t very good-looking, with a long face, an upturned nose, narrow eye slits, small arc of the eyelid, less visible sclera often referred to as long eyes, which made her seem listless.

Lastly, her thin yet large lips made her look sharp at first glance.

And with such a spiteful look, it seemed like you did something to infuriate her.

Ye Ling, having lived anew, naturally didn’t mind Song Mei’s hatred. After all, in her past life, she was often bullied by Song Mei. In this life, she didn’t plan to make peace, or perhaps, if she had the chance, she’d lend a hand in trouble.

Ye Ling had just brushed off Song Mei’s resentful glances when Zhao Guodong looked over, "I stood up for you, and you don’t even say thank you?"

He seemed to lower his voice, but it wasn’t much softer. From the glances around, Ye Ling knew those people had heard.

The looks behind her sent chills down her spine.

"When did I ask you to stand up for me?" Ye Ling wasn’t afraid of Zhao Guodong and glared back at him, "Who you want to argue with has nothing to do with me. Don’t drag me into it. I may come from the countryside, but don’t think for a second that I’m easy to bully. Anyone who tries to will get their face scratched by me."

Ye Ling didn’t bother to lower her voice either, taking the opportunity to let Song Mei and others hear. In her past life, being bullied by them always ended with her arguing and then going home to be scolded by her mother. This time she was determined. If they dared to pick a fight, she’d respond immediately to deter them from bullying her again.

As for what others thought, Ye Ling didn’t care about leaving a good impression on the compound’s people. Once her father was demoted, who would know who? Besides, this life, she didn’t plan on marrying Liu Zhiyuan or anyone connected to the compound.

Zhao Guodong saw the previously submissive girl become suddenly fierce, stunned at first, then angrily shouted, "If I hadn’t seen them talking about you, why would I have stood up to them? Good intentions go unrewarded, next time I see them hitting you, I’ll walk the other way."

He turned his head, looking angrily out the window.

Ye Ling thanked calmly, "Thanks, I hope you remember what you said."

Zhao Guodong’s chest felt tight, his face turning dark, "Hypocrite."

Just a moment ago, a loud word and she’d almost cry, but actually, she didn’t know good from bad. Zhao Guodong realized, indeed, she’s just like Song Mei and others, girls that are not likable at all.

Ye Ling ungraciously replied back, "Thank you."

She truly took it as a compliment.

Zhao Guodong didn’t speak again. He didn’t know how to deal with the girl beside him. If it were like Song Mei, who cursed directly, he could curse back, but his words didn’t anger her at all; instead, she thanked him. It made it impossible for him to argue.

Zhao Guodong was always someone who resolved things with fists, encountering Ye Ling felt like punching cotton, with no way to exert force.

At around nine, they’d finally arrived at the company.

Ye Ling didn’t rush to get off the bus. As for Zhao Guodong, who was sitting inside, upon seeing the bus enter the company’s grounds, he jumped into the aisle like before, and with several big steps, was the first at the bus door.

Usually, the boys from the logistics team who got along well would have either gone home or arrived at the company a day earlier. This time, Zhao Guodong was the only one on the bus, and upon disembarking, those who had heard about him rushed over.

Standing in the aisle of the bus, Ye Ling looked through the window, seeing Zhao Guodong and several others walk away with their arms around each other’s shoulders.

Once she got off the bus and away from the crowd, Bai Xue immediately lowered her voice and questioned, "Ye Ling, at the company today, you mustn’t cause trouble."

Looking up to see her mother-in-law glance over, Bai Xue quickly changed her tone, appearing concerned, "What happened earlier on the bus? Did Song Mei and others bully you?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her mother-in-law’s gaze withdraw. _{f\ree webn ovel(.)com}

In her past life, Ye Ling was used to her mother’s favoritism. Seeing her mother’s current façade, she didn’t care, "It’s nothing."

What use was talking to her? As if she didn’t know what happened afterward.

Ye Ling remembered her mother’s earlier attitude, knowing if her grandmother weren’t present, there’d be no pretense of concern.

Bai Xue saw her daughter’s indifferent demeanor and looked at her mother-in-law aggrievedly, "Mom, Lingzi’s temper needs to change. I’m her mother, how could I not want the best for her? Look at her, as though I’d do her harm. There were so many people on the bus today; if a rumor spreads, it won’t be good for Lingzi’s reputation. Our family got here step by step by relying on He Ping, and when interacting with people in the compound, I’ve always been very cautious, afraid of offending someone and affecting He Ping."

"You also said He Ping got here step by step, not by currying favor with others, so why care what others think." Old Mrs. Ye gave her one back, "If you’re truly bullied, you can’t just endure it. People live for a sense of pride, just like trees need their bark. You can’t teach your children to suffer for adult matters."

Sounded nice, but wasn’t it just favoritism for the granddaughter.

Bai Xue muttered silently, while outwardly appearing taught, "Yes, I understand."