Chapter Five: A New Job, A New Hope

"What! I go abroad for a moment and you get engaged!"

Yu Hang slammed a thick Western economics textbook onto the table. "Did those jerk parents of yours force you again?"

*Don't be so angry.*

Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the library, Wen Zhi blushed and pulled the indignant girl across from her back into her seat.

Half an hour later, after her hand was nearly exhausted from signing, the girl across from her finally understood what had happened over the past month.

She had only gone abroad for a month to receive medical treatment, and in that time, her best friend had transformed into a "married woman" and was even "carrying a bun in the oven."

"Those two old fossils are despicable! When their company ran into trouble, they sent their daughter away. Why didn't they send that bitch Wen Wanwan instead?"

Hearing this, Wen Zhi gave a bitter smile. *Yu Hang, Wanwan is still a minor.*

"You..." Yu Hang looked at the girl opposite her with heartache.

Wen Zhi closed her eyes, unable to hide the pallor on her face. *Yu Hang, no matter what, I’ve paid back everything I owed the Wen family by now, haven’t I?* she asked with a bitter smile.

They all thought she had forgotten, but in reality, she remembered everything. Her biological parents weren't the Wens, but a nameless mute woman and a gambler. When she was five, they had taken five thousand yuan, changed her name, and left her with the Wen family.

Perhaps if she hadn't been with the Wens, she would have died long ago. Maybe it was a win-win decision for both parties, but for Wen Zhi, she had grown accustomed to drifting on an endless sea for all these years.

The Wen family had kept her in Z City only because their young daughter had spilled hot soup on her the moment she first saw her, then burst into tears, crying that she "stank."

And so, she was dumped in Z City, where the Wen family's grandmother lived.

Only the grandmother loved her; the days in Z City were the happiest times of her life.

"You idiot! You don't owe anyone anything!" Yu Hang’s eyes were red. "And what about that bastard Shen Dan? He promised he would marry you back then. Now that he’s become the 'Crown Prince,' he’s forgotten his days as a beggar in Z City, hasn't he?"

Wen Zhi lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with her thumbs.

A moment later, the girl looked up, her fair face filled with a forced smile. *Who remembers a vow made at seventeen? Back then, I even said I wanted to be the best cook in Z City.*

And now? She was studying a major she didn't like at a university she didn't care for.

If only her surname wasn't Wen.

*Alright, class is about to start. Let's go.* Wen Zhi comforted the angry Yu Hang.

"You... I wish you had my surname instead," Yu Hang said, her eyes still red.

"Ah!"

Before the two could finish, Wen Zhi was struck by a mountain of books that came crashing down on her.

"Zhi-Zhi!" Yu Hang was the first to turn and help the fallen Wen Zhi up.

"Sssss—"

A bloody scratch appeared on her fair arm. It wasn't deep, but it was striking; Yu Hang couldn't help but gasp when she saw it. She slowly helped the fallen Wen Zhi to her feet.

"Are you okay?" A clear, delicate female voice rang out.

"Are you blind?! She's bleeding!" Yu Hang said indignantly.

"I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry," the girl apologized hurriedly, a flush of embarrassment spreading across her pretty face.

"Move aside, we're going to the infirmary."

"Okay, you go ahead. I'll clean this up and come immediately."

The floor was a mess of books. Although the girl was tall and slender, she clearly couldn't handle the weight of so many books, which was why she had fallen.

***

After the bandages were applied, the girl arrived late.

"How much is it? Let me pay."

"Fifty-seven."

"Okay."

After paying, the girl stood before Wen Zhi and bowed deeply. "I'm sorry."

Wen Zhi couldn't speak, so Yu Hang understood her intention. "Please, stand up. Our Zhi-Zhi can't handle such a grand gesture."

The girl looked up, her beautiful makeup stiffening slightly at these words. *Zhi-Zhi?*

"Hello, my name is Zhu Wan. What is your name?"

The girl was well-bred; she leaned down slightly to accommodate the seated Wen Zhi while speaking. Her confidence was captivating, and looking down at her outfit—a princess dress that looked expensive—she was clearly a young lady from a prestigious family.

She mused that W City was truly full of wealthy families.

"Wen Zhi," Yu Hang answered for her.

Upon hearing the name, Zhu Wan’s pupils dilated. The elegance and confidence that had been in her eyes just moments ago vanished completely.

"You... if I may be so bold, what about your voice?" She was somewhat incoherent, seemingly desperate for an answer yet afraid of offending the girl in front of her.

*I'm sorry, I cannot speak, so my friend has always spoken for me.*

When Zhu Wan heard Yu Hang’s translation, the heavy stone in her heart shattered completely.

She would have preferred it if there were truly someone else in this world with the same name.

A mute, nineteen years old, at W University.

Zhu Wan tugged at the corners of her pale lips. Wasn't this the protagonist of that engagement banquet she had refused to attend?

"Alright, Miss Wen. Here is my business card. If you have any issues later, you can come to me. Or if you have any trouble at school, I'm in the Student Union, so I can manage some things on campus."

Wen Zhi took the card.

Zhu Wan gave her a bright smile and then left. Wen Zhi was stunned by that smile.

She hadn't realized there was a girl in this world who could smile so beautifully.

"Zhu Wan—I've never heard of any Zhu family in W City..." Yu Hang wondered. Wasn't she from a prestigious family? The woman’s grace in every gesture, her striking fashion sense, and her beauty...

After running a good distance from the infirmary, Zhu Wan leaned against a deserted corner of the stairwell, exhaling a long breath like a deflated balloon. Tears began to spill out, and she could only wipe them away repeatedly.

*Bo Ye, it's absolutely impossible for us to get back together now, isn't it? You are truly ruthless.*

***

"Let me introduce you. This is Jiang Shaowen, this is Hu Die, this is Zhang Zheng, and this is Chen Wei."

*Nice to meet you all. My name is Wen Zhi.*

"Nice to meet you too."

Yu Hang didn't have many hobbies, but she loved to travel and make friends. Perhaps she was worried that Wen Zhi wouldn't adapt to the new school, so she wanted to introduce her to some reliable friends.

"Yu Hang, did you tell Wen Zhi about our plan yet?" Hu Die blinked.

"Uh, I forgot."

"Zhi-Zhi, it’s like this: we’re all sophomores and juniors, and we’re currently working on an innovation and entrepreneurship project. We’re building a food-themed mini-program to help people place orders. We’re short on chefs right now, and since you’re such a good cook, I recommended you!"

Several pairs of eyes were fixed on Wen Zhi, and she blushed.

"It's okay, if it's really inconvenient, it doesn't matter," Zhang Zheng said patiently.

How could it be inconvenient, or how could she not want to? How long had it been since she had touched a spatula or stepped into a kitchen? But could she really do a good job?

*I... I don't know if I can do it well...*

"Yu Hang, translate that for us!" Jiang Shaowen nudged Yu Hang with his elbow.

Yu Hang spoke up eagerly, "How could you not? Zhi-Zhi, you once went toe-to-toe with master chefs in Z City!"

*I...*

"It's true! Even if I don't know what you just said, you must not lack confidence in yourself. We're just starting out, and if you join us, we'll pay you a salary!"

Zhang Zheng was so anxious that he reached out and grabbed Wen Zhi’s arm to persuade her.

"You... why are you grabbing my friend's arm!"

"I... I, I was just excited." Zhang Zheng quickly withdrew his hand, the back of his clean neck turning bright red.

Wen Zhi nodded.

*Okay.*

Seeing the girl nod, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief. Hu Die stepped forward and hugged Wen Zhi.

"Don't let her thin arms and legs fool you; she can handle a wok like a pro!" Yu Hang said.

The group laughed heartily.

Wen Zhi felt a bead of sweat roll down her forehead.

*So much for my image.*

But it was fine; she had a job again, and she could cook.