Chapter 33: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love
After the New Year, time seemed to accelerate.
It felt like just yesterday she had been watching the winter snow clinging to the branches outside the classroom window. Now, fresh green buds had replaced the white blanket.
A few more cycles of the moon and sun, and the trees would be lush and green, the numbers on the calendar dwindling with alarming speed.
The pressure of the upcoming college entrance exams loomed, and even Tao Ning, having embraced her role as a student, felt the need to perform well.
Her newfound dedication seemed to have influenced even Tao Yan, who, after a few days of observing her daughter’s unusual diligence, started spending more time at home, reducing her workload, and prioritizing family time.
Tao Ning knew her mother wanted to be there for her during this crucial period. The CEO, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, was now a regular presence, gamely trying everything Tao Ning placed before her.
To Tao Ning’s surprise, Tao Yan had a natural talent for cooking, her dishes both delicious and… calorie-laden.
Not wanting to be the only one gaining weight, Tao Ning started bringing the leftovers to school, sharing them with her friends during lunch.
Initially, Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi had been thrilled, eager to sample the culinary creations of the legendary Tao Yan, whose very touch seemed to imbue the food with a golden glow. They had devoured everything, showering her with praise.
Their enthusiasm, however, had inadvertently fueled Tao Yan’s newfound passion for cooking, her creations becoming increasingly elaborate, delivered fresh daily by a chauffeur.
Today was no exception. The moment they saw the familiar white insulated container in Tao Ning’s hands, Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi scattered.
Jin Yue, clutching her stomach, her bob bouncing, exclaimed, “No, no, no! I’ve already gained so much weight! I had to buy new skirts! I can’t eat any more!”
Tao Ning, her hopeful gaze shifting to Lü Xinxi, was met with a similar response. “I can’t either, Ningning!”
Finally, Xu Qiuyi stepped forward, and she and Tao Ning shared the “pre-exam nourishment soup” prepared by the CEO herself.
They clinked their white porcelain bowls together, a gesture of camaraderie, and began eating, their spoons forgotten.
Lü Xinxi, watching them, commented, “They’re practically exchanging wedding vows with those bowls.”
Xu Qiuyi, startled, choked on her soup, and Tao Ning quickly handed her a tissue.
Jin Yue looked at Lü Xinxi, the ever-oblivious blabbermouth, a mixture of amusement and relief. Thank goodness I didn’t tell her, she thought.
The four of them, their minds elsewhere, finished their lunch and returned to their classes.
Later that afternoon, Xu Qiuyi was summoned to the office, returning a while later.
Tao Ning, who had been struggling with a math problem, looked up as Xu Qiuyi sat down. “What did the teacher want?” she asked casually.
Xu Qiuyi replied, “He asked about my… emotional well-being. He wants me to maintain my ranking in the mock exams. He thinks I have a good chance of being the top scorer in the province.”
Only Xu Qiuyi could deliver such a statement with such nonchalance. The nearby students, overhearing, couldn’t help but stare, their eyes filled with admiration.
Three years ago, they would have scoffed. Now, however, Xu Qiuyi had proven herself, her abilities undeniable.
She had earned the right to be confident.
The teacher, however, hadn’t just inquired about her well-being. He had also mentioned her tutoring sessions, which, until now, hadn’t seemed to affect her grades. But with the final exams approaching, he felt the need to intervene.
He had hinted that he could talk to Tao Ning, that Xu Qiuyi shouldn’t sacrifice her own future for others, that this was a crucial time in her life.
Only after Xu Qiuyi had reassured him, citing her consistently high scores as evidence, that she could handle both tutoring and her own studies, had he allowed her to leave.
Tao Ning, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes filled with admiration, said, “I knew you could do it.”
Xu Qiuyi smiled. “You have so much faith in me.”
Tao Ning, watching the carefully nurtured rose about to bloom, her heart filled with pride and admiration, wanted to shower her with praise.
But they were in class, surrounded by other students, so she opted for a simple, direct expression of support. “I do.”
Xu Qiuyi, always receptive to Tao Ning’s words, her confidence bolstered by her unwavering faith, smiled back, her face radiating a youthful, almost defiant, energy.
This was who she was meant to be. Free from the burdens of her past, she was confident and determined, not the guarded, wary figure from the original timeline.
“Then I won’t disappoint you,” she said, pulling her chair closer to Tao Ning’s. The next class was a study period, and as long as they weren’t disruptive, the class president wouldn’t interfere.
Leaning her elbow on Tao Ning’s desk, she asked, “Have you decided which university you’re applying to? My first choice is A University. You’ll stay in Tong City, right?”
Tao Ning paused, then smiled. “Where else would I go?”
Xu Qiuyi’s finger traced the cover of a notebook on Tao Ning’s desk, then lifted it, revealing a math test paper with a score of 133.
The recent mock exams had been challenging, and many students’ scores had dropped. The teachers had reassured them it was normal, not to worry.
But Xu Qiuyi had still achieved a perfect score, 150 out of 150, not her limit, but the test’s limit.
She didn’t speak, and neither did Tao Ning, who simply watched her, her gaze soft, noticing the flicker of frustration in Xu Qiuyi’s eyes.
Jin Yue, struggling with a problem, turned around, intending to ask Xu Qiuyi for help, then, seeing the scene, quickly turned back, her textbook clutched in her hands. I can’t watch this, she thought. It’s… too intense.
The bell rang, and the classroom quieted.
Xu Qiuyi, her voice barely above a whisper, said, “I wish we could go to the same university.”
She sighed softly. “But your score… It’s borderline. You might get into A University, but your choice of majors would be limited. Mostly… less desirable ones.”
520, suddenly appearing, commented, [That sounds familiar.]
Tao Ning, the queen of barely passing: “…”
Xu Qiuyi continued, “It might be better to apply to other universities in Tong City. You’d have more options, a better… future.” Everything would be better, except for the distance.
Tao Ning, her hand suddenly being held by Xu Qiuyi, remained silent. “You won’t forget me, will you?” Xu Qiuyi asked, her voice soft, almost pleading.
So even geniuses get anxious about the future, Tao Ning thought, amused.
“Of course not,” she said, her voice gentle. “How could I forget you? We’re in the same city. We can still see each other. And who knows what the future holds? Maybe I’ll… get in.”
Xu Qiuyi, her expression softening, seemed satisfied, though she remained skeptical about the last part.
She didn’t want Tao Ning to make sacrifices for her. If their connection was genuine, four years of university wouldn’t diminish it.
The weekend after the mock exams, Xu Qiuyi invited Tao Ning to visit a temple nestled in the mountains. The temple was crowded with students praying for good luck on their upcoming exams, the ancient trees laden with red ribbons bearing their wishes.
Xu Qiuyi led Tao Ning to a shrine dedicated to a deity said to grant academic success. Tao Ning, kneeling beside her on a cushion, having no particular wishes of her own, her fate not tied to this world, turned to look at Xu Qiuyi.
The air was thick with the murmur of prayers, the flickering candlelight illuminating the serene face of the deity. Xu Qiuyi, her eyes closed, her hands clasped together, silently made a wish.
If Tao Ning could have heard her, she would have heard the whispered words, “…May Tao Ning succeed in her exams, and may her future be bright…”
Xu Qiuyi bowed her head, and Tao Ning, not wanting to be caught staring, followed suit.
Having visited the temple, they couldn’t leave without participating in the traditional rituals. Xu Qiuyi, seeing a bridge adorned with wooden plaques bearing wishes, bought two, handing one to Tao Ning.
Tao Ning, looking at the blank plaque, after a moment of thought, began writing.
After writing their wishes, they tossed the plaques onto the branches of a nearby tree, the small wooden rectangles joining hundreds of others, their hopes and dreams swaying gently in the breeze.
It was lunchtime, and the aroma of food led them to the temple’s vegetarian restaurant.
After lunch, they strolled down the mountain, their laughter echoing through the trees.
Tao Ning, feeling the effects of the vegetarian meal wearing off, said, “Let’s get something to eat when we get down.”
Teenage appetites were insatiable, especially with the added strain of studying. Three meals a day, plus snacks and a late-night supper, were the norm.
“Sure,” Xu Qiuyi replied, her cheeks slightly flushed, her fair skin easily showing a blush.
Tao Ning thought Xu Qiuyi looked much healthier now, compared to when they first met, when she had resembled a delicate bamboo stalk, so thin she looked like she might blow away in the wind.
As she was thinking this, she heard a thud beside her and turned to see Xu Qiuyi, having slipped on a fallen leaf, clutching her knee.
A gazebo nearby offered a place to rest, and Tao Ning helped her over to it.
Xu Qiuyi sat down, her brow furrowed, annoyed at her own clumsiness. Tao Ning crouched beside her, rinsing the scrape on her knee with bottled water after Xu Qiuyi rolled up her pant leg.
“Does it hurt?” she asked gently.
Xu Qiuyi shook her head. “It’s just water. It’s fine.”
After carefully drying the scrape with a tissue, Tao Ning said, “There are stairs all the way down. You can’t bend your knee. I’ll carry you.”
Xu Qiuyi’s first instinct was to refuse. She wasn’t heavy, but she was still an adult.
Her protests, however, were ignored, and she found herself on Tao Ning’s back, being carried down the mountain, one step at a time.
Tao Ning, reassuring her, said, “You’re not heavy. If you feel bad about it, you can carry me next time.”
Xu Qiuyi laughed, her slender fingers wiping the sweat from Tao Ning’s forehead.
Every few steps, she would ask if she was too heavy, only to be met with Tao Ning effortlessly adjusting her hold, silencing her protests.
Tao Ning’s breathing was slightly labored, but her voice remained cheerful. “See? I told you you’re not heavy.”
Xu Qiuyi, a mixture of amusement and exasperation, her initial shyness dispelled by Tao Ning’s casual manner, thought, She’s treating me like Zhichun.
As they walked, a woman and her young son caught up to them. The boy, pointing at Tao Ning, yelled, “Mama, look! Piggyback ride!”
His mother, her face a mask of gentle disapproval, immediately swatted his bottom. “That’s rude! Apologize to the young lady!”
The boy, sniffling, mumbled an apology, then, after receiving a “that’s okay” from Tao Ning, ran off, clutching his bottom.
His mother, her face apologetic, said, “I’m so sorry. He has no filter.” After receiving another “it’s okay” from Tao Ning, she hurried after her son.
Their planned snack break was replaced by a trip to the hospital. The doctor, seeing the minor scrape, would have rolled her eyes if Tao Ning hadn’t been the daughter of a major shareholder.
A little antiseptic would have sufficed, she thought. Why the drama?
Xu Qiuyi also felt it was unnecessary, but Tao Ning’s insistence that “we can’t take any risks during this crucial period” silenced her protests.
Back at the Tao residence, Tao Yan, naturally, overreacted, her initial alarm quickly quelled by a bag of medication from the doctor.
Xu Qiuyi finally understood why Tao Ning had insisted on going to the hospital. When it came to managing Tao Yan, Tao Ning was an expert.
The scrape healed quickly, leaving no scar, and Xu Qiuyi, once again, was her usual, active self.
As the college entrance exams drew closer, the atmosphere in Class A grew increasingly tense, the students’ anxiety palpable. Even Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi weren’t immune.
The two former slackers, now facing the reality of their academic shortcomings, experienced the frustration of knowledge refusing to enter their brains, their study sessions often ending in tears, their families’ attempts at comfort futile.
Tao Yan had initially worried about her own daughter’s emotional state, but seeing her calm demeanor, her unwavering routine, she felt a surge of pride. Her daughter had inherited her resilience, her ability to handle pressure.
Then, a major event occurred: Nangong Yu died.
The passing of a powerful figure wasn’t unusual, but the circumstances surrounding his death were… suspicious.
Nangong Yu, at sixty-five, had been in relatively good health, having even fathered another son the previous year. There had been no signs of illness, no pre-existing conditions. His sudden death was a shock.
Xu Qiuyi didn’t know who Nangong Yu was, but she recognized the surname, and after overhearing a few conversations, she realized he was Nangong Yunfei’s father.
Across the classroom, Lü Xinxi, Jin Yue, and Tao Ning were discussing the news, their voices animated, Lü Xinxi even slapping the table in excitement.
“There’s something fishy about this,” she declared. “Nangong Yu was obsessed with his health. He could have lived another twenty years, easily. And I heard he didn’t die today. He died three days ago. They just… kept it quiet.”
Jin Yue, her eyes widening, said, “That explains why all the Nangongs suddenly returned. There’s been a lot of activity at the main residence.”
Lü Xinxi nodded. “My dad said they were probably dividing the assets. But it wasn’t a division; it was a… succession crisis.”
“The Nangong family is definitely in turmoil. His death was so sudden,” Jin Yue said, leaning back in her chair. “The potential heirs are all fighting amongst themselves. None of them are particularly… qualified. And the older generation is also… scheming. It’s a mess.”
Even they, as outsiders, could see the instability. The reality was likely far more complex.
Lü Xinxi, suddenly remembering something, added, “Oh, and I heard Nangong Liang was killed by a drunk driver. Then, news articles started appearing about him plagiarizing someone’s work, driving them to suicide. Now he’s dead. People are saying it wasn’t an accident.”
Jin Yue, her face creased with disgust, said, “They’re all so… messy.”
Of the three, only Tao Ning remained silent, listening with a detached air.
Xu Qiuyi, sitting down beside her, took a mint from Tao Ning’s desk and popped it in her mouth, the cool, refreshing flavor a welcome distraction.
Seeing Tao Ning’s silence, Lü Xinxi asked, “Ningning, what do you think?”
They often sought Tao Ning’s opinion on such matters, her insights often surprising and insightful.
Tao Ning glanced at her. “You want to know?”
They all nodded eagerly.
Tao Ning beckoned them closer, and the three heads leaned in. She said, “Nangong Yu was poisoned. It wasn’t an illness or an accident.”
“What?!”
Xu Qiuyi asked, “Who poisoned him?”
The other two also looked at Tao Ning, their curiosity piqued.
Tao Ning replied, “Nangong Hua.”
Lü Xinxi slapped the table, jumping up from her chair. “Him?!”
The classroom quieted, everyone staring at them.
“Keep your voice down!” Jin Yue hissed, pulling her back down. “Everyone’s going to hear you.”
Lü Xinxi sat down heavily. “I met him at Elder Zhang’s birthday party. He seemed so… gentlemanly. Wore glasses, very polite. He kept talking to me, but… my heart belongs to my idol. I rejected him. I can’t believe he would… poison someone! He’s so audacious!”
Tao Ning said, “I didn’t expect it either.”
Since Nangong Yunfei’s expulsion, Nangong Yu had been considering several potential heirs, recently favoring Nangong Liang, who was the most obedient. And because of his obedience, he had received the most support from Tao Ning.
Nangong Hua knew the Tao Corporation was secretly supporting him, and he knew Nangong Liang was his rival, but he didn’t know he wasn’t the only one receiving assistance.
And after gaining a foothold within the company, he had immediately dismissed Zhou Tong and her team, a crucial mistake that had set him apart from Nangong Liang.
Nangong Yu’s health had been declining, and he had met with doctors and lawyers several times. Nangong Hua, overhearing a conversation about revising his will, the mention of Nangong Liang’s name, had grown suspicious. His suspicions had been confirmed.
Seeing Nangong Liang about to surpass him, he had meticulously investigated Nangong Liang’s past, even arranging for his… elimination.
His plan had succeeded, but the Nangong family wasn’t short of rivals, and his actions had been reported to Nangong Yu.
Nangong Yu, impressed by the boy’s ruthlessness, had decided to meet with him, intending to groom him.
But Nangong Hua, convinced he was about to be punished, had panicked and poisoned Nangong Yu, hoping to seize control with the revised will.
It hadn’t been that simple, however. The Nangong family, despite its recent setbacks, wasn’t foolish. Nangong Hua’s plan had been exposed, and he had been arrested.
“So they delayed announcing the death to… choose a new leader,” Tao Ning said, omitting her own involvement, her explanation captivating her audience.
Jin Yue, her face a mask of shock, after processing the story, suddenly asked, “How do you know so much?”
Tao Ning smiled. “Maybe I’m the mastermind behind it all.”
Her words were met with laughter and disbelief. They couldn’t imagine their cheerful, slightly clueless friend orchestrating such a complex scheme. They assumed she had heard it from Tao Yan.
“Sure, you are,” Lü Xinxi said, tossing a test paper onto Tao Ning’s desk. “Focus on your studies, not your fantasies.”
Tao Ning glanced at the paper. “Too easy. Give me something more challenging.”
Lü Xinxi, instead of complying, slapped Tao Ning’s shoulder playfully, grabbed a mint from her desk, and ran off.
Jin Yue also left, leaving only Xu Qiuyi, who was lost in thought.
Tao Ning, stretching and taking a sip of water, the cool mint flavor refreshing, finally asked, “What are you thinking about? You’ve never been this focused, even during exams.”
Xu Qiuyi blinked, tilting her head slightly. “I heard Xinxi say that both Nangong Liang and Nangong Hua were… unexpected candidates. They weren’t supposed to be in the running. But before they died, everything seemed to be going their way… It’s… strange.”
As expected of the female lead, Tao Ning thought. Always perceptive.
Wanting to guide her, she said, “You’re saying… they had help? That their success wasn’t… natural?”
Xu Qiuyi’s eyes lit up. “Exactly!”
Tao Ning asked, “What do you think will happen to the Nangong family now?”
Xu Qiuyi considered this. “The leader’s death was so sudden. Three days, and they still haven’t chosen a successor. It’s like a dynasty in decline. Not quite at its end, but weakened, divided, internal conflicts, external threats…”
She paused, then said, “…Fragmentation?”
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