Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Ice Cream

Ling Mo’s loose tracksuit made her stand out among the crowd in shorts and T-shirts, but she didn’t care about the looks she got.

With the temperature outside, exposing bare skin under the sun could burn you easily.

She wandered into the women’s clothing section. There were plenty of people, but very few actually buying. Right now, most people felt stretched even buying food—who had spare money for clothes?

And these outfits cost thousands, yet their quality might not even match the cheaper wholesale markets.

As she walked, she came across an ice cream counter. From a distance, she saw people gather at the freezer, stare for a long time, then drift away.

When Ling Mo got closer, she understood immediately.

A single small tub cost 1,880.

Back in the old days, that price would have been a headline.

Ling Mo shook her head and turned to leave. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it—it just wasn’t worth wasting money.

Just then, a voice called out behind her.

“Ling Mo!”

She turned. It was one of the original owner’s classmates—someone she hadn’t spoken to since the college entrance exam.

Ji Zhi Zhi walked over with two companions. She looked Ling Mo up and down, then put on a bright, fake surprise.

“Ling Mo, I can’t believe I ran into you here. Why didn’t you come to our graduation get-together?”

“Yeah,” one of Ji Zhi Zhi’s followers said loudly. “You never really mixed with people, and you even skipped the last class reunion. What, do you think you’re better than us?”

“Qian Qian, don’t say it like that,” Ji Zhi Zhi scolded, turning to Li Qian with a performative glare. Then she faced Ling Mo again, all sweetness. “Don’t take her seriously. She’s just blunt.”

Her smile widened.

“But I heard your parents had an accident… and your family owed a lot of money. Everything they left got taken to pay debts. These days must have been really hard for you.”

Li Qian and the other girl giggled, gleeful.

Ji Zhi Zhi covered her mouth like she’d only just realized what she said. “Oh no. Did I poke your sore spot? I didn’t mean it. I’m really sorry, Ling Mo. You’re always so generous—you’ll forgive me, right?”

Ji Zhi Zhi didn’t like Ling Mo. She never had, not from the first day.

Ling Mo transferred in and stole her spot as the class belle. She had both parents, a harmonious family, and good grades. Teachers liked her, classmates flocked to her, and Ji Zhi Zhi was left watching her own spotlight fade.

What made it worse was Ling Mo’s attitude—like none of it mattered.

Ji Zhi Zhi had been thrilled when she heard Ling Mo’s parents died. And when she heard Ling Mo was selling off her assets, she took it as proof—Ling Mo must have been forced to do it to repay debts.

She looked at Ling Mo now, malice flashing in her eyes.

Ling Mo watched them perform and felt nothing. Their childish tricks couldn’t touch her. The only thing she regretted was stopping and wasting her time.

In the original owner’s memories, she hadn’t even had much interaction with Ji Zhi Zhi. The original owner was introverted, a transfer student, and distant with classmates. Aside from necessary exchanges, she rarely spoke at all.

Maybe Ji Zhi Zhi noticed Ling Mo’s look—like she was staring at fools. Her brows knitted.

“What kind of look is that?” Ji Zhi Zhi snapped. “Your family’s bankrupt. I guess you won’t get chances to eat ice cream again later. Fine. I’ll treat you this time.”

Ling Mo, who’d been about to leave, stopped mid-step.

“That’s what you said.”

For the first time, Ling Mo spoke to her directly. Ji Zhi Zhi felt a strange chill crawl up her spine.

But words were words. She couldn’t take them back now, so she stiffened her jaw. “Of course.”

She waved grandly at the freezer. “Take whatever you want.”

Ling Mo’s lips curved into a faint smile. She’d never seen someone volunteer to be a sucker so eagerly.

She raised a hand and beckoned to a server nearby.

“I want all the ice cream here.”

Then she paused, thinking. “Do you have an insulated box?”

“Forget it. An insulated box is too small. I’ll give you an address—deliver it straight to my home.”

The server moved quickly, bringing an insulated box and pulling one of each type from the freezer.

Under everyone’s stunned stares, Ling Mo pointed at Ji Zhi Zhi.

“She’s paying.”

The server swallowed hard and forced on a polite smile. “Since the quantity is so large, we’ll need some time to total the price. You may need to wait a moment.”

Ling Mo waved generously. “No problem. Just deliver it. It’s not like I’m paying.”

She’d seen it clearly. These three girls were here to cause trouble.

The server glanced at Ling Mo with pity. He hadn’t expected someone this young to have lost both parents. What those girls said was like rubbing salt into an open wound.

“This customer, please come with me,” he said, smiling at Ji Zhi Zhi.

“You did it on purpose!” Ji Zhi Zhi hissed, face twisting.

Ling Mo smiled, perfectly polite. “Thank you for the treat, Classmate Ji Zhi Zhi.”

Seeing Ling Mo turn to leave, Ji Zhi Zhi lunged and grabbed her arm. “Wait. You’re not allowed to go.”

Ling Mo turned back calmly. “Are you backing out?”

“I’m not!”

Ji Zhi Zhi snapped the denial without thinking.

“Then why are you stopping me from leaving?” Ling Mo tilted her head, looking at her with a half-smile.

In that moment, Ji Zhi Zhi suddenly felt like she was staring at a stranger. The Ling Mo in front of her was nothing like the girl from school.

While they struggled, the server returned with the final total.

More than 200,000.

Ji Zhi Zhi’s face went pale.

Her family had money, yes—but not the kind of money she could burn on ice cream. She’d only wanted to humiliate Ling Mo, not ruin herself.

The server offered the bill. Ji Zhi Zhi refused to take it.

Behind her, the two girls who’d been so loud earlier had gone silent, heads lowered, eyes darting away.

People nearby gathered to watch, eyes bright with anticipation.

Under the stares—some curious, some openly mocking—Ji Zhi Zhi turned toward Ling Mo and spat, “So, are you satisfied now?”