<h4>Chapter 21</h4>


    If it weren''t for knowing that Guo Tongwen was jealous of Ren Ran, she almost couldn''t help suspecting that this person did it on purpose.


    Seeing that Kong Lian was hesitating and hadn''t answered for a long time, Zhao Yi helped Ren Ran ask again, "Kong Lian, what is the name of the pastry chef in your home? Being able to make pastries as good as the famous pastry chef Pierre Hermé, he must also be a very famous pastry chef. What''s his name?"


    Kong Lian didn''t know any famous pastry chefs, so she could only equivocate, "I don''t pay much attention to these things. I''ll ask for youter."


    She didn''t know if it was the effect of what Ren Ran said yesterday, or if she had learned to read microexpressions, but she always felt that Kong Lian was a little flustered.


    If it was really as she thought, it would be interesting.


    Zhao Yi''s face showed a smile, waiting to watch the show and eat melon.


    "Is Ren Ran''s family so rich? Why didn''t I know before?"


    "I really can''t see that Ren Ran''s family is rich."


    "I always felt that Ren Ran''s family was well off. Although the things she uses don''t have any logos, the quality feels very good, you can tell they''re expensive at a nce."


    "There''s a saying online that puts it very well. Truly rich people are very low-key, only upstarts like to show off." Zhao Yi said meaningfully.


    Most students didn''t think much of it, only a few understood the implication.


    "Yeah, yeah, yeah, the morecking, the more they like to show off." The carefree students ate Kong Lian''s pastries while stabbing her with their words. What was even more annoying was that they were just chatting innocently from their hearts.


    Kong Lian unconsciously clenched her fists. Even though she knew they didn''t mean to target her, she still felt ufortable inside, like being pricked with a needle. Seeing the topic of discussion move from her to Ren Ran, she even had the illusion that someone else was making clothes for Ren Ran.


    Ren Ran and Kong Lian shed for the first time.


    Kong Lian ko!


    Guo Tongwen also seemed unwilling to see everyone focusing on Ren Ran. She opened her mouth and asked, "Wow, I didn''t know before that your family was so rich, Ren Ran. You don''t treat us as friends."


    Hearing this, Kong Lian''s eyebrows twitched slightly.


    This fool wasn''t so stupid after all, she even knew to set a trap, implying something.


    Zhao Yi chuckled lightly and simply acted as Ren Ran''s mouthpiece, "If Ren Ran talked about it, people who didn''t know would think she was showing off. If she didn''t talk about it, that would also be wrong. With this kind of mouth, no matter who it was directed at, they would be the most reasonable one."


    Everyone understood.


    Curiously, someone asked, "Ren Ran, what does your family do?"


    Facing everyone''s curiosity, Ren Ran frankly replied, "My family runs the Ashtar Group."


    From the corner of her eye, she had been watching Kong Lian''s every move, and clearly saw a sh of jealousy and hatred on her face.


    "Wow!!!"


    A group eximed in surprise, they were too shocked.


    The Ashtar Group was a famous listedpany in Haicheng, one of the toppanies in Haicheng. How could this not shock them, having such a rich ssmate among them.


    Ren Ran turned to look at Kong Lian, "Kong Lian, what does your family do?"


    Not waiting for her to answer, Ren Ran answered her own question in puzzlement, "Your surname is Kong, it seems like there are no Kong families among the top families in Haicheng. What does your family do?"


    Everyone''s attention shifted from her to Kong Lian.


    "My family is from another province." Kong Lian didn''t dare say Haicheng, it would be too easy to expose, especially with Ren Ran here.


    Saying she was from this province also carried the risk of exposure, only iming to be from another province was safest.


    "Shandong?" someone asked curiously.


    "No." Kong Lian shook her head, and didn''t say exactly which ce she was from.


    "What does your family do?" Ren Ran pressed step by step.


    Kong Lian almost gritted her teeth to squeeze out, "My family has many industries, I''m not very clear on exactly what they do."


    "You should at least know your family''spany name, right?" Zhao Yi asked.


    Well, someone asked for her, saving Ren Ran some spit.


    Kong Lian quickly came up with a name, "My dad is called Kong Mingcheng."


    Kong Mingcheng, this name waspletely unfamiliar to the students present, but not at all unfamiliar to Ren Ran.


    Kong Mingcheng was the chairman of Haixiang Group, a Fortune 500pany mainly engaged in industry, an old established enterprise.


    The students weren''t slow, and immediately looked up Kong Mingcheng''s information.


    "Wow, so Kong Lian is the daughter of Haixiang Group."


    "Our ss really has hidden dragons and crouching tigers."


    Kong Lian smiled, enjoying everyone''s envious eyes.


    Zhao Yi was a little surprised, and subconsciously turned to look at Ren Ran, noticing the hooked corner of her lips.


    That angle, that microexpression, how did it seem mocking?


    Hmm, need to keep watching this matter.


    Sure enough, she then heard Ren Ran opening her innocent big eyes, with a face of innocence, issuing a doubtful question, "Does Uncle Kong have a daughter? Howe I''ve never heard of it?"


    Kong Lian''s smile froze instantly.


    The previously envious ssmates now looked at her with doubtful, probing eyes.


    At that moment, Kong Lian almost couldn''t maintain herposure.


    Just then, the bell for ss rang, ending the conversation. Kong Lian inexplicably felt relieved, like surviving a cmity.


    She carefully recalled Ren Ran''s actions just now, and became suspicious at heart.


    Could she have noticed something?


    Kong Lian observed Ren Ran''s reactions throughout ss, and didn''t see anything unusual.


    It seems I was just being paranoid.


    At noon, a group of people surged towards the cafeteria. This was the rare rest time for everyone, and also prime time for gossip.


    Kong Lianughed and chatted with some ssmates as they walked to the cafeteria. The students in front didn''t notice those behind were shamelessly gossiping about her.


    "Do you think Kong Lian is really Kong Mingcheng''s daughter?" someone raised the question.


    Naturally they believed Ren Ran''s words over Kong Lian''s. After all, they had studied together for two years, even if they weren''t bosom buddies willing to live and die together, they were still closer than the new transfer student.


    "Kong Lian doesn''t seem to be lying either."


    "Yeah, being picked up in a luxury car, having a dedicated butler, desserts made by a 5-star hotel''s pastry chef, these are all things ordinary people can''t ess. Plus, she has no reason to lie to us. There''s no benefit."


    Many agreed with this view.


    "In that case, there''s only one possibility."


    "What?" Those slower to catch on still didn''t understand.


    "She must be an illegitimate daughter that has to be hidden, born to a mistress or concubine." The person said with a smile.


    "Damn!" Several eximed in shock, immediately understanding.


    Things that previously didn''t make sense could now be fully exined.


    "I said, a girl from another province, also the daughter of Haixiang Group, why would she leave her home province and insteade to our Haicheng? It didn''t make sense from the start. But if she''s an illegitimate daughter that has to be hidden, then it would be very normal."


    "No wonder Ren Ran doesn''t know her, has never heard Kong Mingcheng has a daughter."