The Scumbag Protected Me From Trouble

In my previous life, I believed the lies of a jerk and delivered expired milk to Julio Williams, the top student in the school.

On the day of the scholastic assessment test, Julio didn't show up.

After the test, he stood at the school gate, smiling calmly, said to me, "I don't think I deserve to die. Gerda, I've been ruined by you."

The next day, I got a notification pushed to me from the trending topics- top student from Tgend High School jumps off building after missing the scholastic assessment test!

Chapter 1

"Gerda, why stress yourself over grades? Anyway, if our grades aren't good, we can just go abroad together!"

Anthony Santiago, acted like he had been wealthy. But it was all my money. What did it have to do with him!

Thinking back to my previous life, Anthony deliberately had me give the expired milk to Julio Williams. After knowing this, I almost strangled Anthony on the spot!

After Julio's suicide, the real reason he missed the test was revealed- just the expired milk I gave him.

Julio and I were dragged into a storm of online harassment. I asked Anthony to explain, but Anthony shifted all the blame onto me, stirring public opinion against me.

"No wonder she's a spoiled rich girl!"

"How can someone like her be allowed to live in this world? She should die! She should jump off a building too, to atone for her sins."

Even after Julio's death, he was not spared by those online comments.

"Are kids these days all so emotionally fragile? Just because he missed the test, he committed suicide! Is it worth it?"

"How can this person be called a top student? He jumped off a building for not taking the test. What qualities does he have that are worth learning?"

"His family must have issues. What kind of parents would push a child to this point?"

What the netizens didn't know was that Julio's father cheated while his mother was pregnant, and his mother blamed the unborn child for the family's breakdown.

So Julio was abandoned by his parents at birth and raised by his grandmother.

On the day of the test, his grandmother died of a heart attack, and combined with missing the test, the double blow led him to suicide.

Then, I also couldn't bear the online harassment either, and in a state of mental collapse, I died in a car accident.

Finally, Anthony emerged as the winner of this farce, went to Quinnwood University, and later joined a Fortune 500 company.

...

Anthony's voice pulled me back to reality. Now, I've undergone a rebirth. I glanced at him sideways, "Go abroad? Do you have the money to go abroad?"

"Gerda, do you look down on me because I don't have money?" Anthony's eyes drooped, looking disappointed, "I thought you were different from other rich girls..."

He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, but I knew what he meant.

Whenever I was angry, he would act more aggrieved than me, and I would always suppress my emotions to comfort him.

Anthony's grades were second only to Julio's. He clearly had a bright future ahead.

I didn't know why in the previous life, Anthony wanted to drag both Julio and me into the abyss.

Whenever I struggled with studying, he was the first to hug me and whine, "Gerda, it's okay if you don't want to study. I'll take care of you in the future! One person in the family with good grades is enough. You don't need to study so hard! See, we complement each other. You're dumb enough, and I'm smart enough!"

In my previous life, my head was all about love, and I didn't see any issues in his words. Now, thinking about it, I got why my grades had consistently been so poor.

It was obvious he was emotionally manipulating me!

...

Realizing this, I asked, "Why do you always stop me from studying?"

Anthony showed a hint of panic, "I just don't want you to study so hard! Once I start working, you can be a princess at home. Gerda, don't you want to be my princess?" Anthony shifted the blame onto me.

In my previous life, I would have apologized for doubting him, but now I had seen through his true nature and only feel disgusted!

I frowned, "Enough, I've heard the same words from you too many times. You don't need to say more. Since our values don't align, let's break up!"

In this life, I just want to distance myself from such a vile person as soon as possible, the faster the safer!

Was I really not brainwashed by someone in my previous life? How did I endure him for so long?

Just as I was lost in self-doubt, Anthony tried to grab my hand, but I dodged.

His face visibly darkened, "Gerda Clifford, what kind of attitude are you showing? I've tried to comfort you, and you still dare to give me the cold shoulder!"

He continued, "You just have a bit more money than me! Do you really think you're a princess? Without my love, you're nothing. Don't come begging me to get back together in future!"

Seeing my silence, he thought his threats and insults worked, and he started feeling smug, "Regretting it, aren't you? I won't hold you accountable for what you just said. I forgive you! Don't mention breaking up again!"

I nodded, "You're right, I only have a bit of money. Don't suffer here with me, let's break up! We must break up!"

In my previous life, I loved Anthony more than myself, so even now, Anthony couldn't believe I truly wanted to break up with him.

I didn't bother guessing his thoughts anymore and turned to leave.

...

Julio and I were in the same class, and coincidentally, we were desk mates.

In the previous life, we rarely spoke, and the only time was when Julio initiated the conversation.

His voice was hoarse with difficulty, almost unable to meet my gaze.

He said, "Gerda, do you... need tutoring?"

He wore a school uniform, his arm showing veins from clenching his fist.

He sat against the light, his hair falling over his eyes, unable to hide their brightness.

Unfortunately, Anthony always spoke ill of Julio, leading me to have a bias against Julio and dislike him.

I knew Julio's family situation wasn't easy, but I didn't realize it was so difficult that he needed to tutor classmates for living expenses!

Last time, the school organized donations for impoverished students, and I casually donated three thousand to Julio.

It wasn't a large amount, but Anthony found out and argued with me for a long time. Seeing I didn't react, he deliberately gave me the cold shoulder for a week.

In the end, I had to give him a designer watch to appease him.

But what I didn't expect was that during our cold shoulder week, Anthony went to Julio and took back the three thousand dollars I donated.

When I found out, I confronted Anthony, but he wasn't guilty at all and lied through his teeth, "I heard him call you a foolish rich girl behind your back, so I got angry and took the money back! You won't blame me, right, Gerda?"

Anthony didn't return the money to me, and as Anthony wished, I grew to dislike Julio more and more.

Saying those words to me seemed to have exhausted Julio's courage and dignity. Yet, my later reply shattered them completely.

"Any tutor from my family is better than you. What qualifies you to say such things?"

Hearing my rejection, Julio was stunned but didn't get angry, just lowered his head, "Okay, I overstepped."

Then he clenched his fist and turned to leave.

At that moment, I suddenly thought, maybe Julio wasn't as bad as Anthony said?

I couldn't bear it, and was about to call Julio to introduce him to other tutoring opportunities.

But then Anthony's noisy voice came through, and I quickly forgot about this little incident.

In the previous life, Anthony often disliked the school's meals and would have my housekeeper prepare two portions.

One day, as I went downstairs to deliver Anthony's meal, I accidentally witnessed another side of him.

Anthony's arrogance was palpable, "Even you face financial struggles sometimes?" he sneered, stomping on Julio's papers with disdain.

Julio bent down to pick them up, only to be kicked over by Anthony. Anthony still said, "So what if your grades are better than mine? In today's world, money rules everything!"

Julio clenched his fists but soon relaxed them.

I thought, perhaps Julio couldn't even afford the medical bills if he got hurt in a fight.

I held back my smile and tapped the lunchbox to signal my presence.

Anthony suddenly froze, slowly turning to meet my gaze, a flicker of panic in his eyes. "Gerda, please, let me explain..."

I stepped forward and slapped Anthony, demanding angrily, "Are you bullying your classmates? Well, let's see how you explain this!"

Anthony stammered for a long time, unable to utter a word.

He glanced at Julio a few times before pulling me aside. "Gerda, you've really misunderstood me. I don't want our relationship to be ruined by an outsider. Julio is just naturally poor and despicable, and he dared to..."

That day, I believed Anthony's nonsense and angrily slapped Julio. "You're truly despicable!"

I forgot what kind of look I gave Julio at the time, only remembering his stunned gaze and the tears welling up in his eyes.

From then on, Julio never dared to meet my gaze again.

...

Back to this life, today, it was Julio who brought up the matter of tutoring with me.

As I returned to my seat, my hand accidentally brushed against the collar of Julio's clean shirt. His hand trembled on the draft paper, almost dropping the pen.

He glanced at me and moved his chair forward slightly.

I rested my head on the desk, staring at Julio. How could I have listened to Anthony and misjudged such a pure and innocent boy?

Julio was defenseless against my small gestures. His amber eyes reflected me as he sat upright, trying to keep his voice steady. "Gerda, is there something you need since you've been staring at me?"

The blush on his ears spread to his neck, and almost instantly, he looked away.

"It's so good to see you again, Julio." I said inside.

Thinking of his past life's experiences, my heart ached.

Seeing my reddened eyes, Julio put down his pen, unsure of what to do. "Why are you crying?"

His warm breath brushed against my face, and the faint scent of laundry detergent on him was surprisingly pleasant.

The warm orange light fell on us.

His handsome face was too captivating.

I couldn't explain his past life's experiences to him, so I waved my hand and ran away.

Until the end of evening study, Julio still didn't mention tutoring me like he did in the previous life.

Most of my classmates had already departed, yet Julio remained at his seat, working on exercises, with no intention of leaving at all.

The wind blew, gently moving the strands of hair on his forehead, and I noticed a trickle of blood from a wound.

I was startled.

Having been reborn, I had to make up for my mistakes from the previous life. I was determined to get Julio safely into the test and not let Anthony pull any tricks anymore.

Julio's wounds weren't there this morning. They likely appeared after the first evening study session when Julio went out.

I walked over and gently placed my hand on his forehead wound, asking, "Does it hurt? Who hit you?"

Julio's demeanor suddenly became cold, and he didn't directly answer my question. Instead, he asked, "Gerda, are you planning to seek revenge for me?"

His eyes, devoid of warmth, stared at me, and I couldn't speak.

I hesitated for a moment, seeing him about to leave.

I blurted out, "Julio, no one will bully you anymore, not even Anthony. Don't worry, I'll protect you, and I have the resources to do so."

Afraid he hadn't understood, I took a deep breath and spoke with utmost sincerity, "I hope you live well this life and do well in your scholastic assessment test. This time, I won't deceive you."

Julio was momentarily stunned, then gave me a rare, gentle smile.

He didn't directly refuse me. Instead, he walked me to the school gate and helped me into my driver's car.

Only after ensuring my safety did he leave.

I watched his slender back, holding my phone in a daze. I realized I didn't have Julio's contact.

After being reborn, not everything from the past life repeated in this life.

But I genuinely wanted to be good to Julio. I needed to atone for what I owed him.

Even if he didn't mention tutoring, I thought I could take the initiative.

So I planned to mention this thing to Julio later.

...

Early the next morning, the housekeeper handed me two lunchboxes. That was when I remembered there was also Anthony's portion.

But how could that jerk deserve my meal delivery?

I was about to tell the housekeeper to prepare only one portion in the future.

But then Julio's thin figure flashed through my mind, and I smiled. From now on, I would take care of his meals!

...

The summer weather was stifling, and Julio, sitting upright in the classroom, was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

I moved my small fan closer to Julio.

Seeing the wound on his forehead again, had he not treated it?

Julio noticed my actions but only paused for a moment, saying nothing.

I wasn't discouraged and continued pondering how to atone for the sins of my past life.

The teacher, who usually didn't call on students to answer questions, surprisingly called my name.

Everyone in the class was aware that I had zero time for studying. I'd been preoccupied with dating Anthony all along.

I stood up, stammering, unable to speak, my face flushed. Just as the teacher was about to get angry, Julio's voice reached my ears.

"Choose C."

I glanced at Julio, engrossed in writing and drawing, and without hesitation, said, "Choose C."

The next moment, the teacher's furious voice came from the podium, "Gerda, it's bad enough you don't pay attention in class! This is a fill-in-the-blank question, not multiple choice!"

I lowered my eyes, saying nothing. I knew Julio was teasing me, but if it made him happy, it was worth it.

The surrounding classmates laughed and joked, "Looks like dating has turned Gerda into a fool!"

Finally, when class ended, Julio came to apologize, somewhat regretful. "I didn't mean to. I was explaining a problem to someone else."

He showed me his phone screen, and my face turned a bit red, astonished that I'd earlier made up an entire scenario in my mind based on a single option he said.

"So, you're tutoring someone?"

Julio nodded, and I felt conflicted. He had started tutoring others, unlike in the previous life when he asked me.

Perhaps my rebirth had caused a butterfly effect.

But I wasn't giving up. "What about me? I need tutoring too."

He looked at where I held his arm. "My knowledge isn't enough to provide you the best education."