"How could you be so cruel?" Gu Yingxi's voice was laced with sorrow now, far from the choked gasps that had previously made her words unintelligible. "How could you be so vicious? I never imagined you were this sort of person; you’ve truly disappointed me! You secretly took my photos, and instead of returning them, you hurt Brother Yin. From now on, we are not friends. I won't let you go! I won't let you go!"

Before, when Ning Yunhuan was merely Gu Yingxi’s little shadow, she hadn't noticed how nonsensical the heroine truly was. Instead, shrouded by the heroine’s halo, Gu Yingxi seemed delicate and pitiful. But for some reason, having been reborn, seeing Xie Zhuoyin—who had been ruthless and fierce in the previous life—now appear like a paper tiger, Ning Yunhuan felt no fear, bolstered by Lanling Yan's powerful aura. Moreover, she found the harsh words the heroine spat out rather speechless. Ning Yunhuan originally intended to retort based on past events, but then reconsidered; engaging in such bickering would significantly lower her own status.

She paused, then suddenly broke into a mischievous laugh. As Xie Zhuoyin rubbed his stinging eyes and wailed, she delivered a sharp kick right behind his knee. Seeing his stance falter as he instinctively lunged forward, she shoved his back once more, sending him tumbling toward Gu Yingxi!

With a dull thud, Xie Zhuoyin crashed right onto Gu Yingxi, pinning her to the floor. Before Gu Yingxi could cry out from the impact, Ning Yunhuan had already slipped away.

After walking several paces, a deafening shriek finally erupted from the women's restroom: "Pervert! Shameless! They’re having an illicit encounter right in the restroom!"

"Too shameless, and he even spilled the incense burner!"

"That brat is too arrogant; he must have been sneaking peeks before!"

"Right, beat him up!"

After a flurry of kicks and punches, Ning Yunhuan was long gone.

Having dealt with those two today, she felt an inexplicable surge of pleasure. She decided to skip the next class, pulling out her phone without a second thought. "I think I'm ditching class."

Her tone was lighthearted. When Lanling Yan answered, the corner of his mouth curved upward involuntarily. Listening to her happily recount how she had put Xie Zhuoyin in his place, his expression softened; he could almost visualize Ning Yunhuan’s current expression, yet he regretted not seeing it firsthand.

Lanling Yan knew she had called him instinctively because she was so happy today, and her tone was so unguarded. Once she came to her senses, she would surely retreat back into her protective shell. If tormenting that Xie family brat, and dealing with that woman overflowing with hormones, could bring her such joy, perhaps it was worth trying a few more times. He mentally thanked the Xie family’s young master for providing him with such entertainment, and as this thought crossed his mind, his upturned Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

In nearly half a day, the rumor of Xie Zhuoyin being a 'restroom stalker' had spread throughout the Imperial Capital University! This was the inevitable consequence of his previous arrogance and high profile. He was famous; gossip about his romantic exploits spread fast, and so did scandals. Moreover, because of his past condescension, many male students secretly harbored jealousy, and seizing this opportunity, they ensured the rumors spread like wildfire. The next day in class, Fu Yuan conspiratorially grabbed Ning Yunhuan: "Huanhuan, did you know Xie Zhuoyin is a restroom maniac? He didn't seem like that before. I can't believe he'd do something like this. I used the restroom so many times before; I wonder if he photographed me? I’m terrified!"

Fu Yuan patted her chest as if overcome by fear, though a flicker of disdain and contempt crossed her eyes. "But for someone like that to approach you, Huanhuan, what sort of things did you do in the past to get involved with such a person?"

When Xie Zhuoyin’s reputation was still intact, Fu Yuan had been eager for any connection to him, constantly maligning any attention he showed Ning Yunhuan. Now that his name was ruined, she tried to link herself with Ning Yunhuan, foolishly assuming others were simpletons she could manipulate.

Ning Yunhuan felt Fu Yuan was overthinking things. Although Fu Yuan was considered demure in appearance, in the Film and Television department, which was teeming with beauties, she stood no chance. With Xie Zhuoyin’s background, status, and looks, a mere gesture would bring plenty of prettier girls eager to be photographed by him. Fu Yuan deliberately saying this in front of her was clearly an attempt to leverage Xie Zhuoyin’s downfall for her own spotlight.

"No matter what, he is Director Xie’s eldest son. The Xie family’s status doesn't seem comparable to the Fu family’s. Fu Yuan, we are friends, so I’m giving you a warning: do your uncle and aunt know you dare speak this way about the Xie family’s heir?" Ning Yunhuan echoed Fu Yuan’s past tone and pierced her with the remark. Immediately, Fu Yuan's face paled and flushed in alternating shades, and she clamped her mouth shut, daring not to say another word.

It was one thing for people to gossip about Xie Zhuoyin’s scandal behind closed doors—after all, the law rarely prosecutes the masses. But if Fu Yuan dared to spread it widely and the Xie family found out, she would certainly pay a heavy price. Furthermore, Xie Zhuoyin hadn't been entirely wrong before: he couldn't afford to offend someone like Lanling Yan, but for middle-tier families like the Fu and Ning clans, money and power were sovereign; easily crushing both families would be trivial. If the Fu family learned Fu Yuan dared to offend the Xie family, she'd be flayed alive!

Seeing Fu Yuan’s displeasure, Ning Yunhuan simply said, "Excuse me," pushing her aside and finding a seat for herself.

In her previous life, she had been too forbearing, living a stifled existence with no positive outcome. Now, being able to say whatever she wanted and do whatever she pleased felt wonderful—no need to suppress, no need to endure. These were precisely the things she had always wanted to do but never dared.

"Huanhuan, I’m only doing this for your own good; why are you speaking to me like this?" Fu Yuan’s tone grew sharp and accusatory. She had originally intended to watch the drama unfold and jab at Ning Yunhuan, making sure she didn’t forget who she was just because she had caught the attention of the great Young Master Xie. After all, Ning Yunhuan had once held the hand of the very person Fu Yuan had always longed for, while simultaneously dangling Xie Zhuoyin to seek her out in class multiple times. Despite being friends, Ning Yunhuan had tried to monopolize the benefits, refusing to share any scraps with her. Fu Yuan was infuriated, which brought her here today to criticize, but instead of mocking Ning Yunhuan, she ended up being insulted. Fu Yuan was burning with hatred; the closer Ning Yunhuan used to be her friend, the less she was willing to help now, which only unsettled her more.

"How am I speaking to you? You know perfectly well whether I have your best interests at heart or not. Besides, wasn’t my warning also for your own good?" Ning Yunhuan’s expression hardened at Fu Yuan's lecturing, questioning demeanor. "Also, class is about to start. Please move aside; you’re blocking me!"