Wang Qiqi looked around her room. "Have you all packed?" Han Tao had already left, and Dai Lijun had also gone after answering a pager, leaving only the four girls in the room.

Shi Man emerged from her room carrying a backpack. "I'm done. Lina, are you ready?"

Zhu Lina slung her backpack on. "I'm set. Qiqi, are you really bringing your laptop to school?" Remember, there were three sets of hands at school, what if someone stole it while Wang Qiqi wasn't careful with it?

Bringing the laptop to school was a decision Wang Qiqi had mulled over for a long time. "Is leaving it at home any safer? Besides, everyone in the dorm knows I was buying a laptop. If I don't bring it, who knows what they'll say." Especially Han Lina, whose mouth could really spin tales. Unless your dominance was absolute, she wouldn't truly submit to you, and even then, only temporarily. The moment she sensed a chance to surpass you, she would strike again; she was truly an unkillable cockroach.

"Han Meina?" Zhu Lina glanced at the timid-looking Wang Qiqi. "I don't think you're afraid of her?"

"Though I'm not scared, I'm only a freshman. I can't start off by offending the class cadres, can I?" Wang Qiqi joked. "Besides, if I plan on pursuing postgraduate studies later, and the class cadre badmouths me to the professors, how will I get that recommendation spot?"

"Would you even care about a recommendation spot?" Zhu Lina doubted Wang Qiqi would stay at C University for her Master's, even if she didn't study abroad. "Didn't you say you wanted to go back to Shencheng for grad school?"

Wang Qiqi held up one finger and shook it gently. "People change, especially women." She was only a freshman; not only could her own heart shift, but external circumstances could also change. Moreover, she didn't know if Gao Kai would completely lose his fighting spirit four years from now and become a man perpetually immersed in past glory, relying on women. If that were the case, returning to Shencheng would surely be a spectacle to behold, wouldn't it?

Zhu Lina pursed her lips. Sometimes she truly couldn't fathom why Qiqi harbored such deep hatred for Gao Kai and Wang Rui. Several times, Zhu Lina and Shi Man had noticed the profound hatred in Wang Qiqi's eyes when she looked at the pair. They had discussed this at length but never arrived at an answer. As far as they knew, Wang Rui was fond of Gao Kai, but Gao Kai’s attitude toward Wang Rui was mostly based on the fact that she was Wang Qiqi's sister. Of course, given Gao Kai's nature, he probably thought Wang Rui was someone he could toy with or perhaps use to spark Wang Qiqi's jealousy. However, the outcome was that Qiqi treated them poorly. This mindset worried Zhu Lina deeply, concerned that Wang Qiqi would dedicate most of her energy to dealing with Gao Kai and Wang Rui.

Studying finance, Zhu Lina thought Qiqi could consider pursuing advanced studies abroad. The cost of studying abroad was high, but for Wang Qiqi, it wasn't a major obstacle. "Yes, people have to look forward. Staying stagnant is a form of regression."

Jiang Xin couldn't grasp the deeper meaning behind Wang Qiqi and Zhu Lina's conversation. She understood the literal words, but she sensed the strange look in Zhu Lina’s eyes when she looked at Wang Qiqi, and Shi Man also appeared lost in thought. The only thing Jiang Xin was certain of was that Zhu Lina's comment was directed at Wang Qiqi.

Wang Qiqi knew that after her rebirth, she couldn't constantly dwell on revenge against Wang Rui and Gao Kai. She understood that the present situation couldn't be the same as her past life—or rather, Wang Rui might even have the potential to surpass her now. But every time she saw the two of them, Wang Qiqi felt an overwhelming urge to crush them into the dirt. She understood Zhu Lina's words, yet she found that the demons of her previous life were not so easily vanquished. "Let's go."

Zhu Lina sighed inwardly, but she knew she couldn't say more. Even if Shi Man tried to persuade Qiqi, she likely wouldn't be able to break free. It seemed they could only pin their hopes on time. Time changes many things, doesn't it? If Qiqi eventually realized things on her own and decided to study abroad, that would signify she had truly moved past it. As it stood, her coming to the capital was a form of evasion, not a sign of enlightenment.

Wang Qiqi carried her laptop and pushed open the dorm room door. Just as she placed the laptop bag on the ** [Note: assuming this is 'desk' or 'bedside table' contextually], she saw Bai Ge touch the bag. "You bought the computer?" Bai Ge thought, Heavens, this thing I'm touching is worth over ten thousand! When will I ever afford a laptop?

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Mm, bought it yesterday. You can plug it in and use it." Wang Qiqi knew they were curious about her new computer. Although it was quite expensive for the time, as long as you didn't smash it, a computer was definitely durable.

Bai Ge was only touching it out of curiosity. Yesterday, when they were all lying on their ** [Note: assuming 'beds'] discussing Qiqi buying a computer, Gong Yiying had icily commented that Qiqi might not even bring the computer to the dorm, and even if she did, whether she'd let them use it was another question.

Regarding Gong Yiying's words, Bai Ge and the others knew she, or perhaps Han Meina behind her, disapproved of Wang Qiqi buying a computer. But they hadn't argued, partly because they felt Gong Yiying might not be entirely wrong. Yet, looking at Wang Qiqi's current demeanor, they realized they had been rather small-minded. "So, I can really play with it?"

"Go ahead and play," Wang Qiqi said with a smile. Although Wang Qiqi was crying inside—as the owner, she hadn't even used the computer for more than half an hour—she knew that if she refused Bai Ge and the others now, she'd be branded stingy in the dorm from then on. Wang Qiqi didn't believe Han Meina wouldn't gossip about her behind her back.

Li Xin heard Wang Qiqi tell everyone to use it, and as Bai Ge, under Qiqi's direction, powered up the computer, she shot a look at Gong Yiying, who was clustered around watching. "Gong Yiying, yesterday you were saying Qiqi wouldn't bring the computer to the dorm, and even if she did, she wouldn't let us use it. I told you Qiqi wasn't a stingy person, hmph. You city kids always have so many complicated thoughts."

Li Xin's directness earned her an unpleasant look from Gong Yiying, and everyone was surprised Li Xin would be so blunt in front of Gong Yiying. Although Gong Yiying had criticized Wang Qiqi before, they wouldn't have brought it up directly in front of Qiqi. While Wang Qiqi would likely hear whispers about it, it was better to know among themselves than to have it publicly exposed. The atmosphere in the dorm instantly fell silent, losing the previous cheerfulness when they heard they could use the computer.

Gong Yiying froze for a moment, then found it impossible to compose herself, especially feeling that strange look from Wang Qiqi directed her way. Unnerved, Gong Yiying retreated to her bed, picked up a book, and said, "I just remembered I need to return a book at the library. I'm heading there now." She hurried out, looking as if she were fleeing in disarray.

Duan Xiaomin looked at Li Xin and sighed. Would Li Xin's action improve her relationship with Gong Yiying? Don't let Gong Yiying's generally agreeable facade fool you; she was actually quite petty, even harder to deal with than Han Meina. "Let's play with the computer. Oh, Qiqi, are you good at operating it?" Duan Xiaomin could only try her best to maintain the dorm atmosphere.

Wang Qiqi gave a wry smile. "It's been in high demand since I bought it, and I started learning from an introductory guide, so I'm really not that skilled."

Hearing this, Bai Ge looked at the computer under her control, thought for a moment, and reluctantly handed it over. "Qiqi, you play."

"You guys play some simple games. I practiced a bit this afternoon; I need to properly review the theory," Wang Qiqi shook her head, pulling out an introductory manual from her bag and waving it at them. "I need to study the theory diligently so I can operate the computer better later."

Li Xin suddenly remembered something when she heard this. "Qiqi, have you been studying with that weirdo from the Computer Science department lately?"

Weirdo? Wang Qiqi looked at Li Xin in confusion. Could the 'weirdo' they spoke of be Dai Lijun?

"You know, the one wearing glasses who is often with you guys, I think his surname is Dai," Bai Ge stopped playing with the computer and turned to stare at Wang Qiqi. For the past week, Wang Qiqi and her friends had often been studying in the library with a computer science major nearby. It was only Qiqi and her friends who were unaware; practically half the school knew that the computer science 'weirdo' was quite good at picking up girls, having managed to snag four freshmen. Actually, Han Meina had told them this news, adding that Wang Qiqi truly had no taste, wondering how she could choose such a man, though she did mention the guy’s family background seemed decent.

It was indeed Dai Lijun. Wang Qiqi let out an "Oh." "Yes, he's a decent boy for reviewing homework with. At least he doesn't spend most of his time staring at the girls instead of his book, unlike some others who pretend to read." Wang Qiqi's words indirectly explained why she and Shi Man and the others were studying with the 'weirdo.' Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't tell them she befriended Dai Lijun in the hope that he and Han Tao could exchange knowledge about computer technology.

Everyone had expected some juicy gossip, but they hadn't anticipated this result. Then again, thinking back to the times they saw Qiqi studying in the library not far from where Wang Qiqi and her friends sat, they hadn't observed any interaction throughout the entire afternoon—or rather, they heard Wang Qiqi and Shi Man talking, but the 'weirdo' rarely spoke. They had dismissed it as bad luck on their part, but hearing Wang Qiqi’s explanation now left them dumbfounded. "If those guys knew the real reason, I wonder if they’d regret it." What a prime opportunity to approach the 'four beauties'!

"Would they?" Wang Qiqi countered. Could those men truly exercise patience, enduring it forever? If she hadn't wanted Han Tao to exchange computer knowledge with him, she wouldn't have interacted with Dai Lijun much herself. "I believe going to the library to study is for studying, not for picking up girls. If you want to pick up girls, you should stand by the entrance of the teaching building, watching the beauties come and go; that offers a higher chance of success. At least, I wouldn't engineer a chance encounter in the library."