Wang Qiqi found the shout odd. If Bai Ge or the others had called her, it wouldn't have been strange, but Gong Yiying's tone presented a problem. "There's something off about her attitude today," Wang Qiqi murmured to Shi Man. When it came to her standing within the dorm, Wang Qiqi never kept secrets from Shi Man and the other girl.

Shi Man glanced toward Gong Yiying, who was alone, and chuckled. "It's just her. Isn't she Han Meina's shadow?" If the lackey wasn't following her mistress, there was plenty of room for speculation.

Wang Qiqi held her spot, looking at Shi Man. "How about we go meet her? You can ask why she’s suddenly being so polite to me." Although Shi Man projected an image of serene detachment, her appetite for gossip was actually quite high.

Of course, Shi Man wanted to probe, but after a moment of thought, she shook her head. "Forget it. I’m having lunch and chatting with Lina and our roommates. I genuinely don't get why just eight people have to make things so complicated." Shi Man understood some things about the dynamics in Wang Qiqi’s dorm, but she couldn't grasp others; for instance, while her own roommate had ambitions, things hadn't erupted into such conflict so early in the semester.

Wang Qiqi simply replied with an "Oh," and then added, "Well, I’m going to connect with my roommates. We might go study together tonight." While watching the drama unfold was tempting, some spectacles weren't worth the time, and frankly, she’d rather focus on fostering good relations with her own group.

After separating from Shi Man and her friends, Wang Qiqi carried her food tray over to her dormmates, asking aloud, "Huh, where's Han Meina?"

Wang Qiqi might have mentioned Han Meina casually, but in Gong Yiying’s ears, it sounded like an implicit demand for an explanation as to why she was present when Han Meina was absent. "Uh, she seems to have gone out for something. Isn't the department hosting a welcoming event?"

"Out with Zhang Han?" Bai Ge asked, intrigued. "I think Zhang Han likes Meina." Otherwise, among all the defeated candidates during the class representative elections, only he had offered Han Meina such gentlemanly congratulations, and since then, he often invited her out to eat. Thinking of this, Bai Ge subtly glanced at Gong Yiying, knowing that every time Zhang Han and his friends went out, Gong Yiying was included.

Bai Ge’s mouth moved, about to ask why Gong Yiying wasn't tagging along if Han Meina was dining out, but then she recalled Gong Yiying’s behavior in private and stopped herself. This girl’s schemes were too twisted; if Bai Ge said something she didn't want to hear, she might not care at the moment, but Gong Yiying would definitely hold onto it.

"It's normal for someone to like Meina; she's pretty," Gong Yiying responded, her tone clearly strained. She already knew Zhang Han had asked Han Meina out for a meal after class, and she had expected to be invited. The fact that Han Meina went out just with Zhang Han and one of his friends, leaving Gong Yiying behind, would cause anyone to have feelings about it.

Hearing that, Wang Qiqi felt certain that something had transpired between her and Han Meina, or perhaps that Han Meina and Gong Yiying were drifting apart. Otherwise, why would Han Meina go out to eat with Zhang Han and not bring Gong Yiying along? "Maybe they were discussing things? The welcoming event requires every class to put on a performance, and as the main and assistant heads of the cultural and entertainment committee, they must have business to discuss."

Duan Xiaomin noticed Gong Yiying’s unfavorable expression. "Oh, right, are you girls going to perform on stage?"

Perform? "I want to perform, yes, but I worry I can’t carry a song alone," Bai Ge admitted. She genuinely wished to perform, but the thought of facing so many eyes in the audience made her terrified; she doubted she’d have the nerve to sing at all.

"Just close your eyes and sing, that’s all there is to it," Li Xin offered her solution. "Or, ask someone to sing with you—a duet would make it easier."

Right, she could find a partner, and then she wouldn't be scared. But who could join her on stage? Bai Ge’s eyes darted around, and everywhere her gaze landed, the others deliberately avoided meeting her eyes. She sighed. "Never mind, I think I won't sing after all."

Gong Yiying had considered singing solo on stage. Back in junior high, whenever the school held a New Year's Gala, Gong Yiying would always take the stage for a song. While her voice wasn't the absolute best, she had become a fixture in school entertainment. However, the subsequent three years of high school had been intensely focused on getting into a good university, and honestly, she wasn't brimming with confidence about performing now.

When she heard Bai Ge mention needing a partner for a duet, Gong Yiying’s heart fluttered. She was about to suggest they team up, but before the words left her mouth, she heard Bai Ge say she wouldn't perform. Gong Yiying reconsidered; she really shouldn't miss this chance. Her older cousin often said that whenever freshmen arrived, the upperclassmen got especially excited, and the welcoming event was the perfect opportunity for them to scout the new female students. Besides, having someone beside her meant she wouldn't face total humiliation if she stumbled.

Bai Ge hadn't expected Gong Yiying to suddenly offer to sing a duet with her. While she truly wanted to sing, singing with Gong Yiying made her hesitant. If they succeeded, Gong Yiying would claim the credit; if they failed, the responsibility would fall on Bai Ge. After a moment’s thought, Bai Ge shook her head again. "Forget it. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of so many people."

Gong Yiying looked at Bai Ge's visibly frightened expression and felt a surge of contempt, thinking her a coward, utterly useless. Yet, she couldn't force the other girl onto the stage. "Then maybe next time."

Bai Ge sighed softly. "Okay. For now, let's observe the freshmen. When another event like this comes up, we'll have more confidence." She decided then and there that she absolutely would not share the stage with Gong Yiying.

Gong Yiying let out a soft "Oh," then turned back to Wang Qiqi. "Are you still heading to the library tonight?" In Gong Yiying's view, Wang Qiqi was far too focused on studying, as if she hadn't managed to break free from the high-pressure routine of the final year of high school.

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Mm, going back to study some more." Staying in the library was better—it was quiet, and Wang Qiqi knew the dorm would inevitably become noisy. Furthermore, the current atmosphere was somewhat volatile: Han Meina and Gong Yiying’s relationship wasn't as smooth as before. What would they do next? Maintain civility or secretly start rallying support in the dorm? The more Wang Qiqi thought about it, the more intriguing it became—it hadn't been that long, and already there were problems between them.

Bai Ge paused, then said, "Qiqi, I noticed the other day that you were reading the English original versions of your books?" Bai Ge had spotted it accidentally but hadn't asked until now, realizing that most of the books Wang Qiqi borrowed had English covers.

Wang Qiqi confirmed with a simple "Yes, I want to improve my English." There was nothing to hide about that.

"Are you planning to study abroad then?" Gong Yiying pressed, indirectly trying to gauge Wang Qiqi’s background. If she confirmed it, her family’s wealth must be considerable.

Wang Qiqi considered this. "I haven't thought that far ahead. I do look forward to studying abroad, and since we're in Finance, studying across the ocean is the most suitable path. But it's not as simple as wanting to go." Wang Qiqi had mulled this over before. She calculated that after her college graduation, it would be around the time after 9/11. Regarding overseas students, even if she wasn't from a Middle Eastern background, the Americans would certainly scrutinize her application with extreme caution. As for the notions in some previous reincarnation novels about capitalizing on 9/11 wealth, Wang Qiqi had never seriously considered it; if she actually amassed significant wealth that quickly, would the FBI just stand by? It would surely invite endless trouble. However, she did recall that property values, especially near the World Trade Center in New York, dropped after 9/11. Perhaps she could consider buying a street-facing property then—she could rent it out or live in it herself.

Gong Yiying finally connected the dots. Ah, so that expensive laptop purchase wasn't Han Meina’s assessment of her being brainless and wasteful; it was because Wang Qiqi had deep pockets, enough even for overseas study fees. "Qiqi, it looks like your parents left you quite a substantial inheritance," Gong Yiying remarked meaningfully.

Wang Qiqi was startled by Gong Yiying’s words and that meaningful look. She instinctively wanted to pat her own chest: Heavens, girl, are you perhaps interested in me now? Do you think I have better prospects than Han Meina? "What constitutes 'a lot of money' and what constitutes 'not much'? If one can secure a scholarship for overseas study and work part-time, even someone without a deep background could afford it." Though, she conceded, scholarships weren't easy to come by at this time. "To put it simply, if I go abroad, I must get a scholarship; otherwise, I cannot afford tuition plus living expenses."

Hmm? Wang Qiqi's statement made Gong Yiying dizzy. Did she have money or not? "Qiqi, you must be joking. But is it really possible to earn a scholarship?" If such a good opportunity existed, Gong Yiying thought she might consider buckling down and studying seriously.

"I've only heard rumors. But scholarships are definitely prioritized for domestic students. How many are available for international students, especially with applicants from all over the globe?" Wang Qiqi looked at the expectant Gong Yiying and added a caveat, "For the specific details, one would need to ask someone who has studied abroad or the teachers."

Gong Yiying conceded that point; Wang Qiqi hadn't experienced much of the world yet. Still, what Wang Qiqi said later held weight—would she be that lucky? Never mind. She decided to stick to her mother’s advice: marry a rich man. If studying abroad required such a massive investment, it would be a difficult choice for her.

Wang Qiqi glanced at her then returned to eating. In Gong Yiying’s mind, the idea of marrying rich was fixed; studying abroad involved too large an investment, making it a choice she would struggle to commit to.