"I heard someone was showing off today?" Shi Man stopped discussing matters with Jiang Xin immediately upon seeing Wang Qiqi walking over with a book in her hands, turning the conversation instead to something she had already known.

Wang Qiqi placed the book on the table, then shook her hand slightly. "Don't you already know everything?" With Jiang Xin around, it was impossible for them not to know what happened at school today, and besides, someone would certainly inquire about anything she wasn't aware of.

Shi Man smiled faintly. "That's just what outsiders are saying. I want to know your thoughts." Honestly, Shi Man admired that pair; just how much courage did they need to confront Wang Qiqi?

Wang Qiqi snorted coldly and sat down. "What thoughts could I have? Is it a joy that a persistent annoyance finally found someone, or am I heartbroken that he confessed to me one moment and then was all sweet with another woman the next? Especially since I can't stand that other woman."

Shi Man was momentarily silenced by Wang Qiqi’s sharp retort. "Right, I was just asking." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You don't need to give me that look—brows up, nose down."

"I'm sick of everyone looking at me with pity," Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes impolitely. "As if I missed out on some great catch. Hmph, who knows if Deng Zhi is even a decent catch? He’s not much better than that scumbag Gao Kai."

"Deng Zhi is actually quite popular in class," Jiang Xin offered some dormitory gossip. "And rumor has it his family is quite well-off."

Jiang Xin’s next sentence was murmured softly. "But some say he’s just putting on a show. My source said Deng Zhi's father’s clothes are only slightly better; definitely not as affluent as claimed."

Shi Man looked at Wang Qiqi, signaling with her eyes whether she knew this information. Wang Qiqi shrugged, indicating ignorance. "What his family's conditions are has nothing to do with me. Am I supposed to cling to him just because his family is rich? You know, the wealthier the family, the stricter the rules, especially the nouveau riche. Forget it."

"True. If you married into money, I give it three days before you and your mother-in-law clash. By the way, where are they now? We still need to reserve a table." Shi Man shifted her focus to a more practical matter.

"The same place as the last time we treated someone," Wang Qiqi sighed, feeling speechless. She didn't even think the food there was particularly amazing, so why insist on that location? "However, I hear the place we're going this time can accommodate two tables." That was the small detail Wang Qiqi found somewhat satisfactory.

Jiang Xin murmured an acknowledgment, and Shi Man took over the narrative. "I suspect they want to get back up where they fell, to make a clean break with the past."

Wang Qiqi pursed her lips and made a silly face. "I think they actually want to reclaim their glory. They lost the round this morning; I doubt they'll let one dinner pass easily." She looked ahead to the evening event. "Anyway, I’ve decided: as soon as the food arrives, I’m going to gorge myself. If they start saying anything rude, I’m walking out." She wouldn't care about manners then.

"Won't you look like a famished ghost?" Shi Man was stunned. She genuinely hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to resort to such a shameless tactic. "You really are full of bizarre tricks."

"What else should I do?" Wang Qiqi felt helpless too. She considered herself easygoing and quite low-key in the dorm, and even Han Meina, who started conflicts with her, had stopped, but Gong Yiying persisted in targeting her. "Besides, I was their matchmaker; they admitted it themselves. If they keep pestering me, I'll just say they're crossing the bridge and burning it behind them." Wang Qiqi flexed her arm, indicating she wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Jiang Xin, sitting beside her, carefully lowered Wang Qiqi’s arm. "Please stop doing that move. You don't have much flesh on your arm; if you swing it, you might cause a real problem." Jiang Xin now knew Wang Qiqi’s talk of martial arts was just boasting; what she practiced at home was yoga, not some mysterious fighting style. Still, Jiang Xin had tried to imitate Wang Qiqi’s movements but found them too difficult and gave up.

Wang Qiqi chuckled and lowered her arm, returning to her book. Seeing Wang Qiqi focus on reading, Shi Man knew this topic was closed for now, though they wouldn't miss the evening event. Shi Man shot a look at Jiang Xin, signaling it was time to sneak out and reserve a private room. Even though it wasn't the weekend, a room might not be hard to get, but Shi Man preferred to be thoroughly prepared. Zhu Lina and Dai Lijun were left in the library to keep Wang Qiqi company; moreover, those two probably wouldn't want to go out into the icy, snowy weather, which made Shi Man feel her current status was rather low.

Wang Qiqi yawned, glanced at the darkening sky outside, and checked the time—it was already four-thirty. After doing a set of eye exercises, she organized her books, planning to return the ones due and complete the borrowing procedures for new ones. "I'm leaving first. We agreed to meet at the dorm at five. What time are you two leaving?"

"No rush, no rush," Shi Man waved her hand. Since she had already booked the room, there was no need to rush over early. "We'll be in Private Room 05. If you haven't had enough to eat and don't mind coming over, feel free. Of course, if you come to eat, remember to pay."

Wang Qiqi stopped the motion of leaving, turned back to Shi Man, and said, "I have free food coming; why would I bother eating a meal I have to pay for?"

"Because eating with us is more enjoyable," Shi Man was confident about that point. "Don't worry, we'll order your favorite dishes."

The response Shi Man received was Wang Qiqi giving an 'OK' gesture. Indeed, if she weren't worried about being gossiped about for not showing up, Wang Qiqi wouldn't want to attend at all.

"Qiqi, why isn't she back yet?" Gong Yiying fretted in the dorm. "Qiqi absolutely has to be there today; she was the matchmaker for Deng Zhi and me."

Bai Ge and Li Xin were utterly disdainful of that blatant self-importance. Was that the expression of someone thanking a matchmaker? Or was she just worried that if Qiqi didn't show, their little performance couldn't go on? "What's the rush? We agreed on five. You know Qiqi likes to hide away reading in the library."

"It's a special occasion today; I’m naturally anxious." Gong Yiying certainly knew the situation: everyone in the English Department knew about Wang Qiqi from the Finance Department. Though majoring in Finance, she was also an apprentice translator and was currently auditing classes in the sophomore year of English—it was bound to cause a stir.

The better Wang Qiqi’s reputation grew, the deeper Gong Yiying's hatred for her became. If it had been Han Meina achieving such status and fame, Gong Yiying wouldn't have been so resentful; she felt Han Meina’s success was normal. But why was it Wang Qiqi? In Gong Yiying’s mind, Wang Qiqi should have been inferior to her in every aspect. Since Wang Qiqi had always overshadowed her, Gong Yiying naturally wanted to show off her "golden turtle" husband. As for the rumors that Gong Yiying had picked up Wang Qiqi’s leftovers, Gong Yiying simply saw that as Wang Qiqi's poor judgment.

Wang Qiqi pushed open the dorm door. "What's the hurry? Didn't we agree dinner starts at five-thirty? If I go early, I won't get any food." Wang Qiqi placed her books on the bed and pulled one out. "Zhang Yan, when I was borrowing books today, I found one about Tibet."

The last time Wang Qiqi spoke with Zhang Yan, she heard the girl express interest in Tibet, the Roof of the World. Wang Qiqi was also curious about Tibet, but she knew, in both her past and present lives, that Tibet was a place she wouldn't set foot in, mainly because her lung capacity was inadequate—she hadn't even managed to climb Huanglong.

Zhang Yan had searched extensively for geography books but hadn't found one dedicated entirely to Tibet. She was surprised Wang Qiqi had found it. "Thanks, aren't you going to read it?"

Wang Qiqi stuck out her tongue. "My body can't handle the altitude of Tibet, so I won't look. It would just make me sad." Ah, mysterious Tibet—she wanted to see the Potala Palace, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, and cycle the road into Tibet. What a pity, what a pity.

Zhang Yan simply hummed and didn't ask further.

Gong Yiying, however, asked with feigned concern, "Qiqi, is your health not good?" Hahaha, so what if she’s rich? Still a sickly person, perhaps not for much longer.

"It’s just that my lung capacity isn't great. Tibet’s altitude is too high; I won't take that risk." Wang Qiqi deliberately ignored the gloating tone in Gong Yiying’s voice. "All right, can we go now? Oh, Gong Yiying, you're the host; shouldn't you leave first?"

Gong Yiying thought that if she hadn't wanted to see if Wang Qiqi would actually attend, she would have left long ago to make arrangements. "I need to go; Deng Zhi is waiting downstairs." Gong Yiying glanced at her watch and realized fifteen minutes had passed since the agreed time. She wondered if Deng Zhi had waited long; his patience wasn't great. If it weren't for the sake of saving face, Gong Yiying explained numerous reasons why Deng Zhi might not have come to pick her up.

Gong Yiying hurriedly wrapped a scarf around herself and left. A minute later, Bai Ge exchanged a look with Li Xin. Li Xin picked up a tissue. "I’m going to the restroom."

Bai Ge rushed to the window and peered down. After a moment, she reported, "Someone is actually waiting for her below, but it looks like the gentle and considerate Deng Zhi isn't in a great mood."

Feng Yanjie watched from the window for a while before remarking, "If it were me, I'd be unhappy too. Hasn't Deng Zhi’s body gone all white from waiting?"

Bai Ge didn't quite see it that way. "Even if he waited a bit, didn't Gong Yiying say that during their first date, that guy waited downstairs for half an hour? This is nothing; why the sudden mood swing?"

Bai Ge watched Gong Yiying hurrying after Deng Zhi, following close behind, and felt immense satisfaction. Aren't they supposed to flaunt their affection? Isn't this a blatant slap in the face to her?

"Half an hour, what you saw—everything is what the main character says," Wang Qiqi changed into a pair of boots and looked out the window, but since too much time had passed, she couldn't see a shadow.

"That's why we should trust what our own eyes see," Bai Ge concluded. (To be continued)