Soon enough, many in the class began looking at Wang Qiqi with rather odd expressions. When they saw her, they would nudge each other and point. Wang Qiqi wondered if the news Cao Rui had let slip had already reached the classroom. Especially Jiang Xin, who now sat far away from Bai Ge and the others. Whenever Wang Qiqi appeared, Jiang Xin would pretend to read or strike up a conversation with someone nearby, just daring not to meet Wang Qiqi’s eyes.

Wang Qiqi found it rather laughable. She knew what she had done was wrong by Jiang Xin, but she ought to have offered at least a word of apology. Yet, Jiang Xin remained stubborn. Though guilt was clearly visible in her eyes, she never once sought out Wang Qiqi for a private talk or uttered an apology.

Bai Ge and the others were getting restless. After all, the news had spread not long after they had learned of it, and they worried Wang Qiqi might suspect them of leaking it. “Qiqi, everyone in class is gossiping that you bought a house in the capital. It really wasn't us...” Bai Ge whispered, watching Wang Qiqi sit quietly, seemingly oblivious, staring at her textbook.

Listening to the anxious Bai Ge beside her, Wang Qiqi mused on the vast differences between people. “I know it wasn't you. I know who spread it.” Wang Qiqi never expected that the information she had specifically shared with them would lead them to think this way. “I’m truly sorry about that. I didn’t think she would blab it out.”

She? Bai Ge was utterly confused. She couldn’t grasp why Wang Qiqi would say that phrase afterward, and exactly who she was? Bai Ge stared at Wang Qiqi, but the latter showed no intention of explaining. Bai Ge thought hard but couldn't pin down a suspect. However, one thing she understood was that Qiqi knew it wasn't them who leaked the news, and that was enough for now.

Han Meina always entered the classroom with her books under her arm, never late. Seeing Wang Qiqi diligently reading and noticing the looks from those around her, Han Meina immediately raised her voice. “Qiqi, I never realized you’d be the first in our class to buy a house in Beijing! If someone hadn’t spilled the beans, we’d never have known you had the guts to do it!” Han Meina had been startled when she first heard the news, but upon reflection, it seemed quite normal for Wang Qiqi to buy a house. Even if her parents didn't seem wealthy and she was usually frugal, her demeanor and her association with Zhu Lina suggested that when her parents were around, they were hardly common folk, and they would certainly leave an inheritance. As for the rumor that Qiqi owned one house in her hometown and another in Beijing, Han Meina absolutely didn't believe it; in her estimation, Wang Qiqi’s property would likely be worth two or three times that amount to be accurate. “You’re a homeowner now, earning money through translation while still studying so seriously. Aren’t you just trying to provoke us?”

Wang Qiqi had been wondering who would dare ask her face-to-face, but she hadn't expected Han Meina to be the first to jump out. Wang Qiqi looked up at Han Meina and noticed there was no gloating in her eyes. “I originally planned to stay in Beijing to develop after graduation, so I went ahead and bought a place, using up all the cash I had, and I’m still heavily in debt to the bank. You all envy me for owning a house, but you don’t know how much my heart bleeds every time I make the mortgage payment. If I weren't renting out the place and receiving some rent, I’d really be ready to jump into the river. As for the translation fees, that’s all hard-earned money; I have no choice but to push myself because of the mortgage.” Han Meina watched Wang Qiqi’s face contort, clearly feigning regret. She thought this girl was quite the actress and didn’t really believe Wang Qiqi couldn’t afford the payments. “It’s fine, why jump in the river? You can sell the house, especially since your man is going to America anyway.”

“But what if we return to Cheng later? It’s good to have a place to land, isn’t it?” Wang Qiqi thought she’d be a fool to sell the house. “Buying a house depends on destiny. Later, we'll see if you can afford it. I’m lucky my man interned in the US for a while; otherwise, I really don’t know how I would have managed.” Wang Qiqi sensed that the class had never truly grasped how much she earned from her translation work; they all assumed her pay had only slightly increased.

Listening to the exchange between Han Meina and Wang Qiqi, and considering how frugally Wang Qiqi seemed to live at school—often seen having classmates treat her to lunch—it suggested she wasn't the child of a wealthy family, contrary to rumors. If she were truly rich, why would she live such a hard life? “But Qiqi, you are the first in our class to buy a property independently. We really envy you. Who knows when we’ll be able to buy a house in Beijing.”

“Exactly. Companies don’t even assign housing anymore. We are truly miserable.”

“Jobs aren’t guaranteed either, and now we have to sort out housing ourselves. We are a generation of hard luck.”

Wang Qiqi listened to the complaints around her and thought that if they felt this way about buying a house right after graduation, in a few years they would realize the upcoming graduates would have it much harder. Getting into foreign companies would be increasingly difficult, housing prices would soar, and if they didn't buy, the rent would become outrageously high. Perhaps then, everyone present would recall this moment and see how overly dramatic their current grumbling was.

Jiang Xin had no doubt that Wang Qiqi could handle the situation with such ease, as the class often relied on her for things. However, she hadn’t expected Han Meina to be the one to step up and defend Wang Qiqi. Although Han Meina’s initial questioning carried a hint of watching for drama, upon closer listening, one could detect an undercurrent of protection for Qiqi. Jiang Xin breathed a sigh of relief that Qiqi got through it unscathed; otherwise, she truly wouldn't know how to face Wang Qiqi in the future. Although Wang Qiqi’s property purchase was rumored within a certain circle, the words Qiqi spoke that day were also spread among her classmates. When they heard that the money for the house was being paid off entirely through part-time work, plus rental income, the envious looks directed at Qiqi diminished significantly. In their eyes, this was Wang Qiqi being too aggressive. Many people were uncomfortable borrowing from banks, especially given the high interest rates on loans, which made them feel immense pressure.

Moreover, even more explosive news surfaced later: one of the other parties in the 'Cuckold Incident,' Deng Zhi, had quietly dropped out of school. Although many believed Deng Zhi shared responsibility for Gong Tianying's infidelity, hearing about his withdrawal stirred a degree of sympathy for him. Putting aside everything else, they understood the difficult path awaiting him now that he had dropped out, and it was all instigated by Gong Tianying. If she hadn't deliberately brought her lover to school to show off, the matter wouldn’t have escalated this far. If it had happened outside, at most a few people would have known, and it certainly wouldn't have blown up like this, forcing the school’s hand when graduation and their degrees from C University were less than two years away.

Li Xin also felt a wave of emotion. “I never thought it would turn out like this. Didn’t he say he was unwilling to drop out back then?” After the incident blew up, Zhang Han had comforted him and asked about his future plans, and he had been insistent on continuing his studies. How much time had passed? “It must have been the news of Gong Tianying going abroad that spurred him. Oh, right, when she treated us to dinner last time, wasn’t she bragging about leaving soon? Why hasn’t she gone yet?”

“Tch, you still don’t know her? If she has even a sliver of certainty, she’ll exaggerate it to seven or eight parts. Besides, is going abroad really that easy?” Bai Ge snorted. “By the way, Qiqi, how long did it take you to process Han Tao’s trip abroad last time?”

Han Tao’s trip to the US the previous time went smoothly enough. On one hand, Han Tao had prior travel history, plus supporting documentation from the US. Even so, it took over a month. “It took about three months, I’m not entirely clear on the details, but there was quite a bit of preparation. The most crucial thing was getting the verification from the other side.” Hearing that even Han Ji took three months to sort out his exit, and comparing that timeline with the explosion of Gong Tianying’s scandal, Bai Ge started to piece things together. “He probably just casually mentioned something in passing, and she took it as gospel,” Bai Ge deduced. “No wonder that foreigner’s expression wasn’t quite right during dinner that day, and in the end, Gong Tianying was the one who paid the bill.”

“Maybe it was the foreigner’s money, and Gong Tianying was just running an errand,” Duan Xiaomin interrupted Bai Ge, chatting away foolishly in the dorm. Wang Qiqi thought that perhaps the foreigner was in a bad mood because Gong Tianying mistakenly thought he would be paying for the meal, and the foreigner wouldn't be so generous—did she treat him like a fool? Foreigners were very clear about finances; Gong Tianying definitely paid for that meal herself. As for the foreigner’s poor expression, it was likely because he was very displeased with Gong Tianying’s behavior. After all, that meal was purely hosted by someone trying to show off. Their usual relationship wasn't that close, but Wang Qiqi was curious: since she—the one specifically designated to attend—was absent, did someone feel a sharp pinch when paying the bill? And this was at the Starry Sky Hotel—such a grand gesture! Wang Qiqi admired her; for the sake of saving face, she was incredibly generous. This behavior might seem normal to Chinese people, but in the eyes of a foreigner, it was quite inappropriate. “Whoever paid, at least the meal was good,” Li Xin said, not caring who footed the bill, only caring about how delicious the food was. “When that couple confirmed their relationship and treated us to dinner back then…”

“Perhaps that scene and the ensuing farce already sealed the fate of Gong Tianying and Deng Zhi being short-lived.”

Recalling that scene, Bai Ge was the first to laugh out loud. “I originally thought Gong Tianying would never get over Zhang Han, but I didn’t expect her to end up with a foreigner.”

“Love isn’t bread. Besides, how could she possibly deal with Han Meina?” Wang Qiqi thought what a pragmatic woman Gong Tianying was. “Zhang Han’s family background is much better than Deng Zhi’s. She was attracted to Zhang Han mostly because of his family’s good standing.” Wang Qiqi remembered Gong Tianying’s utterly repulsive expression when she learned Wang Qiqi was dating Han Tao, a boy from a poor background. Only later, upon hearing Han Tao would be interning in the US for a while, did she finally give Han Tao a second look—a super precocious girl indeed.

(To be continued)