Jiang Xin looked at Wang Qiqi, who was as quiet and reserved as ever. She really wanted to stop her, to ask if she knew that she still made plans to meet Dai Lijun, to ask about her stance. Lately, she’d found that arranging a meeting with Dai Lijun wasn't easy; he always claimed to be busy, or once, he even brought Lu Qiaowei along.

Jiang Xin truly didn't know how she finished that meal, especially while maintaining a smile. She recounted the times they had spent together in the library in front of Lu Qiaowei. In Jiang Xin’s eyes, if she were in that position, hearing the man she was interested in talk so enthusiastically with another woman, her expression would have certainly changed. But Lu Qiaowei possessed excellent composure; she just sat there smiling sweetly, occasionally placing food or ladling soup for Dai Lijun. Her entire demeanor suggested that she wasn't angry, but rather that she didn't consider Jiang Xin a rival. It felt like an attitude of, so what if the idiot liked you back then? Standing next to Dai Lijun now is my reality. What was she supposed to do? Had she already secured the support of Wang Qiqi and the others? “Qiqi, can we talk?” Unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Xin finally stopped Wang Qiqi. Although Qiqi was very low-key, the fact that she spent the summer vacation in the US was known by many, and various jealous and envious glances were directed at Qiqi. This made Jiang Xin feel an urgent need to act quickly. If only she had turned back to pursue Dai Lijun when Qiqi and the others vaguely hinted that Cao Rui wasn't the right person for her, perhaps she wouldn't be so miserable today—at least not in the eyes of a certain someone who looked at her with disdain.

Wang Qiqi had originally intended to take Bai Ge to Ye Ruizhi. She had heard him mention needing some copies made, and since she had to introduce the work to someone anyway, it might as well be Bai Ge trying her luck. After all, they were classmates, though whether she could secure the job would depend on her own skill. She hadn't expected Jiang Xin to suddenly intercept her.

“I have something else today. Can it be another time?” Wang Qiqi genuinely had other plans, but in Jiang Xin’s eyes, it only confirmed that Wang Qiqi wanted to avoid her. “You’re trying to evade me.”

Jiang Xin grabbed Wang Qiqi’s sleeve, looking utterly pitiful. “I know I was wrong. Do you know, Cao Rui, Cao Rui he actually…”

Yesterday, Jiang Xin ran into Cao Rui and his current girlfriend on campus, seeing how sweet they looked. Cao Rui had walked past her as if she were a complete stranger.

The stark contrast made her feel her life was a tragedy. Furthermore, after school started, with Cao Rui and his girlfriend openly displaying their affection all over campus, Jiang Xin hadn't received any comfort from Wang Qiqi and the others. Even Shi Man, upon running into her on the road, had only offered a brief greeting before hurrying away. This completely foiled Jiang Xin’s plan to move Wang Qiqi and the others with tearful accounts of her hardships and grievances, leaving her feeling like spitting blood.

Wang Qiqi looked at the tearful Jiang Xin, who appeared as delicate and moving as a fragile white flower. All she wanted to shout in her heart was, Are you serious? I didn't abandon you! Although it was Juliana who made the move, a man with a steadfast will would never be led away so easily. Despite feeling a pang of guilt toward Jiang Xin, Wang Qiqi finally managed to gently pull Jiang Xin’s hand from her clothes. “Cao Rui broke up with you. If you feel wronged, then go find him. What use is crying to me? I told you from the start that he wasn't a reliable person. But you liked him anyway; happiness must be fought for yourself.”

Wang Qiqi paused, realizing that what she had just said seemed to give someone a signal to pursue Dai—the idiot. She coughed lightly. “There are still quite a few excellent single men at our school. Once you shift your focus away from those who are taken, I think you’ll discover just how blue the sky is.” Wang Qiqi’s words carried a double meaning.

The onlookers who had gathered to watch were bewildered by Wang Qiqi’s statement. However, some looked thoughtful. They were wondering if Jiang Xin was preparing to snatch Dai Lijun back. Many people had witnessed how devastated Dai Lijun looked when Jiang Xin was with Cao Rui. It was true that later, the idiot also got a girlfriend, reportedly quite beautiful, and it seemed they were officially living together this semester. If Jiang Xin were to attempt such a thing now, wouldn’t that be… That must be why Wang Qiqi said those things; there was definitely an issue here. Instantly, everyone's eyes lit up with curiosity.

Jiang Xin had been about to grab Wang Qiqi’s sleeve again, but at this remark, her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands. Did Qiqi’s words imply what she thought they did? “Qiqi, Qiqi, I understand, I understand…” She desperately wanted to confess that she liked the idiot. Honestly, after the breakup, Jiang Xin finally realized she probably did like the idiot. She felt happy when she was with him; he always catered to her every wish. More importantly, the idiot wouldn’t discard her just because a wealthy woman made a move, unlike Cao Rui.

“It’s good that you understand.” Wang Qiqi had no intention of inquiring what exactly Jiang Xin understood. Still, she leaned in and whispered into Jiang Xin’s ear, “Dai Lijun has already taken Lu Qiaowei to meet his parents. Some things, once missed, are gone forever. Some people won’t wait for you indefinitely.” Wang Qiqi had initially assumed Dai Lijun would continue to stall or treat Jiang Xin with the same gentle ambiguity as before. But she hadn't expected that scoundrel Dai Lijun would actually take Shi Man’s words to heart, refusing to be available at a moment’s notice, and always bringing Lu Qiaowei along when they went out. Jiang Xin was desperate now, but what good did her desperation do?

Missed forever? No, Jiang Xin shook her head; she wouldn't give up. Looking around, she still felt Dai Lijun was the best option—for instance, his excellent grades and his plans to study abroad. Finding him as a boyfriend was undoubtedly the best route.

Wang Qiqi couldn't believe that even after saying this face-to-face, to the point where she might as well point at Jiang Xin’s nose and say, You really want to be a third party, don't you? Haven't you forgotten the misery you endured when someone snatched your boyfriend away? Is being a homewrecker really that easy? But she let it go. If she truly pressed the issue, she’d likely end up as a hot topic herself. She only left Jiang Xin with one final statement: “Fend for yourself.” After all, that girl Lu Qiaowei wasn't exactly a saint either.

Bai Ge was standing beside Wang Qiqi and had overheard every word of the supposed whisper in Jiang Xin’s ear. This left her quite astonished. She didn’t recover her senses until they were quite far away, reaching the bus stop before she hesitantly asked, “Qiqi, are you saying Jiang Xin plans to steal the idiot?” Good heavens, she had met the idiot’s girlfriend. Although Jiang Xin was a classmate, Bai Ge thought the idiot’s girlfriend was truly pretty, and quite gentle, with a particularly warm smile when she laughed. Perhaps only someone like her could help the idiot move past the sorrow of being with Jiang Xin and someone else.

Wang Qiqi sighed. “Yes.” She didn't want to say more. Qiqi felt truly flustered right now, and she could sense envious gazes boring into her back. Without turning around, Wang Qiqi knew whose look it was. “There are some things I’m hesitant to say, but she’s too persistent.” For instance, persistent in wanting to find a good man to show Cao Rui, to prove to him that she still had appeal. But what was the point? Wang Qiqi doubted that Jiang Xin and the idiot would truly be happy together if they got together, especially considering how the idiot behaved when he was home; Jiang Xin probably wouldn't tolerate it.

Wait, Wang Qiqi thought, suddenly realizing that if Jiang Xin saw the idiot only focused on his computer at home, utterly neglecting any romantic gestures, it might actually scare Jiang Xin away. Yes, I'll do that. But she’d wait to see Jiang Xin’s next move; perhaps she might show some restraint. Wang Qiqi felt that if it were her, she would never have the nerve to pull such a stunt again. The reputation of a mistress wasn't good. If she succeeded in winning over Dai Lijun, fine, but the most irritating thing was failing to get the man while ruining her own reputation.

Persistent? Bai Ge repeated Wang Qiqi's word a few times; it certainly fit. The look Jiang Xin had shot her earlier while pretending to look down and away from Wang Qiqi’s notice was quite strange, almost carrying a trace of hatred, but it vanished quickly as she looked back down at the ground. If Bai Ge hadn't caught it precisely, she would have thought she imagined it. “Qiqi, you should be a little careful with Jiang Xin. I have a feeling she’s unhappy with you.”

Being unhappy was normal, Wang Qiqi thought. If Jiang Xin looked at her with satisfaction, that would be truly problematic. “She probably hates me to death now, but there’s nothing that can be done.” Wang Qiqi didn’t want to dwell on the subject, shifting to discuss Ye Ruizhi’s situation with Bai Ge. “Although the quantity isn’t large, he requires you to pick up the materials, handle the copying, and deliver them back, and pricing is also a factor.” This was the tricky part. If it were simple, Wang Qiqi figured someone else would have snatched this job already; it wouldn't have fallen to Bai Ge.

Bai Ge was mentally prepared for this. “Don’t worry, I’m running a small operation. If you entrust it to me, I will certainly do a good job.” Her parents had arrived in the capital, increasing the financial pressure. She had rent for the shop to pay, plus housing costs for her parents. Relying on passing foot traffic wouldn't cover it. Business at the school was only good near exams or for creating graduation resumes for seniors, though thankfully it wasn't as stable as institutional business. “Plus, my dad can handle deliveries during the day.”

Wang Qiqi saw that Bai Ge showed no sign of strain. Although she didn't know if Bai Ge still felt confident after hearing Ye Ruizhi’s introduction, Wang Qiqi knew that business always started small. Moreover, Li Qian had mentioned that Ye Ruizhi knew many people outside the university; perhaps if he saw Bai Ge provide good service and timely delivery, he might introduce other clients to her later. Wang Qiqi decided to give a few more subtle hints. Bai Ge acknowledged she understood; in fact, even if Qiqi hadn’t mentioned it, knowing this business came through Qiqi was enough for Bai Ge to ensure she wouldn't do a poor job.

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