Su Qing seemed to understand her perfectly.
Just like how she wasn't surprised at all when she first saw Xu Miaoran confess her love to Jiang Sui. Of course, no one knew this, not even Xu Miaoran herself.
"Su Qing, don't think you know me well. Jiang Sui, I won't give you up."
The word "give up" didn't exist in Xu Miaoran's vocabulary. Su Qing's words irritated her, yet they also touched a chord deep within her. She enjoyed her status as the eldest daughter of the Xu family, but she didn't want others to think she was. She also enjoyed the privilege of being a high-ranking campus beauty. And so much more.
She always thought her independent beauty would catch Jiang Sui's attention. She had followed him for so long, but the boy never once glanced at her.
Instead, he was so devoted to Su Qing. She couldn't figure out how she was inferior to Su Qing.
This made Xu Miaoran feel frustrated and even more disgusted with Su Qing.
Su Qing pursed her lips and looked at Xu Miaoran.
"He's not an object. There's no such thing as giving him up. If he liked you, he would have liked you a long time ago. Why force it? Would you really be happy, or are you just unhappy?"
"This is the first time in your life, even your entire life, that you've encountered someone so unsatisfactory."
"So, your pride won't let you fail, won't let you go without get it."
Su Qing's words hit the nail on the head, leaving Xu Miaoran's face grimacing.
She stared at Su Qing intently, watching the young woman's features gradually begin to resemble Jiang Sui's, infuriating her.
"You think I'm unworthy of Jiang Sui, you think I'm not good enough. Why do you think someone, someone so outstanding, would choose the fish eye over the pearl?"
"Have you ever considered that, in that person's heart, what they see as a fish eye isn't a fish eye, and what they see as a pearl isn't a pearl?"
Such was fate. Su Qing couldn't escape, constantly pulling her closer to Jiang Sui, even when she tried to.
Xu Miaoran's face was ashen as a pale hue as she stared at Su Qing in a daze. The young girl's eyes, pure white yet tinged with a hint of old age, didn't resemble someone her age at all. She possessed a natural, aged air.
At that moment, Su Qing felt incredibly similar to Jiang Sui, even possessing a somewhat frightening aura. This was something she could sense in this orphan girl.
"I won't let this go."
With these words, Xu Miaoran left.
No one knew this, but everyone saw that Su Qing seemed to have easily won over Xu Miaoran, the aloof school beauty, with just a few words.
As the bell rang, the recitation filled the air, a quiet silence in Su Qing's ears.
If she had to thank Xu Miaoran, the girl who was also the school beauty in Jiangcheng No. 1 Middle School. Ruanruan said that this girl was very nice and had once told her to stay away from Li Xu, so although Su Qing disliked Xu Miaoran a little, she still held back.
Because she was considering studying law, Su Qing initially read some psychology books. Occasionally, she seemed to notice the girl's arrogance, a bit false, much like her own mask of indifference. It wasn't that she didn't care, but even if she did, it would be pointless. She could only let it drift.
Perhaps it was Xu Miaoran's subtle kindness towards Hu Ruanruan that made Su Qing neither like nor dislike her.
It's hard to say.
She wasn't the type to forgive someone who hurt her, but she always had to have a reason; otherwise, how could she continue?
This change, unnoticed by Su Qing herself, was unnoticed.
The extreme person in her heart had become gentle, even able to wait for the clouds to clear and the moon to shine.
Although Xu Miaoran had left, the noisy voices hadn't subsided; instead, they intensified.
"Su Qing is truly capable! She even managed to piss off the school beauty."
"Didn't you hear? Jiang Sui truly loves Su Qing. You can't tell."
All the rumors, all the gossip, flooded Su Qing's mind without mercy, and all eyes were fixed on her face.
Su Qing pursed her lips, silently enduring it all.
When get out of class was over, Zhang Yihan stood in front of Su Qing, adjusting his glasses.
"Su Qing, don't worry too much about what others say. Just prepare well for the final exam."
Zhang Yihan hadn't expected Su Qing to improve so quickly, to be the first place in the midterm exam. He also hadn't expected her to tell the teacher she wanted to sit alone.
When he changed deskmates, Zhang Yihan felt a moment of irritation.
Even when hearing these rumors, Zhang Yihan didn't realize that Jiang Sui wasn't just good-looking and wealthy—yes, even his academics—but his handsome face had caused so much trouble. Why couldn't Su Qing see it?
Zhang Yihan had always believed Su Qing was different, and he couldn't help but approach her again.
Given her excellent academic performance, even rivaling his own, she was the only woman Zhang Yihan felt was a good match for his female classmate, perhaps even a good college student.
Although he felt a little dissatisfied with the rumors, he was still willing to believe Su Qing.
Zhang Yihan's shrewd eyes, hidden beneath his lenses, convinced him that as long as he remained firmly by Su Qing's side, unwaveringly committed, she would surely recognize his good qualities.
Zhang Yihan was brimming with confidence. This was why, even after being accepted to Peking University and Su Qing no longer sat beside his desk, he still attended classes. He believed that Su Qing would eventually understand that Jiang Sui wasn't the best choice, and that he was.
He reached out to take Su Qing's cup to pour her some water, but was interrupted by her.
"Thank you, but I don't need it."
Her words were much colder than usual, and she could even see the calculation in his eyes. Her clear gaze drifted across Zhang Yihan's face.
As Zhang Yihan walked beside Su Qing's seat, almost instantly, Su Qing became the focus again.
"Su Qing is truly remarkable."
"You don't know, Zhang Yihan often gets her water, tsk tsk tsk."
"Girls like this are truly terrifying. Someone as honest as Zhang Yihan must have been deceived by Su Qing."
All public opinion was completely on Su Qing's side. She was like a pig caught in the storm, everyone wanted to poke her.
Everyone really dislike her. She has all experienced this before, hasn't she?
What was there to be afraid of?
Su Qing pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and held the tip of her pen.
"Please don't stand here. It makes me uncomfortable."