Chapter 41

Su Qingqiu left the equipment room and walked through the campus. The gymnasium was holding the closing ceremony of the sports meet, and bursts of cheers drifted over from afar in the otherwise quiet campus.

There weren’t many people around. Su Qingqiu walked under the moonlight, with the bodyguards trailing behind her. Several pairs of eyes watched her intently—it felt more like surveillance than protection.

At the school gate, a stretched Rolls-Royce sat silently, having waited there for quite some time.

Su Qingqiu got into the car. Yang Wanwan stared at her blankly, her eyes red-rimmed. She pulled Su Qingqiu’s hand over, her lips trembling, and suddenly burst into quiet sobs.

Su Qingqiu hadn’t been paying attention and felt a numbness shoot through her fingertips the moment Yang Wanwan grabbed her hand.

Yang Wanwan was still dressed in an expensive dress, a priceless diamond necklace gleaming around her neck, the diamonds shimmering ethereally in the night. Her makeup was exquisite and glamorous—even her crying was pitifully moving.

“Qingqiu, your dad cheated. He’s keeping a woman outside.”

Su Qingqiu pulled her hand away.

She thought to herself, Aren’t you a mistress yourself? And you’re worried about your man keeping one?

Yang Wanwan’s face paled. She reached out cautiously again to take her hand. “Qingqiu, don’t be like this. I’m your mom…”

She didn’t say anything.

She was always silent in front of Yang Wanwan, and Yang Wanwan had grown used to it. So she continued on her own. “That little slut gave birth to a bastard… Lucky her, it’s a son, and he’s already over three years old.”

“Qingqiu, do you know what this means?”

Su Qingqiu remained silent. Yang Wanwan pressed on. “It means that boy could threaten your position. Your dad isn’t that old yet. He’ll wait for the boy to grow up, bring him back, and groom him… Qingqiu, what will we do then? That little slut will seize the chance to climb higher, and your dad will abandon us…”

Su Qingqiu turned her head to look out the window.

There were few pedestrians, and the shadows of the trees swayed, forming what looked like a huge, weeping face in a terrifying painting.

Su Qingqiu suddenly called out to her. “Mom.”

Yang Wanwan wiped her eyes and smiled softly. “What is it?”

Su Qingqiu turned to look at her. “I don’t like living like this anymore.”

She had always been silent and outstanding—this was the first time she had said something like this in front of Yang Wanwan.

Yang Wanwan looked at her daughter.

Her life had been hard. Her family was poor; they hadn’t even let her finish high school before throwing her out into the world to fend for herself. She had no real skills, but with her beautiful face and gentle personality, she had finally latched onto Su Taihua as his outside lover. She bore him children and gained some security.

Though she hadn’t given him a son, she had a daughter. She poured all her efforts into loving, nurturing, and teaching her. Whatever money Su Taihua gave her, she spent it all on Su Qingqiu. She could scrimp on herself, but Su Qingqiu always had the best in food, clothing, and everything else. She raised her to be a proper, dignified young lady of high society… Even as an illegitimate daughter, she wouldn’t let anyone look down on them.

She had finally waited until Su Taihua divorced Zhou Zhen and made her the legitimate mistress of the Su Family.

Her education and life experience were limited; all she had was her pretty face to cling to men. But she knew…

In a prestigious family like the Sus, people like them—even after entering the household—would be discarded if they didn’t rise to the top.

So what if she didn’t like it? What could be done?

Yang Wanwan paused, then forced a gentle smile. “Qingqiu, people like us don’t have a choice.”

This was the first time she had opened her heart to her daughter like this.

“You didn’t come home all day today, and your dad was furious. He was waiting for you—he wants you to marry into the Wen Family… But you’re only fifteen.”

“I know what he’s thinking. He wants you to leave the Su Family once you’re grown. He prefers sons after all, and marrying into the Wen Family would bring huge benefits to Su Corporation. He’s already made up his mind to bring that bastard back and replace you… How could that bastard compare to you?”

Su Qingqiu closed her eyes.

Hearing that Su Taihua had a son outside made the marriage alliance predictable.

She felt no anger, only exhaustion.

Yang Wanwan said, “You have to be even more outstanding—outstanding enough that your dad has eyes only for you.”

“Mom will figure something out too. Mom won’t let you marry into the Wen Family. You’re still so young, and that young master of the Wen Family isn’t a good person. You can’t marry him… Mom will find a way.”

Yang Wanwan murmured, “Qingqiu, people like us have no choice. We’re not in control of our own lives.”

The night grew deeper.

Yang Wanwan and Su Qingqiu returned to the Su Family home. She warmed a cup of milk for Su Qingqiu, watched her go to sleep, and closed her bedroom door.

As soon as she stepped out of Su Qingqiu’s room, a man who looked like a bodyguard was already waiting.

Yang Wanwan brewed some coffee and asked, “What did you find?”

The bodyguard replied respectfully, “We found out. The young miss has always been second—not because anyone sabotaged her, but because Yucai took in a genius student who outshone her.”

Yang Wanwan lifted her coffee cup and raised an eyebrow. “A genius?”

The bodyguard: “Yes, a genius.”

He handed over a few sheets of documents and whispered something to Yang Wanwan.

Yang Wanwan sneered. “Just some third-rate nonsense.”

Yang Wanwan asked, “Why did the young miss come back so late today? What was she doing?”

The bodyguard hesitated. “It seems the young miss was fighting with someone.”

Yang Wanwan raised an eyebrow. “Fighting?”

The bodyguard affirmed it.

Yang Wanwan asked, “With whom?”

The bodyguard pointed to the girl in the documents.

Only then did Yang Wanwan look at the photo. The girl had a strikingly beautiful face, smiling brightly at the camera, radiating youthful exuberance.

Her fingertip traced the girl’s name as she read it aloud. “Rong Jin.”

…

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Winter arrived, and the weather grew even colder. Thick white frost coated the windows, and outside was a foggy haze, but the classroom was warm as spring.

Rong Jin sneezed and rubbed her nose, glancing toward the podium.

The first afternoon class was chemistry. The chemistry teacher lectured passionately, but Rong Jin found it boring after a few sentences and turned to look at her beautiful deskmate instead.

Su Qingqiu had rarely attended a full day of classes today. She focused intently on writing something in her notebook. Rong Jin sneaked a few peeks and saw that she was correcting the last big question she had gotten wrong on the monthly exam, neatly copying it into her notebook.

If Rong Jin was extraordinarily talented, then Su Qingqiu was the epitome of hard work rewarded.

She studied diligently and attentively. If not for Rong Jin’s freakish brilliance stealing all the attention, she would have garnered far more notice.

But precisely because of that, no one bothered her.

She remained as silent as ever—coming quietly, leaving quietly, like a voiceless shadow. She hardly interacted with anyone.

Rong Jin gazed at her profile.

She wondered if Su Qingqiu just didn’t like making friends.

She had once declared she wanted to treat Su Qingqiu to a meal to befriend her, but in truth, she never got the chance. She wasn’t even sure if she counted as Su Qingqiu’s friend.

She recalled the Su Qingqiu she had first seen fighting upon enrollment, the one who obediently wrote a three-thousand-word self-criticism when reported. Back then, she had at least a bit of a normal teenager’s liveliness… though not overly so.

But at least she hadn’t been this silent.

Su Qingqiu seemed burdened by heavy worries, tangled in many matters. Her brows rarely relaxed, and she spoke little.

What is making you so pained?

Rong Jin wanted to ask but had no reason to.

Was she even Su Qingqiu’s friend?

Xia Yu suddenly poked her from behind. “Rong-ge, you’ve been staring at Su Qingqiu for ten minutes.”

Rong Jin: “…”

Su Qingqiu heard the commotion and turned to look at her. “Something wrong?”

Rong Jin: “No, nothing.”

Su Qingqiu turned back and continued writing.

Rong Jin watched her pen tip. She pressed harder than before, leaving deep marks on the paper as if venting frustration, though her expression remained impassive.

She seemed… really unhappy.

Rong Jin called softly to her. “Su Qingqiu.”

Su Qingqiu didn’t look up. “Hm?”

Rong Jin: “Wanna skip afternoon classes and go play games?”

Su Qingqiu: “…”

This person never studies properly—what’s she always thinking about?

Su Qingqiu said, “No.”

Rong Jin asked again, “Then wanna go to the equipment room for a spar?”

Su Qingqiu looked up at her.

Rong Jin was utterly sincere, her intentions simple.

Since Su Qingqiu didn’t like gaming, she must have some hobby, right? Like fighting or something. Last time, before the bodyguards burst in, she had looked pretty happy.

…Though it was a bit violent as a pastime.

But if it made Su Qingqiu happier, so be it.

Su Qingqiu refused anyway. “No, I have to study.”

Rong Jin: “…”

Oof—she’s really tricky.

The chemistry teacher suddenly flung a piece of chalk at Rong Jin.

“Rong Jin! Su Qingqiu! What are you two whispering about?!”

Rong Jin: “…”

Su Qingqiu: “…”

The stern, rigid chemistry teacher despised anyone chatting during his class.

So the two of them were punished to stand outside the classroom door.

A fierce cold wind blew outside.

This year’s snow came unusually late, but the cold was exceptionally biting. Thick frost covered the ground, and the wind pierced straight to the bones.

Su Qingqiu had been tricked by her again and stood at the door with her hands tucked away, seething and ignoring everyone.

She was furious.

Rong Jin sneaked glances at the person beside her.

Wrapped in a thick white down jacket, she looked small all over. Her dense lashes were heavy with condensed mist, drooping low. Her fair, translucent face was pale, her lips bitten as white teeth contrasted against their rosy hue. Her hands clasped together for warmth—she looked freezing.

Suddenly, a window cracked open discreetly.

Two hand warmer packets and a hot pack tumbled out, hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Rong Jin: “…”

The world still has kind people.

Rong Jin picked them up and brushed off the dust.

Before Su Qingqiu could react, the hand warmers were torn open and stuffed into her jacket pockets, radiating warmth through the fabric. The scorching hot pack went into her arms, finally bringing long-lost heat to her icy fingertips.