After leaving Yan Yu, Su Qinghan’s heart was in turmoil.
It wasn’t ordinary turmoil—it was an unprecedented chaos.
‘She must be brain-dead, or didn’t sleep well last night, to have her heart skip a beat just now when she faced Yan Yu’s insincere smile and that polite remark, “Stay warm.”‘
‘Even… she felt a flicker of a feeling she absolutely shouldn’t have—an illusion of being moved.’
‘This is utterly ridiculous.’
‘Between her and Yan Yu, it was always nothing more than a tacit exchange of interests from beginning to end.’
‘She coveted that face which bore some resemblance to Mu Yun, seeking false comfort for herself while Mu Yun was far away in a foreign land.’
‘As for Yan Yu—a poor student with a serious illness, no one to rely on, unable to pay for medical expenses—what she coveted was naturally her money, the material security she could provide.’
‘So-called feelings?’
‘Yan Yu’s cautious flattery, her humble attachment, and even her heart-wrenching cries at the breakup were nothing more than a desperate substitute performing a deep-feeling act to grasp the last straw of hope.’
‘Once the money supply was gone, the act naturally had to end.’
‘Only Mu Yun was different.’
‘Mu Yun was the treasure worth her whole sincere affection and careful cherishing.’
‘She had long understood these truths clearly and thoroughly.’
‘But why…’
‘At that moment just now, looking at Yan Yu’s eyes that seemed to hold cold moonlight, did the wall called reason in her heart slightly loosen?’
‘Even a hint of… wavering?’
Su Qinghan shook her head hard, as if trying to expel those absurd thoughts from her mind.
She quickened her pace, attempting to calm the inner chaos through action.
She was from the School of Foreign Languages, while Jiang Muyun’s Art Department classes were in a different direction.
When she reached the fork in the road, she was still immersed in her own thoughts and forgot to say goodbye to Jiang Muyun beside her, instinctively turning toward her own college’s building.
“Qinghan!”
Jiang Muyun’s voice rang out behind her, clearly displeased.
She hurried over and grabbed Su Qinghan’s wrist, with considerable force.
“What are you doing?”
Pulled to a stop, Su Qinghan turned around, frowning slightly.
“I should be asking you what’s wrong!”
Jiang Muyun stared at her face, her brows tightly knitted. “Ever since we ran into that Yan Yu, you’ve been out of it! What are you thinking? Don’t tell me… you’re still thinking about that bitch?”
“Who? How is that possible!”
Su Qinghan denied it almost reflexively, her tone a bit rushed due to a hint of guilt.
She quickly averted her gaze and made an excuse, “I was just… thinking about your birthday.”
“Birthday?”
Jiang Muyun was taken aback.
“Yeah, isn’t tomorrow your birthday?”
Su Qinghan steadied herself, her tone returning to its usual calm, even adding a touch of deliberate tenderness. “I was thinking I should prepare a grand birthday party for you, invite all our friends, and celebrate properly.”
“Really?”
Jiang Muyun’s eyes lit up instantly, most of her anger dissipating, her face showing anticipation and joy.
“Of course, I promise.”
Watching her excited look, Su Qinghan felt the ripples caused by Yan Yu settle a little.
‘This is the person I should be focusing on and cherishing.’
“Then… will you give me a present?”
Jiang Muyun blinked, a hint of coquettishness.
“Of course I will.”
Su Qinghan smiled and promised, “Didn’t you have your eye on that new limited-edition sports car last time? Pink, very cute. I think it suits you perfectly. I’ve already asked someone to order it; it should be available soon. Next time, we can drive it together on a road trip.”
“Really?!”
Jiang Muyun covered her mouth in surprise, then threw herself at Su Qinghan, hugging her arm and sweetly laughing. “I knew it, Qinghan—you’re the best to me!”
That expensive car seemed to completely dispel the unpleasant clouds caused by Yan Yu.
Jiang Muyun’s face broke into a bright smile again.
“Well… see you later?”
She let go and waved at Su Qinghan.
“Yeah, see you later.”
Su Qinghan nodded and watched her walk briskly toward the Art Building. The strange irritation in her heart seemed to be temporarily suppressed by Jiang Muyun’s satisfied smile.
She turned and continued toward her own classroom.
After a few steps, she saw Dai Feng at a nearby plane tree.
Dai Feng was leaning against the trunk, hands in her track pants pockets, her ponytail swaying slightly in the morning breeze. She was clearly waiting for her.
“Sorry, Mu Yun needed me for something. I kept you waiting.”
Su Qinghan walked up.
“It’s nothing.”
Dai Feng straightened up and shook her head, her gaze calm as she looked at Su Qinghan. Her tone was unreadable. “It’s just… Qinghan, going on like this… is it really okay?”
“What?”
Su Qinghan was puzzled, not understanding what she meant.
“I know your personality—you have clear likes and dislikes, strong loves and hates, and it’s hard to change what you’ve decided.”
Dai Feng’s voice was very calm, even a little cold. “Sometimes, that’s a good thing—it makes you goal-oriented and decisive. But… it’s not always a good thing.”
“What exactly are you trying to say, Dai Feng?”
Su Qinghan frowned slightly, a bit impatient.
‘She was already in enough turmoil today. She didn’t have the mood to listen to her childhood friend talk in riddles.’
“I’m not trying to say anything.”
Dai Feng lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously twirling the end of her ponytail. She was silent for a few seconds before looking up at Su Qinghan again, a hint of worry in her eyes.
“I just think, Qinghan, some people, some things… you need to take another careful look, think about them. You shouldn’t make such hasty judgments.”
“The way you look at people and things… sometimes it’s too simple, too absolute. This old habit of yours, you should change it.”
“If you keep going like this, the hurt might not only be yourself, but also… those who might be very important to you, even if you haven’t realized it yet.”
Su Qinghan found his words inexplicable and a bit irritating.
She sighed and, holding her backpack strap with one hand, said, “You’re still the same, always liking to talk in riddles. If you have something to say, just say it directly.”
“Directly?”
Dai Feng looked at her, the corner of her mouth twitching almost imperceptibly, as if in self-mockery or resignation.
In the end, she shook her head. “Then never mind.”
‘Some words, even if said, you might not believe, might not take to heart.’
She silently added to herself.
‘It’s not that I don’t want to speak directly.’
‘It’s that you, Qinghan… you’ve always only believed what you want to believe.’
‘You only look at the world with your own rules and logic, but rarely are you willing to quiet down and use your heart to look carefully at the people around you, to see… what they are really like.’