Song Jie and Juanmao’s words, Jiang Muyun took them to heart.
She took every word to heart.
But the more reasonable these principles sounded, the deeper the thorn in her heart pierced.
“Pathetic.” Jiang Muyun finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
She slowly raised her head, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes.
“Right, aside from being pitiful, aside from playing pitiful, aside from that face, what else does she have?”
As she said this, her fingers unconsciously tightened around the cup handle.
Song Jie and Juanmao both fell silent at the same time.
They exchanged a glance.
“If it weren’t for me going abroad back then…”
Jiang Muyun’s voice lowered. It was as if she was talking to herself.
“If it weren’t for me going abroad back then, Yan Yu would never have had the chance to get close to Qinghan…”
—
Speaking of Jiang Muyun’s departure abroad, even now when she thought back on it, her heart still held a thousand grievances and a myriad of complaints.
During high school, she attended an ordinary private school.
At that time, Jiang Muyun considered herself to have extraordinary talent in art.
In sketching class, the lines she drew were smoother than her peers; in color class, her control over hues made the teacher nod repeatedly. An old gentleman who taught art classes especially appreciated her, often praising her work in front of the class, saying she had “spirit” and was “a rare find.”
These compliments acted like a swelling agent, inflating her self-confidence more and more.
She began to think she was different, that she was a pearl covered in dust, a dragon trapped in shallow water.
She told her father that she would eventually achieve great things in art, that she would become the modern-day Picasso—no, even more dazzling than Picasso. She wanted the whole world to see her name.
So she insisted on going abroad to study at a professional art school.
At that time, Su Qinghan had only just found her and had just become friends with her. The relationship between them was still shallow, so shallow that Jiang Muyun felt she could walk away at any time. She didn’t pay much attention to Su Qinghan.
Just a girl who was also studying, what weight could she have?
For the sake of her career and dreams, Jiang Muyun made a decision.
She was going abroad, to that broader palace of art, to become a famous artist!
Before leaving, Su Qinghan came to see her. Although she didn’t say it outright, Jiang Muyun could tell that Su Qinghan had feelings for her, even liked her.
But she refused.
She didn’t spell it out, just used the excuse of “I want to chase my dream” to brush it off, telling Su Qinghan that there was no possibility between them.
She didn’t even pay much attention to Su Qinghan’s expression at that time, didn’t care whether Su Qinghan was sad or disappointed.
Because she believed she would shine brilliantly abroad.
By then, the world would cheer for her, and what was Su Qinghan?
‘She wasn’t worthy of her.’ That was her real thought at the time.
But reality gave her a resounding slap.
The art school abroad was completely different from what she had imagined. The little cleverness and little talent she had prided herself on were worthless in the face of a true top-tier art academy.
Her submitted works were rejected time and time again. The paintings she had been proud of for so long were merely considered “mediocre” in the eyes of the professors.
She didn’t even get into any truly notable art schools.
The schools she had looked down on, thinking she could “easily get into,” wouldn’t even bother to look at her portfolio.
After suffering numerous setbacks and returning with a bruised nose, Jiang Muyun had to come back to China.
The arrogant and overbearing momentum she had before leaving the country had been worn down to almost nothing. She began to become realistic, started to re-examine everyone and everything around her.
Then, she thought of Su Qinghan again.
This time, her perspective was completely different.
She didn’t just see Su Qinghan’s looks and appearance; she had already known those things. What she saw was Su Qinghan’s family, the Su family’s business, Su Qinghan’s identity as the eldest miss of the Su family.
Su Qinghan was the daughter of a wealthy family.
After realizing this, Jiang Muyun reformed her ways—at least, that’s what she believed. She wanted to get close to Su Qinghan again, to make up for the “missed opportunity” back then.
But when she approached with full expectation, she found someone else already standing by Su Qinghan’s side.
A girl sitting in a wheelchair, with a face that resembled hers.
Yan Yu.
At that moment, there was no need to mention how angry Jiang Muyun was! 😡
In Jiang Muyun’s cognition, Su Qinghan should have liked her from the start. Even if she went abroad, even if she rejected Su Qinghan’s pursuit, so what? Shouldn’t Su Qinghan still like her?
After all, she was Su Qinghan’s savior.
From the moment Su Qinghan owed her, it had already become an inevitable outcome.
So now, every existence of Yan Yu was a betrayal to her.
Every glance Su Qinghan gave Yan Yu should have been hers.
Every time Su Qinghan defended Yan Yu should have been for her.
The spot beside Su Qinghan should have been hers.
‘It’s all Yan Yu’s fault. All Yan Yu’s fault.’
—
Recalling up to here, Jiang Muyun couldn’t help but grind her teeth, so angry that her gums itched. That name rolled on her tongue and she swallowed it back, but the fire in her heart burned ever brighter.
“So you haven’t been chatting with the eldest miss Su these days because of this?” Song Jie asked from the side.
Jiang Muyun didn’t speak.
Silence was the best answer.
Juanmao looked at Jiang Muyun’s expression, then at Song Jie, sighed, leaned in, and lowered her voice: “Ah, Sister Jie, you just don’t understand.”
Song Jie scratched the back of her head: “How do I not understand?”
With the expression of someone who had been through it, Juanmao said earnestly: “Love is like this. Miss Su, even though she’s a girl, has a straightforward personality. Some things, you know, if our Muyun doesn’t do them, she won’t understand.”
She paused and raised a finger: “Think about it, that day she publicly defended Yan Yu, and actually didn’t take Muyun’s side. Muyun was already very angry. If she went over like nothing happened, then if Miss Su next time goes and favors her ‘ex-girlfriend’ Yan Yu again, what will our Muyun do?”
Song Jie scratched her head again, frowned for a moment, and thought: “But… Muyun hasn’t actually been dating Su Qinghan, has she?”
“That’s a different matter.” Juanmao waved her hand, tone confident. “Even though they aren’t dating, isn’t it practically settled that she’ll win Su Qinghan over? Right now, what our Muyun wants is an attitude from Su Qinghan.”
She lowered her voice, as if imparting some profound life philosophy: “Think about it, the Su family’s business is so big. If Muyun ends up with Su Qinghan too easily, then Su Qinghan won’t cherish it. So, our Muyun is being smart.”
Song Jie’s brow did not relax; she still felt something was off, but she couldn’t say exactly what. She opened her mouth, didn’t contradict Juanmao, but turned to Jiang Muyun and softened her tone.
“Alright, Muyun, if you want to be angry, be angry. If you want to give Su Qinghan the cold shoulder, do it. But don’t let it harm yourself.”
She rubbed her hands, a hint of ingratiating smile on her face, as if remembering something happy: “Oh, that’s right… that card Su Qinghan swiped for you last time, is there any more left? Next time, treat us both to buy some clothes at the store.”
Jiang Muyun raised her head, gave her a cold glance, and snorted.
“We’ll talk when I’m in the mood.”
She dropped the coffee cup she had barely touched on the spot, stood up, picked up her bag, and left without looking back.