Xu Qingqing didn't notice the deeper meaning in Xie Lianqing's words at all, or perhaps she simply chose to ignore that sentence. Her mind was completely occupied with the fact that she was attending a private screening tomorrow.
Xu Qingqing was extremely excited about this screening. She had even specially brought several DVDs of the director's classic films, planning to get them signed—it would be a dream come true.
Finally, the agreed-upon time arrived the next day. It was Xu Qingqing's first time attending a private screening, but fortunately, she had the help of the assistant and butler arranged by Xie Lianqing. That kind, anonymous relative of Zhou Chenyu's family was also very considerate, making a special trip to her home to pick her up and take her to the studio.
Upon entering, to prevent the film source from being leaked, Xu Qingqing, as an outside guest, had her electronic devices confiscated. She felt a little disappointed about this, as she had originally hoped to take photos with her favorite lead actors.
Even though there were no photos or autographs, Xu Qingqing was still very happy. The film completely maintained the director's consistent standard. Although there were many parts where Xu Qingqing couldn't fully understand the subtitles, the ending where the male and female leads finally cleared up their misunderstandings and embraced each other was perfect.
Hayendg Xu Qingqing was both happy and teary-eyed; she loved happy endings.
After the screening ended, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she lingered, walking very slowly by herself, trying to stay behind and listen to the lead actors and producers discuss the film's editing and shortcomings.
Xu Qingqing's foreign language skills weren't originally very good, but for the sake of her favorite film, she had crammed intensely before coming, which allowed her to barely follow along.
During the discussion at the end, the producers and others had serious expressions. Xu Qingqing pricked up her ears and listened with great effort. Sometimes when they spoke too fast and she couldn't understand, she grew secretly anxious.
Ah, it seems she still needs to study hard when she gets home. She wants to come see the premiere next time. Next time, she definitely won't let Xie Lianqing help her with her CET-4 practice tests anymore.
After leaving the studio, Xu Qingqing excitedly hopped and jumped around, clutching the DVDs signed by the director and lead actors. She posted dozens of updates on her social media feed, spamming it all day long, to the point where Zhou Chenyu impatiently blocked her.
On the other hand, Le Jiaojiao was in a very good mood recently and even liked her posts, commenting, "You're so lame."
Seeing that troublemaker Xu Qingqing so happy, Le Jiaojiao kept her contribution a secret, feeling that being a good person wasn't so bad after all.
Then, when she wanted to comment again, she found that Xu Qingqing had already blocked her.
Le Jiaojiao...
Xu Qingqing still didn't know that the person who did a good deed without leaving a name was her arch-nemesis, Le Jiaojiao. She had been having so much fun lately, forgetting all about home. After staying at Xie Lianqing's luxurious mansion for three days, she was already looking forward to the next destination.
However, her journey had just begun when it was unfortunately announced terminated.
Because Le Jiaojiao called Xu Qingqing to inform her, "Teacher Shen, Teacher Zhou, and Teacher Li said that if you don't return for class the day after tomorrow, they'll count it as skipping. A friendly reminder: skipping too many classes will reach the standard for failing."
Xu Qingqing: "..."
Le Jiaojiao: "..."
University A's rules are a bit different from other schools. After a student asks for leave from their counselor, they also need to inform each course instructor individually. Some instructors will approve it directly, while others will still mark the student absent, treating it as skipping class.
So, usually, after getting leave, students will ask classmates to inform the course instructors and plead on their behalf, just to avoid the latter situation.
Xu Qingqing was shocked, "I took leave! Didn't you help me tell them in advance that I was on leave?"
Le Jiaojiao shouted angrily, "I did tell them! I even reminded them not to mark you absent!"
Xu Qingqing was indignant, "Then they all knew I was on sick leave, why are they going back on their word?"
If the other teachers were being unreasonable, fine, but Teacher Shen was her aunt's ex-boyfriend! He actually did this too? His character is terrible. Xu Qingqing supports her aunt for dumping him!
Le Jiaojiao was also furious, "Who told you to post travel photos showing off on your social media feed all the time? They saw them, so of course they know you're not recuperating but playing outside right now!"
Xu Qingqing was instantly bewildered, "That's not right, I used the group function to block the teachers! How would they know I'm on vacation?"
Le Jiaojiao's voice grew a bit smaller, saying in a cutesy tone, "Maybe... maybe a certain innocent and lovely lady, because she was angry and jealous that her mortal enemy was happily traveling outside while she had to attend classes alone at school..."
Xu Qingqing frowned.
Le Jiaojiao coughed and continued in that cutesy voice, "Then... then she accidentally posted screenshots of the photos to her social media feed to complain..."
Xu Qingqing continued frowning, nodding thoughtfully, "Go on."
Le Jiaojiao's voice grew weaker and weaker, finally saying, "Then... then maybe she just happens to be that mortal enemy's classmate, and maybe she just happened not to block their course instructors and counselor..."
Xu Qingqing was speechless, her fists beginning to clench. After a long moment, she yelled, "Le Jiaojiao, are you crazy?! Can't you be a little more reliable?!"
Although she really wanted to fight with that unreliable, cutesy-acting Le Jiaojiao, the other girl's combat power was off the charts, and she couldn't win. So, she angrily hung up the phone and immediately blocked her again.
Xu Qingqing promptly called her aunt to tattle, "Auntie, your ex-boyfriend is threatening to mark me as skipping class!"
Aunt Xu was very calm. She seemed to say a few words to someone next to her, then said to Xu Qingqing, "Shen Shushui says he didn't mark you absent, but your counselor already knows. They contacted me this afternoon, asking when you'll be back to cancel your leave."
Aunt Xu didn't think this was a big deal and gave her niece an idea, "How about applying for a one-year leave of absence?" That way, Xu Qingqing could recuperate at home for a year; when she graduates isn't really important.
Xu Qingqing would be a fool to agree to a leave of absence. Then surely the whole world would know she was held back a year. How could she face people if that got out?
It seemed the situation was beyond saving. Xu Qingqing could only swallow her anger, pack her luggage overnight, and rush to the airport.
Xu Qingqing's relaxing trip was cut short halfway, and she returned to the miserable life of attending classes. However, she was still somewhat physically weak recently, and playing for a few days had also tired her out. Even without the class issue, she probably couldn't have played much longer anyway.
Not long after returning to school, the counselor announced a major event: the university was preparing for its anniversary celebration. This had been promoted since last semester, with each department and major having tasks and being required to submit programs for selection.
The counselor coughed twice and said, "Originally, the department had decided to let students from our class participate for this spot, but who would have thought... not a single one of them is up to the task!"
At this point, the portly counselor couldn't help but glare at Xu Qingqing and Le Jiaojiao in their seats. The former was leaning back in her chair spacing out; upon closer look, her head was nodding up and down—she had actually fallen asleep! The other was even more outrageous, currently carefully holding up a mirror and applying lipstick!
The counselor was so angry on the spot she took a sharp breath and shouted loudly, "Le Jiaojiao! Xu Qingqing! I'm talking about you two!"
Last semester, the counselor had approached Xu Qingqing and Le Jiaojiao, asking them to prepare one or two programs to represent their Arts Department in the selection.
This was also the result of a unified vote by the department leadership. There was no other reason; although these two individuals were one a bit troublesome and the other a bit coquettish, they both excelled in their major courses and had caught the examiners' eyes during the school's art entrance exams. Moreover, they were both exceptionally beautiful; just standing there doing nothing made people happy.
However, the two oddballs Xu Qingqing and Le Jiaojiao both failed their exams last semester, which made their position rather awkward. After all, the school's selection process also considers students' usual performance. Precisely because they failed, these two were both abruptly removed from the list, and later others from the department were chosen to replace them.
The counselor felt heartbroken just thinking about it, saying, "What a great opportunity this was, and you both missed it."
As a top-tier domestic university, University A's centennial celebration was naturally going to make the news. It's said the school, unusually keeping up with the trends, even mentioned organizing an online livestream so that alumni and faculty, both domestic and overseas who couldn't return to campus, could watch together.
For ordinary students, this was an excellent opportunity to showcase themselves. Whether for further studies or future work, this experience could be added to their resumes.
The counselor was truly quite disappointed. Shaking his head at Le Jiaojiao, he said, "I won't say much about Xu Qingqing; her family background, everyone understands, right? Le Jiaojiao, you, how come you're following her lead and not learning good habits?"
Le Jiaojiao was scolded like a little chick, hanging her head and widening her eyes, cooing an apology, "Teacher, I'm sorry, I was wrong."
Facing her teary, glistening eyes, the counselor couldn't stay angry. "Sigh, teacher isn't blaming you. Learn some good things from now on. For kids from ordinary families like us, missing such an opportunity is such a pity."
Le Jiaojiao nodded and blinked, saying sincerely, "Okay, teacher, next time I definitely won't learn these bad habits from Xu Qingqing."
Xu Qingqing, already startled awake by his earlier shout, listened from the side and felt something was off. What did he mean by 'following her lead and not learning good'? It sounded like she was the one who had corrupted Le Jiaojiao!
And even if the counselor and others didn't know about Le Jiaojiao's family background, how come she herself was getting addicted to playing along?
Xu Qingqing immediately raised her hand and said, "Teacher, it's fine, don't feel sorry for Le Jiaojiao on her behalf. She learned piano from a professor at Juilliard and has even held solo recitals abroad! Don't be fooled by her act now; deep down she definitely doesn't think it's a pity at all."
"Stop bragging! Don't always have it in for Le Jiaojiao," the counselor didn't believe a word, said angrily, and left.
After the counselor left, Le Jiaojiao, who just moments ago had been teary-eyed and pitiful, instantly dried her tears. She said to Xu Qingqing with a grin, "Hear that? Stop always having it in for me, you big idiot!" Then she picked up her bag and walked away gracefully.
Xu Qingqing...
Xu Qingqing was still fuming on her end. Just after leaving the classroom, she received a message from a junior schoolmate, asking if she wanted to participate in the club's program application selection for the centennial celebration.
The Performance Club was indeed as legendary; they didn't have the habit of small meetings every three days and big meetings every five. As long as everyone completed the tasks assigned by the club, they could do whatever they wanted, to the point where Xu Qingqing had almost forgotten she'd joined the club.
According to the friendly introduction from the junior schoolmate, the Performance Club was one of the clubs specifically organized by the school's teachers, and it had many internal resources, including referrals for performance majors to get minor roles in certain film crews.
This time, the school had also allocated a performance application slot for the centennial celebration to their club. The club would internally select a program and report it to the school's organizing committee. If approved, it would make it onto the official program list.
The centennial celebration was a glorious moment for University A, and outstanding alumni would be invited back to campus. Over the years, the university had produced many talents, with alumni including big names in business, entertainment, and academia. If one had the chance to make an appearance at this time, it might be a major life opportunity.
Moreover, being able to participate in University A's centennial celebration would be a very impressive line on one's resume for future work or study. So this opportunity was rare, and everyone was scrambling to participate.
News of the centennial celebration selection had been released early, and people in the club had secretly prepared their programs. Originally, such a good thing would have had nothing to do with a new member like Xu Qingqing. But because she had donated a large sum of money right after joining, the junior schoolmate felt bad and had specially strongly recommended her.
However, an opportunity others saw as hard to come by was nothing special in Xu Qingqing's eyes. She didn't really care much about participating in the centennial celebration performance.
The next day was the time the junior schoolmate had notified her in advance for the club meeting.
It was only after Xu Qingqing entered the club and sat down that she discovered that woman Le Jiaojiao was actually also inside. And from what the junior schoolmate said, it seemed she had even acted in a few small plays within the club.
What a cursed fate!
Before Xu Qingqing could even start trading barbs with Le Jiaojiao across the room, the other club members, having learned from the junior schoolmate that Xu Qingqing also wanted to participate in the club selection, immediately expressed their dissatisfaction.
Where there are people, there is drama. The Performance Club already had more monks than porridge (meat). Usually, they could fight over a minor role resource in some play, let alone such a great face-showing opportunity as the centennial celebration.
If someone was appreciated by an outstanding alumnus returning to watch the performance and recommended to a film or talent agency, wouldn't that be hitting the jackpot?
So now, the other members in the club exchanged glances and spoke out almost in unison: "On what grounds? It wasn't mentioned before that she would participate in the selection."
"And she's a newcomer who just joined the club. This kind of thing shouldn't fall to her, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, she's not particularly outstanding either. She can't even stick with playing the piano; what talent could she possibly have?"
Everyone was very unconvinced. Even the club president was somewhat hesitant. Although Bai Youlan was now publicly recognized as a liar, when it came to everyone's interests, they unanimously changed their tune, deciding that Xu Qingqing was a spoiled young lady who couldn't even persist with playing the piano.
The Performance Club was full of rivalry and competition. They had fought for a long time before narrowing down the selection to these few individuals. Seeing how beautiful Xu Qingqing was, of course they didn't want her to take a share, so they simply used Bai Youlan's words from the previous program to block her, implying they wouldn't even give her a chance to audition.
Some even started discussing how Xu Qingqing had passed the art entrance exam in the first place, secretly speculating about under-the-table deals.
The temple was small, but the winds of intrigue were strong. As everyone argued, Xu Qingqing noticed that one of the people speaking looked exceptionally familiar—it was actually her ex-boyfriend, Yang Jun. The girlfriend standing next to him was one of the candidates for the program selection.
Xu Qingqing thought that girl was quite brave. Back then, Yang Jun's reputation had been thoroughly ruined by her series of actions, and basically no girls at University A would fall for him again. Who would have thought that just over a year later, someone would willingly jump into that pit.
Xu Qingqing hadn't originally wanted to participate, but upon hearing these people's words, she immediately grabbed the club person in charge,
and actively signed up, saying, "Add my name."
Whoever didn't let her be happy, she had an obligation to make them even more unhappy. So what if it was just a centennial celebration program? Today, no one else was going to snatch it away from her.
After hearing her words, the arguing crowd became even more agitated: "On what grounds?!"
"Having her sign up would just be a waste of everyone's time."
Yang Jun looked at Xu Qingqing and said leisurely, "Why don't we just forget it, Qingqing? Look, you don't really have any talents to begin with. Why bother forcing yourself to join in?"
The junior girl, of course, was on Xu Qingqing's side and argued upon hearing this, "I think Senior Xu should be allowed to participate. Didn't the club say it was an open selection?" However, she was outnumbered, and under the pressure from the others, she was quickly talked down and fell silent.
Just as the voices grew louder and more people were questioning Xu Qingqing, it was Le Jiaojiao who suddenly stood up.
She was petite. Slapping the table, her voice was both sugary and sharp. "Shut up, all of you! A bunch of idiots! You hear a few rumors online and actually believe it's inside information?"
The people arguing weren't having it and immediately retorted, "Le Jiaojiao, whose side are you on anyway?"
Le Jiaojiao said righteously, "I'm on the side of the truth!"
Someone said, "The truth is what we're saying is fact. Go ask anyone right now, didn't Xu Qingqing quit practicing piano halfway?"
They wanted to say more but were pulled by the sleeve by someone beside them, who whispered a warning, "The table..."
The agitated few looked over and saw that the surface of the table Le Jiaojiao had just slapped was now covered in cracks.
That was solid wood!
The room fell deathly quiet. Those who had been speaking didn't dare breathe too loudly, terrified Le Jiaojiao might come over and give them a smack.
Aside from being shocked by Le Jiaojiao's terrifying strength, the others were also looking at her in disbelief. The whole school knew she and Xu Qingqing were archenemies, that they didn't get along. No one expected her to speak up for Xu Qingqing now.
Le Jiaojiao's voice was as sugary as ever. "What are you looking at? Even at her worst, Xu Qingqing is still better than all of you!"
She and Xu Qingqing had known each other for over a decade. Back when they were competing for the position of art committee member, Xu Qingqing could still give her a run for her money. Xu Qingqing was capable!
They might be archenemies, and their mutual dislike was genuine, but after over a decade of bickering, within that dislike there was a sliver of mutual respect. Sometimes they'd even make plans to eat, shop, or attend parties together.
Le Jiaojiao glared at Xu Qingqing and squealed, "What are you looking at, idiot? Get up there!"
Damn, she shattered a table. Her hand hurt like hell.
She had kept her strength hidden for years without a slip-up, and today she exposed it for Xu Qingqing's sake. How was she supposed to keep playing the delicate, sugary green tea btch from now on?
What followed proceeded very logically. After registering everyone's intended performances, a voting system was used to select the final results. When they finally walked out of the selection room, aside from Xu Qingqing, everyone else's expressions were peculiar.
Le Jiaojiao was at the forefront, waiting inside for the result. When Xu Qingqing came out, she was checking her lipstick in a mirror.
Xu Qingqing glanced at her and said offhandedly, "Stop checking. One layer is enough. Any more and it won't suit your sugary persona."
Le Jiaojiao rolled her eyes and said sweetly, "You're the idiot! I wasn't going to apply more, I'm finding a good angle for a photo."
She put away her compact, casually flipped her hair, and followed behind Xu Qingqing. "So annoying, why are you walking so fast? You haven't said whose performance got picked!"
This Xu Qingqing woman was so annoying. What's the big deal having long legs, walking so fast!
"What do you think?" Xu Qingqing said, exasperated.
"It's you, right? You're walking so fast. Don't tell me you didn't get picked. Are we making a run for it in advance to avoid embarrassment?" Le Jiaojiao followed behind Xu Qingqing. Both of them slender and graceful, they walked out together.
Le Jiaojiao was indignant. "I'm telling you, Xu Qingqing, I lost a three-hundred-yuan table for you. If you didn't get picked, you owe me!"
Back in the club, everyone watched the two leave. Someone, unable to accept it, couldn't help but mutter under their breath, "Hah, a bootlicker."
Le Jiaojiao and Xu Qingqing had always been at odds. For Le Jiaojiao to suddenly stand up for her now, what else could it be? It must be because Xu Qingqing's family background was exposed this semester. Le Jiaojiao finally caught on and was trying to suck up to her.
Especially after they left the building and everyone saw Le Jiaojiao get into Xu Qingqing's luxury car worth tens of millions, they were all convinced they'd discovered the truth.
"Really? Le Jiaojiao's family seems pretty well-off too. She's an international student."
The speaker snorted dismissively, very displeased. "Just an ordinary family, at best. Otherwise, why would she actively suck up to Xu Qingqing? And you know how it is, no matter how expensive the gifts from her pursuers are, she always accepts them. So tacky."
Someone said timidly, "But Xu Qingqing said Le Jiaojiao's family is also very rich... Last time, a guy who sent gifts but failed to win Le Jiaojiao over badmouthed her behind her back, calling her money-grubbing. Xu Qingqing overheard and chewed him out on the spot for a long time."
"Do you believe that? I certainly don't. If she were rich too, why would she suddenly speak up for Xu Qingqing?"
The group chattered away, starting to denounce Le Jiaojiao one after another. After all, if she hadn't interfered, Xu Qingqing probably wouldn't have had a chance to participate in the selection today!
Le Jiaojiao and Xu Qingqing were unaware that this group, not daring to provoke Xu Qingqing, had shifted their attention to gossiping about Le Jiaojiao.
But even if they knew, they probably wouldn't care. They'd encountered people like this all their lives. Such people weren't even qualified to be their rivals or enemies.
Before getting in the car, Le Jiaojiao stroked Xu Qingqing's precious new car and sighed sweetly, "This car is so beautiful, Xu Qingqing. I want to drive it for a few days too."
Xu Qingqing gave her a glance and said nonchalantly, "Sure." This car was the Pagani Huayra she had liked for a long time and gotten from Xie Lianqing. Le Jiaojiao had good taste.
She agreed so readily that Le Jiaojiao was taken aback. "Really? You're not tricking me again, are you?"
This Xu Qingqing woman was wicked. She wasn't falling for it.
"Fine, forget it then." Xu Qingqing had a terrible temper and turned to get in the car by herself.
Le Jiaojiao immediately chased after her into the car, smiling and cooing, "Of course I want a gift from Miss Xu! Ah, I've had my eye on this car online for ages. This color is so perfect for my skin tone!"
A luxury car worth over ten million. One offered to lend it without a second thought, the other accepted directly without any polite refusal or offer to pay. Neither gave the money a second thought.
In the car, after Le Jiaojiao finalized with Xu Qingqing that she'd pick up the car from her place tomorrow, she couldn't help but ask, "What performance did you do? Bai Youlan has been talking about you online like that. You didn't stupidly go play the piano, did you?"
It was all the club president's fault, insisting on that internal voting thing and not letting everyone watch inside. Now she had to guess what Xu Qingqing's performance was.
Xu Qingqing was exasperated. "Do I look like an idiot?"
Although she could play piano, she definitely wouldn't perform a piano solo at the school anniversary celebration. She guessed it was very likely to clash with a program from the neighboring music department. The school definitely wouldn't pick two identical performances. Compared side-by-side, the probability of Xu Qingqing being eliminated was too high.
Moreover, Xu Qingqing really hadn't touched the piano for several years, and her skill level wasn't as good as Bai Youlan's performance on that variety show. Even if she performed to prove she could play, these people would just change their tune and say she had trained temporarily, ultimately still not as hardworking as Bai Youlan.
Facing Le Jiaojiao's nervous gaze, Xu Qingqing said, "I'm going to perform ballet."
Le Jiaojiao immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Right, that's more like it." She had genuinely been afraid Xu Qingqing would have a momentary lapse of judgment and play the piano.
Xu Qingqing drove Le Jiaojiao to the Zhou residence. As the other girl got out of the car, Xu Qingqing said awkwardly, "Le Jiaojiao, thank you for today."
Le Jiaojiao's expression froze for a moment, and her heart instantly soared with delight.
Xu Qingqing, that drama queen who stirred up trouble everywhere, was actually thanking her? Oh my god, that slap on the table was totally worth it!
Xu Qingqing rubbed her head and said, "Don't worry, I'll go delete all the memes about you on the school forum when I get back."
Le Jiaojiao knew there was a hater on the forum who disliked her, persistently posting her memes in one particular thread—it was practically becoming a collection, and many people at school who disliked her were using them.
Le Jiaojiao was in a good mood now, so she said nonchalantly, "Forget it. The moderators of the school forum don't bother with that kind of thing; you can't delete them."
She had reported it many times, but no one ever took action.
Xu Qingqing said, "They can be deleted. I'm the thread starter."
Le Jiaojiao: "..."
Xu Qingqing was waiting for her to explode, but unexpectedly, the other girl fell silent.
Suddenly, a thought struck Xu Qingqing. She asked, "What about that post on Weibo gossiping about my ex-boyfriend's taste...?"
After Xu Qingqing drove away angrily, Le Jiaojiao then slowly made her way home. She walked with her hands clasped behind her back holding her bag, the corners of her mouth upturned, her steps light and brisk.
Everyone thought Le Jiaojiao disliked Xu Qingqing. Only her parents and Zhou Chenyu knew that Le Jiaojiao had been envious of Xu Qingqing since childhood.
Because even though Xu Qingqing had a scumbag father, her entire family except for him doted on her.
Le Jiaojiao and Xu Qingqing attended the most luxurious kindergarten in City A, where the students were gathered from the wealthiest dignitaries and elite families in the city.
Therefore, when school ended, the children were mostly picked up by family drivers or nannies. It was rare for parents to personally and punctually come to collect their own child.
After all, for kids from families like theirs, fathers were busy with work, and mothers were either career powerhouses or professional socialites who spent their days drinking tea, playing mahjong, and going to the spa. They could just leave the children to the nanny; why bother personally handling trivial matters like picking them up from school? If they had that kind of free time, they might as well play a few more rounds of mahjong.
But Xu Qingqing was the exception in the entire kindergarten, because her mother personally brought her to school and took her home every single day, rain or shine. She never missed a single parent-teacher meeting or kindergarten parent-child event.
So even though Xu Qingqing's father rarely showed his face, everyone knew her parents loved her very much.
Le Jiaojiao could still remember what Xu Qingqing's mother looked like. She had a gentle, water-like personality, her curly hair often tied up at the back of her head. She always crouched down to talk to Xu Qingqing, her voice exceptionally soft.
When other kindergarten children passed by, they would deliberately greet Xu Qingqing. At such times, Ms. Xu would have Xu Qingqing share the little cookies and candies she had personally made for her daughter. They tasted especially good.
The cakes and cookies made by Xu Qingqing's mother were always a bit sweeter, apparently because Xu Qingqing liked it that way.
My god, having a mother like that, everyone was insanely jealous of Xu Qingqing, okay?
So even though Xu Qingqing had a domineering personality and would stubbornly refuse to share the cookies her mother made for her, everyone still vied to be her friend.
Everyone felt that Xu Qingqing was the happiest, most dazzling little kid in the entire kindergarten, practically the little princess of the whole school.
Just as everyone crowded around Xu Qingqing, scrambling to be her friend, there was one little girl standing not far away, tears welling in her eyes, pouting as she plucked leaves from a nearby tree.
That's right, Le Jiaojiao was that unique spark. Every time the other kids privately gave Xu Qingqing little red flowers or said they wanted to play games with her, Le Jiaojiao firmly said no.
Le Jiaojiao was almost dying of frustration. She wanted to be the kindergarten princess too! For that, she also brought little cookies to school every day. Why did everyone prefer Xu Qingqing's?
Was it because her cookies were made by the chef, not her mother? But her mother was in America!
Le Jiaojiao fumed but remained steadfast. Although she also wanted to be friends with Xu Qingqing and eat the cookies she gave out, she would never surrender. She was the one and only princess of the kindergarten!
Self-proclaimed.
However, later on, something happened. Xu Qingqing's mother suddenly fell ill and then never came to school to pick up or drop off Xu Qingqing again.
Moreover, everyone knew Xu Qingqing's parents were going through a divorce. It was said Xu Qingqing's father had other children outside and didn't want Xu Qingqing anymore.
Xu Qingqing went from being the kindergarten princess to a pitiful little thing that no one wanted.
Le Jiaojiao felt both happy and melancholy, thinking it was finally her turn to be the princess, right? It's just that Xu Qingqing was so pitiful... but after she became the sole princess, she would magnanimously be willing to be good friends with her.
Yet, after just a few days of internal struggle, Le Jiaojiao realized she had overthought it.
After Xu Qingqing's mother left, her grandparents and aunt took turns picking her up and dropping her off at kindergarten. The whole family would rush to pick her up after school whenever they had time.
Chairman Xu, dressed in a serious suit, would make a detour every day no matter how busy he was at the company to personally take his granddaughter to kindergarten.
During her university years, Aunt Xu, with her short, unruly hair, would hold a pink, girly princess umbrella, her left shoulder carrying her niece's little bear backpack. Xu Qingqing would hold one of her hands while holding an ice cream cone in the other.
When Xu Qingqing was bullied by an older boy in elementary school, her aunt directly scaled the wall, went in, and gave the brat a good beating.
So everyone understood: Xu Qingqing was still that princess.
Among all her peers, she had always been the most dazzling and fortunate one.
Walking on the road, Le Jiaojiao thought of how Xu Qingqing had just driven away angrily, and it suddenly overlapped with the memory of that angry little girl from kindergarten who refused to share her cookies with the other children.
Zhou Chenyu happened to be coming home and saw his cousin standing there lost in thought. He couldn't help but ask, "Le Jiaojiao, what are you thinking about?"
Le Jiaojiao smiled and said in a sweet, affected tone, "I'm thinking... she's always been a princess."
