Chen Liuyue accepted it quite naturally.
It was given by her birth mother.
Why wouldn't she take it?
What's hers is hers!!!
Watching this scene, Chen Ruanruan felt a flicker of panic in her heart.
Mother's attitude towards Chen Liuyue seemed to have softened a bit, even to the point of proactively giving her pocket money.
If things continued like this, would Mother stop favoring her so much?
Moreover, she suspected that Chen Liuyue had deliberately brought her roommates home—could it be just to play the sympathy card?!
She found it hard to believe that parents would possibly refuse to pay for university tuition and living expenses.
After all, Tao Tian had seemed such an elegant and witty father during that meeting.
And though Teacher Jin was a bit strict, her words still showed concern for Chen Liuyue.
So, after some thought, Chen Ruanruan spoke up:
"Perhaps Teacher Jin meant well for you."
Chen Liuyue corrected with a smile, "Sister, you shouldn't call her Teacher Jin. You should call her Mom."
The gentle smile on Chen Ruanruan's face froze.
Fortunately, Chen Liuyue didn't press the point further.
In the afternoon, she took her roommates to tour the family's back garden, after which Wu Peihua had the driver take them all back to school.
Just before they left, Wu Peihua even asked:
"Liuyue, will you stay at home tonight?"
Chen Liuyue replied with a smile, "I'll still go back to the dorm. I'll come home on Friday."
Wu Peihua nodded, "Alright, take care on the way back."
Only after the car drove away did Chen Ruanruan link arms with Wu Peihua and start walking back, saying as they went:
"Mom, I think younger sister is really too naive."
Wu Peihua paused, "How so?"
Chen Ruanruan said, "I don't like those three roommates of hers. I always feel they'll use Liuyue for their own benefit."
"Look at their words and actions—it's as if by clinging to Liuyue, they can live the life of wealthy young ladies too."
"I'm just afraid that the pocket money you give Liuyue won't even end up in her own hands, but will be spent on her roommates instead."
After listening, Wu Peihua nodded slightly.
It seemed reasonable.
"What do you think we should do then?"
Chen Ruanruan put on the appearance of a thoughtful and good daughter, saying with a bright smile:
"I heard Dad plans to hold a recognition banquet for Liuyue this Friday. I can introduce her to the young ladies from our social circle then."
"She should stop hanging out with these roommates. It affects her own social standing, don't you think?"
Wu Peihua agreed wholeheartedly.
Patting the back of Chen Ruanruan's hand, she approved, "You're right."
"After all, Liuyue is my daughter. The companions around her should be of a higher caliber."
"Ruanruan, it's her first time attending a banquet. She might make a fool of herself."
"Please stay by her side then and help her out more."
Chen Ruanruan nodded obediently and agreed:
"Don't worry, Mom. Liuyue is my own sister, I'll do my very best."
...
Even though Chen Ruanruan wished to prevent it,
after the three roommates visited the Chen family, a major piece of gossip gradually spread across Jinghai University.
The department beauty of the Dance Department, Chen Ruanruan, was actually not the biological daughter of the Chen family!
She had been switched at birth in the hospital.
The true Chen family heiress was Chen Liuyue.
Because of this, their dorm room was nearly overrun by crowds coming for the gossip, almost wearing out the doorstep.
Everyone asked: "Is it true?"
"Chen Liuyue, say something."
"Oh my god, Chen Ruanruan usually walks around with her nose in the air. Who would have thought she was a fake!"
Chen Liuyue only needed to remain silent at this time.
Because her three other roommates would explain everything clearly to the curious onlookers, even describing the Chen family matriarch's favoritism towards the adopted daughter, Chen Ruanruan.
In their accounts, Chen Liuyue became a poor, pitiable little white flower—hardworking, resilient, yet overlooked.
This moved the other girls who came for the gossip to tears.
They said in unison: "Chen Liuyue, we support you!"
"That's right, if Chen Ruanruan dares to bully you again, just tell us."
"Yeah, I've long been fed up with Chen Ruanruan."
This matter even made it to the campus forum of Jinghai University.
The impact was huge.
Even some students from the neighboring Qinghe University heard about it.
Qin Xuanye's first reaction upon hearing this news
was that Chen Liuyue was stirring up trouble.
He immediately dialed her on WeChat.
Unexpectedly, the call was rejected.
He dialed a second time.
It was rejected again.
It wasn't until his third call that she leisurely picked up.
Chen Liuyue's voice was lazy and relaxed.
With a hint of laughter in her tone, she said:
"Three calls in a row."
"Brother-in-law, did you miss me?"
The words Qin Xuanye had prepared got stuck in his throat.
Liuyue always had a way of leaving you speechless.
Taking a deep breath, he said:
"Speak properly. Be serious."
Chen Liuyue replied with a smile, "Which one of us is being improper?"
"Oh, right, brother-in-law, your towel is a bit fragrant. The shower gel you use still has my favorite orange blossom scent."
Hearing this,
a faint blush appeared on Qin Xuanye's fair face.
His mind became a jumbled mess.
Flustered, he responded haphazardly:
"Stop changing the subject. I'm asking you a question!"
Chen Liuyue complied obediently, "Alright, alright, go ahead and ask. I'll tell you everything I know."
Qin Xuanye finally regained some composure.
He asked in a deep voice:
"The thing on the Jinghai University forum, did you have someone do it?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
Chen Liuyue asked, "Do you believe me?"
Qin Xuanye didn't make a sound.
Chen Liuyue added, "It wasn't me."
After a long silence, Qin Xuanye finally answered:
"I believe you."
It wasn't because he thought Chen Liuyue was a good person that he believed her.
But precisely because he knew she was not, that he believed her.
If it really were Liuyue's doing, she would only admit it more excitedly and righteously.
After all, such things meant nothing in her eyes!
A woman's delighted laughter came through the phone.
"Brother-in-law, you really understand me."
Qin Xuanye frowned.
Click— He hung up the phone.
He couldn't continue talking to her.
Otherwise, his thoughts would become chaotic again.
Especially after she stayed at his place that one night. The following night, when Qin Xuanye moved back in, he didn't dare sleep in the master bedroom.
He was afraid of smelling her scent, afraid his mind would conjure images of her lying in his bed.
So, he evasively escaped to the guest room next door, but he couldn't fall asleep at all.
In the middle of the night, after much internal struggle, he finally returned to the master bedroom.
As a result, he didn't suffer from insomnia at all. The moment his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep, and slept very soundly.
Whether she was Tao Liuyue or Chen Liuyue...
she had the same influence over him.
Reason told him, no!
But his emotions urged him, making him want to get closer despite himself.
Qin Xuanye could only keep brainwashing himself: you are Chen Ruanruan's fiancé now.
Just as he was thinking this, Chen Ruanruan's call came through.
As soon as he answered, he heard her voice choked with tears.
"Xuanye, now the whole school knows I'm not the Chen family's daughter..."
"I don't dare walk around campus. I always feel like everyone is pointing and whispering behind my back."
"What on earth is going on?"
"I don't believe Liuyue would do this to me."
Listening to his fiancée's sobbing complaint, Qin Xuanye responded calmly:
"Stop crying. Chen Liuyue didn't do this."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
Then, Chen Ruanruan's voice came through, tinged with agitation:
"How did you know?"
