To the onlookers’ surprise, Nangong Li hadn’t laid a finger on Su Qingqing, even though she was the one who had brought Du Ruo to tears.
Because of him, no one ever dared cross Du Ruo. Being the school beauty already made her popular, but having the campus bully in her corner ensured she was practically untouchable.
“Nangong Li didn’t beat her up for Du Ruo? He just let Su Qingqing off the hook?”
“I know. He’s never been the reasonable type, especially when it comes to Du Ruo.”
No one dared say a bad word about her around him.
“I heard his face was terrifying when he found out Su Qingqing made Du Ruo cry—looked like he wanted to throttle her on the spot.”
“Well, she is the school beauty. He protects her like she’s made of glass.”
“Maybe he just didn’t want to make a scene in the classroom?”
“Must be. He’s never spared anyone who crossed her before.”
The whispers swirled around Su Qingqing, but she remained completely unfazed. They weren’t wrong; Nangong Li probably valued Du Ruo more than his own life.
As for why he hadn’t touched her—who knew?
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Su Qingqing walked out of the classroom, her slight frame carrying a quiet resolve.
In the stairwell, she ran into Chu Yunhan. His tense face stiffened as he came to an abrupt halt.
“Hey, are you alright?” Chu Yunhan panted, looking her up and down.
At first, Su Qingqing assumed he had come looking for trouble too. Seeing him out of breath, she wondered if the second male lead was actually worried about her. It seemed impossible. Shouldn’t he be with Nangong Li, berating her for making the female lead, Du Ruo, cry?
“I’m asking you a question,” Chu Yunhan pressed, his brow furrowing. She didn’t look hurt.
“I’m fine, thanks,” she replied after gathering her thoughts, then brushed past him.
This incident proved the Plot Lord had no intention of letting her off easily. Even if she dodged this crisis, another trap would soon follow.
In the original novel, Chu Yunhan had bullied the original host mercilessly. Why he was suddenly showing concern remained a mystery, but she had no desire to get close to any of them.
“Su Qingqing! Getting bold, aren’t you? Now you’re just ignoring me?” Chu Yunhan fumed. He had rushed over to help, only to be completely dismissed.
Su Qingqing hurried back to her dorm, completely ignoring Chu Yunhan as he chased after her, shouting.
A sudden weight settled on her shoulder. She stopped and looked down at the arm draped over her.
“There’s a party tomorrow. Want to come?”
As Chu Yunhan’s hand rested on her slender shoulder, its softness caught him off guard. He immediately eased his grip, worried he might break her. Catching a trace of fragrance from her hair and clothes, he took a deep breath.
Su Qingqing raised a hand to strike, but he pulled away just in time, only to lean in puzzlingly close again.
Staring at his enlarged face, she wondered what on earth he was playing at. Why did he have to stand so close just to talk?
Before she could pull away, Chu Yunhan asked in confusion, “Why do you smell like sweet milk? It actually smells pretty good.” He seemed genuinely taken with the scent.
Speechless, Su Qingqing turned and walked away, not bothering to waste another breath on him.
“Hey, wait up! You’re getting awfully cocky, aren’t you? Tell me, what did Nangong Li want with you?”
His words made her pause. Clearly, Chu Yunhan still had no idea about Du Ruo’s love letter.
“Nangong Li is out of his mind. If you mess with him, no one can protect you, and your life will become a living hell.” Chu Yunhan spoke with rare earnestness. He couldn’t fathom why he was sticking his nose into her business, especially when he used to despise her.
Su Qingqing saw no harm in telling him. “Du Ruo asked me to leave a love letter on Mu Bai’s bed. I refused.”
Refusing brought trouble, but complying wouldn’t have saved her either. She had simply decided to stand her ground.
Chu Yunhan hadn’t expected that. “Nicely done.” He looked at her with newfound respect.
Su Qingqing frowned. Wasn’t he supposed to blow up, just like Nangong Li?
“Nangong Li said she cried,” she added, testing the waters. Surely that would touch a nerve.
Chu Yunhan reached to sling an arm around her shoulder again, but she dodged. “So what if she cried? From now on, you’re under my wing. I’ll cover for you.”
Su Qingqing was speechless. Under his wing?
“Hey! Su Qingqing! Don’t be ungrateful! You’d better seize an opportunity like this—you won’t get another chance!”
She brushed past him and walked away, leaving him shouting alone on the deserted path. She couldn’t understand why his attitude toward her had shifted so quickly.
The first time she crossed paths with him after transmigrating, the disgust written all over his face had been impossible to miss, and the memory was still vivid.
She had only just realized that Chu Yunhan hadn’t fallen for the female lead yet—or rather, he had, but didn’t know it himself. As for Nangong Li, she wasn’t worried at all. She would cross that bridge when she came to it; what could he possibly do to her?
Su Qingqing walked into the dorm. The afternoon sun was warm, and a gentle breeze rustled the floor-length curtains.
After a quick scan of the room confirmed the male lead wasn’t around, she grabbed the meal card she had left on the desk and headed out. Having forgotten it that morning, her stomach was practically growling.
She hurried to the cafeteria and eagerly tucked into a hot, satisfying meal.
Coming out of the school’s private dining room, Duan Xinghe happened to spot Su Qingqing thoroughly absorbed in her food. He let out a scoff. How petty and unrefined, relishing cheap cafeteria food like it was a delicacy.
He strode over to her table. Su Qingqing was taking small bites when a sudden, loud thud rattled the table as someone kicked it.
Frowning, her immediate instinct—like any true foodie—was to steady her plate.
Duan Xinghe let out another scoffing laugh, staring down at her in disdain. “The food in this academy is absolute garbage. Have you never eaten anything good before?”
Su Qingqing was about to give him a piece of her mind when her gaze drifted to the space behind him.
“Well, it makes sense. A nobody from some no-name clan like you probably only gets to eat trash like this, no wonder you’re wolfing it down so happily.”
Propping a foot arrogantly on a chair, he sneered at her.
Instead of getting angry, Su Qingqing countered his mockery in all seriousness. “I actually like the cafeteria food. If you don’t, that’s your problem.”
Before Duan Xinghe could snap back, a sharp rap struck the back of his head. He hissed in pain, but before he could even turn to see who it was, a hand twisted his ear upward.
“You little brat! How dare you trash my cooking! Duan Xinghe, you must be begging for a good thrashing from your grandfather! Just wait till I call him—he’ll sort you out, you little scamp!”
“Aargh! Uncle Liu! Uncle Liu! That’s not what I meant, let me explain!”
“Explain what? You think your wings are fully grown now and you can fly high? I’ll clip them for you!” Uncle Liu yanked him by the ear, completely furious.
Duan Xinghe hadn’t expected to be so unlucky. Getting caught red-handed by Uncle Liu meant a beating was inevitable.
He begged for mercy while glaring at Su Qingqing, blaming her for his predicament. But when he looked over, she was giving him a cold, mocking smile.
Duan Xinghe instantly saw red. She had done it on purpose! She had clearly seen Uncle Liu behind him and deliberately kept quiet. How dare she play him like that! Duan Xinghe swore he wasn’t done with Su Qingqing.
Su Qingqing ignored his murderous glare and went right back to happily enjoying her steaming hot meal.