“I didn’t expect Zhang Xiaoxiao to be so bold—she even stood up to Xu Qingqing. I really admire her,”
Ji Rou said, astonished, looking at her friend. “Do you know them?”
“Yeah,” Xu Qingmei replied. “They’re from the department next door. I heard some strange things, but basically, Zhang Xiaoxiao is delicate-looking and very well-liked. When she shows up, most of the guys like her. Naturally, Xu Qingqing, being the wealthy ‘big miss,’ couldn’t stand it and constantly tried to pick fights with her. But Zhang Xiaoxiao’s admirers always stepped in—otherwise, a poor girl like Zhang Xiaoxiao would have been kicked out of the Imperial Academy by now.”
Ji Rou fell silent. She hadn’t realized the heroine’s aura was so strong… that didn’t bode well for her.
Just as she was thinking of ways to avoid Zhang Xiaoxiao, a sudden push sent her stumbling—and unlucky as it was, she collided with the heroine. Embarrassed, she didn’t know what to do.
She had tried so hard to avoid Zhang Xiaoxiao, and yet the story seemed determined to place her right next to her.
“Sorry, Zhang Xiaoxiao! I didn’t mean it,” Ji Rou said. Since she couldn’t avoid her, she decided to face the situation head-on. As long as she didn’t provoke the heroine, things should be fine.
Normally, Zhang Xiaoxiao was approachable and didn’t hold grudges over accidents. She was about to say it was okay, but then her gaze landed on Ji Rou’s striking face. Thinking back to Xu Qingqing’s comment that her own face was bland, Zhang Xiaoxiao instantly assumed this beautiful girl must have been sent by Xu Qingqing to humiliate her.
Her expression shifted immediately. “You did that on purpose!”
Ji Rou had tried her best not to attract Zhang Xiaoxiao’s attention, but the heroine’s aggressive words triggered her temper. “I did it on purpose, did I?!”
Xu Qingmei, hearing her friend being accused, immediately switched from admiration to indignation. “Everyone saw it! Rou Rou was pushed! Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bumped into you. And she even apologized! But instead of forgiving her, you act like the victim and blame her? That’s outrageous!”
The surrounding crowd turned their criticism toward Zhang Xiaoxiao. Flustered and ashamed, she felt like she wanted to sink into the ground. In a moment of panic, she had blurted out a complaint about the beautiful girl in front of her. But looking at Ji Rou’s pretty face, she couldn’t shake a sudden sense of danger, as if this girl was going to take away something precious from her.
“How was I supposed to know you were really pushed? I was just standing here minding my own business when someone shoved me! My palms still hurt, and I just misspoke. I didn’t realize you’d get so angry and yell at me before even hearing me out…”
Her innocent, tearful expression won over the crowd. Suddenly, the criticism shifted from her to Ji Rou and Xu Qingmei.
Xu Qingmei was furious—she’d never met someone so shameless!
Ji Rou frowned. She hadn’t provoked the heroine at all, yet Zhang Xiaoxiao had taken a dislike to her. Just a flash of jealousy in the heroine’s eyes earlier had confirmed it: her own face was once again the source of trouble.
Being beautiful wasn’t always a blessing, she thought, smirking a little to herself.
“I don’t blame you for pushing me, but at least say you’re sorry!”
“But didn’t Rou Rou just apologize? And she didn’t push you on purpose anyway,” Xu Qingmei said.
“I… I said what? Maybe I didn’t hear it,” Zhang Xiaoxiao said, feigning innocence.
Xu Qingmei was seething. She had never met anyone so shameless! She wanted to argue, but Ji Rou grabbed her arm.
“Rou Rou… you’re really going to apologize to Zhang Xiaoxiao?” Xu Qingmei looked at her friend in disbelief.
Ji Rou shook her head—and then nodded.
Seeing her friend both shake her head and nod, Xu Qingmei was utterly confused. What exactly was Rou Rou thinking?