Seeing the anger twisting Song Weiran’s face, Song Chutong felt a surge of satisfaction.
She turned and walked straight into the dorm.
Song Weiran clenched her fists. The joy she had felt from getting the camera the night before was completely gone by now, yet she still refused to give up.
If not for the voice of reason constantly reminding her, she would have already blurted out the truth—that she was their father’s biological daughter, and that he clearly loved her more!
“Is it really impossible, Tongtong?”
Song Chutong glanced at the slender, pale hand clutching the corner of her clothes—it looked so fragile, like a blade of grass.
In her mind, a memory overlapped with a scene from her dreams—herself desperately begging Song Weiran, clinging to her ankle.
She had been so humble, so pitiful. She had only fallen into that situation because she was framed, yet Song Weiran had ignored her completely.
She had even justified it, claiming that sending her to forced labor was “for her own good.”
But now…
Song Chutong gently pulled her clothes free from Song Weiran’s grasp.
“No, it’s really not possible, Ranran.”
Song Weiran collapsed onto the ground, and the girls from the dance team hurried over to her.
“That Song Chutong is way too cruel. She knows full well that Ranran was chosen as the lead dancer!”
“Exactly! Now the honor that should belong to our dance team will have to be shared.”
“But… doesn’t what Song Chutong said make some sense? Aren’t we all just supporting roles anyway…?”
“Hey, enough! Ranran even helped alter your costume last time—how can you side with Song Chutong?”
At first, everyone had planned to join Song Weiran in pressuring Song Chutong to change the program back. Partly because Song Chutong’s words sounded shameless, and partly because some of them were beginning to think she might actually have a point.
After all, they were all just supporting performers—whether they supported Song Weiran or the singing team, what difference did it really make?
Besides, they had only gathered here today because Song Weiran said she wanted an explanation from Song Chutong.
But in the end… were they really standing up for the dance team, or just for Song Weiran?
Sensing the shift in people’s thoughts, Song Weiran put on a sorrowful expression and said:
“I was thinking… if I could stand out in the performance, I could bring our whole dance team with me and try to secure more opportunities for everyone to appear on stage. If we perform more often, even if we’re not the lead, we could at least leave some impression on the leaders…”
Her eyes turned red.
“But my grandfather is Tongtong’s biological grandfather. If she won’t agree, there’s nothing I can do… I’m really sorry to all of you…”
With just a few words, she completely dispelled everyone’s doubts. Seeing her delicate, tearful expression, they felt that anyone who had questioned her earlier had gone too far, and they rushed to comfort her.
Song Chutong’s roommates, already unhappy, became even more indignant. She had never been well-liked in the dance team—only they would occasionally talk to her. Stirred up by Song Weiran’s words, the three of them stormed into the dorm.
Trying to appeal both emotionally and logically, they felt Song Chutong had no right to treat Song Weiran like this.
“Song Chutong, it’s one thing for you to target Ranran all the time, but what you said just now was too much!”
The three pushed the door open and walked in.
Inside, Song Chutong was packing things.
But not her own—she was packing theirs. A large pile of their belongings had already been thrown onto the floor.
Their attention immediately shifted, and they angrily stepped forward.
“Song Chutong, what are you doing?! Why are you touching our things?”
Song Chutong put down the clothes in her hands, frowned, and said with clear disdain, “Good timing—you’re here. Pack your things and get out.”
The items she had just gathered weren’t taken from their storage—they were all from her own locker.
She rarely stayed in the dorm, so her locker had long since been taken over by these people. She hadn’t minded before. Knowing she wasn’t popular in the dance team, she had tried to maintain decent relationships with her roommates. Since she didn’t use the space much anyway, she figured letting them use it was fine.
She had never been stingy either—whether it was snacks or daily necessities, she always shared. These were things she never lacked.
But people… the better you treat them, the more they take you for a fool—someone easy to push around.
A pack of ungrateful dogs. If they couldn’t be tamed, then there was no point keeping them around.
One of them stormed forward angrily. “Song Chutong, what do you mean by this? Throwing our things out and now kicking us out—do you think you own this place?”
“Pick everything up right now!”
Song Chutong shot her a look of disgust. “You almost sprayed spit on my face.”
Then she rolled her eyes without the slightest restraint.
She recognized the girl—Xu Lili, the so-called leader among the dance team. She usually stuck close to Song Weiran. Built sturdier than the others, she stood out among the slender dancers, almost intimidating in comparison.
Xu Lili nearly grabbed Song Chutong by the collar but held herself back, still somewhat wary. Since she couldn’t act, her words grew sharper.
“Song Chutong, do you think we want to share a dorm with you? Do you really think you’re some kind of princess? Just because you act high and mighty at home, you think that works here in the army? Whoever wants to spoil you can go ahead—I, Xu Lili, am not here to cater to a pampered little princess like you! I’m warning you—pick up our things and put them back properly right now, or you’ll regret it. We’re going to be living together for a long time.”
Song Chutong blinked, her gaze shifting to the two tall figures behind them. What perfect timing… how did her cousins show up just now?
They must have come because of the rumors—but their arrival couldn’t have been more convenient.
“Regret it how?”
The sudden male voice startled everyone. The girls, who had been waiting for Song Chutong to back down, all turned around at once.
Two tall men who looked exactly alike stood at the dorm entrance.
One leaned casually against the doorframe, casting a cold glance at the room. His mere presence seemed to keep the girls from reacting loudly to the sudden appearance of strangers.
The other stood right behind Xu Lili. His sharp phoenix eyes were stern, carrying a dangerous edge. His skin was slightly darker, but it only made his striking features seem wilder and more intimidating.
Aside from Song Weiran, none of them knew the identities of these twin officers.
And even Song Weiran didn’t dare speak carelessly.
In front of the Wei family, she always acted meek and obedient, like a docile rabbit. She knew that only by being submissive could she receive whatever scraps slipped through Song Chutong’s fingers.
Still, the man at the door—Wei Zhi—gave Song Weiran a slight nod in greeting.
She responded softly, “Brother.”
Everyone stared at her in shock, a hint of envy in their eyes.
If they weren’t mistaken, he was a battalion commander—and so young at that. And he was Song Weiran’s brother? On top of that, he was incredibly handsome.
Under those admiring gazes, Song Weiran felt her vanity satisfied—but at the same time, her jealousy toward Song Chutong deepened.
Yes, she could call him “brother.”
But she knew very well that they shared no blood relation.
In the end… all of this belonged to Song Chutong.
Could the things that belonged to Song Chutong ever become hers?
One day… they definitely would.