Ruan Xing stood up, her eyes exceptionally bright as she earnestly answered the teacher’s question.
Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon the girl’s face, her thick, dense eyelashes resembling tiny fans.
Her soft, gentle voice echoed through the classroom, creating a very comfortable atmosphere.
“The long-term implementation of the isolationist policy hindered connections with foreign countries, affected China’s absorption of advanced culture and science and technology, caused China to become isolated from the world, and seriously impeded the development of capitalist sprouts. This made China diverge from the global trajectory and gradually fall behind the world.”
After Ruan Xing answered the question, the history teacher’s eyes lit up, and her gaze toward Ruan Xing softened considerably, filled with clear approval—she was evidently very satisfied with Ruan Xing’s response.
The history teacher cast a displeased glance at the other students below. “Such a simple question, and none of you could answer it. Everyone should learn from Ruan Xing.”
Wu Jiali gave her a thumbs-up from below. Ruan Xing looked down and saw it, warmth flooding her heart as she responded with a bright smile.
However, most people still harbored malice toward her.
“Tch, who does she think she’s fooling? Everyone knows what she was like in class before!”
“Someone who never even lifted her head during lessons before, suddenly having an epiphany about studying? How ridiculous.”
“She just happened to get one question right—probably a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.”
“Someone like her will probably go running back to Huo Jing before long.”
“Putting on such a show now.”
…
Wu Jiali had witnessed her deskmate’s transformation over the past two days with her own eyes. Hearing them talk about Ruan Xing like this made her extremely uncomfortable, and more than anything, furious.
“How can you say such things? Haven’t you seen how much she’s changed these past two days?”
“Your words are just too harsh!”
Regardless of whether the teacher was present or not, she turned around and started arguing with the two students who were gossiping about Ruan Xing.
Ruan Xing remained unfazed by these idle remarks, her heart remarkably calm. She never expected her seemingly gentle and delicate deskmate to stand up for her so directly against these people. Warmth spread through her chest.
She had never experienced this feeling before. In her previous life, all she faced was scorn, and her relationships with classmates were always distant. Back then, she instinctively regarded Lu Wan—the only one who showed her kindness, albeit with ulterior motives—as her best friend.
But thinking back now, she realized how foolish she had been. She should have figured it out in her past life: when she was mocked and criticized by everyone, Lu Wan never once defended her like Wu Jiali was doing now. Instead, Lu Wan would speak in ambiguous terms, pushing her further into the spotlight of criticism.
Her reputation at school had grown increasingly worse, and much of that was due to Lu Wan’s subtle encouragement.
“I don’t care about these comments. There’s no need to argue with them.”
Seeing Wu Jiali, who was indignant on her behalf, fiercely arguing with others, Ruan Xing was touched. But she knew arguing with them was pointless. She saw no reason to waste time on such people, so she grabbed Wu Jiali’s arm and pulled her back.
“But… but what they said about you was just too much…” Wu Jiali lowered her gaze, feeling deeply upset on Ruan Xing’s behalf.
Ruan Xing was sitting right beside her and could clearly sense her genuine distress.
“Walk your own path and let others talk!” Ruan Xing patted her shoulder comfortingly.
Now it was Wu Jiali who appeared wronged, as if she were the one being bullied, while Ruan Xing had become the comforter.
Through these incidents, the bond between the two desk mates grew rapidly.
Class Six.
“Wanwan, I saw you at the school gate this morning.”
Remembering her morning encounter with Lu Wan at the school entrance, Chen Sisi seized the break between classes to approach her.
At these words, Lu Wan’s expression shifted abruptly, the pen in her hand slipping uncontrollably to the floor.
She had been seen taking the bus this morning.
What would people think of her?
Lu Wan’s face grew increasingly pale.
“What’s wrong, Wanwan?”
Noticing Lu Wan’s unusual pallor, Chen Sisi thought she might be ill, her tone laced with concern.
“Nothing, just feeling a bit unwell. It’s not serious.” Lu Wan snapped back to attention, quickly reassuming her gentle goddess persona.
“Wanwan, didn’t your family send you to school this morning?” Chen Sisi asked, puzzled. Hadn’t Lu Wan always been chauffeured before? Why suddenly take the bus?
“The family driver took a leave today, so I came on my own.” Lu Wan fabricated an excuse, confident the foolish Chen Sisi would never see through it.
“I see. Wanwan, you’re really different from other wealthy kids—so much more low-key.” Clearly unsuspicious, Chen Sisi even praised Lu Wan with genuine admiration.
When the final class ended, Lu Wan worried Ruan Xing might leave early and stationed herself at the entrance of Class One.
Having already promised to have lunch with Wu Jiali, Ruan Xing stepped out of the classroom only to see a face she utterly despised.
“Xingxing, let’s eat out together.”
Spotting Ruan Xing, Lu Wan rushed forward and grabbed her arm as if afraid she’d escape.
Knowing they were sisters with a close relationship, Wu Jiali didn’t want to intrude on their meal. She glanced softly at Ruan Xing. “Maybe I should—” Before Wu Jiali could finish, Ruan Xing seemed to anticipate her words, yanking her arm free from Lu Wan’s grasp and linking arms affectionately with Wu Jiali to prevent her from leaving.
“I’ve already made plans with my friend. I can’t have lunch with you.”
With that, she walked off with Wu Jiali without so much as a backward glance at Lu Wan.
Many students were streaming out of classrooms at that moment, and nearly all witnessed Lu Wan being rejected by Ruan Xing. Lu Wan stood rooted to the spot, seething with hatred inside, but to maintain her carefully crafted image, she restrained herself from lashing out.
“Changed her face, but she’s still just as detestable—nowhere near as likable as our goddess Lu Wan.”
“Honestly, how could she treat her own sister like that?”
“Her attitude toward her sister is terrible. The goddess is just too kind!”
“The goddess’s temper is truly too good—she’s way too indulgent with Ruan Xing!”
“Don’t be sad, goddess. A sister like that isn’t worth having.”
“Ruan Xing is so ungrateful!”
“Aren’t Ruan Xing and Lu Wan sisters? Didn’t they used to be really close?”
“What’s going on between those two today?”
Lu Wan had an excellent reputation at school. As the campus belle, she naturally captured many hearts. Therefore, when many students from Class One witnessed this scene, they sneered at Ruan Xing while stepping forward to comfort Lu Wan. However, a few were merely curious about why the two sisters had suddenly grown distant.
Seeing that most people were on her side, Lu Wan’s mood improved rather than worsened; in fact, she felt a slight delight. She thoroughly enjoyed being the center of admiration.