The girls exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with delight.
Song Yihan’s attitude suggested there was still room to turn things around.
The most outspoken among them cautiously spoke up, “Hanhan, honestly, there was never any major conflict between you and Gu Zhe. After all, the reason he brought up breaking up last time was because—”
“Hanhan! Come on, the cafeteria just opened a new milk tea and dessert shop. Let’s try it together!”
“Yay! Dongdong, I’m coming!”
Before her dormmate could finish, Duan Mingdong loudly called out to Song Yihan from several corridors away, as if afraid people wouldn’t know how close they were.
And Song Yihan didn’t avoid him at all. The way she acted with Duan Mingdong—anyone watching would think they were a couple.
Even the dormmate who’d been speaking so gently just moments ago couldn’t hold back anymore.
This was too much.
“Hanhan, don’t you seriously realize what the real issue is between you and Gu Zhe?”
But Song Yihan was already walking side-by-side with Duan Mingdong.
“Aiya, let’s talk about this back at the dorm! Darlings, I’ll bring you some milk tea!”
With that, she strolled off with Duan Mingdong without a second glance.
The girls behind her sat there stunned, a tight discomfort clogging their throats.
The one who had tried to reason with her angrily pulled out her phone and typed out a message to Song Yihan.
“Whoever wants that milk tea can drink it. I think it’s disgusting.”
She sent the message and left without looking back.
The other two glanced at each other, took out their phones too, and said nothing more.
When values clash, there’s no need to force politeness.
On the way down the corridor, Song Yihan told Duan Mingdong what her dormmates had just said.
“Dongdong, why do I feel like they were holding back when they spoke to me? Almost like they had opinions about me?”
Is it possible, sister, that you are the problem?
But Duan Mingdong firmly shook his head and said, “Aiyo, Hanhan, you know how girls are. They’re always jealous. You’re beautiful, talented, won awards your first year, your assignments are always the best, and your grades are excellent. You’ve organized so many great activities—they’re bound to envy you.” Visit novelping(.)com for the full chapter.
Hearing his flattery, Song Yihan’s chin tilted even higher.
“Well, I do think they’re not bad people. It’s just… sometimes people can’t help but let jealousy take over. Human nature, you know?”
She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world—completely forgetting that, aside from her looks, not a single one of her so-called ‘achievements’ had been earned by her.
Every award-winning project had been done by Gu Zhe. She had only ever had her name tacked on at the end.
At first, she at least helped with making the PowerPoint. By the second semester, things got so bad that Gu Zhe was coding while she was out shopping with Duan Mingdong.
When Gu Zhe questioned her, she acted completely justified.
“You were busy, so I didn’t want to bother you. That’s why I went to someone else.”
“I’m being considerate, and you’re still blaming me? You’re so unreasonable.”
In the end, Gu Zhe was left speechless.
What he felt wasn’t anger—but helplessness.
The kind of helplessness you feel watching yourself fall from a great height, and being completely powerless to stop it.
From then on, he lost all motivation to participate in competitions. The two projects that Instructor Yang Yan mentioned being incomplete were both abandoned during that time.
As for her grades—let’s not even start.
Song Yihan had always been the playful type. If not for Gu Zhe staying up late studying past exams and compiling the most likely test questions for her, she never would’ve scored so high.
Of course, she never told her dormmates any of this. Never mentioned it to anyone.
Ask her, and she’d just say she was a shining princess who succeeded all on her own.
“Oh, right. Hanhan, there’s one more thing. We’re second-years now, eligible for more advanced competitions. Are you interested?”
Duan Mingdong brought it up casually, but he’d come today for this very reason.
Back in first year, Song Yihan had asked if she should add his name to one of Gu Zhe’s projects.
At the time, Duan Mingdong still had a shred of pride. Even if he had zero academic achievements to his name, he refused to accept handouts.
But at the end of the semester, when he saw Song Yihan’s long list of ‘independent development’ credits, he instantly regretted it.
With his own skills, he wasn’t even good enough to be deadweight—much less contribute.
Duan Mingdong was honestly worried that Gu Zhe might really break things off with Song Yihan for good.
Damn it, he hadn’t gotten to piggyback on a single project yet!
That wouldn’t do.
Even if they broke up, he had to get a taste of the soup before the pot was gone!
When he brought it up, Song Yihan waved impatiently, annoyed.
“Ugh, don’t bring it up! It’s all Gu Zhe’s fault, picking a fight at the worst time! Normally, he loves this kind of stuff—he’d do all the work and just slap my name on it.”
“Now look! Hmph, he missed his own specialty! Let’s see how he explains that to me later!”
Duan Mingdong broke into a cold sweat.
Dear lady, he was doing all the work for you, and you act like it was a privilege for him?
Even Duan Mingdong, with his twisted worldview, occasionally found himself stunned by Song Yihan.
“Hanhan, honestly, I think what happened before might’ve really hurt Gu Zhe.”
“Look at him—he’s not even coming to class anymore. He’s clearly falling apart.”
“What if, during this time, some scheming woman swoops in while he’s vulnerable…”
Duan Mingdong knew Song Yihan well.
She couldn’t let go of her pride.
She needed to be adored, to feel superior.
Even if there were things she deeply cared about, she had to appear above it all.
Sure enough, the moment he mentioned a ‘scheming woman,’ Song Yihan’s composure cracked.
In her mind, Lin Nuo’er’s innocent little face flashed vividly.
“Then… then what should I do? Maybe I should buy Gu Zhe a milk tea to cheer him up?”
Duan Mingdong nodded eagerly, thrilled, “Yes, yes, perfect idea! Message him first—tell him you’re getting him milk tea!”
Song Yihan hesitated as she pulled out her phone, her tone a little shy.
“I… deleted his contact a few days ago… and haven’t added him back yet.”