Chapter 10: Not Everyone Is Like You

Wen Ling changed her clothes, preparing to run into Ruan MiaoMiao and Chu Yao.

One can't wait for others to scheme against you before striking back; taking the initiative might turn the situation around.

Just now, Ruan MiaoMiao stood outside the fitting room holding Chu Yao's bag, with a sincere look praising Chu Yao's newly changed clothes.

"It looks great, really suits your skin tone." Ruan MiaoMiao stepped forward, reached out to tidy Chu Yao's hair, which had gotten a bit messy from changing clothes, and said softly: "Everyone says Wen Ling was the campus belle back then, but in my eyes, how could she compare to you?"

In college, Chu Yao heard most often that others said Wen Ling was prettier than her; she stood before the mirror and gave a cold snort.

What good is being prettier than her? It's just a snake-hearted heart; Chu Yao hates hypocritical people the most.

"That day she jumped into the lake herself, and the rumor that I pushed her is believed by some." Ruan MiaoMiao pursed her lips, feeling wronged: "She's always like this, will do anything to achieve her goals; back then, out of jealousy, she led the school in ostracizing me, and now she still wants to scheme against me."

"Having such a cousin is also pitiful." Chu Yao believed her words without doubt, glanced at her with pity, and said: "But now Qin Lao only dotes on you; even your cousins can't surpass you; if she still dares to bully you, you can simply go to your maternal grandfather for justice."

"But after all, she's still my maternal grandfather's granddaughter; I can't really sever relations with her just because of me, after all, the Wen Family still exists."

"What's wrong with the Wen Family? The Wen Family are influential in M Country, but not here in Sijiucheng." Chu Yao let out a light scoff.

Seeing this, Ruan MiaoMiao added fuel to the fire: "She even said before, this is because the Wen Family isn't in Sijiucheng; otherwise, where would Sijiucheng have the status of these upper-class families?"

Her words were childish and full of loopholes, but Chu Yao, being straightforward, didn't notice and took them at face value.

"Hmph, she looks down on Sijiucheng's aristocratic families; then I'll let her know what it means that there are always people better than you."

The two spoke without restraint; the nearby salesperson lowered their eyes, not daring to speak. When Wen Ling entered the store, she happened to hear Chu Yao's remark, raised an eyebrow, and walked over smiling.

"Miss Chu, cousin, what a coincidence."

Upon seeing her, Chu Yao's face showed disgust; she frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm buying clothes." Wen Ling blinked innocently: "I came to Hua Guo planning to stay long-term, didn't bring any clothes, my private order hasn't arrived yet, so I had to come out and shop."

Ruan MiaoMiao bit her lip and said: "Cousin, do you know I'm here, so you came over to pick a fight?"

"Yes, yes," Wen Ling thought to herself, but her face showed some confusion: "Cousin, how could you think that of me? Why would I pick a fight?"

Seeing Ruan MiaoMiao's aggrieved look, Chu Yao angrily scolded Wen Ling: "You could even jump into the lake to slander MiaoMiao; with such a vicious heart, MiaoMiao suspects you deserve it."

"So that's what you told Miss Chu, cousin?" Wen Ling stepped forward, feeling wronged, her voice just loud enough for the salesperson to hear.

"Everyone knows I'm afraid of water; how could I risk my life jumping into the lake just to slander you? How could you say such things to slander me?"

Hearing this, the salespeople exchanged glances; though they said nothing, Ruan MiaoMiao could easily guess what they were thinking.

Chu Yao frowned; she didn't know about this.

Wen Ling continued: "Besides, when I just entered, I heard you and Miss Chu speaking; did I really say that? Even if I had said such things, how could I lump all the aristocratic families of Sijiucheng together? The status of the Zhou Family isn't something I could look down on." She glanced at the already doubtful Chu Yao, suddenly covered her mouth in surprise, and whispered: "You wouldn't be trying to stir up Miss Chu against me, would you?"

Chu Yao indeed looked at the flustered Ruan MiaoMiao; upon meeting her gaze, Ruan MiaoMiao panicked: "How could I do that, YaoYao? You know me."

She grew more flustered, unable to stop wondering: What's going on? Before, Chu Yao, though always aloof, believed her words without doubt; now, how could a few words from others make her doubt herself?

Seeing this, Wen Ling blinked pitifully, feeling wronged: "No matter how much you dislike me, you shouldn't use Miss Chu." She glanced apologetically at Chu Yao and softly said: "I'm disturbing your shopping; I'll leave now, goodbye."

As she turned, the corners of Wen Ling's mouth curled up; the grievance and pity written on her face vanished like flipping a page.

Until she walked out the door, she could still hear Ruan MiaoMiao frantically explaining to Chu Yao; Wen Ling's smile widened, and only after walking far enough to confirm they could no longer hear her did she let out an unrestrained, unseemly laugh.

Her heart filled with undisguised contempt— isn't it just pretending to be wronged to deceive people? Who wouldn't? Without the heroine's halo, who would believe your clumsy lies?

Wen Ling hadn't really planned to buy clothes anyway; now that Chu Yao doubted Ruan MiaoMiao, she considered her mission accomplished and withdrew.

She wandered leisurely through the mall, entering any shop she came across to browse.

Chu Yao, harboring doubts, gave Ruan MiaoMiao a casual glance, found an excuse, and left.

Watching her leave, Ruan MiaoMiao angrily threw her bag to the ground; everyone who could come to this mall were prominent figures of Sijiucheng, naturally they wouldn't chase stars— seeing the current top-tier actress throw a tantrum in public, passersby merely gave her odd looks, so Ruan MiaoMiao could only bite her lip and pick up her bag.

Suddenly, she caught sight of Wen Ling's figure, saw her brows and eyes curved as she wandered from shop to shop, and hurried after her.

"You're happy?"

Wen Ling turned to look at her, gave a light chuckle, and said: "How so? Chu Yao dumped you?"

Ruan MiaoMiao gritted her teeth: "You're not pretending to be innocent now?"

"Huh? What am I pretending?" Wen Ling feigned confusion.

"You've been stirring things between me and Chu Yao— what's your goal? You think if Chu Yao and I fall out, you can swoop in and befriend her? I know her temperament better than anyone." Ruan MiaoMiao clenched her fists and whispered angrily.

Wen Ling casually replied: "Then what's your purpose in stirring her up against me?" She shrugged: "As for befriending Chu Yao, I really haven't thought about that— after all, not everyone is like you, able to humble themselves to fawn over someone they dislike."

Infuriated by Wen Ling's words, Ruan MiaoMiao stepped forward, raised her hand to strike Wen Ling— Wen Ling neither dodged nor avoided, grabbed Ruan MiaoMiao's wrist, and slapped her backhand.

Ruan MiaoMiao stared wide-eyed in disbelief; Wen Ling merely gave a cold chuckle.

"I advise you not to get physical with me—I've never been a soft persimmon, and I haven't settled the score with you for the rumors you've spread about me outside."