Chapter 577: Low Rank

"Zhen Rongrong, since you've come to the Lighthouse, stop viewing the world through mainland eyes."

Ruan Ruan Shujun, facing Zhen Zhen Rongrong's anger, did not panic but patiently explained: "Do you know what 'equal protection' means in the Lighthouse Constitution?"

"Equal protection—equal protection. Although race, gender, and age discrimination are forbidden in the Lighthouse, discrimination based on wealth is not unconstitutional,"

"because wealth is something everyone can pursue, unlike race, gender, or age, which are unchangeable; thus, wealth-based discrimination is a reasonable form of discrimination."

"Or rather, it's not discrimination at all—just a punishment for those who accept poverty."

"."

Zhen Zhen Rongrong stared blankly at Ruan Ruan Shujun, who seemed so utterly reasonable—suddenly, the roommate she'd lived with for half a year felt like a stranger.

When they all came from the mainland, they all shared the goal of "repaying the state." But now Zhen Zhen Rongrong was certain Ruan Ruan Shujun's motives were impure.

Ruan Ruan Shujun had no intention of returning.

Seeing Zhen Zhen Rongrong's blank expression, Ruan Ruan Shujun grew uneasy, sat up, and pointed out the window to continue persuading her.

"Zhen Rongrong, I just saw you fidgeting—you clearly care deeply about this classmate of yours. But believe me, your life partner shouldn't be someone who drives a pickup truck—"

Ruan Ruan Shujun fell silent, suddenly frozen.

Because outside the window, she saw the pickup truck—and behind it, a gleaming luxury car.

Having been in the Lighthouse for a month, Ruan Ruan Shujun had memorized every luxury car logo; she knew exactly how valuable this car was,

and worse, the handsome boy stepping out of it was even more captivating than the car itself.

"I'm so sorry, Zhen Rongrong. Maybe you misunderstood me—I have no prejudice against our fellow countrymen. Wait a moment, let's welcome your classmate together—"

Weak from childbirth, Ruan Ruan Shujun rolled out of bed in one motion, dashed into the bathroom, and immediately the sound of running water filled the room.

"Zhen Rongrong, have you seen my blusher? I left it right here the day before yesterday."

"."

"Sigh~~"

Zhen Zhen Rongrong sighed, opened the door, and walked out of the dorm.

There was so much stuff—could she really let Li Ye carry it all up himself?

………………

Of course Li Ye wouldn't carry it all himself—Jin Ge and the others helped, and in two trips, all the packages were delivered into Zhen Zhen Rongrong's dorm.

"This package is letters from your classmates. This is the Pechoin from Chen Chen Xiaoling. This is the Daoxiangcun pastries from Pu Pu Xianghe."

Li Ye opened each package one by one, introducing them to Zhen Zhen Rongrong. Though none were valuable, each carried deep affection from her classmates.

"Thank you… thank you, Li Ye."

Zhen Zhen Rongrong's eyes turned red.

Only after experiencing the cold indifference of a foreign land could someone far from home truly understand how precious and rare the warmth between friends truly was.

"Why thank me? You should write a long letter telling your classmates how much you miss them."

Li Ye smiled at Zhen Zhen Rongrong, then waved his hand casually: "Alright, alright, stop moping. Just tell me where to put these things—they're blocking the whole dorm."

The gifts from classmates had piled up so high they filled the hallway, truly obstructing movement.

But before Zhen Zhen Rongrong could speak, someone said: "It's not blocking anything. These are tokens of love from family back home—how could they be an obstruction?"

"."

Li Ye turned and saw Ruan Ruan Shujun stepping out of the bathroom—his heart skipped.

Her hair was half-dry, clearly washed in haste; her lipstick was uneven, lips unlined; her blusher was patchy. Her entire face looked strangely off to Li Ye.

【What's wrong with this girl? Why torture herself like this?】

In the 1980s, girls' makeup skills were nowhere near those of later-generation "fairy girls." Having seen countless such "fairies," Li Ye found Ruan Ruan Shujun's makeup utterly unimpressive.

"How can it not be blocking?"

Li Ye smiled faintly and called out toward the door: "Xiao Yu, Xiao Ruo, come help organize. We guys are clumsy—we'll only make it messier."

Wen Wen Leyu and Fu Fu Yiruo entered. Ruan Ruan Shujun's smile froze.

What does it feel like when a fairy tries to show off, only to face a crushing-level beauty?

What if there are two crushing-level beauties?

Then you play the tragic card.

"Let me help Zhen Rongrong tidy up! You're guests—how could you trouble yourselves?"

Ruan Ruan Shujun quickly adjusted, dragged her weak body, and began helping Zhen Zhen Rongrong sort the items,

but she gasped for breath every three seconds, wiped sweat every five—seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Zhen Zhen Rongrong couldn't help saying: "Rest a bit, Ruan Shujun. Your body hasn't recovered yet."

But Ruan Ruan Shujun, who hadn't left bed for days, now stubbornly insisted: "I can do it—I really can. This little hardship means nothing. Since we're in the Lighthouse, we can't complain about fatigue or pain."

"."

Li Ye felt awkward—like watching a movie from this era, listening to the lead characters' forced dialogue.

In later eras, with the internet's abundance of knowledge, "fairy girls" mastered persona-building expertly—elite manipulators made their artifice invisible.

But Ruan Ruan Shujun—whether too rushed or just inept—gave Li Ye the impression her level was low.

Of course, the overall environment of this era was still pure. If a high-end "fairy girl" from the future came here, she'd slaughter everyone like Daji.

Li Ye felt awkward. Wen Wen Leyu and Fu Fu Yiruo were annoyed.

Fu Fu Yiruo dropped what she was holding and said coldly: "Then you handle the tidying! Zhen Banzhang, aren't you supposed to be working at Cao's Restaurant? Isn't it almost time? Come with our car."

Li Ye stepped out of Zhen Zhen Rongrong's dorm immediately, showing his agreement through action.

Zhen Zhen Rongrong felt deeply embarrassed. After checking her watch, she nodded silently.

But Ruan Ruan Shujun pleaded tearfully: "Don't make Zhen Rongrong go. I can manage—I'll go to work today—"

Zhen Zhen Rongrong, about to speak as she watched Ruan Ruan Shujun trembling like she might collapse, was pulled out the door by Wen Wen Leyu.

Though Wen Wen Leyu sensed Zhen Zhen Rongrong's slight odd feelings toward Li Ye, she was certain Zhen Zhen Rongrong would never do anything inappropriate,

while this Ruan Ruan Shujun might as well have written her intentions toward Li Ye on her forehead.

Keep Li Ye far away—far away. What if she fainted on the way? What would Li Ye, the kind-hearted soul, do?

But both Li Ye and Wen Wen Leyu underestimated Ruan Ruan Shujun's persistence—she clung to the stairs, pale-faced, following them downstairs, determined to go to work on her own.

Just as Li Ye and the others frowned, unsure how to handle it, Zhen Jie arrived on her bicycle, also heading to the restaurant.

After learning the situation, she tossed her bicycle onto Li Ye's pickup and asked Ruan Ruan Shujun coldly: "You insist on going to San Francisco—to find Cardil, or to check up at the hospital?"

Ruan Ruan Shujun froze, her face turning deathly pale.

Don't hit a man where it hurts—aren't you about to spill why I'm going to the hospital too?

Zhen Jie snorted: "Stay home. Harm yourself if you must, but don't harm others."

"."

Ruan Ruan Shujun helplessly watched Li Ye and the others leave. As they departed, she cast pleading glances at Zhen Zhen Rongrong and Zhen Jie, hoping they'd keep quiet.

But Zhen Zhen Rongrong was soft-hearted; Zhen Jie was not. Once in the car, she spilled everything about Ruan Ruan Shujun.