After dinner at Donglai Hotel, the three girls took a taxi back to school. Wu Aiai got off at Deji, while Gu Wanrong and Zhou Siyin disembarked at the gate of Jinhua University. They walked back to their dorms, parting ways at the entrance to their respective dorm buildings.
Downstairs in the dorm building, Xie Xian affectionately ruffled a girl’s hair. “Go back to the dorm. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“Bye-bye,” the girl replied, waving.
After the girl left, Xie Xian turned and got into his black Bentley.
Not far away, Gu Wanrong recognized Xie Xian as the man she’d encountered at the hotel. Pretending to be calm, she walked past the Bentley and entered the dorm building.
Xie Xian, amused by her stiff, affected nonchalance, found the coincidental third encounter with Gu Wanrong quite remarkable.
He waited until Gu Wanrong disappeared around the stairwell before driving off.
Back in the dorm.
Upon entering, Gu Wanrong found a previously unseen roommate already there: the same girl who had just said goodbye to Xie Xian—Yu Yingying.
“Gu Wanrong, you’re back. This is Yu Yingying,” Jiang Yanyao said, introducing them. “Yingying, this is Gu Wanrong.”
“Nice to meet you,” Gu Wanrong replied, subtly withdrawing her arm from Jiang Yanyao’s grasp while setting down her shopping bags. She disliked physical contact with strangers. “Thank you for coming back early and cleaning the dorm.”
“Don’t mention it. My housekeeper did it,” Yu Yingying dismissed with a wave of her hand.
“She cleaned because of you, Yingying. Accept Wanrong’s thanks,” Jiang Yanyao insisted, using their given names warmly, seemingly unbothered by Gu Wanrong’s withdrawal. “Right, Wanrong?”
Gu Wanrong nodded, before she could respond, Xu Rong scoffed, fiddling with a newly purchased Gucci perfume.
Jiang Yanyao, knowing Xu Rong well, understood her displeasure at being ignored.
“That Gucci perfume must be expensive. Your family is so good to you. I’m so envious,” Jiang Yanyao quickly flattered Xu Rong.
“Of course. Your monthly allowance wouldn’t even cover it,” Xu Rong boasted, raising her voice, making sure everyone heard her. She received 8,000 yuan a month, and the Gucci perfume cost over 1,000 yuan—a purchase fueled by her resentment at seeing Gu Wanrong’s extravagant shopping spree.
Back at the dorm, Gu Wanrong ignored her, the new roommate remained aloof, and Jiang Yanyao continued to ingratiate herself with them.
This differed greatly from the usual attention she received after buying luxury goods; Xu Rong felt ignored and angry. She flaunted the perfume to garner attention, but only Jiang Yanyao reacted, leaving Xu Rong frustrated.
Defeated, Xu Rong put the perfume down. “You country bumpkin, don’t assume everyone is as unsophisticated as you are,” she snapped at Jiang Yanyao.
“I only saw my first designer lipstick in high school. Please introduce me to more luxury goods in the future, Rongrong,” Jiang Yanyao humbly responded, ignoring the insult.
While this subservient-to-superior dynamic unfolded, Gu Wanrong was unpacking her purchases, and Yu Yingying watched a drama with headphones.
Gu Wanrong was already aware of Xu Rong and Jiang Yanyao’s personalities and their relationship, showing no interest in their interactions.
Yu Yingying, accustomed to being fawned over, was unfazed by their behavior.
Late at night, Xu Rong went to the bathroom, and upon noticing Yu Yingying’s numerous high-end perfumes—several limited editions—on her desk, she exploded.
Ignoring her father’s advice to maintain harmony, Xu Rong confronted Yu Yingying.
“Were you ignoring me earlier because you look down on me?!” Xu Rong shouted, ripping off Yu Yingying’s headphones.
“What’s wrong with you? Apologize!” Yu Yingying responded, confused.
“Don’t act superior! You’re disgusting, laughing behind people’s backs,” Xu Rong retorted, shoving Jiang Yanyao away when she tried to intervene. “And you! You saw those perfumes, didn’t you? You were laughing at me!”
“Your mouth is so foul, did you just come from the toilet?” Yu Yingying countered, “Even princesses don’t have your attitude.”
“Your whole family is foul-mouthed,” Xu Rong yelled, pushing Yu Yingying to the ground.
Gu Wanrong intervened, catching Yu Yingying before she hit a chair.
“You’re shouting and now you’re violent! Don’t you know that’s dangerous?” Gu Wanrong scolded, holding Yu Yingying.
“You’re always acting like a good person! You’re all bullying me!” Xu Rong yelled at Gu Wanrong before storming out, leaving a crowd of onlookers.
“Are you okay?” Gu Wanrong asked Yu Yingying, handing her back her headphones.
“I’m fine,” Yu Yingying replied, shocked by Xu Rong’s outburst.
“It’s my fault. I should have stopped Rongrong,” Jiang Yanyao apologized, subtly displaying a bruised arm.
They understood Jiang Yanyao’s manipulative display and simply said, “It’s not your fault.”
The next morning, Xu Rong woke everyone with loud noises.
“Are you sick? See a doctor. It’s early morning,” Yu Yingying snapped, opening the curtains.
“Rongrong, be quiet,” Jiang Yanyao pleaded.
Ignoring them, Xu Rong played loud music, applying makeup with lights on, retaliating for her humiliating experience the previous night. She had been confined to the dorm building by the dorm supervisor and returned only when it was quiet. Her actions were a blatant act of revenge.
