Jiang Yiheng's words left Murong Huan in silence for a long time.
She seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to.
But since Jiang Yiheng said that, Murong Huan suddenly began to ponder some questions.
Like her life, her past, and her persistent liking for Jiang Yiheng over the years.
It had always been without reason, but because he was so outstanding, she had never doubted that there was anything wrong with it.
But when she thought about it carefully...
She didn't really like Jiang Yiheng's type, did she? Apart from being handsome, having good grades, and coming from a good family, there were no other merits.
What's more, she had been chasing after him like a dog for so many years, and the usually proud young lady was also very humble in love... what a joke!
Why should she be humble in love? It was so absurd!
Suddenly realizing this, Murong Huan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and glared fiercely at Jiang Yiheng, "I think you're right, so now I have the right to suspect, did you put a spell on me?"
Countless gifts she gave to Jiang Yiheng were discarded on the roadside, countless expressions of her affection were ignored, countless invitations to meet were rejected, and over the years, except in front of their parents, he barely paid any attention to her!
Was she masochistic? Why should she have spent so many years on someone who would never give her any response, and even lost her dignity to beg her father to arrange a marriage with the Jiang family.
The more Murong Huan thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt, a sense of unease creeping up her heart.
Murong Huan didn't let Jiang Yiheng continue to send her home, but got off the car halfway.
She looked at Jiang Yiheng sitting in the car, dressed in a uniform, his expression cold and handsome, impeccable in every way, just like in her memory.
But now, she understood.
Murong Huan looked up at Jiang Yiheng, "I will cancel the engagement, remember, I broke up with you."
Jiang Yiheng nodded, "Okay."
Until the Jiang family's car drove away, Murong Huan was still standing alone on the roadside.
Blue sky, white clouds, green grass.
She took a deep breath, feeling that she had figured it out, but her eyes still couldn't help but get a little wet.
So many years of emotional investment made liking him, although inexplicable, also seem natural.
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind her—
"Hey? What are you standing here for?"
Murong Huan turned around and saw Quan Le riding a shared electric scooter.
Quan Le parked the scooter next to Murong Huan and asked, "Why aren't you talking?"
Murong Huan didn't answer but pointed at the scooter and asked, "Why are you riding this thing? Don't you think it's cheap?"
"I get car sick, comfort is the most important," Quan Le answered without hesitation.
Quan Le then moved forward a bit and asked her, "Where are you going? Need a ride?"
After hesitating for a moment, Murong Huan sat behind Quan Le.
Quan Le's voice was cheerful, "Hold on tight! Let's go!"
"By the way, Murong Huan, be careful, if you see a traffic police officer, jump off the scooter and run away, or we'll both have to post an apology on social media! So embarrassing!"
Murong Huan: "……"
*
The next day.
Song Yi went to Class B, her arms full of snacks, peeking around in Class B looking for Murong Huan.
Suddenly, a hand pressed down on her head from behind, "Pull your neck back a bit, it's tiring to watch."
Shen Yujing said and then let go, taking a bag of biscuits from Song Yi's arms without hesitation, tearing it open and asking, "What do you want from me?"
Song Yi: "……"
He was really narcissistic.
Song Yi asked, "Where's Murong Huan? I can't see her."
"Isn't she here? I just saw her," Shen Yujing said, looking around puzzled, then pointed to a distance, "There! Murong Huan? What are you doing there?"
Song Yi followed Shen Yujing's finger and saw Murong Huan standing at the door of Class A, her arms also full of snacks, obviously also looking for Song Yi.
The sun was good, warm on people's bodies.
Basking in the sun, the two girls smiled at each other from a distance of one class.
The girl's eyes curved, her dimples faintly visible at the corners of her lips.
Some tacit understanding had already formed, no need to explain, no need to apologize to each other.
*
Murong Huan and Jiang Yiheng's engagement was canceled.
Although it was a bit more difficult than expected, after Murong Huan's crying, shouting, and threats at home, Murong's Father could only agree.
But for the sake of cooperation between the two families and the impact, this matter was not made public for the time being.
After the engagement was canceled, the relationship between Jiang Yiheng and Murong Huan became unexpectedly harmonious.
For example, now.
The night before the school anniversary dance, Murong Huan was still guiding Song Yi and Jiang Yiheng in practicing dance, with Shen Yujing sitting behind them watching the fun.
Shen Yujing, with his legs crossed, laughed mockingly, "I say, Jiang Yiheng, your level of incoordination is really a bit ridiculous, isn't it?"
In Shen Yujing's view, Jiang Yiheng, the "perfect student" who had always been number one in everything since childhood, actually had something he was not good at?
It was interesting.
But Murong Huan glared at Shen Yujing, "Shut up! Don't think you're so great! Jiang Yiheng has made a lot of progress!"
"Yes, yes," Song Yi nodded as a witness, "He only stepped on my feet three times today, it's a big improvement."
Tomorrow, she would stuff more cotton into her high heels, and even if Jiang Yiheng stepped on her again, it shouldn't hurt.
This hard time was finally coming to an end!
When Song Yi learned about Murong Huan and Jiang Yiheng canceling their engagement, she was very surprised.
She asked Murong Huan many questions about her feelings for Jiang Yiheng, and after confirming that Murong Huan really didn't like Jiang Yiheng anymore and wasn't just hiding her emotions, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, Song Yi also realized something: the current plot development had completely deviated from the original plot.
Murong Huan, as the villainess, didn't go crazy for Jiang Yiheng, and she herself had avoided many ambiguous entanglements with the three male leads, everything was developing in a good direction.
They all lived like this, ordinary and mundane, and the people in front of her, apart from being excessively wealthy, didn't seem to be much different from ordinary people.
After practicing the dance one more time, this time it was perfect, Jiang Yiheng successfully completed the whole dance without stepping on Song Yi's feet once.
Even if it might just be a fluke, Song Yi still felt so moved that she wanted to cry.
Sob sob sob... it's over! Finally over!
The bell rang at six, signaling the end of classes at Saint Slee Academy.
Murong Huan came over and wrapped an arm around Song Yi's, cooing, "Yiyi, can I come to your house for dinner tonight?"
Shen Yujing looked at Murong Huan and asked sincerely, "What's wrong with your house?"
Murong Huan: "……"
Song Yi: "……"
Murong Huan was speechless but still explained, "My house is fine, I just miss Uncle Song's cooking."
Shen Yujing, who always caught the wrong point, asked again, "You've eaten at Song Yi's house?"
"Of course," Murong Huan answered proudly, "And not just once, Uncle Song's cooking is delicious!"
Shen Yujing immediately became dissatisfied, clamoring, "Why can Murong Huan eat at your house? I want to go too!"
Murong Huan retorted, "What's it to you? I'm Song Yi's best friend, what right do you have to compare with me?"
"I'm Song Yi's best friend!"
Shen Yujing said, looking at Song Yi with a face full of—
You're done if you dare to say we're not.
Song Yi: "……"
Song Yi said, "Why don't we all go?"
"Okay!/No way!"
"No way!/Okay?"
Shen Yujing and Murong Huan turned their heads in different directions, both with impatient expressions.
But obviously, they had both accepted the decision to go together.
Song Yi hesitated for a moment, looking at Jiang Yiheng, who was left behind, and asked, "Do you want to come?"
Song Yi thought Jiang Yiheng would refuse, really.
After all, such a top student like Jiang Yiheng, busy practicing dance during the day, should have something to do at night, right?
Jiang Yiheng nodded and said softly, "It would be my honor."
Song Yi: "……"
Forget it, okay.
One more or one less doesn't make a difference, so let's just bring them all.
After all, my dad will be very happy to see me bringing so many friends home.
However, what Song Yi didn't expect was—
There was no one home.
"Ah……"
Song Yi took out her phone and looked at Murong Huan apologetically, "I'll call my dad to ask."
While Song Yi was on the phone, Shen Yujing began to examine the house. He had never been to such a place before.
The old bungalow, narrow space, the entire house might not be as big as a storage room in his home.
How did Song Yi live in such a place?
Shen Yujing frowned, the furnishings in the house were also very old, and the only compliment he could give was that it was clean and tidy.
Murong Huan saw what Shen Yujing was thinking and said softly, "I was also very shocked the first time I came. Although I knew Yi was a top student, my subconscious always thought that such a beautiful girl should live in a beautiful house, without any worries, growing up happily in love."
Murong Huan's words suddenly made Shen Yujing realize.
Right, Song Yi is a top student, the school paid to bring her from No. 7 High School, her family must be in need of money.
Jiang Yiheng, on the other hand, didn't join their discussion. He just bent down in the courtyard, playing with the flowers and plants.
None of them were expensive varieties, and some flower pots were even replaced with broken bowls, but together they looked surprisingly harmonious and beautiful.
At this moment, Song Yi finally finished her call and said apologetically, "My dad went out on business and might be back very late today."
Shen Yujing was a bit disappointed and said, "I'm starving."
Starving?
Song Yi thought for a moment and found three packets of instant noodles in her room.
Song Yi asked them, "Do you need to eat something to tide you over?"
Surprisingly, no one answered her. The three of them stared at the instant noodles in Song Yi's hand.
Murong Huan was the first to speak, asking, "Is this instant noodles?"
Shen Yujing: "I've never had it before!"
Jiang Yiheng: "Neither have I."
Song Yi: "……"
Of course, they would be.
So Song Yi asked, "Have you ever taken a bus?"
The three of them shook their heads in unison.
Song Yi: "……"
Indeed, it's the world of Mary Sue.
So Song Yi cooked all three packets of instant noodles, divided them into three bowls, and served them.
Shen Yujing picked up his chopsticks first, carefully scooped up a spoonful of noodles, and asked, "Can I eat it directly?"
Song Yi: "……"
Otherwise?
Shen Yujing looked at the noodles in his chopsticks, "This stuff doesn't seem very healthy."
Song Yi looked at him expressionlessly, "It's the only food we have, eat it or leave it."
Murong Huan also found it hard to swallow, "It smells sour and stinky, is it expired? Or let's just go out to eat, I'll treat."
Song Yi: "Because it's Laotan Pickled Vegetable Beef Noodles, the pickled vegetables are naturally sour."
Even though Song Yi said that, the two of them still didn't move, their expressions clearly showing they were still struggling with the pickled vegetable beef noodles, both thinking that something so smelly must be very hard to eat.
Shen Yujing used his chopsticks to flip the noodles and asked, "I see the pickled vegetables, where's the beef?"
"I think you look like a cow." Song Yi: "Are you going to eat it or not? If not, I'll eat it."
As soon as Song Yi finished speaking, Jiang Yiheng picked up his chopsticks and, with a look of determination, scooped up a mouthful of noodles.
Shen Yujing and Murong Huan both looked at him. They knew Jiang Yiheng usually had a light taste, so this instant noodles definitely wasn't...
Jiang Yiheng started eating.
Murong Huan and Shen Yujing exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.
Then the two tentatively picked up their chopsticks again, both breaking through their psychological barriers and putting the strange-tasting noodles into their mouths.
And with that simple bite, both of them froze, then even started to compete to eat the noodles in their bowls.
Song Yi sat there watching the three of them, as if looking at three bottomless pits.
Absurd, really absurd.
Had these three never eaten before? The delicacies at home couldn't compare to a bowl of instant noodles outside?
Shen Yujing was the first to put down his chopsticks, looking at Song Yi with his beautiful peach blossom eyes full of expectation, and asked, "Is there more?"
Song Yi: "……"
The portion of instant noodles was a mystery. For most people, one piece wasn't enough, but two were unnecessary.
So now, it was clear that none of the three were full.
But there really were no more instant noodles at home, the last three packets were in these three stomachs.
Song Yi hesitated for a moment and asked, "Have you ever had Luosifen?"
As expected, the three shook their heads in unison.
Shen Yujing proudly answered first, "But I've heard of it! It's said to be very smelly!"
Murong Huan showed disdain on her face, "Can it be any smellier than these pickled noodles?"
As she said this, it was as if she had already become a warrior who had overcome a great difficulty, full of confidence for what was to come.
Jiang Yiheng said, "I'm fine with anything."
Murong Huan seemed eager, "Then let's go now!"
Thinking about the school celebration tomorrow, Song Yi didn't plan to wash her hair tonight, so she wasn't suitable for eating Luosifen.
So she said, "Next time, we'll bring Quan Le along."
"Alright." Murong Huan was convinced by this reason.
But Shen Yujing said, "But I'm still not full."
Song Yi: "……"
Bottomless pit, really a bottomless pit.
Song Yi took out a bag of biscuits from her pocket and put it in Shen Yujing's hand, pushing him up with the other hand and said, "Goodbye."
After sending all three away, Song Yi felt her world was finally quiet.
Tomorrow is the school celebration, although the performance is something she is good at, the erhu, she still needs to prepare.
Song Yi opened her wardrobe, inside was a cheap second-hand erhu.
Besides that, there was the costume for tomorrow's performance, which Murong Huan had sent over earlier.
This was the first time Song Yi opened it, inside was a light purple cheongsam, with very fine workmanship.
Traditional Hua Country musical instruments paired with a cheongsam were very suitable, Murong Huan had good taste, and Song Yi was very satisfied with this outfit.
The next morning.
Because of the school celebration, the class time was half an hour later than usual.
Song Yi had breakfast at home, still wearing the Saint Slee Academy uniform when she left, carrying the erhu and putting the cheongsam for the performance in her schoolbag.
When Song Yi arrived at Class A, she saw the class culture committee member was counting the number of students participating in the stage performance.
The culture committee member looked at Song Yi and said, "Students participating in the performance don't need to attend the opening ceremony, you can go directly to the backstage for makeup and preparation."
Song Yi nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Shen Yujing walked into Class A and handed a bag to Song Yi.
In the curious gazes of everyone, Shen Yujing said awkwardly, "Good luck with the performance."
After saying that, the golden-haired boy immediately fled Class A, as if he didn't dare to stay for a moment longer.
Song Yi looked down and saw that the bag contained a white gauze dress and a silver crown.
Immediately, a girl came to Song Yi's side, exclaimed, "Is this the performance dress? Shen Yujing personally prepared it for you! Wow!"
Song Yi: "……"
She didn't seem to have told Shen Yujing that she wasn't planning to perform the piano, this outfit seemed unnecessary.
But now Shen Yujing had left, Song Yi didn't want to chase after him to return it, so she just took the bag and headed to the school backstage.
Rest room.
Many students who had stage performances today had already arrived, changing into their costumes and starting to do makeup.
Song Yi's program was scheduled later, so she wasn't in a hurry, putting Shen Yujing's gift bag aside and finding a spot in a corner to sit down.
Soon, the news of Shen Yujing giving Song Yi a dress spread throughout the school through the forum.
Although Song Yi was sitting in the corner, she could still feel countless gazes and some whispers around her.
Song Yi sent a WeChat message to Shen Yujing.
【Song You Leave】: Don't give me things anymore.
【Lonely Wolf】: Don't you like it?
[Lonely Wolf]: Good thing I came prepared! I have one in pink and one in blue. Should I have the driver bring them over now?
[Lonely Wolf]: Song Yi? Song Yi?
[Song You Left]: Others might misunderstand if they see it.
[Lonely Wolf]: Misunderstand what?
[Song You Left]: You have too many girls who like you. I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble.
[Lonely Wolf]: What do I care who likes me? Who dares to bully you?
Song Yi: "..."
It was pointless trying to reason with Shen Yujing.
Suddenly, a girl walked over and asked gently, "Senior Song Yi? Someone's looking for you at the entrance."
Meanwhile.
Shen Yujing sat in the cafeteria, staring at the chat window lost in thought.
After a while, he looked up at Quan Le across from him and asked, "If you give something to a girl and she's not happy about it, saying she doesn't want to be misunderstood because too many girls like you, what does that mean?"
Quan Le, while playing a game, replied, "Are you stupid? When she says you have too many girls who like you, isn't she obviously jealous?"
Shen Yujing's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, stammering, "R-really?"
Quan Le threw down his phone and shouted excitedly, "Pentakill! Pentakill! Ahhhh I got a pentakill!"
Quan Le was so excited he almost jumped up, then looked back at Shen Yujing, "What were you saying just now?"
Shen Yujing: "...Nothing."
Backstage.
Song Yi went to the entrance and waited for two full minutes but didn't see anyone who was supposedly looking for her, so she went back.
When she returned, Song Yi noticed something was wrong.
A corner of the dress was visible from the bag on the table, clearly hastily stuffed back in.
When Song Yi took it out to look, sure enough, the once beautiful white tulle dress was now in tatters.
So calling her away was just a diversion tactic.
Song Yi looked down at the dress, then turned to look at the people around her, asking, "Did anyone come here and touch my things?"
The other girls all avoided Song Yi's gaze, saying things like "Don't know" or "Didn't notice."
Some genuinely hadn't noticed, but others were too guilty to answer, and some were even accomplices.
A girl with a high ponytail walked over, looked at Song Yi's dress, and said, "The performance club has some formal dresses stored here. Though they might not fit perfectly, at least they could work as a backup."
Song Yi shook her head, "Thanks, but no need."
After all, she wasn't planning to wear the dress Shen Yujing gave her anyway. She was a bit angry, but it wasn't a big deal.
Soon Murong Huan arrived, carrying a huge box. She opened it on the table in front of Song Yi, revealing it was full of makeup.
Murong Huan urged Song Yi, "Hurry up and change your clothes, I'll do your makeup."
Song Yi: "There's no need, it's not that impor—"
Murong Huan pouted at Song Yi, looking aggrieved, "I brought all these makeup products specially because I wanted to do your makeup perfectly myself."
Song Yi: "...Alright."
*
Finally, the principal finished his tedious speech, and the student performances officially began.
Shen Yujing and Quan Le sat in the front row, leaning against each other and yawning.
It wasn't that the performances were bad; they just didn't have an eye for appreciating beauty.
Quan Le said, "Don't they get dizzy spinning around like that while dancing?"
Shen Yujing added, "Doesn't their throat hurt singing that high?"
They both clapped half-heartedly, "Amazing."
Then they both fell completely asleep leaning against each other.
After waking up, Shen Yujing rubbed his eyes and asked, "When does the piano performance start?"
Quan Le looked at the program list in his hand, blearily looked at the stage, and after confirming where they were in the program, answered, "Three more performances before Jiang Yiheng."
Shen Yujing: "..."
Quan Le wondered if Jiang Yiheng was really who he wanted to know about.
Shen Yujing stopped asking Quan Le and instead took the performance list from his hand to look at it himself.
There were three piano performers in total, appearing in the order: Lu Qingqing, Song Yi, Jiang Yiheng.
To give the audience a "surprise element," only the performers' names and order were announced, not the specific pieces they would perform.
At this moment, Lu Qingqing had already taken the stage.
She wore a white tulle dress, sat elegantly at the piano, and smiled gently at the audience below.
Shen Yujing nudged Quan Le and suddenly asked, "What do you think of her dress?"
Quan Le asked puzzled, "It's fine, I guess. You like it? Want me to buy you one?"
Shen Yujing didn't answer because he was thinking about the dress he gave Song Yi, which was also a similar white tulle dress.
But suddenly he felt excited about seeing how Song Yi would look in that dress.
Soon, Lu Qingqing's performance ended.
As she left the stage, she looked toward the entrance to the stage, her lips curving into a smile.
Her performance this time was very successful, almost perfect, and now it was Song Yi's turn.
From her investigation of Song Yi, someone from that kind of family background could only know the basics of piano even if she played. Especially with her and Jiang Yiheng's performances for comparison, Song Yi would definitely look worse.
And besides... would someone who didn't even have a formal dress dare to go on stage?
As Lu Qingqing thought this, her smile suddenly froze on her face.
The moment Song Yi stepped onto the stage, her mere presence attracted countless gazes.
Unlike what Lu Qingqing had imagined, she wasn't wearing a formal dress, but a light purple qipao.
This qipao looked as if it had been tailored specifically for Song Yi, hugging her waist and showcasing the gentle beauty of the female form. The light purple added a touch of elegance, yet was appropriately understated for her age, not gaudy at all.
She carried a small handbag at her wrist, decorated with a string of pearls, making her skin look as white as jade.
Someone in the audience exclaimed—
"She looks amazing!!!"
Discussion immediately broke out.
"Damn, is that Song Yi? She's so beautiful!"
"That figure, that face, absolutely stunning! Who's falling for her? I am!"
"Wuwuwuwu she's so elegant, looks so good in a qipao!"
"Good at studies and beautiful, besides not being rich, what flaws does she have?"
"On how to fall in love in one second - I'm smitten!"
...
Looking at Song Yi on stage, Shen Yujing was also momentarily stunned.
Suddenly he felt glad that Song Yi hadn't worn the white tulle dress he chose. Compared to how elegant she looked in the qipao, that girlish white tulle dress seemed rather commonplace.
As Song Yi sat at the piano, just when everyone thought she was about to play, she suddenly turned back and signaled to the staff.
Then the audience watched as—
A staff member came on stage holding an erhu.
The discussions started again—
"Huh? She's not playing the piano?"
"What's that? An erhu?"
"I don't understand, but I'm shocked."
"Whatever, Song Yi could be sawing logs up there and I'd still watch."
Quan Le looked at Shen Yujing and squeezed out a few words, "Haha... she's quite unique."
Shen Yujing remained silent, his gaze fixed on Song Yi on stage.
Shen Yujing didn't care much about what Song Yi performed, because it all sounded the same to him anyway, as he couldn't understand any of it.
At this moment, Song Yi took the erhu in her hands, then opened her small bag and magically pulled out a black hat and a pair of sunglasses.
Song Yi put on the hat and sunglasses, looked at the audience seriously, and said, "Hello everyone, I'm Song Yi from Class 3A. Today I'll present an erhu solo—
'Moon Reflected in the Second Spring'!"
