Chen Tingting looked up and saw the words “Strawberry Flavor” printed on the candy wrapper, and was stunned.
She stared blankly at the youthful-looking girl standing before her.
“I don’t want it,” Chen Tingting said coldly.
With that, she lowered her head again, pretending to scroll through her phone. All she wanted was for this annoying little brat to leave her alone so she could enjoy some peace and quiet.
“Big Sister Rou, she doesn’t like strawberry lollipops…” Qin Yuanyuan turned around, surprised, and looked at Xia Rou.
In her opinion, strawberry-flavored lollipops were practically one of the best things in the world.
So why did this girl look so disgusted by it?
“Maybe everyone has different preferences.”
“I see… okay, then.”
Xia Rou glanced at the girl sitting on the bench.
It was winter, yet the girl was still wearing a short skirt with skin-tone leggings.
And there was no one else around. Sitting here all by herself… something felt off.
Xia Rou stared for a while.
This person… could she be a human trafficker? She definitely had a bad attitude.
Luckily, she had accompanied Qin Yuanyuan today.
Xia Rou felt a jolt in her chest before she reached over to grab Qin Yuanyuan’s hand.
“She looks like she has something going on. Yuanyuan, let’s not bother her anymore. Let’s buy the 2B pencils and head home.”
Xia Rou tried to maintain a calm tone, but she didn’t get a response.
“Hmm? Yuanyuan?”
When she turned around, she saw Qin Yuanyuan staring at the girl’s phone screen.
“Don’t look!”
“Sis, why are you swiping around on QQ? You don’t even have the internet.”
Qin Yuanyuan asked with innocent confusion.
Xia Rou froze at the words.
“You know nothing, you little brat! So annoying!”
Chen Tingting suddenly shot up from the bench. Her sudden outburst nearly startled Qin Yuanyuan to tears.
“Wuuu…”
“Why are you yelling so loud?”
Xia Rou immediately stepped in front of Qin Yuanyuan protectively. Her gaze turned sharp and cold.
Chen Tingting looked at the two hugging in front of her, and the fire in her heart gradually died down.
She knew she was misplacing her anger—treating them like her parents or her roommates.
“Wait.”
Xia Rou frowned as Chen Tingting turned and walked away without saying a word. It made her even angrier.
But Chen Tingting didn’t care. She just wanted to find another quiet place to sit alone.
As for how long she’d sit? Who knew?
It was too cold to sleep on a bench now.
And she didn’t want to go back to the dorm, didn’t want to see those ugly, fake faces.
…Though honestly, she didn’t have the right to say that.
Chen Tingting lowered her head. Her expression was as lifeless as a corpse.
“Sis!”
Just then, a voice called out from behind her.
Chen Tingting was starting to lose patience.
“You look like you’re in pain. Are you sick? I can ask my sister to take you to the hospital! I’m sure you’ll be all better!”
Chen Tingting looked at the girl who once again ran over to talk to her. She was close to snapping.
“Eh…”
“Or wait, maybe you’re not sick, just upset? Let me think! What do people do when they’re in a bad mood…”
The girl’s face kept switching between excitement and worry, leaving Chen Tingting completely dazed.
Were those tears at the corners of her eyes… was she still crying from earlier?
Even after all that, why was she still talking to me? So annoying...
“I’m fine, okay? Got it? Don’t worry about me. Just go already.”
Chen Tingting didn’t show any anger this time. She said it calmly, then turned to leave.
This time, there was no noisy voice behind her. The silence actually felt… peaceful.
She thought she was finally free.
Until—
“Sis!”
“Damn it.”
Chen Tingting turned with a scowl and saw the same girl again.
“What do you want now?? You’re so annoying.”
“Sis, your phone doesn’t have internet and your battery’s about to die. Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Battery?!”
Chen Tingting hadn’t been paying attention, but now she hurriedly pulled the phone out of her coat pocket.
(Battery: 21%)
It really was almost dead?
At this rate, it would shut down in an hour.
She clearly remembered charging it fully this morning.
But it made sense. She’d been using this phone since high school—over three years. The battery was worn out.
She had begged for this phone for an entire day to get it.
Now Chen Tingting was starting to panic.
If her phone died, she’d have no way to get back.
Her expression twitched with unease.
“Sis, is your home far? If it is, you could come to my place and charge up. We have Wi-Fi too…” Qin Yuanyuan added sweetly.
Xia Rou didn’t even have time to stop her.
“Your place? Don’t be ridiculous.” Chen Tingting sneered, but began weighing her options.
She could try to borrow someone’s Wi-Fi, take a bus back to the dorm… that was still doable.
But everyone had seen the real No.1 at today’s class meeting—
The girl with the looks and charm that totally crushed her.
She’d probably get mocked by her roommate the moment she stepped back into the dorm.
“Ugh… My house has tons of delicious stuff. Not just lollipops—there’s cake, bread, and more! All super tasty!”
Qin Yuanyuan broke free from Xia Rou’s grip and chirped excitedly.
“Cake? Really?”
Chen Tingting’s expression changed completely.
Cake was her absolute favorite.
“Mhm, mhm! As much as you want. Sister Xuanxuan and the others can make it all.”
“Xuanxuan?”
Chen Tingting looked at the girl’s sweet, innocent smile and hesitated.
“…Fine, I’ll go with you.”
“Yay!”
Qin Yuanyuan beamed even brighter and bounced on the spot like a real little kid.
Xia Rou, however, was dumbfounded.
Yuanyuan wanted to bring a stranger home, and… the stranger agreed?
This girl…
Xia Rou stared in shock at the stylish, well-dressed Chen Tingting. Could she be trying to scam Qin Yuanyuan?
…
After that, the three of them set off together on the journey home.
They even bought a few 2B pencils along the way.
Xia Rou held tightly onto Qin Yuanyuan’s hand the entire time, not daring to let her guard down for a second.
Chen Tingting was just as alert.
She knew going home with strangers was dangerous.
As a girl, she understood that deeply.
But she really didn’t want to go back to the dorm—or that so-called “home.”
And this weird little brat… didn’t seem like a liar. She actually seemed kindhearted.
Even if she was being scammed… oh well.
No one cared whether she lived or died anyway.
That thought actually made her feel more relaxed, almost indifferent.
But when she followed the girl through a gate and laid eyes on the massive fairytale-like villa—
She froze in place.
She still couldn’t believe it even as she stepped inside.
But soon enough, she realized she had really walked into a fairytale.
“Th-this…”
Chen Tingting was so shocked, she couldn’t even form words.
“Xuanxuan, Xuanxuan, Xuanxuan! I want cake!”
Qin Yuanyuan ran off excitedly toward a familiar direction.
A few minutes later…
Five maids emerged in an orderly line.
Their matching uniforms and graceful etiquette left Chen Tingting standing at the door, her mouth hanging wide open.
(End of Chapter)