Two

Did you hear that? No one is looking out for you

For example, not far away, Jono's car was slowly approaching

In this way, I turned my head to glance at Ai Qing; her eyes flickered, and she did not dare to meet my gaze. This was indeed the kind of thing a person like her would do, and I was not surprised at all.

I do not know what kind of spiritual support has transformed me into my current self, but I understand that maintaining composure makes it much easier to achieve great things

At that moment, Guan Yue, wearing a pair of limited edition Valentino high heels, stumbled and bumped into me, causing a jolt. Her temper flared immediately as she looked up and shouted at the girl, "Are you blind?"

It seemed that more and more onlookers were drawn in by Ai Qing's chattering voice. Guan Yue, losing her temper, raised her hand and pulled Ai Qing away from my side.

That knife is something she has carried with her since she was fourteen, yet she has never dared to truly use it for anything

Indeed, the girl before me, who appears to be a troublemaker with a wild demeanor, is the troublemaker that Guan Yue referred to. Before I could comprehend the situation, the two girls, who clearly did not seem to be up to any good, tossed their hair and approached me.

"Su Jing'an! Do you have any humanity?" The impatient Ai Qing revealed her true nature in an instant, wanting to pull me again, but I disdainfully and unceremoniously shook her off. The two girls, on the other hand, were no longer anxious, looking on as if they were watching a good show.

Everyone's attention was drawn to that clown Ai Qing, but only I inadvertently caught a glimpse of the figure getting out of the car

In my dream, at that time my grandmother had not yet passed away, it was a sweltering summer, with the sound of cicadas and a wind as hot as the heat waves. She cooked a large pot of fish soup and happily served it into my bowl, urging me repeatedly to drink it. Yet, fish soup has always been what I detest the most.

However, I naturally dared not say these words to her; I merely pretended to be flattered, trying my best to act like a girl immersed in unrequited love.

I do not have a family member as shameless as you

If one were to describe him in a single sentence, it would be that he is a gentle and refined young man, often speaking little, quietly standing in one place, yet always able to attract the attention of countless people

I gazed at Ai Qing with indifference, my tone devoid of any emotion

It is the base note of Kenzo's L'Eau par Kenzo, a scent that I personally selected

Su Jing'an, you have hit the jackpot

My heart sank as I turned around, and Ai Qing forcefully intruded into my line of sight

Ah, Su Jing'an? The bold girl who used the loudspeaker to call Qiao Nuo over to confess her feelings? Another one raised an eyebrow provocatively, "So, you really caught up with her!"

In many, many late nights, I often find myself repeatedly dreaming the same dream

Even so, Qiao Nuo remained calm, his gaze fixed straight on Ai Qing, the tenderness in his eyes completely vanished. Perhaps it was the overwhelming pressure of his presence that caused Ai Qing to instinctively lower her hand. However, the hand that Qiao Nuo had placed on my shoulder remained there without faltering.

Every time I am about to drink the soup, I awaken from the dream, and as I open my eyes in the night filled with clear moonlight, my entire body is drenched in sweat

What exactly has she gotten herself into? I finally spoke up

Su Jing'an, stop pretending to be so noble. If you have the guts, don't grovel behind Qiao Nuo! Aren't you just afraid of someone like me who has the means to ensnare men? Would you dare to say that to my face in front of your stepmother? Just wait until your father finds out, you worthless child who is unloved by both father and mother! You only dare to flaunt your power in front of me! You think you're something special now that you've ingratiated yourself with Qiao Nuo, soaring to new heights like a phoenix, but do you really think you can trample on me at will?

It turns out that Qiao Nuo changed flights and returned to school early

At the moment the words fell, a series of faint snickers arose around us, and someone even whispered "serves you right." Guan Yue looked at me with a very appreciative attitude, while Ai Qing was subjected to countless disdainful gazes, her shame and anger reaching an extreme, her eyes flashing with fierce light

Perhaps it is due to Guan Yue's inherent queenly aura, or perhaps it is because Guan Yue's reputation is indeed formidable within this university; in any case, those two girls seemed somewhat intimidated

In the hazy moonlight, I naively and confusedly told her that I dreamed of drinking the fish soup I despise the most

She said, do you know how many infatuated girls are waiting for Qiao Nuo to return, just to catch a glimpse of him, and he actually took the initiative to tell me on the phone just now that he would like to have lunch together when we come back

Jono walked straight up to me and put his arm around my shoulders in a manner that was very familiar to me

Ai Qing, you need not rub salt into my wounds with matters at home. I am not in a romantic relationship with Qiao Nuo; it has always been just my affection for him. Please do not speak recklessly and impose unnecessary burdens on others

I blinked forcefully, making myself appear wronged and pitiful, even my voice trembled. At this moment, I suddenly felt grateful for having a harmless-looking face.

Without a moment's hesitation, I turned and pulled her away. However, just as I did, she immediately lunged towards me, crying out, "Sister."

You may be shameless, but do not involve Su Jing'an

Come over and give it a try! At worst, we can perish together! She blushed, holding on stubbornly, and when she saw that the two girls did not move, she pointed the knife at me

Two girls approached, intending to grab Ai Qing, but Ai Qing was not someone to be easily intimidated. She forcefully shook off both of them and quickly pulled out a spring knife from her fake designer bag.

This is the true her, a wolf and a leopard that enjoys donning sheep's clothing and stirring up trouble

"Your sister took my best friend's boyfriend." The girl with red lips responded candidly, "My best friend couldn't handle it and caused a bit of a scene; she is still lying in the hospital now"

No one knows that the daughter of my mother's cohabiting boyfriend was once an indelible shadow in a certain period of my life

This bowl of fish soup, which I find utterly repulsive, is regarded as a supreme delicacy in the eyes of others. I must strive very hard, very hard to compete for the chance to taste even a single sip

You brought this upon yourself, so you should resolve it on your own; we do not have time to indulge your nonsense. Guan Yue glanced at her and pulled me away. However, she underestimated Ai Qing's tenacity, as Ai Qing firmly held onto my other arm and refused to let go

Standing at less than 1.6 meters tall, with a face adorned in heavy makeup that does not match her age, she clung to me as if I were a lifeline, pointing at the two wealthy girls behind her, while shouting hoarsely and shamelessly, "Sister, sister, they want to hit me, please help me call the police, hurry and call the police!"

It was only when Guan Yue hurriedly settled the bill and energetically pulled me back to school that I understood the meaning of the phrase "twists and turns" as she had mentioned.

In that moment, I had the illusion that he was a great tree standing before me, willing to shield me from the wind and rain, steadfast and unmoving. However, before I realized how terrifying this illusion was for me, he spoke.

Then you should just figure out what to do. I shrugged and withdrew my arm from Ai Qing's embrace

While she criticized me for being unkempt and not even using lipstick when going out, she took out her cosmetics and skillfully applied makeup on me.

"Are you Su Jing'an? Qiao Nuo's girlfriend?" one of the girls with bright red lips scoffed at me

I said, do whatever needs to be done. If someone gets their arm broken or leg injured for stealing another person's boyfriend, it is not considered excessive; after all, she brought it upon herself.

No one knows how much torment I have endured to emerge from that period of darkness. Therefore, the current me will not make the slightest concession to her

If there were no one around at this moment, I would definitely roll up my sleeves and have a fierce fight with her, just like that night three years ago. But I know that I cannot do that now. Many times, my tolerance makes me feel a sense of fear within myself

Before she could finish her words, Guan Yue was taken aback. She cleared her throat awkwardly, took a big step back to stand behind me, and muttered, "You handle that troublesome one from your family."

I tell you," she said, pointing at the two of them, "if you dare to touch a single hair on me today, my brother-in-law will not spare you!"

I was taken aback

I stared blankly at Guan Yue, who had her eyes wide open and a look of astonishment on her face, and what came to my mind was, could Qiao Nuo be an emperor? How could he be so gracious even when dining with a girl?

The moment the voice fell, a broad arm gently supported my trembling shoulder, a faint scent of perfume wafting into my nostrils

Jono has lived this long without ever thinking of主动 inviting a girl to lunch

He was already the most attention-grabbing figure in the entire school, and his appearance immediately elicited a chorus of gasps from a group of girls, some of whom even discreetly took out their phones to take pictures

Lying beside me, Guan Yue finally held my face seriously and asked me during my fifth awakening: "Su Jing'an, what terrifying dream did you have?"

However, as I became more familiar with him, I realized that he was not just a blank slate youth, but rather a mature young man with an enigmatic mind, a handsome boy who is forever difficult to decipher.

At the end of spring and the beginning of summer, with the sunlight just right, he, dressed in a white shirt, leans against the bookshelf in the library, intently reading a foreign classic.

The perfume that did not belong to his level was the first gift I gave him on his birthday, entrusted to Guan Yue. The clean and crisp scent, upon the first whiff, immediately brought to mind my first encounter with Qiao Nuo

Qiao Nuo is my fish soup, the one I despise the most, yet for the sake of survival, I have no choice but to drink it.

Otherwise

When the car arrived at the school gate, my light makeup was almost finished. Classmate Guan Yue tugged at my sleeve and hurriedly pulled me forward, only to collide head-on with a girl.

"Su Jing'an, after all, we are family—" Ai Qing exclaimed anxiously, trying to use that moral constraint to coerce me, but I am no longer the fifteen-year-old Su Jing'an. She does not know that mercy and softness of heart are no longer in my life's dictionary

For instance, at this moment, countless pairs of eyes are watching

She snorted, then pulled up the blanket and fell into a deep sleep

The two of them sang in harmony, leaving me somewhat bewildered. Before I could open my mouth to explain, Ai Qing bared her teeth and put on a show of bravado, "That's right, the two of them just got together a couple of days ago, so what?"

And I can no longer fall asleep, for the image of my painting "Spring Returns" resurfaces in my mind, along with thoughts on how I can express it in a way that would capture Jono's attention more.

She chattered incessantly, resembling a rabid dog that might bite at any moment, with an unmistakable air of the common folk surrounding her

The consequences are to be borne by oneself