Chapter 30 : Feng Aotian Begins to Awaken? Really?

After leaving Yan Yu, Su Qinghan felt a mess inside.

Not just any mess, but an unprecedented kind of chaos.

Her brain must have water in it, or perhaps she didn’t sleep well last night. That was the only explanation for why her heart skipped a beat just now when she faced Yan Yu’s insincere smile and that polite “dress warmly” remark.

She even… felt a flicker of a heart-fluttering illusion that should absolutely never have existed.

This was utterly ridiculous.

Between her and Yan Yu, from start to finish, it had only ever been an unspoken exchange of interests.

She coveted that face somewhat similar to Muyun’s, seeking a bit of illusory comfort while Muyun was far away in a foreign land.

As for Yan Yu, a poor student suffering from a serious illness, with no one to rely on, unable to even afford medical fees—what she coveted was naturally Su Qinghan’s money, the material security she could provide.

So-called feelings?

Yan Yu’s cautious attempts to please her, her humble attachment, even her heart-wrenching pleas during the breakup… they were merely a performance of deep affection put on by a desperate substitute clinging to her last lifeline.

Once the financial support vanished, the performance naturally had to end.

Only Muyun was different.

Muyun was the treasure truly worthy of all her sincere feelings and devoted care.

These truths, she had clearly thought through long ago, understood thoroughly.

So why…

Just a moment ago, looking into Yan Yu’s eyes that seemed to hold the cold moonlight, did the wall named reason in her heart slightly tremble?

Even feeling a flicker of… doubt?

Su Qinghan violently shook her head, as if trying to banish those absurd thoughts from her mind.

She quickened her pace, attempting to calm the inner turmoil through action.

She was from the Foreign Languages College, and Jiang Muyun’s Art Department classes were in the opposite direction.

Reaching the fork in the road, still lost in her own thoughts, she actually forgot to say goodbye to Jiang Muyun beside her and subconsciously started to turn towards her own college’s teaching building.

“Qinghan!”

Jiang Muyun’s voice, tinged with clear displeasure, rang out behind her.

She quickly caught up and grabbed Su Qinghan’s wrist, her grip not light.

“What are you doing?”

Su Qinghan was pulled to a stop, turning her head with a slight frown.

“I wanted to ask you the same thing!”

Jiang Muyun stared at her face, her own brows tightly knit.

“Ever since we ran into that Yan Yu just now, you’ve been completely distracted! What are you thinking about? Don’t tell me… you’re still thinking about that bitch?”

“Who? Of course not!”

Su Qinghan denied it almost reflexively, her tone a bit rushed due to a sliver of guilt.

She quickly averted her gaze, finding an excuse.

“I was just… thinking about your birthday.”

“Birthday?”

Jiang Muyun was momentarily stunned.

“Yes, isn’t your birthday tomorrow?”

Su Qinghan steadied her mind, her tone returning to its usual composure, even deliberately softening.

“I was thinking I should prepare a grand birthday party for you, invite all our friends, and celebrate properly.”

“Really?”

Jiang Muyun’s eyes instantly lit up, her earlier anger dissipating significantly, replaced by anticipation and delight.

“Of course, I promise.”

Su Qinghan looked at her excited expression, and the ripples caused by Yan Yu in her heart seemed to calm a bit.

The person before her was the one she should be focusing on and cherishing.

“Then… will you give me a gift?”

Jiang Muyun blinked, with a hint of a coquettish tone.

“Of course I will.”

Su Qinghan smiled, promising.

“Weren’t you eyeing that newly released limited edition sports car last time? The pink one, very cute, and I think it suits you perfectly. I’ve already had someone place an order; we should be able to pick it up soon. Next time, we can drive it out together for a road trip.”

“Really?!”

Jiang Muyun covered her mouth in surprise, then threw herself forward to hug Su Qinghan’s arm, smiling sweetly.

“I knew it! Qinghan, you’re the best to me!”

That incredibly expensive sports car seemed to completely dispel the gloomy cloud of displeasure caused by Yan Yu.

Jiang Muyun’s face bloomed with a bright smile once more.

“Well… see you later?”

She let go and waved at Su Qinghan.

“Mhm, see you later.”

Su Qinghan nodded, watching as she walked briskly towards the Art Building. That inexplicable irritation in her heart also seemed to be temporarily suppressed by Jiang Muyun’s satisfied smile.

She turned and continued towards her own classroom.

After just a few steps, she saw Dai Feng under the phoenix tree not far away.

Dai Feng was leaning casually against the tree trunk, hands in her sweatpants pockets, her ponytail swaying slightly in the morning breeze. She was clearly waiting for her.

“Sorry, Muyun needed me for something. Kept you waiting.”

Su Qinghan walked over.

“That’s not a big deal.”

Dai Feng straightened up, shaking her head.

Her gaze was calm as she looked at Su Qinghan, her tone giving nothing away.

“It’s just, Qinghan… is continuing like this really good for you?”

“What?”

Su Qinghan was taken aback, not understanding what she meant.

“I know your personality. You have clear likes and dislikes, intense love and hate. Once you’ve decided on something, it’s hard to change.”

Dai Feng’s voice was very calm, even somewhat cool.

“Sometimes, that’s a good thing. It gives you clear goals and decisive action. But… it’s not always a good thing.”

“What exactly are you trying to say, Dai Feng?”

Su Qinghan frowned slightly, a bit impatient.

Her mind was already chaotic enough today; she had no patience for her childhood friend speaking in riddles.

“I’m not trying to say anything.”

Dai Feng lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the end of her ponytail.

After a few seconds of silence, she looked up at Su Qinghan again.

In those eyes, usually sharp and rational, there now seemed to be a trace of something barely perceptible… worry?

“I just feel, Qinghan, there are some people, some things… you need to look at and think about more carefully.”

“The way you see people and things sometimes… is too simple, too absolute.”

“If this continues, what gets hurt might not just be you. It could also be… those who might be very important to you, people you just haven’t realized it yet.”

Su Qinghan was left baffled and even more irritated by these words.

She sighed, adjusting the strap of her backpack with one hand.

“You’re still the same, always liking to talk in riddles. If there’s something, just say it directly.”

“Say it directly?”

Dai Feng looked at her, the corner of her mouth twitching almost imperceptibly—like self-mockery, or perhaps helplessness.

In the end, she shook her head.

“Then forget it.”

Some words, even if said, you might not believe, might not be able to hear.

She silently added in her heart.

It’s not that I don’t want to speak directly.

It’s just that you, Qinghan… have always only been willing to believe what you want to believe.

Only willing to look at the world through your own rules and logic, yet rarely willing to truly calm your heart, use your own heart, to carefully look at what the people around you… are really like.