Yan Yu hadn’t expected the answer to come faster than she imagined.
She had just finished her Midterm Exams and was thinking about how to discreetly obtain some information about Su Qinghan.
After all, advancing the Main Quest depended on that woman’s emotional fluctuations.
To her surprise, Su Qinghan and Jiang Muyun had exploded on their own.
‘Good.’
A new event had been triggered, and the Acting Progress could be pushed forward again.
Yan Yu silently calculated in her heart.
It happened on Friday afternoon when school let out.
The setting sun dyed the entire street a warm orange-red.
At the School Gate, people came and went, students carrying backpacks hurrying home everywhere.
Ruo Xiaozhen pushed Yan Yu’s wheelchair as the two walked slowly toward the Rental Apartment.
Ruo Xiaozhen was muttering about what to cook for dinner.
“There’s still half a cabbage in the fridge.
How about a vinegar cabbage stir-fry?
And make some Seaweed and Egg Drop Soup.
Simple…”
Mid-sentence, she suddenly stopped.
“Yan Yu, look.
Why are so many people gathered over there?”
Yan Yu followed the direction she pointed.
On the open ground to the right of the School Gate, a crowd had indeed formed.
People gathered in twos and threes, some craning their necks to peer inside, others whispering and discussing among themselves, excited expressions on their faces as if they couldn’t wait to watch the drama.
“I don’t know,” Yan Yu said.
“Let’s go around.
Don’t get involved.”
Ruo Xiaozhen acknowledged and was about to push the wheelchair past the edge of the crowd when Yan Yu’s peripheral vision caught a familiar figure.
The Su Family’s black Luxury Sedan was parked by the roadside as usual.
The Driver had already opened the rear door and stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Su Qinghan to get in.
This time, however, Jiang Muyun was not by Su Qinghan’s side.
She stood alone by the car, phone in hand, brows slightly furrowed, her gaze frequently darting toward the School Gate.
She was waiting for someone—waiting for Jiang Muyun.
Yan Yu signaled Ruo Xiaozhen to stop and watched from a distance.
After about five or six minutes, Jiang Muyun finally walked out of the School Gate.
Her long hair hung loose over her shoulders.
Her steps were fast, so fast it seemed she was fleeing from something.
Her gaze stared straight ahead.
She didn’t look at Su Qinghan, didn’t look at the car, and walked directly in the opposite direction.
“Muyun!”
Su Qinghan called out hurriedly, caught up in a few strides, and reached out to grab Jiang Muyun’s wrist.
Jiang Muyun was forced to stop but still didn’t look at her.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Su Qinghan’s voice was very low, low enough that only the two of them could hear.
But Yan Yu wasn’t too far away, and with the wind blowing just right, a few words drifted over intermittently.
Jiang Muyun suddenly turned her head.
Yan Yu could see her face clearly—her eye sockets were red, as if she had been crying, or as if she was holding back tears.
Her lips trembled slightly, biting tight then loosening, loosening then biting tight again.
“What do you mean what’s wrong with me?”
Jiang Muyun’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word seemed squeezed through her teeth.
“Qinghan, you weren’t like this before!”
“What exactly is going on?
Just spit it out—”
Su Qinghan froze.
“Why do I have to say it for you to understand?”
Jiang Muyun’s voice suddenly rose a few notes, drawing the attention of several nearby students.
When those words came out, Su Qinghan’s face stiffened slightly.
She instinctively glanced around and indeed saw many eyes already gathered on them.
Those gazes held curiosity, speculation, excitement for the spectacle.
A few girls leaned together whispering, the corners of their mouths curled in knowing smirks.
Su Qinghan didn’t like this.
She had never liked exposing private matters in front of others, and she hated being reduced to gossip fodder.
Su Qinghan, the Lady of the Su Family, was supposed to be an unattainable presence in others’ eyes.
She would not allow herself to lose dignity in any setting.
She let go of Jiang Muyun’s hand.
The motion was very light, seeming insignificant.
But to Jiang Muyun, it looked like abandonment.
Jiang Muyun yanked her arm away forcefully.
In truth, Su Qinghan had already let go.
Her “yank” was more of a show for the surrounding crowd.
Then she turned around and strode off in another direction outside the School Gate.
Su Qinghan stood alone, watching the gradually receding back.
Her brows were furrowed, her lips pressed into a line.
Her expression was hard to read—anger or grievance, or maybe both.
She wasn’t the type to wear her emotions on her face.
But at this moment, she was genuinely upset.
It wasn’t because Jiang Muyun was angry—even between lovers, arguments and emotions were normal.
What bothered her was that Jiang Muyun had given her attitude in front of so many people.
She was Su Qinghan.
Since childhood, no one had dared treat her like this.
Back when the whole school spread rumors about her and Jiang Muyun’s good relationship, she didn’t say anything, but deep down she was secretly pleased.
That pleasure wasn’t vanity.
It was a sense of security from being accepted.
Everyone knew they were a couple.
Everyone approved of their relationship.
She thought Jiang Muyun treasured that recognition just as much as she did.
But today, Jiang Muyun had embarrassed her in front of so many people.
Those spectators, those gossips whispering to each other—they must already be talking about them.
Whatever they said, it wouldn’t be good.
Su Qinghan could almost imagine the voices.
“Look at Su Qinghan and Jiang Muyun—are they fighting?”
“The way Jiang Muyun acted just now, tsk tsk…”
“Even the Lady of the Su Family has her day.”
The discomfort in her heart gradually turned into a hint of resentment.
Not resentment toward Jiang Muyun, but helplessness about her own situation.
But that helplessness, in the end, still fell back on Jiang Muyun.
Just then, her phone rang.
Ding-dong—
A crisp notification sound.
Su Qinghan glanced down at the screen, her heart stirring slightly.
She instinctively thought it was from Jiang Muyun.
‘Muyun should be considerate.
After throwing a tantrum, she might send a message to smooth things over.’
‘Maybe a simple “You there?” or a coquettish “Are you mad?” or just a sticker.’
‘No matter what it is, as long as Muyun speaks first, I’ll take the out and let today’s little friction slide.’
She sighed, swiped open the screen.
But the message wasn’t from Jiang Muyun.
It was from Yan Yu.
Su Qinghan’s fingers paused.
‘Yan Yu?’
The ripples stirred by that name eerily overshadowed the displeasure she had felt toward Jiang Muyun just moments ago.
She had thought that at this critical juncture, even as Jiang Muyun disappointed her, she wouldn’t have the energy to deal with anyone else.
But…
Yan Yu had sent her a message.
‘How long has it been since Yan Yu last contacted me on her own?
And why would she message now?’
‘Is it concern?
Or just plain boredom?
Or… like me, has she keenly sensed the rift between Jiang Muyun and me, and can’t wait to come watch the fun?’
A flicker of irritation passed through her heart.
Su Qinghan found herself somewhat reluctant to open that message.
She was used to being in control, used to people looking up to her or trying to please her.
But Yan Yu was an exception.
Yan Yu was always indifferent, like she was shrouded in a thin mist.
Su Qinghan couldn’t see the true emotions behind her eyes.
That lack of control felt especially glaring at this moment.
What’s more, Su Qinghan’s current situation was utterly humiliating.
Having her hand shaken off by Jiang Muyun in public, being stared at by passersby, the carefully maintained dignity shattered into pieces.
Su Qinghan knew she didn’t want anyone to see her like this, least of all Yan Yu.
She didn’t want to reveal her vulnerability—that she too could be shaken off—in front of Yan Yu.
It would destroy the pitiful superiority she had painstakingly built up in Yan Yu’s eyes.
But…
Su Qinghan’s fingers curled slightly.
Deep in her heart, a faint voice argued back.
‘Yan Yu… might not be what I think.’