On the third-floor corridor of the Baiying Teaching Building, a petite black-haired girl furrowed her delicate brows tightly, pressing her waist against her chest as she strode forward with long, determined steps, as if trying to shake something off.
But every two steps she took, she would pause slightly, turn her head to glare impatiently behind her, then silently roll her eyes before continuing to walk briskly ahead.
Behind her, a tall, slender brown-haired girl followed closely.
“Miss Su, you can’t be so soft-hearted just like that.”
Meng Wange’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as she trailed closely behind Su Wanli’s retreating figure.
If a mere two drops of tears could make you forgive me, perhaps I’d keep pushing my luck?
No, better not. From now on, I should avoid showing that soft, vulnerable side too often. If I want Su Wanli to depend on me as much as possible, simply exposing my softer side won’t do.
Meng Wange quietly rubbed her eyes to relieve the aftereffects left by the sudden glare of sunlight, then let out a soft sigh.
Have I really fallen so low? To think of using this kind of trick…
The loudest crying child always gets the candy—this was a lesson every child in the orphanage understood, yet Meng Wange had never stooped to using such tactics before.
If she really wanted candy, she’d prefer to create an environment where the candy would have no choice but to come into her hands, rather than waiting passively for someone else’s pity.
A person’s intentions are always influenced by various factors perhaps it’s personal preference, sympathy, or simply the mood of the day.
In the end, whether you try to be the most obedient child or the one who cries the loudest, or play any other role, there’s no guarantee you’ll get that candy. Even the most cunning strategy might not surpass the simple act of a child reaching out with pure innocence.
However, this time was different.
Meng Wange wasn’t trying to get the candy she was trying to confirm Su Wanli’s secret affection.
Judging from the items on the desks of the three girls behind Su Wanli and their casual attitude during class, Meng Wange boldly guessed that even all three combined probably couldn’t surpass her in actual value to Su Xiaoli.
But if there was any advantage they held, it was the time they spent with Su Wanli and the bonds formed between them.
Everyone has their own comfort zone used to staying with parents at home, accustomed to spending time with like-minded classmates at school, walking home shoulder to shoulder with friends after class. These small habits together shape a person’s daily life.
Habits sound simple and casual, but their influence can be terrifying.
If she wanted to quickly blend into Su Wanli’s life, the priority was to make Su Wanli get used to her presence every single moment.
Let Su Wanli have her by her side during every class break; after school, have no choice but to ride the same vehicle home together; at home, dine together in the banquet hall, then head upstairs to their rooms side by side.
Once Su Wanli developed this kind of habit, even if Meng Wange did nothing else, she would become an indispensable part of Su Wanli’s life.
… Actually, the best approach right now would be to join that small group they formed and, based on their existing bonds, further draw closer to Su Wanli.
But Meng Wange found she didn’t want to do that.
To be precise, she didn’t want to share the time spent with Su Wanli with others.
Not just during those brief moments between classes if possible, she wanted Su Wanli to walk with her alone on the way home, eat together while trying to send Zhang Ma away, and even during sleep…
… No, that would be a bit too extreme.
In any case, her time was limited, and she had to seize every second.
If anyone dared to stand in her way, then she would find a way to remove them that was how it should be….
“Hey.”
Facing the three shadows blocking the path between herself and Su Wanli, Meng Wange stopped and let out a soft sigh.
“Hey, trying to follow our Su Old Boss all the way to the county? Who’s this new girl… Meng Wange, right?”
A girl with striking pink tips to her hair, dressed in a way that didn’t suit a high schooler, whistled lightly at her.
That was Zhang Shiyu.
The two beside her were Wen Manman, taller, and Du Xinxin, shorter.
Meng Wange silently touched her forehead, contemplating how to respond.
Honestly, she hadn’t expected to deal with them so soon, yet here they were at her doorstep.
If possible, she could settle this in two minutes…
Still, before she did anything irreversible, she had to confirm things with Su Xiaoli.
Maintaining that faint smile on her face, she looked through the narrow gap between them toward the corner where Su Wanli had just disappeared.
“Sorry, classmates, Su Wanli and I have some private matters to discuss. Could you please step aside?”
“Don’t be in such a hurry, Meng Wange. So eager to become our Eldest Sister-in-law, huh?”
Zhang Shiyu popped a lollipop in her mouth as she spoke, looking at her with a mocking expression.
“That’s right. If you want to cling to our Old Boss, you gotta get past us first.”
Wen Manman stood upright in front of her, arms akimbo, blocking the way.
Just as Meng Wange had expected, they were nothing but troublemakers.
But what did Zhang Shiyu mean by that last title?
… Eldest Sister-in-law?
If the “Old Boss” they referred to was indeed Su Wanli, then did they mean…
Meng Wange was momentarily stunned, confusion flickering in her eyes as she looked at them.
“… Zhang Shiyu, I think you might have misunderstood something.”
She wanted to explain further, but the three exchanged glances and then let out mysterious cold laughs, as if to say, “We knew it.”
“Heh, Meng Wange, we knew you’d say that.”
The gloomy girl stepped forward silently, pushing her hand deep into her bulky sleeve as she spoke in a low voice.
“No matter what we’ve misunderstood, you don’t need to explain further. If you want to get close to Su Old Boss, then you have to get past us first!”
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