Chapter 120: Stay Out of the Spotlight

When Su Yao looked at her phone, she actually felt a bit uneasy.

She thought she shouldn’t have said something like “I miss you,” but since it was already said, there was no turning back.

The young girl opened the message with a restless heart.

It was the same voice message from Mu Nanqiu.

She stretched out her finger and gently tapped it.

The old player crackled noisily, but there was an indescribable charm in that voice, making Su Yao’s heart pound rapidly.

Mu Nanqiu asked her, “Yao Yao, are you lonely?”

Su Yao pursed her lips, stifling a smile, then returned to her room and sat on the bed.

After a moment of calm, she picked up her phone and sent another message.

“Not at all.”

Although she put on an indifferent front, there was a trace of grievance in her tone.

Su Yao and Mu Nanqiu started chatting online.

Compared to usual, even when they were alone together, this conversation was more open, filled with more emotions and expressions—things hidden deep in Su Yao’s subconscious.

Unfortunately, Su Yao’s phone’s front camera was broken, so video calls were impossible.

Realizing this, she regretted it deeply.

She had been talking about buying a new phone for a long time but still hadn’t done it.

What a procrastinating idiot!

Su Yao hurriedly got up and opened her computer.

She browsed through numerous phone recommendations and reviews, spending some time choosing one.

But when it came time to place the order, she hesitated.

It was the New Year peak season, and if the phone got stuck halfway, she couldn’t just wait around here forever, right?

Her previously high purchase enthusiasm was instantly crushed by reality.

She closed the checkout page, letting the Yuan-level Phone she had picked lie quietly in her shopping cart.

Stretching lazily, she walked to the window, pulled back the curtain, and glanced outside.

The sky was already dim.

Winter always got dark early.

By time, there were still many hours left in the day.

Looking at the gray haze, Su Yao sighed.

She didn’t go out for dinner.

Maybe she could just have instant noodles, she thought.

Instead, she prepared dinner at home—washing rice and cooking, washing and chopping vegetables.

It was all simple.

She didn’t know many dishes, only some common home-style meals.

No guests would come over, so no need to cook for others.

But today, she deliberately made several dishes—three meat dishes and one vegetable dish.

She took a photo and sent it to Mu Nanqiu but immediately regretted it, as usual.

She knew Mu Nanqiu’s living environment was beyond her comprehension—places others might have to spend a fortune to enter were just small restaurants Mu Nanqiu occasionally ate at.

Still, Mu Nanqiu’s comment on the photos was that everything looked very delicious.

In fact, Su Yao knew Mu Nanqiu was a little afraid of spicy food, and aside from the soup, every dish on her table had half a plate of chili peppers.

But even knowing the words were to make her happy, she was still pleased.

Mu Nanqiu seemed quite busy; Su Yao didn’t know with what and didn’t ask.

She only came online again after nine in the evening.

After an hour of online banter, Su Yao charged her phone and took a shower.

It took nearly an hour before she finished.

Lying in bed, she recalled everything that happened today—first Luo Yu’s words, then Ji Yun’s invitation.

After some thought, she felt it was acceptable.

Compared to Bai Jianlian, Ji Yun was practically a gentleman.

Thinking of Bai Jianlian made her annoyed.

How could she make Su Yao leave Mu Nanqiu?

Why?

Su Yao couldn’t understand her motives and found her utterly unreasonable.

“Should I leave early to avoid trouble?”

She looked like she wasn’t going to give up easily.

Even though Su Yao’s attitude was clear…

The more she thought about it, the safer it was to leave sooner.

After all, she was alone.

If she got entangled, it would be troublesome.

Once decided, she rescheduled her original ticket.

Bai Jianlian stared at herself in the mirror, lost in thought.

Her previous injuries had mostly healed in the past few days.

With some makeup skills, they were basically invisible.

Since that day, she had dyed her hair back to its original color.

Her parents at the Bai family were very surprised by this change.

They had once fought fiercely over her hair before.

They knew their daughter’s stubborn temper well, so why this sudden turnaround?

Could it be that she was finally awakened?

They asked, but Bai Jianlian didn’t say, and they couldn’t find out.

“Xiao Lian, what’s going on with you…”

“Mom, do I look like a good student to you?”

Faced with this question, Bai Mother looked at her daughter standing before her, hesitating to speak.

She knew exactly what her daughter was like.

Changing her appearance couldn’t change what was inside.

Still, she silently nodded.

Bai Jianlian earned that recognition and felt satisfied.

That recognition came from the affirmation of her self-identity.

She decided to try one more time.

She had to pry open Su Yao’s heart.

Unconsciously, her entire behavioral logic toward Su Yao had fundamentally changed.

From initial help to a stubborn refusal to admit defeat, she didn’t want to lose to Mu Nanqiu, who had landed a few punches on her.

Yet she imitated her involuntarily, as if that could help her win a competition only she cared about.

Going out, she rode her motorcycle.

She had originally wanted to drive herself, but she didn’t have a driver’s license.

Her parents refused to give her the keys.

Bai Jianlian knew she had never learned to drive.

She only knew there was a steering wheel, an accelerator, brake, and clutch on a car.

As for the rest, she was clueless.

Clueless but willing to learn.

She had already signed up for a Driving School and figured she would be able to drive soon!

When Bai Mother saw her leave, she secretly had her husband, who had finally gotten a day off, drive behind to see where their daughter was headed.

Once again, Bai Jianlian arrived at the residential complex where Su Yao lived.

She walked to the door and knocked.

There was no response for a long time.

No matter how much she called, there was no movement inside.

Bai Jianlian frowned, wondering if Su Yao was not home or deliberately avoiding her.

“Little girl, are you looking for Miss Su?”

Just as she was puzzled, an elderly lady came down the stairs carrying a basket.

She seemed to be heading out.

Bai Jianlian replied, “Yes, I’m looking for Su Yao. Grandma, do you know if she’s home?”

“She left yesterday. Went back to her hometown for New Year.”

“You mean she went back? Do you know where her hometown is, Grandma?”

“……………..No idea.”

The old lady didn’t recognize Bai Jianlian.

But since she didn’t look like a bad person, she said nothing and hurried downstairs, leaving Bai Jianlian biting her lip and stomping her feet alone.