There was still a bit of interest in the rational discussion, but once it turned into an online flame war, Su Yao lost all desire to keep watching.
After exiting the thread, she sat up from her bed, charged her phone, then lay back under the covers.
Originally, she planned to play a little longer, and she didn’t feel particularly tired.
But once she closed her eyes, she simply didn’t want to open them again.
It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet; she usually didn’t sleep until midnight.
Perhaps it was because she had exercised excessively today.
After showering and fully relaxing in bed, drowsiness swept over her.
Her eyelids grew heavy and eventually she slipped into dreamland.
The next morning, early.
Su Yao got up from bed at dawn.
She was about to move her limbs but immediately felt how heavy and sluggish her body was, accompanied by a lingering soreness.
As expected, yesterday’s intense exercise was still too much for her!
After half an hour of dozing again, she started feeling restless.
Mainly because upon waking, her body heat had increased, which in turn warmed the blanket around her.
Plus, the air conditioner outside was still running.
Su Yao threw off the quilt, lifted her legs slightly, pivoted on her hips to the edge of the bed, and used her delicate feet to search for her slippers.
Once found, she slipped both feet in, stood up straight, and stretched lazily.
A sigh of comfort escaped her lips, but halfway through the stretch, she paused and looked down at her body.
Her view was partially obstructed, so she pinched the soft flesh on her upper arm and muttered with some helplessness,
“I really need to exercise properly from now on… I’m almost useless…”
She wasn’t very active by nature, and now that even the smallest movements caused aches, she was even less inclined to move.
After changing clothes and leaving the house, Su Yao knew that since she had gotten up early, Mu Nanqiu definitely hadn’t come yet.
She didn’t want to keep relying on her to pick her up.
After all, she wasn’t lame—walking a little was still possible.
Downstairs, she sent Mu Nanqiu a message letting her know she didn’t need to come pick her up today because she was walking to school early.
After a moment, she felt that might sound odd, so she added an explanation.
“I just suddenly wanted to walk a bit. Haven’t walked much lately.”
No sooner had she sent the message than Mu Nanqiu replied.
“Didn’t you walk a lot yesterday?”
Su Yao pouted, remembering how exhausting yesterday’s mountain trail was.
“Well, I realized after yesterday’s mountain hike that I’m a little out of shape, so I want to work out a bit.”
“Hehe, so you’re blaming me? Side-eye, feeling betrayed.jpg”
Huh?
Su Yao didn’t understand Mu Nanqiu’s meaning at first.
She tapped and deleted messages a few times, then stopped and thought hard.
Then she got it.
After realizing, she smirked and replied, “No, not at all.”
She took a deep breath of the cold winter air, put away her phone, and adjusted the backpack on her shoulders.
She usually carried books to class, but since she could go home for lunch before, she only brought two or three at a time, which was easy to carry.
But now, as she wasn’t planning to return at noon, she brought them all—and because there were many classes today, she had to use her long-unused backpack.
On the way, she bought breakfast and ate while walking.
As she neared the school, the morning rush began; more cars and pedestrians filled the streets, but Su Yao managed to get inside before it got too crowded.
University hadn’t had morning study sessions for a long time, so she could get up at 7:30 a.m.
When Su Yao arrived, it was already past 7:40.
Most students were lining up in the cafeteria to buy breakfast to bring back to class.
She was dressed the same as yesterday, except she added a warm layer on top and wore black pants underneath—both new purchases.
Her bright red outfit was quite eye-catching, and her long hair naturally drew glances.
Lowering her head, she purposely ignored those looks.
Luckily, people were still discreet and didn’t approach her asking for chat IDs or anything, though her steps quickened a bit.
“Su Yao?”
Hearing someone call her, Su Yao frowned.
She pretended not to hear and walked faster.
The owner of the voice saw her speed up and quickly told a roommate, then chased after her.
“Su Yao, it’s me!”
“?”
Su Yao slowed and turned toward the girl with shoulder-length hair.
Luo Yu grinned happily, her mouth curved up the entire time.
Su Yao wondered why she was calling her over.
“Wow, I’m so jealous of you.”
Luo Yu came to Su Yao’s side and gave her a once-over, eyes sparkling.
“What… what?”
“I just didn’t expect you’d look so good all dressed up. By the way, do you never stay up late? Your skin’s so nice, and you’re not even wearing makeup.”
Bare-faced and still stunning.
Luo Yu didn’t have it as easy.
She had wrecked her health from past late nights, resulting in dull skin and some acne—a painful history she didn’t want to relive—so she envied Su Yao’s naturally good complexion and care.
“Got any secret tips?”
Su Yao was caught off guard by the question and paused.
What could she say?
After thinking a moment, she muttered quietly,
“Don’t stay up late.”
Luo Yu wanted to do that too, but there are only 24 hours in a day.
Between daytime obligations, how much time does she really have to play? Well, she couldn’t help but binge-read web novels, so she often stayed up until one or two, sometimes even past three.
As they chatted, the roommates Luo Yu had left behind arrived.
They all stared at Su Yao, full of curiosity.
Facing those looks, Su Yao avoided eye contact but still glanced at them unconsciously.
That’s when she noticed something odd—everyone was wearing down jackets, all different colors, but she seemed to be the only one dressed so flashy.
No way… No, there should be other girls in class who dress well, right?
Su Yao wiped sweat from her brow and looked around.
It was true—her outfit really was unusual.
Panic set in.
How could she go unnoticed?
The best way was to blend in with the crowd.
To hide in a student group, the key was simple: dress plainly, be a hidden powerhouse.
Obviously, Su Yao had gotten carried away recently.
Showing up in such a conspicuous outfit guaranteed she’d be noticed.
She lowered her head and silently took the corner seat that seemed deliberately saved for her.
After sitting down, Luo Yu took the seat beside her.
They chatted a bit before Su Yao overheard news that Jiang Xiaoxiao was transferring departments next semester.
As for this semester… just tough it out for now, but she’d already moved out of the dormitory.
Luo Yu guessed Jiang Xiaoxiao wouldn’t return—after all, she had embarrassed herself too much.
Su Yao didn’t care much.
She held no grudge against Jiang Xiaoxiao; whether she stayed or left didn’t matter to her.
As long as she didn’t bother her, that was enough.
“Hey, Su Yao, do you think she hates you?”
“Me? Why? Shouldn’t she be mad at the vice class monitor? What do I have to do with it?”
Su Yao looked utterly baffled, but Luo Yu, seeming wise, said,
“You’re so innocent. You don’t need a reason to be hated. Su Yao, you’re kind of famous now. What she should have gotten, she didn’t. She hates the class monitor, so naturally she hates you too. If it weren’t for you, she’d probably be the one up there.”
“What do you mean by what she should have gotten…?”
Su Yao rolled her eyes.
Taking credit and glory when deserved was one thing; giving it up and then blaming others for snatching it was just… annoying.
Not wanting to dwell on this frustrating topic, Su Yao asked Luo Yu to talk about something else.
The first class ended with a half-hour break.
Luo Yu invited Su Yao to go to the Small Store together.
Su Yao was reluctant—she was short on money, and going to the Small Store would only make that worse.
But since her breakfast felt insufficient, she agreed.
The Small Store was packed during breaks, located beside the cafeteria and near the dormitory, so the path was crowded.
Su Yao carefully bought a small bun and a carton of milk, then was about to head back to class when she ran into someone in the hallway.
Ji Yun smiled at Su Yao and said,
“Su Yao, can we be friends?”
“Huh?”
Su Yao glanced at the pretty girl from her class.
Luo Yu had mentioned some gossip about Ji Yun’s complicated romantic history.
Su Yao was curious—not about those romantic tales, but about how Luo Yu knew them.
Luo Yu said Ji Yun was her roommate and had talked about it one night.
Su Yao was somewhat interested in Ji Yun.
After all, Ji Yun had helped her before on stage.
But she didn’t understand why making friends felt like a confession.
She nodded stiffly, essentially agreeing.
Ji Yun didn’t seem to want to chat more and moved aside.
Luo Yu led the way, and Su Yao followed.
After a short distance, she glanced back at Ji Yun, who was chatting and laughing with a few other girls, and muttered,
“Things are just getting weirder and weirder…”