With her demure looks, Xu Lu was the belle of Nine Middle School. On the other hand, seventeen to eighteen year-old kids didn't fancy femme fatale appearances like Wen Qiao's, and felt that her beauty lacked class.
Xu Lu's type was more their cup of tea. Hence when it came to the selection of the school belle, Wen Qiao didn't even qualify for a nomination.
When they were selecting the school belle, Lu Youyou went around everyday rallying their classmates to vote for Wen Qiao, saying 'Look at our Qiaoqiao. With her beauty that can overthrow a kingdom, you won't stand to lose by voting for her. Only a school belle with a face like hers will be impressive enough and win against other schools.'
A pity, it didn't have the intended effect, and Wen Qiao didn't even end up getting nominated.
Lu Youyou comforted Wen Qiao, that in university, people would have a more normal perception of beauty, that she was a hundred times prettier than Xu Lu, that she would definitely become the incontestable school belle when they entered university.
To tell the truth, Wen Qiao didn't care much about being the school belle and whatnot. She heard that Xu Lu only became the school belle because she had spent quite a lot of money bribing those students who had a say in this matter. Xu Lu was trying her darnedest here and if even then she didn't get what she wanted, she might just drown Nine Middle School with her tears.
Standing at the school entrance, Wen Qiao felt a little uneasy. Not only did Lu Youyou make her wear a white dress, she also made her let her hair down and also did some styling for her. Also, she applied BB cream and lipstick on her. She had originally even wanted to apply eyeliner on her, but because she wasn't used to having the eyeliner poke at her eye, she kept tearing up whilst Lu Youyou was at it, hence the latter could only forget about it.
Lu Youyou admired her work of perfection. "Even with just a layer of lipstick applied, our Qiaoqiao is already so beautiful it makes one dizzy. Today we've got to let Xu Lu know what a true beauty is like."
A black Bentley halted at the school entrance and Xu Lu and Zhong Hui came out of the car together.
Of course, Zhong Hui saw Wen Qiao. She deliberately smoothed Xu Lu's hair and said, "Your Uncle Wen will definitely be there to support you at this afternoon's interview. Don't worry, you'll do fine."
Lu Youyou rolled her eyes at the mother-and-daughter duo without bothering to conceal it and said in a hushed voice, "Wen Jianmin is as attentive to his stepdaughter as ever."
Wen Qiao tugged at the straps of her pipa case and pulled Lu Youyou into the school with her.
Under the shade of the tree, Xu Lu caught sight of Wen Qiao right away. And what she saw made her feel threatened, as though she was confronted by a formidable enemy. In the past, Wen Qiao used to wear her school uniform, the cheapest sneakers, a worn-out canvas bag, coupled with the same old boring hairstyle—a ponytail. Naturally, she couldn't compare with Xu Lu's hairstyle and nude makeup that appeared casual but in fact, were painstakingly made until it was flawless.
However, she knew that Wen Qiao only had to doll up a little, and she would immediately pale in comparison. She had at least that much self-awareness.
Moreover, clearly she had successfully convinced Wen Qiao into a singing gig at a nightclub a few days ago. Why had she, in the blink of an eye, transformed into a completely different person, and was now insisting on applying for university?
She hurriedly caught up to Wen Qiao. At that moment where Wen Qiao turned around, the visual oppressiveness of Wen Qiao's beauty made her unknowingly clench her fists.
"Oi, Wen Qiao, you put on makeup today? You even had your hair done. Although the college entrance examination has ended, doesn't our school forbid its students from wearing makeup?"
Lu Youyou scoffed. "Xu Lu, why are you playing dumb here? Over the past three years, when have you ever not worn makeup to school before?"
Xu Lu instantly got anxious, her face turning red. "What nonsense are you spouting? S-Since when have I ever worn makeup?"
"Are you serious? BB cream, tightlining your eyes, nude lipstick. Oh right, you even had eyelash extensions done. Perhaps a straight guy wouldn't be able to tell, but you think it'd escape my eyes? And here you are, pretending you don't have an ounce of makeup on your face?"
Having been exposed so mercilessly, the colors on Xu Lu's face switched between red and white. She pulled Wen Qiao by the hand.
In response, Wen Qiao only pushed away her hand with disdain.
"Wen Qiao, I have something to say to you. Can you come over with me for a bit?"
"Just say it here."
Xu Lu took out a bank card from her bag. "Uncle Wen was actually mad at you for a long time. It took me much effort to plead with him before his anger finally subsided by a bit. He's willing to make concessions, so why don't you each relent a step? Two million yuan is too absurd an amount. Surely you can understand that Uncle Wen's company needs cash flow to sustain its operations. I persuaded him into giving you this fifty thousand yuan. Take this money and apologize to Uncle Wen, then let this matter rest. Alright?"