I've always thought that everything was firmly in my grasp, yet suddenly, it slipped away from control, and I particularly dislike this feeling.
Xia Zhilan was so infuriated by Su Li's attitude that she was practically fuming, but remembering the task Young Master An had given her, she forced herself to suppress her anger for the time being.
She continued to knock on the dormitory door that Su Li had closed.
"Su Li, open the door, I have something to say to you," Xia Zhilan insisted persistently from outside the room.
Su Li, annoyed by the disturbance, finally snapped, "What is it that you want?"
Xia Zhilan, with a forced smile, said softly, "Su Li, come with me to a place later..."
"Right, and don't wear the clothes you have on now."
"I've bought several beautiful outfits, they're perfect for you, and we can dress as sisters..."
Xia Zhilan said enthusiastically, reaching out to grab Su Li's arm as she spoke.
If it were the original personality, she might have some reluctance in her heart, unable to speak up and outright refuse, especially to a friend she truly valued.
But Su Li had none of these concerns.
She shook off Xia Zhilan's clingy hand, leaned against the door, and let an expression of displeasure show clearly as she made sure Xia Zhilan saw it.
"I already told you, I'm very busy... I don't have time to go anywhere with you."
"I need a lot, a lot of time to study, so please don't disturb me, okay?"
"I'll say this again, but if you don't understand, I won't repeat it a third time."
With that, Su Li slammed the door shut again.
Xia Zhilan stomped her foot, and a vindictive look in her eyes seemed to penetrate through the door onto Su Li.
-----------------
"Didn't bring the person here? I see..."
Du Ruoshen remarked, "Our little scholar is really obsessed with studying..."
An Jiuge, lounging with crossed legs, a cigarette pinched between his fingertips, squinted his eyes and said, "She loves studying that much, huh... Ruoshen, call the principal and tell him that student Su Li's workload is too heavy, she should take a break from classes."
"Oh wow, Jiuge, playing hard, aren't you..." Du Ruoshen, ever the instigator, arched an eyebrow and deliberately provoked, "It's not because Sister Wan He has hurt your feelings again, has it..."
Just rejoined the small group, and learning what had happened, Xu Zhiheng, with furrowed brows, seriously glanced at his three brothers.
"Aren't you guys going too far?"
"This girl hasn't done anything to offend you, right..."
Du Ruoshen quipped with a sly grin, "We didn't say she offended us, we're paving a glorious path for her."
"So many girls are waiting for Young Master An's favor; she should cherish this luck, and we won't treat her poorly afterward."
An Jiuge, with a rebellious look, said offhandedly, "It's just a game, what can it really do to the girl... Maybe she'll even thank me for letting her experience a lifestyle she could never enjoy otherwise."
Xu Zhiheng added, "She's not the kind of girl who can afford to play in our circle; if she takes your game seriously..."
Xu Zhiheng still thought his brothers were acting inappropriately.
"You should not vent the frustration you faced with Ye Wanhe on an innocent person..."
As Xu Zhiheng brought up Ye Wanhe, a fierce look crossed An Jiuge's face.
Seeing the anger rising among the brothers, Jiang Baisha intervened with a cold voice.
"Zhiheng, don't let an insignificant woman damage our brotherhood. If you disapprove, just pretend you know nothing."
"Luckily, this game won't last long... Once Sister Wan He settles down and Jiuge gives up on her, he'll be at peace."
Xu Zhiheng knew what was troubling An Jiuge, and he wasn't fond of Ye Wanhe, who was soon to be engaged to his elder brother.
Su Li emerged from the principal's office clutching her books, her face overcast with dark clouds.
If it were her original self, she would probably be panic-stricken and shedding tears by now.
Her most valued education had been suspended; she would have agreed to any terms the other party proposed.
These sons of nobility really knew how to seize people's vulnerabilities.
"Bang bang bang..."
As Su Li bowed her head pondering over her problems, a barrage of ribbons suddenly exploded over her head.
Students burst out from various places around her, cheering and forming a circle around her.
Su Li looked on expressionlessly and was just about to turn away when Xia Zhilan's arms, coming out of nowhere, clung tightly around her.
Xia Zhilan gripped her hard yet wore a radiant smile, exclaiming joyfully to Su Li, "Surprise..."
"Surprised? Unexpected?"
A series of elegant violin music began to play as the crowd parted to create a path.
What came into view was a small orchestra in tailcoats playing their instruments.
As the music reached its climax, a red sports car sped to a stop, its back seat filled with Bulgarian roses.
Amidst the shrill screams of female students around, An Jiuge walked slowly towards Su Li with a bouquet in his hands and a smile on his face.
If looks could kill, Su Li would've been perforated a thousand times by the envious glares of the surrounding girls.
Although Xia Zhilan knew this was just a game among the wealthy, she couldn't help but feel jealous, her eyes almost reddening.
The hand clinging to Su Li involuntarily tightened, and her sharp nails dug into the soft flesh of Su Li's arm.
"Ouch..." Su Li hissed and forcefully shook off Xia Zhilan's hand.
Visible crescent-shaped nail marks appeared on her arm, shockingly apparent...
Xia Zhilan awkwardly smiled and said, "Sorry, Su Li. I was just too excited..."
"Young Master An is confessing to you?"
By this time, An Jiuge had already reached Su Li with the flowers in hand.
He raised an enchanting smile and with a seductive, gentle voice, asked, "Su Li, it was love at first sight for me, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Say yes, say yes, say yes..."
The crowd around was all egging her on.
Under An Jiuge's prompting, Xia Zhilan also eagerly chimed in, "Come on, Su Li, say yes..."
Su Li turned her head to look at Xia Zhilan, her face flushed, occasionally stealing glances at the man across from her. Su Li pointed seriously at her lovesick expression and then at An Jiuge, firmly stating, "You like him."
Although almost every girl now would love to be in Su Li's position, coveted by An Jiuge, a third-generation official, it was quite embarrassing to have such thoughts exposed publicly.
"Since you like him, I'll let you have him... You say yes..."
Su Li's indifferent attitude and her condescending remarks toward Xia Zhilan not just darkened Xia Zhilan's face but also visibly upset An Jiuge.
How dare she...
Dare to do this to him.
The jeering gradually died down around them, turning eerily silent as if a pin drop could be heard.
Everyone exchanged glances, thinking this woman must be crazy, yet admirably brave.
She probably didn't realize the significance behind the An family name—how audacious to demean him like that.