After school, Mu Rulan told the twins, who had been lingering in her office, to go home first. By the time she finished her remaining work, it was already past four. Liuslan Academy followed a foreign education system, with classes ending at 3:30 PM. The rest of the time was meant for students to participate in clubs. However, due to the upcoming festival, classes were suspended, and club activities were optional. Most students took the opportunity to go out and have fun, leaving the school relatively quiet, with only a few students busy in their classrooms.
Mu Rulan locked the door to the president's office and left the student council building. As she passed the sports field, a boy approached her. He had a basketball tucked under his arm, his black hair messy, and his white sportswear slightly damp with sweat. His tanned skin and overall build gave off a sunny, cheerful vibe, but a closer look at his eyes beneath his bangs revealed a sharp, cold demeanor. He was handsome, one of the school's most popular figures, yet few dared to approach him. He was like an unattainable flower on a high peak.
Ou Kaichen paused, and Mu Rulan also hesitated for a moment before offering a warm, gentle smile. No one could resist her smile—it was like a cozy, soft blanket on a cold winter day, not overwhelming but irresistibly comforting.
Ou Kaichen felt a momentary dizziness. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mu Rulan merely nodded politely and walked away without hesitation.
Ou Kaichen stared at her retreating figure, his usually cold eyes now tinged with loneliness and confusion. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed like Mu Rulan was kind to everyone in the world except him. At first, he didn't mind because he had just met her, and her attitude toward him didn't bother him much.
But over time, he noticed that some of his friends started talking about her, often with great enthusiasm. Some even became her friends, and she treated them exceptionally well. Everyone could feel her genuine care and attention. She would rush out in the cold, wearing thin clothes, to buy medicine for someone who was sick. She was sometimes gentle, sometimes playful, and never showed favoritism. Anyone who interacted with her ended up liking her.
This girl was extraordinary. He had never seen a girl who could get along with everyone so effortlessly. Even those who initially envied or disliked her eventually became her most loyal supporters. Unconsciously, he began to observe her, to care about her. Slowly, he realized that she seemed to keep her distance from him. This discovery made him deeply uncomfortable. Why was she so kind to everyone else but cold and distant toward him?
At first, he thought it was because they weren't close, so he actively sought opportunities to get to know her better. He attended parties at the Mu family, and when the Mu family came to his house, he made sure to be present, even though he disliked such events. Yet, none of it made Mu Rulan treat him the way she treated others.
This was a blow to Ou Kaichen, who was used to girls chasing after him. But, as humans tend to be, the more he failed, the more he couldn't stop thinking about her, caring about her.
People really do love to stoop low.
The orange sunlight bathed her figure. The white Liuslan uniform looked beautiful and suited her perfectly. Even though it was the same uniform everyone wore, it always seemed especially pure and lovely on her.
She wore a warm smile, her eyes clear and beautiful, seemingly unaware of the lingering gaze behind her. This person, Ou Kaichen, was someone she had loved desperately in her past life. Yet, after she was framed and gang-raped, he abandoned her. In the end, he was the one who hit her with his car and then proposed to someone else…
Ah, what should she do? His gaze excited her, so much so that her blood felt like it was boiling. Had he fallen for her? He must have, right? But just liking her? Hehe… that's not enough. Just liking her isn't enough. He needs to fall deeply, deeply in love with her, to the point where he can't live without her, to the point where he'd kill someone for her, to the point where he'd die for her, to the point where he'd willingly offer his body to her…
To be turned into a doll!
Only then can he be forgiven. It was they who twisted her into… ah, that's what that woman called her—a freak.
She smiled as she walked, and passing students couldn't help but glance at her, their lips also curling into smiles. Everyone who got close to her felt comfortable. This girl was warm, pure, and utterly extraordinary.
Mu Rulan went to Loulan Pavilion, a famous restaurant in City K. The place was always bustling, and reservations were often needed well in advance to enjoy its delicacies. However, Mu Rulan's status was special. A simple phone call to the manager would ensure the chef prepared her meal first, especially since she came in person.
Yet, Mu Rulan only ordered a light millet porridge and some side dishes. Even these simple dishes were exquisitely prepared at Loulan Pavilion, leaving a lasting impression.
Chen Hai drove Mu Rulan to the hospital she wanted to visit. She told him not to follow, as there was no danger in a hospital, and she hadn't offended anyone.
Lan Yiyang was a student who had transferred back from Australia two days ago. Liuslan Academy wasn't a school just anyone could transfer into. The school didn't even have special admissions for students with good grades but no money or connections—Mu Rulan herself had graded his entrance exam. At Liuslan, student self-governance was paramount, and the student council's authority was second only to the board of directors. Mu Rulan even had the power to decide whether a student could take the transfer exam, as long as she reported it to the board.
Lan Yiyang, male, 19 years old, a sophomore. It was unusual for someone his age to still be in high school, but it seemed he had been held back three times due to frequent fights and skipping exams. However, his entrance exam results were nearly perfect, except for the Chinese essay, which he didn't write. With such scores, Mu Rulan had no reason to deny him admission. She even placed him in Class B, second only to the top Class A. But she never expected this boy to say such things. Yes, Mu Rulan had known since she sent him to the school that he had openly told several male classmates he wanted to sleep with her.
Of course, she wouldn't say she knew. Children can be spoiled, but dogs? A whip followed by a treat is the best method, isn't it?