Just as the family atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, Xuejiao spoke up again.
"I like not only my brother but also my grandparents and Uncle Cheng!"
She blinked her eyes and said it earnestly.
It was true—Cheng Mingze was excellent, and Gu Xuejiao really did admire him. But in the original story, he had never once given her even a passing glance.
Desperate for his attention, she had gone to great lengths to stand out—dressing extravagantly and behaving outrageously. But the more she tried, the more he detested her.
After Li Sitong's death, Gu Xuejiao had clung to Cheng Mingze as if he were her entire reason for living. She had idolized him to an unhealthy degree, shadowing him wherever he went. He became her sole obsession.
Cheng Shuo, mourning his wife's death and feeling sympathy for Gu Xuejiao, indulged her behavior, even defending her recklessness. But this only made things worse—Gu Xuejiao became more self-indulgent, resenting any woman who came near Cheng Mingze. In the end, her jealousy led her to ruin, and she met her tragic demise.
Xuejiao didn't understand such feelings. Gu Xuejiao had encountered plenty of malice in her life, but in the end, it was her own choices that destroyed her.
Juvenile admiration is natural, but when that admiration spirals into obsession, tragedy becomes inevitable.
"Nonsense! You mean romantic love!" Cheng Mingjiao jumped up, nearly losing her composure.
Xuejiao widened her eyes and, with a tone of admonishment, said, "Mingjiao! Puppy love is not allowed! My brother and I are not together, and you mustn't entertain such unrealistic ideas in the future."
"You, you, you…" Cheng Mingjiao was so flustered she couldn't form a coherent response.
Xuejiao maintained her serious demeanor. "Mingjiao, we're about to start our second year of high school. We should focus on studying hard and aiming for a good university. You must not fall into early love! If you see any signs of it, don't hesitate to correct yourself. I used to be ignorant and disobedient, but after listening to my mother's guidance, I've decided to turn over a new leaf. Let's supervise each other from now on! If either of us fails, there should be consequences!"
Puppy love? Mutual supervision?
Cheng Mingjiao was utterly speechless, trembling with rage.
Li Sitong pulled Xuejiao along in a daze as they followed Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze out of the old Cheng family house.
Cheng Mingjiao sat in the car for a long time, trying to calm herself, but she remained on the verge of exploding.
"Gu Xuejiao, that witch!" she spat furiously.
She had barely finished cursing when her mother, Liu Yazhen, tugged her sleeve and asked hesitantly, "Mingjiao… you're not actually in love, are you? You're still so young…"
"Mother! That witch was spouting nonsense!"
Her tone barely veiled her frustration.
At home, Xuejiao called out, "Mom, I'm going out," as she changed her shoes.
Li Sitong frowned, walking out of the kitchen with irritation. "Where are you going?" she demanded, suspicious of her daughter's behavior.
"To get my hair done."
Li Sitong inhaled deeply, trying to maintain her composure. "What do you want to do with your hair, Gu Xuejiao? I'm telling you—school starts tomorrow. You're not going anywhere today!"
Xuejiao had already slipped on her shoes, slung the pink schoolbag Cheng Shuo had given her at the start of high school over her shoulder, and looked at her mother. "I'm going to dye my hair back. Red hair leaves a bad impression."
Li Sitong froze in surprise.
"You…"
Xuejiao sighed inwardly but kept her expression composed. "I already told Cheng Mingjiao I'd change. I can't let her look down on me."
Li Sitong, still skeptical, seemed slightly relieved but remained conflicted.
Cheng Shuo, sitting on the sofa with a newspaper, put it down and smiled. "Let her go, Sitong. Jiaojiao, let the driver take you. Don't stay out too long, and be careful."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Cheng." Xuejiao waved to her mother and headed out the door.
Cheng Mingze came downstairs just in time to witness this exchange. He frowned but said nothing.
For once, the girl wasn't throwing herself at him or making a scene. It was a rare moment of peace.
"Do you think Jiaojiao is really going to change?" Li Sitong asked, sitting down with a worried expression.
Cheng Shuo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His tone was gentle as he said, "As children grow, they mature. Whether she's doing this out of genuine intent or just to prove a point to Mingjiao, it's still a step in the right direction. Praise her when she does well—don't just scold her all the time. Otherwise, she might rebel even more."
Li Sitong sighed heavily. "I just hope this change lasts."
Cheng Shuo patted her shoulder before looking at Cheng Mingze, who was sipping water nearby. "Mingze, since Jiaojiao wants to study hard, help her when you can."
Cheng Mingze shrugged, his lips curving into a slight smirk. Gu Xuejiao, study hard? Who would believe that?
At the hair salon, the barber exclaimed, "Perfect! Perfect!" as he admired his work.
When Xuejiao had walked in earlier with her red hair, she had looked like a rebellious teenager. But now, with her hair dyed back to its natural black and her bangs trimmed neatly, she seemed like an entirely different person.
"Thank you," Xuejiao said politely, satisfied with her new look.
As she paid, she smiled at the barber. Her eyes curved into crescents, and her pale skin glowed faintly pink. Her black hair cascaded to her waist, making her look like a delicate porcelain doll.
When she walked out, the barber sighed dreamily to a colleague, "If I ever have a daughter, I hope she's just like that little angel!"
On her way home, Xuejiao passed a bookstore and couldn't resist going in.
Inside, a father and son stood out among the customers. The father was dressed in flashy, nouveau riche attire, while the son, tall and thin, wore a football jersey and carried a basketball, looking utterly impatient.
Xuejiao barely glanced at them before turning her attention to the shelves, her eyes lighting up as she found the section she was looking for.
The father soon approached her, grinning. "You're buying study materials? You're a senior two student, right?"
Xuejiao nodded cautiously.
"What a coincidence! My son here is also starting senior two at No. 7 Middle School tomorrow!"
"Ah…" Xuejiao murmured, surprised.
The man rubbed his hands together nervously. "My son isn't very good at studying, and I don't know much about it either. Can you recommend some good review materials?"
Before Xuejiao could respond, the boy groaned, "Old man, stop it! I'm not going to study anyway!"
"Shut up!" the father barked, glaring at him before turning back to Xuejiao with a sheepish smile.
Xuejiao recommended several books, and the father eagerly grabbed them all. By the time they left the store, both Xuejiao and the boy were carrying stacks of books.
"Dad, are you trying to kill me with all this?" the boy muttered.
The father ignored him, looking at Xuejiao with admiration. "What a lovely, sensible girl…"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Why don't you just adopt her?"
Outside, as Xuejiao stood by the roadside waiting for a taxi, a sleek black Maybach sped toward her without slowing down.
"Move!" someone shouted.