“Nо, it’s ‘сhаstе and fierсе’.”
Jiаng Jiа’s mоuth twitched: “…Let’s just dо оur homewоrk.”
Earlу thе nехt mоrning.
Su Zаi Zai, eуes still bleary with sleeр, shufflеd to thе balсоnу in hеr slipреrs tо wаsh uр.
Outsidе, the sky was just bеginning tо lighten.
Тhe air was dаmp and сold, the wind hоwling fiеrсеlу.
Su Zаi Zаi jolted аwаke instаntlу, shivеring as shе brushed hеr tеeth.
Aftеr wаshing up, shе simply ran hеr fingers through her hаir.
Gаthеring it cаsually, she tiеd it uр in а pоnуtаil.
Su Zаi Zаi wаlked bасk into thе dorm rоom and сlosеd thе sliding glаss doоr.
Sееing Хiao Yu abоut to head out to thе balconу to wash uр, she rеmindеd her:
“Рut on a jacket before going out—it’s cold.”
Jiang Jia had just come out of the bathroom and glanced at her.
Then, pointing at her hair, she said, “Tie your hair again—it’s a mess.”
Hearing this, Su Zai Zai picked up the mirror on the cabinet and looked at herself.
“Not at all—it has a nice, fluffy look. Perfect.”
“…”
Su Zai Zai, suddenly inspired, began spouting nonsense: “Don’t judge me by how it looks. Every single strand of my hair has been carefully adjusted and styled. I can’t just casually change their positions.”
“…Hah.” So much nonsense first thing in the morning.
“Doing that would bring a curse.”
Jiang Jia ignored her and went to the balcony to wash up.
Shortly after, Su Zai Zai turned and went into the bathroom to change into her school uniform.
By the time she came out, Jiang Jia was almost ready too.
The two of them left the dorm together.
At six-thirty, the cafeteria was still sparsely populated.
Most people had already gotten their breakfast and found seats, with hardly anyone standing in line at the windows.
Su Zai Zai walked up to one of the windows and ordered two buns.
She found a seat and sat down.
A moment later, Jiang Jia came over as well.
Su Zai Zai glanced at the noodles in Jiang Jia’s bowl and sighed: “Suddenly, I really want noodles too.”
Jiang Jia looked at her: “Want to swap?”
“No need.” She picked up a bun and took a bite. “Buns are fine too.”
Jiang Jia didn’t say anything more, lowering her head to eat her breakfast.
One minute later.
“This bun is so dry…”
“So hard to swallow.”
“How does the cafeteria even make buns like this? Unbelievable.”
“I feel like I’m going to die of thirst.”
Jiang Jia couldn’t take it anymore: “Talk less, and you might survive a bit longer.”
Su Zai Zai immediately fell silent.
Jiang Jia thought for a moment and said, “Want me to buy you a bottle of milk?”
Su Zai Zai shook her head, still chewing on the bun.
Half a minute later.
She glanced at the beverage window before speaking up.
“The line’s so long—by the time you get back, I’ll have finished eating. Alright, don’t talk to me anymore. Don’t tempt me to talk—I want to live a little longer.”
Jiang Jia was about to say something when she noticed the person sitting in the row behind Su Zai Zai stand up.
He slung his backpack over one shoulder, picked up his tray with the other hand, and walked out of the cafeteria.
Jiang Jia tilted her chin toward him and said, “Isn’t that your ‘great beauty’?”
Hearing this, Su Zai Zai glanced back.
She quickly turned her head back around.
“He was sitting behind me just now?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmph.”
“…What’s wrong?”
Su Zai Zai analyzed with indignation: “If he had sat down before me, I definitely would’ve noticed him. But I didn’t notice him, which means he arrived later than me. And from that angle, he must have seen me, but he didn’t say hello.”
“…Maybe he didn’t recognize you from the back.”"Impossible!" Su Zai Zai refused to admit it. "That's why I say he's a very heartless person."
Jiang Jia was somewhat speechless. "Does your great beauty know you always talk about him like this behind his back?"
"I never said anything," Su Zai Zai said innocently.
"..."
"How does this count? Many people know about this matter."
Jiang Jia lowered her head to eat her noodles, replying indistinctly, "Is that so?"
"Of course! Why can't I say something that everyone knows?"
"..."
"Zhang Lu Rang is just very heartless. Sometimes I even want to go up and hit him, if it weren't for him..."
Before Su Zai Zai could finish speaking, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Pale, slender, and strong.
He casually placed a bottle of milk in front of Su Zai Zai.
Then turned and walked away.
Even without looking up, Su Zai Zai could recognize the owner of that hand.
And... she didn't dare to look up anymore.
Jiang Jia finished her noodles before raising her head.
Noticing Su Zai Zai's stunned expression and the extra bottle of milk beside her, she asked in confusion, "What's going on?"
"Have you ever experienced despair?" Su Zai Zai said softly.
"Huh?"
Su Zai Zai didn't speak again.
She really hadn't expected Zhang Lu Rang to come back, and even bring her a bottle of milk.
Looking at the milk on the table, Su Zai Zai reached out and touched it.
It was warm.
This brand seemed to only be available at the small shop.
Thinking about it this way, he really walked quite fast...
As if afraid to face reality, Su Zai Zai kept thinking about other things.
She sighed.
Inserting the straw into the bottle, she took a sip.
She felt her luck was really not good at all.
Every time she spoke ill of him, she would inevitably get caught.
During the long break for broadcast exercises.
Students from each class lined up outside their classrooms before heading to the playground.
Several girls anxiously borrowed hair ties from others, hastily tying up their hair.
The sun had already risen.
The temperature wasn't scorching, just pleasantly warm.
Shining on Su Zai Zai, it cast a golden glow.
Due to her height, Su Zai Zai stood at the very end of the girls' line.
Her hair was naturally chestnut brown.
Under the sunlight, the color became even more pronounced.
The broadcast exercise music started playing.
Su Zai Zai had just begun her first movement when she was pulled out of the line.
Before she could react, a loud accusation assaulted her.
"Who told you to dye your hair?"
Su Zai Zai was stunned, turning to look at the person who spoke.
The grade-level director for first-year students.
She pointed to her own hair, explaining softly, "I didn't dye it. It's naturally like this."
His face stern, he completely ignored her words.
"Go home this week and dye it back to black."
"I really didn't dye it," Su Zai Zai explained again.
The grade-level director's temper flared instantly, his voice loud and sharp. "Every student I catch says it's natural. Am I that easy to fool? Can't you even come up with a different excuse?"
Su Zai Zai fell silent.
After all, the teacher had already made up his mind.
No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe her.
Seeing she no longer argued, the grade-level director's expression softened slightly.
He pointed toward the teaching building and said, "Go back to the classroom. The education bureau officials are visiting today—don't come out and embarrass yourself. Make sure you dye your hair back over the weekend."Su Zai Zai looked at him, her face cold as she said, "I can go back to the classroom, but I won't dye my hair black."
"You..."
"Why should I suffer such consequences just because you don't believe me?" Her temper flared as she spoke word by word, "I said I didn't dye it, so I didn't."
He was completely unreasonable, suddenly steering the conversation in another direction.
"Who allowed you to speak to a teacher like that?"
Su Zai Zai had no desire to engage with him. "If you don't respect me, why should I respect you?"
With that, she headed toward the teaching building.
Not long after, the dean caught sight of another figure passing by.
He quickly called out, "Hey! Where are you going?!"
Zhang Lu Rang turned around, his voice icy. "Dyeing my hair."
Before Su Zai Zai reached the teaching building, someone grabbed her elbow.
She instinctively turned to look.
Seeing it was Zhang Lu Rang, her first thought was:
"Lùràng, I didn't scold you this morning."
Zhang Lu Rang: "..."
Her second thought:
"Aren't you doing morning exercises? Where are you going?"
Zhang Lu Rang didn't answer, just stared into her eyes.
Su Zai Zai thought for a moment and asked, "Did you hear what the grade dean said?"
He nodded.
The dean's voice was too loud, and he had instinctively glanced over.
That's when he saw her.
The distance was too great to hear what she was saying clearly.
He could only make out the teacher's words: "dye your hair."
Su Zai Zai didn't care about others' opinions, only his.
She spoke anxiously, "Don't listen to him. I really didn't dye it."
Zhang Lu Rang nodded again.
Su Zai Zai breathed a sigh of relief and began lecturing him.
"Lùràng, let me tell you, when you encounter situations like this, don't be afraid. Usually, if you're fiercer than them, they won't dare say anything. They're typical bullies who prey on the weak."
"..." He had thought...
"He wouldn't listen, thinking that just because he's loud, he's right. It's infuriating."
"..." He thought she would cry.
"I'm not afraid of him, and he wouldn't dare hit me. If he did, my dad would be the first to take him down."
"..."
"At most, he'd call my parents. If my mom came, she'd scold him to death."
"..."
"Either way, he'd be the one losing out."
Zhang Lu Rang suddenly found it amusing.
He really wanted to ruffle her hair—fluffy, soft, and adorable.
After venting, Su Zai Zai's anger dissipated.
Remembering the milk from this morning, her eyes curved into a smile.
"Lùràng, you bought me milk this morning."
"Mm," he replied softly.
"How should I repay you?" Su Zai Zai wondered.
"...No need."
"I'll give you all my assets."
"..."
"I get it. You probably think it's too little."
As they entered the teaching building, Su Zai Zai suddenly realized something.
"So why did you come back?"
"..." He thought she understood.
"You weren't accused of dyeing your hair too, were you? Your hair is so black—how could they say that?"
Zhang Lu Rang was about to deny it.
Su Zai Zai continued, her face full of sympathy. "You're even worse off than me."
"..." Never mind.
They reached the third floor.
Just as Zhang Lu Rang was about to enter the classroom, Su Zai Zai suddenly tugged at the corner of his shirt.
With a serious yet shameless expression, she said, "I really didn't scold you this morning."
Zhang Lu Rang wanted to say he had heard everything.Before he could speak, Su Zai Zai confidently explained, "I hadn't finished speaking at the time. I still had one more sentence to say: 'If it weren't because you're handsome.' Everything I said before was just to build up to that line."
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