Chapter 68
Soulmate
Meanwhile, Anh Dao stands outside the classroom door, and Rose comes to Hanna and Lan's table. Suong sits beside her to encourage and comfort her sister. Rose puts the food bag on the table. Lan, her younger sister, and Hanna are still sad.
Rose is carefree, peeling snacks, eating one and then another. No one responds, so she deliberately chews loudly, making rude sounds, drinking milk, staying calm, and ignoring the ridicule around her. She eats and drinks the cheap but charming snacks while joking:
- Try some, they're delicious! - She holds out the fries to Lan and the grilled meat skewer to Suong - Oh my! You girls don't want any? Such a waste! I'm eating the rest — you'll just have to live with it!
Hanna presses her lips together to curb the feeling of being harassed, but she can't help laughing at the silly face Rose makes to tease her.
- Hey, eat it — crispy fried bananas soaked in honey. - She gives Hanna a piece of yellow banana. - Your favorite food!
Silence falls, and Suong leans back in her chair, shaking her head helplessly at the girl who is muddier and more stubborn than Uncle Sam. Her bestie is trying to suppress her sadness, so Lan can't play happily or eat without worries. Lan's soulmate remains indifferent to everything, walks past her friends, and calmly exits the classroom.
Half a minute later, it's Rose's turn to leave the classroom, saying she has a stomachache and needs to go to the bathroom. Ten minutes later, Rose returns. The three girls find it hard to understand why Rose is happier than before. Rose continues to offer snacks to everyone calmly. Hanna notices that the sleeve of Rose's school blazer is torn and asks:
- Were you affected by the fight?
Rose quickly smears chili sauce on her food and chews, using the spiciness as an excuse to hide her flushed face:
- What kind of pepper is this? So spicy...
Rose explains:
- The fight is a mess, debris flying everywhere. If my brother hadn't rescued me in time, I ended up with a bleeding head!
Hanna is delighted to hear Rose excitedly praising her powerful brother. The police didn't dare to intervene — he alone took on Sam and Dragon Claw.
Her brother also exposed the canteen owner who dared to profiteer. Rose blinks and praises her warm and devoted national brother.
Countless girls want to be his wife, but she just wants to be his sister. Hanna smiles at this idea — she is so different from other girls:
- I'm afraid of a casanova brother. If I were his wife, I'd be afraid of losing my husband. But as a younger sister, I'm carefree. Brother takes care of me, favors me, loves me, and never abandons me. Especially when there is a brother who is crazy about his sister! A hihi!
Hanna gently purses her lips and pinches the mischievous girl's nose — joking anytime, anywhere, sparing no one. She glances sideways as if to say, "Stop messing around and focus on Sam."
Rose understands her bestie better than she understands herself. But every time Sam is mentioned, Rose gets startled — trying to hide her feelings. Rose pauses for a few seconds, then divides the food on the table, sipping calmly, and excitedly tells the story of why Sam fights.
Rose becomes famous throughout the school for her humor and expressive gestures so vivid they could make even God laugh. Her lively description seems to come alive before their eyes — everyone stares at her.
Rose is intoxicated by her own narration. Suddenly, she notices that everyone freezes. She's surprised as the corners of their lips twitch and then close several times. Lan is sad, but she tries her best to suppress her laughter so as not to embarrass Rose — that is, to avoid making herself look obnoxious.
- Is the rumor true?
- What rumor?
- She proved her love for Sam with her warm and sweet voice that made people want to faint!
Rose ignores the teasing, doesn't bother hiding her blushing face, and praises Sam without hesitation, using body language to describe Sam's rage and his desire to punish the pervert and his accomplices. The crowd laughs softly as Rose changes her voice to entertain them.
Hanna enjoys how her best friend tells stories so well. Every time she mentions how Sam was beaten by the enemy, Rose's face darkens and her voice trembles, afraid that Sam was seriously injured. Hanna smiles and steals a glance at the Lan sisters.
Suong is startled, her heart shrinking with worry that her relative was stabbed by the opponent without hitting the target. But the fear turns into excitement because Sam has knocked Beak down — he fell face down.
Perverted bodyguards have always been a phobia for the Lan sisters. Today, Beak and Dragon Claw are tortured by their uncle. Although they have nothing to do with that night, it's still seen as Sam claiming a measure of justice on their behalf.
The girls' grievance and anger eases somewhat. Lan still isn't happy, as her bestie is still sad. Lan's close friend returns to the classroom, casually weaving through the crowd that swarms around the two princesses.
From the beginning until now, the fame-hungry crowd has always wanted to get close, and finally they have the chance to chat. They start by getting to know Rose:
- How long have you and Sam been dating?
- When did you two start dating?
- The best friend of the pure flower, the second younger sister of the man-god, Sam's lover, the future daughter-in-law of Aunt Hang — the mother of two world superstars!
- Oh divine heavens, look down and see if there is anyone as lucky as this bright rose!
Rose only says a few polite words, but the fame- and fortune-hungry crowd is happier than during a festival, chatting and laughing. After a few flattering lines, they immediately surround the four muses — the most beautiful and talented girls in the school.
Hundreds have wanted to pick them, thousands have wanted to sniff them, and countless have wanted to possess the four fragrant flowers. Among ten thousand bad people, there must be at least one good one.
There have still been many people who genuinely cherish the girls and feel sorrow for those forced to live amid endless drama and judgment. Even friends have envied beauty, and strangers have envied talent. The most disgusting thing is that countless dangers have lurked around the girls with pure bodies.
Now, the crisis reaches its peak, dizzying with countless praises like "beautiful and dignified." Compliments keep pouring in — after all, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Countless two-faced people have long looked down on a humble, shabby home. In front of them, they have always whispered and insinuated that the girls only feign weakness, but behind their backs, they have slandered the four flowers, mocking their lowly virtue—they don't even deserve to wash the blood-stained skirts for a prostitute. And now, they've all turned into warm laughter, like one big happy family.
- Lan, my account was hacked. That uneducated guy can't fool anyone. He pulled a cheap trick and cursed everyone on my friend list. Please forgive me and let me add you again!
- Oh Suong, I said bad things about you sisters because of a misunderstanding! I just found out yesterday, I'm really sorry!
- That guy, Wolf, used to be a fan of you two sisters, but then he got jealous of your talent. He told me lies about both of you. He was mean, never showing up, hid in the shadows, and tried to turn me into a gossip and an accuser. I'm sorry!
The girls beg for forgiveness — some put their hands together, some wear innocent expressions like they were taken advantage of. Some secretly breathe a sigh of relief, silently praising themselves for being smart enough not to play stupid in the past.
Each one expresses their feelings in turn: some cry with regret, and some talk and laugh. Crying or laughing, sad or happy, they all become slaves trying to please the princesses.
The male students are even more unsightly: a bunch of lustful fools showing off their courtesy, lavishing compliments on the ladies, competing to see who can lift the skirt most gently.
A bunch of sissy red- and green-haired boys, with faces too pretty and effeminate, are still trying to look manly—their pale skin and glossy lips like fresh meat, spitting out wet confessions:
- If Suong feels cold at night, I'd love to warm you up!
- From the day I met you, I've loved you with all my heart. Lan isn't just a princess — you're the flower in my heart!
- Lan used to be a muse, and now she's a princess. But to me, you're still the pure flower from yesterday!
A bunch of fluttering butterflies flirt with the two princesses. The group of "white horses" who think they're princes show off their skills, pouring honey into the flowers, hoping to warm cold hearts with sweet affection.
Hanna touches her forehead, looking tired. Rose raises her eyebrows to the highest level, blinking constantly, staring at them like they're extraterrestrial creatures. Her expression seems to say:
"From what cave did this bunch crawl out?"
Swarms of bees and butterflies buzz more wildly than flies clinging to honey. Anh Dao wants to intervene but hesitates. She knows she can't protect her niece forever.
There are many storms waiting for them ahead. Her nieces must hone their skills and strengthen their spirit from now on, so they won't be drowned later. Aunt listens attentively to Suong's exposé:
- If I remembered correctly, you added me first.
Suong waits for the girl to respond happily:
- You still remember? We're really good friends!
She smiles faintly:
- It was you who unfriended me, not me.
The girl stands stunned for a long time before she understands what it means:
"No one hacks an account, fails to scam, then curses loudly and unfriends people!"
She lowers her head shyly. Suong doesn't care whether the other party regrets it. She then exposes another person:
- That guy Wolf has used you to smear our sisters with plagiarism. You've cursed us in the association group and on the forum. I admit you've been led by the nose, but if this apology had come earlier, it would've been sincere.
Her sharp words pierce through their fake facades, and the person who chose the right moment to repent laughs it off and quietly slips out of the classroom. Suong coldly questions the worst one:
- Misunderstanding? Okay, then what exactly did you misunderstand about me?
The friend whispers:
- You slept with the coach to get a spot in the international competition…
Hanna is furious because, just minutes ago, Lan and Suong were falsely accused of plagiarism. Her face turns purple with rage. Rose panics and stretches out to stop her, but fails in time. Hanna slaps the slanderer.
The cunning girl closes her eyes in fear. Three seconds later, she opens them slightly and sees Suong holding Hanna's hand. Lan gently touches Hanna's shirt to calm her down.
The flower is lovely and kind, but whenever her loved ones are bullied, she loses control. Someone's niece has been offended — she must seek justice.
The last time the flower saved Luu Ly, the statue hasn't been cold to her since, but the flower has still felt an invisible distance… so deep the bottom cannot be seen. Now, emotion and righteousness lead the statue to her side.
The flowers gaze at the two statues in silence. No matter how fragile or strong they are, statues give emotions to fill the invisible gaps.
Just a gentle smile and affectionate eyes.
That emotion touches the heart.
The warm feeling is family affection.
The flower has felt this from Sam, his father, and someone's mother. But for someone who lacks family affection, no matter how much she receives, it's never enough. After all, the ones she expected the most are the ones who finally give her the emotion she has always longed for.
The flower lowers her head and cries with joy as the statue draws closer than ever before.
Suong loosens the flower and says to the girl who made something out of nothing:
- If there's no fire, how can there be smoke? - Suong smiles faintly - But before you blew up that fire, I never saw any smoke in any corner.
The slanderer immediately shuts up. Suong turns around and slices through the first white horse:
- Oh, you want to warm me? Fine. But have you forgotten my name? – She smirks at the tasteless guy – I don't want to melt into smoke.
Rose laughs, enjoying the super high-quality comeback. At the door, Anh Dao is still watching everything. Initially, she nods in satisfaction at the uncompromising Suong, then responds gently and measuredly, exposing the thick-skinned ones with sharp and steady words.
A few minutes later, after hearing about her niece being falsely accused, the aunt tries hard to suppress her anger. Her eyebrows turn red and purple, her whole body shakes. She squeezes her bleeding hands to contain her fury.
The madness fades, and she turns to Lan thoughtfully. Suong always gives the hardest problems to her sister. The younger one still wants her sister to be strong in the face of adversity. Anh Dao believes her niece will overcome the challenges. Every time she worries about her relatives, her heart still pounds.
From afar, the bestie silently turns to Lan. Lan has always been an angel to those who cherish her, but a fox to those who envy her. Lan always teeters between love and hate. In the past, she was ridiculed, rejected, and slandered — a good girl by day, a sugar baby by night.
She looks so perfect, but she's been rotten inside for a long time. She has always played the game of catching fish with ten hands. She has known one rich guy after another, but it still hasn't been enough. She has asked the teacher to exchange love for points, has opened her groin, and has spread her legs and let the whole coaching staff play with her to get a place on the national team, has slept with the organizing committee, and has become the champion of the National Female Swordmanship Championship.
Now she no longer pays attention to insults about dignity—only sweet words. Her so-called soulmate still worries, because she wants peace but cannot find tranquility. Her best friend's mind is being suppressed and tortured. The timid girl surprises everyone:
- When I live in velvet, silk, and tranquility, my friend flees from the vanity and gaudiness of the world. Does she even dare call herself my soulmate!
She despises the crowd of fame-seekers:
- When the storm surrounds my family, a group of strangers like you avoid it more than leprosy. Now you come looking for two girls who were once penniless, inferior, and ragged—now princesses in your eyes?
From beginning to end, Lan doesn't turn to her soulmate. But her voice chokes with grievance, and every word seems to reproach her bestie:
- The second exam subject is coming. Please return the quiet space to me so I can answer the paper.
After failing to flirt with the girls, the lustful crowd grows angry and leaves ashamed. They slink out of the classroom with their tails between their legs. Suong pats her sister's shoulder to comfort her and returns to her classroom.
The candidates finish the exam, submit it, and go home one after another. Kai and Sam come to pick up their relatives, and Rose runs out to say something to Anh Dao. The blonde girl nods and leaves. Suong and Lan are confused and don't understand. Rose turns around and explains:
- I just went to the bathroom. Mai says she'll meet you two at Flower Hill, West of the city, in half an hour. I asked my brother to drive everyone. Sister Dao already knows, so she's gone back to the corporation with her bodyguard.
Lan and Suong ask excitedly, "Is that true?" Rose nods to confirm. The sisters are afraid their bestie will say goodbye, so they hesitate and don't dare go. Rose immediately dispels their negative thoughts:
- What the hell are you worried about? What if she wants to start a new friendship? Don't you want a chance to talk? Take this opportunity! Why twist your brain and exhaust yourselves?
Her words make sense and convince the Lan sisters. Rose waves and calls out:
- Brother, turn the car around!
Kai shakes his head, smiles at his mischievous sister, and carries Hanna to the parking lot. Sam frowns and looks more twisted than a monkey eating ginger as he stares at Rose, making her neck hot and her temper flare:
- What are you looking at?
Rose feels strange. Sam suddenly becomes meek, no longer refuting her like before. He raises his eyebrows, squints, scratches his nose, lifts his lips—a series of humorous expressions all focused on her.
Her cheeks burn. Blushing, she gets into the car awkwardly, pursing her lips to hold back a smile while secretly watching Sam through the rearview mirror.
He stands like a fool until Kai calls. The idiot quickly climbs in, choosing to sit away from Rose but still able to observe the weird girl.
Rose occasionally glances at the rearview mirror and nearly bursts out laughing at Sam's bewildered face. Sam leans sideways and looks at her. He opens his mouth, clicks his tongue, and sometimes his jaw goes slack as if it's about to fall off.
Rose doesn't understand why he cares about her. Her peachy cheeks stay flushed pink. She smiles slightly along the way, secretly watching her lover.
Kai drives and glances at his second younger sister. He smiles subtly at the way the two express their feelings.
One bites her lip, intoxicated by the image of a short guy whose height doesn't even reach the armpit of his future girlfriend.
The other is clueless, mumbles to himself, and stays dazed until the car reaches Flower Hill.
Sam gets out but doesn't follow his niece. Kai and Rose stand on either side of him. Hanna looks through the glass door at the Lan sisters, hoping everything turns out fine.
Lan and Suong check their watches. The sisters hope the last ten minutes pass quickly. They walk around looking for their bestie, but their eager smiles vanish when they hear someone crying for help:
- Suong… Lan… save me… um… save… uh… me…