Celia wasn't surprised. Nathaniel Fu had always been generous with money, and since she was the daughter he cherished, it was only natural that he would spend freely on her.
But suddenly, a wave of nausea swept over her. Celia pressed a hand against her chest, bent forward, and gagged a few times.
"Cici, are you okay?"Her classmates crowded around, their voices full of concern.
Celia shook her head lightly. "I'm fine. I've had a mild digestive problem for years—it makes me nauseous sometimes. Don't worry about it."
She had no intention of letting anyone know about her pregnancy, so she told a harmless lie.
The baby had behaved quietly inside her for the past two weeks. Though she sometimes felt drowsy or queasy, the symptoms were mild—tolerable, at least.
Reaching into her bag, Celia pulled out a small packet of candied fruit.
Ever since she became pregnant, she had craved sour flavors. When Madam Fu found out, she immediately instructed the cook to prepare all kinds of sweet-and-sour dried fruit for Celia to carry with her.
She popped one piece into her mouth, then passed a few around. Li Yuting tried one, and her lips puckered instantly. "Oh my God, Cici, this is way too sour! How can you stand it?"
Celia smiled faintly. "I don't think it's sour at all."
"Wow, you've got some tolerance for sour things," another classmate laughed.
Meanwhile, across the room, Ning Xiner tugged Yara Lu's sleeve, her voice sharp with irritation. "Yaoyao, did you see that? That girl from the Shen family just doesn't know when to quit."
Yara, however, looked utterly indifferent. She had no desire to waste her time on people she considered beneath her. To her, Celia was hardly worth the effort. Still, she knew Ning Xiner was eager for a little drama.
"Xiner," Yara said coolly, "you know how famous the Tsinghua University Forum is. Their Campus Beauty List is practically a social currency among Beijing's elite. Just imagine the joke it would be if that so-called daughter from the Shen family were to appear on it."
Ning Xiner's eyes lit up instantly. Of course! For young men in Beijing's upper circles, the Campus Beauty List was practically a catalog of potential girlfriends. Yara had sat at the top of that list for two years in a row, but everyone knew she already had her eyes on Nathaniel Fu. If Celia suddenly showed up on the same list, it would make her a laughingstock.
Ning Xiner almost clapped her hands in delight. "Yaoyao, I get it now. Leave it to me."
······
It didn't take long for the news to reach Celia. Li Yuting and several classmates rushed over, shoving their phones in front of her.
"Cici, look at this! This is terrible—you've somehow landed in tenth place on the list!"
"It must be Ning Xiner. She must have paid someone to rig the votes, just to embarrass you. She's so malicious!"
Celia glanced at the screen. Sure enough, Yara Lu was firmly in first place, while she had been pushed to the tenth spot.
A new post was pinned at the top of the forum:
"The Shen Family's Adopted Daughter, Fiancée of Young Master Fan, Makes a Stunning Debut on Tsinghua University's Campus Beauty List."
It had already racked up over a million views.
In an instant, she had become a campus sensation.
Celia sighed inwardly. Why was it so hard for her to stay out of the spotlight?
Her classmates were in a frenzy. "Cici, how can you stay so calm? Guys from all over Beijing will be swarming here just to see your face!"
But Celia merely set down her phone and opened her book again. "If they want to look, let them. It's not something I can control."
Her friends were still upset. "But think about it! If they actually see you in person… won't they think the school beauty ranking is a joke?"
Celia's long lashes lowered, shadowing her expression. A faint smile curved her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes. Who knows, she thought silently, in the end, who will really be the joke?
······
Meanwhile, Fan Jun had been restless for days. He hadn't set foot outside, too consumed by his thoughts of the mysterious "little fairy." He had sent people searching frantically for her whereabouts, determined to find her no matter what.