The next day at school, Bai Ziyuan kept circling in front of Gu Qianran. Since Gu Qianran had just received dividends from Ji Tang's investment, she was in a good mood and allowed Bai Ziyuan to annoy her all she wanted.
Bai Ziyuan, however, felt a little defeated when her carefully styled look went completely unnoticed by Gu Qianran. She could not hold back anymore and called out, "Ran Ran! Didn't you notice any difference in me?"
Gu Qianran studied the little girl for a moment, then answered solemnly, "You've gotten fatter."So this was why the little girl was waving herself in front of her—it turned out she was complaining about how all the milk tea and snacks Gu Qianran had been buying had fattened her up. Over the past months, since Gu Qianran had money, she never failed to spoil the little girl with milk tea.
Bai Ziyuan's eyes widened. Why was this so different from what she had imagined! Why did her Ran Ran sound like some nagging aunt worried about her weight! She looked down at herself. Still the same Bai Ziyuan who could not get fat no matter what she ate. Her sister often envied her constitution, saying only someone like her could withstand the torment of daily milk tea.
But that was not the point! Bai Ziyuan gave Gu Qianran a look of complaint, but through Gu Qianran's heavy filter of affection, that only turned into the appearance of a shy little cutie puffing her cheeks. Gu Qianran smiled lovingly. "Be good. If a student is too fat, points will be deducted in P.E. From now on I'll only treat you to milk tea once a week."
Since the last debate, Gu Qianran had picked up her previous life's training again—martial arts, sanda, and knife techniques—while running daily to stay fit. By now she already had faint abs forming, while Bai Ziyuan's originally slim waist was steadily getting softer under her feeding. At this rate the little girl would turn ugly!
Bai Ziyuan collapsed into her seat in despair. She was really stupid, honestly. Why had she tried showing off in front of a straight-laced Ran Ran who acted like an old auntie? Now she had not only failed to gain affection, she had also lost her daily cup of milk tea.
It was all Bai Luli's fault and her so-called romance guide! For the first time, Bai Ziyuan wanted to bash her sister's head in. Gu Qianran, completely oblivious, casually reached out and started ruffling Bai Ziyuan's hair again.
Bai Ziyuan turned her head away in mock arrogance. "Hmph! Serves you right for not understanding romance! Serves you right for cutting my milk tea! I won't let you ruffle me again!"
A few seconds later, Bai Ziyuan was leaning into her hand with a blissful face. "Ahhh Ran Ran, your massage feels so good! That's massage technique, right? Ah, yes, yes, right there…" All her frustration vanished instantly. It was all her stupid sister's fault anyway—"Ran Ran was flawless! Hurry up and ruffle me more!"
Like a big spoiled cat craving affection, Bai Ziyuan quickly shoved all blame back onto her sister.
Gu Qianran looked at Bai Ziyuan strangely. Why? Because at that very moment, Bai Ziyuan's expression looked exactly like a certain rice-loving boy surnamed Wang.
With the high school entrance exams approaching, and since Bai Ziyuan's electives were history, politics, biology, and chemistry—all heavy on memorization—she made use of Ji Tang's position as class monitor to request a quiet, favorable seat near the back window for both of them. Bai Ziyuan studied hard every day, reciting textbooks, while Gu Qianran was so free she could nap to her heart's content. That was when she realized that this world's exams were synchronized with her previous life's fifteen-year-old self. The new curriculum required choosing at least one science subject, and one or two humanities.
Gu Qianran was delighted. She immediately treated Bai Ziyuan to her favorite cheese-peach milk tea.
Electives meant what? It meant she no longer had to take history! Which meant her only unfamiliar subject became something she only needed to pass. The rest were all child's play for her.
She simply chose biology-chemistry and physics-politics, a combination that looked odd but was actually quite easy, and happily returned to her slacking ways. Recently, the system had gone silent as if it had died, giving Gu Qianran rare freedom to act on her own. She knew what she was fighting against was never just the Li family. Perhaps, it was the entire world.
Was it worth it?
Her gaze slid to the little girl beside her, who was also looking back at her. Bai Ziyuan's eyes were pure and clear, untainted by any filth. Gu Qianran laughed softly, her hand unconsciously brushing over Bai Ziyuan's head. She whispered, "So cute."
The answer was, of course, worth it.
Lost in thought, Gu Qianran failed to notice Bai Ziyuan's ears turning red as blood. Bai Ziyuan secretly observed Gu Qianran's expression, then covered her mouth and giggled to herself. She suspected Ran Ran had withheld her milk tea to drink it herself—her mouth was far too sweet! Why else would a simple compliment hit her so hard? As expected, Ran Ran really was all-powerful!
Ji Tang, seated to their right, silently observed the two of them. Something about Bai Ziyuan felt off, but she could not quite tell what. Her instincts, however, told her something unusual was brewing between them.
She sighed and turned back to her phone, continuing to study the stock market. Other people's drama was none of her concern. She had to prepare herself to inherit the company. Only an unfathomable big-shot like Gu Qianran and an innocent little girl like Bai Ziyuan could live so free of worry. Every family had their own difficulties. To protect her father's legacy, she had no choice but to mature early.
A forum notification popped up on her phone again. Ji Tang glanced at it briefly. More celebrity gossip between men and women. She shook her head. For people like her, life would be devoted to career, not romance. Bai Ziyuan had not been wrong in calling her a merciless money-making machine.
As the dizzying rise and fall of stocks reflected in her eyes without stirring a ripple, Ji Tang finally realized how much she had changed in a few months. Now she was not only clinging to a powerful thigh, she had already made hundreds of thousands.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Passing the time checking how much she had earned, watching the numbers climb—ah, the simple, boring life of the wealthy.
"Alright, we'll stop here today." As their balding teacher closed the textbook, another school day finally came to an end. Normally, Bai Ziyuan would be full of energy at this time, but today, deprived of milk tea, she looked utterly deflated. She realized now that Ran Ran's spoiling was genuine, but probably the kind meant for a child. Just like how Ran Ran had eagerly bought her milk tea before, and now could stop without hesitation, leaving her feeling out of place.
"Ran Ran must be tired of me! Boohoo…" Bai Ziyuan pitifully followed Gu Qianran out of the school gates. Gu Qianran laughed as she caught her gazing longingly at the milk tea shop. "Bai Ziyuan, do you really want milk tea that badly? But I can't let you drink for free all the time."
Bai Ziyuan's heart sank further. Ran Ran even called her by her full name now! She really must be tired of her! Even Ji Tang called her "Little Bai"—so intimate! She glared at Gu Qianran with a pout. "You don't love me anymore!"
Gu Qianran: ???
When did she suddenly become some scumbag who abandoned her lover?
She looked at the little girl in surprise. Clearly she had underestimated the depth of Bai Ziyuan's imagination. It was hard to picture what melodrama she would conjure up once she told her about the whole family recognition matter.
"What nonsense are you thinking? What I meant was, if you drink my milk tea, you have to study hard and stop sulking every day. It makes you look awful." She had only meant to tease the little girl, but Bai Ziyuan's shocking declaration had startled her into giving a serious explanation instead.
Not that Bai Ziyuan heard a word. She only wanted to slap herself for blurting out her thoughts. But seeing Gu Qianran's calm expression, she relaxed again. Thankfully, Ran Ran did not think she was a creep. So what if she was still a child? A child could still chase after love! One day she would win Ran Ran over!
Gu Qianran fondly patted Bai Ziyuan's head, then led her into the shop to buy a cup of milk tea. Satisfied, Bai Ziyuan held her drink in one hand and naturally took Gu Qianran's hand with the other as they left the store together.
And then they were blocked. A girl stood in front, glaring at Gu Qianran fiercely, while three punkish boys with dyed hair and cigarettes hung from their mouths lounged behind her, clearly waiting for trouble.
Gu Qianran immediately understood. So this was trouble coming her way? Wasn't this the same girl who had tried to scheme against her last month, only to be countered? Soft tactics had failed, so now she wanted to try hard ones? Did she overestimate her own strength?
Gu Qianran sneered inwardly. For these fake punks who thought smoking made them tough, she could handle ten at once without breaking a sweat.
She turned to ask Bai Ziyuan, "This girl looks familiar. Who is she?"
Bai Ziyuan answered honestly, "She's in our class. Her name is Chen Jiale."
Chen Jiale nearly exploded. She had envied Gu Qianran to the point of madness, had even considered herself a rival, but the other never even noticed her existence! She snapped, "Gu Qianran, do you dare come over here?"
Gu Qianran almost laughed. Couldn't this girl at least find a better excuse for a fight? Still, cracking down on petty crime in the city was a contribution to socialism. Why would she refuse?
Bai Ziyuan tilted her head in confusion. "Ran Ran, why are they picking a fight with you for no reason?"
Gu Qianran smiled gently at her. "Mahjong. They're missing a fourth."What a perfect excuse. Whether it was mahjong or not, fighting was still "playing."
Bai Ziyuan blinked. "When did you learn mahjong? Alright then, I'll head home first. See you later, Ran Ran!" She trotted off happily, planning to hurry home and revise her strategy with her sister.
She actually believed it???
That was everyone's genuine thought.
It seemed the little girl trusted her very much. Gu Qianran was quite satisfied with that.
Chen Jiale was speechless after witnessing this ridiculous scene. Then Gu Qianran spoke up herself. "Alright, out with it. You're here to fight, right?"
Since she had been exposed, Chen Jiale no longer bothered hiding it. "Gu Qianran, I've had enough of you for a long time!" The three punks behind her stood up too. The one in the middle snarled, "That's right! I used to like you, but we brothers wrote you heartfelt love letters and you ignored us completely, making fools of our hearts! Today I'll walk the path of my heart!"
Gu Qianran blinked. This weird way of talking… it reminded her of that love letter written in broken construction-site English. "You're Liu Rui?"
Construction-site English guy Liu Rui nodded. "That's right! Brothers, get her!"
Beside him, Broken Oral English Guy and Scattered Grammar Guy closed in from left and right.
"Wait." Gu Qianran raised her hand. She grabbed Chen Jiale's hand and slapped it onto her own cheek. "See? You made the first move."
Then she kicked one punk flying and launched a fierce assault on Chen Jiale. Every time one of the punks tried to get up, she kicked him down again, then went back to beating Chen Jiale. Trying to ambush her? Did they think she was easy prey? In her book, the only advice for them was: farm quietly, don't throw your lives away.
Ten minutes later, the three punks and a bruised, swollen Chen Jiale were huddled in the corner, trembling as if Gu Qianran had committed some heinous crime against them. Calmly, Gu Qianran called the police and gave Chen Jiale a pitying glance.
"Don't forget, you all struck first."
===
Mini Theater
Bai Ziyuan: I'm not letting Ran Ran touch me anymore!
Three seconds later: So good!
Ji Tang: I'll never fall in love in this life.
Then she sees Bai Luli: Wife! So good!