Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Song Fengwan’s birthday was over, and the recruitment for the school clubs started. She had signed up for a few with her roommates. Other than the many student affairs departments requiring interviews, students could generally participate in clubs after paying the membership fee.

The best and most powerful club in the art school was the Design Club. Every year, the club would hold a school-wide design competition. The students who won would most likely be able to sign with large companies before graduating.

Therefore, apart from the first-years of the art school, many students from other departments would also join this club.

However, it only accepted 30 new students every year, so it required interviews and artwork samples. Most first-years didn’t have good works, but there were some highlights, and the competition was very fierce.

All three people in Song Fengwan’s dorm room signed up to try their luck.

There were a lot of people on the day of the interview. Song Fengwan and the other two arrived later, so their positions were near the end. Many people had already finished their interviews, and there was no lack of classmates among them.

“You came to sign up too?”

“Were you chosen?” Hu Xinyue was a little nervous and excited. “What questions are they asking?”

“I definitely didn’t get chosen. When I answered the questions, my voice was trembling. They just asked why I came to join the club and so on. But you have to be careful when you go in.”

“What’s the matter?” Miao Yating was more introverted and wasn’t used to such situations. She was so nervous that her hands were trembling.

“The teacher in charge of the main interview is Gao Xue, the one in charge of the major class.”

“Isn’t that good? Teacher Gao likes Wanwan a lot. She’ll definitely be able to join.” Hu Xinyue wasn’t interested in joining the club. If she went for the interview, she would get extracurricular credit, so she came to get the credit.

“I saw Wu Yuxin helping her record something, and I think Wu Yuxin asked her something in private. Anyway, the two of them are very close. I’m afraid she’ll make things difficult for you. Weren’t you in the same dorm room before?”

Song Fengwan was surprised. How did these two get together?

When it was her turn to enter, she indeed saw Wu Yuxin. She was sitting beside Gao Xue and holding a notebook, seemingly in charge of recording the interview results.

After the interview, at around 7 p.m., Song Fengwan received a club message informing her that she had been accepted.

“Wanwan, you have to treat us. Only five people in our class made it in, and you’re one of them,” Hu Xinyue teased.

“Okay, I’ll treat you to bubble tea.” Song Fengwan was looking at the texts on her phone. She recalled the way Wu Yuxin looked at her during the interview and had a bad feeling.

***

At this moment, in the teacher’s office…

After helping Gao Xue tidy up her course material, Wu Yuxin kept staring at her. She wanted to say something but hesitated…

“If you have something to say, just say it.” Gao Xue had just signed a contract with a company to help her set up a design exhibition. She was currently reviewing the design drafts she would submit.

“That Song Fengwan…” Wu Yuxin bit her lip. “I know you two know each other. I don’t want to complain, but I just want to say that her picture in the interview today looks a little like one of yours…”

“Do you think so?”

Wu Yuxin had been helping her with odd jobs recently and had seen some of her drawings. She hesitated and nodded. “I think it looks familiar. And during the interview, she didn’t say that it was original. She only said that it was inspired by someone else’s work.

“She…” Wu Yuxin deliberated over her words. “Did her inspiration come from you? Didn’t you teach her…”

Gao Xue smiled. “Everyone starts writing and drawing by copying and imitating. It’s not surprising that she referenced others.”

“It feels like plagiarism.” Wu Yuxin gritted her teeth. “It’s really similar.”

“She has her own thoughts,” Gao Xue explained for her.

“She’s too brazen to do this in front of you. She’s already like this, yet you still recommended her to join the club with a high score?” Wu Yuxin didn’t understand and only felt that this teacher was too kind-hearted.

“She’s a malleable talent. Don’t spout nonsense.”

“But…”

“Alright, it’s getting late. You should go back to your dormitory.”

Wu Yuxin walked back resentfully. If it really involved plagiarism, Song Fengwan might be banned from the industry. Teacher Gao is too good-tempered.

After she left, Gao Xue looked through the drawings that the club members had submitted today. Her gaze stopped on Song Fengwan’s artwork, and her fingers tightened as she tore the artwork bit by bit.

Song Fengwan was too outstanding. It would be difficult for her to block her from joining even if she wanted to, and she would also cause the students to criticize her in private. Instead of doing this…

She might as well keep her by her side. In any case, the artworks would have to go through her hands even if they were sent out to competitions.

What could a student do?

Others might not know, but Gao Xue knew very well that Song Fengwan had a powerful background and that she couldn’t do anything to her openly. So why not…

… support her to death!

Directly destroy her!

Gao Xue threw the torn drawing into the trash can, her eyes dark.

***

On another side…

As Old Master Fu’s birthday approached, although he had three sons and one daughter, Fu Chen was the only one in the capital, so he was naturally busy.

Song Fengwan shuttled through the various clubs until she received a message from Yu Manxi asking her about jade jewelry. After class, she called her back.

“You want to buy jade?”

“It’s a gift.” Yu Manxi had heard Duan Linbai mention that Song Fengwan’s family was in this industry. Although he didn’t mention the details, she wanted to consult her.

After all, in the current market, the quality of jade varied, and she wasn’t proficient in this aspect.

“Who are you giving it to? A man and a woman? What age are they…” Jade stones had meanings. According to familiarity, they couldn’t be given randomly.

“Elders, a couple in their fifties.”

“What price range are you looking at?”

…

The two of them chatted for a while. Yu Manxi really knew nothing about this.

“Why don’t I accompany you to choose on Saturday afternoon? Do you have time?” It was hard to explain over the phone.

“Sure. I’ll have to trouble you.”

“It’s fine. Third Brother has been quite busy recently and doesn’t have time to accompany me.”

“Then, I’ll pick you up at your school at two.”

The two made an appointment to go to the mall on Saturday.

***

Yu Manxi was choosing gifts, so she naturally hoped to buy quality products. But even the jade pieces sold by regular stores were a mixture of good and bad items.

After browsing through a few stores, she didn’t find anything she liked.

“I saw many netizens recommend the jade of the Jade Hall of Spring. It’s just that the shop isn’t in the city center, so the drive is a little far. If you don’t want to go, I can send you back to school first.” Yu Manxi looked at the person in the front passenger seat.

Song Fengwan had already accompanied her to three shopping malls. She felt a little embarrassed.

“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Actually, she had wanted to ask whether she wanted to go to the Jade Hall of Spring before. But she felt that this was her own store, and it would seem as though she was deliberately taking advantage of her, so she didn’t mention it.

Yu Manxi had also done some homework. Song Fengwan was only responsible for checking the quality of the jade and giving her some suggestions.

As it was the weekend, the store was bustling. Considering that Yu Manxi was a public figure, and it would cause a commotion if she was recognized in the store, the store assistant specially led them to the VIP room at the back.

“We have a picture album. You can choose first. If you see anything you like, I’ll bring the jade over.” The store assistant greeted them warmly.

“Thank you.” Yu Manxi smiled and took the album.

The Jade Hall of Spring had stores in many provinces, and they were all managed by professional managers. Some people had only seen Qiao Aiyun or Qiao Xiyan. Even if Qiao Wangbei came, they probably wouldn’t know him, let alone Song Fengwan.

The store assistant treated them like ordinary customers.

“Have some water and take your time.” The store assistant left.

“I think this isn’t bad. The price is good too.” Song Fengwan pointed at a white jade Buddha pendant. “Big Sister Yu…”

“Yes?” Yu Manxi looked at the description of the jade in the album carefully.

“Are you going to see his parents?”

Yu Manxi blushed. “What nonsense are you saying?”

Fu Sinian’s parents were indeed returning to the capital. He had mentioned that they wanted to have a meal together in a few days, so she definitely had to express something.

“Isn’t this Host Yu? What a coincidence.” A slightly sharp female voice suddenly sounded.

Song Fengwan looked over. Isn’t this the celebrity who often appears on TV?

Just by hearing the voice, Yu Manxi knew who it was. Enemies were indeed bound to meet on a narrow road. She could even meet her here.

How could she have known that this wasn’t a chance encounter at all? She had come specially to find her. At the entrance, she heard the discussion about meeting his parents, so she exploded…

“Miss Xia, please come in.” The store assistant didn’t expect this person to speak so sharply as soon as she entered, so she could only brace herself and greet her.

“Does your store allow buying on credit now?” Her tone was teasing.

“No.” The shop assistant smiled.

“With a certain someone’s salary, I don’t think they can afford to spend here. They don’t have much money, yet they still pretended to be rich and entered the VIP room?”

Song Fengwan looked at Yu Manxi and felt worried. This woman obviously didn’t come with good intentions.

***

At this moment, Fu Sinian happened to be at the Jing residence to deliver an invitation.

The Jing family might not necessarily attend Old Master Fu’s birthday banquet, but the invitation had to be sent.

“You don’t seem to be in a good mood today.” Jing Hanchuan was sitting on a chair and watching over his fishing pole. There was a plate of strawberries beside him. “You didn’t go on a date this weekend?”

Hearing this, Fu Sinian became even more silent.

“Don’t tell me she canceled on you?”

“I guess.”

He and Yu Manxi both had the weekend off. They had originally agreed to eat and watch a movie together, but she had suddenly canceled the appointment. The reason was:

I want to go shopping with your little aunt.

Little Aunt?

Upon hearing this address, Fu Sinian frowned, but he could only nod in agreement.

Jing Hanchuan ate the strawberries and glanced at Fu Sinian. “So, what’s so good about being in love? It’s better to watch over my fish ponds.”

“Don’t you want to fall in love?” Fu Sinian asked in a muffled voice.

“Give me a reason why I should fall in love. For example, what do you think is good about your fish?”

Fu Sinian stared at the strawberry in his hand. “She’s…

“… sweeter than the strawberry in your hand.

“You’ve always liked sweets. Don’t you want to try something sweeter?”

Jing Hanchuan suddenly felt that the strawberries today tasted like lemons.

They were so sour that his teeth hurt.