Chapter Forty-Six: Contrast

Yu Qian wanted to warn Jiujiu that Lin Yuexin didn’t seem like a good person and that she should keep her distance. But seeing how close they were, she hesitated—what if Jiujiu didn’t believe her? After all, they hadn’t known each other for long…

The girl gripped her quilt tightly, trying to calm the turmoil inside. Even though she wore the bracelet, her emotions were still affected. Thankfully, her acting was convincing.

Lin Yuexin, meanwhile, was thinking about how Jiujiu looked even better in person than in photos. She’d thought Jiujiu edited her pictures just like she did...

How annoying. Why were they assigned to the same room? Was she supposed to play second fiddle to highlight Jiujiu’s beauty? That face was so infuriating… But Jiujiu was a little naive, probably easy to fool. It was best to pretend to be friends with her for now and take things step by step.

After tidying up, the three went to the recreation room to pick up their uniforms for military training. On the way, they received a message in the group chat announcing a class meeting that evening.

“Jiujiu, it’s getting late. Let’s buy something to eat and hurry back to get ready. After all, it’s everyone’s first meeting—we should make a good impression,” Lin Yuexin spoke up before the usually impatient Yu Qian could, revealing how much she cared.

Making a good impression was just a pretext; in truth, she was desperate to salvage her own image. Her edited photos were so fake, and even those couldn’t compare to Jiujiu’s beauty.

Yu Qian silently complained in her heart. The more she looked at Lin Yuexin, the more irritated she felt—so fake, so pretentious, always wanting to compete with Jiujiu, without any sense of her own limits.

“Alright,” came the gentle reply.

The soft voice was refreshing and soothing. Yu Qian exhaled deeply—Jiujiu really was wonderful; her looks, her voice, her personality, all perfect. She resolved to spend more time with Jiujiu, to cleanse her eyes and ears.

After Lin Yuexin’s relentless urging, Yu Qian finally bought dinner and prepared to head back.

She was clearly doing this on purpose!

Lin Yuexin cursed inwardly. She’d tried to be nice, yet Yu Qian opposed her at every turn—who knew what was wrong with her?

Back at the dorm, everyone rushed to get ready and apply makeup, except the girl, who flipped through the books on her desk without any intention of getting made up.

“Jiujiu, aren’t you going to put on makeup?” Lin Yuexin asked, puzzled. Didn’t she want to look even prettier?

The girl looked up and smiled lightly. “I don’t want to—removing it later is such a hassle.”

Besides, she didn’t need it. With the system’s enhancement, her appearance would only become more beautiful, never worse.

As soon as she said this, Lin Yuexin’s expression changed, her tone tinged with envy. “Ah, I really envy you, Jiujiu, being so beautiful you don’t even need makeup, unlike us.”

Only the three of them lived in this dorm—it was obvious whom she was talking to. But Yu Qian wouldn’t let herself be provoked.

“A natural beauty like her belongs to me—I’m so lucky!” Yu Qian cast a contemptuous glance at Lin Yuexin.

Hmph, trying to sow discord between her and Jiujiu—clearly not a good person, full of scheming.

Catching Yu Qian’s disdainful look, Lin Yuexin quickly feigned innocence and complained to the girl, “Jiujiu, I was just complimenting you. Why is Yu Qian looking at me like that?”

“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry up,” the girl interjected softly, cutting short their verbal sparring. Now wasn’t the time for confrontation.

Hearing this, Lin Yuexin turned away angrily and focused on her makeup, saying nothing more. She picked out her prettiest dress, secretly glancing at the girl’s outfit. Seeing that she wore the same simple clothes as earlier, Lin Yuexin relaxed. Her greatest fear was Jiujiu stealing her spotlight.

The girl noticed her furtive glances and smiled with a hint of mystery.

Be happy now—the sooner you rejoice, the deeper your disappointment later. She was quite looking forward to it.

As soon as they left the dorm, all three felt the gaze of those around them, eyes brimming with admiration for youthful girls.

Most students at this age were innocent and curious, filled with longing for the opposite sex—especially those slender, graceful girls. The girl deliberately watched the reactions of her companions out of the corner of her eye. Yu Qian walked with her arm around hers, carefree and unaffected, while Lin Yuexin straightened her posture, accentuating her curves, chin lifted, pride and joy flickering in her eyes.

Lin Yuexin was just as she’d been in her previous life.

But it had to be admitted: she was clever. Though poor, she was sharp and observant, knowing exactly which posture and angle showed her figure to best advantage.

But compared to herself in this lifetime—who would win?

The battle had officially begun. She couldn’t wait to see the outcome.

The girl’s eyes curved even more, her smile sweeter, sunlight casting a gentle halo over her, a softness almost unreal.

Those watching from the sidelines suddenly found their eyes shining brighter, their attention fixed on the girl, even their breathing light, afraid to disturb this angelic presence.

Lin Yuexin, sensitive to the shift in attention, noticed fewer gazes on herself. She turned to see everyone enthralled by the girl beside her. Needing confirmation, she looked quickly—the very person she envied most was smiling softly, her eyes bright, her skin gleaming like snow, bathed in sunlight with a dreamlike radiance, the embodiment of beauty.

Her own smile nearly collapsed, her heart in turmoil. She dug her nails into her palms, trying to numb the shock and surging jealousy with physical pain.

Whether Jiujiu was doing it on purpose or not, it left her deeply unsettled. Unable to lash out, she could only comfort herself inwardly.

Just as her emotions began to settle, the scene in the classroom nearly pushed her to the brink.

The moment all three entered, they were met with a wave of attention and a chorus of whispers.

“Wow, the beauties just entered our class!”

“Hey, did you notice? The girl in the middle is stunning—she’s probably our class belle.”

“I think so too, but she looks familiar. Didn’t we see her in the group chat photos?”

“Yes, yes, I remember her name—she’s called Wei Jiujiu. Wow, she’s even prettier in person, and her smile is so sweet.”

All the compliments were directed at the girl. Yu Qian beamed, as if the praise were for her. But Lin Yuexin was different. She’d gone to great lengths to do her makeup and wear her finest dress, yet everyone only noticed Jiujiu, not even sparing her a second glance.

Their reaction felt like a slap across her face. Watching the girl smile sweetly, Lin Yuexin could barely contain the hatred on her face, but she knew she couldn’t lose control. She quietly sat beside her.

Thus, the three sat together. Yu Qian hadn’t wanted to sit with Lin Yuexin, but she always stuck close to Jiujiu.