Xiaomeng was stunned for a moment, then put her carbon pen away too. “Not every girl in this world is going to fall for Lin Zhengran, no matter how outstanding he is.”

Jiang Xueli turned her head halfway to glance at Xiaomeng. “Of course I know that, but you still haven’t answered my question directly. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Jiang Qian. I just want to hear the truth from you.”

Xiaomeng stayed silent.

Jiang Xueli pursed her lips and furrowed her brow slightly. “Not answering means you're admitting it. I never really paid attention to the fact that you might like him too. But if you didn’t like him, your face wouldn’t have shown jealousy just now when we were confirming that Zhengran’s building a harem.”

Xiaomeng looked up, puzzled. “Did I look jealous just now?”

“Mhm. You tried to hide it pretty well, didn't want anyone to notice, but I still caught it. If it was the past me, I might’ve thought I was imagining things. But after that whole fox incident, I’ve gotten pretty good at reading people.”

Jiang Xueli’s eyes turned sharp, a glint of coldness flashing through them.

Xiaomeng’s fingers gradually tightened. “I hope you won’t tell Qianqian about this. Okay?”

Jiang Xueli smiled. “Of course. Since you promised to keep our secret earlier, I’ll keep yours too. But about dating Zhengran—both you and Jiang Qian should give up. Four girls are already more than enough. We’re definitely not letting Zhengran date two more.”

Even though we did say before that two more might still be acceptable...

“Thanks.”

Jiang Xueli asked, “Can I ask when you started liking him? You don’t seem like the type to fall for someone just based on looks.”

Xiaomeng looked at her and said:

“It’s not about personality. I started liking Lin Zhengran back in high school, after he took me to karaoke. That’s when I caught feelings. But you, He Qing, Han Wenwen, and the Eldest Miss—you all have your own unique personalities. As for me, I don’t even know what kind of personality I have. I’m just an ordinary girl.”

“Why are you suddenly pouring your heart out?” Jiang Xueli puffed out her chest proudly and winked one eye like she could see through everything. “Are you trying to say you think you're too plain, so you assume you can’t get Zhengran and only secretly admire him? Well, from what I saw, your eyes just now didn’t look like someone who’s given up.”

Xiaomeng’s pupils shifted slightly, staring at the usually silly Jiang Xueli.

She hadn’t expected her to be so observant.

Of course, what Xiaomeng didn’t know was that Jiang Xueli had just blurted out that last line... She could, at most, tell which girls liked Lin Zhengran—nothing more.

Jiang Xueli casually said:

“Honestly, we’re all just ordinary girls. There’s no real difference. We’ve just been protected too well by Zhengran, so we’ve been able to keep our childhood personalities. Let me tell you a secret—before I met Zhengran, I didn’t have a single friend. I used to be the class discipline monitor, and everyone in class hated me.”

She said to Xiaomeng, “If I hadn’t met Zhengran, maybe to everyone else, I’d just be some gloomy girl who didn’t like to talk.”

After speaking, Lili turned to go find He Qing.

Xiaomeng watched Jiang Xueli’s cheerful steps, her golden twin ponytails bouncing with each movement.

A faint smile curved her lips, her heart easing a little. “Looks like Lin Zhengran really did save a lot of girls’ lives.”

Jiang Xueli returned to He Qing’s desk.

Little He Qing was playing on her phone. When she saw her come back, she asked curiously, “Lili, did it take you a year to buy drinks? Why were you gone so long? And where’s your drink?”

“I finished it.” Jiang Xueli covered her mouth and whispered in He Qing’s ear, “I ran into Xiaomeng just now, that’s why I got held up.”

“Xiaomeng?” She turned her head and glanced over, spotting Xiaomeng in the distance.

Jiang Xueli nodded and sat down, continuing to whisper with her hand over her mouth, “She found out about Zhengran’s harem situation and asked me a bunch of weird questions.”

“What? Then what do we do? We have to make sure she doesn’t tell anyone!”

Jiang Xueli confidently waved her hand. “Relax. I’ve already gotten some leverage on that girl, so she won’t spill our secret.”

“Leverage? Is it solid?!”

Jiang Xueli gave an evil smile. “Very solid. It’s a big one.”

Little He Qing blinked. “Lili, you look so evil right now, like a villain.”

“Uh...”

“But it does seem like the leverage is pretty solid. And what were those questions she asked you?”

Jiang Xueli told the truth: “Just things like what I like to eat, what I like to do for fun, what time I go to bed... I have no idea what she’s up to.”

Little He Qing frowned. “That sounds kinda creepy. You think she might like you?”

“What the heck!” Jiang Xueli puffed up her cheeks, embarrassed. “I thought the same thing at first and even asked her. But clearly, she’s not into me like that.”

“Then why ask you stuff like that?” Little He Qing was still confused.

Just then, Xiaomeng suddenly reappeared beside them.

Xiaomeng held a notebook, looking serious. “Hi there.”

Both Jiang Xueli and Little He Qing jumped.

Jiang Xueli: “Why are you back again?”

Xiaomeng turned to look at He Qing. “This time I’m not here to talk to Jiang Xueli. I want to speak with He Qing.”

Little He Qing pointed at herself. “Me? Talk to me? Why? I don’t know anything!” She waved her hands frantically.

“I haven’t even asked yet,” Xiaomeng said.

Little He Qing covered her eyes nervously. “No matter what you ask, I don’t know! I’m not saying a word about Lin Zhengran! And I don’t like girls either!”

Xiaomeng: “...”

Xiaomeng: “What was that last part supposed to mean? Relax, it’s not about Lin Zhengran. I already clarified that when I asked Jiang Xueli.”

Jiang Xueli rolled her eyes. “Hey... That sounded like you’re accusing me of leaking info. Aren’t you the one who figured it out on your own? Don’t act like I was sent by Jiang Qian to stir things up!”

Xiaomeng looked at Jiang Xueli, then suddenly threw her a flirtatious wink.

Jiang Xueli clenched her fists and shut her eyes. “Why are you winking at me! Now you’re really making it look like I was the snitch! I’m not on your team, alright?!”

Xiaomeng cleared her throat and said seriously, “Okay, no more jokes. I figured it out myself. Jiang Xueli kept her lips sealed.”

Jiang Xueli gave her a scornful look.

Little He Qing kept her eyes covered, voice soft and sticky: “Even if you’re trying to stir things up, it won’t work. Lili and I are besties. No matter what you say, I’ll believe her over you—even though I consider you a friend too.”

Jiang Xueli was unexpectedly touched. Sisterhood was real.

Xiaomeng said to He Qing:

“So can I ask you a couple of questions? Nothing about Lin Zhengran—just about you. In return, I can give you a few ultra-rare group photos of Lin Zhengran from high school when he was in our class. Only Qianqian and I have them.”

Little He Qing peeked at her through her fingers.

“Really? Okay!”