CHAPTER 425: CHAPTER 425: FATE

"Girls shouldn’t drink those."

What Jian Zhiqing meant by that was, he deliberately didn’t bring any, only giving her plain water to drink.

Jian Zhiqing tore off a piece of bread and popped it into his mouth, then tugged at Qin Xiangnuan’s hair again.

"Quick, eat. No talking."

Qin Xiangnuan continued to drink water and eat bread, feeling wonderfully content with life.

She could only sit there because what she really wanted to see was their department’s fashion design and the like. Any other programs, even the good ones, were dull to her. She watched purely for appreciation, neither praising nor criticizing. Even the not-so-good ones had people’s hard work behind them.

In the end, the waiting wasn’t in vain. She had a pack of pickled plums, a few sticks of sausage, half a loaf of bread, and drank two cups of water. With energy in her body and warm clothes on, it wasn’t uncomfortable to wait for their department’s show.

But just as the show started, she heard Jian Zhiqing’s voice after a long while.

"Are you sure this is a fashion show, and not a wild dance of demons?"

Qin Xiangnuan was left speechless.

It really did seem like a wild dance of demons. Jian Zhiqing’s description was incredibly apt, which was why she stayed out of such fashion shows. The models walking out one by one wore indescribable clothes of bizarre shapes—skirt stiff like rebar, coats irregularly terrifying, an array of outlandish colors, red with green, green with blue; some even had tails trailing behind them. Was this evolution from humans to apes, or from apes to humans? This must be a regression to ancient times.

Yet, these future artists, these fashion designers, sought their inspiration, their designs, in these styles.

But who would wear these clothes? No, wait, there are people—like the models up there; they’d wear them, aren’t they wearing it just right?

Although these student models weren’t very tall and walked the runway less professionally, it could still be considered a rather fashionable program.

And Qin Xiangmei really stole the show this time. With the right makeup and attire, she bore a slight resemblance to her former self. Though not fair enough, not beautiful enough, nor wealthy, she still managed to catch the young boys’ eyes.

The show concluded, and the university anniversary was well celebrated. The leaders praised it, calling it a high-quality performance, especially the closing fashion event. They said these people were the future hopes of their national fashion industry, stars that could shine on the international stage.

The president of Jing University humbly accepted the praises and prepared to give the entire fashion department a grand commendation.

Alright, the curtain falls, let’s go.

"Did you guys hear?" During history class, Qin Xiangnuan was taking notes when she overheard whispers nearby.

Qin Xiangnuan didn’t want to eavesdrop, but the conversation of those around her was so loud she couldn’t help but hear everything they said.

"What’s been going on recently?" another girl leaned over, whispering with a classmate.

"Of course, it’s about Song Wang getting a new girlfriend again."

Qin Xiangnuan was a bit surprised to hear Song Wang’s name. It wasn’t new to her; she was familiar with it, but it had never caused much of a ripple in her heart. However, their words echoed in her ears, stirring something within.

While the voices of the two girls continued, chattering non-stop,

one of them placed her hand over her chest, "My heart is about to break again."

"Your heart has been shattered long ago. Breaking it one more time makes no difference. After all, Song Wang will never fancy you."

"Then who does he fancy?"

This girl was extremely curious, leaning over the table, resting her face on it, trying to piece her broken heart back together.

"Some girl from the countryside, she looks okay, comes from a poor family, but Song Wang is head over heels for her, as if he’s under a spell, utterly devoted—practically boyfriend material of the most filial kind. What’s her name again?"

"Qin Xiangmei."

Another person responded in a detached voice, as if it was common knowledge.

Qin Xiangnuan paused for a moment, dropping her pen to the ground. She picked it up and continued jotting down notes in her notebook.

How should this be said?

Perhaps this is fate.

She was reborn and changed her and others’ destinies, but among those around her, there was no Qin Xiangmei. As for Song Wang finding Qin Xiangmei again in this lifetime, she had no intention of deliberately sabotaging anything.

After all, this lifetime’s Qin Xiangmei was not the same as her past self.

Without that face, without that layer of skin, not having taken anyone else’s luck and fate, she couldn’t make a significant impact.

And Qin Xiangnuan would just have to wait and see how far Qin Xiangmei’s dream of marrying into a wealthy family would go in this lifetime, or if it’s not just a dream but would become a reality, just like in her past life. Qin Xiangmei would marry Song Wang and bring a lifetime of glory and wealth to the Qin Family.

But all this has nothing to do with her. She would just calmly wait and see, wait for Qin Xiangnuan’s glory and wealth, Qin Pengfei’s promotion, and everything the Qin Family would do for Dadao Village, which should also come true, right?

The person she hated the most wasn’t the current Qin Xiangmei, but the one from her past life—arrogant, who tricked her to death with the promise of a house. She also didn’t hate the current destitute Qin Family, but the Qin Family from her past life, which never regarded her at all.

This lifetime, she wanted to earn everything herself and reclaim what she lost in her previous life.

With Song Wang as her rock, Qin Xiangmei didn’t bother with the idea of freeloading at the Siheyuan. After all, why settle for rented property when you can own one? Song Wang indeed fell for Qin Xiangmei. Perhaps this was what Qin Xiangnuan referred to as fate.

Such is the destiny, the fate.

Not only did Song Wang buy Qin Xiangnuan a house, but he also helped the Qin Family build one and secured a good job for Qin Pengfei. Still, it’s different from her past life, at least from what Qin Xiangnuan heard.

For instance, Song Wang was nice to Qin Xiangmei, but the Song Family didn’t seem to like her much. After all, the Song Family was a prestigious and famous clan in the Capital City. Any daughter-in-law they accepted had to be truly outstanding.

Now, Qin Xiangmei dressed well and exuded a certain elegance money could buy, but still, she was very ordinary to the Song Family. In contrast, Qin Xiangnuan remembered that in her past life, the Song Family adored Qin Xiangmei as a daughter-in-law. Even though she came from a rural background without any influential connections, she was exceptionally beautiful, one in a million, and had a natural charm that appealed to everyone, men and women alike, young and old—just like a one yuan bill with Grandpa Mao’s portrait, universally liked.