Her Mindset Quietly Changed

Horikita Suzune came out swinging right from the start.

Kushida Kikyo was caught completely off guard.

Kushida Kikyo's gentle eyes instantly filled with glistening tears, as though they would fall at any moment.

Perhaps it was because Shi Cheng saw it but made no move to ease the tension.

She showed remarkable talent in controlling the flow of tears.

They remained firmly locked in her eye sockets, never falling.

"Horikita, you're being so mean. I was only thinking of you."

Kushida Kikyo sniffled softly, using both her words and mannerisms to place herself in the weaker position.

Horikita Suzune remained unmoved. They were both girls—who was she putting on an act for?

Horikita Suzune snorted. "I don't think so."

"I've always been doing just fine, and I don't need your concern at all. Besides, who are you? What gives you the right to meddle in my affairs?"

Horikita Suzune's words were exceedingly blunt, directly cutting off any thought Kushida Kikyo had of continuing to pester her.

Kushida Kikyo was indeed too shocked to say anything. She probably had not expected this either.

Even so, she raised her stubborn gaze, trying to salvage some room to maneuver.

Unfortunately, Horikita Suzune still did not soften, because this was exactly the outcome she wanted.

Judging from the current situation,

she would at least have some peace for a while.

The scene fell silent.

Horikita Suzune rose from her seat and left in high spirits.

As for the milk tea,

heh, she felt refreshed now and had no need for some useless drink to cool off.

Shi Cheng did not stop her, merely watching quietly.

It was fine if she left.

He could take it back for Kato Megumi to drink.

As for Kushida Kikyo?

Shi Cheng only wanted to say: couldn't she buy one herself?

Kushida Kikyo wiped at tears that did not even qualify as crocodile tears, considering none had actually fallen.

"Shi Cheng, was I really wrong? I was only concerned about Horikita. She can't go on like this in class."

Shi Cheng shook his head. It was not easy for him to comment on this matter.

Subjectively speaking,

Horikita Suzune's behavior definitely would not do.

But then again,

he had his own goals.

Naturally, he hoped that from now on, Horikita Suzune would have only him as the one person who could barely be considered her friend.

"I see." Kushida Kikyo lowered her head in dejection.

Her attempt at playing pitiful had failed, so how could she possibly still look pleased?

"Alright, I won't lend you my shoulder. I have things to do." Seeing that the milk tea he ordered was ready, Shi Cheng grabbed the bag and swiftly left.

Considerately leaving this spot to Kushida Kikyo.

In the blink of an eye, only Kushida Kikyo remained there.

Listening to the unfamiliar voices around her,

Kushida Kikyo lowered her head and silently walked out of the milk tea shop, looking exactly like a defeated dog.

Meanwhile,

Sakura Airi, whose self-conquest progress was going fairly well, was curled up in her dorm room, happily admiring her beautiful photos.

Only at times like this

would she reveal her truest self.

Because she had spent so long hiding herself from others outside, Sakura Airi did not turn on the lights at all.

She moved around the dorm room using only the faint light.

Even so,

it could not conceal her stunning beauty.

Although the campus network was not connected to the outside world, it could still view and post certain things that were allowed.

That was how Sakura Airi could continue updating online.

So as not to disappoint her fans.

As for Shi Cheng, who already knew everything,

Sakura Airi had initially been worried, but gradually chose to trust him.

Her judgment was very accurate. Shi Cheng had kept his promise.

With nothing left to worry about, Sakura Airi happily clicked on today's view count.

Having grown bigger and stronger, she no longer gave out benefits for free.

She was making money now.

Unfortunately, the school imposed restrictions, so only a small portion went toward her living expenses.

All the rest was stored on her card.

Though she did not know why things had turned out this way,

she did not dwell on it.

This was fine.

Sakura Airi was very satisfied with her current situation.

This place had everything, and they even gave her generous monthly living expenses.

Honestly, she could not even spend it all.

Sakura Airi suddenly gave a silly little laugh.

At first, it had simply been a hobby.

Or perhaps she had discovered that the internet allowed her to perfectly display her truest self.

Sakura Airi had been worried at first.

Would anyone insult her?

Yet the result had been unexpectedly wonderful.

The comments contained nothing but praise.

For someone who had never received validation in real life, it made her feel somewhat intoxicated, wanting to immerse herself in it.

With that opportunity,

she became more and more confident.

Yet her confidence remained confined to the virtual world.

Still, Sakura Airi did not think there was anything wrong with that.

This was actually fine.

At least, that was what she believed.

Until Shi Cheng forcefully barged into her world.

For the first time, Sakura Airi's resolute heart wavered slightly.

For the first time, distracting thoughts appeared in Sakura Airi's mind.

Fortunately, Shi Cheng did not press her any further.

Only then did Sakura Airi have enough time to think.

What was Shi Cheng doing right now?

The bright screen filled her eyes, yet this out-of-place thought surfaced in Sakura Airi's mind.

Sakura Airi's shy little face flushed red.

What was she even thinking?

Focus!

Sakura Airi patted her fair cheeks and concentrated on enjoying her fans' messages.

The more she read those flattering words, the more engrossed she became.

Until something terrible happened.

"Huh?" What she saw next was almost entirely disgusting comments from perverted creeps.

Sakura Airi could not accept it for a moment.

Fear enveloped her entire body.

Combined with the darkness of the dorm room, she nearly fainted on the spot.

Fortunately, Shi Cheng had previously used the Ice-Breaking Operation on her.

Sakura Airi's emotional resilience had greatly improved.

That was how she managed to calm down.

Staring at the string after string of unbearable messages,

Sakura Airi finally could not endure it anymore.

She tossed away the scorching phone.

Kneeling on the floor, she covered her face in agony and murmured, "Why was I exposed?"

She could not understand it.

She had clearly disguised herself so well all along.

There was no way anyone could have discovered her.

Amid her chaotic thoughts,

a figure suddenly appeared in Sakura Airi's mind.

Thinking of that warm embrace,

Sakura Airi missed him terribly.

Before she could go looking for him,

Sakura Airi suddenly remembered something.

These were probably Shi Cheng's comments.

After all, Shi Cheng was the only person who knew her true identity.

Upon reaching that conclusion, Sakura Airi felt a chill run through her whole body.

Sakura Airi's pupils trembled.

She could not understand why Shi Cheng had suddenly become so impatient.

She had clearly already started to fall for him.

Why could he not wait a little longer and give her more time to think?

Her beautiful fantasy shattered completely.

Sakura Airi once collapsed into the corner by the wall.

Numbly listening to the constant buzzing.

Given how insignificant she was,

they were probably more of those disgusting comments.

She did not want to look at them at all.

Suddenly, a trace of life returned to Sakura Airi's deathly still face.

Not because she had figured it out.

But because she remembered something.

The school had explicit rules

prohibiting all kinds of improper conduct.

Like a drowning person, Sakura Airi clung tightly to that lifeline.

She had no choice.

Right now, it was the only thing she could rely on.

Because here, she could find no other support.