Fang Zhi's twenty-first birthday gift was a ring that the man had personally chosen for her.

The ring design is simple yet unique.

It's not the kind of gemstone the size of a pigeon egg that would blind people if you wore it out. Where a diamond should have been set, a full and round beige pearl has been used instead. The color and style complement each other perfectly. Just like Fang Zhi herself, gentle and unassuming, elegant and dignified.

At Qi Shen's request, the ring was worn daily on Fang Zhi's bare left middle finger. Fang Zhi had privately researched that wearing a ring on the middle finger signifies being deeply in love or engaged.

After my birthday, everything returned to normal.

After their final conversation, she realized she could no longer hope her brother would come to his senses. Throughout the summer, while her husband worked away from home, she spent increasingly more time in the dance studio. Even though she had perfected the dance she was rehearsing, she showed no signs of slacking off.

Sometimes, when she was tired from practicing dance alone and sat down to rest in the dance studio, she would have the thought of contacting Lin Yisheng, but she would eventually suppress it.

The nearly two-month holiday has passed in the blink of an eye.

In the dance studio, the dance teacher stood at the front, hands behind her back, looking at the students with a half-smile. "The summer meals must have been pretty good, you all look so plump and healthy."

The moment the words left her lips, a bad thought flashed through the students' minds. The next second, they saw the teacher pull out an electronic scale from behind her back, staring at them, "If anyone gains more than half a pound this summer, you'll see what I do to her!"

Apart from Fang Zhi and Guo Shuyao, who remained calm, the rest of the students in the classroom either gasped in shock, groaned in pain, or hurriedly removed their jewelry and shoes to try and lose a pound or two.

"Start from this row and weigh yourself one by one."

A long queue formed in front of them, and the voices of dance teachers could be heard commenting: "Pass, next one."

"I've gained a few pounds, so I'll skip lunch today."

"Gain two pounds and do one hour of physical training, next one."

"Tan Qingmiao, you're a dancer, not a boxer. You've gained five pounds in less than two months? What's your family's financial situation? You'll be doing one hour of physical training every day. We'll stop when you reach a certain weight."

"Seven catties, you're even better! Planning to participate in sumo wrestling?"

Two-thirds of the students in the class had weighed themselves, and it was finally Fang Zhi's turn.

Human nature is a scale, always prioritizing what is important and what is urgent.

Facing her prized dance student whom she privately taught, her eyes flashed, and her expression softened. "Fang, don't you plan to take off your rings before stepping on the scale like the others?"

Fang Zhi was taken aback, subconsciously touched the ring on her middle finger, and then a gentle and respectful smile appeared on her fair and beautiful face. "Thank you, teacher, I don't need it."

Guo Shuyao, who was standing nearby, lowered her eyes after hearing their conversation, her gaze subtly falling on Fang Zhi's left hand. A hint of doubt flashed through her mind: Was she in a relationship?

After her doubts subsided, she silently curled her lips into a cold smile. She wanted to see if her boyfriend, whom she had only discovered after the talent show, would still be with her, whose reputation was ruined.

-

At lunchtime, the students, exhausted from a morning of grueling training, dragged their weary bodies out of the classroom.

Fang Zhiwan walked for a few minutes.

Only the teacher and student remained in the spacious and bright classroom.

"Are you nervous?" the dance teacher asked her with a smile. "The talent show is the day after tomorrow, and you're the final performer."

"I am nervous," Fang Zhi said, standing upright with her beautiful eyes sparkling. "But I am confident."

"That's good. Don't disappoint your teacher, and don't let..." The dance teacher swallowed the rest of her words, then changed the subject, patting Fang Zhi on the shoulder, "Anyway, there's a surprise waiting for you."

Fang Zhi was curious, but she knew her teacher must have her reasons for not saying anything. Suppressing her curiosity, she said solemnly, "I will definitely not let you down."

"Alright, go eat." The dance teacher clapped with satisfaction. "Stay here tomorrow and practice 'Snow Clear' in its entirety so the teacher can see it."

-

The cafeteria's emergency exit, which used to be where Fang Zhen and the cafeteria manager met in secret, is now being used by her and Guo Shuyao to discuss how to target Fang Zhi.

"A summer vacation has passed." Fang Zhen's tone was somewhat impatient. "Will your plan even work?"

"What's the rush?" Guo Shuyao glanced at her lazily. "Have you found the person I asked you to?"

How could she not be anxious?

Chen Hengtai, that old bastard, has clearly lost interest in her. He's been half a month late on his rent this month, and it was only after she did everything she could to please him that he paid it for her.

Fang Zhen suppressed her anger and said with a sour expression, "I've found someone, but they're asking for too much. I don't have the money to pay them."

"How many?"

"Ten thousand."

Guo Shuyao scoffed and said dismissively, "I thought it would be much. I'll transfer the money to you, and you can give it to them."

Fang Zhen's eyes darkened. "My dad had some problems using my payment app for gambling. Do you have any cash?"

"Why are you making such a fuss?" Guo Shuyao looked at her with considerable dissatisfaction. There was only one place to withdraw money at the school, and it was already across most of the campus. It was also incredibly crowded at the beginning of the semester, so she had no intention of squeezing through there.

She said impatiently, "Fine, just send me their payment code, I'll transfer it directly."

Fang Zhen's fingernails dug deep into her palms as she tried to remain calm. "Okay, I'll send it to you."

After the money was transferred, the two were about to leave.

Fang Zhen paused, a wave of nausea rising from her stomach to her throat.

She quickly bent over and leaned against the wall, groaning.

A dry heave.

"Are you alright?" Guo Shuyao was taken aback. She first waved her hand in disgust, then suddenly remembered something and raised her eyebrows with interest. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Zhen suddenly looked up, her originally pretty face now contorted with rage. "Impossible!"

Guo Shuyao was startled and took a step back. After regaining her senses, she snapped back, "I was just saying it casually, why are you getting so worked up?"

After speaking, she snorted, turned, and walked towards the emergency exit door, her red lips curling down in utter disdain. These stepsisters are really something; one should be in love, and the other's excitement suggests she might be pregnant.