The school cafeteria was packed with people, and a steady stream of students kept pushing their way in, forming long queues in front of the food counters.

"Excuse me, student." The cafeteria lady waved her hand, "Excuse me, could you please make room for the student behind you who is getting food?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." Fang Zhi suddenly snapped back to reality, her fair face showing embarrassment and shyness.

Her brother's suggestion that they get married after she graduates has been bothering her for over a week, which is why she's been spacing out a lot lately.

After receiving the tray from the cafeteria staff, Fang Zhi turned around and repeatedly nodded apologetically to the students behind her in line.

"I'm so sorry for taking up your time."

The male students behind were getting a little impatient.

But when he saw the girl's clear and beautiful face, like a lotus emerging from water, his anger immediately subsided by half.

He stammered, "No...it's okay."

Upon seeing a pretty girl eating in the cafeteria, a male student had the idea of ​​asking for her contact information.

He was politely refused as soon as he finished speaking.

Seeing that he was still not giving up, she lowered her head, picked up her tray, and hurriedly followed the crowd forward. After circling half of the cafeteria, she finally found a seat in a corner.

In the bustling restaurant, the young girl was like a serene and beautiful isolated island, graceful and detached from the world.

It felt wrong for any passerby to disturb her.

Most of the time at noon, Qi Shen would have someone prepare the food and deliver it to her apartment so she could eat there.

She occasionally comes to the cafeteria, and even then, she has to report to her husband. After sending Qi Shen her lunch and the usual photos of the surrounding area, she noticed a small red dot on her WeChat Moments.

Besides her teacher and brother, the only other person in her WeChat contacts is Liu Siyi. She rarely posts from the former, so it's probably because of Siyi.

Fang Zhi clicked on it and, sure enough, it was her post.

The title is: [Accompanying my supervisor and classmates on an interview trip—a free trip to Europe.]

The images are arranged in a nine-square grid, featuring both people and landscapes.

The girl was surrounded by many peers, still sporting her neat short hair, her eyes brimming with liveliness and enthusiasm.

Fang Zhi always knew that Si Yi had learned dance to accompany her, and that Si Yi had studied journalism after going abroad to study.

Since the second half of last year, their contact has decreased. Siyi is busy, and there's a time difference between them. Even when she returns to China for winter and summer vacations, they still can't see each other.

Growing up and starting work are both forms of separation.

They are all heading towards their own futures, but as long as she is happy, that's enough for her, and she's happy for her too.

She scrolled through the pictures and realized she hadn't liked them or done anything. Her gaze lingered on her friend's face. She paused, a sudden resolve forming in her heart, before silently exiting the chat.

-

A few tables away, a few stylishly dressed girls sat together. It wasn't hot spring, but they were already dressed in revealing outfits, their long, white legs looking particularly attractive. The girl in the red dress was the most eye-catching—

It was Guo Shuyao.

A girl in short shorts rummaged through her food with chopsticks. "I heard from the student council that a lot of important people will be coming to the autumn arts festival this year. That's a great opportunity to shine. If you perform well, you might even become an overnight sensation."

Another girl immediately chimed in, "Then I'll wait and see if our Shuyao becomes a big star."

"Alright," Guo Shuyao glanced at them with a hint of reproach, "Stop teasing me."

"No, that's the truth."

The three of them laughed and joked together.

Just then, a petite restaurant server in a business suit, her hair tucked into her white cap and wearing a mask, was collecting tableware from table to table.

When we received the table from Guo Shuyao and her group.

The girl in shorts glanced at the waiter, raised her hand to fan her nose, and curled her lip in disdain:

"Have you finished eating? The air in the cafeteria smells awful today. Let's go as soon as we're done."

She only ate a few bites of the whole plate of food. "Okay." Guo Shuyao understood immediately. She pushed the plate forward, took out her lipstick and mirror to touch up her makeup, and then looked up. "Let's go. The air smells pretty bad today."

The waiter, feeling slighted, tightened his grip on the food cart, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

A bunch of despicable people, what right do they have to look down on her?

If her parents hadn't been so useless, she wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

The woman in the short skirt had just slung her bag over her shoulder when she caught a glimpse of an elegant figure from behind. "Hey, look who's that?" she exclaimed.

The other two looked up and saw Guo Shuyao's red lips pressed tightly together. "Heh, it's really strange that she comes to the cafeteria."

Another person said, "It's really strange that Fang Zhi has been a loner for all three years of university and has never had any friends."

The waiter, who was clearing away dishes with his head down, was startled, then suddenly looked up and followed their gaze.

The girl had just stood up when she caught a glimpse of her graceful figure and delicate, fair profile.

Some parts are familiar, but most are unfamiliar.

The waiter suddenly grabbed the person closest to her, "What did you say her name was?"

Guo Shuyao and her two companions were startled.

Seeing that the person grabbing her was a cafeteria worker, Guo Shuyao's pretty face turned ugly, and she shouted angrily:

"Take your oily hands off. You can't afford to pay for the two months' salary you've lost."

The waiter ignored her, and she seemed lost in thought, muttering, "Her name is Fang Zhi... Fang Zhi..."

"What?" Guo Shuyao's eyes flashed when she saw the waiter's expression, her face softened slightly, and she raised an eyebrow gently. "You know him?"

No, she couldn't say she knew her. Her parents had specifically told her this before she came here. The waiter gritted her teeth, staring at Guo Shuyao, "I don't know her. Are you her classmates? Which department and class is she in?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Shuyao seemed to lose interest and abruptly pushed her away, saying, "You were so surprised just now because you don't know me?"

After speaking, she left with her two companions.

The waitress stood frozen in place, her hands trembling as she removed her mask. Her face was young and pretty, but a closer look revealed her unusually rough skin. Her slanted eyes held a hint of fierceness and shrewdness, just like her mother, Aunt Pang, had been years before.

If Fang Zhen hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that Fang Zhi was her sister.

She has changed so much.

She simply couldn't reconcile the image of the elegant, beautiful girl in the neat dress she had just seen with Fang Zhi. In her memory, Fang Zhi was malnourished, dressed in tattered clothes, timid and submissive, only able to wear the clothes Fang Zhi had discarded.

After regaining her senses, Fang Zhen's face contorted in rage.

On what grounds?

Why was Fang Zhi able to be adopted by a rich man? That rich man even had her parents privately taught a lesson and then kicked them out of Haicheng for her sake.

Why should Fang Zhi, who is now like a delicate flower, have to drop out of school and work?