Chapter 33 "The Real and Fake Heiresses" The real heiress will sit on the judging panel (Sixteen...)

Not long after Hou Nianyun returned, People magazine released a new cover.

The woman on the cover, turning her head to the side, has eyes as serene as a reptile's, standing out from the crowd of flashy layouts, as if gazing at someone outside the picture.

That scene was absolutely breathtaking, and when the name of the person was revealed, it brought even more cheers and excitement—it was the legendary academic genius Ye Xiqing!

Because of the cover star, a magazine that was originally very niche ended up selling over 100,000 copies. The publisher then urgently launched a digital edition featuring the cover star, which also sold over 50,000 copies.

In this era of declining print media, apart from celebrity fans who have a large demand for fashion magazines, regular magazines, especially those with more serious content, don't have such staggering sales.

Ye Xiqing has now ushered in a new era, the era of the "traffic scholar"!

Those who disliked Ye Xiqing immediately had something to say: Why are you making the academic circle like the entertainment circle!

Moreover, People magazine is clearly a very high-end magazine, but now it has been turned into a mass-market product by its fans, and it has lost all its class!

Each of the young fans had a magazine in hand, glancing sideways at the snobbish, sullen people, always so full of sour grapes.

They just wanted to worship "Seigaku's divine writing" like crazy! Who wrote this?! They're so good at writing!

People magazine is a social magazine that focuses on outstanding individuals, so its content is quite rigorous.

The article describes in detail the pharmacology and efficacy of the menstrual pain medication. For some reason, what should have been dry knowledge was surprisingly interesting to read. Even some unfamiliar words only added a touch of mystery and charm.

Upon closer reflection, it seems that the narrator didn't bombard the interviewees with their professional knowledge all at once, but instead kept the interviewees and these laypeople at ease. This prevented them from being completely left out, which sparked their interest in exploring the topic. Surprisingly, they found the long interview very enjoyable to read.

After finishing the book with great enjoyment, I closed it and realized something was amiss.

Is there something wrong with the author's perspective? This isn't an interview article; it's more like a piece of women's literature!

The entire text observes the interviewee from an indescribable, somber perspective, within which—

She is dangerous yet alluring; she is serene yet intriguing; she is a brilliant pioneer of humankind; she is the destroyer who brought an end to everything; and in the end, she still loves me very much, hehehehehehe.

Those who can grasp this meaning are somewhat speechless, but what's even more speechless is that they fell in love with the person depicted by the dream woman because of her intense love!

Love can sculpt a golden body for people. The abundant emotions and delicate writing style have made this interview article a "masterpiece of Seigaku," attracting countless "dream girls" like the author.

Furthermore, due to the magazine's outstanding sales and the widespread circulation of this interview article, Hou Nianyun's graduation project was successfully completed, and she received invitations from several publishing houses while still in school.

Originally, it was just a love for my idol, but I never expected that one day it would be a source of energy for me.

As Hou Nianyun looked at the increasingly clear road ahead, she suddenly realized that her idol was right. They were on two parallel paths, and on this path, she was no less capable than anyone else!

...

With everything settled, some were overjoyed, while others were heartbroken.

The higher you are praised, the harder you fall.

Ye Xiqing's fans support her out of love and indignation. When it comes to issues that touch on Ye Xiqing herself, they automatically back down, and even if they are angry, they will digest it on their own.

Qin Nian's admirers, however, were simply using him as a tool to enjoy the thrill of suppressing the other gender. When they used him as a weapon, they would boast about anything and everything. But when things got bad, they would scatter, leaving him alone to suffer humiliation.

"What is this Qin Nian? She was born four years earlier, and she gets all excited just from giving Xi Shen a defense?"

"I'm laughing so hard. His academic research is nothing special, but his research on 'coquettish literature' is pretty good. He even said that his mentor would come to his aid. I always thought they were doing something spiritual."

"But what's there for him to vent his anger on? Didn't he start by leading a large group of people to harass the junior girls, only to end up harassing Xi Shen and getting slapped in the face by Xi Shen?"

"How dare you refuse Yaozu! That would be the death of Yaozu!"

"Haha, then I'll also do a 'spoiled disciple literature' one. Xi Shen: A disgusting guy wants to defend my thesis! Old Yang: It's alright, your thesis is exempt!"

"Hahaha, but our Xi Shen is not a pampered disciple. With a single move, he can ruin the life of a good-for-nothing boy."

The once-celebrated "academic genius and school heartthrob" has become a pariah overnight.

In the past, female students would fawn over him in the lab, but now they avoid him like the plague whenever he walks by.

His teacher also decisively abandoned him, treating him coldly, as if to prove that everything had nothing to do with him.

I will spend four years showing you, senior, that you have no right to flirt with me so casually.

[I'll spend another ten years showing my senior that he has no right to look down on me in the cafeteria and discuss academic issues with me.]

Ye Xiqing's words resurfaced in his mind.

Qin Nian gritted his teeth and walked into the laboratory. He wouldn't be defeated so easily!

It's just a menstrual pain medication. How could he be swayed by public opinion and lose his fighting spirit? He will definitely achieve even greater success in the future!

After mentally preparing herself, Qin Nian ignored the insignificant stares and strode into the laboratory.

Even if his reputation is ruined, no one can kick him out. Besides, these are just minor issues that don't even qualify as "private morality," so how could they affect his entire life?

However, as soon as he stepped into the lab, he saw an impossible figure and asked incredulously, "Ye Xiqing?"

Ye Xiqing turned around, looked him up and down, and smiled: "It's me, senior. You look familiar."

Qin Nian: ...

Why are you here?!

Ye Xiqing tilted her head. Before she could speak, the senior student next to her, who was also the group leader of that defense, had already spoken with a smile.

"Just recently, my junior's paper on a new drug was accepted by *NSL*, one of the three major academic journals that focuses more on natural sciences. After joint evaluation by the university, they believe she is qualified for a direct PhD program, so we can all see each other more often from now on!"

Qin Nian stared blankly at Ye Xiqing; her gentle smile seemed somewhat terrifying.

"Senior, this is the first four years."

...

Ye Xueli felt somewhat lost. In her four years of university, excluding time spent performing outside and during holidays, she hadn't spent much time with her roommates before they were about to part ways.

She is someone who has a hard time getting over a relationship, and every time she sees such a dramatic farewell scene, she feels her heart is about to break.

So even though she was the one who had the hardest time entering this dormitory friendship, she was the one who was the saddest when she left.

Looking at Ye Xueli, who was crying her eyes out, her roommates exchanged bewildered glances. Did Ye Xueli really have such a good relationship with them?

Over the years, because Ye Xueli was always traveling around for performances, and because of her incredibly romantic mind that couldn't stop talking about "Brother Anian," her roommates never knew how to talk to her...

But seeing her like this now, her roommates began to reflect on themselves. Ye Xueli was just a little more emotional, so what was wrong with that? Everyone expresses their feelings differently!

So all the grudges from the four years they had spent together dissipated. Everyone drank their favorite beverages and ate their favorite hot pot buffet. Even the fragile roommate who was like a glass doll every time she had menstrual cramps was having a blast with the help of Qingqing Technology's new drug.

Ye Xueli had never played so wildly with anyone before, and she was still panting heavily when she got off the roller coaster.

Looking at the joyful crowd in the amusement park, she felt a sense of freedom she had never experienced before. Pointing to the next ride, she exclaimed excitedly, "Let's keep playing!"

My roommates, looking pale and sickly: ...

Are you Superman?

On the last day, every roommate showed a side of themselves they had never seen before, especially Ye Xueli. It was truly baffling where her petite, rabbit-like body got all that energy...

However, since everyone is young, they only pushed their limits on the roller coaster; otherwise, they had a lot of fun.

The Ferris wheel rose silently, and the six of them clung to the transparent glass, looking at the scenery outside the window. Everyone says that the Ferris wheel carries love, and it was actually quite enjoyable to ride it with friends.

But perhaps Cupid couldn't bear the loneliness and secretly exerted his power. When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, Ye Xueli suddenly received a message.

Brother Anian: Do you want to marry me?

Ye Xueli: ……

...

Ye Xueli is back, and Ji Yuxiu is very happy.

I originally thought that with two daughters, one of them would stay with me, but I never expected that my "eldest daughter" would fly away and my "youngest daughter" would fly away too.

Holding Ye Xueli's hand, he chatted for a while: "How have you been lately?"

Ye Xueli: ……

The question of whether she was a real or fake heiress, which I used to struggle with, now seems to have no presence at all.

It was probably after flying around for a while that I realized I wasn't unable to survive without leaving home. My previous fears were more like a bunch of accustomed birds imagining terrifying scenarios in their own minds.

When she stood on her own stage and listened to others' praise, she realized that she really did have a pair of swan wings, which could take her anywhere.

Having the courage to leave slightly actually brought her closer to Ji Yuxiu, and she had fewer of the messy thoughts she used to have: "It's great. The previous performance was very successful. I made new friends in the theater troupe and said goodbye to my roommates at school."

As Ji Yuxiu listened to Ye Xueli recount the amusing stories about her friends and the theater troupe, she sighed with some emotion, "You seem to have grown up a lot. I feel like I can't keep up with you anymore."

If it were before, Ye Xueli might have hugged her and comforted her: Don't worry, Mom, I will always be by your side.

But now, she suddenly had some wonderful ideas and boldly said, "Mom, it's not that you can't catch me, it's that you always like to wait in the same place."

"If one day you go out and travel yourself, you might find that you don't need to cling to anyone at all."

Ji Yuxiu: ...

...

Ji Yuxiu was very disappointed that her only sweet little girl was no longer sweet.

After taking Ye Xueli upstairs to rest, she realized that she still lived on the fifth floor all these years. But today, looking at the tall stairs, Ye Xueli suddenly asked, "Mom, can I stay on the third floor?"

"The ground floor is all empty, and I'm the only one living on this floor. I feel a little scared."

Ji Yuxiu: ...

Indeed, I had never thought about this issue before.

Since Ye Xiqing returned, her three sons seem to have completely disappeared, and those two floors have been empty for years.

Ye San would occasionally come back a few times, but Ye Da and Ye Er would never return. The two floors were empty, and at first glance, it felt like there wasn't much of a human presence...

Ji Yuxiu was a loving mother who had never treated Ye Xueli as an outsider, and immediately agreed to her request.

Ye Xueli hadn't expected everything to be so simple; all she had to do was speak.

Staring blankly at the starry sky and sea sand that originally belonged to her second brother, she had loved this room since she was a child, and now she could actually claim it as her own.

...

We were supposed to have a get-together after graduation, but some things happened in the lab and it ended up being very late.

Ye Xiqing stopped the person who was about to report and went upstairs alone, where she found Ye Xueli waiting for her in a familiar place.

Looking up, what is it about this mysterious jungle spot that holds such allure?

Ye Xueli was no longer as timid as she had been four years ago, and looked straight at her: "Brother Anian proposed to me."

Did you agree?

I pretended not to see it.

"Oh, then what do you want from me?"

"I want to ask you, should I agree?"

"What is the necessary reason for asking me?"

"Because you are my sister, you never object to me calling you 'sister'. Since that's the case, you should teach me some things that an older sister would teach me."

Ye Xiqing: ...

I'm a baby too, so you'd better get my parents' permission before asking me.

Of course, she wouldn't say something so out of character.

So Ye Xiqing raised her head, her round pupils seeming to devour the light under the lamp.

"Your life is yours to decide."

"But if you truly consider me your older sister, I have some advice for you—"

"This marriage should not last six years, because in the sixth year, I will keep my ten-year promise."