Finally focusing her attention on Liu Zihan, Liu Fengying tried to find a clue in her expression about the purpose of her unexpected visit. Unfortunately, she wasn't very successful; the only thing she could see was that Liu Zihan was trying to hide her displeasure behind a fake smile.
'Maybe she's angry because she had to come to see me? That's quite possible, since it must feel a bit humiliating to try to rekindle a relationship you deliberately let grow cold. Or maybe she's upset about the situation she found me in. Seeing how someone who used to consider her the most important person in the world is now so close to someone else might be a harsh blow to the ego of a seventeen-year-old girl—an age where everyone thinks they're the center of the universe…', Liu Fengying began to analyze Liu Zihan's thoughts.
As the saying goes, old habits die hard. Even though Liu Fengying had decided to let the positive and negative emotions tied to her relationship with Liu Zihan cancel each other out instead of piling on top of one another—so she would stop oscillating between treating her like a friend or an enemy, which added unnecessary drama to her already complicated life—she still couldn't treat Liu Zihan like a stranger whose opinion didn't matter to her at all.
But that didn't mean she was still as affected by Liu Zihan's attitude as she used to be. Maybe even after regaining her memories from her past life, Liu Fengying had considered the possibility of reconciling with Liu Zihan. However, after their encounter at the mall, where Liu Zihan was accompanied by the very person who had caused her head injury, she concluded that it was best not to expect anything from her anymore.
Even if Liu Zihan hadn't done anything to hurt her directly, the fact remained that ever since the conflict with her brother, she had chosen not to distance herself from Fengying's enemies. Liu Fengying didn't believe that Liu Zihan being angry about her leaving home could justify that. So the fact that she didn't consider Liu Zihan an enemy anymore could even be seen as a favor.
"Umm, sister?", Liu Zihan interrupted Liu Fengying's thoughts. Although she had planned to be patient with her, suspecting her mental state to be unstable, she couldn't afford to wait too long before bringing up the real reason for her visit as the break could end before she managed to convince her to get a proper medical check-up.
She suspected that Liu Fengying hadn't gone for one yet because she didn't want to interact with her father, who was her legal guardian. But Zihan thought now wasn't the time for her sister to let pride get in the way—her health was at stake. In life, you have to know when to lower your head to survive. She had learned that lesson. But Liu Fengying, who had grown up with the illusion of always holding the winning cards, refused to do so, no matter how many walls she ran into.
"Sorry, sister. I was too excited, enjoying my spoils of war...", Liu Fengying said while stroking Hua Shu's head. To the onlookers, she resembled a queen on her throne, a cat curled in her lap.
Her attitude matched too—she seemed more interested in 'the cat' than in whatever business had brought her visitor here.
"Tell me, ShuShu, will you dare rebel again?", Liu Fengying pinched the exposed earlobe of Hua Shu between her fingers. Now more lucid than before, her tone was no longer seductive; rather, the interaction resembled that of an older sister scolding a younger one.
Naturally, Hua Shu, who didn't know how to escape the awkward situation, didn't think much about this change in tone.
"No, no, I'll never attack you again. Besides, I didn't even attack you this time—I just wanted to scare you…", Hua Shu replied quickly. Being held in someone's lap in public was awkward enough, but being stared at from just a meter away made it ten times worse. What was the difference now between her and a zoo animal on display?
But things could be worse—for instance, if she were in Liu Zihan's position. Seeing how even after acknowledging her presence, Liu Fengying seemed more interested in teasing Hua Shu than speaking to her, she felt deeply uncomfortable. If Fengying had deliberately ignored her to make her mad, she might not have been this affected—maybe she would've just rolled her eyes, thinking her childish. But since there was no sign of that, it was painfully clear that, in this moment, Hua Shu truly was more important to Fengying than she was—and she wasn't emotionally prepared for that.
But Liu Zihan didn't believe this was normal.
"Sister, what's the status of your head injury? Has it healed completely?", Liu Zihan couldn't wait any longer. She was determined to make Fengying realize that something wasn't right so she would limit her behavior until getting proper treatment. Otherwise, who knew what kind of emotional messes she might stumble into?
Fengying couldn't figure out why her sister was suddenly bringing up the accident from two weeks ago. Wasn't it a bit late to start worrying about her health? And as for remorse—highly unlikely. If she truly felt bad, she wouldn't have gone out partying with the person who'd hurt her.
"Yes, don't worry. I feel great...", Fengying said, her tone light, almost superficial. Although she tried to maintain a neutral attitude toward Zihan, the bitter memories of how coldly her sister had treated her during tough times over the past year left her with little patience for her.
Zihan didn't agree. Who with a muddled mind ever realizes their brain isn't working right?
"But Fengying, your actions today… um, they're not really like you. I heard head injuries can make you confused for a while. So just to be sure everything's okay, I think it'd be best for you to get a more thorough check-up…"
Fengying wasn't surprised that Liu Zihan was confused by her behavior—after all, they had spent most of their teenage years together, and she probably knew her personality best. But Fengying didn't feel she owed her sister an explanation—not when Zihan had never explained why she chose to drift away in the first place.
"Huh, what actions?", Fengying pretended not to know what Liu Zihan meant. She suspected Zihan was referring to her interactions with Hua Shu but was curious how she would describe them.
"Well… this, what you're doing now…", Zihan said, glancing at Hua Shu sitting in Fengying's lap, trying to disappear.
Liu Fengying found Zihan's hesitation amusing. What was so shameful about holding a girl in your arms? Even if she did have improper feelings for Hua Shu, what was so strange about that? Did Zihan expect her to be alone for the rest of her life?
But before Liu Fengying could argue, Hua Shu cut in, annoyed by what Liu Zihan said. What did she mean Fengying had to be brain-damaged to hold her? That was like saying someone would have to be crazy to even interact with her.
"Heh, such a caring sister. Even when your sister is bursting with energy, you're still worried about her health. But I wonder—where were you this past year? Oh, I think I know. Probably off at some temple, praying for YingYing's health…"
Not only had Hua Shu lost all trace of shyness, she now seemed to have no intention of leaving Liu Fengying's lap, looking at Liu Zihan like a proud cat. Didn't it bother Zihan to see them so close? Then she'd give her plenty of reasons to be upset.
Hua Shu's sarcastic remarks struck a nerve with Liu Zihan, making it nearly impossible to maintain her fake smile.
"Hua Shu, I don't think you have any right to comment on our family matters…", Zihan said coldly. Did Hua Shu know anything about her situation—what she'd been through? Of course not. So what right did she have to judge?
"Maybe I don't have the right to meddle in your family affairs, but I have every right to defend a friend…", Hua Shu wasn't intimidated at all, her spirit burning with righteousness. "Do you think we're all stupid, that no one can see the bad intentions behind your fake smile?"
"What are you talking about?", Zihan was taken aback by Hua Shu's accusations. How could being concerned for someone's health be considered malicious?
Hua Shu wasn't convinced by Zihan's confused expression. On the contrary, it only made her more disgusted.
"Well then, explain this: is it okay to start rumors that someone is mentally unstable? Honestly, it looks to me like you're just trying to block YingYing's rise in popularity. And don't try to sell me that 'sisterly affection' story. Since when do illegitimate children genuinely wish the best for the legitimate ones? Not in real life! Not even in fiction! No one believes such a bodhisattva could be born in this day and age, unaffected by envy and greed…"
Hua Shu truly lived up to her reputation, unafraid to bring up a taboo subject that people in elite circles barely whispered about even in private—right in front of the person involved.
But who wasn't aware of the conflicts sparked by the presence of illegitimate children? Even full siblings can become mortal enemies when there's only one throne to inherit, let alone those who don't share the same mother.
"...….", a deep silence fell over the classroom.
Everyone who had been eavesdropping was frozen in place. Although no one knew how the situation would unfold, nobody believed it could end peacefully. Some were already picturing the posts that would blow up on the school forums, describing the clash between the three great beauties of the final year.