Chapter 27: Classmate

Qin Miaoyu let out a cold laugh. “Yes, you were the ones who sent me to learn painting. So is that why, back then, even though you clearly suspected Liang Sixuan had plagiarized my work, you didn’t say a single word?”

Su Yaqing slowly turned her head. “You…”

She hadn’t expected Qin Miaoyu to bring up this matter again, especially now, after learning the truth.

Now that so much time had passed, she did feel a twinge of regret. She’d heard of all those titles—emerging artist, young painter—that had added so much luster to Liang Sixuan’s reputation. If only Miaoyu had participated in the competition and won as she should have, with her talent she would have achieved much in the art world by now. Marrying into the upper echelons of Nancheng’s elite wouldn’t have been so difficult, and the Qin family’s business would have flourished even more. But, unfortunately, she’d made the wrong move.

Qin Miaoyu had no idea what her mother was thinking, but even as she saw the regret on her face, she understood that not a bit of it was truly for her.

That remorse on Su Yaqing’s face lasted but a fleeting moment. She quickly recovered her composure and spoke without the slightest hint of guilt.

“Telling you would have only caused more trouble, wouldn’t it? Our Qin family is just a small household. Even if we knew Liang Sixuan copied your painting, we couldn’t possibly go up against the Liang family, could we? So why burden you with the truth? I did it for your own good!”

For her own good?

She had to endure being accused of plagiarizing Liang Sixuan, even though her mother knew the truth?

Letting her struggle in pain for years, knowing the real story?

“Why did Liang Sixuan’s painting look so much like mine? Did you do something else? Did you help her copy my work yourself?”

Su Yaqing instantly denied it. “How could that be? She just said she wanted to take a photo with her camera at the time. I thought it was nothing, so I let her…”

As she met Qin Miaoyu’s gaze, Su Yaqing’s voice grew weaker and weaker.

Qin Miaoyu’s grip on the painting tightened until her knuckles turned white.

She had never imagined that the truth would be so utterly ridiculous!

And that her mother would be so deeply entangled in it…

Disappointed, Qin Miaoyu left on leave, clutching her painting and wandering the streets aimlessly.

Learning the truth was only the first step.

Liang Sixuan had taken photos, but anyone with a bit of caution wouldn’t keep evidence that important.

Besides, even if Liang Sixuan had kept them, she had no idea where the photos might be hidden…

Just as things seemed to be making progress, everything was once again shrouded in uncertainty.

Qin Miaoyu gazed in the direction of the Liang family’s residence, her eyes clouded with gloom.

A car screeched to a halt beside her. The window rolled down, revealing a face she deeply disliked. She ignored him and continued walking.

The car trailed her closely, until her patience snapped. She stopped, turned to the man in the car, and said, “Tang Shuxun, could you please stop following me?”

Tang Shuxun removed his sunglasses. “Qin Miaoyu, long time no see.”

Qin Miaoyu rolled her eyes in silence—she had no desire whatsoever to see Tang Shuxun.

“Qin Miaoyu, we’re classmates at least. You didn’t even say hello, not a single word in reply. And to think, I’ve been thinking about you all this time…”

“Tang Shuxun, I don’t think our relationship is close enough to warrant a greeting.”

“Why not? After all, we were desk-mates for quite a while, weren’t we?”

Qin Miaoyu truly didn’t want to talk to Tang Shuxun.

They were nowhere near close enough for casual greetings; in fact, they’d always disliked each other. She considered it generous not to insult him.

Tang Shuxun had transferred to Nancheng No. 1 High School in their second year. The teacher had assigned him to be her seatmate.

And the very first thing Tang Shuxun had ever said to her was, “You’re so fake.”

In Qin Miaoyu’s recollection, Tang Shuxun had always mocked and sneered at her, which was why she thoroughly disliked him. She felt their relationship was best described as mutual aversion.

Who would have thought that, years later, meeting again, Tang Shuxun would actually speak like a normal person?

Tang Shuxun continued to drive slowly behind her. “Seems like fate, doesn’t it? I rarely come back to Nancheng, and yet I run into you.”

Qin Miaoyu didn’t feel it was fate at all—just bad luck.

With Tang Shuxun chattering incessantly behind her, Qin Miaoyu could barely maintain her composure. Tang Shuxun had a knack for making her drop her mask, since he’d always claimed her gentle smile was the epitome of hypocrisy.

Holding the painting was awkward, so she shifted her grip. The pair of rings on her hand glinted in the rare sunlight.

At least, Tang Shuxun noticed them immediately.

“You—you’re married?”

Qin Miaoyu glanced at the ring on her finger, not understanding Tang Shuxun’s strange expression. Not that she cared; she simply hugged her painting and continued walking.

Tang Shuxun stared after her retreating figure, then slammed his fist hard on the steering wheel. The sudden blare of the horn startled the birds from the trees.

He simply couldn’t believe it—Qin Miaoyu had married so suddenly. Just a few months ago, in July or August, he’d heard the Qin family was still looking for a husband for her…

The abrupt horn startled Qin Miaoyu as well. She thought Tang Shuxun must be out of his mind, and quickened her pace.

Only when she reached her hotel and saw Ji Xuan—whom she hadn’t seen in ages—did her mood finally improve. She rattled off the whole story.

“In the past, seeing you and Tang Shuxun at each other’s throats, I never imagined any other possibility. But seeing him today… could it be he actually likes you?” Ji Xuan teased.

Qin Miaoyu’s eyes widened in shock, a hint of clueless innocence on her face.

“Xiao Xuan, are you trying to scare me to death? That’s not a funny joke.”

The idea of Tang Shuxun liking her was utterly laughable.

Ji Xuan gently pinched Qin Miaoyu’s soft cheek. “Why not? Maybe all his mocking was just a way to get your attention. If so, he’s a real ‘genius.’”

Recalling Tang Shuxun’s past behavior, Ji Xuan could only shrug. If he really did like Miaoyu, he’d lost his chance long ago.

Qin Miaoyu was adamant in her disbelief.

“Well, just imagine—if Tang Shuxun really liked you, you would…”

“No, no, no. If he actually liked me, I’d feel like I was cursed for eight lifetimes.”

What kind of decent person shows affection by calling you fake every day?

What kind of decent person mocks you while you’re being bullied?

Seeing Qin Miaoyu’s utter refusal, Ji Xuan dropped the subject and instead asked about Lu Qi’an, the man she was truly curious about.

Unable to resist Ji Xuan’s curiosity, Qin Miaoyu recounted her recent interactions with him.

Ji Xuan clapped her hands in delight. “Miaoyu, your whirlwind husband definitely likes you!”

Qin Miaoyu didn’t immediately deny it.

Lu Qi’an truly was good to her.

Still, perhaps his kindness was driven by ulterior motives—property, dealing with his family, all those terms they’d signed in their marriage agreement.

“I heard from Jingjing that he’s a real heartthrob! Do you have a photo to show me?”

Qin Miaoyu shook her head. “So far, the only photo we have together is the one on our marriage certificate, taken at the civil affairs bureau.”