Chapter 108: Evil Qi—The Masked Ball
In fact, Su Keke had heard the term “white lotus” from other people more than once.
But judging from everyone’s expressions, it seemed like common knowledge, so she had always been too embarrassed to ask.
White lotus—she actually liked it. It was beautiful and pure. But she didn’t understand why it was used to describe a person, and it even seemed to carry a derogatory meaning.
Qin Xing patted her shoulder with a complicated expression. “Keke, what do you think your phone is for? Do you never go online?”
Su Keke’s eyes flew open. “How did I forget? If I don’t understand something, I can just look it up online!”
“No, no—that’s not what I meant. I mean, you don’t usually go online to scroll forums, browse Weibo, read gossip? If you read enough of that stuff, forget ‘white lotus’—you’ll understand everything, like ‘black-hearted lotus’ and ‘green-tea bitch.’ They even have example explanations online~”
Su Keke gave an “Oh,” deciding that when she had time, she would go browse the places Daxing mentioned. She didn’t want to become everyone’s “little antique.”
Qin Xing glanced toward Jiang Fangfei. “But Keke, you’re lucky today. There’s a ready-made example right here.”
Su Keke looked at her, then turned to Jiang Fangfei.
Did “white lotus” specifically refer to the kind of girl who cried all the time and loved to act wronged?
For a moment, Su Keke seemed to grasp the essence of the term. This girl looked quite pretty when she cried—the tears on her face were a bit like dew beads on a white lotus in the early morning.
The argument between Jiang Yueyue and Jiang Fangfei attracted a lot of onlookers.
“What’s going on? Weren’t these sisters pretty close before?” someone who had just arrived asked.
“I’m not sure either. Seems like that classic ‘two girls fighting over one guy’ plot. Jiang Yueyue has known Xu Hao for a long time. She says Jiang Fangfei is shameless and is butting into their relationship. But Xu Hao says he’s always treated Jiang Yueyue like a little sister, and from beginning to end the one he likes is Jiang Fangfei.”
“What? No way. Jiang Yueyue and Xu Hao are in the same school—if they were really dating, there’s no way we wouldn’t have seen even a hint of it.”
“Who knows? Everyone’s got their own story.”
“Whatever the truth is, just looking at Jiang Yueyue’s spoiled and unreasonable attitude—any man would choose the school belle, right?”
“Yeah. So I think Xu Hao’s words are more believable. He doesn’t like Jiang Yueyue. It’s Jiang Yueyue being one-sided. Now she sees those two getting together and she’s unhappy, that’s all.”
Hearing these words, Qin Xing’s anger shot straight up.
Seeing Jiang Yueyue’s emotions getting more and more off, Qin Xing pushed through the crowd and walked in. She sized Xu Hao up and down, her gaze picky. “Jiang Yueyue, I thought your standards were sky-high. This is it?”
Xu Hao’s face darkened on the spot. “Qin Xing, what do you mean?”
Qin Xing smiled. “Nothing much. It’s just—I don’t even fancy you. So how did someone like Jiang Yueyue, whose eyes are up on the top of her head, end up liking you?”
Jiang Yueyue glanced at her, not understanding why she was joining the chaos. But if Qin Xing hadn’t suddenly appeared, she might’ve actually slapped those two cheap trash to death just now.
She let out a scornful laugh. “I used to be blind, that’s why.”
After saying that, she picked up her tray and left, casting one last look at that dog man and dog woman. “Alright, enough. It’s not even a big deal. Jiang Fangfei, I’m giving him to you. Anyway, he’s something I don’t want.”
Jiang Fangfei watched her walk away just like that, and a trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.
She looked downcast, forced a bitter smile, and said to Xu Hao, “Seems like I still hurt Yueyue’s heart.”
“Fangfei, it’s not your fault.” Xu Hao supported her and walked away.
With no more drama to watch, the crowd scattered. Even as they left, they continued discussing it in little groups.
Jiang Fangfei’s innocent expression made it easier to believe her, yet Jiang Yueyue’s clean, graceful turn-and-leave also didn’t look like fake nonchalance.
In the end, everyone could only sigh that a pretty face really can bring trouble. Putting his family background aside, Xu Hao still looked quite presentable—at least he looked like a proper, decent guy.
Qin Xing followed Jiang Yueyue away, like she had something to say. So Su Keke asked Luo Man and Zhao Kexin beside her, “Has that Jiang Fangfei acted in TV dramas before?”
Luo Man and Zhao Kexin both froze.
“Keke, why are you asking that?”
Su Keke said, “Because her acting is really good. Just now I thought I was watching a TV drama.”
At Uncle’s house, she liked watching cartoons, but sometimes when she switched channels, she would catch a glimpse of dramas too.
Luo Man: …Pfft!
Zhao Kexin whispered, “White lotuses usually have pretty good acting.”
In her heart, Su Keke silently added a note under “white lotus”: good acting.
When Qin Xing came back, she let out a breath, as if relieved. “Keke, I told Jiang Yueyue everything.”
Back then, after Jiang Yueyue heard it, she was so angry her face turned pale. Qin Xing had to work hard to steady her.
She told Jiang Yueyue not to startle the grass and scare the snake yet—have people investigate that mistress mother-and-daughter in secret, and make sure to find someone trustworthy.
That very night, Jiang Yueyue went to her uncle’s house and even called her mother overseas.
Everyone had assumed her parents divorced because they didn’t get along, so Jiang Yueyue had never blamed her dad. Her mom really was a bit cold and aloof. Back then her mom wanted to take her abroad, but she refused—and even now she didn’t regret not going with her mom, because—
Why should she let that mother and daughter live comfortably?
Those two wished she would just roll away, but she wouldn’t roll. And even if she did roll, it would only be after she made them lose their reputations completely!
Jiang Yueyue secretly took a series of measures. On the surface, she still acted like everything was normal. Every student in the class received her invitation—to attend a masked ball on Friday night.
“You don’t need to prepare anything yourselves. I’ve already prepared everything—two big boxes of masks, with matching outfits. Pick whatever you like. You just need to show up.”
Lu Renjia added, “Everyone come play at Yueyue’s house. It’s Friday anyway—everyone rests the next day.”
In no time, everyone was chattering about the masked ball, full of interest.
Qin Xing pouted and said to Luo Man and the others, “I’m not going. And you’re not allowed to go either.”
Luo Man smiled. “Okay. But I thought you two already made up.”
“Manman, I’m water and fire with her—water and fire! What I did before was just out of righteousness!”
Luo Man nodded. “Alright, alright. Whatever you say goes.”
That “I won’t argue with you” attitude made Qin Xing feel so blocked up she could choke.
Zhao Kexin hesitated. “But Qin Xing, it sounds pretty fun. Everyone’s going. If it’s just us not going… isn’t that kind of awkward?”
“Zhao Kexin, you traitor. A masked ball and your soul is already hooked away? Then next time if I host a swimsuit party, are you going too?”
Zhao Kexin’s face instantly turned red.
“Daxing.” Su Keke suddenly spoke. She had been staring at Jiang Yueyue for a long time. “Let’s go.”
The one who least wanted to go was now saying they should go—making all three of them look at her at once.
Luo Man seemed to think of something, her expression tightening. “Keke… is there something… again?”
Su Keke nodded. “Jiang Yueyue is tainted with evil qi. Recently she must have touched something she shouldn’t have touched.”
