Cheng You's eyes welled up, her fists clenched tight, yet she struggled to control her emotions.
"What do you mean 'not suitable'? We were fine before, how did we become strangers?"
She bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly.
Qi Cheng Yan's gaze was deep as he met hers, holding back with all his might, veins bulging on the back of his hand. He spoke each word clearly.
"Cheng You, I don't like a woman like you. It's not suitable."
Cheng You blinked, but couldn't stop the tears from welling up, her vision blurring.
"What kind of woman am I? Qi Cheng Yan, you can't say that about me. I... I said those things out of anger at Cheng Tao, they weren't my true feelings."
The words hung in the air, and dissecting them further would only lead to embarrassment.
Qi Cheng Yan didn't want to escalate things to that point, so he simply said coldly, "Let's leave it at this."
Fortunately, it wasn't too late to turn back.
He turned and walked away, not looking back even once.
Cheng You wanted to chase after him, but a sense of hesitation crept into her heart.
She feared that if she abandoned her dignity to try and win him back, she would only be met with rejection.
Cheng You covered her face and crouched down, suddenly feeling so tired.
She had taken one step after another, and until this moment, she had felt her life was going smoothly.
But in the end, it seemed she had gained nothing.
Cheng You felt a sense of bewilderment. Had she been wrong?
For a moment, she didn't know how to proceed.
Qi Cheng Yan didn't return to the educated youth point until evening.
It wasn't until Song Jing Tang mentioned his whereabouts that Cheng You realized he was avoiding her.
Cheng You gave a silent, bitter smile. He was already maintaining distance.
"My room over there has been repaired, I'll be moving in tomorrow. I won't disturb you all here anymore," she said with a smile.
Duan Li Ping and Sun Xiao Wan exchanged glances, feeling that something was off between Cheng You and Qi Cheng Yan.
But they couldn't quite articulate what this strangeness was.
The next day, Cheng You packed her belongings early in the morning and carried her luggage to her new home.
The room had been repaired well, spacious and clean.
Sunlight streamed through the window, instantly brightening the room.
Cheng You sat in the room for who knows how long. Glancing at the watch on her wrist, tears began to fall.
She didn't want to cry at all, but she couldn't stop herself.
If only her mother were still here; she wouldn't be without someone to talk to.
Cheng You cried heartbrokenly, unaware that Sun Xiao Wan and Duan Li Ping had entered from outside.
The two stood in the yard, looking at each other, bewildered.
They had been fine yesterday, so why was she so sad after moving into a new home?
Duan Li Ping grabbed her arm, "Maybe we shouldn't go in."
Sun Xiao Wan shook her head. She still wanted to see what was wrong with Cheng You.
If something truly happened, she could help resolve it.
She stepped inside and said softly, "Cheng You, what's wrong?"
Cheng You looked up at her, her eyes and nose red, looking like a little abandoned white rabbit.
She bit her lip, her voice hoarse, "It's nothing. I just broke up with Qi Cheng Yan. I'm just a bit sad, I'll be fine after crying."
"How could that be?" Duan Li Ping followed her in.
She thought, Cheng You didn't look like she was just a little sad; she looked utterly heartbroken.
Cheng You gave a bitter smile and said softly, "I don't deserve him."
"Nonsense! I've never seen a more well-matched couple than you and Qi Cheng Yan!" Sun Xiao Wan retorted.
This was the truth. Even though she had liked Cheng You herself before, she had to admit she was no match for her.
Beautiful and good at making money.
Except for her poor background and the burden of her original family, but one couldn't choose where they were born.
Cheng You lowered her head and let out a soft laugh. Large teardrops landed on the back of her hand, and she wiped them with her sleeve.
"It's not suitable, so we broke up. I'm fine. There are so many men, I'm not worried about getting married."
Duan Li Ping felt a sense of regret. Cheng You was such a good person, why did they break up so suddenly?
"Did Qing Zhi Qing bring it up?" Seeing how sad she was, it was highly unlikely she was the one who proposed it.
Cheng You raised her pale face and smiled faintly, "It doesn't matter who brought it up."
"But why? You're so good, what else could he be dissatisfied with?" Sun Xiao Wan even started to dislike Qi Cheng Yan.
Cheng You shook her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
"I'm not good at all. Song Yu Lian and Cheng Tao's current situation is something I planned step by step. I even schemed against my own father. I never intended to stay in the Cheng family from the start; I've long wanted to sever ties and move out."
"I'm so bad, he's my own father who raised me. I even find him disgusting and don't want to take care of him in my old age."
"Everyone says I'm good, but I'm really not. If they knew all this, they'd probably think someone like me should be struck by lightning."
"That's not true!" Duan Li Ping exclaimed.
Although she didn't know why Cheng You hated Cheng Tian Hua so much, there must have been something they didn't know.
Based on their interactions recently, Cheng You wouldn't have become like this for no reason.
As for what Cheng Tian Hua had done, it wasn't convenient for her to ask, but Cheng You shouldn't deny herself because of it.
"Cheng You, not every parent deserves to be called a parent. No matter how much you schemed, could you control Song Yu Lian and Cheng Tao to do those bad things? You can't allow them to harm you but forbid yourself from fighting back, can you?"
Song Yu Lian stole Cheng You's money, and Cheng Tao was involved with Zhao Yun Lin. What did this have to do with Cheng You?
She also had a stepmother at home and knew how difficult that was.
But at least her stepmother didn't do anything to her, while Cheng You's stepmother was like a knife hanging over her head, constantly trying to put her to death.
In such a situation, anyone else would have crumbled long ago. Who could then blame Cheng You?
Duan Li Ping felt she was very brave, not bad at all.
As Cheng You cried, she suddenly smiled.
She had been caught in a trap of her own making.
Why should she regret something she had decided from the start?
If she hadn't done it, would she have waited for Song Yu Lian and Cheng Tao to bully her to death?
She had schemed against Qi Cheng Yan because she genuinely liked him, at least the feelings she had used were real.
She knew her methods were flawed, and she had tried her best every day since, wanting to give him the best.
But now he didn't want it, didn't want it anymore...
Then so be it.
Cheng You had lived eighteen years, and her first-ever girlish crush had shattered into a million pieces at this moment.
"I haven't finished unpacking here yet. Once I'm done, I'll invite you over for a meal."
Sun Xiao Wan quickly waved her hand, "No rush, no rush. You take care of things first. Let me know if you need any help. Oh, right, when I sent things home before, I asked my parents to send me some textbooks. I'll bring them to you next time."
Cheng You hesitated for a moment and then said, "Li Ping, Xiao Wan, if you have time, you can also pick up some textbooks."
Duan Li Ping, being more perceptive, quickly understood.
"Did you hear some news?"
Cheng You smiled and shook her head, "No, it's just that the college entrance exam has been suspended for so long. If the country wants to cultivate and select talent, it will eventually resume. But it's not certain, I'm just guessing."
Her words struck a chord with Sun Xiao Wan and Duan Li Ping.
Sun Xiao Wan said, "Actually, my uncle also mentioned it. In ancient times, there were imperial examinations. Now, we have the college entrance exam. It has always been inseparable from scholars. He also thinks it will resume, but we haven't taken it seriously."
Because they had waited year after year, who knew when it would end.
Duan Li Ping said softly, "Perhaps we can study together. It won't hurt to study anyway."