After the class ended, it was time for school dismissal.

Jiang Mianmian originally planned to take Zhou Nanye, who was still unfamiliar with the school environment, to the cafeteria for lunch.

However, a group of girls dressed in similarly rebellious attire approached her, all respectfully addressing her as “Big Sis” before casting wary glances at Zhou Nanye.

They seemed to have something important to say as one of them spoke up cautiously:
“Big Sis, we need to talk to you.”

The moment Jiang Mianmian saw them, she recognized them as the original character’s lackeys and admirers.

Their usual duties included monitoring any girls who tried to approach Ming Yao and promptly reporting to the original Jiang Mianmian, so the group could intimidate those girls into never daring to get near him again.

From their guarded expressions toward Zhou Nanye, assuming he and Zhou Ling’er were allies, it wasn’t hard for Jiang Mianmian to guess their agenda: they must have wanted to talk about Zhou Ling’er sitting next to Ming Yao.

Jiang Mianmian knew she couldn’t change too drastically all at once. After all, the original character had been obsessively in love with Ming Yao. It wouldn’t make sense for her to suddenly seem completely indifferent.

Thus, Jiang Mianmian decided to use these lackeys—after all, teenage cliques were the best conduits for spreading gossip.

Adopting the same haughty attitude as the original character, she casually nodded at them to indicate she understood.

Then she turned toward Zhou Nanye, who was quietly packing up his textbooks, looking like an obedient top student surrounded by a pack of delinquent girls.

Watching him resemble a little lamb surrounded by wolves, Jiang Mianmian couldn’t help but tease him:
“Little Nanye, I have something to take care of and need to leave first. Do you know how to find the cafeteria?”

“Little Nanye” was the affectionate nickname Jiang Mianmian had chosen for Zhou Nanye. His pale, handsome appearance, which exuded a certain innocent vulnerability, made him seem especially fitting for such a cute nickname—one that only she was allowed to use.

Hearing the unique nickname Jiang Mianmian had given him, Zhou Nanye, though having reluctantly agreed to it earlier in the spirit of friendship, still felt a little shy.

Meanwhile, Jiang Mianmian appeared perfectly at ease, watching him attentively and waiting for his response.

Zhou Nanye nodded and earnestly pulled out a campus guidebook:
“I…I have the…the campus guide. I…I know…where to…go…”

“Mian…Mianmian…you…you can…go ahead…”

When he said “Mianmian,” Zhou Nanye’s voice seemed to falter, as if the nickname felt unexpectedly intimate to him.

The delinquent girls, however, had already run out of patience hearing Zhou Nanye’s stammering.

Handsome as he was, who had the patience to listen to someone stutter so much?

But contrary to their expectations, Jiang Mianmian showed no irritation and listened to him attentively. What’s more, they had noticed how intimately she had addressed Zhou Nanye earlier.

This left them utterly shocked.

No way! Could Big Sis really be acting all flirty with this new transfer student?

Impossible! Big Sis had been head over heels for Ming Yao for years, having grown up as childhood sweethearts!

Unaware of their incredulous thoughts, Jiang Mianmian finished her brief conversation with Zhou Nanye and left with her followers. She led them to a discreet location where they could talk without drawing attention.

The girls, visibly agitated, began speaking all at once:
“Big Sis, that new girl is such a fake! When the teacher asked her to find a seat, she headed straight for Ming Yao!”

“Big Sis, why didn’t you say anything in class earlier?”

Clearly upset, the group of delinquent followers was rallying for Jiang Mianmian’s honor.

Big Sis had always been fiercely protective, hating to see any girls getting close to Ming Yao. She wouldn’t even tolerate a single female “fly” buzzing around him.

But this time, that transfer girl had managed to sit right next to him, and Jiang Mianmian hadn’t said a word.

Not wanting to act without Jiang Mianmian’s orders, they had waited until school was out to bring it up. They were determined to teach Zhou Ling’er a lesson for daring to covet Big Sis’s man.

“Big Sis, we’ve got to deal with that fake white lotus girl. She needs to learn Ming Yao isn’t someone she can just drool over!”

As their voices grew louder, Jiang Mianmian interrupted sharply:
“Enough. Are you done talking?”

Her tone silenced the group immediately.

“I don’t like Ming Yao anymore,” Jiang Mianmian stated plainly. “From now on, I don’t care who he chooses to be with. It has nothing to do with me.”

The girls froze, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“Big Sis…you’re joking, right?” After all, they’d seen firsthand how crazy Jiang Mianmian had been over Ming Yao.

Ignoring their shock, Jiang Mianmian continued:
“I’ve liked Ming Yao foolishly for over ten years, but now I see the truth—he’s never going to like me. Why should I waste my time on a dead end?”

Jiang Mianmian spoke with utmost conviction:
“The moment I saw Zhou Nanye earlier today, I knew he was the one for me.”

“Don’t you think Zhou Nanye is so much better than Ming Yao? He has the looks, the height, the grades…”

She posed the question to her stunned followers.

One of them mumbled, “But…he stutters…”

“So what if he stutters? That can be fixed. With my resources, do you really think I can’t afford treatment?” Jiang Mianmian retorted confidently.

“And every time I see him, I just feel this overwhelming urge to protect him…”

After all, her entire purpose here was to give him the love he deserved.

As Jiang Mianmian finished speaking to her followers, she didn’t notice that the “him” she was referring to—Zhou Nanye—happened to pass by and overhear everything.