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On the first day of school at Shen University, Xu Zhiqiao’s three roommates had all arrived.
Two of her roommates were from out of town, and their suitcases were full of local specialties, which they generously shared with Xu Zhiqiao.
“Are you from around here?” asked Wang Miaomiao, the girl with the round face.
Xu Zhiqiao, chewing on a smoked duck foot, replied, “No, I’m from East Shanxi. My mom remarried and moved here.”
The situation was a bit complicated, so Wang Miaomiao didn’t press her further.
“They told us to go pick up our military training uniforms,” said Zou Qi, the energetic girl. “Pick a smaller size to show off your figure.”
Xu Zhiqiao had never participated in military training because Xu Shu never allowed her to participate in any physical activities.
Sitting at the desk applying makeup was Song Siting. “Qiaoqiao, come over here, let me try these fake eyelashes on you.”
Xu Zhiqiao obediently moved over.
As she applied the lashes, Song Siting spoke in a softer voice, “You still have that baby fat, you look just like a little baby.”
“……” Xu Zhiqiao wasn’t pleased. “Is there any way to make me look more mature?”
“Just wait until you grow up more,” Song Siting looked her over. “Your eyes are already big, now they’re huge.”
Xu Zhiqiao frowned. “Then forget it.”
Song Siting started to take them off. “But there’s something that works instantly.”
“What’s that?”
“Get a perm. It’ll make you look ten years older.”
“……”
Zou Qi and Wang Miaomiao immediately agreed.
“I’ve never had a successful perm. I tried it right after the college entrance exams, and I had to call the police.”
“I went home crying, and my mom laughed for half a month.”
“What about you, Qiaoqiao?”
“……”
Xu Zhiqiao felt a little out of place. “I’ve never had a perm. It’s too long, so my mom just trims it for me.”
The three girls stared in disbelief. “You’ve never even been to a salon?”
Xu Zhiqiao nodded.
There were years when her family wasn’t doing well, but Xu Shu still did everything she could to raise and protect her.
Song Siting twirled a strand of her own permed hair. “My hair’s faded, I need to touch it up.”
She then smiled and asked, “Qiao darling, do you want to try a new hairstyle?”
“Go ahead, go ahead,” Zou Qi said. “We did all this right after the exams. Why are you so well-behaved?”
Xu Zhiqiao felt tempted. “Well… I’ll go check it out.”
—
The salon was located on a street outside the university, in an area with many food stalls. The interior looked quite stylish, with a chic and upscale vibe.
“I heard the owner is related to the principal. This is the only salon on the street, so it’s really busy.”
The young male stylists in the shop all wore Bluetooth headsets and maintained a cool and composed attitude. They weren’t overly friendly, but they weren’t unfriendly either.
Song Siting was getting her hair dyed, and Xu Zhiqiao flipped through a hairstyle book, unsure of what to choose.
She was afraid it might go wrong.
And it was really expensive.
One of the stylists pointed to a photo. “How about a perm? I’ll dye your hair a color that suits you.”
“No, no,” Xu Zhiqiao shook her head. “Just trim it a little, thank you.”
The stylist glanced at her with an unreadable expression.
The haircut was done quickly. Compared to the stylist working with Song Siting, Xu Zhiqiao’s stylist was silent. After finishing, he casually said, “I’ll give you a temporary curl.”
Xu Zhiqiao didn’t have the heart to refuse.
While he worked, someone came over to talk to him, and he replied without much enthusiasm, “Not today. Just cuts.”
Xu Zhiqiao felt a bit offended.
As the stylist grabbed a strand of her hair and clamped it in the curling iron, Xu Zhiqiao suddenly felt sharp pain in her scalp.
She winced. “You burned me.”
“Oh,” the stylist glanced at her in the mirror. “Sorry.”
“……”
He added, “I’ll give you a discount next time.”
Xu Zhiqiao wasn’t sure how to react.
It was her first time in a salon. The stylist apologized and offered a discount, so she assumed this was the usual way to handle things.
Zou Qi and Wang Miaomiao came back from shopping, and Xu Zhiqiao’s hair was finished.
She looked at herself in the mirror and felt like crying at how much older she looked with the curls.
As they walked back to school, Xu Zhiqiao kept touching her hair, thinking it looked ugly. Song Siting noticed and comforted her, “It’s just temporary. You can wash it out later.”
Xu Zhiqiao’s scalp still hurt. It wasn’t so bad in the salon, but now it was getting worse.
“Song Siting, can you check if my scalp is bleeding?”
The three girls suddenly turned their attention away from her and looked ahead, their eyes widening with excitement.
“Is that someone from our school?”
“He’s so handsome, I’m swooning.”
“Hey, hey, there’s another one! Two at once!”
“Ah!!! That’s my dream guy! Don’t fight with me!”
Xu Zhiqiao, still holding her head, followed their gazes.
In the next moment, her eyes locked with the man they were talking about.
“….”
There was a brief pause. Xu Zhiqiao quickly lowered her lashes, pretending she hadn’t seen him, as though she had just seen a stranger.
Ji Huailuo raised an eyebrow and nudged Zhou Cong. “Did she just look at me? Did we make eye contact?”
Zhou Cong, leaning against the car door with his hands in his pockets, didn’t bother to answer. He seemed tired, almost lifeless.
Ji Huailuo assumed that Zhou Cong was still recovering from his hospitalization, so he turned his attention back to the girls and shouted, “Xu Zhiqiao!!”
Song Siting and the others froze.
Xu Zhiqiao didn’t even glance in their direction, acting as though she hadn’t heard.
“Qiaoqiao,” Zou Qi was the first to react. “Isn’t he calling you?”
Xu Zhiqiao feigned ignorance. “Is he? Maybe I misheard.”
“….”
No way.
Ji Huailuo frowned again and shouted, “Xu Zhiqiao!”
“Qiaoqiao, he’s definitely calling you,” Song Siting said, her certainty clear.
Xu Zhiqiao didn’t dare acknowledge him.
After all, Ji Huailuo had made it clear that he didn’t want anyone to know about their relationship.
Ji Huailuo, losing patience, stepped toward her. “Are you deaf or just blind?”
“….” Xu Zhiqiao looked up. “Who are you?”
Ji Huailuo was stunned.
The scene froze.
The two of them locked eyes for a few seconds. Ji Huailuo seemed to understand her meaning, and with a scowl, he reached out and tugged at her curls. “Ugly! For a moment, I almost thought I saw my grandmother’s hairstyle. Do you have no taste?”
Xu Zhiqiao quickly swatted his hand away, wincing as she rubbed her sore scalp.
“…”
Ji Huailuo, momentarily stunned, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Everyone else looked over at them.
Zhou Cong, hands at his sides, stared at them with a sharp gaze that hid his thoughts, his expression darkening.
“Did you get hurt?” he asked in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Ji Huailuo brushed her hair aside to check.
Suddenly.
“Damn!!” Ji Huailuo shouted, “You’re bleeding! Xu Zhiqiao, you idiot!”
Zhou Cong pulled him aside, his voice cold. “How did you handle this?”
Song Siting and the others finally noticed. “Qiao darling, you’re hurt? Did you get burned? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“The guy apologized,” Xu Zhiqiao winced. “He even gave me a discount.”
Song Siting couldn’t believe it. “It was just a five-dollar discount?”
Zhou Cong’s frown deepened, his displeasure evident. “Which shop was it?”
“It’s just ahead,” Zou Qi said.
Ji Huailuo rolled up his sleeves, gritting his teeth. “Xu Zhiqiao, you’re such an idiot. Today, I’m going to show you who your brother really is. Not only am I the king of this neighborhood, but I’m also the king of all Shenzhen. Lead the way, let’s tear down that shop!”