Chapter 15: Make Yourself Shine

Tang Susu stared at that simple yet incomprehensible formula. This counts as steps?

This must be the difference between a struggling student and a top student.

But this was one of the rare moments He Zhimou had shown her any kindness. Her clear eyes hesitated for a few seconds.

For the sake of their budding friendship, she decided to pretend to understand. Worst case, I just won’t ask again.

“Oh, so that’s how it works! You’re amazing! I thought about it for ages and couldn’t figure it out, and you solved it with just one formula. So impressive!”

He Zhimou lowered his gaze and looked at her deeply.

Tang Susu suddenly felt guilty.

She lowered her head, her slender fingers twisting together nervously.

She was afraid he’d be like her homeroom teacher and ask her to explain the solution process to prove she understood.

She could actually explain the teacher’s questions.

But this one from He Zhimou? She understood absolutely nothing.

Fortunately, the boy’s long fingers landed on the sheet of paper.

He gently folded the draft paper with his slender, defined fingers.

Tang Susu let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least he didn’t question me.

The sky was getting darker.

Tang Susu glanced at her watch. It was 6:20 p.m.

She had to go to her part-time piano job by 7.

It was her first day. Naturally, she needed to arrive early and prepare.

But before she left, she had to make sure He Zhimou took his medicine.

“He Zhimou, it’s time to take your meds.”

The boy looked up lazily but didn’t move.

“It’s time for your medicine!” Tang Susu repeated.

He suddenly stepped forward.

His pale face and limp didn’t make him look weak—if anything, it added a certain broken charm.

He leaned down, bringing his face close to her palm-sized one, his eyes dark and intense. “Tang Susu, don’t you think you’re being a bit too nosy?”

The pressure in his tone was suffocating.

In this moment, He Zhimou looked like someone you really shouldn’t mess with.

But Tang Susu knew the story. She knew He Zhimou was a good person.

He was just pretending. This was teenage rebellion. He needed to be coaxed.

She smiled gently. “Take your medicine, come on.”

He Zhimou froze. Does she not understand people’s emotions?

He was trying to push her away.

But in the next second, Tang Susu handed him a glass of warm water, along with the pills.

Her eyes curved as she smiled, voice soft like coaxing a child, “If you finish your medicine, you’ll get a reward~”

He Zhimou turned his head slightly.

The girl’s gaze was sincere and bright, locked onto him.

In the end, he reached out, took the glass, picked up the white pill, and slowly swallowed it.

Tang Susu smiled brightly. “Good boy! Now hold out your hand for your gift.”

He Zhimou, curious about what she could possibly give him, reached out.

The girl placed a small candy in his palm—a purple, round pressed candy.

He looked down at it.

She seriously gave me candy? Like I’m a child?

He rolled the candy between his fingers, lips curled in a trace of mockery. He was about to toss it in the trash—

But at the last second, he closed his fist around it.

…

Evening, at the Plaza Restaurant.

It was Tang Susu’s first day at her part-time job, and she was a little nervous. But the supervisor was kind, and the other servers were friendly.

Playing the piano was her strong suit. The moment her fingers touched the black-and-white keys, she forgot everything else.

In the lobby, regular customers were stunned by the beautiful melody.

Where did the owner find this pianist? She’s incredible!

Their gazes all turned to the center of the restaurant.

The girl wore a white outfit, quietly seated at the grand piano, as if she was born to play. Under her fingertips, the notes came alive.

Conversations died down. The restaurant grew quiet as guests listened to the music.

Tang Susu, however, was completely unaware of the attention. She was being paid, so she played seriously.

She used to only play classical pieces, but recently discovered that jazz could be fun too, and experimented with different styles.

Two hours passed in a flash.

When her shift ended, she left quietly, unaware that her performance had been so well received.

…

9:30 PM – Youpin Residential Area, 250-square-meter duplex

The living room was cold and empty. No one else was home.

Exhausted from the day, Tang Susu took an apple from the fridge, grabbed her phone, and opened WeChat to scroll through her Moments feed.

A second later, her fingers paused.

Her stepsister, Zhou An’an, had posted a photo.

A fancy restaurant. The girl sat at the center, wearing a birthday hat, hands clasped in a wish, eyes closed in happiness.

Sitting beside her were Zhou Wei and Tang Honghou, smiling affectionately.

The caption: Happy birthday to me.

A happy little family, aren’t they?

Tang Susu suddenly grew curious. Her biological father, Tang Honghou, had so openly taken his stepdaughter to celebrate her birthday—did he ever think about how his real daughter might feel?

Or maybe he intended to do it behind her back, but Zhou An’an had posted it to provoke her.

To test her theory, she took a screenshot of the post and sent it to Tang Honghou.

If this man had even a shred of conscience, he would understand how hurtful his actions were to his own daughter.

Half an hour later, she got a reply:

“It’s your sister’s birthday today. Since you weren’t here, I took An’an out for dinner.”

Then came a second message—a transfer of 2000 yuan.

“Buy yourself something nice.”

Tang Susu felt a wave of bitterness.

Before, when he sent her money, she thought maybe he still cared.

Turns out, money was just a way to brush her off.

Now she understood why the original Tang Susu had turned out the way she did.

Her father’s neglect had driven her to act out just to get attention. But no matter how angry, emotional, or reckless she became, he still ignored her.

So she kept pushing boundaries.

A vicious cycle. And that’s how she ended up the way she did.

If only I could tell the original Tang Susu… The more they ignore you, the harder you need to work. Never give up or try something bad just to get noticed.

Become someone who shines so brightly, they’ll all regret how they treated you.

Calmly, she closed her phone, took a bite of her apple, and went upstairs.

She had a monthly exam next Monday.

She still needed to study hard.