As soon as these words were spoken, several pairs of eyes turned toward Song Shixi, the person in question.  

Hearing this, Song Shixi froze for a moment before finally recalling who the other party was.  

Wei Shuqiang—one of the original host’s blind dates. He was fair-skinned and decent-looking, and while his family background wasn’t as prestigious as the Qin family’s, it was still respectable, with both parents holding stable jobs.  

The two had only met once before, but he had fallen head over heels for the original host at first sight. Unconcerned about her origins, he had repeatedly asked his parents to inquire about her. Zheng Huilan, too, felt the two were well-suited and had tried to play matchmaker a few times.  

Unfortunately, the original host had been completely fixated on Li Yanxing and dismissed everyone else, outright rejecting him.  

This time, it seemed Wei Shuqiang hadn’t given up and had come asking again. Unable to refuse, Zheng Huilan had reluctantly broached the subject once more.  

Song Shixi took a deep breath, forced a smile, and politely declined, “I have something to do this Saturday, so I won’t be able to make it.”  

Her mindset was completely different from the original host’s. She was only nineteen—not even of legal marriageable age yet. Why on earth would she rush into marriage when there were so many other things to do?  

Besides, how could something so important be decided so carelessly?  

No matter how outstanding Wei Shuqiang was, she had no intention of tying herself to a man she’d only met a handful of times and knew nothing about for the rest of her life.  

But since the original host had previously clamored to get married, if she suddenly declared she didn’t want to marry now, it would only raise suspicions. It was better to go along for now and reject this one invitation first. Once she moved out and reduced contact with the Qin family, she could find an excuse—say she wanted to graduate before considering marriage.  

“Then how about Sunday?”  

Zheng Huilan could read between the lines of Song Shixi’s words, but she genuinely believed Wei Shuqiang was a good match. If Song Shixi missed this opportunity, she might never find another like him.  

Forget about the elite families in the capital—even ordinary households were picky when it came to choosing a daughter-in-law.  

Song Shixi’s looks were indeed impeccable. In all her years, Zheng Huilan had rarely seen anyone more beautiful. But beauty couldn’t put food on the table. No matter how pretty she was, if her character was flawed, it was all for nothing.  

Given that she had once been cruel enough to push Zhiyi down the stairs, nearly ruining her dancing career forever, few respectable families in the capital would dare take her as a daughter-in-law.  

The fact that the Wei boy didn’t mind and was willing to marry her was already a stroke of incredible luck.  

The thought made the resentment Zheng Huilan had buried deep in her heart surge up, darkening her expression.  

No, she had to marry Song Shixi off as soon as possible. Every day the girl stayed in the Qin household, Zheng Huilan had to force a smile—it was worse than killing her.  

“I don’t think we have much in common. It’s better to forget about it.” Seeing Zheng Huilan’s persistence, Song Shixi decided to be more direct.  

“That boy’s just a bit shy. Once you spend more time together, he’ll open up. Why don’t you give it another try?”  

“Auntie, it’s not about whether he talks more or not…”  

As the two reached an impasse, on the verge of arguing, Qin Boyuan frowned and cut in, “Alright, if Shixi isn’t interested, then let it be. There are plenty of outstanding young men in the capital—she can find someone else.”  

“Easy for you to say. Why don’t you help find someone then?” The resentment Zheng Huilan had been suppressing finally spilled over, and she couldn’t help snapping back.  

“I’m swamped with work at the factory. When would I have the time?” Qin Boyuan retorted with a displeased scoff.  

“Dad, Mom, have some water.” Sensing the tension, Qin Zhiyi quickly stepped in, playing the role of the dutiful daughter by pouring each of them a glass. Their expressions softened slightly.  

Song Shixi hadn’t expected things to escalate like this. A flicker of discomfort crossed her eyes, and just as she was about to say something, she met Qin Zhiyi’s cold, heavy gaze from across the table.  

Given her awkward position in this family, saying more would only invite more mistakes. It was better to stay silent.  

Song Shixi lowered her head and shut her mouth.  

For a while, no one at the table spoke. It wasn’t until Qin Yue stood up and walked away that the farce seemed to reach its conclusion.  

“Never satisfied with this, always finding fault with that—I really don’t understand what you young people want these days.” Zheng Huilan couldn’t stay any longer either. She tossed out one last remark before leaving.  

Qin Zhiyi hurried after her, leaving only Song Shixi and Qin Boyuan at the table.  

“Your aunt means well. She just wants what’s best for you, Shixi. Don’t take it to heart.”  

Facing Song Shixi, Qin Boyuan’s stern expression softened considerably.  

Song Shixi nodded obligingly. “Auntie has been running around for my sake lately. I’m really grateful to her. It’s just that I… wasn’t thinking clearly before and did a lot of things that disappointed her. And Zhiyi…”  

Here, she deliberately let her voice trail off, adopting a dejected tone.  

Just as expected, Qin Boyuan’s expression shifted, a trace of relief flashing across his face. “It’s not your fault. You and Zhiyi are around the same age—misunderstandings and conflicts are bound to happen. I believe you didn’t mean it back then. What’s done is done. Your aunt and Zhiyi won’t hold it against you.”  

Song Shixi kept her head bowed meekly. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she excused herself, citing class, and left the Qin residence.  

Only once she was outside did the tension in her body finally ease.  

That meal had been nothing short of torture.  

On the surface, Qin Boyuan seemed to care for and protect her at every turn, but in reality, he left all the major and minor issues to Zheng Huilan. And Zheng Huilan, still resentful over the original host pushing Qin Zhiyi down the stairs, could barely stand her—how could she possibly treat her with genuine kindness?  

As for Qin Zhiyi herself, it went without saying. Initially, she had been warm and friendly toward the original host, truly treating her like a younger sister. That was why she had repeatedly urged her to focus on her studies instead of obsessing over marriage.  

But the original host had misinterpreted her intentions, assuming she was being malicious, and responded with cold words and disdain. Later, in a fit of anger, she had pushed her, shattering Qin Zhiyi’s heart completely.  

If Qin Zhiyi ever discovered the ambiguous relationship between the original host and Li Yanxing in the future, she would only hate her even more.  

And then there was Qin Yue…  

Just thinking about him gave Song Shixi a headache.  

In any case, this meal had only strengthened her resolve to move out as soon as possible.  

…

Traveling these days wasn’t as convenient as in later years. Most people relied on public transportation, with buses being the most common option. For shorter distances, bicycles were the go-to choice.  

The wealthy, however, had more options—they could either travel by private car or opt for taxis, a relatively new service featuring yellow minivans. Though not as sleek or imposing as sedans, these “minicabs” (affectionately called miandi or xiaomian by locals) were far more comfortable and convenient than buses.  

Song Shixi knew this because the original host had always taken taxis—partly to flaunt her “wealth” in front of classmates, and partly to compete with Qin Zhiyi, thinking that riding a taxi at least made her seem less “low-class” compared to Qin’s sedan.  

Initially, the family car had been available to both of them, but after their falling out, Zheng Huilan, in a fit of anger, had ordered the driver to only take Qin Zhiyi.  

If she had spare money, Song Shixi would’ve taken a taxi too—then she wouldn’t have had to squeeze onto an overcrowded bus like she just did.  

After maneuvering through the packed vehicle, she finally managed to snag a spot in a corner.  

Holding onto the railing to steady herself, Song Shixi found herself standing near a group of chatty aunties who had boarded together. Though noisy, they were still preferable to standing next to men reeking of cigarette smoke.  

The bus rumbled along, the half-open window letting in a breeze that eased some of her irritation.  

Leaning against the window, Song Shixi took in the scenery—vastly different from what she remembered in her past life. There were few skyscrapers; instead, low-rise buildings with red walls and gray-tiled roofs lined the streets, along with winding alleys, verdant cypress trees, and spirited pedestrians…  

Together, they painted the distinctive charm of the capital.  

After a long ride, she finally got off at her stop. Relying on her memories and street signs, she successfully navigated to the campus, found her classroom, and took a seat, finally allowing herself to relax.  

The original host had majored in accounting—a highly sought-after field at the time, with strong job prospects.  

But in her past life, Song Shixi had studied broadcasting and hosting, which had absolutely nothing to do with accounting. She was a complete novice, with no idea where to even begin.  

Though the original host hadn’t been among the top students, she’d still managed to get into university in this era, suggesting she wasn’t academically weak. But after arriving in the capital, she’d spent all her time scheming to get married, neglecting her studies entirely—so much so that she’d failed several courses the previous semester.  

Luckily, she’d barely scraped through the make-up exams at the start of this term, or she’d have had to retake them.  

The thought made Song Shixi’s head throb. She slumped onto the desk with a heavy sigh.  

Just then, someone tapped her lightly on the shoulder. “Shixi, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

She looked up to see a delicate-faced girl with a neat bob haircut, dressed in a faded yellow blouse and black trousers—plain and modest, if a bit outdated.  

One glance was all it took for Song Shixi to recognize her.  

Wu Qiuhong.

She and the original host were half-hometown friends. Wu Qiuhong’s warm, down-to-earth personality had brought them closer over time.  

At first, they’d been genuine friends, supporting each other at school. But as the original host became obsessed with blending into capital city life, she started looking down on Wu Qiuhong for being “backward” and “uncool,” gradually distancing herself.  

Wu Qiuhong seemed to have noticed the shift and stopped trying to bridge the gap, leading to their eventual estrangement.  

“Are you okay? You look pale—do you need to go to the infirmary?”

Seeing Song Shixi staring blankly at her, Wu Qiuhong hesitated, her expression turning slightly awkward as she spoke again.  

She’d spotted Song Shixi the moment she entered the classroom. Noticing how pale and distracted she looked—as if she were sick—she’d wrestled with herself before finally deciding to check in.  

No matter what, they had been friends. Even if Song Shixi responded with her usual sarcasm, Wu Qiuhong was prepared to take it—as long as her conscience was clear.  

But instead of the expected snide remarks, the girl before her smiled gently—a warmth Wu Qiuhong had never been shown before—and said, “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.” 

Stunned, Wu Qiuhong took an involuntary step back—only to forget they were in a tiered lecture hall. Losing her balance, she stumbled backward, about to fall—