novelnext Chapter 192: Taking the Initiative to Get Close
Chapter 192: Taking the Initiative to Get Close
He laughed and waved his hands dismissively, saying things like, "Oh, it was nothing," but the smug look on his face was impossible to hide.
When someone praised his extensive network, he’d say, "It’s all thanks to my friends." When someone said he had a keen eye, he’d reply, "I just got lucky."
But the pride in his tone was undeniable. Every word he spoke seemed to redefine his past.
It was all just cringey, empty nonsense.
These words were so far from the truth, yet he said them as if they were a matter of course.
No one brought up how he used to belittle Shanshan, how he had publicly declared she wasn’t good enough.
And no one asked why he had refused to even mention her name before, yet now acted as if she were the hero of the hour.
Shanshan sneered and turned to leave.
She tucked the trophy under her arm, her steps crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.
Her high heels made a sharp CLACK on the floor, each step like a beat against the heart.
She didn’t want to stay another second, and she certainly didn’t want to look at those hypocritical faces any longer.
She had only taken a few steps when she ran right into Yuan Zhihe.
The other woman stood at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, the corners of her mouth curved into a contemptuous smirk.
Her eyes swept up and down Shanshan, as if sizing up a piece of merchandise that had suddenly shot up in value.
A few scattered students nearby stopped in their tracks, apparently sensing a conflict was about to erupt.
"Ling Xueshan, don’t think winning some pathetic competition means you’re on top of the world. The only sense of accomplishment you’ll ever find is in a place like this."
Yuan Zhihe’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for every word to drill right into your ears.
After speaking, she even shook her head slightly, as if pitying someone with an overinflated ego.
She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, striking a deliberately affected pose.
"Oh, you’re right," Shanshan said, "says the girl who came in last place."
She replied flatly, not even bothering to lift her gaze before turning to walk away.
Her tone was calm, with no hint of mockery or agitation, as if she were merely stating an objective fact.
She didn’t even slow her pace as she said it.
The indifference and dismissal she left hanging in the air were more humiliating than any counterattack.
Yuan Zhihe’s face turned pale with rage, and she gritted her teeth.
Her lips trembled slightly. She wanted to shout something else but found herself at a loss for words.
The few students who had been watching began to snicker.
She spun around abruptly, swung her arm forcefully, and stormed away.
Once outside the venue, Shanshan took a deep breath.
The cool air filled her lungs, clearing her head.
’The air out here is so refreshing. At least it’s free of those disgusting faces.’
She leaned against a wall for a moment, letting the cold wind blow against her cheeks.
The trophy in her hand was a bit heavy, but she had no intention of putting it down.
The quiet of the moment helped her regain some sense of control.
She had planned to go straight back to the university, but the supervising teacher was still waiting for the other students, so she had no choice but to wait alone in the car.
The car was parked in its designated spot by the university gate. With the windows shut tight, it was so quiet inside she could hear the ticking of the dashboard clock.
She placed the trophy on the passenger seat, undid the top button of her coat, and relaxed a little.
Her phone screen lit up with a congratulatory message from a friend. She glanced at it and locked the screen.
As she was idly sitting there, something in the distance caught the corner of her eye.
Yuan Zhihe was actually standing with Cao Daqiang, and they were extremely close.
The two of them were on a small path behind the venue, their backs to the parking lot.
Yuan Zhihe was turned to the side, one hand resting on the guardrail while the other gestured as she spoke.
Cao Daqiang, meanwhile, had his head bowed slightly, speaking close to her ear in an intimate manner.
They were too far away for Shanshan to hear what they were talking about, but seeing the way Yuan Zhihe was smiling—her eyes curved into crescents—she was clearly delighted.
Her shoulders shook gently, and she occasionally covered her mouth with her hand, as if she’d heard some amusing secret.
While talking, she would occasionally look up at Cao Daqiang, her gaze filled with obvious admiration.
This smile was a world away from the spiteful one she had shown Shanshan moments ago.
"Tsk, I can’t believe those two managed to connect," Shanshan muttered, tapping her fingertips lightly on the edge of the car window.
’I had originally thought Yuan Zhihe would look down on an opportunist like him, but apparently that wasn’t the case.’
’An exchange of benefits never cares about allegiances. As long as their goals align, anyone can come together.’
Shanshan watched them secretly from behind the car window, finding the whole scene utterly ridiculous.
She lowered her seat a bit to make sure she wouldn’t be seen.
She just watched them quietly, feeling neither anger nor surprise, only a sense of absurdity.
But the next scene made her pause for a second.
The two of them moved closer and closer. Not only did Yuan Zhihe not back away, but she frequently nodded, looking like they were getting along splendidly.
Cao Daqiang said something, and Yuan Zhihe immediately clapped her hands in agreement.
Then she took out her phone, scrolled through it, and showed it to Cao Daqiang, seemingly sharing some information.
She stared for a moment, and a new thought suddenly popped into her head.
’I used to think these people only chased after the successful,’ she realized, ’but now I see they also create them.’
Cao Daqiang had been riding high lately, even walking with a new swagger. Shanshan was starting to regret building him up so much in the first place.
He used to be a nobody in the club, someone who had to write a draft before even daring to speak.
But now he could speak with confidence in public, even becoming the center of attention.
The same people who had once ignored him were now approaching him one by one.
Once someone thinks they’ve made it, people start flocking to them. Cao Daqiang was no exception; he’d even had the audacity to come find her at school.
He started attending all sorts of gatherings, his social media feed updated daily with group photos and pictures from drinking parties.
People started calling him "Cao," and he accepted it all with pleasure.
Even the teachers’ attitudes toward him changed; they always called on him to answer questions in class.
What was even more ridiculous was that he had shown up at the university, claiming he wanted to set Shanshan up with someone.
That day, he was dressed sharply and carrying a fruit basket, waiting for her outside the classroom after class.
Several girls crowded around him, asking all sorts of questions. He answered them with a smile, saying he was just concerned about a fellow student.
Only when Shanshan came out did he drop the smile and say seriously, "I want to introduce you to someone."
"You’re not getting any younger. While you still have options, you should meet more people. There are plenty of outstanding young men out there these days..."—"What do you really want? Stop beating around the bush."
Shanshan couldn’t be bothered to listen to his nonsense and cut straight to the chase.
She stood ramrod straight with her hands in her pockets, her gaze fixed directly on Cao Daqiang, not flinching in the slightest.
"Look at that temper of yours. Why does a girl like you have to be so aggressive when you talk?"
Cao Daqiang gave a dry laugh, trying to ease the tension.
He rubbed the back of his head lightly, forcing an awkward smile onto his face.
"Are you going to say it or not? If not, I’m leaving."
Shanshan’s tone was cold and hard. She didn’t move an inch forward; instead, she took half a step back, making it clear she was ready to leave at any moment.
Cao Daqiang immediately reached out to stop her, afraid she would actually walk away.
He raised his arm so abruptly he nearly knocked over a nearby bicycle basket. But he paid it no mind, quickly pulling his hand back and plastering on a smile.
"Fine, fine, I’ll talk, alright? Look, I just got promoted, right? And one of the executives has a son who’s about your age. I figure it’s best to take care of our own, so I wanted to connect you two. Just get to know each other. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s good to have another acquaintance."
He said all this in a rush, as if afraid of being interrupted.