An Ting slowly climbed down the ladder and looked at Wang Shiran. "I did break up with him."
Wang Shiran couldn't help but smile. "He got dumped and didn't even tell us. That's so unfair!"
Ma Yang chuckled. "Shi Ran, that's rude. How do you know An Ting was the one dumped?"
"Otherwise, would she still dump Song Qian?" Wang Shiran said disdainfully.
An Ting coldly scanned the dorm room. Having inherited the original owner's memories, she had a good understanding of her three roommates.
All three came from well-off families and were pampered young ladies. Ma Yang appeared friendly but loved gossip and would dive into any drama. Wang Shiran was sharp-tongued and arrogant; she remembered anyone who offended her and would make them pay in every way she could. Yi Lian, the last roommate, was the most aloof and silent, but also the most haughty; she wouldn't even spare a thought for anyone she looked down on.
The original owner of this body had been unlucky. She hadn't consulted her counselor before the semester began and ended up in this dorm.
At first, the three roommates only looked down on An Ting, except for Ma Yang occasionally calling her poor. But things changed when An Ting sang on stage during her freshman year and caught Song Qian's eye—they started dating.
Wang Shiran had been eyeing Song Qian since the semester began, trying to infiltrate his circle. Just as she was getting close, Song Qian started dating the girl she disliked most in her dorm.
It was like lighting a fuse. Wang Shiran began a year-long campaign of dormitory bullying, targeting the original owner at every turn. College students wouldn't do anything too extreme, but verbal abuse, isolation, and sarcasm were still difficult for the young woman to bear. Over time, she became quieter, and the emotional burden grew heavier.
Coupled with her family's poverty and the loss of her musical talent, she became increasingly dependent on her nominal boyfriend, Song Qian.
Before Ye Qianqian appeared, Song Qian, though he didn't like the original owner, had always treated her seriously and respectfully—he just didn't care for her much. Sometimes, when he got too caught up in his own fun, he wouldn't even see her for a month or two.
The original owner initially thought he was just being playful. But after learning he had fallen for Ye Qianqian and seeing a kind of love she had never seen in his eyes, she couldn't bear it anymore. That night, all her emotions and physical exhaustion combined, leading to her sudden death.
Wang Shiran was still mocking him openly when An Ting suddenly spoke up. "I thought you already knew."
Wang Shiran frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? You spend way more time around Song Qian than I do. I thought he broke up with me because he wanted to be with you." An Ting was slightly surprised. "What? Does that mean he still doesn't like you even after breaking up with me?"
Wang Shiran's expression instantly darkened.
"What do you mean!" She stood abruptly, pointing at An Ting. "Don't make false accusations! Song Qian and I are good friends, unlike you, who's just some girl he played around with!"
Ma Yang covered her mouth, smirking with schadenfreude. She and Wang Shiran usually got along, but their friendship was superficial. Seeing Wang Shiran embarrassed now brought her immense joy.
She had to play along, though. "Yeah, Shiran and Song Qian are just normal friends. Do you think you can just dump someone and find another one, like you do?"
Wang Shiran's expression softened slightly at that.
An Ting stepped forward, took Wang Shiran's outstretched finger, and slowly pressed it back.
"Actually, you're right," she said softly. "Anyone can replace Song Qian's girlfriend. At least you have some self-awareness."
She stared intently. "Actually… you could do it too."
Wang Shiran's heart skipped a beat, but she sneered on the surface. "Don't try to provoke me. It won't work."
"When Song Qian first started pursuing me, I thought he liked me. I always thought that," An Ting said with a sad smile. "Then Ye Qianqian appeared… That's when I realized Song Qian didn't like me. He just liked pure and kind girls. When Ye Qianqian appeared, he was attracted by her purity and kindness—she seemed even purer and kinder than me…"
Wang Shiran was completely stunned. Ever since she had liked Song Qian, she'd wanted to be with him. But then An Ting appeared. Song Qian and An Ting had been dating for over a year. No matter how upset Wang Shiran felt, there was nothing she could do. She comforted herself thinking maybe Song Qian just liked An Ting's type—a kind, gentle girl.
But then Song Qian broke up with An Ting and pursued Ye Qianqian, which made her extremely resentful.
Why did a girl who just appeared have a chance, while she had been by his side for so long with none? That's why she vented her anger on An Ting after seeing the WeChat Moments post.
Now An Ting was telling her Song Qian only liked pure and innocent girls?
Ma Yang looked skeptical. "Ye Qianqian? Innocent? Are you kidding me? This girl who appeared out of nowhere has been flirting with men everywhere. I can see right through her."
Wang Shiran agreed. She had met Ye Qianqian once and found her all talk.
Plus, Ma Yang had the best info network. If she said Ye Qianqian was flirting everywhere, it probably wasn't a lie.
"You're not lying to me?"
An Ting twitched the corners of her mouth. "Otherwise, why would I be so devastated? All my persistence and effort were just labels of 'innocence' in his eyes. He could fall for any girl who seemed even purer."
Wang Shiran and Ma Yang glanced at An Ting, unsure what to say.
To be fair, they didn't like An Ting, but they acknowledged that she did have a genuine 'pure' quality. She was good-looking, sang well, worked part-time, and never took advantage of Song Qian's money.
Although they were indignant about her relationship with Song Qian, they understood that Song Qian might just be drawn to that type. But Ye Qianqian was different. How could Song Qian call such an obvious flirt "pure"?
The most resentful was Wang Shiran. Ye Qianqian was inferior to her in every way, yet now she was getting ahead.
Moreover, if Song Qian really liked girls who pretended to be innocent, wouldn't she (Wang Shiran) also have a chance?
With that thought, Wang Shiran started seeing An Ting in a new light.
An Ting had changed recently. She used to favor white dresses, but now her clothes were looser yet incredibly stylish. Coupled with her great figure and beautiful face, she exuded confidence, like a fashion model. Sophistication radiated from her.
Wang Shiran, who leaned toward internet-celebrity style, suddenly felt a few levels below her.
But that feeling was brief. An Ting had been stimulated by the breakup and changed all at once.
An Ting observed the two closely. Wang Shiran had a hidden joy on her face, as if she had learned the secret to getting close to Song Qian. Ma Yang's eyes flashed with a sly light, looking downright mischievous.
An Ting rubbed her fingers together with satisfaction.
Very well. Let Ye Qianqian taste the power of these formidable fighters herself. And I'll give Song Qian a piece of my mind too.