"Ah," Xiaoxiao's heart skipped a beat. She thought about the green bag she had given to Wood earlier.
She had only thought the bag was small and didn't take up much space, so she had casually picked it. She hadn't realized it would be so important to Han Qianqian.
"Sister Qianqian, there are no nuns in a convent, only sisters," Xiaoxiao said with a laugh. "It can't be that bad, can it? Your family must be quite wealthy, and your parents wouldn't do this to you over a bag, would they?"
Han Qianqian still hadn't found it. She came out of the wardrobe dejectedly, her mood soured, and said, "I know, sisters and nuns are pretty much the same. My parents sent me abroad to study because they found me disobedient and too difficult to manage. They don't love me; they just want me to live the way they hope I will."
This resonated with Xiaoxiao, who said, "It's the same as my so-called father. He just wants me to become the lady he wishes me to be. But I would never really do as he says, so he doesn't deserve to be my father."
"Yes, I'm also very annoyed with them," Han Qianqian said, feeling like she had found a kindred spirit. "I used to dye my hair green, learned to smoke, and often got into fights... My dad would always scold me severely, sometimes even hit me, but I just wouldn't change. The angrier they got, the more rebellious I became."
Xiaoxiao suddenly asked, "Sister Qianqian, are you your parents' biological child?"
"Of course. But I'm not as outstanding as my older siblings. They placed all their hopes on my brothers and sisters and didn't expect much from me, only hoping I wouldn't go astray," Han Qianqian said helplessly. "Ever since I can remember, my family has always told me to learn from my siblings and compared me to them. But I'm not them, so I have to be different."
Xiaoxiao felt that Han Qianqian was much like herself. Even her own parents, under the guise of her well-being, forced her to do things she disliked.
"It was also because my father pushed me too hard that I ran away to find Brother Xingxing."
"You're much braver than I am," Han Qianqian admired her. "Even if I feel my parents are too overbearing, I still don't dare to cut ties with them. Without financial support, I'd have nothing. I'm also not like you, having a brother to rely on."
Xiaoxiao checked the time and said, "Sister Qianqian, why don't you use another bag for now? You can look for that one when it's back. It's getting late, and Brother Xingxing is waiting impatiently."
"Yes, let's get ready quickly." Han Qianqian temporarily gave up looking for the bag and started changing her clothes.
Xiaoxiao picked up the dress she liked and said, "Sister Qianqian, can I borrow this dress?"
"It's fine, wear whatever clothes you like," Han Qianqian said generously.
Xiaoxiao picked up the dress and went to the bathroom to change. In fact, in that castle, she had more beautiful and expensive clothes and jewelry than Han Qianqian, filling an entire room.
However, those clothes and jewelry were only useful when Alva took her to events or banquets. But she didn't want to wear them for people she didn't know; she only wanted to look beautiful for Brother Xingxing.
After changing into the dress, Xiaoxiao tied her hair into a braid and casually picked up a sparkly hairpin from the dressing table in the bathroom, clipping it onto her braid.
She looked at herself in the mirror repeatedly. Satisfied, she walked out of the bathroom.
Han Qianqian had also finished dressing and was looking everywhere for her favorite blue and white diamond hairpin. She saw Xiaoxiao walking out.
She noticed that Xiaoxiao was already wearing the hairpin and wanted to say something but found it difficult.
Seeing Han Qianqian looking at her with a hesitant expression, Xiaoxiao asked, "Sister Qianqian, don't I look good dressed like this?"
"You look good, very good," Han Qianqian said. "You look really beautiful when you dress up. It's just that hairpin on your head... that's the hairpin I wanted to wear. Can you give it back to me? I'll give you a pink hairpin. You're younger than me, so the pink one will suit you better."
Xiaoxiao said "Oh," took off the hairpin, and returned it to her, feeling a little uncomfortable.
After Han Qianqian took the hairpin and put it on in front of the mirror, she found a pink hairpin and said to Xiaoxiao, "Here, this one is for you."
"No, thank you. I can actually do without a hairpin," Xiaoxiao refused. Seeing her elaborately dressed like a colorful butterfly, she thought that Brother Xingxing would only like her.
Han Qianqian put away the pink hairpin, took Xiaoxiao's hand, and said, "Then I'll escort you to that low wall first. After you climb over, wait for us."
"Okay."
At the foot of the low wall, Han Qianqian watched her climb over before heading to the main gate to meet Qin Yuxing.
As soon as Xiaoxiao landed, holding her skirt, she discovered that the skirt had gotten quite dusty from climbing the wall.
She patted the dust off her clothes, feeling her hair had become a bit loose. She had been dressed so nicely before, but now she probably looked quite disheveled.
Xiaoxiao felt dejected thinking that she couldn't walk openly on campus with Brother Xingxing like Han Qianqian could.
"Jenny, why are you coming out of school? Did you get something good and want to keep it all to yourself?" Wood suddenly appeared from somewhere, startling her.
Xiaoxiao no longer wanted to deal with him. "What I gave you last time is enough to repay what I owe you. Don't come looking for me again. Let's just pretend we never met."
Wood had indeed made a substantial profit after selling those items, but people are greedy. He just wanted to take advantage of the situation and get as much as he could.
"That dress you're wearing must be expensive. Why don't you take it off and let me sell it?"
As he spoke, he walked closer to Xiaoxiao, about to pull off her dress.
Before he could touch her, Xiaoxiao slapped him hard. "Get lost! Try to touch me and see if I don't... I won't let you off!"
"Jenny, has your brain been spoiled by staying in this aristocratic school? Do you really think you're a noble lady?" Wood mocked her. "Remember, you're no different from a delinquent like me. If I hadn't helped you back then, you would have been caught and beaten to death."
Xiaoxiao had never told him her true identity. When she met him, she was in a desperate situation and only said that she had stolen from a rich person, and that rich person had been sending people to catch her.
"I may have nothing, but look at my brother, his parents are important figures..." Xiaoxiao was about to use Brother Xingxing's parents to scare him when she saw Brother Xingxing and Han Qianqian walking towards them.
Wood said disdainfully, "So what if your so-called brother's parents are important figures? He himself is quite incapable. If you don't steal something else and bring it out, I won't let you go!"
"I know, you go, hurry up and go!" Xiaoxiao was afraid that Brother Xingxing would see Wood. She quickly turned her back to the direction they were coming from and said to Wood through gritted teeth, "If you don't get lost now, and someone finds out you exist, you won't get anything!"
Wood also saw people approaching. He only wanted money and didn't want to be discovered by others or cause unnecessary trouble.
He pointed at Xiaoxiao as a warning and immediately turned and ran.