School had ended a while ago, and the streets outside bustled with people as many students were leaving.
SuLiu left the classroom immediately after school, heading in a specific direction outside the school.
She had arranged to meet someone that afternoon.
However, her expression was far from cheerful, more gloomy than usual.
SuLiu couldn't believe that last night's plan had failed. She had intended HuMing to catch Ye QiuXue locked up, to see her humiliated. At the same time, she wanted to ensure others noticed the incident, turning Ye QiuXue into a laughingstock.
SuLiu had instructed a group of second-year students to carry out the plan, taking advantage of their dissatisfaction with Ye QiuXue.
After all, those students weren't the definition of well-behaved.
But now, not only was Ye QiuXue unharmed, but she seemed more energetic than ever, which made SuLiu furious.
And those boys still wanted to ask her out?
If they couldn't even handle such a small task, did they really deserve her time?
She headed straight for a nearby Pool hall.
The owner seemed quite familiar with SuLiu, letting her in despite being underage.
Inside, many adults were playing pool, enjoying their leisure time. Some were using the game as a pretext to let their hands wander over their female companions under the guise of teaching them how to play, but honestly only taking advantage.
SuLiu glanced around casually, entirely unfazed by the scenes around her---it was all too familiar.
She walked straight to a private room she had reserved, her secret hideaway bought with money.
As for why SuLiu chose this place, it was simple---she had paid the owner handsomely to consider it her territory.
She pushed the door open forcefully and settled into the sofa, lighting a cigarette.
No one would have guessed that SuLiu, who appeared so pure and gentle on the outside, would smoke.
With her legs crossed, she held a slim cigarette between two fingers, reclining against the sofa.
As the smoke drifted from her lips, SuLiu felt the pressure on her shoulders ease considerably.
"Useless idiots can't even handle a simple task!"
Her eyes were filled with contempt, clearly dissatisfied with how things had turned out.
"HuMing really is an idiot. He used to chase after me so desperately, and now, when I'm lowering myself for him, he doesn't even appreciate it. It's like he's lost his mind!"
The mere thought of HuMing made SuLiu even more frustrated.
She kicked the table in front of her hard, but it didn't budge an inch.
This only soured her mood further.
"Looks like I'll have to come up with another way to make HuMing fall for me. But first, I need to get rid of that eyesore, Ye QiuXue. She's always hanging around HuMing, so annoying!"
SuLiu's face turned cold as she plotted to have someone kidnap Ye QiuXue and take some compromising photos of her.
With those, she could threaten Ye QiuXue however she wanted.
Other than HuMing, Ye QiuXue was the person she hated the most.
HuMing was supposed to be a fish in her pond, but Ye QiuXue came along and snatched him away. How could SuLiu possibly accept that?
She wanted to watch that proud woman fall from her lofty perch.
The cigarette in SuLiu's hand snapped as her eyes grew more ruthless.
Abruptly, her phone rang from her pocket.
When she saw the caller ID, she quickly stubbed out her cigarette, hastily fixing her expression into a smile as if the person on the other end could see her.
"You finally called me!"
"I thought you might be more useful than the others."
The voice on the other end was emotionless, making SuLiu feel a wave of panic.
"I-I can explain!"
"Explain what? I've seen everything you've done. What's the point now?"
"I don't know why HuMing is suddenly so unresponsive! I've done so much, and he's still unmoved! He used to chase after me relentlessly, willing to give up everything for me!"
SuLiu's voice was frantic, terrified that the person on the other end might hang up.
She was acutely aware that her current possessions and opportunities were all thanks to the man on the other end of the line.
If he abandoned her, she would truly be exposed for what she was.
She didn't want to lose her current life, where she was the center of attention. Even if it meant struggling, she was determined to fight until the end.
"Enough. I didn't call to hear your excuses." The voice on the other end was cold and stern, making SuLiu tremble.
She swallowed hard, terrified of hearing the one thing she dreaded most.
Her fist clenched tightly, her eyes staring blankly ahead as she strained to catch every word.
"This is your last chance. If you fail again, I'll take back everything I've given you."
With that, the person on the other end abruptly hung up.
SuLiu's hand dropped limply to her side, her face a picture of relief mixed with lingering fear, as if she had narrowly escaped disaster.
It was that person who initially told her to keep HuMing on the hook. Now, it was that same person demanding she pursue HuMing obsessively.
SuLiu was fully aware of her being just a pawn in that person's game.
He had promised that if HuMing fell head over heels for her, listening to her every word, he would ensure she maintained her current lifestyle.
Because of this, she had dangled HuMing from the very beginning.
The desire for something unattainable is a regret that everyone feels.
Everything had been going well. HuMing had gone to great lengths to please her, even embarrassing himself in school.
The more crazily HuMing chased after her, the more confident she became that her plan would succeed.
Although SuLiu found it rather foolish, she couldn't help but enjoy the sense of power she felt when controlling HuMing.
But she wasn't entirely without limits while manipulating HuMing; everything has a breaking point.
When she learned that HuMing wasn't the biological son of the Han family, her first reaction was increased disdain for him. But soon, she saw it as a golden opportunity.
An opportunity to make HuMing completely dependent on her!
As far as being a Simp went, HuMing was top-tier. Aside from his identity, his attitude towards her was beyond words.
So she aimed to make HuMing a relentless pursuer, much like SunZhe.
Once HuMing learned that he wasn't the Han family's biological child, he would undoubtedly experience a significant emotional shift.
Many people at school were already dissatisfied with HuMing, leading to his alienation and rejection by others.
If she approached him, offered comfort, and showed understanding, HuMing would likely become infatuated with her, viewing her as someone worth pursuing for life.
This was her ultimate plan.
But before the plan even began, it was shattered by an unexpected, glaring twist.
HuMing didn't fall into despair as she had imagined. Instead, he seemed more confident, almost like a completely different person.
He had slipped entirely out of her control.