Meanwhile, idle gossip was rapidly spreading to every corner of the campus. This wave of rumors naturally reached the ears of his ex-girlfriend, Su Yao.
Su Yao had originally thought she was completely done with Ling Xiao. Having hooked up with the wealthy heir Lin Yu, she had begun enjoying a life of luxury. She assumed that after taking such a blow, Ling Xiao would fall apart completely and never show his face in her life again.
Yet when she heard the rumors sweeping the school—that Ling Xiao had completely transformed and become the campus's focal point—Su Yao couldn't help freezing in surprise. She instinctively thought of the boy she had once stabbed in the back, the boy who had once worked so hard for the sake of love.
A sliver of curiosity welled up in Su Yao's heart, and she decided to go see for herself. When she caught a glimpse of Ling Xiao by chance in the school hallway, she froze once more. The boy before her was no longer the ordinary, irritating, and tedious fellow she had grown so tired of; he was a handsome young man radiating confidence from head to toe.
Ling Xiao's facial features had grown more refined, and his gaze was deeper and brighter, as if some mysterious power were pulling people's eyes toward him. Every movement he made exuded an elegant charm that could easily leave anyone captivated.
Su Yao's heart began racing uncontrollably. Watching this seemingly reborn Ling Xiao, a storm of mixed emotions churned inside her. She had no idea what was going on, nor what kind of person Ling Xiao had turned into. But one thing was certain: this boy she had once hurt was no longer the familiar person she used to know.
After a moment of hesitation, Su Yao finally mustered her courage and slowly walked toward Ling Xiao, determined to get to the bottom of it all...
Su Yao's footsteps drew slowly closer to Ling Xiao, every step feeling as though she were treading upon her own increasingly chaotic heart. The surrounding clamor seemed to vanish entirely in that instant, leaving her world populated only by this Ling Xiao, who looked nothing like the one in her memories.
Her eyes widened further. The gaze that had once carried a hint of arrogance born of affluence and pride now held a trace of undisguised shock and doubt. The Ling Xiao she had once dated, while passable in looks and possessed of a raw, youthful handsomeness, had back then been nothing more than an ordinary nobody utterly devoid of any dazzling aura.
Perhaps a major reason she chose to be with him in the past had been his total obedience to her every whim and his willingness to fulfill her every demand. In her eyes, Ling Xiao was like a doll; whenever she wanted something, he would hand it over without the slightest hesitation. Furthermore, at that age, his vaguely handsome face did genuinely attract her to a certain extent. Whenever the two of them walked across campus, Ling Xiao's dashing figure would always draw sidelong glances from other girls, giving her a small sense of satisfaction.
Yet the Ling Xiao before her now looked like a prince who had just stepped out of a fairy tale. His face was like finely carved jade, every curve proportioned to absolute perfection. Beneath a high bridge of his nose, the slightly upturned corners of his mouth carried a confident yet restrained smile, as though all the troubles of the world could never touch him. His eyes were deep and bright, like the most dazzling stars in the night sky, carrying a worldly-wise sagacity within their depths. His once somewhat ordinary physique now appeared taller and more slender, every movement fluid and graceful, as if imbued with a birthright nobility.
Su Yao stood there in a daze, her mind completely blank. She couldn't for the life of her understand how this former "poor boy" could undergo such a heaven-shaking transformation overnight. The change was so massive that she could hardly believe her own eyes.
She instinctively shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. After that brief wave of dizziness, the pressure of reality ruthlessly crashed back into her mind.
"What a pity he still has no money," Su Yao muttered with a slight, self-mocking upturn of her lips. "No matter how handsome you are, what good does it do? Handsome looks can't buy you meals." Her voice echoed through the quiet hallway, seemingly venting the helplessness buried deep in her heart.
She thought of Lin Yu. While Lin Yu wasn't exceptionally striking—possessing only an ordinary face with a slight air of wealth—his family had money. That endless fortune was like a towering mountain, out of reach yet undeniably heavy enough to be felt. Being with him meant she didn't have to worry about money or life's twists and turns. Whatever she wanted, Lin Yu could always provide with ease.
"Just like how it used to be, when Ling Xiao treated me so well and willingly gave everything for my sake." A flash of complex emotion crossed Su Yao's eyes. "Yet reality is reality after all. What I need is a haven that can give me a sense of security, not just pure affection."
Images of her days with Lin Yu surfaced in her mind: the luxurious lifestyle, the dazzling gifts, the carefree shopping experiences. Every single scene was like a knife, piercing deeply into her heart while simultaneously filling her with boundless satisfaction and peace of mind.
"Besides, Lin Yu's family background is something I value a great deal." Su Yao lifted her chin slightly, her tone tinged with a sense of superiority. "With his backing, I won't have to worry about a thing in the future. As for Ling Xiao, even if he's become this handsome now, what can he actually bring me? Aside from an uncertain future, he can give me nothing."
Cruel though Su Yao's words were, they reflected her true inner thoughts. In this materialistic world, money and status seemed to have become the yardsticks for everything. She, too, had once yearned for pure love, but faced with the temptations of reality, she had ultimately chosen a more stable and affluent life.
Yet even when her reason told her she must not waver, ripples still involuntarily stirred deep within her heart. Looking at the confident and charming Ling Xiao before her, her heart began beating out of her control. That long-lost sensation of a fluttering heart left her feeling both thrilled and terrified.
Su Yao took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. She told herself she could no longer be swayed by past feelings; she had already made her choice and could never turn back.