Not only Shen Lanzhi, but Qi Meyan also looked at me with much greater depth. Beyond simple appreciation, there was something else hidden in his eyes—likely confusion.
Although he hadn't loved the original Xiao Xi, he had spent enough time with her to know her nature: kind, yet weak. She had been a flower raised in a greenhouse by the Xiao couple, possessing nothing but a pretty face and lacking any other remarkable qualities. Her parents had only ever wanted her to be safe and healthy, never pressuring her or pushing her to excel.
Yet, I was standing out frequently, my personality a far cry from the original’s. I didn't want to be too high-profile, but when faced with others trying to trample me, I had to defend myself, and in doing so, my edges would inevitably show.
Chapter 176