Chapter 26: Mistaken for Being Aloof Again

"Military training seems to last half a month. Have you guys stocked up on sunscreen?"

"Sunscreen's the least of our worries. They only gave us one set of training uniforms—no spares."

"That's nothing. Wearing two layers in 36-degree weather is what's really killing me."

"Just don't wear an undershirt."

"The material's too rough. No undershirt, and it'll chafe like crazy."

"Use Band-Aids. I just bought a box today—anyone want some?"

"I do, I do! Two's enough for me."

"I'll take four. Gotta make an X-shape."

In Room 503 of Building 7 in the dorm area, five girls from all corners of the country gathered, sharing tips on surviving military training. But every few sentences, their eyes would sneak a glance toward Bed 3.

Sitting there was a girl who didn't quite fit in. She had delicate, beautiful features, thick, curled lashes, and skin so flawless it seemed it could break with a puff of air. The stuffy indoor heat brought a faint flush to her cheeks, adding a touch of vulnerability to her charm.

On top of that, she was wearing a black dress—clearly a new summer piece from Chanel.

Girls love to compare themselves to each other, even among best friends. No one wants to lose out. That's why the world's ninth wonder exists: six girls forming 42 different friend groups. But faced with this girl, the other five in the room felt an overwhelming pressure.

How could someone have such a gorgeous face?

And the key thing was, she seemed like a rich heiress. Why else would she have bodyguards?

At that thought, they couldn't help but recall the scene from earlier.

Two bodyguards in black suits had pushed the door open—one carrying a suitcase, the other holding a thermos and a washbasin. They called out "Miss, be careful" and "Miss, you've worked hard," then quickly swept through the entire dorm, cleaning it spotless.

Fan Shuling had been the first to arrive and noticed the bathroom was clogged. Before they could even report it to the dorm manager, those two bodyguards had already fixed it. They even tied a bow on the radiator pipe with toilet paper—an absurdly ceremonial touch that was just over the top.

Thanks to this grand entrance, Feng Nanshu, glowing with an aura of her own, instantly added a heavy sense of pressure to the tiny Room 503.

It wasn't until 4:30 p.m. when this heiress suddenly stood up and left the dorm that the five girls finally let out a collective sigh of relief, the weight on their chests lifting a little.

"She's Feng Nanshu, right? So aloof."

"Yeah, she seems really hard to approach…"

"Honestly, I'd rather not live with a rich girl like her. What if we have to tiptoe around her for four years?"

"Shuling, keep it down. She might not be far yet."

Feng Nanshu, standing just outside the door, tilted her head to listen for a moment. Her lips pressed together, her lashes trembled slightly, and after a long silence, she turned and headed downstairs.

By now, more than a dozen boys had gathered in front of the girls' dorm. Some fiddled with their phones, others doodled circles in the dirt out of boredom. The moment Feng Nanshu stepped out, they swarmed over like a pack of wannabe cool guys.

Certain sleazy upperclassmen were just like this—hopeless with girls normally, but the second new students arrived, they turned into shameless flirts, acting like a couple extra years gave them some kind of glow.

Especially with someone like Feng Nanshu, whose beauty was unforgettable at a glance, she naturally became a target for many.

"Junior, I'm the one who gave you directions earlier. Remember me? Can we add each other on QQ?"

"Junior, I'm the head of the dorm management team. Leave me your contact info—hit me up if you need anything!"

"I'm from the student council. Want to join, junior?"

"Junior, you haven't explored the campus yet, right? Our university has a long history. Let me show you around!"

Feng Nanshu took a step back, her brows furrowing, hands gripping the strap of her crossbody bag tightly, her eyes brimming with wariness.

Just then, a figure pushed through the crowd, swiftly and naturally stepping in front of her, shielding her behind him.

The little heiress was still dazed and started to pull away, but when she saw who it was, she immediately relaxed.

The surrounding boys couldn't help but frown.

Who's this guy? Doesn't he know first-come, first-served? I haven't even gotten her QQ yet, and you're already swooping in?

"Want to add her on QQ? Here, add mine instead!"

Jiang Qin whipped out his Nokia and grabbed the guy at the front. "Every single one of you, add me! Damn it, harassing a junior right after she arrives? None of you are getting away!"

The boys around him froze at his words, their faces shifting, before scattering in a chaotic rush.

"What kind of trash upperclassmen are you? Couldn't get a date as freshmen, and now you think you're hot stuff in your second and third years? You think the juniors can't see how pathetic you are?"

The sulky upperclassmen who hadn't gotten far felt their egos stabbed. Their dignity shattered, they turned back to glare at him fiercely. But to Jiang Qin, it was nothing more than a weak show of bravado.

"What are you staring at? I don't hide my name or change my title—I'm Li Dazhuang, freshman from the Foreign Trade Academy. Come find me in my dorm if you've got the guts!"

Jiang Qin spat out "cowards" before turning to Feng Nanshu. He noticed her eyes were downcast, her mood clearly low.

"Why aren't you happy?"

Feng Nanshu looked up, her expression heavy. "It's the people in my dorm. They said I'm aloof."

Jiang Qin nodded in understanding but found it odd. "Didn't you smile?"

Feng Nanshu's brows creased as she thought hard for a moment. "I did smile—a sweet one—but it's weird. I don't know what I did wrong."

"Show me a smile."

"Hee."

Feng Nanshu blinked lightly, her delicate lashes curling upward. Her stunning eyes reflected the fiery red of the dusk sky, her exquisite face soft yet cool. Jiang Qin stared, momentarily stunned, unable to look away.

When he snapped out of it, he realized this was a perfect, textbook fake smile—skin deep, no warmth. He felt a headache coming on.

You call that sweet?

But though the smile wasn't sweet, it shouldn't have made Feng Nanshu feel isolated. Her ability to read the room had always been slow. Unless her roommates were blatantly obvious, she wouldn't feel down about it.

"Alright, tell me everything from the start—beginning with when you got to school."

So, Feng Nanshu recounted her arrival in her cool, detached tone.

After hearing her story, Jiang Qin's mouth twitched uncontrollably. What a pretentious entrance. Bodyguards paving the way, cleaning the dorm, unclogging the toilet—if that happened in our dorm, Cao Guangyu would've died of shock. No wonder people think you're aloof.

Girl dynamics were way more complicated than guys'. Even the tiniest speck of a conflict could fester and grow in their hearts. Without knowing the full story, Jiang Qin didn't want to say much, so he decided to find a place to talk it out properly.

"Come on, let's get you some food first."

"What are we eating?"

Jiang Qin took a few steps. "Why do you perk up the second I mention food?"

Feng Nanshu dodged the question, her little steps pattering as she followed him. "Those boys just now—can I be friends with them?"

"No way!"

"Why not?"

"Because men are no good!"

"But you're a man too."

"Except me."