On the day they returned to Wuzhen, Jiang Sui and Su Qing were no longer seated next to each other; the boy sat quite a distance away.
However, Su Qing and Tian Shasha happened to share a seat.
Since they weren't familiar with each other, Su Qing remained silent and didn't exchange much. The girl, still wearing her school uniform, had her phone turned off and put away.
"Su Qing, why aren't you sitting with Jiang Sui anymore? Do you need me to change seats?"
Whether intentionally or not, Tian Shasha, after putting her bag in the luggage compartment, rested her hand on the airplane seat and looked at her. Out of Su Qing's sight, a flicker of resentment crossed her eyes, reminiscing about the day they'd attended to the exam together.
Su Qing frowned slightly and leaned back in her chair.
"I'm not familiar with him." Perhaps this wording wasn't very good, Su Qing pursed her lips and added, "The teacher said we're not allowed to change seats randomly."
She placed her hands on the table and pulled out a magazine from the backrest of the seat in front of her.
Tian Shasha wasn't expecting Su Qing to react like this, and she didn't get the answer she wanted.
She adjusted her glasses, sat down, and looked at Su Qing with a quiet, curious voice.
"Su Qing, were you dumped?"
Seeing she wasn't moved, she continued.
"I told you, don't be sad. This is normal."
Su Qing bit her lip absentmindedly, closing the magazine in her hand. She opened her beautiful eyes, usually lowered, and gazed at Tian Shasha, her clear pupils, free of any trace of impurity.
"I don't know you well, and I don't know how I've offended you. Asking such private questions of someone you don't know well is extremely rude. What do you think?"
The girl's voice was always soft and tender. Even though it was clear and coherent, it still sounded a little childish, making it less threatening.
There was no confrontation, only a gentle acknowledgement.
No girl her age would say such words to someone she wasn't familiar with, but those eyes were so bright that Tian Shasha flinched for a moment, her cheeks flushed with shame and indignation, and she looked at Su Qing with a hint of anger.
"I'm just being kind..."
She wanted to refute her forcefully, but she didn't want to draw attention to herself. Her voice was filled with uncontrollable anger.
Before she finished her words, the corners of Su Qing's lips twitched slightly, almost sarcastic, but the slightest hint of a sweet smile seemed to linger.
"No need, thank you."
She turned away, saying nothing more. Her fair face was cold, buried in her collar, making it difficult to see.
Tian Shasha stopped trying to be ridiculous and simply glared at Su Qing.
She pulled out her phone and, before the plane took off, quickly typed a text message.
[Confirmed they've broken up. They didn't sit together or talk on the plane today.]
Then, with a shudder of fear, she quickly deleted the message and turned off her phone.
She turned her head to focus on Su Qing.
Her washed-out jeans betrayed her modest background. The girl's head was tucked into the baggy school uniform, a small ball. Her long, smooth, dark hair was tied in a ponytail, and her nonchalant demeanor seemed so artificial to Tian Shasha.
It seemed like this was how she caught the attention of her beloved boy, wasn't it?
If he didn't like her, how could he possibly like Su Qing?
Tian Shasha curled her fingers, her face twisted for a moment before returning to normal.
If Su Qing hadn't come, he probably wouldn't have liked anyone.
It was all this transfer student's fault; she had completely diverted the boy's attention!
Coincidentally: They weren't sitting next to each other anymore.
Coincidentally: They were sitting next to each other.