Yue Qingqing's return to the dorm again drew extra attention from her roommates.
They were afraid something might happen at this critical moment.
The three even insisted that Yue Qingqing not go to the cafeteria, bringing meals back for her every day.
Every day returning to the dorm was like an Underground Party meeting, with secretive, lowered voice discussions.
"I think that girl in the red dress today was quite suspicious; is she watching us?"
"I think the guy in the lamb's wool jacket is more suspicious, he doesn't look like he's from our school."
Listening to their paranoid discussions, Yue Qingqing took the lunchbox from her roommate's hand with amused resignation.
"I'll be on the program in three days; even if someone is watching, let them."
Pan Muling remembered, "Oh right, isn't Qingqing supposed to pick up her family later? Do you need me to come along? I grew up in Beijing and know this area well; if someone really is following, I could direct the driver to avoid them."
"No need; everything's already arranged."
Yue Qingqing didn't want her roommates involved too much, lest they become targets for others.
The Li family's elderly couple had a sort of relentless demeanor, making Yue Qingqing stay vigilant, not shying from considering the worst of them.
"Alright then, if you need anything, just say it; we'll definitely help out."
Pang Muling's words had just fallen when Mi Shu patted her chest and leaned closer to Yue Qingqing, whispering.
"If worse comes to worst, we could..."
Yue Qingqing saw her expression and immediately felt both amused and helpless.
"Let's avoid that unless absolutely necessary."
Never mind that it easily incurs karma to use Curse Techniques freely, China's laws would also constrain their actions.
Otherwise, wouldn't the Supernatural Management Bureau be rendered useless?
Yue Qingqing still hoped to achieve her goals within the bounds of the rules whenever possible.
She didn't fear hassle but wanted to minimize her troubles.
Mi Shu shook her head with a slight feeling of regret, sensing a bit of a missed opportunity.
Otherwise, she could witness Qingqing in action again.
Last time, she only caught a glimpse and noticed a big Realm gap between two people but hadn't gauged the specifics of the difference yet.
At this moment, having returned to the dorm, Lu Zhu habitually opened the computer and smoothly logged onto various forums before speaking.
"There've been quite a few threads discussing Qingqing on our forum recently."
The group crowded around and browsed briefly.
These threads were unlike the ones at the beginning of the semester that smeared Yue Qingqing's reputation; they seemed to support her more on the surface.
"Yue Qingqing seems like a grateful person, unlikely to abandon her adoptive parents and recognize her biological ones."
"I also wonder how the program will clarify things; by the way, reliable sources say Yue Qingqing's biological parents are quite wealthy, but someone like her surely wouldn't recognize her heritage just for that."
Pan Muling quickly caught on, "Wow, they're killing her with praise."
Their minds weren't slow, quickly seeing through the intention of these posts.
It seemed like they were praising Yue Qingqing, yet they deliberately elevated her, portraying her as someone who couldn't be swayed by power or money.
If Yue Qingqing showed even a hint of reconciling with her biological parents, these posts would attack her en masse.
They would claim Yue Qingqing accepted her biological parents out of vanity and a preference for wealth over poverty.
However, if Yue Qingqing stuck to her current stance, refusing to accept her biological family, the mainstream voice would condemn her.
Accusing her of recognizing a thief as a father and being heartless, neglecting filial piety.
It was as if she'd been squeezed into a crack between two doors, damned if she did and damned if she didn't.
The walls on both sides kept closing in, forcing those living in the gap into a predicament, being suffocated by the weight of public opinion.