Gu Qili recited the article she read this afternoon several times until she knew it by heart. So-called top students, it’s just a mix of innate talent and a lot more hard work.
The huge wooden clock above the hotel struck eight o’clock on the dot.
She looked towards the exit but didn’t see Mu Shuoqian coming out; perhaps he was delayed by a client. Being a bit early or late was very common, and she didn’t mind waiting a few extra minutes. Just as she was about to put on her headphones, two familiar figures suddenly leapt into her line of sight.
People she didn’t want to see.
Gu Qili quickly turned around pretending not to see them, but the people over there had already recognized her from afar and were shouting her name.
Unable to keep up the act, Gu Qili could only look at them expressionlessly as they approached. Her gaze grew even colder when she met that familiar gaze.
"Qiqi," Hu Jiaojiao greeted her with warmth as if nothing had happened.
Gu Qili couldn’t be as nonchalant as her; the Hu Jiaojiao she now faced wasn’t the one she knew before, or rather, she had never truly understood this "good friend."
Facing her obviously distant demeanor, Hu Jiaojiao appeared to be deeply wronged, her tear-filled eyes quickly beginning to brim with tears, displaying an incredibly fast speed at shedding them.
"Well, if it isn’t the young miss of the Gu Family?" Deng Feifei arrogantly lifted her arched brows, the mole between them becoming more animated as she moved her face.
Gu Qili remembered how, years ago when the Gu Family was flourishing, Deng Feifei used to follow her around at school, calling her "Sister Qi" and scheming to gain entry into high society through her connections. When she failed several times, she spread rumors about her, and it nearly came to blows over a guy who had a crush on Gu Qili that Deng Feifei liked.
Gu Qili was particularly annoyed by her back then, often commiserating with Hu Jiaojiao about her, and they even privately nicknamed her "Mole Sister." Hu Jiaojiao, as if afraid she would steal away Gu Qili, acted like a sworn enemy each time they met.
Who would have thought fortunes would change? Deng Feifei’s father made a name for himself in the industry and squeezed into the bottom ranks of high society. At Australian University, Deng Feifei became someone of note, with many girls fawning over her, including Hu Jiaojiao amidst this crowd.
Gu Qili wanted to laugh. Hu Jiaojiao must have been aware of her past bitter relationship with Deng Feifei, yet there they were in front of her, arms tightly intertwined, even carrying the same brand of "best friend" bags – the scenario was ineffably ironic.
Hu Jiaojiao knew very well how to win people over, Gu Qili was clear on that. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel※fire.net
Not wanting to entangle with them, Gu Qili turned to leave, only to have her clothing yanked firmly.
How could Deng Feifei miss such a golden opportunity to humiliate her? Finally, she had risen high enough to look down upon the young miss of the Gu Family from her perch.
"Gu Qili, I heard you’ve been going out to sell yourself, tsk tsk, quite the choice of location, knowing that everyone who enters and leaves the Casino Lisboa is rich."
Gu Qili glanced at Hu Jiaojiao, who looked down with reddened eyes.
Deng Feifei had signed with a talent agency and started acting in movies, gaining some fame recently. She seldom appeared in school now, so there’s only one reason she could know about this—Hu Jiaojiao told her.
"Funny coincidence, I also heard that you got movie roles because you slept your way from the director’s team to the prop crew, not even sparing the ones selling boxed lunches. We’re pretty much the same."
"You..." Deng Feifei’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, "Nonsense!"
Gu Qili was indeed talking nonsense, having often heard Mickey discuss gossip about how some actresses climbed the ladder by following the so-called casting couch path, and considering Deng Feifei’s acting skills and character, it was likely she took that "shortcut."
"Qiqi, you can’t slander Fei’er like that," Hu Jiaojiao finally couldn’t hold back and stood up for justice, looking particularly imposing.