“I am not trying to scare you. This is the truth. Don’t think that college is as simple as before. You can take this as a prelude to the adult world. You can see for yourself what it is like when you graduate and enter the workforce. If you sort out your thoughts, you won’t find it very scary. People who badmouth you are those that are jealous of you.”

  Xu Shengnan patted Qiao Nan on her shoulder, reassuring her.

  Qiao Nan tucked in her chin. She could tell that Xu Shengnan had her best interests. “Vice President Xu, thank you. I will bear your words in mind. I won’t doubt myself because of the rumors that others spread about me. It is good that I don’t stay at the school. Apart from participating in the club’s activities, I will either be in class or at the library. I won’t spend too much time in school and I won’t get to hear many rumors about me.”

  What Xu Shengnan said was very right. She could treat it as a prelude to the adult world.

  Through the conversation with Xu Shengnan, Qiao Nan realized that the school-based first-prize scholarship was important in school.

  Otherwise, she would not be targeted by other students in school and Xu Shengnan would not be so anxious about it and had a talk with her.

  “That’s good.” Xu Shengnan broke into a smile. It was a pity if such an adorable junior was troubled by the rumors and affected her studies. “But I am really surprised by your results. You are amazing.”

  In the past, people who did as well as Qiao Nan came from illustrious families and they knew the higher-ups in school.

  Qiao Nan did not have any relations to the higher-ups, yet she was able to do so well. Xu Shengnan had to hand it to her.

  \r \r \r

  “Perhaps it’s because I have done a lot of exercises and homework. I went through a lot to get a place in college. There was once when I almost couldn’t graduate from junior high school. Going to college is my life’s dream.” Qiao Nan smiled. The reason why she knew so much about college was that she had done her research and it was her life’s dream in her two lifetimes.

  After she had decided on the school that she wanted to enroll in, Qiao Nan was able to read up on Peking University with Shi Qing’s help.

  As a result, Qiao Nan would not waste any of her time trying to adapt to university life. From the moment she entered the college, she had begun to make plans for her entire university school life and she had been implementing them step by step.

  Qiao Nan couldn’t possibly compete with her seniors, but Qiao Nan who had been through two lifetimes was able to compete with her peers since she had already found out everything that she had to know about college life beforehand.

  Xu Shengnan gaped in shock. “What happened that made you almost quit school?” Was her family in dire financial straits? It should not be the case. After all, the country advocated a nine-year compulsory education.

  She had heard a lot of cases where the children did not go to high school as the family could not afford it. But it was rare that one could not graduate from junior high school.

  “Let’s not talk about it. Fortunately, I am a college student now. Anyway, because of this reason, I cherish the chance to continue my studies and to realize the dream of my life.” Qiao Nan smiled as she changed the topic. She did not go into detail. “Since the school-based first-prize scholarship is so important, does it come with any privileges?”

  “Of course!” Xu Shengnan nodded. “If you received this scholarship for another two times, there is a possibility that the school will recommend you for overseas study at a recognized school. Is it amazing? Do you finally understand why I said that other students will target you?”

  Qiao Nan touched her chin. “It truly sounds awesome.” Overseas studies? Full sponsorship?

  Xu Shengnan looked at Qiao Nan with a cunning smile on her face. “I heard that when Zou Wenxuan just entered college, she told her fellow townsmen that her goal was to receive the school-based first-prize scholarship and to secure a chance to go for overseas study with full sponsorship by the school. It was a pity that although she was very active in the club, in the three years at school, she never received the school-based first-prize scholarship. She might have the chance to go on an overseas study, but she will have to fork out the money by herself.”

  Xu Shengnan could not hide her happiness at the fact that her arch-enemy could not fulfill her dreams, while the junior that she favored might have the chance to go on sponsored overseas study.

  It was also because of this that Xu Shengnan was particularly concerned and protective of Qiao Nan. She was worried that Qiao Nan would be timid and easily bullied by others and that she would not be able to maintain her standard and miss the chance of being recommended for the fully sponsored overseas study.

  Qiao Nan lifted the corners of her lips. “Vice President Xu, you should take a look at yourself in the mirror. Your expression seems in need of a spanking. It is no wonder that Senior Zou is at loggerheads with you.” Vice President Xu looked as if she were waiting for Senior Zou to suffer defeat so that she could gloat at her. One could not help but want to give her a bashing.

  “Hahaha. Truths are harsh. However, as a senior, I will not take issue with you.” Xu Shengnan smiled brazenly, pinching Qiao Nan’s cheek. “Qiao Nan, it has only been a year. Did your parents feed you with elixirs? Why is it that you have rosy cheeks and you look wonderful?”

  In the past, Qiao Nan looked healthy as well. However, she seemed to be different now.

  Before the Lunar New Year, Qiao Nan seemed like a pear blossom, looking fresh and elegant.

  After the Lunar New Year, Qiao Nan seemed like a peach blossom, looking brilliantly bright and mesmerizing!

  “Qiao Nan, did you go through another round of puberty? Look at those eyes of yours. They are sparkling and full of life. Did you put eye drops?” Xu Shengnan was straightforward. She would not beat about the bush.

  She did not have any dating experience. She sensed that Qiao Nan seemed to have become more beautiful and her temperament seemed to be different than before. But she could not tell what the exact change in her was.

  In the past, when Qiao Nan stared at her, she felt as if she had drunk from the mountain spring. It was sweet and fresh. Now, one look from Qiao Nan, and she felt as if she had downed a bottle of top quality vintage wine. She felt giddy and drunk.

  Other than that, she also felt numb to the bones.

  “Qiao Nan, this won’t do. Are you not content to be the faculty belle? Do you want to be the new campus belle? Tell me honestly. Before you came to college, how many love letters did you receive? How many boys confessed their love to you?”

  She could not stand Zou Wenxuan’s refined and gentle mannerisms, but it was odd that the more she looked at Qiao Nan, the more adorable she was.

  She was a woman. However, she would feel numb to the bones if Qiao Nan gazed at her. If that was the case, all the boys must have turned into besotted fools when they were around Qiao Nan.

  Qiao Nan slapped Xu Shengnan’s hands away. “I am sorry to tell you that since a young age, I do not have many suitors.” In fact, she did not have many suitors in her two lifetimes.

  “Do you mean that no one has confessed their love to you? How is that possible? Are all the students in Peking University blind?” Xu Shengnan had a look of disbelief on her face. “Qiao Nan, are you too embarrassed to tell me? Are you lying to me?”