Lin Xiaoxiao didn't give Lin Hongyan a second thought. Back when she was pregnant, she'd been cautious—worried about being pushed or tripped by people like her. But now that the baby was born, handling someone like Lin Hongyan was no trouble at all.

Besides, without Cheng Mingyue feeding her bad ideas, a not-so-bright person like Lin Hongyan couldn't possibly cause much trouble. If anything, she'd probably end up sabotaging herself.

So Lin Xiaoxiao simply ignored her and carried An'an toward the small square for a walk.

When Li Jing, who'd been chatting nearby, spotted Lin Xiaoxiao, her face lit up. "Xiaoxiao! Out for a walk with the baby? We don't see you around much."

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled. "I've been busy. My mother-in-law usually brings the children out."

Li Jing seemed to want to hold the baby but held back, wiping her hands nervously on her clothes before simply smiling at An'an. "What a beautiful little girl. She takes after her mother—such a pretty face."

Lin Xiaoxiao stayed polite. She didn't dislike Li Jing, but she wasn't exactly fond of her either.

Their relationship was still distant, and she understood that everyone looked out for themselves first.

After a moment, Li Jing lowered her voice. "You know, your mother... she never appreciated having a daughter like you. Now she's paying for it. Your stepfather wants a divorce. He didn't even come in person—just sent a letter."

Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't heard about that, though she couldn't say Cheng Mingyue didn't deserve it. Still, she didn't feel comfortable criticizing her in front of Li Jing.

Luckily, Li Jing changed the subject. "Your uncle is going to the provincial capital to see your grandfather soon. Is there anything you'd like him to bring? Your grandfather had two daughters, you know. The other one... well, she went missing years ago. It's very sad."

That was news to Lin Xiaoxiao—even the original owner of this body had no memory of an aunt.

"I didn't know that."

Li Jing waved a hand. "How could you? She disappeared before you were born."

Sensing Li Jing didn't want to elaborate, Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. "I'll buy some fabric for my grandfather and ask my uncle to deliver it."

Even if Cheng Mingyue was awful, Old Master Cheng had always been kind to her—genuinely caring in his own way.

It made her wonder again: why had Cheng Mingyue married her off to Zhou Huaian? Was it really just for that two thousand yuan?

Li Jing beamed when Lin Xiaoxiao referred to Cheng Mingzhong as "uncle." "I'll let him know. And if you ever need anything—mending, sewing—just come find me. I may not be good for much, but I'm handy with a needle and thread."

Lin Xiaoxiao thanked her and chatted a bit longer before heading home with the baby.

Feeling pleased with herself, Li Jing returned to her circle of friends. "My niece—my husband's niece, that is—she's really something. Pretty, a college student, and not a hint of arrogance."

She smiled broadly, clearly proud to be associated with Lin Xiaoxiao.

The others offered polite compliments, and Li Jing accepted them all happily, whether they were sincere or not.

As finals approached, Lin Xiaoxiao spent more time studying in the library. One evening, she noticed Meng Xiaona sneaking out with her books like a thief.

She didn't think much of it, but Zhang Wanqing, sitting beside her, smirked. "Do you know where she's going?"

Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head.

Zhang Wanqing leaned closer, whispering, "The Guanghua School brought in foreign teachers to tutor students who are weak in English. She's going to crash their class."

Surprised, Lin Xiaoxiao asked, "How do you know that? You always leave school early, just like me."

Zhang Wanqing hardly ever socialized with anyone else.

There was something intriguing about her—aloof and prickly to strangers, but unexpectedly straightforward and almost childlike once you got to know her.

Zhang Wanqing smiled mysteriously. "I have my sources. So you're really not going for that study-abroad spot?"

"No. What about you? Haven't you considered it?"

Zhang Wanqing sighed. "First, my English isn't good enough. Second... I like Beijing. I don't really want to leave."

Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. "See? We feel the same. Besides, if you're not interested, why keep encouraging me?"

Zhang Wanqing's eyes twinkled. "Because I think you're really talented. Studying abroad could make you even more impressive. But I get it—you have kids. It's probably not possible."

As they chatted, Lin Xiaoxiao realized how out of touch she'd been with campus life. Zhang

Wanqing seemed to know everything—which teachers stayed up late tutoring struggling students, which foreign teachers held free English corners, even who had a crush on whom.

"How do you know all this?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked, impressed. "You're like a walking news bulletin."

Zhang Wanqing grinned. "People talk about you too, you know. They say you're the prettiest girl in our department—too bad you're married. They think since you moved here from the countryside, your husband must be old and ugly. Maybe even abusive—especially since you used to come to class with red eyes."

Lin Xiaoxiao stared at her, shocked. People thought Zhou Huaian was old and ugly? That she was unhappy?

She muttered under her breath, "My husband is not ugly. And what's the point of just being good-looking? He's more capable than all the other male students combined."

Zhang Wanqing giggled. "I didn't think you had bad taste. Just don't take the gossip seriously."

"No," Lin Xiaoxiao said firmly. "If I hear anyone say that, I'll set them straight."

Meanwhile, Meng Xiaona received a letter from home urging her to return for the summer. The overseas Chinese couple she'd heard about were finally coming back, and her family wanted her to meet them—for the "exposure."

After reading the letter carefully, Meng Xiaona felt a thrill of excitement. But then she remembered how much Lin Xiaoxiao resembled the wife in that couple, and her excitement soured.

She didn't like Lin Xiaoxiao, so how could she possibly like someone who looked just like her?