67: Chapter 67 Zhou Wenying, a Reasonable Person

"Shuangshuang, is this your boyfriend?" a girl wearing glasses asked with dramatic flair.

Qin Shuang cast a shy glance at Jiang Jing and said, "We're still just friends for now..." The implication was obvious.

Jiang Jing smiled in cooperation, reaching out to gently rest his hand on the back of Qin Shuang's chair. This possessive gesture immediately drew a chorus of teasing cheers.

"Hello everyone, I'm Jiang Jing." He introduced himself with poised confidence.

His deep, magnetic voice and polished manner immediately made the hearts of the girls present flutter. Qin Shuang saw this, feeling both proud and slightly jealous. She deliberately leaned closer to Jiang Jing, pretending to straighten his collar, and said, "Your collar is a bit crooked..."

This intimate gesture successfully asserted her dominance, sparking another round of teasing from those around them. Qin Shuang watched with satisfaction as the expressions of several girls who had always competed with her turned sour.

...

Zhou Wenying was sitting in the front row of the Art Academy auditorium with her roommates, idly twirling her chestnut-colored hair around her finger.

The gala was dull, and she let out a small yawn, about to take out her phone to scroll through videos.

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the auditorium.

"Oh my god! Is that the owner of the limited-edition supercar?"

"It really is him! The mysterious wealthy man circulating online!"

"Why did he come with Qin Shuang?"

Zhou Wenying's fingers stiffened abruptly, and a few strands of chestnut hair slipped from her grip.

She turned her head slowly, her gaze cutting through the crowd to land on the striking pair at the entrance.

In that instant, Zhou Wenying felt as if her heart had been tightly gripped by an invisible hand. Qin Shuang held her head slightly high, her red lips curled into a victor's smile, clinging to Jiang Jing in full view of everyone as if declaring ownership to the whole world.

"Wen Ying..." her roommate Lin Yu touched her arm with concern. "Are you okay?"

Zhou Wenying's nails dug unconsciously into her palms, but she quickly put on a perfect smile. "What could possibly be wrong with me?" Her voice was unnaturally light.

The whispers around her slithered into her ears like poisonous snakes:

"Oh my god, when did Qin Shuang hook up with that wealthy man?"

"Now there's a show to watch—two campus beauties fighting over one man!"

"Zhou Wenying must be furious, right? Look at her expression..."

"I told you, it's impossible for a wealthy man to only have one girlfriend, right?"

"Qin Shuang has much more class than Zhou Wenying..."

"But Zhou Wenying has a better figure!"

Zhou Wenying took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax.

She should have expected it; how could a man like Jiang Jing only have one woman by his side? She just hadn't expected it to be Qin Shuang... that piano goddess who always touted herself as an artist.

"Wen Ying, do you want to head back first?" Lin Yu whispered. "Qin Shuang is clearly doing this on purpose..."

Her gaze landed on the hand Qin Shuang had linked with Jiang Jing's arm. On her wrist was a classic Cartier bracelet—costing over three thousand yuan. To an ordinary student, it was a luxury, but to Zhou Wenying, it was nothing more than an entry-level toy.

After all, the diamond necklace she had worn previously was worth over eight million.

Thinking of this, Zhou Wenying suddenly smiled.

That had been the first gift Jiang Jing gave her; what were Qin Shuang's petty tricks compared to that? She was merely trying to use the gala as an opportunity to catch Jiang Jing's attention, while she, Zhou Wenying, was the mistress of a luxury mansion in Yunhai View Mansion.

"Wen Ying, are you okay?" her roommate Zhang Xiaowen looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine." Zhou Wenying blinked, her smile radiant. "Senior Qin Shuang looks really pretty today, don't you think?"

Zhang Xiaowen looked incredulous. "You're not angry? She is..."

"Is what?" Zhou Wenying tilted her head, looking innocent. "Isn't it normal for my brother to know a lot of people?"

The students eavesdropping around them all wore expressions of surprise.

They had expected to see a catfight, but they hadn't expected Zhou Wenying to be so... calm?

Zhou Wenying ignored the probing gazes, lowered her head to take out her phone, and sent a message to Jiang Jing: "Brother, Senior Qin Shuang's dress is so pretty~ (cute emoji)." After sending it, she playfully waved her phone in Jiang Jing's direction.

She saw Jiang Jing feel the phone vibrate, take it out to glance at it, and the corners of his mouth lift slightly.

Although she couldn't see his expression clearly, Zhou Wenying could imagine the amusement in his eyes at that moment.

"Impressive..." Zhang Xiaowen gave a thumbs up. "That level of composure is absolutely unmatched!"

Zhou Wenying smiled without speaking. She wouldn't be like those ignorant little girls who made a scene the moment they saw their man talking to another woman.

A man like Jiang Jing hated restriction and arguments the most. What she needed to do was become that indispensable touch of tenderness in his life.

Before the gala officially began, Qin Shuang had to go backstage to prepare. She stood up reluctantly. "I have to go prepare. You... will listen to my piano playing attentively, right?"

Jiang Jing nodded. "Of course, I'm looking forward to it."

"Next, we invite Qin Shuang from the Music Department to perform Chopin's 'Nocturne' for us!"

The host's announcement came over the loudspeaker. Qin Shuang took a deep breath and walked onto the stage with elegant strides. The spotlight hit her, and the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause.

Qin Shuang sat down at the piano and placed her slender fingers gently on the keys. The whole venue went quiet.

The first note rang out, flowing like a clear spring. Qin Shuang was completely immersed in the music, her fingers dancing gracefully across the black and white keys.

She had practiced this nocturne countless times, and every note was etched into her muscle memory. But tonight, she played with extra devotion, as if she wanted to pour all her emotions into it.

The piano music was at times plaintive and pleading, at others passionate and surging. As the final note faded, leaving a lingering resonance, Qin Shuang slowly opened her eyes and looked straight at Jiang Jing. He was applauding enthusiastically, his eyes shining with admiration. In that moment, Qin Shuang knew her performance was a success.

"Wen Ying, aren't you being too calm?" a girl from a classroom nearby couldn't help but ask. "Qin Shuang is clearly..."

"Showing off her talent?" Zhou Wenying interjected with a sweet smile. "Senior really does play the piano very well." She deliberately raised her voice so everyone around could hear. "I wish I knew how to play the piano; unfortunately, I only know how to dance a few simple dances."

These words drew even more surprised gazes. Who would have thought that Zhou Wenying would publicly praise her "love rival"?

In reality, Zhou Wenying saw things as clearly as a mirror.

Qin Shuang wanted to attract Jiang Jing with her talent, so she would do the opposite and demonstrate her "lack of competitiveness."

Men, after all, wanted what they couldn't have, and grew tired of things that were constantly fought over. What she, Zhou Wenying, needed to do was always be the most sensible girl.