The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

As if finding an outlet, Fu Chaochao immediately threw herself into Su Yurou's arms.

She hugged her arm, her voice choked with sobs and a hint of coquetry: "Mom... my piano teacher criticized me today, saying I wasn't focused and didn't play well."

She buried her head in Su Yurou's shoulder, her voice filled with sadness.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, I just can't calm down. I keep thinking about all sorts of random things. Mom, am I useless? I can't do anything right..."

She never mentioned that she was distracted because she was jealous of Fu Hua's academic progress or because she was worried about losing her position at home.

The reason was vaguely attributed to "not being able to calm down" and "thinking about random things," cleverly guiding Su Yurou's associations.

Su Yurou was indeed heartbroken and quickly patted her back to comfort her: "Silly child, how could you be useless? You are your mother's most beloved daughter."

If you get tired from practicing the piano, take a couple of days off and don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Don't think about those messy things, Mom's here.

Seeing her adopted daughter's vulnerable state, the scales in her heart unconsciously tipped again.

She felt that Chaochao needed her care and love more.

Feeling her mother's tenderness, Fu Chaochao smiled with a triumphant smile from an angle her mother couldn't see.

She knew that as long as she acted "vulnerable" and "dependent" enough,

Her mother will always be her fortress.

She relished this special favor and continued to coax Su Yurou in her soft, nasal voice, "Mmm... Mom is the best. I will definitely try my best to adjust in the future and not let Mom down."

The school bell had long since rung, and the noisy campus gradually returned to tranquility.

In the classroom of Class 6, Grade 11, only Fu Hua and Zhang Wen remained.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, bathing the desks in a warm orange hue.

Fu Hua was holding a pen, clearly working out a math problem on a piece of scrap paper.

He patiently explained it to Zhang Wen, who was scratching her head in frustration.

"So, the key here is to construct auxiliary lines. You see, after connecting these two points, this complex figure is broken down into two familiar models..."

Her voice was steady and clear, like a mountain stream.

Zhang Wen frowned, trying hard to understand, her forehead almost sweating with anxiety.

Just then, the back door of the classroom was pushed open, and Chen Zhe poked his head in.

With a smile plastered on his face, he said, "Oh, you two beauties are still studying hard? How about we go to the convenience store to buy some snacks? It's on me!"

Zhang Wen was frustrated by the questions and waved her hand without turning her head.

Like shooing away flies: "Go away! Chen Zhe, stop causing trouble here. Can't you see we're busy pursuing progress? Get out of here."

Chen Zhe was rebuffed and awkwardly touched his nose.

He glanced at Fu Hua, who never looked up, and finally closed the door and left dejectedly.

Having driven away the "source of interference," Zhang Wen immediately slumped onto the table as if she had no bones left.

She wailed, "Huahua, let's rest for a bit. My brain's practically turned to mush. How about we go buy a cream popsicle? It's on me!"

She tried to lure Fu Hua with food: "You don't like cream popsicles, so how about I treat you to noodles with soybean paste?"

Fu Hua didn't even lift her eyelids; she lightly tapped the draft paper with the tip of her pen.

His tone left no room for argument: "Understand all three solutions to this problem first. You can't make a cream popsicle or a noodle soup with soybean paste go anywhere, but if knowledge doesn't go into your brain, it's truly gone."

Zhang Wen gave her a resentful look, then resignedly sat up straight again.

Muttering to herself, "Sigh, if only studying were as easy as liking Lin Bei..."

The mere mention of Lin Bei seemed to energize her instantly, her eyes lighting up.

She started counting on her fingers: "Huahua, how come Lin Bei is so perfect? ​​He always puts academics first, he looks incredibly cool playing basketball, and I heard he comes from a good family too..."

She might be a bit cold to people, but that's called having personality! She's practically my dream girl!

A lovesick girl!

Listening to her endless ramblings, Fu Hua finally put down her pen.

Looking up at Zhang Wen's hopeful eyes, he gently shook his head.

His tone was calm, yet carried a clarity beyond his years:

"Wenwen, no matter how glamorous a man's appearance is or how privileged his family background is, that's his own business."

He can be very good, but that has no direct relation to whether we ourselves are good enough.

She paused, looked sharply at her friend, and said, word by word, "Placing your hopes and dreams on another person is the most unreliable thing you can do."

What others give you can be taken back at any time. Only the knowledge, skills, and money you earn yourself are the true source of confidence that no one can ever take away.

No matter how good Lin Bei is, he is still Lin Bei.

Our first task is to become a better Zhang Wen, a better Fu Hua.

When you shine brightly enough, you'll find that the world is far more expansive than revolving around a single man.

Her words were like a gentle breeze, dispelling the mist in Zhang Wen's eyes.

It was like a small pebble thrown into the heart of someone who happened to pass by outside the door, stirring up huge ripples.

Outside the classroom, Lin Bei was just passing by, on his way to the library to retrieve a reference book he had left behind.

He overheard a discussion about himself coming from inside, and instinctively stopped in his tracks.

He wanted to leave immediately to avoid embarrassment, but Fu Hua's clear and calm words kept him rooted to the spot.

He heard Zhang Wen's superficial admiration for him, and he also heard Fu Hua's core point: "No matter how good a man is, he's never as good as yourself."

And then there's the subsequent discussion about "self-confidence".

He had never heard these words before.

If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, it wouldn't have sounded like something a girl that age would say.

Lin Bei's heart was deeply shaken.

From childhood to adulthood, he had heard countless praises and admiration, whether direct or subtle. The girls looked at him for nothing more than his grades, appearance, and family background.

He had long been used to it, even somewhat indifferent.

But at that moment, that cold voice in the classroom was like a bolt of lightning, shattering the superficial aura surrounding him.

She wasn't feigning superiority; her tone was calm and resolute.

It carries a kind of insightful understanding of the world.

She completely shed the labels that others had given him.

To get straight to the point—an individual's value lies within themselves.

This independent, clear-headed, and even "arrogant" attitude,

It was something he had never seen in any girl his age, or even in many others.

An indescribable feeling welled up inside me.

Not offended, but...impressed.

And a strong urge to truly get to know this girl.

It turns out that the quiet, gentle girl actually had such sharp and captivating edges hidden inside.

His heart felt as if it had been lightly tickled by a feather.

A strange yet clear sense of excitement arose within me.

He stood there, silent for a few seconds, but ultimately neither pushed open the door nor left.

I listened quietly for a while longer as the explanation began inside, then quietly turned and left.

His steps were heavier and slower than when he came.

The phrase kept echoing in my mind: "Only the knowledge, skills, and money you have mastered yourself can give you the confidence that no one can ever take away."