I cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Dao on Earth

"I……"

When Shangyin revealed the reason deep in Xu Xiu's heart, Xu Xiu frowned deeply, unsure how to respond.

"Hmm, you don't need to answer me. I knew this from the beginning, so there's nothing to complain about..."

"After all, compared to junior high, entering your social circle in high school and being considered a friend by you has elevated my 'status' at school significantly. I no longer have to worry about being bullied..."

"...That's why I've always been very grateful to you."

"But although it was initially for Su Xu's sake, later I genuinely cared for you all..."

Xu Xiufa let out a cry that was almost a wail, but what followed was Shang Yin's merciless, ear-piercing laughter, completely different from her usual demeanor:

"Haha, finally we're talking about Su Xu? I almost forgot about him..."

"To be honest, although I knew from the beginning that you were only trying to expand your social circle because of him, I still felt a little relieved..."

"...Because, he's different from you, he's not that kind of celebrity...Although he's good-looking, he's not like a 'star' in the crowd, so I've always prayed and hoped that I could at least find a boyfriend better than him in the future..."

"...That way, I can at least surpass you in some aspect..."

"...But I was wrong!"

"I'm already in despair after just the first monthly exam since the start of the semester..."

"I never imagined that his grades would be so good, and then there were his subsequent performances... That's when I realized that Su Xu was actually one of the top students that only appears once every few years in the entire Third High School!"

"And I later heard that you two were childhood sweethearts, always taking care of each other... My goodness, what a beautiful story! It's just like a prince and princess in a novel!"

"...As expected! The protagonist's spouse can only be the protagonist..."

"...Only one other star can stand shoulder to shoulder with a star!"

"But at the same time, I also felt relieved."

"I've decided to dutifully take on the role of a 'supporting character' in this story, and I've decided to play the role of a 'planet' alongside you, Xu Xiu, this star."

"...So I never do anything out of line, and I always behave as you expect..."

"For example, that... that 'what if you only had one day left to live' question, that question was actually used to test MBTI, I knew that from the beginning—"

"...But the answer I gave was exactly what you guessed, Xu Xiu. It sounded like a silly, cute, and compassionate little girl, right? In that case, my MBTI should be... INFJ?"

"...Oh right, and also, every time I interacted with Jiang Wanren, you just watched us and gave a wry smile..."

"But most of the time, you don't react much. You just look down on us from a high position and complain about me in your heart... Do you think I didn't notice?"

"...Actually, you're enjoying it too, aren't you? Otherwise, why do you always look speechless but don't stop it?"

"That's true..."

"Because you know, no matter how we interact, how we argue, or how much of a bickering couple we are, we'll never be as in sync and natural as you and Su Xu, as 'a perfect match,' as 'a match made in heaven'..."

"So, this is a pair of idiots who make you feel incredibly safe and secure, who make you feel completely harmless, who accentuate your central position, and who you can see right through in every single thing they say to each other, right?!"

The malice in Shangyin's voice grew stronger and stronger.

Xu Xiu felt as if her lungs were in an ice cellar.

"You... Shangyin, have you been performing all this time?!"

"Performance...maybe it counts."

The girl giggled.

Amidst the maniacal laughter, Xu Xiu did not turn around, but instead shifted her gaze to Jiang Wanren in front of her.

"It seems I was wrong from the start."

"So it turns out that in this [back room]... the one who really went crazy wasn't you, but Shangyin."

"But why did you go with her...?"

Jiang Wanren carried the iron pipe, and for some reason, the bloodshot in his eyes had disappeared. He looked like an ordinary teenager who liked to joke around.

He shrugged.

"There's no particular reason. It's just... remember what I mentioned before...?"

"...'I was attacked in the toilet by several classmates in junior high school.'"

"But what I didn't mention earlier is that the reason I was attacked back then was because some girls in my class said some nasty things to Shangyin, so I grabbed their hair and slammed them hard on the desk a few times. Then during the break between the next class... I was tied up in the bathroom by the 'school bully' behind those girls."

"So from then on, I carried a steel pipe to and from school, fought those 'school bullies' a few times, and learned some acting skills from movies and TV series about perverts and madmen. Finally, they were scared and dared not mess with us..."

At this point, Jiang Wanren's expression changed, his eyelids rolled, and he suddenly burst into wild laughter, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins:

"...Just watch how I perform!"

Then he shrugged, and the redness in his eyes and the maniacal laughter on his face disappeared. He looked at Xu Xiu with a somewhat mocking smile.

"How is it?"

They looked like children on a children's performance, eagerly anticipating the adults' performance.

"..."

Xu Xiu stared at him blankly for a long time before finally managing to utter a sentence:

"...So you were classmates in junior high school."

The smile on Jiang Wanren's face held an even deeper hint of mockery:

"Actually, it's not hard to guess. Because our reputation wasn't very good back then, after I went to high school, Shangyin and I deliberately avoided talking about our junior high school days, and we never mentioned any shared memories from before high school..."

"Of course, a little research, or even just asking... our past relationship, what happened to us, can't be hidden no matter what—but who would have thought you haven't asked in three years?"

"...But it's okay, after all, just like Shangyin said."

"You and Su Xu are the main characters, the stars. Shang Yin and I are supporting characters, the clowns in the group who make you happy, the inferior products used to highlight the quality of your relationship with Su Xu—"

"...So what happened to us, what kind of story do we have, and what is our relationship?"

Jiang Wanren shrugged again. He looked completely different from his usual self, appearing neither fierce nor threatening.

"It's like, if the story of this school were written into a novel, the two of you would definitely take up the majority of the story. As for me and Shangyin..."

"...Who would care about these two people? And who would want to know... that to protect her, I spent every day watching the horror movies I disliked most, learning the eyes and tone of those killers and demons, and in the end, having nightmares night after night?"

"..."

Xu Xiu couldn't say a word, seemingly struck by Jiang Wanren's words, and her back bent slightly.

Behind her, Shang Yin, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly rang out again.

"Xu Xiu... If things don't change in reality, I'd be content to stay in this position, as a supporting character in your story... a planet that highlights you, so that my relationship with Jiang Wanren will always only reveal the most superficial side... That would be fine too."

But today is different…

At this point, Shangyin's voice suddenly changed, becoming proud and sharp.

"What could be different... Are you referring to this dead end-like 'back room'...?"

Xu Xiu smiled bitterly, turned her head slightly, but her gaze froze in mid-air.

In that instant, right where her gaze fell, a small, lively, and gentle light emanated from the fist that Shang Yin had been clenching tightly. Just one glance was enough to draw Xu Xiu's attention to that light!

"The difference... is that from today onwards, I am the protagonist of my own story! I will become my own star!"

Shangyin's mouth moved faster and faster, and her twin ponytails swung wildly behind her head.

After saying her last sentence, she proudly raised her head, her eyes shining with an unprecedented confidence, as if she had become a different person in that instant!

"Because—I have already received a divine destiny!"