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But how could she calm down? Her mind was always thinking, thinking about each step she'd make. She walked towards the bathroom, continuing with her thoughts.

░We are the same but different.░

░I'm overpraised while he never got a praise.░

░While I'm a show-off thing for my parents to brag about, his parents are ashamed of him, never shoving him to outsiders.░

░What about now?░

░Day by day, because Xuan Mu only has me, he is getting more and more possessive. The one positive thing is...at least, he cares.░

Taking off her clothes, she went under a shower. As the lukewarm water trickled down her hair and back, she reminisced about her parents, who always described her all the happenings during their party events.

░"Our Bing Shi is such a good girl; she always stays in her room, studying all day."░

Her parents showed off their absent daughter to their friends.

░You never went into my room, so how do you know? I was always playing and reading.░

░"Even our sons listen to her more than us."░

░That's because you were never there for them.░

░"She always helps us out when we need help. And she talks with us a lot. Not like those rebelling teenagers who only know how to talk back!"░

░It's just for my benefits.░

░"She got accepted by a prestigious school."░

░That's because I want to get away from you.░

░"Your daughter is so flawless. Let us meet her when she comes back for the winter holidays."░

Her parent's friends responded.

░"Of course, she will come for sure."░

░Please, no...░

The rumors started small, then continued to grow bigger and bigger. Everyone wanted to know more about the mysterious, well-behaved daughter. Wouldn't she be a perfect daughter in law?!

That's when Bing Shi found out how powerful rumors could be; they could turn her into a well-known person, fast.

░Who needs mind-blowing schemes, when everything I need is a small rumor, which will do its job by itself, without me needing to lift a finger?░

In the future, to face slap others, she'd use rumors to their fullest potential.

░~ Rumors are powerful. Use them well.░

░~ You have to study, the exams are nearing, you can't fail.░

Drying her hair with a towel, Bing Shi went out of the bathroom with an expressionless face and continued to study until she fell asleep on her desk.

· · ─── · ⊱❈⊰· ─── · ·

『Xuan Mu:』 Good morning. On my way to the gym. |_・)

Xuan Mu started his day with a good morning message; his mood still a bit sour.

Bing Shi rubbed her tired eyes, picking up her phone near her head, she realized that she fell asleep on the desk.

『Bing Shi:』 Morning ٩(ˊ〇ˋ*)و

『Bing Shi:』 On my way to clean my teeth.

░He's such a morning person.░

『Bing Shi:』 How is my grumpy sour roll?

(｡•́︿•̀｡)

When he saw her reply, he showed a toothy grin, completely forgetting about how angry he was at her a night ago.

『Xuan Mu:』 Changed into a delicious cinnamon roll. (⌐■_■)

She giggled.

『Bing Shi:』 Oh, how sweet. Gimme some, please~

『Xuan Mu:』No

『Bing Shi:』 Why? ლ(¯ロ¯"ლ)

He chuckled heartily.

『Xuan Mu:』 Brush your teeth first.

(ﾒ' ﾛ ´)︻デ═一

『Bing Shi:』 Yes, Sir! (・-・)ゞ

Rubbing her stomach hungrily, Bing Shi, in a good mood, went to the bathroom to clean up.

They made a promise between themselves that no matter how much they argue, they should never forget to start their day with a good morning and end it with a good night. Such simple promises were able to improve their moods significantly.

· · ─── · ⊱❈⊰· ─── · ·

After a few days of studying, Bing Shi passed math and physic.

░~See? Studying paid off. Four more to go.░

"How did it go? Did you pass?" Xuan Mu voiced out, waiting for Bing Shi to check her results on the internet.

"Yes!" Bing Shi raised her hands cheerfully, spinning around on her chair, she asked for his answer in anticipation, "And you?"

"I finished mine already, and it only took me two days to learn everything. High School is so easy."

"That's so cool! I'm so proud of you, now rent me your brain for a while, haha!" Bing Shi asked for his brain shamelessly and went back to study robotically.

░~You have to eat.░

░No, I feel sick when I eat...░

░~You are hurting yourself.░

░I'm not. It's just hunger. I feel no pain...░