A Great Beauty Is More Important Than Pride.

Fairy Su Zai Zai’s Diary

“Jiang Jia, I think our friendship has come to an end.”

Su Zai Zai fished out a one-cent bill from her schoolbag and slapped it onto Jiang Jia’s desk. “This is our breakup fee.”

Jiang Jia neatly folded the bill, tucked it into her pocket, and asked casually, “Oh? What’s the reason?”

“My great beauty isn’t even called Zhou Xuyin! He’s Zhang Lurang!” The more Su Zai Zai thought about it, the more despair she felt. “He’s definitely going to think I’m a fickle woman, a shallow girl whose eyes light up at the sight of a handsome guy. Wuwuwu…”

Jiang Jia blinked, a little surprised. “So he really is Zhang Lurang?”

“Why do you sound so unsurprised?”

“Because I always thought he was Zhang Lurang. Just from his vibe—he’s like a high-altitude flower.”

“…Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“You dragged me over that day, calling him Zhou Xuyin over and over again with such certainty. What was I supposed to do? Point at him and say, ‘No, that’s Zhang Lurang’? I’ve never even met him before!”

Su Zai Zai instantly deflated. “But… but wasn’t it you who told me that Zhou Xuyin was even more handsome?”

“Based on your description, of course I’d prefer Zhou Xuyin!” Jiang Jia declared confidently. “I have no interest in the cold and aloof type. I like the carefree, roguish kind.”

“No way!” Su Zai Zai pinched her face angrily. “Even if you like Zhou Xuyin’s type, you must admit that Zhang Lurang is the most handsome!”

“What the hell! Says who?!”

“Because it’s the truth. You can’t deny it.” Su Zai Zai was even more righteous.

“Get lost. You’re not changing my taste in men.” Jiang Jia smacked her hand away. “I’m telling you, you might just meet Zhou Xuyin and fall for him instead, you damn face-con.”

“Impossible.”

“Why not?”

Su Zai Zai was very serious. “It’s just impossible.”

Jiang Jia didn’t tease her further. She chuckled. “Didn’t expect it—our little Zai Zai is actually adorably devoted.”

The room suddenly fell into silence.

Su Zai Zai lay on her desk, resting her head on her arms, and sighed. “Sigh, you’re right. I really am such an irresponsible person. I need to change this bad habit.”

“Huh? When did I ever say you’re irresponsible?”

“When I gave Zhang Lurang that English workbook last time. You said I was irresponsible because I didn’t hand it to him myself and asked someone else to pass it along.”

Jiang Jia immediately remembered and laughed. “Hahaha, oh yeah! Didn’t you tell me you didn’t want to meet him?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“…”

“Now that I think about it, how could you settle for Zhang Lurang back then?!”

“…Big sister, I was wrong.”

Talking about that English workbook made Su Zai Zai beat her chest and stomp her feet. “God, if I had known he was Zhang Lurang, I should’ve memorized an English essay instead! Why did I cram physics problems?!”

Jiang Jia was curious. “Why?”

Su Zai Zai was filled with endless regret. “When the English teacher asked me to pass the workbook to Zhang Lurang, she casually mentioned that his English was terrible. She even suspected he might get kicked out of the advanced class because of it, so she’s been keeping a close eye on his English lately.”

“Hahahaha! I didn’t know that!” Jiang Jia burst out laughing. “But I heard he has great grades. His English is actually that bad?”

“Which is why I should’ve shown off my English skills in front of him!”

Jiang Jia shook her head. “That would’ve just triggered his competitive streak.”

Her words were like a sudden enlightenment. Su Zai Zai immediately grasped her hand in gratitude. “That makes sense. Thank you for the wise advice, my dear mentor.”

“But just how bad is his English for the teacher to worry so much?”

Su Zai Zai thought for a moment. “With the full score being 135… he probably doesn’t even get the remainder—just around 30 points or so.”

“…Even guessing on the multiple-choice should get you to thirty.”

“Now that I think about it, that’s actually impressive! How does he even score thirty on an English test?!”

“…”

“Oh my god, that’s so adorable! The top student of the advanced class has an English score a hundred points lower than mine. Hahaha, what a great beauty—so cute!”

“…You’re hopeless.”

—

Although Su Zai Zai had adjusted her mindset, she still didn’t have the courage to approach Zhang Lurang for the next two days. She was worried she’d ruin his impression of her even further.

She was still trying to come up with a plan.

As she was lost in thought, a sudden downpour arrived, roaring aggressively.

Su Zai Zai watched the large raindrops outside the window slam into the ground violently, creating waves of deafening noise. The rain poured relentlessly.

Rainy days always had a way of making people feel inexplicably melancholic.

Su Zai Zai turned to look at Jiang Jia, sighed, and then said very seriously, “Jia Jia, I think I’ve been too reserved.”

She thinks she’s reserved?!

Jiang Jia was stunned by the thickness of Su Zai Zai’s skin. She couldn’t help but roast her. “You’re overthinking this…”

“I really think I’m being too reserved.”

“I also really think you’re overthinking this…”

Su Zai Zai, for once, didn’t banter with her. She thought for a moment before saying, “Don’t you think so? For the past few days, I’ve been deliberately going to the third floor, passing by him so he would see me, speaking louder when I’m near him so he would hear me, but I haven’t actually done anything concrete.”

That doesn’t count as concrete action…?

Jiang Jia suddenly couldn’t understand her train of thought.

“When I make eye contact with him, I never dare to hold it for more than three seconds. And when I see him, I get so nervous I can’t even speak. I just blush, immediately pretend I didn’t see him, and act like I’m deeply engaged in conversation with you.”

“That’s normal, because you like him.”

“But what’s the point of being shy?” Su Zai Zai licked her lips, her eyes serious. “I like him, yet I do nothing. How could he possibly notice me like this?”

Jiang Jia was at a loss for words.

“Let me give you an example.”

“Go ahead.”

Su Zai Zai thought for a moment. “For example, back in your first year of high school, two boys liked you. One was a cute guy who turned red and ran away whenever he saw you, and the other was an ugly guy who bullied and insulted you. Ten years later, which one would you remember more?”

Jiang Jia didn’t even need half a second to consider: “The cute guy.”

“……”

Su Zai Zai stared at her for a while, then simply ignored her. “See, I think it’s the ugly guy, which just proves that actions are more important than looks.”

“I’m not joking, it really is the cute guy.”

“Of course, just because I say this doesn’t mean I think I’m unattractive.”

“……”

“Fine.” Su Zai Zai compromised. “Then let’s change the ugly guy who bullied you into a cute guy. Now, which one would leave a deeper impression on you?”

Jiang Jia didn’t want to choose either. “Why does he have to bully me? Can’t he just be nice to me?”

“You’re being too greedy.” Su Zai Zai frowned. “Good-looking and nice to you? Keep dreaming.”

“……”

After the playful banter, the frustration crept back in.

Su Zai Zai thought, even if Zhang Lu Rang didn’t like her, she still didn’t want a future where he couldn’t even remember her name.

That would be too frustrating, too unacceptable.

“Jia Jia, do you believe in those TV dramas where the female lead does nothing and still wins the male lead’s affection?” Su Zai Zai murmured. “Because I don’t.”

She turned to look out the window.

“If I only know how to be reserved and shy, then he’ll just be taken by someone who isn’t.”

—

“I got the info for you. The advanced class has computer science during the third period this afternoon.”

Su Zai Zai beamed, cupped her face, and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Mwah! My little fairy! Beautiful, charming, gentle, adorable, kind, and lovely.”

Jiang Jia wiped her face in disgust. “Based on what you said this morning, why not just give it to him directly? That would leave a stronger impression.”

“That won’t work.” Su Zai Zai analyzed seriously. “If I go to his classroom, that’s fine. But giving him an umbrella is too obvious. His classmates will definitely tease him, and I’m afraid he might find it annoying.”

“…That kind of makes sense.”

“Mostly, I’m afraid he didn’t bring an umbrella. I don’t want him to get soaked.” Su Zai Zai sighed.

Half-wet, half-dry… Damn, that look is dangerously alluring. Like a little devil.

After saying that, she grabbed the umbrella, walked to the front window, and placed it on the windowsill.

The class bell rang just in time.

Twenty minutes later, Su Zai Zai raised her hand. “Teacher, I need to go to the restroom.”

She stepped out of the classroom, grabbed the umbrella from the windowsill, and headed downstairs.

As expected, both the front and back doors of the advanced class were locked. Su Zai Zai recalled Zhang Lu Rang’s seat, pushed at the window near that area, and surprisingly, it opened.

She smirked, leaned in, and placed the umbrella right in the center of his desk. The note stuck to the handle faced down, making it unnoticeable unless someone picked it up.

Then she suddenly remembered what that guy had said the other day.

—”Hey, Zhang Lu Rang, you’re slipping! This week, three girls have come looking for Zhou Xu Yin, but only two for you!”

Only two.

The competition wasn’t as fierce as she had imagined.

Su Zai Zai chuckled, dusted off her hands, and shut the window.

She turned and walked back to her classroom.

The rain gradually eased up, the dark clouds slowly drifted apart, and the sun, once hidden, peeked through, casting a soft glow on the damp earth.

Su Zai Zai returned to her seat.

Jiang Jia turned to her. “Did you put it in place?”

“Mm.” Su Zai Zai rested her chin on her hand, smiling. “Jia Jia, I’m not going home to shower this afternoon.”

“Huh? Why not?”

No particular reason.

It’s just that… if he comes to return the umbrella—

She’ll get to see him again.