While it's rewarding to nurture a wilting flower back to health,
it's also a pleasure to bring home a beautiful specimen directly.
Su Xiaotian wasn't short on money, so she wouldn't quibble over the cost of two pots of flowers she liked.
Su Xiaotian ate lunch in the hotel's cafeteria.
Fan Shufang and the others had gone out and didn't return for lunch.
It was Yang Liming who asked Xiao Liu to find Su Xiaotian to eat together.
Su Xiaotian was surprised when she saw Xiao Liu smiling as she approached her.
She could clearly see that the girl harbored hostility towards her.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, why was she standing before her with a cheerful smile, inviting her to eat?
Su Xiaotian was curious but didn't ask further.
Perhaps the girl had simply come to her senses.
Maybe she realized she wasn't a rival and that they could coexist peacefully.
Su Xiaotian hadn't intended to say much to Xiao Liu anyway.
Since they were on different paths, a polite distance was sufficient.
In Su Xiaotian's opinion, Xiao Liu was merely a passerby.
Su Xiaotian hadn't planned to say much, but unexpectedly, Xiao Liu spoke first.
"Xiaotian, I went to Xinhua Bookstore this morning and bought some books too. It's just that after years away from books, I can't understand some of the content."
What?
Su Xiaotian looked at Xiao Liu in shock.
An unbelievable thought surfaced in her mind.
Could it be that the points that had inexplicably increased today were contributed by Xiao Liu?
The thought flashed through her mind, but Su Xiaotian felt it was unlikely.
Even if Xiao Liu read books, it had nothing to do with her.
After all, this system didn't award her points for everyone in the world who read.
There had to be some reason, and so far, Xiao Liu's reading showed no connection to her.
But other than this reason, Su Xiaotian couldn't find any other explanation for the increase in points.
"Why did you suddenly decide to read?" Su Xiaotian asked, her curiosity piqued by suspicion.
If it truly had something to do with her, then she could confirm this batch of points.
"Watching you read so diligently on the train, with such focus, I felt a sense of inspiration. I realized I was truly wasting my time."
"I also heard Chairman and Director Fan mention that you're already a university student, excelling in your studies and fluent in several foreign languages. I feel that as a young person, I can't be so unambitious."
Su Xiaotian looked at Xiao Liu in astonishment. Someone who had been so hostile towards her now wanted to study again just because she saw her reading diligently?
It seemed impossible no matter how she thought about it.
"Xiaotian, I know our life circumstances are different, but you are truly someone I can learn from!"
As she said this, Xiao Liu felt a touch of shyness.
She was an adult, yet she was not as capable as a child.
She was afraid of being laughed at if others knew.
But she was also someone who could face herself honestly.
Su Xiaotian never expected Xiao Liu to say so much.
For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
"Sister Xiao Liu, you can take it slowly. I've just loved reading since I was a child, and it gradually became a habit."
Finally, Su Xiaotian managed to utter this somewhat dry sentence.
Although Xiao Liu sensed Su Xiaotian's perfunctory tone, she didn't take offense at Su Xiaotian's coolness.
Her gaze drifted into the distance, and she continued speaking with a smile.
"Sometimes, people make things difficult for themselves. In reality, what's the point?"
"After graduating from high school, I started working. My family helped me find a job."
"After my family found me a job, they said that since I was a girl, it was good enough that they could help me find employment."
"I was dissatisfied with my family's arrangements, but my dissatisfaction was completely ignored by them. They were more concerned with ensuring a better future for their son, who would carry on the family line."
"I was always a sensitive and peculiar person. Because of these reasons, I became increasingly unlikeable, turning into someone I myself disliked."
"Xiaotian, it was your appearance that made me understand some things. It doesn't matter if others don't care about you. What matters is that you can't give up on yourself; you have to strive to become the best version of yourself."
Su Xiaotian was surprised that Xiao Liu could pour out so much to her in one go.
While she didn't exactly like Xiao Liu, she possessed the courtesy to listen when someone initiated a conversation and was willing to speak.
If the other person wanted to talk, she would listen.
"So?"
Su Xiaotian stared at Xiao Liu curiously, wanting to know what Xiao Liu planned to do.
"Xiaotian, I've decided to apply for university. There are only a few months left. I'll find someone to tutor me, and perhaps by the start of the semester, I'll be able to attend university. Even if… there's always next year, right? I was sixteen when I graduated from high school, and I'm nineteen now, so it's not too late to go to university."
Even if her family didn't want her to go to university, so what?
She was already working, and in these past two or three years, she had saved some money, enough for her studies.
When Xiao Liu said this, her eyes sparkled with vitality, clearly indicating she had found her direction.
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but smile when she heard Xiao Liu's determined plan.
This was a good intention. Eighteen or nineteen years old would be a normal age for university in a few decades.
Moreover, in an era where people generally started university at a later age, Xiao Liu attending school wouldn't be out of the ordinary at all.
"Sister Xiao Liu, thinking this way is the right approach!"
In this era, continuing education was still somewhat lacking, but there was one advantage that later generations couldn't match: the ability to retain one's public position while studying, perhaps even receiving a salary during their studies.
If Xiao Liu could indeed get into university and study, she would likely have a better development after completing her education.
Grandma Yang was unlikely to be someone who would reject her subordinates' progress; she might even offer her full support.
"It's just that I haven't looked at books for three years, so I feel quite unfamiliar with them."
Xiao Liu was also able to acknowledge her own shortcomings.
She wasn't a particularly intelligent person, but she believed that diligence could compensate for lack of talent.
As long as she studied diligently, she would eventually learn. Besides, as long as she wasn't afraid of asking, she could seek guidance from others, like Su Xiaotian sitting right in front of her!
"I look forward to seeing you attend university, Sister Xiao Liu. Keep up the good work!"
Su Xiaotian, unaware that Xiao Liu was planning to ask her for help with her studies, was wholeheartedly encouraging Xiao Liu.
She liked everyone who loved to learn, especially those who could earn her points.
The two walked and talked, heading directly to the second-floor restaurant.
By the time they reached the restaurant, their relationship had become remarkably harmonious.
Even Yang Liming found it strange. She had prepared herself for the two girls to approach with a three-meter distance between them, but to her surprise, they were walking and talking, almost hand in hand.
However, she was a wise person and believed that adults should not interfere in matters concerning young girls.