Don't Say You're Heartless (Modern Edition)

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In the blink of an eye, two weeks had passed, and Teacher Wu had exhausted everyone's sympathy for her. After all, they were colleagues, so no one argued with her, but everyone now avoided her, and no one bothered to check in on her anymore.

"She didn't come to work today," said Teacher Zhang. It was another Monday, another group lesson preparation. Since moving to a different classroom, Shen Qiuhua seldom came to the senior Chinese office. Not seeing Teacher Wu, she asked curiously, so Teacher Zhang replied.

"What's wrong?" Shen Qiuhua asked.

"I heard her depression worsened," Teacher Wang replied in frustration. The atmosphere in their faculty room had been miserable lately. Teacher Wu's absence today felt like the clouds had parted, and the sky was clear again.

You had to admit, for someone to make others feel that way can be considered a talent.

Shen Qiuhua nodded but didn't say more. Everyone had been considerate of her illness, but if someone took that kindness for granted, it was understandable that others would lose patience.

After work, Shen Qiuhua received a call from her cousin, Liu Manzhi, inviting her to her birthday party over the weekend. After hanging up, Shen Qiuhua shook her head helplessly. "Why do I always meet such people?"

"Because you're too outstanding," Yang Qiong said with a laugh.

"Hmm?" Shen Qiuhua didn't understand.

"Don't you feel it? It's stressful being around you. There aren't many people willing to play second fiddle like me. Who wants to stand in someone else's shadow?"

Yang Qiong became particularly sharp when discussing Shen Qiuhua's matters. Her words were not in her usual style.

Shen Qiuhua thought for a moment. "I've never considered this. I think everyone has their strengths, so why compare their weaknesses to others' strengths? Isn't that just self-torment?"

Yang Qiong almost hit her head on the steering wheel. "The problem is, you have too many strengths! What can anyone do to not be overshadowed by you?" Her dear Qiuhua had never considered the feelings of ordinary people.

Without thinking, Shen Qiuhua replied, "Martial arts."

Yang Qiong opened her mouth but had no rebuttal. Indeed, in martial arts, anyone with skills could beat her easily. But the problem was, in modern society, how many people know martial arts? Ordinary people still had no advantage in front of her.

"Except for my looks, all my talents were acquired through hard work. If others put in as much effort as I did, I believe many could surpass me." She was extraordinarily gifted and raised in a scholarly family, receiving different education and upbringing from others. Her father, a great scholar, intentionally nurtured her, making her naturally superior. Most people assumed her talents came easily, but in fact, she had been writing with a brush since the age of two. Her father had long taught her the principles of governance, allowing her young heart to carry the weight of the world.

Others only saw her strategizing within the palace, not realizing the hard work behind the scenes-sitting in her father's study, pouring over thick history books. The rise and fall of dynasties, the ebb and flow of tides, all taught her to stay calm and collected, never arrogant in victory or despairing in defeat.

Lost in thought, Shen Qiuhua felt Yang Qiong holding her hand. She turned to see her friend's gentle smile.

"In my eyes, you'll always be the best."

A smile slowly spread across Shen Qiuhua's face. Was this what they meant by 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'? What a perfect description!

The two didn't go home directly but went to the shopping district to choose a pricey bracelet for Liu Manzhi. It wasn't that Shen Qiuhua was stingy or unwilling to gift her calligraphy. She believed that makeup was for friends and swords for heroes. Giving calligraphy to someone who didn't appreciate it would be like boiling a crane for soup-utterly tasteless.