Bratz wannabes

"My name is Chen He, and we go to the same school." Li Na raised an eyebrow at Chen He's introduction. "Nice to meet you," she replied, keeping her tone polite but indifferent. She had no intention of engaging in a lengthy conversation with him.

Chen He smiled and continued, "I saw your performance earlier, and you were amazing. I have never heard that piece you played before. What's it called? Did you create it yourself?"

Chen paused and scratched his head, saying, "I'm talking too much again."

Li Na looked at Chen He and couldn't help but smile. "No, not at all. I actually find it refreshing that you're so talkative. It's nice to have a genuine conversation for a change."

Chen He grinned, slightly embarrassed. "Thanks for understanding. Sometimes I get carried away when I'm excited or interested in something.

"Thank you for your kind words, Chen He. The piece I played is called 'Golden Hour.' I didn't compose it myself, but I added my own interpretation to it. It's always fun to put my personal touch on a familiar melody."

Chen He nodded, impressed. "Well, you certainly have a gift for bringing out the beauty in music. I'm glad I had the chance to witness your talent firsthand."

Chen He appeared shy before saying, "If it's not too much trouble, I was wondering if we could be friends?"

Li Na looked at him, confused, wondering why he would want to be friends with her.

Chen He, noticed her hesitation, said, "You don't have to answer me now." You can think about it then give me a reply whenever you want.

Li Na smiled at Chen He's genuine request. "I appreciate your offer, Chen He. I'll definitely think about it, and I promise to give you an answer soon."

Chen He nodded, his shy demeanor softening. "Take your time. I'll be happy to hear from you whenever you're ready."

As Li Na watched him walk away. She knew the importance of being cautious. After all, friendships could be as delicate as they were valuable.

She decided to take her time, observing him from a distance, getting to know him better before making a final decision. She had learned from past experiences that not everyone could be trusted, and it was crucial to keep a discerning eye on those who approached with friendly intentions. There's an old saying that goes, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Li Na exhaled slowly. "Humans are scarier than animals," she muttered under her breath.

In her past life, Li Jing had exemplified this cruelty, showing no mercy and stopping at nothing to bring her down. The memory still lingered with Li Na.

As she stood there, eyes closed, she let the cool breeze wash over her.

However, Li Na knew that dwelling on the past wouldn't bring her any peace. She opened her eyes, clearing her mind of negative thoughts. She reminded herself that not everyone was like Li Jing, and there were genuine and kind-hearted people out there as well.

She sighed as she walked back into the hall. She spotted Li Jing in the distance, surrounded by admirers, her fake smile plastered on her face. Li jing should brace herself for what is to come.

As Li Na walked back to her seat, she noticed a group of girls surrounding Ning Yu, their expressions filled with condescension and mockery. Their unpleasant tones reached her ears, and she could sense the toxicity in their words.

As Li Na approached, she overheard one of the girls mockingly remark, "You poor thing, how did you manage to get an invitation? This is a no beggars zone!" The group erupted in laughter, relishing in their words.

Ning Yu locked eyes with the girl who had spoken and fired back, "Oh, my dear, with all that toxic perfume you're wearing, I'm afraid you might have misplaced your brains along the way. Don't worry, though, we can always call the garbage collector to help you find where you dropped them."

Ning Yu continued "Oh, the only beggar I see right now is standing right in front of me. It seems you've been pampered your entire life to come up with such garbage. Where I come from, we settle misunderstandings with our fists. If you have the guts, please follow me outside. And just a gentle reminder, I happen to be a black belt holder," she added, emphasizing with a grin.

Li Na stood beside Ning Yu, concern evident in her eyes as she asked, "What happened?"

Ning Yu let out a frustrated sigh and replied, "It's these bratz wannabes who showed up out of nowhere to disturb my evening. Can you believe it? I had my eyes on an eye candy, and these idiots decided to ruin it by showing up here."