Chapter 77 Unique Aesthetic
Melissa's eyes lit up the moment she spotted the jar of cream. She was already halfway back to her desk with it when Bianca rose from her chair and plucked it right out of her hands.
"Melissa, your memory's even worse than I thought. You forgot to give this back."
Bianca arched a brow, tilting the jar casually in her fingers.
Melissa stared at her, stunned, then glanced down at her now-empty hands. "Bianca, what's that supposed to mean?" The polite smile she'd been wearing crumbled, her fingers frozen midair.
Bianca tilted her head. "What are you talking about?" Her brows drew together, her expression pure confusion as she studied Melissa like she couldn't fathom the question.
"You've got so many skincare products. Giving me one wouldn't kill you," Melissa said, forcing her lips into a stiff curve.
Inside, she seethed. At least no one else was in the room to witness her embarrassment. What was wrong with Bianca? She used to practically throw gifts at her… Now she was acting stingy. So it was all fake generosity before—cheap things she could give away without blinking, but anything expensive and suddenly she clutched it like gold.
She'd never respected Bianca. A little charity here and there, and Bianca had played the obedient shadow.
"Why would I give it to you? You're not broke, are you?" Bianca's tone was deliberately puzzled as her gaze swept Melissa up and down. "Besides, I remember you just took a whole set of skincare from me not long ago. You haven't even finished it yet."
Her arms folded across her chest, her eyes sharp, merciless.
Melissa was the kind of person who did things she'd never admit to, all while posing as a paragon of virtue. No money, yet desperate to project elegance. She cared more about appearances than anything else. She wanted the benefits without dropping the mask.
Bianca couldn't believe she'd once been blind to it.
Melissa's expression collapsed, resentment flickering in her eyes. "That set you gave me wasn't worth much. It's probably not even half the price of this cream. When did you get so selfish?"
Bianca gave a short, cold laugh. "Selfish? Wasn't it you who said that no matter how broke you were, you'd never take something for free? What happened—only a few months later and you've forgotten your own words?"
Melissa had always played at modesty, pretending to refuse gifts before reluctantly accepting them, as if Bianca had forced them on her. Bianca wasn't playing that game anymore.
Melissa's face went red, then pale, like she'd been slapped hard. Her frustration and humiliation threatened to spill over, but she bit her lip and glared at Bianca's profile.
Bianca turned away. "If you don't need anything else, stop hovering and let me pack."
Melissa's resentment burned hotter, but she couldn't keep standing there. She slunk back to her desk.
The sun hung high, spilling warm light across the room. For a moment, the heat softened Bianca's mood… until Melissa's voice cut through.
"Bianca, where were you last night? You didn't come back to the dorm. You'd better not be getting mixed up with someone shady." Melissa stepped closer, her hand curling around Bianca's.
She didn't lower her voice. Everyone nearby could hear.
Bianca pulled her hand free, her face unreadable. "I've applied to live off campus. I won't be in the dorm much. Just letting you know."
Melissa's smile flickered, then shifted into a look of false concern. "Bianca, you should tell us if something's going on. Don't let people outside take advantage of you. And don't hang around with… well, you remember what happened before—"
She cut herself off, feigning innocence, but her tone dripped with implication.
Bianca's eyes went cold. "Did you wash your mouth out with garbage this morning?"
Her voice was ice, her dark gaze locking on Melissa as she stepped forward. They were eye-level, but Bianca's presence pressed down like she was looking from above.
Under that stare, Melissa instinctively stepped back, her throat bobbing as unease crept in. And in that moment, she noticed something different.
Bianca wasn't the girl who hid behind oversized black frames anymore. Her hair, once hanging limp around her face, was pulled back to reveal delicate features. The glasses were gone, replaced by a touch of understated makeup. Standing there, she was an arresting sight.
Melissa's fingers curled into a fist, jealousy rising sharp and hot.
She'd been the one to suggest Bianca's old look, knowing full well how pretty she was. She'd wanted it hidden. But now… something had changed.
"Bianca, why are you dressed like this all of a sudden?" Melissa's brows pinched tight, her tone dripping with disapproval. "It's not even in style. People will laugh. Minimalist looks are in—big glasses, bold accessories. This outfit is just… wrong."
"Your taste is… something else," Bianca said dryly, one brow lifting. "Not my thing. Move."
She brushed past Melissa and stepped into the classroom.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the chatter died. Heads turned, eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"Who's that? Did we get a transfer student?" someone whispered.
"She looks familiar… kind of like Bianca…?"
The words rippled through the room, sparking a wave of disbelief. No one could reconcile the girl before them—bright-eyed, poised—with the one they remembered: slouched in faded sportswear, hair a mess, hiding behind glasses too big for her face.
"Did she get plastic surgery? That's insane."
"She looks completely different… I don't think I've ever seen her face before."
The murmurs swelled. Bianca ignored them, walking straight to the last row.
Melissa followed, her jealousy simmering as she caught the tail end of the whispers. She forced a deep breath, then strode to the front, her hand tapping the desk with syrupy sweetness in her voice.