Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 178: Chapter 177: Gratitude Becomes Resentment

”Huh?” Shi Yu was confused, what kind of person was she?

Shi Yu didn’t even understand what was going on before she was hated.

”I considered you a friend, yet between friends, you calculate how much I take from you and how much you return to me. Aren’t you tired of it!”

”I didn’t count... nor am I tired...” Shi Yu inexplicably got scolded. Seeing Xu Ruxin’s tears, she wondered what on earth she did to offend people like this?

”Forget it, I won’t borrow. A phone card, I’ll just buy it myself, it’s only 20 yuan. I see what kind of person you are!” Xu Ruxin wanted to walk out but was pulled back by the collar by Chen Xiaoqian.

”You’re certainly not tired, reaching out to demand from her unilaterally. Can you tell me, what have you ever given Shi Yu?”

”I gave her, abundant friendship!”

”So you’re just trying to get something for nothing?” Even Dong Yi could see it. Wasn’t this just what her mother taught her when she was little, an ungrateful person?

”Are you sincerely making friends with her, or are you just using her as an ATM? Before, when Shi Touyu treated everyone to a meal, it was one thing for you to tag along, but you also brought several people. What was that about?”

”I just wanted to introduce a few more people to her. The more friends, the more paths you have!” Xu Ruxin resented Shi Yu deeply, thinking that although Shi Yu usually seemed careless, she spoke so poorly of her behind her back!

Actually, it wasn’t Shi Yu who said those things. It was other classmates who went out to eat with Shi Yu who said it. Qian happened to overhear it in the cafeteria, mentioning that Xu Ruxin brought several people to mooch a meal and even seemed to act like a host during the meal, making her group think Xu Ruxin was the one paying.

It was Shi Yu who paid, and she was the one making the connections. She gained nothing. The foolish daughter of a rich family was treated as the ATM, and today Qian happened to say it out loud.

”Feelings are never a one-way street. You’re always thinking about taking, without considering giving back. Even the best friendship will be drained by you. After all, who sees whose character, it’s clear in one’s heart. In the future, keep your distance from Shi Yu.”

”You speak as if anyone cares about you, a bunch of weirdos!” Xu Ruxin retorted, her face flushed with anger, feeling deeply hurt.

”Xu Ruxin, it’s fine if you have a problem with me, but don’t drag our dorm into it. Past issues aside, don’t come to me in the future.” Shi Yu finally got emotional after hearing her attack everyone collectively.

”You guys are ganging up to bully me!” Xu Ruxin sobbed as she ran out of the dorm.

After she left, the entire dorm was plunged into a brief silence.

Shi Yu looked guilty, while Qian, unfazed, continued studying with her paper and pen. After pondering for a few seconds, Dong Yi finally spoke up.

”Qian, from a psychological perspective, what does that mean?” Those who study hard always focus on different things than others.

”Shi Yu? Naive if not facing harshness, too much money with nothing to do.” Qian said mercilessly.

”Hey! Doesn’t anyone sympathize with me? Comfort me a little?” Shi Yu protested. Couldn’t anyone see she was a wounded little thing?

”I wasn’t talking about her. I meant just now, why didn’t that person appreciate all that Shi Touyu gave, and still felt wronged?”

”Feed someone a bowl of rice, they become your friend; feed them a bucket of rice, they become your enemy. Keep giving, and one day if you stop, they’ll feel you owe them. Yet they’ll never think, without your help, they’d have starved long ago. Dong Yi, your ’a helping hand in one drop of water should be repaid with a spring’ is human nature. Just now, that brainless person, small favors lead to hatred, this too is human nature. Both are part of the psychological study of interpersonal gratitude.”

”Qian, I don’t quite understand... I really try hard to get along with everyone. It’s gone like this. I’m a bit frustrated.” Shi Yu, being an extroverted child, always wanted to meet more people, and today’s events had really shaken her.

”The theory of favors breeding resentment in psychological fields has always been controversial. There’s no research supporting this theory. The reason why it’s widely accepted, experts believe, is because positive emotions aren’t as easy to empathize with as negative ones.”

”Qian, don’t talk about those barkers, tell me your opinion.”

Occasionally when Qian talked seriously about positive topics, Shi Yu couldn’t adapt and preferred Qian’s sarcastic nature.

”My personal view aligns with something I read in a magazine: human desire is like seawater, the more you drink, the thirstier you become. I believe, to avoid hatred from favors, choose friends on your level, either economically or spiritually, at least one aspect should intersect. Having a hundred bad friends is not as good as having none. There are always some people in this world who are incredibly selfish, self-centered, yet they continually hurt others while cloaked in feigned innocence, claiming you overthink when confronted.”

Thinking deeper, Wang Xiaohong’s and the earlier naive logic were quite similar, weren’t they?

Mr. Yu gave Wang Xiaohong a family, yet she wasn’t satisfied and wanted more, and what she couldn’t get turned into hatred. There are indeed far too many of such people. Self-centered people never think it’s their problem. They just think since you have it, you should give it to them, else you’re selfish. It’s really an interesting logic, and most people are like this, just with varying degrees.

Dealing with such people, Qian never indulges. She doesn’t consider herself a savior, nor a good person, and she doesn’t need a bunch of chaotic friends. She only wants to live as she wishes, so being a bad person is always more comfortable than being a good one.

Shi Yu seemed to understand something, feeling she had wasted her years.

”Qian, why do I feel sometimes, you live even wiser than my mom?”

Qian threw a cushion at her, ”Are you implying I’m old?”

”Not old, just mature...”

Shi Yu came to hug Qian, ”Qian, you seem like an elder, just warm enough...”

”Get off me, you’re subtly calling me old, you think I can’t tell?”

Qian joked and laughed with her, yet in her heart, wasn’t it true she felt old? Her mental age among these teenagers always felt too aged.

Little troubles in growth, like Shi Yu’s, were real youth. Qian turned her gaze to Dong Yi, who seriously took notes. She noted down the interpersonal gratitude theory Qian just mentioned, planning to research it in the library later.

Compared to normal kids like Shi Yu, Dong Yi was also too mature. Qian knew her situation was different from hers, as Dong Yi’s maturity was forced by life. She hoped tomorrow’s treatment would help Dong Yi integrate into normal life, even if she wouldn’t be as vibrant as Shi Touyu, she could at least be happier.

The key was to see what Yu Mingyi would do.

At the appointed time, Qian brought Dong Yi over and indeed saw Yu Mingyi waiting in casual clothes outside the hotel.

”Dong Yi?” Yu Mingyi was slightly surprised to see Dong Yi.

He looked at Qian puzzled. Qian nodded.

”This is what I need your help with.”