There’s an old saying: “You can know a person’s face, but not their heart.”

Sometimes, people who seem nice on the surface might be doing things behind your back that will leave you speechless.

I remember when I first started college, I had a part-time job with a classmate. We were both working as teachers at an institution.

Because my classmate wasn’t putting in much effort, they got criticized by our leader during a meeting. I spoke up for them, saying that sometimes students just need time to absorb things, and it’s not that teachers aren’t doing their job, but that students need a process. The leader listened, and my classmate was grateful, even saying that I was the only one who understood them.

However, behind my back, this classmate was spreading rumors about me to over ten people. If it weren’t for so many people telling me, I wouldn’t have believed it, because on the surface, this person was very nice to me.

This is what happens sometimes—people with bad intentions will hide their true nature and pretend to be nice.

Their Private Interests

People with bad intentions won’t reveal their private interests. Everyone is selfish to some extent, but some people are more innocent and don’t have bad intentions, so they’ll tell you what they want.

However, some people will pretend to be kind and selfless, but they’re actually just trying to get something from you. They’ll give you small favors and then ask for something in return.

If someone is always giving you small treats or doing you favors, be cautious. They might be trying to get something from you.

Their Jealous Heart

People with bad intentions will hide their jealousy. When you do better than others, some people will get jealous, but they might not show it. Some people will put on a nice face, but their jealousy is hidden deep inside.

Be careful of people who are jealous of you, because they might try to harm you behind your back.

In life, you should be careful about who you trust, because some people might use what you tell them against you.

Their Hidden Discontent

When someone hides their discontent, be careful when dealing with them.

Some people will express their discontent openly, but others will talk behind your back. These people will ruin your reputation.

If you have someone like this in your life, be cautious and don’t trust them completely.

Remember, if someone is being too nice to you, they might have an ulterior motive. If someone is truly good to you, cherish them, because people who are genuinely kind are rare.