AIBBFSCITMLA Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The post had already amassed hundreds of replies, the comment section thick with smoke and fury.

[The hell! Explain yourself! That's slander—I'll sue you!]

[Where's the OP? What the hell is going on!]

[Here, here. See the photo? He Tang was spotted entering Qingju Villa District, got it?]

[Yeah, I see it. So what? What's the problem?]

[Hold on, let me explain. If this were the old He Tang, it wouldn't be surprising. But after her family went bankrupt, all the wealthy people they used to associate with cut ties with them. So for her to show up in a heavily secure area like Qingju Villa, someone must have brought her in.]

[Two weekends in a row, I saw He Tang go into Qingju. So I asked Lu Xinyuan, who also lives there, if she knew why He Tang was there. Guess what she said?]

[WTF, stop with the suspense! I'll kill you!]

[She was vague about it. She said she didn't know—just that He Tang needed money. Get it? He Tang only went to Qingju because she's short on cash. Read between the lines!]

[Read between my ass! Rumor-mongering like that—careful He Tang slits your throat!]

[Hey, don't be so aggressive. I think the OP has a point. Since Lu Xinyuan herself said He Tang went there because she needs money, it must be true. Lu Xinyuan wouldn't lie. She just put it delicately. She didn't spell it out—that's already giving He Tang face.]

[Lu Xinyuan has no reason to lie. He Tang is definitely the problem.]

[I heard that after He Tang's family got into debt, both her parents ran off. Probably a huge amount of debt, too.]

[Ugh! No matter how much debt, you shouldn't earn money that way. Disgusting!]

[Xinyuan is such a good person. Even knowing about He Tang's shady dealings, she didn't expose her. Truly beautiful inside and out.]

[Wait, why are you people so sure this is true? OP, you don't have any solid evidence, okay? He Tang is staying with the Pei family right now. It's perfectly normal for her to go to Qingju. She used to be a rich girl, after all. Doesn't she have any connections?]

[Speaking of her staying with the Pei family—that makes it even more disgusting. She clearly likes Gu Jingfeng, but to suck up to the Pei family and marry into it, she's gone against her own feelings and confessed to the Pei family heir. Ugh!]

[Hold on. Which Pei family are you talking about? Surely not that Pei family?]

[Reply to the above: Yes, the one where you see their properties everywhere the moment you step outside.]

He Tang finished skimming the post and picked out a key term: Lu Xinyuan.

She turned off her phone, checked the time, and decided to deal with the Lu Xinyuan situation after lunch.

He Tang strolled toward the cafeteria. Because she had lingered to read the post, she was running late—most of the students were already at the dining hall.

He Tang was walking along a tree-lined path when suddenly someone tapped her on the shoulder, even deliberately squeezing it in a suggestive way.

Frowning, He Tang quickly reached out, grabbed the finger, and bent it back with force. A sharp cry of pain rang out as she turned to see a boy hunched over, clutching his finger, with a few of his lackeys behind him.

He Tang swiftly stepped back two paces to keep a safe distance.

After a long while, the boy finally straightened up, cursing under his breath. When he saw He Tang's face, a lecherous grin spread across his features. "Pretty feisty. I like that."

"Bro Wu, is your hand okay?" one of his underlings asked.

"I'm fine." Brother Wu chuckled, then looked back at He Tang. "Don't be scared. I'm here to offer you some business. I'm legit."

"What kind of business?" He Tang frowned.

"Hehe. Don't play dumb. I've heard from my friends at No. 1 High about you. Here's the deal—you try it out with me first. If I like what I see, I'll hook you up with some big spenders."

"You don't go to No. 1 High."

"Ah, come on, who cares about which school? We're from the vocational school nearby. What, you looking down on us? Don't worry—we've got plenty of money!" Brother Wu puffed out his chest and took a step forward.

But before he could complete that step, He Tang lashed out with a kick, slamming it into his groin. Brother Wu crumpled to the ground with a shriek. His two underlings moved to attack He Tang but hesitated, clearly intimidated.

As they wavered, a fist suddenly crashed into each of them—one punch per lackey, sending them sprawling. Before they could react, their attacker rained down several more vicious kicks, each aimed with brutal intent.

Once the two lackeys were unable to get up, their assailant straightened and turned to He Tang, his voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?"

He Tang looked at Sheng Yan, relieved, and nodded. "I'm fine."

After confirming He Tang was unharmed, Sheng Yan grabbed Brother Wu by the collar, hauled him off the ground, and slammed two heavy punches into him. As Wu collapsed, Sheng Yan planted a foot firmly on his chest, his gaze fierce. "You've got some nerve, you bastard, messing with He Tang!"

Brother Wu's mouth was bloody, his words slurred as he curled up and begged for mercy. "I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! Please, stop hitting me!"

His two underlings immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, pleading as well. The three of them were a pathetic sight.

"What do you want to do with them?" Sheng Yan asked He Tang.

"I've already called the security."

Soon enough, security arrived, apologized for their negligence, and hauled the three thugs away to await the police.

The police came shortly after. After the security captain explained what had happened, He Tang and Sheng Yan cooperated with the officers in taking their statements.

During the questioning, He Tang pulled out her phone and played a recording.

The officer was taken aback—he hadn't expected a young student to have the awareness to preserve evidence. The audio recording clearly documented the entire process of the thugs harassing her.

After the thugs were taken away by the police, He Tang had lost her appetite for lunch. She found a bench by the roadside and sat down. Sheng Yan sat down next to her.

Only then did she have a chance to ask him, "Thank you. How did you happen to show up?"

"I saw the post on the forum. I was furious! I'm going to find out who posted it and smash their head in!"

He Tang smiled. "I plan to do the same. But there's another person on my list."

"Who?"

"Lu Xinyuan." He Tang paused, leaning back against the bench. She tilted her head up slightly and raised a hand to block the dappled sunlight. "You have to make an example of one to warn the rest."

He Tang led Sheng Yan all the way to Lu Xinyuan's classroom. He Tang's expression was grim, while Sheng Yan behind her radiated menace.

The students at the classroom door could tell the pair meant trouble. They wanted to block the way, but one look at their faces made them shudder and retreat.

He Tang walked straight to Lu Xinyuan's seat, with only a desk between them.

Lu Xinyuan clenched her fingers, her voice trembling slightly. "H-He Tang, what do you want?"

He Tang curled her lips and shot back, "What do you think I want?"

"How should I know? I-I haven't done anything to you." Lu Xinyuan turned her head slightly, unable to meet He Tang's eyes.

He Tang pulled up the hot post on the campus forum and shoved her phone in front of Lu Xinyuan. "Do you know now?"

Lu Xinyuan twisted her hands together, biting her lip. Finally, she clenched her jaw and said, "I didn't say anything wrong. You are short on money, aren't you?"

"Exactly! Xinyuan didn't say anything bad about you. Why are you bullying her?" a nearby classmate shouted.

"Right! Storming in here like that—you don't even act like a student!"

"What, you look down on our class? Trying to bully Xinyuan?"

"He Tang, don't go too far. Xinyuan is kind and hasn't done anything to you. Just because you can't win Gu Jingfeng over, why take your anger out on Xinyuan?!"

"He Tang, if you've got a clear conscience, what are you afraid of? The way you're acting right now just proves you're guilty. You're scared!"

Seeing so many people rally to her defense, Lu Xinyuan regained her confidence. She straightened her back and lifted her chin. "I didn't say anything bad about you. I only stated the facts. How others interpret them is none of my business! He Tang, you should be reflecting on yourself! Think about why everyone thinks that way about you!"

"Yeah! You should reflect on yourself!"

"Are you sick? Xinyuan didn't do anything wrong!"

"If you have a problem, go find the person who posted the thread! Why are you going after Xinyuan? What, you think she's naive and easy to bully?"

Smack—

The sharp sound of a slap shut everyone up.

Lu Xinyuan clutched her left cheek, staring at He Tang in disbelief. Her mouth hung open, and for a long moment, she couldn't utter a word.

The classmates who had been speaking up for her also pressed their lips tightly shut, too shocked to make a sound as they gaped at He Tang.

He Tang's gaze was ice-cold. She gripped Lu Xinyuan's chin hard, forcing her to look up and meet her eyes. Then, she enunciated each word slowly: "Still putting on an act right in front of me?"

With that, she pressed her fingers harder, leaving red marks on Lu Xinyuan's skin.

"You said you didn't know why I was at Qingju Villa?"

Hearing this, Lu Xinyuan's mind went blank. She froze.

"Speak. Did you know why I went to Qingju or not?" He Tang tightened her grip.

Lu Xinyuan looked into He Tang's eyes and suddenly recalled the rumor about Li Chang—the one where He Tang had pressed a steel ruler against his neck until it drew blood.

Thinking of that, Lu Xinyuan finally grew afraid. He Tang had nothing left now. Who knew what crazy thing she might do? But she, Lu Xinyuan, was the heiress of the Lu family. She had a bright future ahead. She couldn't die!

"I… I knew," Lu Xinyuan admitted honestly.

Smack—

Another slap landed on Lu Xinyuan's face.

"Do you know the consequences your words can have on someone? Do you think this kind of vile tactic is amusing?"

"I—I didn't know he would post something like that. I didn't know people would think that way. I—I didn't mean it." Lu Xinyuan cried pitifully, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain, making the classmates around her feel sorry for her again.

"You didn't know? Then let's find the person who posted the thread and confront them, shall we?" He Tang grabbed Lu Xinyuan's face and forced her to look forward. "Didn't I already tell you? Stop putting on an act in front of me."

Lu Xinyuan's face went pale instantly.

When the person who posted the thread had asked her if He Tang was going to Qingju because she was being kept, Lu Xinyuan had answered, "I don't know," but had deliberately emphasized that Qingju was impossible to enter unless someone brought you in.

"Remember now?" He Tang's voice was frigid.

Lu Xinyuan's whole body trembled. After a moment of struggle, she gave a small nod.

Her face hurt too much.

The moment she nodded, the surrounding classmates gasped in shock, unable to believe it as they stared at Lu Xinyuan.

"As a girl yourself, using such dirty tactics to attack someone else don't you find yourself disgusting?" He Tang bored into Lu Xinyuan's eyes, her presence overwhelming. She gripped Lu Xinyuan's chin again. "Do you realize you could ruin someone's life? And you—you're the executioner!"

Lu Xinyuan was stunned. Suddenly, she thought about what it would be like if she were the one being falsely accused. How would she face other people's stares?

No. She couldn't face them at all. She wouldn't be able to go on living—feeling wronged but powerless, wanting to shut people's mouths but unable to do anything about it. She simply wouldn't survive.

Lu Xinyuan sobbed even harder. "I—I'm sorry. I didn't think that far ahead. I was wrong. I shouldn't have done that."

He Tang's eyes darkened. She released her grip on Lu Xinyuan's chin, then slowly pulled out a wet wipe and cleaned her hands with deliberate care. She took out her phone again and opened the video recording function.

"Since you know you were wrong, and you're so kind-hearted, how about recording a clarification video for me?" He Tang said unhurriedly, aiming the camera at Lu Xinyuan.

Lu Xinyuan froze, then immediately covered her face. "No! I can't!"

How could she record a video? That would let everyone know about her malicious intentions!

Knock, knock, knock—

He Tang rapped on the desk three times.

Lu Xinyuan remembered Li Chang's neck, then touched her own burning cheek. Finally, trembling, she lowered her hands.

He Tang raised her phone, adjusted the angle, and asked, "Tell me: Did you know why He Tang went to Qingju Villa?"

"Y-Yes."

"What did she go there to do?"

"To… to tutor."

"At my house. To tutor my younger brother!" Sheng Yan added.

The mouths of the surrounding classmates were now wide open.

He Tang was innocent. There was no sordid business at all. And the fact that a high school student like He Tang could tutor for a family living in Qingju Villa only proved how exceptional she truly was.

As for Lu Xinyuan… she wasn't as innocent and kind as they had thought.

They had been used as pawns. They had been fools!

After finishing the video, He Tang went straight to the campus forum and posted a new thread with the video link.

She put away her phone, swept the room with an icy glare, and led Sheng Yan out of the classroom.

Once they were outside, Sheng Yan dropped his bodyguard demeanor. His puppy-dog eyes were full of admiration as he walked beside her. "He Tang, I didn't expect you to be this tough! I didn't even get to do anything!"

He Tang smiled. "You did. The two of us together made quite an impression."

"Then from now on, you should just take me with you."

"What would I take you along for? To start fights every day?"

Sheng Yan pouted. "No, that won't do. You still need to study. You're the top of the grade."

He Tang turned sideways, smiled, and reached out to pat Sheng Yan on the shoulder. "You need to study hard too."

Sheng Yan's eyes narrowed. Before he could respond, he saw Gu Jingfeng standing ahead. His face instantly darkened, and he stepped forward to block He Tang.

Confused, He Tang leaned sideways and peeked out, finally spotting Gu Jingfeng.

Gu Jingfeng's gaze shifted from Sheng Yan to He Tang, his expression utterly blank.

"Hey!" He Tang waved, greeting him.

Sheng Yan turned his head and shot her a fierce glare, then grabbed her wrist and steered her around Gu Jingfeng, walking right past him.

As He Tang brushed past Gu Jingfeng, she didn't forget to speak to him. "Don't forget to pay me back for my phone! The new model is already out!"

No sooner had she said this than Sheng Yan dragged her away with even more force.

Gu Jingfeng watched their retreating figures, pressing his lips tightly together, his fingers clenching slightly.

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