Chuzheng heard the rumors two days later.

The source of the news was the school’s forum, where there was an anonymous post.

First, it was said that she was two-faced, behaving well at school but supposedly having a nasty temper in private.

They also leaked some miscellaneous things—not particularly malicious, but enough to spoil one’s reputation.

The rumors became increasingly bizarre.

They morphed into stories of Chuzheng hanging out with unsavory characters off-campus.

They even posted a picture.

That was a photo of the original cosplaying; the photo itself was innocuous, showing a pure and cute girl, like someone out of a two-dimensional world.

The issue was the setting where the photo was taken, which wasn’t at a convention-like venue but rather somewhere resembling a hotel...

Staying in a hotel isn’t a big deal; who hasn’t taken photos in a hotel?

The problem is the hotel’s decor was suspicious, looking like one of those couple-themed rooms.

Who would stay in such a room without reason?

So the comments began to pile up below.

At this age, people don’t feel accountable for what they say, especially behind anonymity, so anything goes.

The story started with just one image, and the entire plot was fabricated.

This photo was taken by her roommate while they stayed together, during a trip to a convention.

They ended up in that hotel because they arrived late and miscommunication led them to believe the other had booked a room, but neither had.

They couldn’t find another hotel at the time, so they settled for this one.

"Who did this?"

Bai Dongai tossed the phone in front of Chuzheng.

"Who have you offended recently?"

"No one." Chuzheng could guess who it might be, but had no evidence yet.

The original didn’t share that photo with anyone; it only existed on her computer.

Coincidentally, Lu Qian used her computer before.

"Look at the nonsense they’re spreading—it’s clearly slander!" Bai Dongai snatched the phone back. "No, I have to find out who’s behind this."

"No need for the trouble, I probably know who it is."

Bai Dongai pressed, "Who? Messing with my friend is messing with me! We must expose this person!!"

"I can handle it myself."

No need for others to help with such a minor issue.

There’s no problem a girl can’t solve.

Chuzheng refused Bai Dongai’s help, but Bai Dongai worried she couldn’t manage, and kept sending her notes during class.

Chuzheng’s desk was covered with notes, and the teacher on stage glanced their way several times before calling Bai Dongai up to solve a problem, likely having had enough.

Chuzheng stuffed all the notes in her desk, appearing innocent when the teacher approached.

"Pay attention in class." The teacher tapped her desk. "It’s senior year now."

Chuzheng: "..."

I’ve got it tough.

-

Once school ended, Chuzheng made a quick exit, giving Bai Dongai no chance to intervene.

She evaded Bai Dongai, sneaking to the sophomore building, and headed upstairs with her backpack.

"Why is she coming here?"

"No idea, let’s go..."

"What’s going on?"

"Haven’t you seen that post?"

"Which post?"

"I’ll show you later."

Several students passing by looked at her strangely.

Ignoring their stares, Chuzheng nonchalantly walked upstairs.

Lu Qian was on duty today and hadn’t left the classroom.

Chuzheng pushed open the back door of their classroom; the students remaining inside fell silent instantly.

Lu Qian saw Chuzheng and panicked for a moment, but then remembered she had little to do with the issue and regained her composure.

"Uh... Senior Lu, who are you looking for?" a nearby student asked cautiously.

"Lu Qian."

The others turned their gaze to Lu Qian.

Lu Qian was new and not well-known, but they both seemed to share the surname Lu?

"What do you want?" Lu Qian, being named, had to respond.

"Please step outside."

"I have to finish my duty work, no time." Lu Qian felt safer with more people around; she didn’t believe Chuzheng could cause a scene with so many classmates present.

Chuzheng asked the other students, "Could you all step out for a moment?"

"Uh..."

Several students immediately set down what they were doing and left the classroom.

Lu Qian: "..."

Lu Qian began to feel anxious inside.

After the last student left, Chuzheng entered and closed the back door.

Sweat started to bead on Lu Qian’s palms. What did Chuzheng intend to do?

This was a school setting!

Lu Qian assured herself that Chuzheng wouldn’t dare try anything at school, but still felt unsettled under her icy gaze.

Feigning calm, she said, "What do you want?"

"Let’s talk about the photo issue." Chuzheng set her backpack on the back desk, cracking her knuckles as she moved closer.

Lu Qian instinctively backed away, "What photo?"

Chuzheng crossed the rows of desks, cornering Lu Qian against the wall on the other side of the classroom, "No problem if you don’t remember, I’ll help jog your memory."

Lu Qian’s pupils shrank violently, her back pressed to the icy wall.

-

Three minutes later.

Lu Qian was crouched on the ground, crying uncontrollably, face full of fear.

Chuzheng sat on the desk, like a bandit, her foot propped on a chair, holding her phone in one hand, sliding through the screen.

The images passing by were all stored on the original’s computer.

"Stealing so many photos, are you secretly in love with me?"

At this point, Lu Qian resembled a pitiful bullied child, crying like a delicate flower, yet Chuzheng had no sympathy for her.

She impatiently kicked the desk, "I asked you a question."

Lu Qian shuddered in fright, "I just looked, didn’t do anything else."

"Did nothing else, yet the photos made it to the forum; did they climb there on their own?" Did those photos have a mind of their own!

Lu Qian stammered, "I left my phone there, I don’t know who took it and uploaded them."

"Oh."

Chuzheng’s response was very calm, making it impossible for Lu Qian to gauge her intentions.

"Looks like I didn’t beat you enough." Chuzheng’s voice sounded again, stern, "This time, I’ll aim to satisfy you."

Lu Qian trembled, fear filling her eyes, "You’re crazy... Don’t come any closer... Ah..."

-

"It was me... I posted them."

Lu Qian huddled in the corner, confessing in a quivering voice that she was the one who uploaded the photos.

She hadn’t started the initial thread but upon discovering it, she registered a new account to fuel the flames.

"I know I was wrong, please let me go..."

Seeing Chuzheng now filled Lu Qian with terror, her survival instinct driving her to beg for mercy.

As if the girl before her wasn’t a seemingly gentle and delicate girl, but a demon.

Chuzheng deleted all photos from her phone, tossing it onto the desk, "How do you think we should resolve this?"

"I’ll apologize, I’m sorry, I’m sorry..." Lu Qian was truly scared, having believed she narrowly escaped death earlier.

"What good is an apology?"

Is an apology what I’m looking for?

Lu Qian’s voice quivered, "Then what do you... what do you want to do?"