The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 10

Everyone was stunned. After all, no one had expected something like this to happen.

Not many students frequented the school forum. With so many websites and apps available for entertainment, who would bother checking a forum that mostly posted school regulations, dormitory notices, and reports of confiscated water heaters?

But who would have thought such a bombshell would appear on that very forum?

Immediately, someone opened the forum. “Wow, it’s actually true.”

The video wasn’t very clear, but certain parts were intentionally zoomed in. The person filmed from a distance was indeed Xiao San, while the older man beside her remained a blurry figure in the background.

Lü Yu was so furious that she snatched a passerby’s phone. After watching the video, she laughed in disbelief. “This footage is so blurry. Even with the zoom, how can anyone be sure it’s Xiao San? It could just be someone who looks like her.”

She handed the phone to Xiao San. “San’er, take a look. Is that you?”

Xiao San held her own phone in one hand and took the other with her free hand.

The phone’s owner stood nearby, worried that they might smash it in their anger.

Xiao San glanced at the screen.

Although the image was fuzzy, she could tell it was the day she had gone to a hotel with her father.

“This is my dad,” Xiao San said, pointing to the man she was holding onto.

Lü Yu declared, “See? I told you it was all nonsense. Now you know, this is Xiao San’s father.”

With that, she returned the phone to its owner, a somewhat delicate-looking boy who quickly retreated three steps away, afraid they might snatch it again.

Huang Meiqi sneered, “Is he your biological father or your ‘godfather’?”

Lü Yu planted her hands on her hips. “What nonsense are you spouting? San’er already explained, and you’re still slinging mud. Are you insane?”

“Oh, so when you’re caught, you just say it’s your dad. Next time, you can say it’s your brother, right? Whatever. If you’re going to be a prostitute, don’t pretend to be a saint. Everyone knows what you’re like flaunting your looks, seducing this one and that one. Now that you’ve been exposed, you’re acting all innocent?”

Huang Meiqi didn’t believe Xiao San’s explanation at all.

And she wasn’t the only one many others were skeptical too.

Lü Yu was hopping mad, unable to counter the accusations. “San’er, show them your household register! Let them see for themselves!”

“Who knows if the people on your household register are real or fake?” Huang Meiqi said calmly.

At this point, Huang Meiqi had made up her mind. No matter what evidence Xiao San produced, she would simply dismiss it as fabricated.

Lü Yu was beside herself with frustration. No matter how she tried to explain, it was useless. Huang Meiqi seemed determined to contradict everything, and Lü Yu found herself completely defenseless.

“San’er!” Lü Yu turned around, about to say something, only to see Xiao San turn off her phone’s recording function and dial 110.

“Hello, I’d like to report a case. Someone is spreading rumors that I’m being kept by a man.”

“I’m a student at A University. Someone posted defamatory content about me on the forum, and many students have seen it. It’s severely impacting my life. Yes, that’s right.”

After a few words of explanation, Xiao San put down her phone and looked at Huang Meiqi. “Since you’re so confident, I hope you’ll help me give a statement to the police later. It’d be best if you maintain your current attitude.”

Lü Yu burst out laughing. “Wow, San’er, you’re really clever! You actually recorded a video and called the police.”

She happily reached for Xiao San’s phone. “Hey, was I especially cool just now…”

Her voice suddenly trailed off.

Because she touched Xiao San’s hand, it was ice cold, like a block of ice.

Looking at Xiao San’s face, even though her words had been so calm and confident, her face was deathly pale, her lips completely colorless.

“Let’s go back, let’s not bother with these idiots,” Lü Yu quickly said, putting her arm around Xiao San and speaking loudly to Huang Meiqi and the others. “When the police arrive, don’t forget to testify. Stop all the nonsense here and then chicken out in front of the cops.”

Lü Yu whispered to Xiao San, “San’er, are you okay?”

Xiao San weakly shook her head and was carefully supported by Lü Yu as they headed back to the dorm. As they walked, Lü Yu kept muttering, “They’re seriously messed up, falsely accusing someone over a stupid video. You already explained, and she’s still pretending not to understand. They’re really sick.”

But no matter how much she said it, she couldn’t shake the disgust in her heart.

When they reached the dorm, Lü Yu settled Xiao San down and comforted her, “Don’t be too upset. These people just can’t stand others doing well. Anyway, you’ve called the police, they’ll definitely find out who framed you.”

Xiao San shook her head and weakly tried to reassure Lü Yu, “Thank you for getting so angry on my behalf.”

“What are you talking about? Aren’t we friends? Besides, you joined the guitar club for me. Arguing with a few idiots is nothing.”

“Still, thank you so much.”

“Alright, stop being so polite. Look how pale you are, do you want to go to the hospital?”

Xiao San shook her head. “I’m fine. Maybe I was just scared for a moment.”

“Then get some good sleep?”

“Yeah, I’ll rest a bit and be okay.”

Although Lü Yu still wanted Xiao San to go to the hospital, seeing how weak she was, she couldn’t bring herself to push her. Besides, it was clearly psychological, not physical.

San’er might seem strong, but she’s actually too easily frightened.

Lü Yu helplessly shook her head.

She didn’t know that Xiao San had experienced similar rumors before in the real world.

Back then, Xiao San had gone out to eat with a male cousin and acted a bit intimate, and someone posted it on the school forum.

Even without someone like Huang Meiqi fanning the flames, the rumor spread like wildfire across the campus.

She tried everything to explain, even clarifying on the forum, but no one believed her. Not even her close friends trusted her.

In the end, she called the police.

Even when they finally found the person who posted the video.

“Sorry, I just thought you two looked good together, so I casually took a video and put it on the forum. I didn’t expect it to blow up like this.”

“It’s just a misunderstanding. Did you have to call the police and get so angry? You’re so petty.”

“I did clarify, but no one saw it, and there’s nothing I can do about that. You can’t expect me to go around explaining to everyone I meet that you and that guy have nothing to do with each other, can you?”

Even the police said, “After all, no real harm was done. You should just drop the case, it could affect his future career.”

“You’re so young, yet so malicious. It was just a joke, and you had to drag it all the way to the police station.”

Thinking back to the gossip she couldn’t refute, the suffocating frustration, and the pain of losing all her friends, it was hard for her to stay calm.

Heaven knows how terrified she was when she recorded the video with her phone and dialed 110.

Fortunately, this time, Lü Yu stood firmly in front of her, protecting her resolutely.

She had no idea how she made it through that night.

“You really shouldn’t go. You need to rest.”

Xiao San said, “I want to go. If I don’t, it’ll seem like I’m admitting it.”

“You hardly ever went to the guitar club before. Even if you skip this time, no one will say anything.” Lü Yu looked at Xiao San with concern.

But Xiao San insisted on going with Lü Yu.

Even though she might face gossip, she refused to hide like a coward. This time, at least Lü Yu believed in her. Besides, the video was much clearer than the last one. As long as she could prove the man was her father, even if rumors spread, they wouldn’t blow up like last time.

But Xiao San had underestimated people’s malice.

What’s more, this was a world from a novel, where everyone seemed to have lost the ability to think critically. They believed every whisper, and at the slightest hint of trouble, they eagerly played the role of cannon fodder.

“How dare she still show up? If it were me, I’d have dropped out by now.”

“Exactly, sleeping with old men outside and then pretending to be a good girl at school? Ridiculous.”

“She never used to come before. Is she here today to flaunt how well she can charm men? No wonder the club president and a few other guys are always hovering around her. She’s really skilled.”

These voices weren’t even trying to hide, they were openly discussing her.

“Are you all insane? What nonsense are you spouting? The person with Xiao San is her father!”

“If the old one’s her dad, what about the young one? How many dads does she have, anyway?” someone retorted, pulling out their phone to show more videos footage of Xiao San walking with different men, even kissing and showing affection in various clips.

“These are fake videos!” Xiao San immediately protested.

She hadn’t expected the rumor-monger to go as far as creating deepfakes.

“See? They’re synthetic!” Lü Yu echoed.

“Oh, so the last one was her dad, and now these are synthesized?” You two get to decide everything, huh? If you’ve done nothing wrong, why worry about ghosts knocking? Why is it always you in these videos? Why are they always synthesizing yours?” someone in the back grumbled, dragging Lü Yu into it too. “And you defending her so much, do you often go ‘working’ with her?”

“I’ll fight you all!” Lü Yu, unable to argue any further, was about to lunge at them.

Just then, Du Yitong suddenly appeared.

Du Yitong grabbed Lü Yu’s arm. “Calm down, we’re in the guitar club!”

Lü Yu seemed to have found her anchor. “You need to control these people! They’re so shameless, how can anyone say such things? They were all fawning over San’er before, and now they’re all ganging up to slander her. Do you have any proof?”

“I’m sorry, but I think it’s best if Xiao San leaves the guitar club for now. At least until this matter is cleared up. For the reputation of the club, please have Xiao San withdraw temporarily,” Du Yitong said.

Support The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me