The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 15

Regarding the rumors and gossip, the legal team of the Shen Group naturally took care of it.

Xiao San hardly needed to concern herself with the progress of the case. It was only at the very end that she heard the officer had been dismissed from his position, and Luo Pengfei had been sentenced to over a year in prison.

Xiao San felt quite happy.

Although going through such an ordeal again was painful, it was precisely because of this experience that she realized she still had so many friends who believed in her.

Because of this, she even felt a newfound warmth in her gaze toward Shen Lin.

During the few days Xiao San was resting, Mond Hale’s Chinese had improved significantly.

“Didn’t you know? Zheng Qi is a black-hearted person.”

Xiao San looked at Mond, wondering if his Chinese expression had really improved. Just listen to what he was saying.

Mond Hale had no idea what Xiao San was thinking about him. “Zheng Qi framed Luo Pengfei, saying he was selling duck meat outside.”

“Duck meat?”

Mond Hale nodded very seriously. “This is slander.”

“You’re quite good at using Chinese words,” Xiao San rolled her eyes at Mond. “But even if you know how to use them, you still need to pay attention to the context.”

As for Mond’s claim that Zheng Qi had framed Luo Pengfei, Xiao San didn’t believe it at all.

Between Mond Hale and Zheng Qi, even a fool would know who to trust.

He was nothing but a troublemaker and a playboy. Who knew what tricks he had picked up somewhere and was planning to use on her?

Xiao San didn’t want to bother with Mond. Ignoring whatever he said, she walked straight away.

It wasn’t until she reached the classroom that she understood what Mond Hale had meant.

“I heard Luo Pengfei was being kept by a man outside, which is why he went to the Shen Hotel.”

The Shen Hotel, the same hotel Xiao San and her father had visited.

“Really? Wasn’t he always chasing after Xiao San? How could he be kept by a man?”

“Who knows? I never liked him from the start. I always thought he was no good, and sure enough.”

“Ugh, what’s the use of him being no good? He’s already been arrested, but our school is still keeping his student status. It’s so disgusting. If people found out I went to the same school as him, I’d be so embarrassed.”

Lü Yu held Xiao San’s hand as the two of them sat in the back row.

“What goes around comes around. Now the whole school is buzzing with rumors about Luo Pengfei, and no one’s paying attention to the ones that slandered you before. It’s true, the only thing that can defeat a rumor is another rumor.”

Lü Yu sighed with emotion.

Xiao San was puzzled. “Was he really being kept by someone?”

“Who would keep him?” Lü Yu said with a clear head. “It’s definitely just a baseless rumor. After all, he was chasing you so hard back then, I was almost moved. He’s definitely straight.”

“Oh, is that so?” Xiao San nodded, indicating she understood.

“People like us need to keep a clear head and not let these chaotic rumors affect our normal thinking.””

“Oh, oh!” Xiao San nodded.

“If you ask me, the one keeping him must be a wealthy woman with some weird tastes!”

“How so?”

“He’s not even good-looking, and he’s so twisted. I heard he’s into S&M behind the scenes.”

Xiao San was momentarily dazed by Lü Yu’s confident and earnest words, almost convinced that everything Lü Yu said was absolutely correct. She even began trying to match a few moments from her encounters with Luo Pengfei to Lü Yu’s analysis.

Just as Xiao San was about to ask more questions, several uninvited guests entered the classroom.

Lü Yu, who had been happily gossiping just moments before, instantly stiffened.

“What are you all doing here?” Lü Yu stepped in front of Xiao San.

It turned out that several members of the guitar club had come to Xiao San and Lü Yu’s classroom.

Du Yitong was among them.

None of them looked particularly happy, they all seemed dejected and listless, as if they wanted to apologize but were unwilling to do so.

“We…” Du Yitong’s expression was grim. He took several deep breaths before finally saying, “We’re here to ask both of you to come back to the guitar club.”

“I won’t be going back,” Xiao San replied immediately.

She had only joined the guitar club in the first place because Lü Yu had a crush on Du Yitong and had dragged her along. Later, she stayed for Lü Yu’s sake.

Now that Lü Yu had given up on Du Yitong, Xiao San saw no reason to keep going to a place she didn’t enjoy.

Wouldn’t it be better to spend that time working a part-time job?

Du Yitong seemed taken aback by Xiao San’s resolute attitude. He immediately lowered his head, looking like a pitiful, dejected puppy.

Lü Yu glared at the group disdainfully, unwilling to even speak to them.

After Xiao San finished speaking and noticed Du Yitong still hadn’t made a move to leave, she added, “Didn’t you hear? We’re not going back to your guitar club. You were the ones who drove us away, and we’re not even holding a grudge. What’s the point of coming here and making a scene? Who are you trying to disgust?”

Du Yitong looked even more crushed.

He turned to Lü Yu. “You, you’re not coming back either?”

Lü Yu frowned deeply.

“Are you okay?”

Why did his tone sound like he was whining? Was something wrong with him?

Du Yitong shook his head. “Can we talk outside?”

“Talk outside? No way!” Lü Yu slammed her hand on the table, looking ready to pick a fight with Du Yitong. “My classmates are all here. If you trick me into going outside and I can’t beat you, wouldn’t I be at a huge disadvantage?”

Du Yitong’s face turned pale. “I didn’t mean to fight you,” he quickly explained.

“Not fight me?” Lü Yu eyed him suspiciously as he nodded vigorously. “Hah! If you’re not here to fight, are you planning to kneel down and beg me to come back?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “No need. Neither San’er nor I are going back. We’re just not interested in the guitar anymore, so we’re quitting the club.”

“Do I really have to spell it out for you?!” Du Yitong suddenly shouted.

Xiao San and Lü Yu exchanged glances.

Xiao San whispered, “You didn’t do something shady back then, did you?”

“No! No, I don’t think so,” Lü Yu replied, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Her mind raced as she tried to recall whether she had done anything improper back then something Du Yitong might have caught wind of.

Probably not, right?

“Hey, if you have something to say, just say it! Stop beating around the bush. Don’t think you can scare me with vague threats, I’m not someone to be trifled with. If you want to expose something, go ahead and expose it!” Lü Yu straightened her neck, putting on a fearless front.

Xiao San gave her a thumbs-up.

“I… why do you have to go to such lengths to get my attention!” Du Yitong finally couldn’t take it anymore and shouted loudly, “I know I was indecisive back then, but I was only doing what was best for the club!”

“So what? I know you meant well for the club, and I never said anything about it,” Lü Yu replied.

“Let me finish what I have to say.”

Startled by his sudden outburst, Lü Yu lost her temper and, along with Xiao San, made a gesture for him to continue.

Du Yitong said, “I admit I was wrong back then, but I’ve already apologized. What more do you want from me?”

This time, no one interrupted Du Yitong.

Xiao San and Lü Yu exchanged puzzled glances.

When did he ever apologize?

Du Yitong continued from where he left off, “But you like me, and it’s normal that I don’t feel the same way. You can’t expect everyone to live according to your wishes. I just don’t like you, so why did you have to leave the club? Why mix personal feelings with club matters?”

Xiao San laughed.

Lü Yu laughed too.

Xiao San’s laughter carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Lü Yu’s laughter was filled with exasperation.

“I like you?” Lü Yu retorted.

“There’s no need to hide it. I already know. I overheard you when you were leaving.” As Du Yitong spoke, his face gradually turned red. “Although but actually, after I found out you liked me, I thought about it a lot. Even though I don’t like you now, we do get along fairly well. I’m willing to give you a chance, and we can slowly develop feelings.”

“Heh heh,” Xiao San let out two dry laughs.

Lü Yu, however, couldn’t even muster a laugh. “No, are you out of your mind?”

“Lü Yu, I know!”

“No, no, no,” Lü Yu quickly interjected. “You don’t know anything. Sure, there were a few days when I was blind and liked you, but the moment you kicked San’er out of the club, I came to my senses. I stopped liking you. Sure, I might have said a few things back then, but that was definitely not a confession to you. It was just me coming to terms with myself.”

Afraid that Du Yitong still didn’t understand, Lü Yu added, “Let’s just stay out of each other’s way, okay? And please, don’t lower yourself to try and like me. I’m not worthy, alright? I’m not worthy.”

“Lü Yu!”

“Don’t say another word.” Lü Yu pointed her left index finger at her right fist. “See this? It’s itching to punch you in the face. If you don’t leave now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control it.”

Xiao San quickly stepped in front of Lü Yu. “Lü Yu, even if you’re being harassed by a narcissist, you shouldn’t give up on yourself.”

“No, San’er, you don’t understand. This isn’t just narcissism, this is straight-up insanity.”

“Ah, insanity?” Xiao San asked.

“Alright, San’er, I know what you mean. Yes, I was blind, blind to have ever liked such a lunatic.”

The two of them bantered back and forth, leaving Du Yitong red-faced. The few people who had come with him looked at him with expressions too complicated to describe.

“Still not leaving?” Lü Yu issued her final warning.

Of course, Du Yitong couldn’t stay any longer.

Who would have thought that Lü Yu, usually so quiet, could be so sharp-tongued?

As soon as Du Yitong left, Xiao San, Lü Yu, and their classmates burst into laughter, slapping the table and stomping their feet.

Xiao San gently nudged Lü Yu with her shoulder. “Hey, your taste in men really isn’t great, huh.”

Lü Yu puffed out her cheeks and let out a long sigh. “Don’t remind me. I wish I could travel back in time and slap some sense into my past self.”

“Alright, don’t be so hard on yourself. Just remember to keep your eyes wide open next time you’re picking a guy,” Xiao San said, stretching her eyes wide with her fingers and making a funny face as she glanced around. Her gaze happened to fall on Zheng Qi, who was standing by the back door with an ever-changing expression.

But the inexplicable look on Zheng Qi’s face was just her imagination.

Because at that moment, Zheng Qi was actually smiling at her with a gentle expression.

Support