Xiao Die had been feeling a vague unease lately. She didn't know whether this premonition came from reality or from her loneliness. When a person's loneliness reaches a certain point, it turns into fear.
Lu Na didn't tell Xiao Die about the rumors spreading online. She asked nothing, and even hoped Xiao Die would never find out.
They worked until closing time. Lu Na secretly followed Xiao Die home. She wasn't doing this out of distrust. She wanted to find the one spreading those rumors.
Lu Na truly lived up to her reputation as a teenage detective. There was indeed someone with a camera sneaking along behind Xiao Die—and that person was the class president, Wen Nan.
Lu Na tapped Wen Nan on the shoulder.
"Why are you trying to hurt Xiao Die?"
"She's always treated you as a friend, but you're the one spreading those rumors online."
"If you don't clear up those rumors, don't blame us for throwing away whatever friendship we had."
Wen Nan sneered, then like a madman, smashed his camera onto the ground.
"I can delete the posts, but I won't clear her name. She hooked herself a rich man. That's the truth. I didn't slander her."
"She and the BR Group president are dating like any normal couple. It's not the filthy thing you're making it out to be."
"Ask her yourself. I'm just afraid she won't even have the courage to tell you the truth."
Wen Nan opened his door and shut Lu Na out. He deleted the posts that defamed Xiao Die. Yet Xiao Die still had no idea that rumors about her were everywhere online, and those rumors didn't disappear just because Wen Nan deleted his posts.
Xiao Die was in a good mood today. She had adapted to working at the bubble tea shop, and the thought of earning money through her own labor filled her with an indescribable sense of accomplishment.
She carried a bag of discounted vegetables from the supermarket, planning to cook herself a meal and make a steaming bowl of soba noodles.
Her phone chat window kept flashing. She received messages from many classmates.
— Xiao Die, is your boyfriend the president of BR Group?
— Xiao Die, I'm so envious. How did you manage to date such a top-tier tall, rich, and handsome man?
— Being pretty really does make a difference. Rich men all like beautiful women.
What was going on? How did her classmates know about her and Su Mosheng?
Xiao Die opened the local page on TikTok. It was filled with scandalous gossip, all discussing her and Su Mosheng.
At that moment, she didn't think of herself. She was afraid that Mosheng gege would be affected because of her. But she didn't know how to clear things up either.
She hesitated for a long time. Then, draping a thin jacket over herself, she went next door and knocked on Su Mosheng's door.
"Mosheng gege, there's something I need to tell you. Could you please avoid contact with the outside world for a while?"
"Are you afraid I'll be affected?"
"Can you read what's on your phone? I'm sorry—I really didn't mean for you to have to go through this. This is all my fault."
"No need to apologize. I'll handle this. You just focus on filling out your university applications, working your job, and going to A City to chase your dreams."
Xiao Die felt deeply guilty. She believed she had dragged Su Mosheng down. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have had to endure so much pain and grievance.
Su Mosheng closed the door and called his mother.
"Mom, I've seen the DNA report. I don't think there's any reason for you to keep hiding things from me."
"Xiao Sheng, are you trying to cut ties with me?"
"Unless you want to cut ties with your own biological daughter. I know how much you value bloodlines. Xiao Die is your only descendant, the true heir of BR Group. I'm just one of your chess pieces."