So What If the Pretty Campus Belle Loves Money? (26)

After several rounds of drinks, the conversation somehow circled back to Shi Zheng.

Zhao Yong brought it up as if by chance. "By the way, sis-in-law, that thing on the forum before... It's died down now, but outsiders like us were left completely in the fog. What really happened?"

"Have you ever suspected... who was behind the report against you? We're just so curious."

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere, which had begun to relax, grew a little tense again.

A few glances drifted toward Shi Zheng, then toward the two men beside her, each wearing a different expression.

"As for who it was... Sorry, I don't know either. Someone took a dislike to me and deliberately fabricated those revelations, posting a mix of truth and lies to grab attention. But people repeated them as though they knew every detail..."

She sighed softly, as though in regret. "Still, I don't blame the classmates who were so easily swayed and simply echoed what everyone else said."

"After all, some people just like watching a spectacle. They don't care whether it's real or not, and they can't be bothered to judge for themselves."

"A few blurry photos and a few inflammatory words are enough to make them believe it all without a doubt and join in the jeering..."

"All I can say is, the person who started the rumors had a vicious mind. As for the people who believed them, sometimes they're just... a little simple-minded, easily blinded by appearances."

Her words were gentle and soft, but between the lines, they were like little soft thorns, pricking with precision at the people who had used the forum revelations to mock her, including some of those present in the private room.

Everyone there was shrewd. How could they fail to hear that Shi Zheng was cursing them by taking the long way around?

She was calling them stupid, brainless, and mindless followers.

Zhao Yong chimed in awkwardly, "Sis-in-law has a point, haha."

A few of the young masters beside him, whose eyes had been darting about earlier, felt as though they had swallowed flies. But they had to maintain their composure and laugh it off. "That's right, that's right. Online rumors can kill people. You can't just believe them."

"Sis-in-law is so magnanimous. If it were us, we definitely couldn't be as magnanimous as you."

The frustration of being unable to lash out made the atmosphere in the private room even more delicate.

Then Shi Zheng naturally turned slightly toward Gu Yanshen beside her, her tone grateful. "Fortunately, President, you saw the finest detail and insisted on getting to the truth. You didn't deal with me rashly because of those rumors, so I had a chance to clear things up, and the person pulling strings behind the scenes didn't get their way."

"If I find out who reported me behind my back... I definitely won't let her off!"

Shi Zheng said, "President, no matter what, the fact is that you helped me. I'm truly so grateful."

"Mm..."

Gu Yanshen turned his eyes slightly and gave Shi Zheng a fleeting glance, his gaze dark.

The others might not have noticed that momentary lapse in composure.

But Hua Jinchen, who had been watching him intently out of the corner of his eye the whole time, caught it at once.

Hua Jinchen's brows instantly drew together.

Something's wrong with Gu Yanshen's reaction!

The unspoken understanding flowing between the two of them was definitely not what mere gratitude should have looked like.

His gaze swept swiftly over the all-too-small distance between them, sharp as a hawk's.

Then, following the direction she faced, he looked down...

The gap beneath the table, the dim angle of the light.

They allowed him to make out...

The discovery exploded in his head like a thunderclap.

Gu Yanshen... so that's what you're like, Gu Yanshen!

He had misjudged Gu Yanshen.

Usually, he put on the airs of a lofty saint above the smoke and fire of mortal life.

*What happened to keeping yourself pure? So this is the kind of filthy thing you are behind everyone's back!

The moment I wasn't paying attention, you dared use such despicable tricks to seduce baby and pull these little moves right under my nose?!

Hua Jinchen's face turned livid, and he moved as fast as lightning.

He reached out with his left hand and seized Shi Zheng's wrist, seemingly without meaning to.