Let's play for higher stakes

While no one was looking, Han Mo poured some water from her insulated cup into an empty tissue packet. Sure enough, He Yaoyao came looking for her soon afterward.

"Mo, that water must have gone cold by now. Let me pour it out and get you a fresh cup."

Han Mo handed her the cup. "Just pour it out. No need to refill it. Thanks, Yaoyao."

Yan Wen and Tang Yun listened for a while, then lost interest and went for a stroll around campus together.

The campus was full of couples on dates in summer, especially at night.

There was no telling whether they would suddenly stumble across a couple canoodling beside the next unlit stretch of path.

They had already run into three couples. It had been awkward at first, but by now they were used to it.

A light flashed in the nearby bushes, so briefly that it was almost impossible to notice.

Xiao Qi warned him, Host, Cao Dong is secretly taking pictures of you.

Yan Wen tilted his head to glance at the bushes. Why is he taking pictures of me out of nowhere? Is this the plan they were talking about?

Yes. Zhang He told Cao Dong to follow you and take plenty of pictures from different angles so they can Photoshop them.

Photoshop? They spent three whole days and nights thinking, and this was all they came up with?

They have the desire, but not the guts. They may have threatened to ruin your reputation, but they really wouldn't dare break the law. If the school or their families found out, they'd be in serious trouble. They're well-educated rich kids, after all. Mu Huai'an, though, might be a different story.

I'm getting a little curious about what Mu Huai'an will do.

Xiao Qi added, Oh, right, Host. Song Jing'an has started working at your dad's company, and that undercover secretary has already begun making moves.

I hope my dad keeps his guard up. Right now, even if I want to help, there's nothing I can do.

After returning to her dorm, Han Mo contacted a friend in the Medical Department and asked her to test what was in the water.

Her friend poured the water, which had already turned a muddy yellow, into a palm-sized transparent container.

"How long will the results take?"

"I should be able to give them to you tomorrow evening."

"Okay. Sorry for the trouble. I'll treat you to a meal next time."

"Come on, there's no need to be so formal with me."

Tang Yun suddenly thrust his phone in front of Yan Wen's face. "Holy crap! A Yan, look at the Confession Wall!"

Yan Wen took Tang Yun's phone and saw a post: "Wall admin, could you help me find the guy in this photo? He looks so handsome and cute. I'd love to get to know him. (One photo attached.)"

The person in the photo was none other than Yan Wen. Everyone beside him had been pixelated out, and there were plenty of replies below.

[You don't know who he is? He's a freshman, and he's top of his year.]

[Wow! Handsome and talented! What do I do? I like him even more now!]

[I remember his name was Mu something Wen. I've seen him in person before. He's even better-looking than in the photo.]

[Ha. So what if he's good-looking? With a personality like his, that face is wasted on him.]

[Do you have any proof, commenter above?]

[Of course I do. My classmate is the older brother of the guy in the photo. His brother has been looking after him all this time, worried he wouldn't adjust to school. And what does he do? As soon as he made new friends, he decided his brother was embarrassing. He even deliberately avoids eating with him.]

[Is that true? Why does he look down on his brother?]

[Well, my classmate has had it pretty rough. He's the family's adopted son, while the guy in the photo is their biological son, whom they only recently found. My classmate has been giving in to him and trying to please him at every turn to build a good relationship. I've seen it several times myself.]

[I think I once saw Mu Huai'an from Class Five talking to the guy in the photo, and then Mu Huai'an walked away looking really upset. So that's what happened.]

[Everyone, I found out who the guy in the photo is. His name is Mu Yanwen, and he's in freshman Class One. He and Mu Huai'an from Class Five really are brothers. Mu Yanwen was living in the countryside until they found him a little while ago.]

[So he's jealous, then? He was supposed to be the young master, but someone else enjoyed more than a decade of luxury in his place.]

[But Mu Huai'an is innocent. His parents were the ones who adopted Mu Huai'an. He should blame them. Why take it out on Mu Huai'an?]

[I bet he just picks on the weak and fears the strong. He thinks Mu Huai'an is easy to bully. I never thought he'd be like this. I must have been blind to think he was a decent person.]

[I officially declare that he's on my blacklist.]

[I'm even in the same class as him. How embarrassing.]

[Me too. I used to feel proud to share a class with a handsome guy. Now I want to switch classes immediately.]

Yan Wen scrolled through every reply, already having a good idea who was behind it.

Xiao Qi explained, Zhang He made the post using an alternate account. Cao Dong posted too—he wrote the reply that steered everyone into attacking you. The other replies were all posted by students.

Yan Wen asked curiously, What about Mu Huai'an? Isn't he in the group?

He is, but he hasn't said anything. He's already successfully cast himself as the victim. Host, you've become the target of everyone's outrage.

That's fine. Let the outrage build a little longer. There aren't enough people yet. If they want to play games with me, I'll play for higher stakes.

Seeing that Yan Wen didn't care and was even smiling, Tang Yun was exasperated. "How can you still be smiling? This is obviously Mu Huai'an and his friends' doing. Hurry up and post an explanation!"

Yan Wen handed the phone back to Tang Yun. "No rush. They want to play, don't they? Then let's play along and raise the stakes."

"You've got a plan?"

"Of course. But for now, let's pretend we don't know about this."

Yan Wen said to Xiao Qi, You know what to do, right?

Xiao Qi replied confidently, Don't worry, Host. The videos and recordings are all ready. Just give the word, and I'll post everything on the Confession Wall.

I didn't expect them to play this dirty. Looks like things won't be easy for me for a while.

Host, what if someone bullies you because of this?

Bully me? When I was eight, I cracked open the head of a twelve-year-old boy who bullied me. Your host isn't some pushover anyone can walk all over.

Then I'm relieved. I'll protect you too, Host.

Tang Yun looked worried. "This could have a pretty big impact on you. Are you really not going to explain?"

Yan Wen nodded. "It's not time yet. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. You might get dragged into it because of me, though."

Tang Yun waved a hand dismissively. "What's there to be scared of? Good friends should stick together through trouble. If I ditched you and ran off over something like this, I'd be a real piece of trash."

Elsewhere, Mu Huai'an clutched his phone worriedly. "Aren't we going a little too far?"

Zhang He shrugged it off. "What's there to worry about? Mu Yanwen deserves to suffer a little. Better yet, make him come begging to us."

Cao Dong chimed in, "I've been sick of that arrogant attitude of his for ages. This time, we're definitely going to teach him a lesson."

Mu Huai'an looked worried on the surface, but inside, he was already bursting with delight.

Yan Wen, let's see how you get out of this one.