"The real culprit is probably right behind you. While I don't have concrete evidence just yet, I will soon. After all, some people might be afraid of me stealing their man and decide to strike first," Gu Yining declared with an enigmatic smile. "Zhao Yiran, I won't lay a hand on you today. However, I promise that as soon as I gather the evidence to point you out, I will present it all to Mu Zuochen."
With a mischievous grin, Gu Yining lowered her sleeves and pants before heading back to the classroom, her aura confident and unyielding.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yiran, having taken refuge beside Mu Zuochen, was sobbing uncontrollably. "Why is she treating me like this? I haven't done anything to her!" she cried, her voice thick with emotion.
Mu Zuochen wore a subtle smile, seemingly unfazed by Zhao Yiran's tears. Instead, he followed Gu Yining into the classroom, a small act that felt monumental in their tense relationship.
Gu Yining's desperate desire to eliminate Zhao Yiran from her life only served to confirm Zuochen's suspicions.
She liked him.
After feeling gloomy for several days, Mu Zuochen suddenly felt a sense of clarity wash over him.
As usual, Gu Yining took her place at the back of the classroom, settling in with her characteristic poise. Mu Zuochen grabbed his textbooks and joined her, sitting down next to her as he had done before. "From now on, I'll stick by your side at all times. I won't let anyone bully you. I refuse to believe any rumors that tarnish your character," he asserted, his gaze earnest and protective.
Gu Yining looked up at him, her expression a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. "Why do you believe in me so firmly? What if I really am as they say?"
Although Zhao Yiran's claims were unfounded, the reality remained that Gu Yining was indeed married to someone from the Fu family.
"Even things we see with our own eyes can be deceptive. So how can we trust what we hear from just our ears?" Mu Zuochen replied, his gaze lingering on the noticeable birthmark on her face, a small imperfection that did not diminish her beauty in his eyes.
Many things we see and hear are mere facades, just like the rumors swirling around her, just like her appearance…
Feeling such unwavering faith from someone else warmed Gu Yining's heart, an unfamiliar but welcome sensation. She had always craved love and security, having lived in a world where those feelings felt scarce.
At that moment, Mu Zuochen radiated a kind of light that made him seem perfect, making it hard for her to look away.
Click, click...
In the corner of the classroom, their roommate, Yang Qin, was snapping several photos of the seemingly affectionate interaction between Gu Yining and Mu Zuochen, her phone held high to capture the moment.
Yang Qin, an average-looking girl from the computer science department, had never been particularly popular among her peers. In an attempt to elevate her social standing, she sought out Gu Wenxuan, hoping that associating with her would garner her some attention.
After successfully taking the photos, she wasted no time sending them to Gu Wenxuan's phone.
Gu Wenxuan, who was waiting for class to start, received the photos and immediately opened them. A smug smile spread across her face as she took in the images.
"Gu Yining, oh Gu Yining, does your husband know that you're flirting with the most popular guy in school? A promiscuous woman like you doesn't deserve a man like Fu Hanniang," she thought to herself, jealousy burning fiercely in her eyes.
After class, Gu Yining tried calling Fu Hanniang, but the line was still busy, indicating that he had not taken her off his blacklist even after a day.
How petty could a man be?
Frustrated but undeterred, Gu Yining switched to texting, sending him a barrage of cheerful emojis in hopes of breaking the ice.
Meanwhile, in his car on the way home from a party, Fu Hanniang heard his phone buzzing incessantly in his pocket.
He pulled it out to see that Gu Yining had sent a flurry of emojis, her excitement palpable even through the screen.