Shen Yusheng felt even guiltier. Just as he was about to apologize again, a burst of commotion came from the entrance of the auditorium.
Wen Ling lifted her eyes and looked over, the corners of her lips curving.
Ruan Miaomiao really did arrive with a crowd before and behind her.
Dressed in a princess dress, her expression confident and aloof, she was worlds apart from the girl who had once come begging at Grandfather’s house in a dress washed yellow with age.
When she saw the two people behind Ruan Miaomiao, Wen Ling’s gaze flickered.
It was Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen.
Wen Ling had long known that after she left, those two had become friends with Ruan Miaomiao. They had even believed Ruan Miaomiao’s words and helped her spread rumors throughout the school and the capital that Wen Ling only pretended to be bright and kind on the surface, while in truth she was a spoiled rich young lady who bullied others with her power, arrogant and domineering.
Wen Ling lowered her eyes with a lonely expression. In Shen Yusheng’s eyes, it looked like a girl feeling hurt after seeing her good friends grow close to someone else. In truth, Wen Ling was only afraid she would fail to hide the contempt and disdain in her eyes. If that happened, wouldn’t the persona she was preparing to rebuild collapse?
“Wen Ling, don’t be sad. I know those rumors back then were all misunderstandings. As long as you explain things clearly to them, it’ll be fine,” Shen Yusheng comforted her.
Wen Ling could hardly suppress the disgust that was about to show. She said softly, “It’s all right, Senior. They already have new friends, so there’s no need for me to go over and make myself unwelcome.” Wen Ling lifted her eyes, the rims slightly moist. “As for the misunderstandings, I don’t want to explain anymore. After all, once people have a fixed impression, what use is explaining? The innocent will prove themselves innocent. I believe there will definitely be people who trust me.”
Shen Yusheng pressed his lips together and said solemnly, “Wen Ling, I believe you!”
“Thank you, Senior.” Wen Ling looked at him gratefully, then glanced sideways at the three of them and sighed. “Senior, I’ll step out for a bit. I’ll come back when the gala starts.”
Shen Yusheng only assumed she was in a bad mood and wanted to go out for some air.
Wen Ling smiled at Shen Yusheng, then turned and walked outside. When she passed by the three of them, her steps paused. She turned her head and looked over.
Ruan Miaomiao sensed the unfriendly gaze and lifted her head in confusion, just in time to meet Wen Ling’s eyes. Her eyes widened. Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen followed her gaze and looked over as well, the three of them wearing the same disbelief.
Wen Ling merely gave them a light smile before turning to leave. That smile made Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen break out in a cold sweat despite the early autumn weather.
Ruan Miaomiao was Wen Ling’s cousin. Even if Wen Ling knew that Ruan Miaomiao was the one behind them, she would still give the Qin family and the Ruan family some face. But they were different.
Ruan Miaomiao bit her lip, unwillingness filling her heart.
She had tried many times in the past to get close to Zhou Yinhe and the circle around him. Her cousin Qin Yuanzheng had also once brought her to gatherings with those people, but from beginning to end, she had never exchanged more than a few words with Zhou Yinhe.
Only once, when Zhou Yinhe was drunk, he stared at her for a long time. She thought Zhou Yinhe had finally become interested in her and smiled shyly, only to hear him say in a hoarse voice, “You’re Wen Ling’s cousin. Do you have any photos of Wen Ling? Your cousin doesn’t have any.”
She froze completely and stared at him in astonishment. Then she heard Zhou Yinhe continue, “I heard from your cousin that you’re an actress now. I’ll give you resources, and you give me photos.”
Ruan Miaomiao really wanted to refuse, but she had only just entered the entertainment industry. Because the Qin family was unwilling to help her, even though she was the Qin family’s young cousin, she still had to climb up bit by bit like an ordinary person. If Zhou Yinhe gave her resources, perhaps she could soar to the top in one leap.
Ruan Miaomiao agreed. She added Zhou Yinhe on WeChat and dug out from her phone an old photo she had taken with Wen Ling, then sent it to him.
Aside from wanting Zhou Yinhe’s resources, she wanted even more for Zhou Yinhe to see the two somewhat similar faces in the photo, hoping he could transfer his love for Wen Ling onto her.
Who would have thought...
A few days later, Ruan Miaomiao found an excuse to follow her cousin to the club they often visited. When Zhou Yinhe took out his wallet to tip the waiter, she saw the photo hidden inside Zhou Yinhe’s wallet.
He had actually cropped her out and left only Wen Ling’s photo!
The more Ruan Miaomiao thought about it, the more unwilling she became. She told Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen that she was going to see a former teacher, then chased after Wen Ling alone.
Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen exchanged a glance. In truth, they both understood what Ruan Miaomiao wanted to do.
Wen Ling stood by the lake on campus, watching the koi swim back and forth in the water. Hearing the sound of hurried footsteps behind her, she suddenly smiled.
“Wen Ling! What did you come back for? Are you trying to steal Grandfather and Senior Yinhe from me again?” Ruan Miaomiao’s gentle little-white-flower image in front of everyone vanished completely, her voice sharpened by jealousy and painfully piercing.
Wen Ling stood up and turned to look at her, her expression innocent. “Cousin, how can you say that? Grandfather belongs to both of us, and Zhou Yinhe is my ex-boyfriend. I haven’t heard that you and Zhou Yinhe are together.”
Ruan Miaomiao bit hard into the flesh of her lip, her gaze on Wen Ling seeming as if it would shoot fire. Then she saw Wen Ling’s slender, fair fingers brush aside a strand of hair that had fallen over her collarbone, revealing the red mark that could not help but make one’s imagination run wild.
Ruan Miaomiao took a few steps forward and suddenly grabbed Wen Ling’s wrist, staring at the red mark on Wen Ling’s neck.
“What is this? Did you go pester Senior Yinhe again? How can you be so cheap! You already broke up with him, do you know that?” Ruan Miaomiao snapped.
Wen Ling cried out in pain, drawing the attention of people not far away. Only then did Ruan Miaomiao react and remember that they were outside. Just as she was about to let go, Wen Ling grabbed her hand in return and dragged her back a few steps. Before Ruan Miaomiao could react, Wen Ling had already fallen into the lake.
“Help! I—I can’t swim! Help!” Wen Ling struggled in the lake, choking on the water and coughing violently. When the people nearby saw someone fall into the lake, they hurried over, some calling for help, others jumping into the water.
It took a great deal of effort before Wen Ling was finally pulled up, and someone draped a coat over her.
Wen Ling sat on the ground, coughing nonstop, her eyes wet and red. Her damp hair clung to her face, making her look even more delicate and fragile.
“Cousin, even if you dislike me, you can’t harm me. You know I’m afraid of water.” Wen Ling raised her head, her hand resting in front of her, looking miserable and wronged.
At those words, whispers rose among the onlookers. Ruan Miaomiao took a step back, shaking her head again and again as she anxiously explained, “I didn’t push her! She fell in by herself! She’s trying to frame me! It’s true, you have to believe me!”
In an instant, more than half the people around believed Ruan Miaomiao’s words. Some even brought up the old rumors about Wen Ling.
Wen Ling sighed inwardly, lamenting that this was indeed the charm of a pampered group-favorite heroine.
“What is going on here?”
Hearing the voice, the crowd turned back to look. When they saw who had arrived, they all made way in unison.
Wen Ling lifted her eyes and looked over. It was actually Zhou Yinhe and the other two.
As for Zhou Yinhe, the moment he saw Wen Ling in such a state, his pupils abruptly contracted.