When Zhen Bao returned to her dormitory, she immediately received a warm welcome from the other girls in her class. More than ten girls crowded into Zhen Bao's dormitory, eagerly asking her all kinds of details about her love life. Zhen Bao was overwhelmed by their questions. Although she could answer them all since they didn't involve anything too intimate, she really wasn't used to recounting her relationship like an interview.
"Alright, other than having some money and looks, President Fu is not much different from other men. Give Zhen Bao a break, everyone. Go do your homework if you haven't, or take a shower if you haven't!" Jia Xiao Yu and Qian LeLe shooed the other classmates out together.
The noisy group finally left.
Zhen Bao heaved a long sigh of relief.
"Zhen Bao!"
Jia Xiao Yu closed the dormitory door and suddenly pounced over to give her a bear hug. "Ahhh, President Fu is so handsome! We saw everything from the balcony just now. I wish a guy would throw me over his shoulder like that too!" From the balcony, Fu Ming Shi looked tall and strong, while Zhen Bao was petite and delicate. Their pose of him carrying her on his shoulder looked even better than in idol dramas - more romantic, more tantalizing, making everyone want to fall in love!
Zhen Bao could only smile. Although she wasn't used to Fu Ming Shi being so high-profile and never flaunted their relationship, having a boyfriend like him, she could understand others' envy. If she acted modest now and said it was nothing, they would surely gang up on her.
"Now you can openly flaunt your affections instead of sneaking around." Fan Xuan said while pouring water.
"Look look, there are already photos of you two on the school forums!" Qian LeLe called everyone over from the computer.
Many people had posted the photos of Zhen Bao and Fu Ming Shi returning to campus. Qian LeLe pulled up the one with the most views and clicks. Aside from the photos, there were even a few video clips! The first video was provocatively titled "This is how a domineering president acts", and immediately caught Zhen Bao's attention.
Qian LeLe played the video. Amidst the clamoring noises, Fu Ming Shi pushed open the car door and stepped out, dressed in a black suit that showed off his model-like slender waist and long legs. His expression was cold and aloof, unaffected by the shaky camerawork. After getting out of the car, Fu Ming Shi glanced around at the reporters and calmly said, "Before Zhen Bao graduates, I hope she can focus on her studies. So after she leaves A University, I won't intervene in your stalking and interviews of me. If I have time, I'm willing to cooperate with Zhen Bao, but if anyone chases her into A University and harasses her normal life, I may have to take necessary measures. Everyone will suffer then."
The reporters looked at each other in dismay.
Fu Ming Shi continued, "Today is the first time. All of you leave immediately, and I won't pursue it, but from now on, if any media releases photos of Zhen Bao inside A University, I will have my lawyer contact the photographer and their company."
After he finished speaking, the reporters who didn't want trouble gradually retreated, quickly clearing the area around the car. Fu Ming Shi's cold expression also changed. He turned and walked to the passenger side. The closer he got to the car door, the softer his gaze became. When he pulled open the door, there was not a trace of chill left in the man's face, only tenderness in his eyes. Under that gentle gaze, Zhen Bao got out of the car. Her back faced the camera at first, and it wasn't until a minute later that she turned to show her face - confused and a bit silly looking.
The video ended, but Zhen Bao was still reminiscing about Fu Ming Shi's words. Jia Xiao Yu nudged Fan Xuan and imitated Fu Ming Shi's tone, "I'm warning you, don't come to A University to bother my fiancée again, or this President will make sure you don't see tomorrow's sun!"
Fan Xuan laughed loudly. Zhen Bao was annoyed and pushed Jia Xiao Yu. Fu Ming Shi would never say something like that.
After the excitement died down, Zhen Bao went to browse her own Weibo. The topic about her and Fu Ming Shi was already trending at #1. Netizens were heatedly discussing it - some envied her for marrying into money, some critiqued her looks and background, some scolded Wang Xiu, some sympathized with her dad, and some bet that she and Fu Ming Shi wouldn't last long.
"Stop looking. They're all just petty people." Suddenly someone blocked her laptop screen.
Zhen Bao looked back to see Fan Xuan's calm face.
Right after Fan Xuan said that, Qian LeLe and Jia Xiao Yu also abandoned their computers and pulled chairs over.
Of the four, Fan Xuan's thinking was the most mature. Holding a cup of water, she said to Zhen Bao, "We're not you, so we can't fully understand how you feel right now. But Zhen Bao, remember that no matter what others say, just keep being yourself. Keep doing what you like, don't feel burdened.
Your situation is a bit like those big celebrities. Think about it, our lives are so boring. When a celebrity has a scandal, you gossip about it too, right? But no matter how avidly we gossip, in the end it's just to kill time in our boring lives. After gossiping, what does the celebrity have to do with us? We still have to figure out what to eat for dinner, worry about failing final exams.
You made headlines, whether people praise or bash you, they just spit it out and move on. They don't care if you live or die, if you're happy or sad. But if you take those spiteful words to heart and worry about them every day, you'd be an idiot, a huge idiot."
"Yeah yeah, don't care about those netizens, just think about your President Fu." Qian LeLe chimed in, "If I could date a boyfriend like President Fu, I'd laugh myself awake from dreams. If I have time to waste on other people, I might as well think about how to spend weekends with him, how to make babies with him."
Zhen Bao smiled and lowered her head.
"I really admire Zhen Bao." Jia Xiao Yu sighed hugging a pillow. Resting her chin in one hand, she said, "If I had a man like President Fu, with money I couldn't spend in this lifetime, why would I still be studying? I would have traveled the world eating, drinking and having fun already. But Zhen Bao can actually focus on going to the library every day, doing part-time work... Earning just 1,500 a month through hard work, while President Fu's monthly interest alone could let you live in luxury."
"Yeah, Zhen Bao is quite an anomaly in modern society, not a seductive slut like Xiao Yu. No wonder President Fu likes her." Fan Xuan joked.
Jia Xiao Yu glared at her. "You're the seductive slut!"
Zhen Bao looked at the roommates around her, and her heart that had been adrift all day finally settled down. The past two days felt like a dream to her. She was still unknown and obscure before her birthday, but now her family's photos had spread all over the internet, and her family background had been dug up completely.
When she was with Fu Ming Shi, his reassurances kept her from feeling too flustered. But after he left, her heart became chaotic again. Luckily she still had her roommates who cared about her just the same, still seeing her as Zhen Bao instead of Fu Ming Shi's girlfriend or fiancée.
She was still slowly digesting everything Fan Xuan said before sleeping that night.
The next morning, all the way from her dorm building to the cafeteria, from the cafeteria to the classroom, Zhen Bao received a lot of attention. A University was huge, students from other colleges may have heard about this but not recognize her on sight, but the entire School of Veterinary Medicine, especially the freshman, almost no one didn't recognize Zhen Bao.
Sitting in the front row, Zhen Bao lowered her head to flip through her book, vaguely hearing Fu Ming Shi's name mentioned several times. Even when the professor walked in, his first glance was towards her.
Zhen Bao forced a smile.
Most professors liked good students, and university professors were no different. Seeing Zhen Bao, Professor Li even joked today, "I heard we have a Cinderella in our class?"
The students roared with laughter while Zhen Bao's face flushed red.
Professor Li was over fifty, he smiled at Zhen Bao for a bit, then leaned on the lectern with both hands. In a very relaxed, casual tone, he said, "Cinderella is just a fairy tale. I believe many girls have dreams of being Cinderella or Snow White, and boys also fantasize about a rags-to-riches story with a white rich beauty. But reality doesn't have that many Cinderellas. Who you meet, what kind of love - it still depends on your personal charm.
Personal charm has nothing to do with achievements, it's more of a temperament or attitude towards life. Some are optimistic and confident, some are introverted and mature, some are gentle as water, some are fiery as flame... But no matter the kind of charm, there must be a positive energy that can infect others."
After taking a sip of water, Professor Li walked over to Zhen Bao's desk and put his hand on her shoulder. "Take Zhen Bao for example. Zhen Bao is very beautiful, which is an innate charm that most people envy. But Zhen Bao is not only beautiful, she is also very hardworking and studies diligently. She gets almost the top grade in every subject. Some may say grades don't prove anything. Many students with good grades still end up with ordinary jobs after entering society. But in Zhen Bao, I see her sense of responsibility towards her own life. She is working hard to enrich herself. A girl who is willing to work hard and enrich herself, even without a prince charming, can still live a good life relying on herself.
So I hope Zhen Bao will continue to be diligent. Focus on studying medicine now and work hard in her career and love life in the future. Don't lose direction just because of media attention. I also hope students who haven't become Cinderellas or Prince Charmings yet don't feel envious or jealous. Focus on studying your major well, master useful skills, and your personal charm will be stronger."
As he finished speaking, all the students applauded.
Zhen Bao looked up at the professor with blurred vision, grateful for his affirmation.
A few rows behind Zhen Bao, Feng Yue was also applauding, but her smiling expression was uglier than crying.
She had thought Zhen Bao was Fu Ming Shi's kept woman. But now they had gained approval from Fu's elders. She had thought Zhen Bao had special seductive skills, but the media dug up Zhen Bao's grandfather's poor yet glorious history. While Zhen Bao's mother was scolded, it also made Zhen Bao an object of sympathy - a pitiful Cinderella with pure looks. Many people were blessing her.
Feng Yue had hoped Zhen Bao would become a laughing stock, but instead Zhen Bao had become an enviable figure. The school forums were full of Zhen Bao's lovey dovey photos and videos with Fu Ming Shi. No one knew she had sent the tip to that influencer, but her classmates who had gossiped about Zhen Bao being fake were now ignoring her, hoping to flatter Zhen Bao.
Feng Yue felt stifled in her chest. She was absent-minded through all four morning classes.
After the fourth class ended, Feng Yue pretended to text on her phone as she waited for the other students to leave before her. When she looked up and saw almost everyone was gone, she was surprised to find Zhen Bao still sitting in the front row, head down writing something in her book.
The classroom was empty except for the two of them.
Feng Yue bit her lip and stared at Zhen Bao's back, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Zhen Bao was waiting for Fu Ming Shi. He had messaged her before class ended saying he was stuck in traffic and asked her to wait in the classroom first. He would come get her and call her when he arrived. This had happened before too. Zhen Bao would work on homework first. Hearing Feng Yue's voice, she glanced back and continued writing while simply replying, "I'll leave after I finish this."
Feng Yue was silent for a moment before standing up with her bag, "I haven't congratulated you yet, Shi Ming is really Fu Ming Shi."
Zhen Bao didn't respond. Feng Yue had pursued Fu Ming Shi before, they couldn't be friends anymore. She didn't understand why Feng Yue still wanted to talk to her. It was awkward for both of them.
Sensing Zhen Bao's coldness, Feng Yue left first. After turning the corner down the main road, she bumped right into Fu Ming Shi. Fu Ming Shi today was dressed low-key as usual, just like he had been as Shi Ming. But walking towards her bathed in sunlight, his features were aloof and handsome. He naturally attracted the gazes of passing girls without needing his identity.
Knowing he disliked her, Feng Yue still couldn't help looking at him a few more times.
Sensing her lingering gaze, Fu Ming Shi's eyes shifted and recognized Feng Yue. His expression didn't change, as if she were a stranger. Feng Yue felt complicated inside, disappointed yet also secretly relieved that Fu Ming Shi didn't pay her any special attention. That meant he didn't know about her petty actions.
Thinking back on the anonymous process of her submission, she didn't leave any identity information. Feng Yue felt a little more at ease.
"Why did you come today?" Seeing Fu Ming Shi, Zhen Bao subconsciously glanced around.
"To see if you've adapted." Fu Ming Shi helplessly ruffled her hair. "The answer is obvious."
Zhen Bao guiltily lowered her head, but she was very satisfied herself. She hadn't spaced out in class today and her classmates were friendlier than she had expected, not saying anything nasty.
"Let's go, time to eat." Fu Ming Shi smiled and wheeled out her bike to take her to the cafeteria. No amount of verbal persuasion could compare to personal experience. Once used to it, she would naturally become more poised. Zhen Bao wasn't fragile, just inexperienced. What Fu Ming Shi was doing now was accompanying her through this period.
After dropping Zhen Bao off at her dorm after the meal, Fu Ming Shi drove away and called his assistant.
The assistant was very efficient, quickly contacting the influencer who had exposed the boss's love affair. He paid a high price to buy the account. By the time Fu Ming Shi walked into his office, he had received the influencer's Weibo login details, including the anonymous submission account and chat history.
Fu Ming Shi briefly looked through it before logging into the influencer's Weibo as him to directly private message Feng Yue.
Feng Yue was languishing in bed scrolling through Weibo, drawing strength from the few comments vilifying Zhen Bao. Suddenly an unfamiliar follower sent her a private message. Feng Yue curiously clicked to open it and saw the familiar influencer profile pic and nickname. Her heartbeat nearly stopped and she broke out in a cold sweat.
Influencer: Ms Feng, you still remember me right?
After a few minutes, Feng Yue replied: ??? I know you, but I've never spoken to you before. Do you have something to tell me?
Influencer: Fu Ming Shi's assistant just contacted me forcing me to give up the tipster's information. I can't hold out. If you continue denying, then we have nothing more to discuss. I will tell him the truth.
Feng Yue panicked. Her hands shook as she thought, on one hand, there's no way the influencer could find her real identity. But since he had come looking for her, could it be he had hired hackers?
Looking at the chat, Feng Yue clung to a shred of hope and asked: If I admit it, will you help me conceal it?
Seeing this confirmed Feng Yue was the one targeting Zhen Bao, Fu Ming Shi directly logged out and called his assistant: "....Keep managing his Weibo. Hire him to write a notice exposing Feng Yue. I'll send you the necessary information separately."
No matter what messages Feng Yue sent, the influencer didn't reply.
Feng Yue felt the sky was falling. What exactly did the influencer mean? Would he go tell on her to Fu Ming Shi? How would Fu Ming Shi deal with her?
"Feng Yue, time for class!" Although they had started distancing from Feng Yue, her roommates still thought she was sleeping. One knocked on her bed railing, "Let's go!"
"You guys go ahead. My stomach hurts." Feng Yue faced the wall pretending to be unwell.
Her roommates left.
Feng Yue continued refreshing the influencer's Weibo, sending him messages hoping for a reply every so often.
There was no reply, but she refreshed to a new post: Every Cinderella has an evil female supporting character behind her.
"Latest news, photographers are tracking a suspected classmate of Zhen Bao's - Fu Ming Shi and Zhen Bao.
It's confirmed Zhen Bao and Fu Ming Shi started dating last year. Fu Ming Shi's confidentiality was very good until the scandal broke early this year. Upon seeing Fu Ming Shi's photos, Ms Feng, a first year university student, suspected her friend's boyfriend was none other than billionaire Fu Ming Shi. Afterwards, the previously makeup-bare faced Ms Feng started wearing makeup for some purpose. There have been sightings of Zhen Bao and Fu Ming Shi dining in the cafeteria where Ms Feng took the initiative to sit with them, prompting Fu Ming Shi to immediately leave with Zhen Bao. Not long after this incident, the paparazzi received an anonymous tip exposing Fu Ming Shi's underground affair...."
The wording was vague, using alleged and Ms Feng without specifying it was her. But Feng Yue still felt like she had fallen into an icehouse. There were only two students in their class surnamed Feng, the other one male. The only one who met the criteria of being Zhen Bao's classmate, surnamed Feng, and started wearing makeup this year was her.
What should she do now?
In a daze, Feng Yue clicked into the Weibo comments:
"This Ms Feng is really shameless. She wore makeup to seduce her friend's boyfriend. When seduction failed, she made a false report and slandered Zhen Bao being kept. How vicious!"
"The mistress is scary, women who want to become mistresses are even scarier!"
"Zhen Bao really is Cinderella. Boss Fu hurry and take her far away from this female supporting character Feng!"
"All mistresses are no good. Hope blogger A will expose her photo!"
Feng Yue couldn't bear to read further. She curled up trembling under her blanket as tears streamed down her face.
In the classroom building, Jia Xiao Yu was not paying attention in class. She rested her head on the desk, hiding behind a textbook, looking down at her phone. Her roommate had become a popular figure recently, and Jia Xiao Yu's biggest interest lately was checking Weibo to see if the influencers she followed had posted anything new. As soon as she saw a new post from a top influencer, Jia Xiao Yu instinctively tapped to open it.
"Oh my god!"
After reading halfway through, Jia Xiao Yu couldn't help but curse out loud.
Since this was a large lecture class with students from four sections, including the lecturer at the podium, everyone looked over at her.
Jia Xiao Yu immediately put her head back down on the desk, hiding behind her book.
After the professor resumed lecturing, Jia Xiao Yu finally passed her phone to Zhen Bao, "Look at this!"
Zhen Bao took the phone and read through it, looking conflicted.
Could it really be Feng Yue?
Zhen Bao didn't want to think too badly of Feng Yue, but the only person she knew who was acquainted with Fu Ming Shi and Shi Ming, and had a grudge against her, was Feng Yue.
Just as Zhen Bao was deep in thought and Jia Xiao Yu was exposing Feng Yue's misdeeds to Qian LeLe and Fan Xuan, someone on A University's discussion forum also posted screenshots of the influencer's Weibo post. Soon after, those screenshots were anonymously forwarded to the QQ group chat for Zhen Bao's class.
The group chat fell silent. A few minutes later, someone anonymous started condemning Feng Yue for being ungrateful.
In the female dormitory, Feng Yue looked at the online abuse from netizens, her classmates guessing her identity, and the overt and direct condemnation and disgust from her classmates. Her tears flowed more and more, and she suddenly had the urge to drop out.
She could no longer stay at A University. She didn't even dare to imagine how her roommates would look at her when they returned.
Thinking of the disgusted looks from everyone, Feng Yue paused her tears for a moment, then suddenly sat up and started packing her bags at top speed.
