Within the spacious hospital ward, it was eerily quiet. A warm draft slipped through a crack in the window, filling the room with an awkward atmosphere.
“What use is there in the Academic Rep talking about such intangible things? Sometimes, even vows can’t be trusted, let alone this.”
Yu Mo’s lips held a trace of scornful amusement. Her right hand rubbed the ring finger of her left hand, where a simple wedding ring should have rested.
She had tried hard to discard the habits from her previous life, but some habits, etched into her very blood and bones, were impossible to shake off completely.
Often, even when rationally suppressed, they would still emerge subconsciously.
Shen Shuyu’s throat felt dry. She wanted to argue, but didn’t know what to say.
Yes, what right did she have to expect Yu Mo to believe her now?
Simply because in her past life, she had disregarded and belittled her time and time again?
“Ah, screw this! This post is pissing me off! What is this garbage?”
Just then, Wei Lai, carrying a bag of medicine, angrily pushed the door open. The stagnant atmosphere in the room shattered instantly and dispersed.
“Who made you angry?” Yu Mo looked at Wei Lai, gesturing for her to sit down.
“Look at this person! She’s actually saying you deliberately crashed into Sun Qi! That you should apologize to her! Apologize my ass! What the hell is this crap!” Wei Lai slammed her newly replaced phone onto the table with a loud smack, without a hint of regret.
Li Qingqing sat down beside Shen Shuyu and brought the post Wei Lai mentioned in front of her. She explained quietly, “This post is discussing the incident where Yu Mo collided with Sun Qi. A few people with foul mouths are sarcastically saying Yu Mo, being a Lower City person, deliberately crashed into Sun Qi to extort money. Wei Lai has been fighting a war of words with a bunch of trolls for your Yu Mo the whole way here. Quite a spectacle.”
Shen Shuyu looked down at the comments below the post.
Initially, the post’s tone was relatively normal.
Since the field event area had limited access and wasn’t very popular, very few people had actually witnessed the collision and had evidence.
Everyone was simply discussing how Sun Qi had suddenly barged in.
Then, someone appeared out of nowhere and began distorting the facts, claiming Yu Mo deliberately accelerated specifically to hit Sun Qi, even calling it a typical Lower City extortion scheme.
And it wasn’t just one such pseudo-bystander making these claims.
Suddenly, the tone of the thread changed entirely.
It became a toxic, chaotic mess.
Seeing this, how could Wei Lai hold back? On the way back with Li Qingqing, she typed furiously, the screen nearly cracked under her tapping.
She single-handedly argued against another foul-mouthed person for over a dozen floors.
When Shen Shuyu refreshed, six more floors had been added to the thread.
Truly worthy of Wei Lai.
Whether in this life or the last, she was always the friend who protected Yu Mo most fiercely.
“Don’t get so worked up. Drink some water.” Yu Mo, the victim, instead comforted Wei Lai.
“I know who this person I’m arguing with is. It’s one of Sun Qi’s little minions. I’ve seen her on the forum before. This is one of her sock puppet accounts. She goes everywhere spewing crap, fighting with people. Her mouth is filthy!” Wei Lai finished her glass of water in two or three gulps, still indignant.
Hearing Wei Lai say this, Shen Shuyu’s expression subtly changed.
Sun Qi’s goal in distorting the facts wasn’t just to cover up the incident. Her primary objective was to ensure Yu Mo could never hold her head high in this school.
After all, in the hospital ward just now, Yu Mo, a powerless Lower City person, had embarrassed Sun Qi in front of everyone.
A vindictive person with an intense need for revenge like her would definitely seek retaliation.
Words can be a fearsome weapon.
If not interfered with, the truth could indeed be twisted by Sun Qi.
Yu Mo would truly become the scheming, money-extorting villain Sun Qi and her ilk painted her to be.
“Don’t be mad. If I just post the video into that thread, won’t these rumors collapse instantly?” Li Qingqing suggested.
“Right, right, post it! Damn it, daring to twist the facts right in front of me! Shameless! Yu Mo, we have to get revenge! Slap their dog faces hard with that video!” Wei Lai pounded the table, her emotions running high and refusing to settle.
“Get revenge, we certainly must. But we can’t do it so simply,” Yu Mo’s expression turned playful. She chuckled meaningfully, her eyes lowered.
Whether in this life or the last, Yu Mo had never been a pushover.
She was a fierce wolf whose tail was perpetually tucked between her legs, always on guard.
It was only later, to stay by Shen Shuyu’s side, that Yu Mo had sheathed her own claws and pulled out her own fangs.
Willingly accepting the chains Shen Shuyu threw her, she became a tail-wagging guard dog.
Yu Mo lightly clenched her fist. The fresh, uncoagulated bloodstains on her elbow stung her pupils.
Fortunately, she was still that fierce wolf now.
She would absolutely make Sun Qi apologize to her this time.
And this time, she would use this person who dared to attack her Lower City identity as an example, to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.
Shen Shuyu watched the sharp, cold light flashing in Yu Mo’s eyes, the air of chilling ruthlessness between her brows.
She knew, the once proud and unrestrained Yu Mo of her youth had returned.
Shen Shuyu: “Have you figured out how to proceed?”
Yu Mo looked at Shen Shuyu. A layer of ice covered her reddish-brown pupils.
She eyed the helping hand Shen Shuyu extended toward her, warily lowering her stance and retreating.
Yu Mo refused decisively, “This matter, I won’t trouble the Academic Rep to help with.”
Shen Shuyu’s heart gave a heavy thud. This wasn’t the first time Yu Mo had refused her.
But this situation couldn’t be compared to the previous times.
Sun Qi had the confidence to speak this way because she definitely had a teacher at school backing her up.
But who it was, Shen Shuyu couldn’t be certain yet.
Therefore, Yu Mo needed someone with a strong background to assist her.
And Shen Shuyu felt that within this hospital ward, she was the uniquely qualified candidate.
She had thought Yu Mo would accept her proffered help this time.
But Yu Mo still refused.
The air froze. Once again, Li Qingqing saw the shift in Yu Mo’s eyes.
And those thorns she erected solely for Shen Shuyu.
Shen Shuyu’s face was calm. Forcing composure, she asked, “Yu Mo, think carefully.”
“Yu Mo, if Shuyu is involved, it would be much easier to resolve.”
“Yeah, yeah, you saw how the situation changed instantly when the Academic Rep was here just now. Sun Qi is just a bully who fears the strong and picks on the weak.”
Li Qingqing and Wei Lai chimed in, trying to persuade her.
Although Yu Mo knew what Li Qingqing and Wei Lai said made sense, she was stubborn.
She simply refused.
The claws and fangs she used to protect her dignity had once been brutally broken because of the person before her.
She did not trust Shen Shuyu, and even less was she willing to ask for her help.
Yu Mo’s attitude was resolute. She refused, “I’ve thought this through carefully. This is my personal matter. I’d rather not involve outsiders. I won’t trouble the Academic Rep.”
Shen Shuyu caught the look Yu Mo had just given her.
Like a wolf returning to the forest after being deeply wounded by the person it trusted most.
She didn’t trust her. She was wary of any hand she extended towards her.
So, it was only natural for Yu Mo to slap her hand away.
And so, everything she owed her, she must do, not a single thing less.
Shen Shuyu didn’t intend to give up just because Yu Mo refused. Just as she was about to speak again, the phone in her pocket rang.
It was Zhao Mingyi’s group announcement in the department head chat: [Director Wang is convening an emergency meeting for all Student Council department heads. Location: meeting room under the podium. All department heads, return immediately.]
Seeing the three characters “Director Wang,” Shen Shuyu felt a surge of foreboding.
“I have student council business. I’ll come back once it’s handled,” Shen Shuyu said.
Yu Mo frowned, stating her refusal bluntly: “No need for the Academic Rep to trouble herself by coming back. I can manage with just these friends of mine.”
Shen Shuyu’s hand, resting on the door handle, paused.
So, Wei Lai was her friend. Li Qingqing was also her friend.
Only she remained just a cold, distant “Academic Rep” in Yu Mo’s mouth.
Shen Shuyu had never experienced this feeling of plummeting so abruptly.
She felt a sudden chill run through her body. Her fingers and toes were ice cold.
On her phone, Zhao Mingyi was urging the department heads to arrive at the meeting location quickly. Shen Shuyu had a growing suspicion that Director Wang’s arrival was absolutely connected to Yu Mo’s matter.
Shen Shuyu turned off her phone screen. She glanced back at Yu Mo.
Yu Mo, however, had lain back down on the bed, her head turned towards the window.
With a complex expression, Shen Shuyu opened the door and walked out.
She was torn, unable to be in two places at once. She could only leave Yu Mo’s side for now and go figure out Director Wang’s intentions.
The side door clicked open. Li Qingqing walked out of the ward. “Shuyu, wait.”
“Qingqing.” Shen Shuyu stopped, puzzled, and turned to look at Li Qingqing. “Why did you come out?”
“I’m angry. I don’t want to help her anymore.” Li Qingqing linked her arm through Shen Shuyu’s, indignant. “Why is she so stubborn? Seriously!”
“Alright, don’t be mad.” Shen Shuyu rubbed Li Qingqing’s shoulder, soothing her.
“You’re not still going to help her, are you?” Li Qingqing asked incredulously.
Under Li Qingqing’s gaze, Shen Shuyu nodded lightly. “Yes.”
Li Qingqing felt that Yu Mo was like a curse on Shen Shuyu.
Under the influence of “Yu Mo,” Shen Shuyu would become someone she wasn’t.
Li Qingqing: “Shuyu, I think this isn’t worth it at all.”
Hearing Li Qingqing’s words, Shen Shuyu smiled and shook her head.
Between her and Yu Mo, what was there to discuss about worth or not?
If they really had to discuss it, it was she, Shen Shuyu, who wasn’t worthy of everything Yu Mo had done for her.
“Whether it’s worth it is for me to decide. You have to go back. You have to help me…” As Shen Shuyu spoke, the phone in her pocket vibrated again.
This time, Zhao Mingyi was messaging her privately.
It seemed Director Wang was coming with a heavy momentum.
Shen Shuyu patted Li Qingqing’s shoulder, signaling her to return to Yu Mo’s ward. “Alright, Qingqing. I really do have to go deal with student council matters now. Hurry back.”
Li Qingqing looked at Shen Shuyu’s cool, aloof back, always so ramrod straight and proud.
Yet she had to suffer setbacks and hardships she shouldn’t have to endure, all for a Lower City person.
Thinking about it, it truly felt unfair.
But what could Li Qingqing do? She and Shen Shuyu had grown up together; their bond was deep.
She couldn’t stand by and watch her suffer coldly.
With a mix of anger and helplessness, Li Qingqing sighed, “I must have owed you in a past life.”
.
The atmosphere in the meeting room beneath the podium was heavy and tense. Shen Shuyu was the last department head to arrive. Director Wang was in the middle of scolding the head of the Publicity Department, who had arrived later than him.
“Reporting,” Shen Shuyu knocked on the door, glanced at Director Wang, and then walked straight into the meeting room.
Director Wang was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. Seeing it was Shen Shuyu, he didn’t dare make a peep, waving for the Publicity Department Head to return to her seat.
Director Wang watched Shen Shuyu sit down. Once Zhao Mingyi informed him everyone was present, Director Wang, clutching his protruding belly, began the meeting.
“The incident during the long jump event earlier is very bad. The school forum is now buzzing with conflicting opinions. What shocks me is that none of our cadres were on the scene at the time. What’s going on? Right now, stories are flying about how the accident happened. Very negative impact!”
“Sorry, teacher, this was our negligence,” Zhao Mingyi said apologetically.
“This matter isn’t suitable for publicity. The Media Department must keep a close watch. Don’t let another chaotic thread like that one appear. Ideally, no posts discussing this matter should appear at all. Understand?” Director Wang pushed up his glasses, looking at the Media Department Head sitting beside Shen Shuyu.
The Media Department Head was in a similar situation to Shen Shuyu—also a newly appointed Grade 10 girl. Trembling, she nodded. “Understood, teacher.”
“And the Sports Department…”
Director Wang arranged the follow-up handling of the incident but kept his mouth shut about the question of who was at fault.
Zhao Mingyi quickly asked, “Then teacher, regarding these two conflicting narratives, how should we clarify it? There needs to be a conclusion posted on the forum to stop all the gossip.”
Director Wang stroked his fleshy, stubbled chin. “Ah, this matter… well, I reviewed a few on-site recordings. They’re all very blurry. Hard to make out what happened. Difficult to judge.”
“But…”
Zhao Mingyi wanted to say more, but Director Wang cut her off with a wave.
Leaning against the corner of the table, Director Wang lectured sanctimoniously, “You, the student council, are, after all, still students. Listen to the teachers’ instructions. Do a good job comforting the injured students and controlling public opinion. As for investigations into children’s squabbles… don’t go getting involved. Don’t you agree?”
Director Wang looked at Zhao Mingyi, his eyes full of disdain.
Zhao Mingyi bit her lip lightly. She was unwilling, but helpless. Her opponent was powerful, she was insignificant. She couldn’t openly contradict him.
“Alright, any more questions?” Director Wang scanned the people below. Without waiting more than a few seconds, he raised his hand and closed the matter. “Then let’s handle it this way. Meeting adjourned.”
So this wasn’t a meeting at all. It was a strategic deployment to clean up Sun Qi’s mess.
The Sun family had been riding high in recent years. A man like Director Wang was bound to want to curry favor.
Birds of a feather, wolves in cahoots—they hit it off instantly.
Shen Shuyu sat in her seat, her eyes cold as ice as she watched Director Wang, clutching his beer belly and waddling away. The cap of her pen snapped back onto the pen body with a click.
