My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Early in the morning, a new thread appeared in the forum, right at the time when students woke up to check Weib8 to see whether there's new interesting gossip. Because the traffic was huge and the object of the discussion were ones who were heatedly popular these past few days, everyone clicked on it whether or not they actually cared.

Shi Nian stared at the phone in front of her, expression complicated.

[Hot News: The New Transfer Student Rejected School Grass Zhang?!

Everyone here should know that yesterday, our one and only school grass and male god, Zhang Jiancheng, has asked the transfer student out. This is Zhang Jiancheng we're speaking about! After that, on the very same night, he even appeared in the forum to warn everyone not to cause trouble for the transfer student!

I just want to say: you're right! Little meimei, big jiejie, our Zhang Jiancheng really wanted to chase after her [cry.jpg] [cry.jpg] Someone has leaked that they heard Zhang Jiancheng offered to take the transfer student home but she rejected him!

Let me tell you the reason. [photo]

[Ten Years]: Moreover, I have someone I like [shysmile.jpg]

[Ten Years]: Not telling you~

[Ten Years]: You don't know that person

[Ten Years] He's a university student.

I just want to say, School Grass Zhang, you're too pitiful ah! And the new transfer student, let me give you a bow orz[1].]

It was the screenshot of last night's chat in their group. The name of the group and other people had been mosaicked, leaving only a single, obvious name. Moreover, it was edited to the point where Shi Nian sounded extremely complacent and smug as if she didn't take Zhang Jiancheng's feelings seriously.

Mo Ling was shocked awake when she saw the thread and her sleepiness vanished in an instant. This was clearly their personal chat group! How could it appear in the forum? Moreover, the poster obviously targeted only Shi Nian, judging from how they crossed out the names except hers.

When she opened it, the replies had already reached more than 100 and every single one was very unpleasant to hear.

[What did I tell you? The transfer student is really problematic! Who knows what she has done in her previous school? Otherwise, did she need to transfer school during midterm?]

[Hahahaha, I saw this coming and now, I am extremely satisfied!]

[OP, you're true [cry.jpg] I really pity our male god. He likes a girl for the first time, but it turns out, she's that kind of girl…]

[See her tone? 'I have someone I like'? Holy fu—how can she be so arrogant?! Is it worth boasting to have Zhang Jiancheng like you???!]

[Pssst, upstairs commenter, you're right. It's really worth boasting to have Zhang Jiancheng's love.]

[….]

[Don't burst my bubble. My point is—I hate her! Who does she think she is?!]

[I have insider information! My cousin's sister's friend said that she knew the transfer student. Even in her previous school, she is isolated and weird. You know, she ignored the girls and only talked to boys. They said that her relationship is a mess, she could play with 3 boys at once…]

[Wait, let me straighten this out. First, there's a man in Benz, then Zhang Jiancheng and lastly, a mysterious university student. Wow…let me guess again, is it a Sangzhe University's student?]

[I have to say that if you're true, this transfer student is too scary ah. Just how long has she transferred here? I have studied in this school for three years but my experience lost to someone who hasn't even known how to walk around school without getting lost [pitiful.jpg]]

Mo Ling took a deep breath, suffocated like she was buried under the avalanche. She hastily washed herself up, didn't even eat the breakfast her mother made and dashed to Chen Jiawei's house. Coincidentally, they met midway. Chen Jiawei was also on her way to Mo Ling's house.

As they looked at each other, they instantly knew that the culprit couldn't have been them.

They had known each other for a long time, so long that Mo Ling could air Chen Jiawei's dark past in public for three days straight and still not done with it. Similarly, Chen Jiawei could also pull out some to slap her face. Of course, it was only limited to both of them. Their principle absolutely didn't allow them to do this kind of thing to others.

So the only person who could do that was—

"Is that you?" Mo Ling said, her tone dark and grim.

She didn't even need to wait for answer. Li Qing's trembling shoulders and red rimmed eyes had already exposed her guilt. 

Mo Ling took a deep breath, but she couldn't hold herself back. Her temper exploded in an instant. "Why did you do this?! Shi Nian is our friend and because of that she dared to say it to our chat group! Li Qing, doing this is equal to betraying the trust Shi Nian has for us! Are you still human?!"

Mo Ling had always been eloquent. When she was angry, her words shot out faster than a machine gun. Each sentence drained the colors from Li Qing's face.

When Mo Ling shouted the last sentence, Li Qing instantly broke down. "It's not me! Really! I don't know who did it too! I—I came early to do practice papers and after that, I left my phone for a while to go to the bathroom. Yes—at that time, there's only Ruo Tingran in the class!"

Ruo Tingran, who was suddenly pointed out, fumed in anger. "You're accusing me?! Li Qing, listen to what you said. Do you think I care so much to fumble through your phone secretly and put the blame on your head?! Who do you think you are?!"

Li Qing was speechless. She…She didn't know what to say next.

Every single sentence Ruo Tingran said was true and exactly because it was true that Li Qing was getting increasingly panicked by each second. She really didn't do that, but the evidence pointed to her. No matter how much she tried to explain, it sounded like an excuse.

"I…" Li Qing got tongue tied and under everyone's doubtful eyes—the students and classmates who had been together with her for three years—she only felt cold all over. It was so cold that she couldn't help but shiver.

Why didn't anybody trust her?

Why did they look at her like that?

She really didn't do it…

Mo Ling harrumphed. "Look at the trouble you have caused! Now, they are saying all kinds of things about Shi Nian! How are you going to compensate her?!"

Li Qing looked at Mo Ling's disdainful gaze and answered blankly. "I will…I will apologize to her later…"

After that, Shi Nian arrived, her confused eyes turned to Li Qing who then couldn't resist looking away. There was a sense of fear deep in her stomach, like ugly, messy bugs that were on the verge of crawling out, climbing up to her skin and dug into her eyes and nose.

Li Qing stood up with her back covered in cold sweat. "Shi Nian, I…" In the end, Li Qing couldn't say anything except, "I'm sorry…"

Shi Nian's lips pursed tight as she scrolled through the thread. Countless accusations entered her eyes but her expression remained unchanged. Mo Ling and Chen Jiawei surrounded her, offering numerous words of comfort and defense.

However, no one cared about Li Qing.

No one cared about her words. No one cared about her existence. They were obviously standing in the same place but Li Qing felt like there was a layer separating her from others.

She was alone, and everywhere around her was darkness.

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[1] orz = a person kneeling. 

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A/N: Poor Li Qing (இ﹏இ`｡) so, who do you think is the main culprit? Is Li Qing lying or is it Ruo Tingran, or another person?

Sigh, I know of someone who has been in Shi Nian's position before. Because she was absent for a few days, rumors even said that she was pregnant and expelled from school. The truth is, she's only sick (>﹏<）

I also know someone who's been in Li Qing's position.. Rumors are so scary, it's enough to destroy someone so don't believe anything you see on internet nowadays. Me? I was only a passerby ＼(º □ º l|l)/