Chapter 5: I Give You Resources, You Give Me Photos

Shen Yusheng felt even more guilty. He was just about to speak and apologize again when a commotion erupted at the entrance of the auditorium.

Wen Ling looked up, the corner of her lips hooking into a curve.

Ruan Miaomiao—she really did have an entourage wherever she went.

Dressed in a princess gown, her expression confident and aloof, she was worlds apart from the girl who had once worn a dress washed yellow with age, begging at her maternal grandfather's house.

Seeing the two people behind Ruan Miaomiao, a flicker passed through Wen Ling's eyes.

It was Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen.

Wen Ling had known early on that these two had become friends with Ruan Miaomiao after she left. Moreover, they had believed Ruan Miaomiao's words and helped her spread the word at school and in the capital's elite circles: that Wen Ling feigned a bright and kind exterior, but behind the scenes was a bullying, arrogant rich miss who relied on her family's power.

Wen Ling lowered her eyes, her face full of dejection. In Shen Yusheng's eyes, this was a girl saddened because her good friends were getting along with someone else. In reality, Wen Ling was merely afraid she couldn't hide the contempt and disdain in her eyes; if she did, the persona she had painstakingly prepared to rebuild would collapse.

"Wen Ling, don't be sad. I know the rumors back then were all misunderstandings. As long as you explain clearly to them, it'll be fine," Shen Yusheng comforted her.

Wen Ling could barely suppress the disgust welling up inside her. She said softly, "It's fine, Senior. They already have new friends; I needn't go looking for boredom by forcing myself on them." Wen Ling looked up, her eye rims slightly damp. "As for the misunderstanding, I don't want to explain. Once people have a fixed mindset, what use is an explanation? The pure remain pure. I believe someone will believe me."

Shen Yusheng pursed his lips and said solemnly, "Wen Ling, I believe you!"

"Thank you, Senior." Wen Ling looked at him gratefully, glanced sideways at the trio, sighed, and said, "Senior, I'll head out first. I'll come back when the gala starts."

Shen Yusheng only thought she was in a bad mood and wanted to get some air.

Wen Ling smiled at Shen Yusheng, turned, and walked out. As she passed the three, her steps faltered, and she turned her head to look at them.

Ruan Miaomiao sensed the hostile gaze and looked up in confusion, her gaze colliding directly with Wen Ling's. Her eyes widened. Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen followed her line of sight, and all three wore identical expressions of disbelief.

Wen Ling merely gave them a faint smile before turning and leaving. That smile made Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen break out in a cold sweat despite the early autumn season.

Ruan Miaomiao was Wen Ling's cousin. Even if Wen Ling knew they were backed by Ruan Miaomiao, she would leave some face for the Qin and Ruan families. But these two? They weren't family.

Ruan Miaomiao bit her lip, a deep unwillingness settling in her heart.

She had tried many times to get close to Zhou Yinhao and his circle. Her cousin Qin Yuanzheng had even taken her to their gatherings, but from start to finish, she hadn't exchanged more than a few words with Zhou Yinhao.

Only once, when Zhou Yinhao was drunk, he had stared at her for a long time. She thought he was finally interested in her and smiled shyly, only to hear him rasp, "You're Wen Ling's cousin. Do you have a photo of Wen Ling? Your cousin doesn't have any."

She froze completely, staring at him in shock, then heard Zhou Yinhao continue, "I heard your cousin say you're an actress now. I'll give you resources; you give me photos."

Ruan Miaomiao wanted to refuse, but she had just entered the entertainment industry. Because the Qin family disapproved, even as a cousin of the Qin family, she had to climb up step by step like everyone else. If Zhou Yinhao gave her resources, she might just soar.

Ruan Miaomiao agreed, added Zhou Yinhao on WeChat, and dug out a photo of herself and Wen Ling from her phone to send to him.

Besides wanting Zhou Yinhao's resources, she wanted him to see the two somewhat similar faces in the photo, hoping to transfer his affection for Wen Ling onto herself.

Who knew...

A few days later, Ruan Miaomiao found an excuse to tag along with her cousin to the club they frequented. When Zhou Yinhao took out his wallet to tip a waiter, she saw the photo tucked inside.

He had actually cropped her out, leaving only Wen Ling's photo!

Ruan Miaomiao grew more and more resentful the more she thought about it. She told Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen she was going to see a former teacher and followed them alone.

Ji Wanruo and Li Wanzhen exchanged a glance; they both understood what Ruan Miaomiao intended to do.

Wen Ling stood by the lake on campus, watching the koi swimming to and fro. Hearing rapid footsteps approaching from behind, she suddenly smiled.

"Wen Ling! What are you back for? Trying to steal Grandpa and Senior Zhou Yinhao from me again?!" Ruan Miaomiao dropped the gentle, innocent white lotus act she wore in front of everyone; her voice was shrill with jealousy.

Wen Ling stood up and turned to face her, wearing an expression of utter innocence. "Cousin, how can you say that? Grandpa belongs to both of us. Zhou Yinhao is my ex-boyfriend. I never heard that you and Zhou Yinhao got together."

Ruan Miaomiao bit her lip hard, her gaze burning as if it could spit fire. She saw Wen Ling's slender, pale fingers brush aside a strand of hair that had fallen onto her collarbone, revealing a mark that invited wild imagination.

Ruan Miaomiao stepped forward and violently grabbed Wen Ling's wrist, staring at the hickey on her neck.

"What is this? Did you go harassing Senior Yinhao again! How can you be so cheap! You've already broken up with him, don't you know that!" Ruan Miaomiao shouted.

Wen Ling cried out in pain, attracting onlookers from nearby. Ruan Miaomiao only then realized they were in public. She was about to let go, but Wen Ling grabbed her hand back, dragging her back a few steps. Before Ruan Miaomiao could react, Wen Ling had fallen into the lake.

"Help! I... I can't swim! Help!" Wen Ling thrashed in the water, choking and coughing violently. Seeing someone fall in, the people around rushed over—some calling for help, some jumping in.

It took a tremendous effort before Wen Ling was pulled out. Someone draped a coat over her.

Wen Ling sat on the ground, coughing non-stop, her eye rims wet and red. Wet strands of hair clung to her face, adding a few degrees of fragility.

"Cousin, even if you dislike me, you can't try to kill me. You know I'm afraid of water." Wen Ling looked up, her hand resting in front of her, looking miserable and wronged.

Hearing this, whispers rippled through the crowd. Ruan Miaomiao stepped back, shaking her head frantically, explaining anxiously, "It wasn't me! She fell in herself! She's trying to frame me! Really, believe me!"

Instantly, more than half the bystanders believed Ruan Miaomiao, even bringing up Wen Ling's past rumors.

Wen Ling sighed inwardly, marveling—so this was the charm of the pampered female lead.

"What's going on here?"

The crowd turned at the sound, parting to make way for the newcomers.

Wen Ling looked up—and it was actually Zhou Yinhao and his group of three.

Upon seeing Wen Ling in such a state, Zhou Yinhao's pupils contracted sharply.

(End of Chapter)