Chapter 44: The Unveiling and the Aftermath

Wang Fanran’s sudden revelation was explosive, instantly causing everyone to halt their conversations and movements.

An eerie silence stretched for more than ten seconds.

‘Boom!’

Subsequently, it was as if a bomb had detonated in a placid lake, unleashing a furious explosion of sound.

“Oh my god, I didn’t mishear, did I? Su Yao and Lin Qing actually kissed?”

“How could that be possible!”

“Hehe, perhaps. What if School Belle Su has a rather unconventional taste in men?”

“That’s clearly a fabrication! I refuse to believe it. Su Yao and Lin Qing have absolutely no connection whatsoever.”

Following the initial uproar, the classroom’s quiet was shattered, dissolving into a cacophony of incessant chatter.

The air filled with a myriad of noisy sounds, making the room as bustling as a marketplace.

Although it was morning self-study, and the class was in such an uproar, no teacher came to investigate. They deliberately feigned ignorance.

There was simply no helping it. Ever since Liu Hong’s return, not a single teacher dared to intervene in their affairs.

“All of you, shut the hell up!”

Following Liu Hong’s sudden, thunderous roar, an immediate hush fell over the classroom.

The students, previously animated by gossip, now cowered, their gazes fixed on Liu Hong’s furious expression. None dared to utter another word, fearing his displeasure.

Only after quelling the chaotic din of the classroom did Liu Hong finally spare a glance for Su Yao and Lin Qing.

Both individuals, the subjects of the rumor, appeared remarkably composed, betraying not the slightest hint of panic.

Observing their composure, Liu Hong felt a surge of reassurance, convinced that the rumor was, in all likelihood, unfounded.

For a boy like Lin Qing, who possessed nothing remarkable, Su Yao would have to be utterly blind to engage in something as intimate as a kiss with him.

If she were to seek a man, surely she would choose someone like him!

“Brother Liu, everything I said is true! I genuinely saw the two of them kissing!”

Owing to Wang Fanran’s explosive revelation, the delinquents who had been pummeling him ceased their assault.

Their admiration for the audacity of this ‘dead fat pig’ reached its peak. How dared he publicly slander Brother Liu’s goddess?

He was absolutely doomed.

“Damn you! It’s clear you harbor a grudge against Lin Qing and merely wish to drag him into this mess! Brother Liu, don’t listen to this ‘dead fat pig.’ I beat him up once because of Lin Qing, and ever since then, he’s resented both of us.”

Yet, as Wang Fanran stubbornly clung to his accusation against Lin Qing, Zhou Lin interjected, his face etched with disdain.

He simply couldn’t tolerate Wang Fanran’s habit of lashing out at anyone within reach.

“I see.”

Upon hearing Zhou Lin’s explanation, Liu Hong’s initial suspicions about the veracity of the claim solidified even further.

This Wang Fanran truly lacked common sense. Had he named any other boy in the class, Liu Hong might have entertained his doubts for a longer period.

But Lin Qing, reclusive and unassuming, possessed neither striking looks nor an impressive physique.

It was utterly preposterous!

Forget kissing; Lin Qing had probably never even touched a woman’s hand.

“Brother Liu, I—”

“Wang Fanran, are you aware that carelessly spreading rumors and slander can lead to criminal charges?”

Just as Wang Fanran prepared to elaborate with more details, Su Yao, who had remained silently seated, abruptly interjected.

A polite smile still graced her features, yet her words carried an undeniable undertone of menace.

While she found amusement in the classroom’s commotion, she knew it would be detrimental if the situation escalated further.

Lin Qing’s secrets remained unraveled.

No unforeseen complications could be allowed.

Thus, it fell to her to intervene and bring order to the unfolding chaos.

Furthermore, the kiss in the changing room the previous day, so abruptly interrupted by Wang Fanran’s intrusion, had left Su Yao intensely irritated.

To be interrupted at the very height of her pleasure…

Observing the students turning their attention to her following her words, Su Yao swiftly masked her smile. Instead, she sorrowfully lowered her gaze, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at the floor, unwilling to meet anyone’s eyes.

“Those words just now made me incredibly uncomfortable.”

Having spoken, Su Yao raised a hand to cover her mouth, portraying the image of someone who had endured an unbearable injustice.

In an instant, the roles of offense and defense reversed, and alliances swiftly transformed.

It was executed flawlessly.

There was not a single hint of dissonance.

Witnessing this, the students who had merely been spectators immediately flocked to Su Yao’s side, each offering words of comfort and concern.

“Su Yao, don’t let someone like Wang Fanran, who stabs people in the back, upset you. It’s not worth getting angry and harming yourself.”

“Exactly, exactly! He just spouts whatever baseless rumors come to mind!”

“They should just lock Wang Fanran in a detention center! Leaving him here only disrupts the class atmosphere. I am utterly ashamed to have such a classmate!”

As they spoke, the students did not forget to cast venomous glares at Wang Fanran, harboring absolutely no goodwill for someone who dared to fabricate such outrageous rumors.

Even if he was being beaten like a dog by the delinquents, Wang Fanran deserved every bit of it!

How dared he upset Su Yao!

“Zhou Lin, I no longer wish to see this ‘fat pig.’ Take him to Fatty in the senior class and ensure he receives a thorough lesson.”

If the other students in the class were so incensed, one could only imagine the fury of Liu Hong, who had admired Su Yao for a considerable time.

He had initially planned to hear Wang Fanran’s full account, but the sight of Su Yao’s heartbroken expression immediately extinguished all other considerations from Liu Hong’s mind.

He simply wanted to eliminate Wang Fanran then and there.

“Alrighty then~”

Upon hearing Liu Hong’s instruction, Zhou Lin cheerfully assented, then gestured to a few boys to accompany him in ‘escorting’ Wang Fanran out of the classroom.

To Fatty’s side, of all places…

Tsk, tsk. That fellow certainly had a knack for tormenting people.

It seemed his Brother Liu was genuinely enraged!

With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Lin and his companions promptly escorted the ashen-faced Wang Fanran from the classroom, unwilling to let him remain and offend everyone’s sensibilities.

Finally, they could properly teach this ‘dead fat pig’ a lesson.

Previously, with Brother Liu absent, Zhou Lin had been unable to act freely. Now that Brother Liu had returned, he no longer needed to restrain himself.

Wang Fanran was utterly doomed!

Lin Qing silently observed the unfolding scene. When he first heard Wang Fanran’s words, his face was a mask of confusion, wondering how Wang Fanran could possibly know.

Could Wang Fanran have entered the changing room during the period when he was disoriented?

Nevertheless, even if Wang Fanran had witnessed it firsthand, it would prove utterly useless.

For there was no concrete evidence.

Even if Lin Qing himself was unaware of the exact events, he remained confident that Su Yao would never have allowed Wang Fanran an opportunity to gather proof.

Therefore, Lin Qing remained perfectly composed.

There was simply no need to worry about anything else.

More than Wang Fanran’s sudden bombshell, Lin Qing was captivated by Su Yao’s outstanding performance.

With merely a few words.

Combined with a few subtle gestures and expressions, Su Yao effortlessly convinced everyone present.

She moved like a cat toying with a mouse.

Victory was firmly within her grasp.

This effortless ability to manipulate minds caused Lin Qing’s internal alarm to intensify once more.

In the intricate dance of wits, he knew he was no match for her.

“You and Su Yao…”

As Lin Qing’s thoughts spiraled, Liu Hong abruptly drew close, his voice dropping to a low whisper as he posed a question.

Clearly, when it came to Su Yao, he still harbored a lingering unease.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin Qing responded with absolute certainty.

“We have no relationship, and in the future, there will be no other relationship between us.”

****