The weekend slipped by in a blink. Monday was here again.
Lin Lin woke up early and laid out her plan for the week.
Though tutoring had ended, she still wanted to review and fill gaps in her math knowledge.
After all, the system’s task was serious—she couldn’t afford to mess it up.
Hmm… come to think of it, she was now a legit math study ace.
Would better grades actually boost her popularity?
She wasn’t sure.
Anyway—backpack on, off to school!
She opened the door, unfolded her umbrella.
…An overcast, drizzly day.
…
Somehow, her mood dipped with the gloomy sky.
*Why rain only on Monday?* she grumbled inwardly. A vague anxiety coiled in her chest, like an omen.
She reached the classroom, pushed the door open—and the chatter outside cut off instantly.
Dozens of eyes locked onto her. Awkward silence.
Lin Lin froze. *Late because of rain?* But no teacher stood at the podium…
She glanced around, bewildered. Their stares held something odd: amusement, mockery, disbelief.
Being watched like that made her skin crawl. She ducked her head and hurried to her seat.
Gao Liang wasn’t there yet…
Flustered, she sat and curled into a tight ball.
The room stayed unnaturally quiet—not like morning reading at all. Finally, whispers broke the silence.
“Oho… the leading lady’s here.”
“Whoa, she’s acting weird. See how she walked?”
“Pfft, she always walks like that.”
Classmates joked around. Lin Lin shrank lower, head bowed, straining to hear.
*L…leading lady?*
*Did my walk really look strange…?*
“How can someone like *her* end up with Gao Liang? Never knew he was into this type.”
“Who knows what she’s really like? Tsk… doing *that* at her age? Must’ve charmed him somehow.”
The two loudest boys snickered. Lin Lin’s body trembled.
*What’s happening? Is it about Friday? Because Gao Liang took me away?*
*No… it can’t be…*
Trembling, she tugged a nearby girl’s sleeve. The girl turned awkwardly, clearly reluctant.
But Lin Lin asked meekly anyway—Gao Liang wasn’t here. She had no one else.
Rain pattered softly outside. Everything felt unreal, like a nightmare. Breath hitching, she whispered:
“Um… classmate… what’s going on? Why is everyone… talking about me?”
“Uh…” The girl hesitated. Others fell silent. She glanced around nervously, then pointed shyly at Lin Lin’s phone.
“Lin Lin… check the school forum. There’s a post on the homepage…”
Lin Lin nodded slowly, dread pooling in her chest. She opened the app—and froze.
A title that made her blood run cold:
【Top Student Gao Liang Allegedly Checked into Love Hotel with Girlfriend—Video Proof】
Her hands shook as she tapped the post. A grainy clip played: her and Gao Liang stepping out of a car, walking toward the hotel. Ten seconds. Distant. But faces clear.
No need to imagine what came next.
No poster info. No clue how it was filmed.
Heart pounding, she scrolled mechanically. Anonymous forum—comments ran wild.
【1st Floor: WHOA! HUGE TEA! POPCORN READY!】
【6th Floor: Classmate here. She’s Gao Liang’s deskmate. They were all cozy Friday. Definitely dating?】
【11th Floor: Yep! He even defended her!】
【15th Floor: Sob… my idol shattered. They’re still in high school…】
【16th Floor: LOL my deskmate’s broken. Her prince charming, top student of the year…】
【18th Floor: Satisfying. Never liked Gao Liang anyway.】
【23rd Floor: FYI: “Leading lady” = class weirdo, zero friends. How’d she snag him? Straight to love hotel? Tsk… master manipulator.】
…
Lin Lin lowered the phone. Eyes hollow. She met her classmates’ stares—and understood.
Over a thousand views. Spreading like wildfire on confession walls, QQ groups.
*Please… let this be a nightmare…* she begged silently, tears welling.
Just as her world threatened to shatter—footsteps echoed at the door.
*CLANG!*
Gao Liang shoved the door open. Everyone flinched. Cold-eyed, he met every biased glance, then walked calmly to his seat.
Lin Lin looked up, tears glistening, giving him a fragile, hopeful glance.
His stern expression softened instantly. Gently, he patted her head in front of everyone, then sat.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” He leaned close, voice low. “Lin Lin… did you see the forum post?”
She nodded weakly, sniffing. “Should… should we find a teacher?”
“Wait.” He handed her a document. “Read this first.”
Lin Lin blinked, took it…
What is this?
