Unexpected Revelations and Lingering Rumors

“But if you reveal yourself now, others will surely anticipate your moves, thwarting any chance of a surprise attack at the very end.”

Jiang Li recalled the initial strategy meeting, where the plan was to conceal their tactics during smaller competitions, holding them back until after the monthly exams.

“It’s fine; we’ve kept it hidden long enough,” Xi Yao replied. “The opportune moment for a carry to enter a team fight isn’t dictated by time, but by sequence.”

Xi Yao raised a delicate hand, illustrating her point. “Over this period, Yun Caiyi has repeatedly launched public opinion attacks against you, then engaged in a fierce forum battle with Aileen. The bulk of her team’s offensive power has already been diverted and absorbed by you, effectively achieving our objective.”

With my subsequent emergence, Yun Caiyi simply couldn’t spare enough resources to maintain her offensive.

Allowing teammates to absorb abilities and sustain damage before stepping in to unleash one’s own output—that, she explained, was the flawless rhythm for a carry.

She paused, then continued, “If I were to remain hidden until the monthly exams, only to dramatically announce my candidacy after the results were published, it would inadvertently hand Yun Caiyi a golden opportunity. She could then widely disseminate rumors, claiming my grades were the result of cheating and crib notes.”

Upon careful consideration, Lao Ban’s meticulous planning had entirely preempted such a possibility, leading Xi Yao to muse, ‘Indeed, the older ginger is spicier (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning ‘the older, the wiser’).’

Jiang Li looked somewhat incredulous. “How could such a baseless rumor ever gain traction? The school could simply review the exam room surveillance, and the truth would be instantly revealed.”

“And why,” Xi Yao retorted, “would the school bother checking the surveillance?”

“The school… check…” Jiang Li stammered, momentarily stumped by the question. After a prolonged pause, she finally managed, “The school would absolutely have to check the surveillance; they couldn’t possibly punish you without any evidence.”

Xi Yao straightened up, leaning back against her chair, and gave a delicate shrug of her shoulders.

“That’s precisely the crux of the matter. If her aim were to have the school officially reprimand me, then she would indeed need to present irrefutable evidence. However, if her true intention isn’t to provoke school disciplinary action, but merely to tarnish my reputation through public opinion, then evidence becomes irrelevant—all she needs is a sufficient number of internet trolls and a loud enough chorus.”

Jiang Li’s mouth fell slightly agape, and for a long moment, she found herself utterly speechless.

“There’s nothing to be done; it’s the same everywhere. In a court of law, the plaintiff must produce evidence to prove the defendant’s guilt. Yet, on platforms like Weibo, it’s the defendant who must provide evidence to prove their innocence, while the accuser merely needs to post a compelling ‘little essay’ (TL Note: A common term for a long, often emotionally charged post, typically used to accuse someone).”

Upon hearing Xi Yao’s explanation, Jiang Li remained silent for a prolonged moment before slowly articulating, “That’s truly unfair.”

‘Wow, human nature truly is insidious.’

“What’s more, this tactic is incredibly effective. Just consider the rumors she fabricated earlier, claiming I had an ‘improper relationship’ with you,” Xi Yao murmured, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Now, everyone has tacitly accepted it, genuinely believing that we two…”

‘It’s utterly unfair! I didn’t even ask Jiang Li for a ‘reward’ (TL Note: A euphemism for sexual favors in some contexts), merely for a back rub.’

“We…”

Jiang Li fell into a thoughtful silence. After a considerable pause, she hesitantly mumbled, “Xi Yao, actually, I… I don’t really mind…”

A faint awkwardness tinged the beautiful, serene face of the young woman.

She had originally intended to say that, being aware of her own heterosexuality, whatever outsiders might say would not sway her. Furthermore, if it were Xi Yao, she wouldn’t exactly find it unpleasant…

Yet, while these thoughts ran through her mind, what emerged from her lips was entirely different. Tongue-tied, Jiang Li worried she hadn’t conveyed her true meaning adequately.

“Mmm, I understand,” Xi Yao murmured, clasping her hands behind her head.

Jiang Li blinked, slightly taken aback. “You understand?”

‘How could you possibly understand?’

“I know you possess an unshakeable will, impervious to external influences, and indifferent to the gossip of others,” Xi Yao remarked casually. “You are solely devoted to your scholarly pursuits.”

‘That’s not it at all!’

Jiang Li clenched her small fists, a distinct frown of displeasure creasing her brow.

Lately, Xi Yao had become incredibly close with many girls, commanding universal popularity in the bathhouse, exchanging playful glances with the ‘Jerusalem’ (TL Note: A humorous reference, likely implying a highly sought-after individual or a place of pilgrimage) of the student union, and even having a doting older sister.

Inevitably, Jiang Li found herself feeling somewhat neglected.

Yet, she had been there first! Compared to the other girls, her only distinguishing factor was her heterosexuality. Was being straight truly so undesirable?

Xi Yao boasted a multitude of friends—the two previously mentioned, along with countless girls from the bathhouse. Jiang Li, however, had none; she had only Xi Yao.

Jiang Li desperately wanted to tell her that she wouldn’t mind being rumored as a lesbian with her, but… the words always twisted into something else by the time they reached her lips.

‘But I said I didn’t mind, which implies I don’t dislike it! Why couldn’t you discern that? Your emotional intelligence is so high; when you speak to Aileen, you have an entire arsenal of logical arguments. Why, then, can you not grasp the hidden meaning in my own words?’

The young woman, seething, gave the table a light but frustrated pound.

Bang!!

Students all around—front, back, and sides—jumped in alarm, turning to stare only to find Jiang Li’s desk splintered.

Jiang Li, her beautiful face utterly devoid of expression and tightly drawn, stated coldly:

“I didn’t use any force.”

“…”

Xi Yao silently lifted Tuantuan from the tabletop, fearing that the desk might succumb to its own weight.

****

Xiangxiangzi (TL Note: A nickname for a popular person, often referring to a ‘goddess’ or idol), Jiang Li’s rumored girlfriend, the one with a more ample bust than Aileen—Xi Yao, had been the subject of incessant rumors these past few days.

Today, she was also being hailed with the new moniker of “academic ace.”

As is often the case when a story evolves into a rumor, it inevitably undergoes artistic embellishment. In the tales spun by her classmates, she was summoned to the podium by teachers in every class, only to be met with deliberate and challenging questions.

Her politics teacher would quiz her on Marxist philosophy, her English teacher would test her on CET-6 (TL Note: College English Test Band 6, a standardized English proficiency test in mainland China), her Chinese teacher would demand she recite the ‘Ode to Afang Palace,’ and her math teacher would challenge her with calculus problems.

Yet, Xi Yao would merely offer a faint smile and effortlessly resolve every single problem.

“If she’s so brilliant, why were her exam scores only in the eight hundreds last semester?”

“Ah, but that’s where you miss the point! She feigned incompetence, asking Jiang Li to tutor her, thus creating a perfectly natural pretext to get closer. And what transpired after that? I hardly need to elaborate, do I?”

“Understood! Using tutoring as an excuse, they’d study until midnight, then a sudden power outage would plunge them into darkness, and in that pitch-black chaos, she’d seize her opportunity!”

“Eek, lesbians are truly terrifying! Do tell more.”

Thus, Jiang Li, who had merely intended to be Xi Yao’s ‘stopper’—a calming influence—mysteriously found herself transformed into her ‘counselor’ in the narratives circulated by their classmates.

In a way, it was a reverse fulfillment of expectations.

These days, the high school section was exceptionally bustling, with the student council president election transforming it into a battleground where factions clashed and rumors flew thick and fast.

The gossip ranged from the alleged romance between Jiang Li and Xi Yao, to Yun Caiyi’s forceful declarations, then to Aileen’s seemingly divine intervention, with Xi Yao gradually dominating the headlines.

In the university department, however, all remained serene and tranquil.

****

Xi Ruo attended an elective course she almost never went to, sitting in the classroom and observing the girl beside her desk, her mood uncomplicated.

Good, she hadn’t been mistaken; this person was indeed present for the class.

“Goddess Xi Ruo, Goddess! I admire you so incredibly much!” The girl with the single ponytail at the adjacent desk exclaimed with palpable excitement. “Are you saying you attended this class specifically for me?”

Xi Ruo nodded gently.

Her desk mate, the girl with the single ponytail, was named Gu Xiaoxuan, and Xi Ruo had indeed come to find her.

Because…

“Why are you looking for me?” Gu Xiaoxuan asked, brimming with excitement.

Xi Ruo’s expression remained serene as she pointed towards the girl’s hand, which was deftly twirling a pen.

“Among all the students I’ve observed, your pen-spinning technique is the finest… What I mean is, the way you spin your pen is quite impressive. Could you perhaps teach me?”

Xi Ruo had meticulously observed that this girl possessed an exceptional knack for manipulating objects with her fingers. Whether it was a pen or a coin, it would glide effortlessly across the back of her hand with a swift, silken grace, smoother even than Dove chocolate.

‘I must learn this; it will be useful this weekend.’