Chapter 20: Metamorphosis

Ever since she had been reprimanded by Fu Yanchen, Qiao Wanwan had not dared to cause trouble at the Fu residence again. However, she became even more unbridled in slandering Shen Mengxia in other social settings.

Whether at nightclubs, bars, or banquets, whenever Qiao Wanwan appeared, she would never miss an opportunity to mock and spread rumors about Shen Mengxia. "That adopted daughter the Fu family still hasn't found, Shen Mengxia—she's young, but a veteran in the game of love. She’s practically a vixen reincarnated; first she seduced the younger brother, then she went after the older one."

"Really? Tell us more! How did she seduce them? We could learn a thing or two. Everyone in the Beijing social circle knows that the elder brother, Fu Yanchen, is indifferent to women. If she managed to seduce him, do tell!"

Qiao Wanwan began to fabricate stories with relish. "You all know, don't you? Back in school, she was obsessed with my Huaiting, following him around every single day. Just as our engagement was about to be finalized, she staged a disappearance because she couldn't stop it." She paused deliberately, leaving the gossips hanging in suspense.

Qiao Wanwan then beckoned the crowd to lean in, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "No one even knows if it was a real disappearance or a fake one. I saw with my own eyes the phone that Fu Yanchen found on the scene. Guess whose photo was on the lock screen?"

"It was Fu Yanchen! That just proves she had designs on the older brother long ago. And the angle of the photo—it was clearly taken secretly. That’s definitely suspicious. Fu Yanchen went absolutely mad, searching that hotel for three days and two nights; he practically leveled the entire place."

The other socialites listening to the gossip chimed in, "Exactly. This Shen Mengxia is truly something else. She has both brothers in the Fu family completely bewitched. It’s just unfair to you, Wanwan."

"I don't feel wronged. Huaiting is determined to marry no one but me, don't you know that? The day I returned to the country, it was her birthday. Just because Huaiting didn't go to celebrate with her, she threw a tantrum and wrecked a hotel, even getting the police involved. She has always been the one relentlessly clinging to our Huaiting."

After saying this, Qiao Wanwan didn't forget to put on an expression of utter disdain. Every word was delivered with such vivid detail that it was a pity she wasn't a professional storyteller.

Shen Mengxia’s eyes widened as she stared fixedly at the script in her hands. Her face flushed a deep, indignant red, like a ripened apple. As she read further, her breathing grew rapid, as if she were on the verge of suffocating.

Suddenly, unable to suppress the fury in her heart any longer, she raised her delicate little fist and pounded it against her chest—once, twice, three times... each blow fueled by endless anger and resentment.

"What is all this nonsense!" she muttered through gritted teeth while thumping her chest. She looked adorable yet comical, but it was clear how truly enraged she was.

At that moment, a teacher looked at Shen Mengxia with a faint smile and asked, "If you were in that situation, what would you do?"

Shen Mengxia took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and said earnestly, "I would let everyone know she is spouting lies. As for how..."

"Teacher, what can I do to slap the rumor-monger in the face?"

The teacher smiled at Shen Mengxia and said, "Remember this: do not rush to defend yourself. Let the facts speak. What you hear may be false, and what you see may be misleading. If you weren't there to witness it yourself, then let the parties involved clarify it for you."

"You can appear before them with emotional stability—composed, unbothered, and dignified. Dress to outshine them, and let your poise and speech make them look like they’re miles behind you. Then, take out your phone, put it on speaker, and call Ye Huaiting. Let everyone hear what he has to say. Use Ye Huaiting's own mouth to strike back for you."

Shen Mengxia suddenly saw the light. She thought of that scumbag Ye Huaiting, who would surely say: "When did I ever say I’d marry no one but Qiao Wanwan? She’s the one pestering me for marriage every day; I’ve been trying to dodge her. If you can't play the game, don't play. We're all adults—it was consensual. Who wrote the rule that you have to marry someone just because you slept together? If it weren't for my brother forcing me, I wouldn't have married her at all."

As she thought about it, she burst into a sudden laugh.