Chapter 21: Who Are You Trying to Fool?

Zhang Li's seat was only two spots away from Chu Bai. 

When Xu Muyan quietly asked Zhang Li for the dormitory key, Chu Bai caught sight of the exchange.

"Zhang Li is a boarder, right? The key she just handed over should be the dorm key. So, that note was really from Xu Muyan!" Chu Bai's last trace of doubt vanished, replaced by a giddy sense of triumph.

The bell signaling the end of the class rang.

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**Girls' Dormitory**

Evening study session had yet to start, and the dormitory supervisor was leisurely watching TV in her office on the first floor. The dormitory doors were wide open.

Chu Bai stealthily slipped into the girls' dorm.

There weren't many boarders at Shuize High School, so the girls' dormitory building had only three floors, one for each grade. Each class's boarder girls were housed together in a single dorm room. 

Finding the right dorm room was easy since the class numbers were neatly labeled on each door.

Chu Bai sneaked to the entrance of a particular dorm room. The door was ajar, with only dim light coming from inside, but he was certain Xu Muyan was already there.

Feeling a surge of satisfaction, Chu Bai reflected on the days of being overshadowed by Wang Haoran.

"Wang Haoran could never have imagined that Xu Muyan, who laughs and talks with him every day, is merely putting on a show. Her real motive is to keep him from picking on me."

"But when did Xu Muyan start liking me? Probably during the time she tutored me. She's really gone to great lengths. How could I have been so blind to her affections?"

"If Xu Muyan hadn't seen me so down this afternoon, she probably would've kept it hidden until after the college entrance exam."

"How would Wang Haoran feel if he knew the truth? He'd be furious!"

Chu Bai indulged in these thoughts as he entered the dorm room, overwhelmed with excitement.

"Xu Muyan, I know how you feel. I actually like you too—have for a long time. Every time I see you laughing and talking with Wang Haoran, it tears me apart," Chu Bai eagerly confessed.

Since Xu Muyan had gone out of her way to arrange this meeting and the note was full of affectionate words, Chu Bai felt that it was only right for him to be straightforward. He hoped to confirm their relationship, perhaps even take things further—after all, they were in a dorm room, surrounded by beds. Maybe Xu Muyan had the same idea?

Chu Bai could feel his pulse quicken, but when his words fell into silence, he began to worry.

"Xu Muyan, why aren't you saying anything? Are you shy?" he asked again, his voice brimming with anticipation.

But the response was a shrill, ear-piercing scream—a scream that clearly didn't belong to Xu Muyan.

Chu Bai's excitement instantly evaporated, replaced by icy fear.

"This is a trap!"

Without wasting another second, Chu Bai bolted from the dorm room, fleeing the girls' dormitory as fast as he could.

But his relief was short-lived.

Twenty minutes later, Chu Bai was summoned to a private office by Song Zhenyu, where he found her and Wen Jing waiting.

This situation was delicate. Until it was resolved, Song Zhenyu didn't want anyone else to know, as it involved the reputation of a female student.

Wen Jing's eyes were red and puffy, tears streaming down her face. She was genuinely crying, her acting enhanced by the special, odorless, and colorless pepper water Wang Haoran had given her. The sensation was unbearable.

Song Zhenyu patted Wen Jing's back, comforting her while questioning, "Are you sure it was him?"

Between sobs, Wen Jing accused, "The... the light was dim, and he... he grabbed my hand, threatening me not to move. When I... struggled, I accidentally touched his hair. It's short, like a crew cut. His voice... his unique buzz cut... I'm sure it was Chu Bai!"

"Attempting to molest a female student? Chu Bai, you've got some nerve!" Song Zhenyu slammed her lesson plan onto the desk, her voice brimming with anger.

"I admit I went to the girls' dorm, but I didn't try to molest anyone!" Chu Bai defended himself.

There was a security camera at the entrance of the girls' dorm, so lying about it was pointless.

"Why did you go to the girls' dorm in the first place?" Song Zhenyu demanded.

"Someone forged Xu Muyan's handwriting and left a note for me, asking me to meet in the dorm, saying she had something important to tell me," Chu Bai explained.

"Where's the note?" Song Zhenyu asked, holding out her hand.

"I... I ate it."

"Who are you trying to fool? Do you think I'm a child?" Song Zhenyu felt her intelligence had been insulted.

"Ms. Song, I swear I'm telling the truth!"

"Enough with the lies. I'm calling your parents!" Song Zhenyu threatened.

Chu Bai panicked. "Wen Jing, why are you framing me? What grudge do you have against me?"

Wen Jing, unsure of how to respond, stayed silent, letting her tears flow freely. The pepper water stung her eyes terribly. It was painful, truly excruciating.

Song Zhenyu, seeing Wen Jing in such distress, felt a pang of sympathy.

"I get it now. Wang Haoran put you up to this, didn't he?" Chu Bai suddenly realized.

"Chu Bai, that's enough! You've done something wrong and won't admit it. Now you're trying to blame Wang Haoran?" Song Zhenyu was furious.

Wang Haoran was an outstanding student. How could he be involved in something like this? It was impossible!

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**Ding! The host's behind-the-scenes manipulation has damaged the protagonist Chu Bai's image in the eyes of one of the heroines, Song Zhenyu, altering the original storyline. 200 villain points awarded.**

Back in the classroom, Wang Haoran smiled as he received his reward.