The Symphony of Mockery

The people around buzzed with gossip, their disdainful glances at Wen Xinyue growing sharper.

"No wonder her acting was so convincing—she must be a seasoned thief."

"Exactly, only a scheming, two-faced woman could play the part so well. I really misjudged her!"

"If I were Ji Chuxing, I wouldn't want to stay in this class either. Class 16 sounds much more carefree, and I'd get to be classmates with Fei Jie and Lu Xing. I'm so envious."

"Isn't it more impressive that Ji Chuxing is so capable? That's Teacher Wu, the ace researcher at North City University, and she's still so humble and eager to learn from him."

"It's… it's just so strange. I'm starting to admire Ji Chuxing for some reason."

"Call her Goddess Ji!"

Hearing the admiration for Ji Chuxing, Zhao Feifei snorted, "Of course, our Goddess Ji!"

Lu Xing also lifted his chin proudly, "Goddess Ji, you know, the one who's been deified. What's the Qihang Class? Nothing! And Wen Xinyue? She's nothing! She thinks she's so great, and everyone envies her. Tsk! In our Goddess Ji's eyes, even air is more useful than her."

Wen Xinyue's face flushed red and then pale as she listened to Lu Xing.

He was right; Ji Chuxing didn't even consider her worth a glance.

She felt like a clown, jumping around, while the other person couldn't be bothered to look at her.

"Exactly," Zhao Feifei chimed in, "She really thinks she's something, trying to compare herself to our Goddess Ji? What a joke. Take a good look at yourself—do you think you can measure up?"

Every scornful and dismissive look hit Wen Xinyue like a slap in the face.

She was utterly humiliated, wishing she could disappear.

Lü Yang, realizing he had been used, looked at Wen Xinyue and let out a cold laugh.

"So, you're this kind of dirty, hypocritical person, Wen Xinyue. You don't deserve the title of South Middle School's goddess!"

With that, he stormed off angrily.

Wen Xinyue wasn't worthy of his affection. He must have been blind to ever like such a fake person!

---

This incident caused quite a stir in the school.

Although there was no official announcement yet, when Wen Xinyue confronted Ji Chuxing, she intended to make a scene. The commotion at the entrance of the teaching building drew a crowd from the entire grade.

The students on the first floor knew everything clearly.

The Qihang Class was usually arrogant at South Middle School, looking down on non-Qihang Class students. With a rare spectacle to watch, and someone recording it, the incident was already all over the school forum.

Who didn't know about it?

The principal and Teacher Wu's punishments were clear: Wen Xinyue would never be allowed back into the laboratory.

And she didn't even know that the ban extended beyond South Middle School's labs. It included all the labs where Teacher Wu had connections. Being blacklisted by Wu Fangying, how many legitimate labs in China would still accept her?

Similarly, the more pitiful Wen Xinyue had initially appeared, the more she was now ridiculed.

On the school forum, the mockery was even harsher than at the scene.

She didn't even dare to open the forum, too afraid to face the barrage of insults.

Because of her, the reputation of the Qihang Class was also tarnished.

Unlike before, no one came to comfort her. The looks she received were filled with scrutiny, suspicion, and even disgust.

People were also whispering behind her back.

"I always thought she was nothing special. She acts so high and mighty, but she's just a white lotus."

"Look at her, always looking down on others, and now she knows there are people better than her."

"Hilarious, not only did she claim credit for an experiment she didn't do in front of Teacher Wu, but she couldn't even say a word when questioned. Oh, it was so entertaining."

"I never liked her. She thought she was so great, getting into Teacher Wu's lab, acting like she got into North City University. But look at Ji Chuxing, Teacher Wu even asks her for advice, and she doesn't brag about it."

"Really, I never expected Ji Chuxing to be so capable. Maybe she was threatened by Wen Xinyue to do poorly in exams. After all, Ji Chuxing used to listen attentively in class. I once saw her notes, and they were so detailed, even more so than mine."

"Maybe. Who knows what she was thinking, always calling her 'sister' and then stabbing her in the back."

"How scary. She's always laughing and joking with us, but who knows what she says behind our backs. She might have already stabbed me in the back."

"Serves her right! Stay away from people like her."

---

People are strange like that.

When they think well of you, whatever you do, they see no fault. Even if you do something wrong, they find excuses to explain and defend you, believing it's not your fault.

But once they think poorly of you, everything you do is wrong.

Even things that never happened are maliciously attributed to you.

This was the situation Wen Xinyue faced now.

Facing the suspicious and disgusted looks from the Qihang Class, she couldn't bear to stay any longer. She threw down her books and ran out in a hurry!

"Xinyue!"

Tang Chuxin called after her, but Wen Xinyue didn't stop, rushing out without a backward glance.

The Qihang Class students held Tang Chuxin back.

"Chuxin, don't bother with her. She's so vicious and disgusting, and so deceitful. She might stab you in the back, and you wouldn't even know it!"

"Exactly, Chuxin, stay away from her in the future."

"Yeah, what can't she do? Calling her the school's goddess and flower, it's ridiculous. You're the real goddess and flower!"

"Right, if you didn't go out to act and miss exams, she wouldn't be the top student."

Tang Chuxin's lips curved slightly, but her face showed deep concern, "Don't say such things. Xinyue grew up with me, and I know her. She might just be under a lot of stress."

"Chuxin, you're too kind!"

Tang Chuxin frowned, "Don't talk about her in front of her. We're in our final year, and we should focus on our studies. Our mental state is very fragile."

"After what she did, what mental fragility is there?"

Tang Chuxin hesitated, "Forget it, we don't need to talk about her. You're so kind, and we can't say anything. Just be careful, don't let her deceive you."

"Don't worry, Xinyue and I grew up together. We're the closest, and she would never hurt me." Tang Chuxin smiled.

Hearing this, the Qihang Class students couldn't say anything. Privately, they all thought Tang Chuxin was too kind.

Someone like her should be the school's flower, not a hypocrite like Wen Xinyue.

Tang Chuxin, listening to everyone's opinions, lowered her head and smiled contentedly.

School flower?

Ha, what was Wen Xinyue? If Tang Chuxin hadn't been absent from school so often, would Wen Xinyue have been able to hold the title for so long?