Chapter 17: The Path to Upgrading the Black Lotus

Xia Yangyang was dazed. She didn't mind participating in the drama performance; it was for the school's honor, and she had strong school pride. However, partnering with Gu Zhaohan was an awkward prospect.

Wen Xiaochu said, "Yangyang, be prepared. Tomorrow's the last day of voting. Kim Fei'er won't give up this opportunity; she's obsessed with Gu Zhaohan."

Xia Yangyang was unsure what to do. The voting wasn't over, and she didn't know who to approach at the school. She could only wait.

The next morning, Xia Yangyang checked the school forum and saw that Kim Fei'er had surpassed her by fifty thousand votes. This was predictable—Kim Fei'er wouldn't pass up this opportunity, even if it meant manipulating votes.

As she was about to close the forum, she noticed a new, highly popular post: "Don't Be Fooled by Her Appearance: The Path to Upgrading the Journalism Department's Black Lotus." An uneasy feeling washed over her. The post explicitly named her.

The post was filled with slander: Xia Yangyang was using Gu Zhaohan to get close to Gu Qichen; she used underhanded tricks to get the lead role in Cinderella; she was promiscuous, frequented bars, led a chaotic personal life, and manipulated votes. The "evidence" was fabricated.

Xia Yangyang's hand trembled. She disliked being the center of attention yet constantly found herself in the headlines. Thousands of comments already filled the post. Some examples included:

• "I can't believe she's so scheming! Using her ex-boyfriend to seduce his uncle and marrying him immediately—amazing!"
• "How did she become Mrs. Gu without skills? The cultural festival was always run by the performance arts department. This year's public vote is suspicious."
• "This girl—beautiful, ruthless, sharp, amoral, and highly intelligent. No wonder she's a winner at 20! Life is unfair!"
• "These are just opinions. Let's not jump to conclusions. I'm from the journalism department, and our senior is really nice."
• "Little brother, beauty is a double-edged sword. Stay away from Xia Yangyang; steer clear of trouble."

Most comments were defamatory and abusive. While some pointed out the baseless allegations, few cared about the truth. Her success fueled their jealousy.

Xia Yangyang scrolled down to see the poster's name: Feifei is a big star. It was undoubtedly Kim Fei'er.