The news spread faster than wildfire.
By the next morning, Liang Meiyu could feel the weight of every glance as she walked through the school gates. Some students turned to whisper behind cupped hands; others didn't even bother hiding their curiosity.
"She's the one who got expelled before, right?"
"I heard she put someone in the hospital."
"No wonder Zhao Yichen and Wen Haoran are hovering around her… maybe they like trouble too."
Every step felt like walking through a battlefield with arrows aimed at her back.
Meiyu kept her head low, her fingers gripping the strap of her schoolbag until her knuckles turned white.
Inside the classroom, it was no better. The air was thick with silence when she entered, but the moment she sat at her desk, the murmurs began.
"Don't sit too close, she might snap."
"I can't believe she fooled us this whole time."
"Figures. Girls like her always play innocent."
Her chest tightened. She wanted to scream that it wasn't true, that none of them understood. But the words tangled in her throat, the way they always did.
---
Yichen slammed his books down on his desk so hard the sound echoed through the room. "If you've got something to say," he barked, his eyes blazing, "say it to me instead of whispering like cowards."
The room went silent instantly. No one dared meet his gaze.
But Haoran wasn't far behind. His voice, calm but sharp, carried just as much weight. "Gossip doesn't make the truth. If you think you know Meiyu, maybe try speaking to her instead of spreading poison."
His words cut deeper than Yichen's roar—because they left no room for denial.
For a moment, the class fell silent. But silence didn't mean acceptance. The whispers simply shifted to the hallways, the cafeteria, the corners of the schoolyard.
Meiyu sat in the eye of the storm, her heart sinking lower with every sideways glance.
---
At lunch, she tried to slip away quietly, hoping to find a corner of the courtyard where she could eat in peace. But even there, she wasn't safe.
A group of girls blocked her path, their arms crossed.
"So it's true, huh?" one sneered. "No wonder you act all sweet. It's just a cover."
Meiyu froze. Her lips trembled, but no sound came.
Another girl smirked. "Guess Lin Qian was right about you."
The name made Meiyu's stomach churn.
Before they could say more, Yichen's shadow loomed over them. His voice was icy. "Touch her again, and you'll regret it."
The girls scattered, muttering under their breaths, but none dared test him.
Meiyu's eyes stung. She wanted to thank him, but the words stuck.
"Don't just stand there," Yichen muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Eat."
He walked ahead without looking back, but she saw the tension in his shoulders.
A moment later, Haoran appeared at her side, carrying an extra bento box. "You haven't eaten, have you?"
Her throat tightened. She shook her head.
"Then eat with us," Haoran said simply. His tone was steady, but his eyes held warmth that made her chest ache.
---
Still, no amount of support could erase the way people looked at her. By the end of the day, Meiyu's body felt heavy, her steps dragging as she packed her things.
Then the announcement came.
"All second-year students, please note: the autumn school trip roster has been posted."
Meiyu's stomach dropped.
The trip. A three-day excursion to the mountains—activities, shared rooms, endless opportunities for whispers and rumors to spread.
Already, she could hear her classmates buzzing with excitement.
"Room assignments are posted too."
"Who's with who?"
"Better hope you're not stuck with her."
The last words made Meiyu's cheeks burn. She clutched her bag tighter, forcing herself to walk toward the notice board.
Her eyes scanned the paper until she found her name.
And her heart sank.
She was assigned to a room with two girls who had openly mocked her earlier.
The laughter she heard behind her told her they'd already seen it.
"Guess we'll need to lock our things," one giggled. "Wouldn't want the 'troublemaker' to cause problems."
The other smirked. "Or worse—pick a fight in her sleep."
Meiyu's hands shook. She wanted to protest, to beg for reassignment, but she could already imagine the whispers: She's difficult. She can't even share a room.
She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.
And then—Yichen's voice, low but firm, at her side. "You don't have to go."
Haoran's voice followed, gentler but no less determined. "Or you can go—and we'll make sure you're not alone, no matter what happens."
Their words wrapped around her like a shield.
But the decision still sat heavy on her chest. If she stayed behind, she'd look weak. If she went, she'd be walking straight into humiliation.
Her future, her dignity, her fragile bond with both of them—everything felt like it balanced on this one choice.
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️
Will Meiyu find the courage to face the school trip—and the classmates who are waiting to tear her down—or will she give up and let Lin Qian's scheme win?