Chapter 990: The Female Lead of the Rumors

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

If Gu Zi hadn’t left school to get married, she would be at the age for university now—barely older than these high schoolers.

Her youthful looks and stunning beauty made it easy for everyone to assume she was just another normal student. No one would ever connect her to the protagonist of those recent scandalous rumors: the married girl with three stepchildren, infamous for becoming a stepmother at such a young age.

But when word spread that this breathtakingly gorgeous girl was, in fact, Gu Zi, the students were stunned.

The whispers turned chaotic. Many had despised her based on the stories alone, with some even boldly declaring in class, “Thank God she doesn’t come to school. If she dared show her face here, I’d make sure to chase her out!”

Now, however, their convictions wavered. After seeing her in person—how graceful she was, how effortlessly poised—they couldn’t help but feel there must be more to the story. Could the rumors really be true? Doubt began to creep into their minds.

As for Gu Zi, she hadn’t expected her return to campus to coincide with a dramatic rescue. But life had taught her plenty, and her knowledge of emergency first aid had come in handy yet again. Who would have thought that living two lives could prove to be so useful?

She walked briskly out of the school gate, feeling the satisfaction of a job well done, only to suddenly sneeze—twice. Almost immediately, a faint itch crept into her ears, accompanied by voices drifting toward her on the breeze.

“I really think my sister Gu Zi knows she was wrong. Can you guys stop spreading this around?”

“Lin Miao, you’re too kind! After everything that ingrate did to your family, you’re still defending her? Don’t worry. Everyone at Renhe hates her. If she dares step foot here, we’ll humiliate her and kick her out for good!”

Gu Zi stopped in her tracks, her lips curving into a faint, icy smile as she spotted the group gathered just outside the school gate.

Lin Miao, dressed in her Guangwai uniform, stood flanked by two other Renhe female students. The more Lin Miao pretended to “defend” her, the angrier the girls seemed to become. Her feigned kindness only solidified the lies as truth. Clearly, Lin Miao was the one orchestrating all these rumors.

Perfect, Gu Zi thought. She had been meaning to settle the score, and now fate had handed her the opportunity on a silver platter.

Without sparing the other two girls a glance, Gu Zi walked straight up to Lin Miao, her voice cool and sharp. “The rumors about me at school—you’re behind them, aren’t you? Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?”

Her tone wasn’t questioning; it was a declaration of fact.

Lin Miao froze, her fake smile faltering for just a moment before she quickly recovered. Forcing a syrupy sweetness into her voice, she greeted Gu Zi as if nothing had happened. “Oh, Gu Zi, what a surprise to see you here! I heard from Mom that you’ve transferred to Renhe. What a coincidence!”

This was the first time Lin Miao had seen Gu Zi since her release from prison. And there she was, as radiant as ever—flawless skin, an elegant figure, and that infuriatingly effortless charm.

Jealousy twisted in Lin Miao’s gut. Why did Gu Zi get to have everything—beauty, grace, and the admiration of everyone around her—while she had been reduced to this?

Lin Miao’s own hair was only just beginning to grow back after being shaved off in prison. It clung to her head like a man’s buzz cut, forcing her to wear a hat every time she went out in public. The summer heat was unbearable, but the thought of anyone seeing her like this was even worse. She didn’t even dare meet Gong Zhan in her current state; she knew he’d only look at her with even more disdain.

And yet, here was Gu Zi, standing before her like a phoenix risen from the ashes, dazzling and untouchable.

When Gu Zi wasn’t around, Lin Miao could tell herself she didn’t care—that she had moved on. But now, faced with the real thing, her jealousy burned hotter than ever. Why should Gu Zi have it all?@@novelbin@@

The two girls beside Lin Miao snapped out of their daze, their initial awe at Gu Zi’s beauty giving way to scorn. Remembering everything Lin Miao had told them, they sneered. “Evil people see the world through evil eyes. Lin Miao’s been defending your reputation, and this is how you repay her? Accusing her like this? How shameless.”

But Gu Zi remained unbothered, her gaze steady as she locked eyes with Lin Miao. “Pretending to defend me while actually fanning the flames of those rumors—that’s your specialty, isn’t it? A few months in prison, and all you’ve learned is how to lie better. Oh, wait—do they even know you’ve been to jail?”

Lin Miao’s face went deathly pale. Her eyes widened in panic as she stared at Gu Zi, her carefully constructed façade crumbling.

No one at Renhe knew about her prison stint. Even the class advisor who had let her replace Gu Zi’s spot at Guangwai had kept it a secret to preserve their own reputation. But now, here was Gu Zi, ready to blow it all wide open.

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