Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Why Snatch Someone’s Things
These people must have been called here by Lu Xinyue, and she definitely found their leader, too.
As for why that person was saying those things, Lu Xinyue must have coached him.
Shen Nian looked at Lu Xinyue, who was learning so fast, and couldn’t hide her admiration. ’Once she dropped her prejudice against me, she’s actually a really sweet girl!’
Realizing this, Shen Nian simply turned her attention back to Qin Xueling. She wasn’t about to miss such a good show.
"No way. We always saw those two girls getting along so well. I never would have guessed there was so much going on behind the scenes!"
"But that girl, Xuexlian, has been denying it this whole time. Could there be a misunderstanding?"
"Well, we can just ask the people involved to find out if it’s a misunderstanding. Nian is right here, isn’t she?"
"Exactly. We should just ask them to clear things up. If it’s really a misunderstanding, they can just explain it. We’re all from the same village, after all. Right, Nian?"
The villagers, especially the older generation, were generally simple folk. Even after witnessing the argument between Shen Nian and Qin Xueling and hearing all this, they preferred to believe it was all just a misunderstanding.
’Shen Nian wished it were just a misunderstanding, too. But how could it be? Qin Xueling was rotten to the core.’
’Shen Nian used to think that the teenage Qin Xueling might not have been so completely rotten. But she later realized she was wrong. Age didn’t matter—Qin Xueling was simply a terrible person through and through!’
"Nian, go on and speak. We’re all listening. If she really did something to wrong you, we’ll back you up!"
They were all from the same village, and the Shen family had always treated everyone kindly, so a good number of people were on Shen Nian’s side.
Of course, just as many people sided with Qin Xueling. After all, for years, Qin Xueling had maintained a flawless public image in the village. In contrast, Shen Nian’s reputation had suffered due to Qin Xueling’s deliberate manipulation.
"I’m not so sure about that. I’ve heard some rumors going around lately, and none of them were good for Shen Nian. Maybe she’s the one starting trouble here!"
"Let them speak for themselves and we’ll see who’s starting trouble. Nian, you go first."
They had already heard plenty from Qin Xueling, while Shen Nian had been standing off to the side without saying a word.
"Thank you, everyone. Even though I’m married now, I will always be a person from Shen Family Village. I won’t forget that. I did come here to find Qin Xueling today because I have a score to settle. As for all the times she used and framed me in the past, that’s over now. I can only blame myself for being a poor judge of character. So no matter how badly she wronged me before, that isn’t the reason I’m here today. I came to find Qin Xueling because she’s been spreading vicious rumors to ruin my reputation, and then she stole my college entrance exam score report! Everyone, you all have children. You must understand how important that score report is to my future. It determines my entire path forward. But Qin Xueling stole it. Don’t you think I have the right to demand it back?"
Shen Nian knew Qin Xueling’s favorite trick was to play the victim in front of others, crafting an image of herself as pure and innocent.
Shen Nian would never stoop to playing the innocent victim herself, but she knew that public opinion, when wielded correctly, could be a powerful weapon.
’If Qin Xueling wanted to use public opinion to humiliate her, then why couldn’t she turn the tables and use it against Qin Xueling?’
"What? Xuexlian, how could you do that? Why would you steal her score report? Give it back to her, now!"
"That’s right! Aren’t you and Nian classmates? You have your own score report, so why would you take hers? Give it back to her right now!"
