Chapter 68: The Summons
Jiang Yanya, still standing where she was, slowly bent down and picked up the shredded pieces of paper from the ground. She painstakingly pieced them back together, once again carefully examining the evidence Gu Wanrong had presented.
From the beginning, Jiang Yanya had consistently stayed out of the direct action, cleverly distancing herself. She hadn’t posted anything online about Gu Wanrong, nor had she paid anyone to spread the rumors. From start to finish, all the malicious actions were carried out by the incredibly foolish Xu Rong.
However, Gu Wanrong’s evidence irrefutably pointed to her seemingly kind words of comfort, which were actually deliberate instigations.
After confirming again that this was the so-called evidence Gu Wanrong had produced, Jiang Yanya’s previously gloomy expression gradually calmed.
After all, those were merely ambiguous and seemingly innocuous words of comfort. As long as Xu Rong could get Zhang Shi to hire a suitable lawyer to defend her, Jiang Yanya’s minor trouble would naturally be easily resolved.
Jiang Yanya gently placed the now pieced-together evidence into a file, then held it tightly.
Then, she gently tugged on Xu Rong, whose face was filled with anger. She said softly, “Xiaorong, now that Gu Wanrong has hired a lawyer, we can’t just sit idly by. You need to think about what to do next.”
Xu Rong glared fiercely at the file in Jiang Yanya’s hand, her expression vicious. “It’s just a lawyer; Zhang Shao can easily handle it.”
Jiang Yanya quietly reminded Xu Rong, “There’s irrefutable evidence in there of you getting people to spread rumors. Shouldn’t you warn them?”
Xu Rong, still furious, glared at Jiang Yanya, who was offering advice, then quickly pulled out her phone and contacted the people she had hired.
She repeatedly instructed each person to insist that it was their own curiosity that led them to post about Gu Wanrong after hearing about her from Xu Rong, and that they absolutely couldn’t admit to intentionally targeting Gu Wanrong.
Jiang Yanya, silently observing from the side as Xu Rong contacted and warned these people, subtly raised the corner of her lips in an almost imperceptible smile.
As Jiang Yanya expected, Xu Rong’s warnings only mentioned her own curiosity, completely omitting Jiang Yanya. Therefore, the evidence Gu Wanrong had against Jiang Yanya would become much less significant.
Once Xu Rong had finished her frantic warnings, she immediately rushed towards Zhang Shi.
Zhang Shi happened to be at home, surrounded by his many friends. Soon, Xu Rong arrived, followed closely by Jiang Yanya.
When Zhang Shi’s friends saw Xu Rong, they enthusiastically shouted, “Sister-in-law is back!”
These greetings made Xu Rong feel ecstatic and elated.
“She says she has something to tell me. What is it?” Zhang Shi held Xu Rong in his lap, his lips close to her white neck, asking in a low voice.
Xu Rong shyly nestled against Zhang Shi’s chest, slightly tilting her delicately made-up face, her expression aggrieved and pitiful. “It’s all because of Gu Wanrong. She’s simply too much.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yanya quickly stepped forward. She cleverly framed Xu Rong’s deliberate rumor-spreading as mere curiosity and detailed the events to Zhang Shi.
Zhang Shi raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully musing: This woman’s jealousy is truly remarkable, but it’s exactly what he wanted. He’d let Xu Rong take the brunt, while he provided support from behind. Once Gu Wanrong’s reputation was ruined, he could play with this aloof woman to his heart’s content.
“Don’t worry, no one will dare bully my beloved.” Zhang Shi used his finger to lift Xu Rong’s delicate face, slowly leaned in, and passionately kissed her. “I’ll protect your little sidekick too.”
Xu Rong was completely intoxicated by Zhang Shi’s affection, happily lost in the moment. She didn’t notice the fleeting exchange of glances between Zhang Shi and Jiang Yanya during the kiss, nor did she notice Jiang Yanya’s shyly lowered gaze.
However, this didn’t escape the eyes of Zhang Shi’s friends; they saw everything clearly. They knew exactly what was going on—this was just one of Zhang Shao’s little games!
The friends began exchanging knowing glances and teasing each other.
“Wow, look at our Zhang Shao, such a man!”
“Zhang Shao is rushing to the rescue for his beauty! Hehehe!”
“Big Sister-in-law, how are you going to thank our brave Zhang Shao?”
The atmosphere became lively again, filled with banter and laughter.
After Luo Qingquan completed the preparations with astonishing speed, the trial began.
Xu Rong and Jiang Yanya, confident and composed, believed that the powerful lawyer hired by Zhang Shi would ensure their victory. However, as they stood in court, their expressions were filled with disbelief, as if unable to accept what was happening.
They couldn’t understand why they were being sentenced.
No, they had just started their freshman year, they hadn’t even graduated; they couldn’t go to jail. If they were imprisoned, their lives would be forever shadowed, their futures ruined.
Absolutely not!
“Gu Wanrong, stop! I apologize! Please, have mercy, let me go,” Xu Rong, no longer arrogant, her face pale, her voice trembling, called out to Gu Wanrong, who was about to leave, begging bitterly.
Jiang Yanya quickly echoed her.
“Gu Wanrong, I was wrong! Tell the judge to drop the charges!”
“Gu Wanrong, I’ll kneel to you, I apologize! Please, I can’t go to jail!”
Jiang Yanya pleaded repeatedly. The evidence Gu Wanrong had presented was only a small part; the evidence of Jiang Yanya’s prior instigation of Xu Rong’s bullying had also been found, and Zhang Shi’s lawyer couldn’t defend them.
Faced with their incessant pleas, Gu Wanrong stopped and turned.
“Forgive you?” A playful smile curved Gu Wanrong’s lips, as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. “Impossible!” she said slowly.
Her deep eyes were full of mockery and coldness as she scanned them, as if trying to see through their exterior to their deepest fears.
Then, Gu Wanrong turned and left without hesitation. After a few steps, she stopped.
Xu Rong and Jiang Yanya’s hopes surged; they widened their eyes, expectantly watching Gu Wanrong turn back.
Perhaps, Gu Wanrong had changed her mind? Maybe she would forgive them and save them from prison?
Gu Wanrong had a faint smile on her face, but it held no warmth, only a hint of chill. She softly said, “Xu Rong, I have something I want to tell you. Are you interested in hearing it?”
Gu Wanrong’s gaze remained fixed on Xu Rong, locked onto her face, contorted with panic.
Xu Rong, as if grasping at a lifeline, nodded frantically. “Tell me! Tell me quickly, Gu Wanrong! Do you… do you really want to forgive me?”
However, Gu Wanrong merely shook her head slightly, smiling. “Oh, sorry, you misunderstood. That’s not what I wanted to say.”
As she spoke, Gu Wanrong shifted her gaze to Jiang Yanya, who felt an inexplicable nervousness, a premonition of ill omen rising in her heart.
Then, Gu Wanrong said, word by word, “I want to tell you a little secret—Jiang Yanya has been secretly dating Zhang Shi. How’s that?”
The moment the words left her mouth, the scene fell into deathly silence. Xu Rong and Jiang Yanya were both stunned, completely unable to believe what they had heard.
After a moment, Xu Rong, having recovered, went berserk. “Bitch! You dared to secretly seduce my man!” Simultaneously, she lunged at Jiang Yanya.
Ignoring the chaos she had caused, Gu Wanrong turned and walked away.
Jiang Yanya frantically pushed Xu Rong away, shouting, “I don’t accept this! I’m appealing!”
Xu Rong was still consumed by her anger at Jiang Yanya’s betrayal, seemingly oblivious to Jiang Yanya’s appeal. Despite being restrained, she repeatedly fought with Jiang Yanya.
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