Chapter 102 Trapped Like a Turtle in a Jar, the Counterattack Begins
Zhang Sisi.
Liu Ran.
Cultural troupe.
And there's Yiyi.
The malice lurking in the shadows, the whispered rumors, are weaving a web.
A vicious net targeting her best friend.
Su Yue quickened her pace, almost running, as she hurried toward the cultural troupe's dormitory.
When she pushed open Yang Yiyi's dormitory door, it was quiet inside.
Yang Yiyi sat alone on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees, burying her head in her arms, her shoulders trembling.
Hearing the door open, she suddenly looked up, her eyes red and swollen, like a wronged little rabbit.
"Yueyue..."
Yang Yiyi's voice was thick with nasal tone. When she saw Su Yue, she could no longer hold back, and large tears streamed down her face.
Su Yue's heart tightened, and she quickly walked over, sat down beside her, and pulled her into her arms.
"What's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell me."
"I have no idea……"
Yang Yiyi shook her head, her voice choked with sobs.
"I just feel so tired."
"Are you tired from rehearsals?"
"no."
Yang Yiyi buried her face in Su Yue's shoulder and said in a muffled voice.
“I practice dancing like crazy every day, to the point that my bones feel like they’re about to fall apart. But they… they still talk about me behind my back.”
"They said I got in because of your connections and through the back door."
"They say I'm a capitalist's daughter from Shanghai, and I came to the performing arts troupe just to hook up with rich men."
"And they even said I... said I was shameless, that I was always bothering Instructor Yun..."
She became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, until finally she could no longer speak coherently.
"I didn't! I just wanted him to see my efforts, I just wanted to prove that I'm no worse than anyone else! How am I being indecent?"
Su Yue gently patted her back, but her eyes grew colder and colder.
really.
First, they isolate you with rumors and gossip, labeling you as "misbehaving".
I'll deliver the final blow on the day of the welcome party.
At that point, even if you have a thousand mouths, you won't be able to explain yourself.
Everyone will just think, "You, Yang Yiyi, deserve it!"
What a vicious scheme.
Such a familiar technique.
Su Yue looked up and her gaze fell on the red dance dress hanging in the corner.
That was a performance outfit tailor-made for Yang Yiyi. Its color resembled a burning flame, passionate and flamboyant, perfectly suited to her.
"Yiyi, don't cry."
Su Yue supported her shoulders, helped her sit up straight, and then took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.
"People can say whatever they want. If you pay attention to them, you've already lost."
"But I feel terrible inside."
"It's okay to feel bad. They just want you to feel bad, to break down, and to give up on your own."
Su Yue looked into her eyes and said, word by word.
"What you need to do now is not cry. You need to pull yourself together, dance your best dance ever, and shut everyone up! Use your talent to slap all those rumors back at you!"
Yang Yiyi was moved by the determination in Su Yue's eyes. She sniffed and nodded vigorously.
"Um!"
Su Yue stood up and walked to the red dance dress.
She reached out and gently ran her fingertips across the smooth silk fabric.
She carefully examined every detail of the dress: the shoulder straps, the waistline, and the seams of the hem.
Everything seemed perfect.
There was no damage or stains.
It's too clean.
It's abnormally clean.
Su Yue's heart sank even further.
The other party's methods were more covert than she had imagined.
She turned around and asked casually.
"Yiyi, did you have any unpleasant encounters with anyone during rehearsal today? Or, did anyone... touch your costume?"
Yang Yiyi paused for a moment, trying hard to recall.
"No... Apart from a few examiners, no one really talked to me today."
She thought for a moment and then added.
"Oh, right!"
"During the afternoon break, Liu Ran suddenly came over and started talking to me."
Su Yue's heart jumped.
"Liu Ran? What did she say to you?"
"He didn't say anything."
Yang Yiyi pursed her lips, a confused expression on her face.
"She said I was really hardworking and that my costume was really beautiful. Then... then she said my shoulder straps looked a little crooked, and she even 'kindly' reached out and straightened them for me."
"She was really acting strange today. Before, she looked at me like I was a complete jerk, but today she suddenly changed her tune."
Liu Ran.
Adjust the shoulder straps.
The last bit of hope in Su Yue's heart vanished.
It's her.
Su Yue didn't ask any further questions. She didn't want Yang Yiyi to notice anything amiss, which would affect her mood.
She walked back to Yang Yiyi's side with a relaxed smile on her face.
"Alright, stop thinking about those messy people. You're just too outstanding, blocking other people's way, which is why people are jealous of you."
"You don't need to worry about anything, and don't get into any conflicts with anyone. Just focus on rehearsing and treat the welcome party as your personal stage."
Su Yue pinched her cheek.
"Remember, with me here, no one will dare to bully you. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."
Yang Yiyi's heart instantly calmed down.
She nodded emphatically, the confusion and grievance in her eyes vanished, and her fighting spirit was rekindled.
"Okay! Yueyue, I'll listen to you!"
"That's more like it."
Su Yue smiled and casually took the red performance outfit off the hanger.
"I don't feel comfortable leaving this dress with you. What if some sleazy person ruins it?"
"I'll take it back and iron it properly with our brand new steam iron. I guarantee that when you go on stage, the hem of your skirt will be swaying in the wind, dazzling everyone's eyes."
Yang Yiyi now trusts Su Yue completely and doesn't think much about it.
"Okay, okay! You're the best to me! Yueyue, you're my goddess!"
"Alright, stop flattering me. Go wash your face, get a good night's sleep, and be well-rested for the next battle!"
"Yes, my Lady Su Yue!"
Yang Yiyi made a face and skipped off to the washbasin room.
Watching her rejuvenated figure, Su Yue's smile slowly faded.
She took the red dance dress, turned around, and walked out of the dormitory.
Back at the Gu family courtyard.
Without alerting anyone, Su Yue went straight back to her room and locked the door from the inside.
She laid the bright red dress flat on the sun-drenched bed.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds coming from outside the window.
Su Yue stood by the bed and closed her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, her entire aura had changed.
She leaned down, her gaze focusing on the shoulder strap that Liu Ran had touched.
In her vision, everything around her became blurry, except for that thin strip of red fabric, which was magnified infinitely.
She saw the warp and weft threads of the fabric.
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