Chapter 39: Rumors Resurface, More Vicious Accusations
The backstabbing at the calligraphy and painting exchange ultimately ended with Su Wanqing's forced forbearance and withdrawal. Lin Weiwei's seemingly warm, yet in reality malicious, invitation pierced Su Wanqing's heart like a thorn, leaving her restless for days. She even dreamed of Huo Tingxiao's eyes, bloodshot from pain, and his desperate mumbling.
She was more cautious in avoiding any contact with Lin Weiwei, acting more low-key, and almost no longer participating in any unnecessary social activities. She devoted all her energy to study and housework, trying to numb herself with busyness, and also trying to make herself more "invisible" in this cold home to reduce the possibility of becoming a target.
However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop. The more she gives in, the more some people will push her further.
One evening a few days later, Su Wanqing was preparing dinner in the kitchen when the landline phone in the living room rang. She wiped her hands and walked over to pick it up.
"Hello?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds, and then Xia Xiaoran's voice came out, extremely serious and even a little angry: "Qingqing! Are you free to talk now?"
Su Wanqing's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition instantly grabbed her: "Bian Fang, what's wrong, Xiao Ran? What happened?"
"Have you heard any rumors lately?" Xia Xiaoran lowered her voice, filled with incredible anger. "Today... today I heard a rumor that's so infuriating! It's about you!"
Su Wanqing's fingers instantly turned cold, and she clenched the receiver tightly: "...What rumors?"
Xia Xiaoran seemed to be trying hard to suppress her anger, her voice trembling. "I... I simply can't say it! It's so vicious! I don't know which bastard spread this rumor! They said... they said you... they said that before you got married, you lived an immoral life in that small town in the south and had connections with some questionable people there. They even... they even said that you weren't a virgin, so your parents hurriedly pushed you out to marry them off, just to cover up the scandal and get into the high-class Huo family!"
"boom--!"
Su Wanqing felt as if a bomb had suddenly exploded in her head. Everything went blank in an instant, and her blood seemed to freeze! Her face turned pale as paper, and the fingers holding the receiver trembled violently, almost unable to hold it.
"They...they even make it sound so real!" Xia Xiaoran was so angry her voice was almost tearful. "They said they had photos as evidence, that your former neighbors knew everything...bullshit! Qingqing, you're not that kind of person at all! This is pure slander! It's a rumor!"
Vicious! Extremely vicious!
This wasn't just a question of her background or abilities; it was a direct, despicable slander of her character and innocence! In this relatively conservative compound, such rumors targeting a woman's chastity were undoubtedly devastating! If spread, her reputation would be completely ruined, and she would never be able to hold her head up high again! Even the Huo family would suffer immense humiliation!
Who was it?! Who hated her so much? Who wanted to completely destroy her in such a way?!
Lin Weiwei! It had to be her! Only she had the motive and the ability to spread such precise and vicious rumors!
Su Wanqing's body was cold, and her teeth chattered uncontrollably. The immense anger and humiliation washed over her like a tsunami, making her almost unable to stand. She grabbed the wall, barely able to support herself.
"Qingqing? Qingqing, are you okay? Say something!" Xia Xiaoran shouted anxiously on the other end of the phone.
Su Wanqing took several deep breaths before she could find her voice again, her voice very hoarse: "I...I'm fine. Xiaoran, thank you for telling me."
"What are you going to do now? This rumor is too poisonous! We must find a way to clarify it! Otherwise..." Xia Xiaoran was extremely anxious.
"I know." Su Wanqing forced herself to calm down, her mind working rapidly. "Don't worry about this matter for now, and don't mention it to anyone. I can handle it myself."
"How do you deal with this? This..."
"Believe me, Xiaoran." Su Wanqing interrupted her, her tone unusually firm, "I know my limits."
After hanging up the phone, Su Wanqing leaned against the wall, her heart still beating wildly. Anger and chill intertwined, making her tremble all over. She bit her lower lip tightly, until she tasted a hint of blood, and then forced herself to calm down.
Don't panic! Absolutely don't panic! The other party's goal is to make her lose her composure and collapse!
She must calm down! She must find a way!
However, the rumors spread much faster and more fiercely than she had imagined.
The next day, when she went to the service center to buy something, she clearly sensed something was wrong. The looks she received were no longer simply curious or scrutinizing; they were filled with naked contempt, disdain, gloating, and a kind of obscene inquiry. People pointed and whispered behind her back, but when she looked past them, they immediately pretended nothing was happening.
Even the salesperson at the service center looked at her strangely, and gave her change very quickly, as if they were afraid of touching her hand.
An invisible, dirty label has been firmly attached to her.
When she got home, Assistant Chen called. His tone was more businesslike than usual, even with a hint of subtle alienation: "Madam, the logistics department is organizing a family flower arranging activity next week. Do you need me to ask for leave?" This seemingly considerate inquiry was actually a disguised isolation and warning - she was no longer suitable to appear in public.
Su Wanqing held the phone, her fingertips cold, but she tried to keep her voice steady: "Thank you, Assistant Chen, no need to ask for leave, I will attend on time."
Assistant Chen on the other end of the phone seemed stunned for a moment, and after a moment of silence, he said, "...Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Su Wanqing knew that Assistant Chen must have heard the rumors as well. Even he had such an attitude, which showed how widespread the rumors had become.
In the evening, Huo Tingxiao returned. His face was even more stern than usual, with a subtle hint of fatigue and irritation between his brows. Apparently, he had heard it too.
The atmosphere during the meal was suffocating and oppressive. The two of them sat in silence, with only the gentle clatter of chopsticks hitting the dishes.
Su Wanqing tried to speak several times, to explain, to ask if he believed her, but seeing his expressionless face, even colder than usual, all the words stuck in her throat. How should she start? Should she ask him, "Have you heard the rumors about me not being a virgin?" That in itself would be a huge humiliation.
She could only lower her head in silence and eat the rice in the bowl without any taste.
Huo Tingxiao ate quickly, put down his chopsticks when he was done, and stood up to leave the restaurant. As he passed Su Wanqing, his steps paused imperceptibly, his eyes briefly glancing at her pale profile and tightly pursed lips.
Su Wanqing's heart instantly rose to her throat, and she almost thought he was going to say something.
But he ultimately said nothing. His gaze seemed even deeper and more inscrutable than usual, carrying a cold scrutiny and... a hint of subtle annoyance? Then, he averted his gaze and strode out of the restaurant.
Listening to his footsteps ascending the stairs, Su Wanqing's heart sank. Did he... not trust her? Or did he simply not care about this "scandal"?
A huge sense of grievance and despair instantly overwhelmed her, and her eyes were so sore that she had to hold back her tears.
Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a WeChat message from Xia Xiaoran, her tone extremely anxious: "Qingqing! This is bad! I just heard that the rumor... seems to have reached Old Master Huo's ears! Someone passed the word to the old house!"
When Su Wanqing saw this message, her blood ran cold.
The worst case scenario finally happened.
The other party's purpose was very clear. Not only did they want to discredit her in the compound, but they also wanted to completely cut off her foothold in the Huo family! They wanted to make Mr. Huo, who valued his reputation the most, despise her!
What should she do? What can she do?!
This kind of slander against a woman's innocence is often the most difficult to prove. Was she going to take the hospital's medical report and tell everyone she was innocent? That would only make the situation even more ridiculous and embarrassing!
The overwhelming feeling of powerlessness and anger almost tore her apart.
She sat alone in the empty restaurant, looking out the window at the dark night, feeling like a moth trapped in a spider web. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not escape the dirty silk thread that was getting tighter and tighter.
The rumors are back, more vicious and deadly than ever before.
This time, can she still rely on silence and forbearance to overcome the difficulties as she did before?
Huo Tingxiao's silence, what Old Man Huo heard... She seemed to be able to hear the sound of the noose slowly tightening.
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