CHAPTER 24
Before Tang Ruoyao could even express her opinion, Fu Yujun, who was usually the most composed among the three, couldn't help but slam the table in anger and exclaimed, "This is absolutely outrageous!"
Cui Jiaran was in a state of confusion and looked at everyone anxiously, asking, "What should we do?"
Wen Shuxian's temper flared up, saying, "Enough is enough! I said we would beat her up, so we'll beat her up, whether she has bodyguards or not. Jiaran, call your boyfriend right now and expose her. If it get exposed, just say it was my idea!"
Cui Jiaran agreed, saying, "Okay!"
However, a slender, pale hand reached over and skillfully took Cui Jiaran's phone away.
Following the arm with their gazes, Tang Ruoyao, with an indifferent expression, looked at them.
Wen Shuxian was about to explode, saying, "If you get in my way again, I'll fight you! It's bad enough that she stole the role from you, and now she wants to snatch the position of the graduation representative too. Can't she take a look in the mirror? Is she worthy? Can you swallow this anger? I can't! If I hear a single word of disagreement from your mouth today, we're done being friends! Immediately! Right now!"
Fu Yujun, who always played the peacemaker, stepped in to defuse the situation, blocking Wen Shuxian's agitated emotions and advised, "No need to break off friendships. We're all sisters. Let's talk things out calmly."
Wen Shuxian, still filled with anger, spoke without restraint, "Who's her good sister? I don't have such a pathetic sister like her!"
Fu Yujun's expression changed, and she repeatedly signaled to Wen Shuxian, trying to get her to stop.
Tang Ruoyao's expression didn't look good either.
Wen Shuxian was taken aback and promptly slapped herself on the mouth, producing a crisp sound, and said, "The two statements I just made don't count. Don't take them to heart."
After saying that, she pulled her chair back, sat with her legs crossed facing the chair back, and turned her back to the others, sulking on her own.
Cui Jiaran quietly climbed onto her bed after retrieving her phone from Tang Ruoyao.
Fu Yujun glanced at Tang Ruoyao and patted her shoulder, but her eyes clearly showed disapproval.
Not fighting back was one thing, but letting others walk all over you, once, twice... even a clay figure would feel some anger eventually.
The dormitory room quieted down after the not-so-quarrelsome argument, but there was a hint of tension in the air that was usually absent.
Wen Shuxian randomly grabbed a book from the shelf, making a lot of loud flipping sound without actually reading it. Cui Jiaran kept her head down, playing with her phone, no longer engaging in arguments with Wen Shuxian. Fu Yujun sat at her seat, with the screen of her laptop lit up in front of her.
Only Tang Ruoyao remained standing in place, her eyelids drooping, lost in her thoughts.
"Do you think I'll just let it go like that?" Suddenly, a bone-chilling voice echoed in the dormitory. The three, seemingly focused but actually listening intently, raised their heads together.
Tang Ruoyao swept her gaze across everyone, enunciating each word with a cold tone, and said, "If she wants to be the graduation representative, she'll have to prove she's capable of it!"
Tang Ruoyao could overlook the movie role and even the title of the graduation representative, but this was her only chance to stand on the same stage as Qin Yinong. She was determined to seize it.
Hu Yuke shouldn't have targeted her. Not even a powerful celestial being could stop her from achieving her goals!
"That's the way to go!" Wen Shuxian clapped her hands in satisfaction, finally feeling relieved. She quickly called out to Cui Jiaran, "Hurry, make a phone call and have someone give her a swollen face. Let's see if Hu Yuke can still face the camera with dignity."
Tang Ruoyao stopped her, saying, "We're not going to physically harm her."
Wen Shuxian took a deep breath, about to erupt again, but Tang Ruoyao's next words extinguished her anger.
"I have another plan." Tang Ruoyao said firmly.
In Room 405, a small secret meeting took place, with Tang Ruoyao sitting at the head and her three roommates gathered around her, listening intently as she explained her plan. Their eyes grew wider with each revelation.
Wen Shuxian marveled, "What a brilliant strategy! It's like winning without shedding blood. I can already imagine the sight of Hu Yuke fuming with rage until she spits blood." She clasped her fists and burst into laughter. "I'm truly inferior."
With her straightforward and direct nature, Wen Shuxian could never have come up with such a roundabout method.
Tang Ruoyao pursed her lips, showing that she wasn't entirely at ease.
Fu Yujun, understanding her worries, gave Tang Ruoyao a reassuring look and said, "There shouldn't be a problem." Cui Jiaran asked, "When should we take action then?"
Tang Ruoyao replied, "Tonight. Who among you will leak the information to students from other majors?"
Wen Shuxian volunteered eagerly, "I will. I know a lot of people."
Fu Yujun added, "I can do it too."
Tang Ruoyao exhaled softly and nodded, "Alright, it's up to the two of you then. Thank you."
Wen Shuxian patted her chest and confidently said, "No big deal, leave it to me."
Fu Yujun remained reserved but smiled faintly. That evening, at 8 o'clock, during the peak of online activity.
Beijing Drama Academy Forum.
Title: Breaking News!!! The Outstanding Graduation Representative Has Been Confirmed: Hu Yuke from the Performing Arts Department!!!
Main Post: As the title suggests, attached is a photo of Hu Yuke [Image]
1st Comment: Huh??? How can it be Hu Yuke???
2nd Comment: Wasn't it supposed to be Tang Ruoyao?
3rd Comment: I remember it being Tang Ruoyao too.
4th Comment: Who is this? This is total chaos and confusion.
5th Comment: Can rumors be spread on the school forum now?
6th Comment (OP): I am the original poster, and I guarantee that the source of the information is absolutely true—it is Hu Yuke! It's not some joke to mess with you guys!
Tang Ruoyao sat in her dorm room chair, her fingers resting on the keyboard. The gaps between her fingers were covered in sticky sweat, and she occasionally wiped them with a tissue. If you looked closely, her entire body was trembling slightly due to nervousness.
Tang Ruoyao's plan was to leak the news before the school officially announced the graduation representative. It was certain that Hu Yuke was not qualified to be the graduation representative, but the impact would be vastly different depending on whether the controversy arose before or after the announcement.
After the official announcement, even if students were dissatisfied, the school would be reluctant to change the graduation representative due to concerns about their credibility. Students would also feel that it was too late to resist and that it would be futile since they were about to graduate. It would be better to let it go and avoid unnecessary trouble.
Tang Ruoyao was playing with this timing difference. As long as public outrage was stirred, the school would naturally not choose someone who was unworthy. Regardless of the connections Hu Yuke had, Tang Ruoyao was determined to make her pay for her misdeeds!
As the comments continued to pour in, gradually, other voices emerged.
32nd Comment: Since Hu Yuke is eligible, why not consider Wen Shuxian as well? I think she's much cuter than Hu Yuke, hahaha.
33rd Comment: I personally prefer Fu Yujun from their dormitory.
33rd Comment: The discussion is getting off track. If it turns out to be Hu Yuke, one can't help but suspect some shady deals behind the scenes [adjusts glasses.jpg].
34th Comment: I heard that Hu Yuke has a financial backer. Is it true?
35th Comment: It's true. I've heard from senior students. Apparently, it's some big shot from an entertainment company.
36th Comment: What does that have to do with the school?
37th Comment: Is the school being bribed?
38th Comment: Definitely, isn't it always like this? Even the school isn't immune. Capital rules everything [shrugs].
39th Comment: We shouldn't make such assumptions. I still believe in the integrity of the school.
40th Comment: Haha, what makes Hu Yuke so special? Apart from Tang Ruoyao, who is a hundred times better than her in her own class, let's talk about our Directing Department. Liu Yang outshines her by a miles, don't you think?
41st Comment: Cinematography Department disagrees!
42nd Comment: Don't think you can bully our Literature Department!
43rd Comment: Disagree +1
44th Comment: Opera Department +1. How is our classmate Sun Xiaoxiao any worse than Hu Yuke? Has Hu Yuke performed at the Sydney Opera House or played the Phantom? She thinks she's a rising star?
45th Comment: Peking Opera Department also wants to join the fun. We represent the essence of Chinese culture [smile].
46th Comment: Capital, get out!
University is the last ivory tower in one's life. In this ivory tower, many students still want to uphold their inner sense of justice and leave behind a last piece of purity for themselves before stepping into society. Some things are beyond our ability to fight against, but there are things we can do within our power.
A spark, hopefully, can ignite a prairie fire.
Tang Ruoyao and Cui Jiaran incited online discussions, while Fu Yujun and Wen Shuxian were responsible for spreading the news offline.
Wen Shuxian had an outgoing personality and knew many students from other classes. She had good relationships with some of them, and she never shied away from expressing her animosity towards Hu Yuke. There was no need for pretense. At this moment, holding an ice cream in her hand, with a few friends by her side, she struck a pose, looking like she was burning with anger. "Ah, it's infuriating!"
Her friends hurriedly comforted her, "What's wrong? What happened to make you so angry?"
Wen Shuxian said, "Ah, it's a scandal! it's infuriating!"
Her friends asked, "Huh? What scandal?"
"How come you don't know yet?" Wen Shuxian looked surprised, as if this matter had already spread everywhere.
Her friends were all confused. "We really don't know, what happened?"
Wen Shuxian then exaggeratedly explained the incident of the school selecting Hu Yuke as the representative of outstanding graduates. Among those people happened to be someone who excelled in another department, and their expression instantly turned sour.
Wen Shuxian turned to that person and said, "That Hu Yuke is a despicable person, relying on her connections, has turned the school into a mess. She is far worse than you, and you weren't even chosen. What makes her think she's so special?"
The girl gritted her teeth in anger but still pretended to be modest on the surface.
"Well, Hu Yuke has her strengths, and I have my shortcomings. The school may have its own considerations." she said.
Another friend who had been persuaded by Wen Shuxian stepped forward and chimed in, "Considerations? It's a scandal! I heard from one of my senior brothers that Hu Yuke has a financial backer who provides support, and her backer is ..."
Finally, Wen Shuxian threw the ice cream cup into the trash can and said indignantly, "Anyway, I can't swallow this. I'm not worse than Hu Yuke, and I plan to report it to the school."
The outstanding girl's ears perked up, and she said, "Report what? The list hasn't been announced yet, right? What if it's fake?"
Wen Shuxian replied, "By the time it's announced, it'll be too late. I'm going to ask our department head secretly, inquire discreetly. If it's fake, even better. If it's true, then I'll go to the school principal. I don't believe the principal would protect her too! Hey, why don't you also ask a well-connected teacher?"
The outstanding girl thought about her good relationship with the professor who supervised her thesis. She bit her lip and nodded, saying, "Okay."
Throughout the day, Wen Shuxian spread the news to several people, talking until her mouth went dry. When she reached the entrance of the dormitory building, she bumped into Fu Yujun, who had just returned. Fu Yujun, composed and graceful, handed her a bottle of water. "Did everything go smoothly?" she asked.
Wen Shuxian took a couple of gulps, panting, and replied, "Smoothly. How about you?"
Fu Yujun raised an eyebrow and exchanged a knowing smile with her.
Fu Yujun had much more experience than Wen Shuxian. Instead of tirelessly spewing out words, Fu Yujun excelled at reading people's expressions and words, subtly guiding the conversation. Offline, she casually mentioned the matter, and even classmates who were not on campus had "casual chats" about it on WeChat. Essentially, everyone knew about Hu Yuke being pre-selected.
As the saying goes, when three people speak of it, it becomes a rumor let alone when it's a true story. Everyone believed it, and their feelings of indignation reached an unprecedented heights.
The forum post became a popular thread that evening and remained highly active. The four girls from Room 405 took turns monitoring and participating in the nighttime discussions, firmly controlling the narrative within the scope they desired.
Hu Yuke and her two friends entered the dormitory building—she didn't usually live there but had come back to retrieve something. A unfamiliar classmate glanced at her and let out a disdainful snort.
Hu Yuke furrowed her brows and asked the person next to her, "Was she expressing dissatisfaction towards me just now?"
Naturally, she was beautiful, with well-defined features. However, amidst her beauty, there was a hint of malevolence, reminiscent of a venomous snake lurking in the dark corners.
When looking at people, she held her chin high, never meeting anyone's gaze directly, exuding a repulsive sense of self-satisfaction.
Her friend imitated her and glanced at the person's back with disdain, saying, "Jealous of you, obviously."
Hu Yuke scoffed, "Crazy."
Her friend echoed, "Exactly! People like her are always bitter. They should take a good look at themselves."
Hu Yuke didn't pay much attention to such insignificant characters. As they climbed the stairs, she asked, "Is Tang Ruoyao at school?"
The second friend gleefully said, "Yes, I heard she's heartbroken that she can't eat."
A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Hu Yuke's mouth as she leisurely prolonged her words, asking, "Oh? What happened? Who broke her heart? Did she get cheated on by a scumbag?" Regardless of the reason, as long as Tang Ruoyao was having a hard time, she would be happy.
The second friend said, "She knows she's not representing the outstanding graduates."
The first friend immediately flattered, "I think she's just studied herself into stupidity, a bookworm. What's the big deal about being a representative of the graduating class? As long as our Yuke wants it, it's a piece of cake, right?"
Hu Yuke comfortably narrowed her eyes.
Seizing the opportunity, the first friend slightly bowed and used a fawning tone to insinuate, "Yuke, about that play you mentioned last time, when will you take me to meet the director?"
A trace of disgust flashed in Hu Yuke's eyes, and she vaguely replied, "Soon, after I finish the graduation ceremony."
The second friend's eyes suddenly lit up, wanting to speak, but Hu Yuke impatiently interrupted her before she could say anything, "Hurry up, I still have things to do after we get the stuff."
The three of them went upstairs.
Passing by the closed door of Room 405, a gloominess clouded Hu Yuke's eyes, and her gaze seemed to be tainted with poison. She stared at it with hatred for a while before walking away. Some doors in the other dorm rooms were open. Hu Yuke, always arrogant, naturally wouldn't greet them, but her two friends still had to interact with other classmates. As they walked, they greeted others along the way, but unusually, no one paid them any attention. Even when they passed by, people averted their eyes with disgust.
The two friends felt a sense of unease rising in their hearts as they looked at Hu Yuke striding ahead. They exchanged a glance.
The first friend's lips moved, and she called out to her, "Yuke."
Hu Yuke abruptly stopped and turned around, her expression sinister as she looked at them, coldly saying, "What? Can't you leave me alone? Stop with the pointless chatter and don't follow me anymore."
The words that were about to burst out of the first friend's throat were swallowed back, and she bit her lower lip hard.
Hu Yuke noticed their dissatisfaction and slightly softened her expression. She still had a use for them. However, she didn't say anything apologetic, only saying, "Hurry up. Tonight, I'll take you both to meet an important person."
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