Chapter 27: The Evil Trio

Lu Beichen held Xia Wanwan tightly, but his gaze was fixed on Mu Ruo: “Mu Ruo, have Du Haili apologize. She shouldn’t have acted violently.”

“An apology is out of the question,” Mu Ruo said, shielding Haili behind her. “Some people’s mouths are so foul that it’s a miracle they’re still alive.”

Xia Wanwan’s roommates trembled with anger: “You—”

Mu Ruo smiled: “I didn’t name any names. Don’t assume I’m talking about you.”

With the conflict escalating to this point, there was no reason to stay any longer.

Mu Ruo looked at Haili and Zhou Jian: “Let’s go.”

Zhou Jian, a friend of both Mu Ruo and Lu Beichen, had been like a brother to Beichen for years.

But after hearing Mu Ruo’s words, Zhou Jian decided to follow her.

As he passed Lu Beichen, Zhou Jian paused: “Beichen, you’ve really let people down. You know exactly who’s causing the trouble.”

Lu Beichen’s eyes darkened as he watched Mu Ruo’s retreating figure.

This was the worst birthday he had ever had.

It was also the first time since he’d known Mu Ruo that he hadn’t received a gift from her.

Xia Wanwan nervously watched Lu Beichen’s expression: “Beichen, are you angry? It’s all my fault… I’ll go ask Ruo Ruo to come back.”

“No need.” Lu Beichen sneered. “If she were half as considerate as you, she wouldn’t have left like that.”

The classmates, having witnessed the drama, started gossiping.

“Wow, Xia Wanwan has changed so much. She’s so lucky to be with Beichen.”

“I used to think Beichen would end up with Mu Ruo. They were the perfect match—class beauties.”

“I wonder who Mu Ruo married. He must be pretty outstanding.”

“…”

Xia Wanwan’s roommates seized the opportunity to jump in: “She married an extremely rich old man.”

Everyone’s faces froze, finding it hard to believe.

But Xia Wanwan’s roommates elaborated, making it sound very convincing.

“That man is a bit richer than Beichen. Mu Ruo saw his wealth and shamelessly clung to him, insisting on marrying him.”

“Your so-called goddess is just a gold digger who’d do anything for money.”

“I’ve seen Mu Ruo’s husband. He’s less than 1.7 meters tall, shorter than Mu Ruo, with a big belly and a bald head.”

Their vivid descriptions left the high school classmates exchanging uneasy glances.

“Really?”

“Can’t believe it… I thought Mu Ruo would at least choose someone equally attractive.”

Xia Wanwan, hearing her roommates’ slander, carefully observed Lu Beichen’s reaction.

For some reason, Lu Beichen felt a strange sense of satisfaction hearing these rumors about Mu Ruo’s husband being old and unattractive.

He’d rather believe Mu Ruo had married such a man than someone who constantly outshined him like Fu Jianzhi.

Recalling the sight of Fu Jianzhi at the hotel made Lu Beichen feel humiliated and pained.

Noticing that Lu Beichen didn’t mind her roommates spreading these rumors, Xia Wanwan gradually relaxed.

A curious classmate approached Xia Wanwan: “Wanwan, have you seen Mu Ruo’s husband? Is he really like they said?”

Xia Wanwan’s roommate claimed to have met Mu Ruo’s husband despite not knowing Mu Ruo personally. If Xia Wanwan denied having seen him, no one would believe her.

“Ah, yes, I’ve met him,” Xia Wanwan smiled. “They really don’t match well.”

She felt she wasn’t lying. In Xia Wanwan’s view, Mu Ruo indeed wasn’t worthy of someone as outstanding as Fu Jianzhi.

The jealousy that had been smoldering since their youth flared up like wildfire, consuming Xia Wanwan with bitterness. She looked at Lu Beichen and then thought of the handsome and refined man she had seen that day. In terms of looks and demeanor, he far surpassed Lu Beichen, like an unattainable star or moon. Such a man was out of reach for Xia Wanwan.

Mu Ruo, having been abandoned by Lu Beichen, should be consumed with jealousy in the shadows, repeatedly trying to harm her out of envy, leading Lu Beichen to completely despise Mu Ruo and abandon her. Only then could Xia Wanwan truly replace Mu Ruo, not only possessing her appearance but also everything Mu Ruo desired.

But how could Mu Ruo now be with a man better than Lu Beichen? It wasn’t fair.

Xia Wanwan’s smile was filled with resentment and envy: “It’s really unexpected.”

“Xia Wanwan’s roommates are such gossips,” Zhou Jian said, looking displeased. “The kind of friends someone keeps says a lot about them, and Beichen actually believes them.”

Mu Ruo, however, didn’t seem to mind. In the story, Xia Wanwan and Lu Beichen were the main characters. Xia Wanwan was portrayed as pure and kind, never seeking conflict. Her roommates, defending her against the “evil trio,” were praised by readers as “little angels” and “genuine,” saying they dealt with Mu Ruo appropriately since she was so malicious.

To the main characters, Xia Wanwan’s roommates were loyal friends willing to do anything for her, while Mu Ruo and her friends were dark, scheming villains.

But from the perspective of the “evil trio,” they were the righteous ones, seeing Xia Wanwan and her friends as hypocritical.

The three decided to go to a restaurant for dinner.

Zhou Jian checked his phone: “I need to head back early. I’m taking my goddess to work tomorrow morning. I want to propose to her, but I feel like she really dislikes me.”

“Propose?” Mu Ruo asked.

She suddenly remembered that Zhou Jian’s fate in the story was a big “tragic” ending, involving not only his imprisonment. He was betrayed by his wife and the company’s bodyguard, who conspired against him. His wife even bore the bodyguard’s child. Zhou Jian was sentenced to many years in prison, while his wife and the bodyguard took over his company and assets, got married, and kicked his mother out onto the streets.

Readers had felt satisfaction at Zhou Jian’s downfall, saying he deserved it for his many misdeeds.

In truth, Zhou Jian’s end was quite miserable. He was currently pursuing a girl who worked at a cosmetics counter, someone he had fallen for at first sight. The girl had a boyfriend she loved but disliked Zhou Jian. However, she loved Zhou Jian’s money because he was very generous, giving her gifts worth a year’s salary. Her boyfriend came from a poor family and couldn’t support her.

Caught between her true feelings and Zhou Jian’s financial allure, she wavered. In the original story, this girl became friends with Xia Wanwan, sharing her experiences. Readers felt that her relationship with the bodyguard was true love and wished them happiness. Zhou Jian was seen as a tyrant using money to imprison beauty.