Chapter 5 You have to enter this trap whether you want to or not

Jiang Qingrou looked at Qin Lulu again. From the beginning until now, she hadn’t dared to speak, trembling behind Jiang Fei. Jiang Qingrou mimicked Qin Lulu’s earlier tone and said, “Qin Lulu, why are you so quiet now? Are you admitting that you’re the one who falsely accused me of being a spy?”

The moment Qin Lulu heard that word, she panicked. Jiang Qingrou could say it because she had people backing her, but ordinary people wouldn’t even dare mention it—especially not when she was the one being accused. She shook her head in fear, “No, of course not! How could I be? I would never!”

“Then why did you frame me? What did you gain from slandering me?” Jiang Qingrou immediately asked.
Come on, say it—who gave you the benefit for accusing her?

Qin Lulu completely broke down. She pointed at Jiang Fei and shouted, “It was Jiang Fei! Jiang Fei told me! She said you took her registration form and changed it!”

Jiang Qingrou almost laughed out loud at that. Disciplining Qin Lulu was even easier than training a dog. And the strange look on Jiang Fei’s face right now? Extremely satisfying.

Bai Zhenzhu had just been about to take Jiang Fei to get some makeup, but when she heard what Qin Lulu said, she couldn’t help defending her. “How could Jiang Fei have said that to you? She’s always silent even when she’s bullied. Don’t drag others into your lies!”

The other girls, who had been shocked just moments ago, now felt more at ease.
That’s right—Jiang Fei never spoke up even when Jiang Qingrou bullied her. Even if the accusation were true, Jiang Fei would never make a fuss. And she’s kind and generous—how could she spread rumors or let someone insult her own family?

Jiang Fei’s face turned ashen, and she questioned Qin Lulu with a cold voice: “Lulu, I’ve never done anything to you—why would you frame me like this? When did I ever say that to you? I only found out about it from you, remember? And now you’re turning around and blaming me? Everyone knows you’re the one who spread this rumor!”

The truth was, Jiang Fei had stolen the form with her brother’s help. Although she resented Jiang Qingrou for taking it back, she couldn’t show that publicly. So she had “casually” let Qin Lulu in on the story.

But now, with things blowing up like this, there was no way she could admit it. After all, if the truth came out, she would be the one truly in the wrong.

And what was going on with Jiang Qingrou today? She was usually the kind of person who stuttered the moment someone questioned her. Not to mention, Jiang Fei had assumed Jiang Qingrou didn’t even know the form was originally hers—after all, her second brother had a history of favoring family over fairness.

Qin Lulu stood there with her mouth wide open, unsure whether she was more shocked or afraid. The usually sweet and gentle Jiang Fei was now flat-out denying something she had said?

She had only dared to speak to Jiang Qingrou that way because Jiang Fei had tacitly allowed it! And now Jiang Fei just turned on her like that?

Jiang Qingrou was practically giddy inside.
Oh Jiang Fei, this trap—you’re falling into it whether you want to or not.

She made her expression even more heartbroken. Her fair hand half-covered her face, “So, sister, you treated me this way because of a rumor? Didn’t you know whether or not you filled out the form yourself? What Qin Lulu accused me of… was forging your registration form…”

She even let out a few weak sobs, and as if she couldn’t stand, she collapsed into her seat, covering her pitiful little face with both hands, shoulders trembling slightly.

After hearing that, even Bai Zhenzhu began to feel something was off.
That’s right—Qin Lulu’s rumor was that Jiang Qingrou altered Jiang Fei’s form. But that would require Jiang Fei to have filled one out in the first place, wouldn’t it?
If Jiang Fei hadn’t, then why didn’t she stop the rumor immediately?
Why just stand by and let her cousin take all that blame?

Everyone in the dance team had seen how many cold stares Jiang Qingrou had endured lately. How could Jiang Fei just let that happen?

Someone went over to comfort Jiang Qingrou. “Don’t cry anymore—if you mess up your makeup, it’ll ruin the whole look, right? You still have to perform. That’s what’s most important now.”

Bai Zhenzhu furrowed her brows and looked at Jiang Fei, asking quietly, “Is it true?”

Jiang Fei was already in a panic. In her rush to defend herself earlier, she had totally forgotten this key detail—and Jiang Qingrou had seized on it perfectly. She stammered, “I—I didn’t hear clearly. I didn’t really hear what Qin Lulu said.”

Qin Lulu was shaking with rage. She yelled at Jiang Fei, “Bullshit! How could you not know? You’re the one who told me! Jiang Fei, I’ve always helped you, and this is how you repay me?!”

Jiang Qingrou almost burst out laughing but held it in with a deep breath and carefully controlled her expression. She slowly removed her hands and gave a weak smile to the girl who had just comforted her. “Thank you. No one’s ever comforted me before.”

The girl felt even more sorry for her. Looking at Jiang Qingrou’s red eyes, she instinctively reached out to wipe her tears—but saw not a single tear had fallen. Embarrassed, she pulled her hand back.

Jiang Qingrou quickly stood up.
What a joke—like she would really cry. Makeup these days wasn’t waterproof at all. If she cried and ruined her look, that would be a huge loss.

Now it was time to win over Qin Lulu, that useful little fool.

She spoke to Qin Lulu in a soft, gentle tone. “Qin Lulu, I’m not blaming you. I know if my sister hadn’t allowed it, you wouldn’t have dared make such a scene. After all, this rumor is about me and my sister—I mean, come on, I wouldn’t start a rumor that slanders myself, would I?”

Then she turned to Jiang Fei, her eyes full of disappointment. She bit her lip and said, “Sister, you actually hate me this much? If you’re upset or feel wronged, just come at me—why drag my big brother into this? Do you know how hard he’s worked as a soldier? How many missions he’s taken for this country? How many injuries he’s suffered?”

She raised her voice, clearly agitated, “How could you treat a soldier—a man of integrity and honor—like this? Do you have any idea how destructive rumors can be? My brother has devoted himself to the nation for years. Don’t you have even a shred of conscience?”

“I don’t care what you do to me, but what you did to a soldier—that’s not okay. Not just because he’s my brother, but because we should respect every soldier who protects this country. Without them, we wouldn’t have the peaceful lives we live today!”