Lemon Soda Candy - 51
Xie Jingyi paused for a moment, “They’re saying you’re stringing along Chen Luobai and that guy from the Physics department, and that you’re also tangled up with Du Yizhou in some shady way.”
In truth, the rumors that had reached her were even nastier, but Xie Jingyi couldn’t bring herself to repeat them to her directly.
Zhou Anran’s shoulders relaxed slightly at her words.
Bai Lingyun, noticing her reaction, asked curiously, “Why do you look relieved?”
Zhou Anran hesitated, then admitted honestly, “I thought you were about to say something happened to Chen Luobai.”
Xie Jingyi: “…”
“Forget worrying about him—worry about yourself. These rumors are obviously fake, but they’re tricky. You can’t exactly disprove them easily, and if they spread too far, they’ll definitely hurt your reputation.”
Zhou Anran nodded. “I know. Do you have any idea where they started?”
“No clue,” Xie Jingyi shook her head. “Whoever started it was clever enough not to spread it online. If they had, it’d be easier to trace. But since it’s just word of mouth, it’s only circulating in our department for now, so it’s probably someone from here.”
“Before you came in, we were trying to figure out who it could be,” Bai Lingyun chimed in. “You haven’t offended anyone, have you? Wait—could it be Nie Zizhen? Didn’t she make some snide comment like that to your face once?”
Xie Jingyi considered it, then shook her head again. “I don’t think it’s her. From the few times I’ve interacted with her, she’s blunt, sure, but not malicious.”
“Maybe it’s some girl who’s into Chen Luobai?” Bai Lingyun guessed.
“Or some guy,” Xie Jingyi countered. “Don’t forget, Anran’s turned down plenty of people. Some guys can be way pettier and more vicious with their words than girls.” She looked at Zhou Anran. “Why don’t you tell Chen Luobai about this? He might have a way to handle it.”
Zhou Anran hesitated, then shook her head. “He’s been busy with basketball practice the last few days and fell behind on assignments. He’s been catching up all day. Let's wait and see for now.”
“Alright,” Xie Jingyi said. “Actually, there’s another way.”
Zhou Anran blinked. “What is it?”
Xie Jingyi winked. “Get together with Chen Luobai and go public. With his campus heartthrob status, the news would spread across the school in no time, and the rumors would collapse on their own.”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
What kind of solution was that?
“You guys enjoy your milk tea. I’m going to read.”
Bai Lingyun grabbed her arm. “Don’t run off! You didn’t come back last night, so we couldn’t grill you. What did Chen Luobai say to you on the court yesterday? It looked like he kissed you or something.”
“No, he just said something to me.” Zhou Anran’s cheeks flared with heat. She’d already endured a full interrogation from Yan Xingxi and Sheng Xiaowen last night, and now her roommates were starting a new round. She pulled out the milk teas, popped in the straws, and handed them over. “Drink your tea before it gets cold.”
Xie Jingyi burst out laughing. “Fine, for the sake of the milk tea, we’ll let you off tonight.”
Zhou Anran fled back to her seat.
She’d just pulled out her book, hoping to settle down and read, when a knock came at the dorm door.
Being closest to the door, Zhou Anran got up to answer. “Who is it?”
“It’s me,” Nie Zizhen’s voice came from the other side. “I’m here to tell you—I didn’t start those rumors about you.”
Zhou Anran frowned slightly.
Even Nie Zizhen had heard about it?
The rumors seemed to be spreading wider than she’d thought.
“What’s with that frown? You don’t believe me?” Nie Zizhen looked at her. “ Look, we’re not close, so I get why you might not trust my character. But don’t insult my intelligence. If I were going to spread rumors behind your back, would I have been dumb enough to say something snarky to your face? That’s just handing you evidence to suspect me. You don’t think I’m that stupid, do you? Don't forget we both got into University A.”
Zhou Anran suddenly found her oddly endearing. “No, I don’t. Jingyi said it probably wasn’t you. She thinks you’re a good person.”
Nie Zizhen let out a dramatic sigh of relief. “Good. I’d never stoop to spreading rumors behind someone’s back.”
She peeked into the room. “Xie Jingyi, thanks for the vote of confidence! I'll treat you to milk tea sometime.”
“No problem,” Xie Jingyi replied casually.
After Nie Zizhen left, Zhou Anran returned to her seat, but the words in her book blurred together, unreadable.
It was her first time dealing with rumors like this. To say she didn’t care or wasn’t upset would be a lie.
She opened WeChat and scrolled through her chat history with Chen Luobai. For some reason, as she read, her heart steadied.
Phone in hand, she propped her head on the desk, mulling over how to handle the situation. If she knew the source, she could pursue legal action, but without a clear origin, she was at a loss for solutions.
Around nine, her phone buzzed.
Thinking it was Chen Luobai finally done with his work, she grabbed it eagerly, only to see He Mingyu’s name on the screen.
Zhou Anran blinked in confusion.
She picked up the phone and stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.
He Mingyu’s tone was hesitant. “I heard… some rumors.”
Zhou Anran’s brow furrowed tightly. “They’ve reached your department?”
“No, I’m at the dorm of one of the guys from your class. I met him last time I sat in on your lecture,” He Mingyu explained before asking, “You’ve already heard?”
Zhou Anran hummed in confirmation.
He Mingyu’s voice carried an apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this would cause you trouble.”
Zhou Anran leaned against the railing. “You don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who feels bad for dragging you into this. If anyone should apologize, it’s the person who started the rumors.”
“Zhou Anran,” He Mingyu suddenly said her name.
“Yeah?” she asked.
“You—” He paused, then started again. “I—”
He stopped after a single word.
“What’s wrong?” Zhou Anran prompted.
Before He Mingyu could respond, another voice came through, growing louder as it approached, clear enough for her to hear.
“That law school guy, the campus heartthrob—Chen Luobai, right? I heard he got into a fight with a senior from our department over Zhou Anran. It’s happening upstairs in the dorm.”
Zhou Anran’s grip on her phone tightened. “He’s saying Chen Luobai got into a fight?”
“Yeah,” He Mingyu confirmed.
He was about to say, 'Don't worry, I’ll find out what happened’, but before he could, Zhou Anran’s voice came through, rushed and anxious. “Sorry, I’ve got to go.”
The call ended with a beep. He Mingyu lowered his gaze, suddenly feeling the words he hadn’t said no longer needed to be said.
The guy who’d just run out to the balcony noticed his mood shift. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” He Mingyu said, looking up. “You said Chen Luobai almost got into a fight with a senior from your department?”
“Yeah, almost,” the guy clarified. “It didn’t actually happen. His roommates stopped him.”
---
On Chen Luobai side, they hadn’t actually come to blows.
Yuan Song and Zhou Qingsui had both come with him.
As soon as they started, Yuan Song grabbed him from behind, and Zhou Qingsui stepped in front, half-blocking him. Chen Luobai’s expression remained calm, but Zhou Qingsui’s tone was serious. “If you throw a punch, you’ll be the one in the wrong.”
Chen Luobai closed his eyes, suppressing the restless anger inside him. He loosened his clenched fist and said to Yuan Song, “Let go.”
“Talk it out, man,” Yuan Song said, not letting go. “Didn’t Zhu Ran say you think fighting is the least worthwhile way to solve things?”
“I’m not fighting,” Chen Luobai said, a mix of irritation and amusement in his voice. “Let go. I need to grab my phone.”
Yuan Song hesitated, skeptical.
When they’d first come in, Chen Luobai’s face had been so dark it seemed like he was ready to beat the guy senseless and still not feel satisfied. After a quick glance at Zhou Qingsui, Yuan Song cautiously released him.
Chen Luobai pulled out his phone and shot a cold look at one of the dorm’s occupants. He tapped the screen, playing an audio clip. “This is you, right?”
The recording started with some static, then a male voice came through: “Zhou Anran’s got that innocent face, but she’s stringing along Chen Luobai and that guy from the Physics Department. And don’t get me started on her and Du Yizhou. Everyone knows Du Yizhou can get a girl into bed within a day—”
The rest was too vile to let play. Chen Luobai cut it off.
Gong Yongliang’s face darkened as he heard his own voice. He glared at Fu Xiaofeng beside him. “You recorded it?”
Fu Xiaofeng, seeing Gong Yongliang’s fury, took a step back. “He’s Sister Qin’s cousin—I can’t afford to cross him. Besides, Zhou Anran just didn’t give you her WeChat. Did you have to make up all that crap about her? I couldn’t stand by and watch.”
“You—” Gong Yongliang started.
“Settle your grudges later,” Chen Luobai cut in, his voice icy. “You’re the one who started those rumors about her, aren’t you?”
Gong Yongliang scoffed. “What rumors? Got any proof it was me?”
“I tracked you down, didn’t I? I can just as easily get everyone you spread it to to point the finger at you,” Chen Luobai said, not bothering to argue further. “You’ve got two options.”
“First, you apologize to her and go to every person you told and set the record straight.”
“Second, I take this audio to your department head and we go the legal route.”
Tall and sharp-featured, Chen Luobai’s presence was imposing when his face darkened.
Gong Yongliang faltered for a moment but forced himself to stay calm. “You’re bluffing. It’s true she’s close with you and those other guys. I just speculated a bit, maybe went too far with my words, sure. Take it to the department? They’ll make me apologize at most. Legal action? You’re a first-year law student—how much do you even know? You think you can scare me with that?”
He continued, “This audio might not even hold up as evidence. Even if it does, what, you’ll sue me for defamation or something? You law students should know better than me how messy lawsuits are. You want to waste months on this? What about your study? And even if you win, I’ll just have to apologize.”
“Fine, I’ll admit I went overboard. I’ll apologize to Zhou Anran, and we call it even.”
“Besides defamation, there’s also slander,” Chen Luobai said, twirling the watch on his wrist, his tone mocking. “And who said I’d be the one dealing with you?”
---
When Zhou Anran reached the boys’ dorm, she saw Chen Luobai standing downstairs.
She’d run over in a hurry and nearly stumbled when she saw him.
Chen Luobai reached out to steady her. “Slow down.”
Zhou Anran’s heart was still racing from the run. Without pausing to catch her breath, she looked him over, then circled behind him to check. “Are you okay?”
Chen Luobai’s lips curved slightly at her anxious expression. “I’m fine. It didn’t come to a fight.”
Zhou Anran let out a huge sigh of relief. “Why’d you almost get into a fight all of a sudden?”
He hadn’t planned to tell her about the near-fight, but since she’d found out through the grapevine, he didn’t hide it. “I found the guy who started the rumors about you.”
Zhou Anran froze.
So it really was because of her?
She remembered he’d never been one for physical fights. Back when Tang Jianrui was nearly bullied, Zhu Ran had wanted to throw punches, but Chen Luobai had stopped him, settling it with a basketball game instead.
Seeing her wide-eyed, stunned expression, Chen Luobai felt a flicker of irritation. He’d made it so obvious—nearly getting into a fight for her—and she was still this surprised?
His fingers twitched. This time, he didn’t hold back, reaching out to pinch her cheek.
Maybe because she still had a bit of baby fat, her friends—and his cousin—loved to tease her by pinching her face.
Chen Luobai had been itching to do it for a while.
Her skin is soft and smooth under his fingers. Something tickled in his throat, but he restrained himself, pulling his hand back and shoving it into his sweatpants pocket.
Zhou Anran touched her cheek, looking up at him with a mix of shock and shy accusation, as if to say, Why’d you pinch me?
His irritation melted away. ““Not gonna ask who spread the rumors?”
Zhou Anran lowered her hand from her face. “Who was it?”
“Gong Yongliang. Know him?” Chen Luobai asked.
Zhou Anran had long forgotten the minor incident from that group dinner, so the name caught her off guard. But her social circle was small, and she hadn’t crossed anyone. Thinking back to Gong Yongliang’s behavior that day, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
She nodded. “He’s from the dorm next to my roommate’s boyfriend. He came along when her boyfriend treated us to dinner last time.”
Chen Luobai’s eyes narrowed, recalling what he’d heard in the dorm. “He’s the one who asked for your WeChat that day?”
She nodded again. “How’d you figure out it was him?”
He didn’t go into the details of his efforts, only saying, “Your senior Yu helped out. You don’t need to worry about this anymore. He’ll go to everyone he spread the rumors to and clear things up.”
Zhou Anran blinked, stunned again.
She’d been shocked enough that he’d found the source. She’d thought an apology would be the most she could get—how had he gotten Gong Yongliang to agree to retract the rumors?
“How’d you do that?”
Chen Luobai’s fingers, still in his pocket, itched again. “Scared him a bit.”
Zhou Anran blinked. “How’d you scare him?”
“I told him—” He paused, a smirk tugging at his lips. “If he didn’t clear things up, I’d beat him up every time I saw him.”
Zhou Anran: “…”
He was teasing her again.
She still remembered the way his eyes had sparkled in the convenience store when he talked about why he chose to study law. Plus, he’d never been one to solve problems with fists. She didn't believe him.
“Did you scare him with legal stuff?”
Chen Luobai raised an eyebrow, suddenly leaning closer. “You know me pretty well, huh?”
The sudden closeness made her breath catch. She still wasn’t used to being this close to him, and her brain started to lag. “I’m being serious.”
He watched her cheeks flush, leaning even closer. “Who says I’m not?”
Zhou Anran: “…”
She was about to crack.
“Okay, if you’re fine, I’m heading back.”
Such a thin skin.
Chen Luobai chuckled and grabbed her arm. “Alright, no more teasing. Don’t go yet—let’s have him come down and apologize to you.”
Zhou Anran nodded obediently, glancing at where his hand held her wrist.
Chen Luobai’s grip tightened briefly. With people coming and going outside the boys’ dorm, it wasn’t exactly appropriate. He let go, shoving his hand back into his pocket.
A minute later, Gong Yongliang came downstairs.
Zhou Anran didn’t know how Chen Luobai had intimidated him, but this Gong guy looked nothing like the confident guy who’d publicly asked for her WeChat that day. His head was slightly bowed, and his apology sounded surprisingly sincere.
“I’m sorry, Zhou Anran. I shouldn’t have spread those rumors about you. I hope you can forgive me.”
Zhou Anran felt the weight in her chest finally lift. “I heard you.”
Gong Yongliang looked up, then glanced at Chen Luobai. “See, Zhou Anran’s already forgiven me. Hardly anyone believed those rumors anyway, so—”
“I said I heard you,” Zhou Anran interrupted. “I didn’t say I forgave you.”
She didn’t know how Chen Luobai had tracked him down, but it couldn’t have been easy. And no matter what, the damage was done. A single apology wasn’t enough to erase it.
Chen Luobai’s lips curled. “You heard her, right? It’s getting late, Gong Yongliang. I’d suggest you start clearing things up with everyone you told, unless you want me to change my mind.”
After Gong Yongliang left, Zhou Anran touched her still-warm ears and said softly to the boy in front of her, “Thank you.”
Chen Luobai: “Just a thank you?”
She blinked. “How about I treat you to dinner?”
“No need for dinner.” Chen Luobai paused, moving his hand from his sweatpants pocket to his jacket pocket, feeling the two candies inside. “Don’t you have an elective class tomorrow night?”
Comments
Post a Comment