“Without an outlet, you won’t have any motivation and can only go with the flow.
“With it, you can work from there and achieve something one day.
“Injustice isn’t always a bad thing, but if you choose to remain silent afterward, that’s the true tragedy.”
Feng Wu looked Zi Ling in the eye and said solemnly, “I hope you can remember that indignation, but if you choose to look away, that’s fine, too.” Feng Wu knew that she wouldn’t think too highly of the girl if she chose to run away.
Zi Ling closed her eyes.
She had no idea that she was at a crossroad in her life.
Nor did she know how her choice would change her life forever.
She wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and met Feng Wu’s gaze. “I’ll tell you what happened.”
She chose not to be a silent victim.
Her choice was appreciated.
The story was straightforward.
Lu Xiao and Zi Ling grew up together. Both came from families of scholars that were equal in social status. Therefore, they were betrothed to each other at a very young age and were going to get married as soon as they were old enough.
They went to school and cultivated together. Later, they entered Imperial College together, slowly making their way from Year 1 to Year 4.
Zhen Ya showed up when they entered the War Academy. She was in love with Lu Xiao and courted him frantically.
It was a messy process.
Zi Ling said, “Zhen Ya knew what she was doing. She slowly made friends with Lu Xiao. At first, she acted like a fangirl who was infatuated with him. She would ask him questions about schoolwork all the time, and Lu Xiao enjoyed it.
“I was angry when I found out about her and demanded that Lu Xiao keep his distance, but Lu Xiao didn’t understand it. He said that Zhen Ya was only a friend and that I was being stingy.
“Gradually, Zhen Ya joined our team, and all my team members were on her side. I became an outcast. I tried to talk to Lu Xiao, but he said that his teammates found me too grumpy and too hard to please.”
Zi Ling grew angrier as she talked. “I forced Lu Xiao to make a choice between me and her. It was one way or another. Lu Xiao chose me in the end and stopped seeing her. I was very happy, but…”
There was despair in her voice now. “Three days later, I ran into them in Zhen Ya’s room. They were lying naked in her bed.”
Zi Ling smiled bitterly. “After that, Lu Xiao announced in front of everyone that our marriage arrangement was canceled, and Zhen Ya became his girlfriend.”
Feng Wu didn’t know what to say.
Chaoge said, “How could Zhen Ya say that you seduced Lu Xiao?!”
Zi Ling said, “I’ve been avoiding them since that incident. Zhen Ya is from an influential family. Her father is a tutor of Class E. You know that our chief tutor is Mr. Zhu, right?”
Chaoge nodded.
Zi Ling said, “Zhen Ya took her mother’s family name. Her father is Mr. Zhu.”
Chaoge said, “What?”
Zi Ling smiled bitterly. “Because of that, all the students in Class E fear her, including Sun Jingyu. It’s only natural that the other students joined hands to isolate me.”
Chaoge said, “That’s outrageous! Didn’t Mr. Zhu say anything?”
Zi Ling gave her a strange look.
Chaoge said, “Did I say something wrong?”
Zi Ling smirked. “Well, Mr. Zhu is…”
