Chapter 214
Shen Mengjie looked at Long Aotian and said, “You’re quite the character. You clearly look down on me, yet you can still do something so baffling.”
Long Aotian didn’t respond. Instead, he picked up the beer in front of him and downed it in one go.
“Ah…” He exhaled, the cool night breeze brushing against him. After two cans of beer, he felt more invigorated.
“What do you really want? Do you think this is amusing or cool? Do you really think it’ll touch someone like me?”
...
“Are you out of your mind?”
...
“Don’t you think someone like me is pathetic? Didn’t you say I was boring? So what are you doing now?”
...
“I told you I don’t need your pity. Don’t say this isn’t pity. If it weren’t, how could someone like you be sitting here drinking with me?”
...
Shen Mengjie stared blankly as Long Aotian poured another bottle of beer down his throat.
Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, usually so clear, were now clouded with a hint of mist. She had completely lost her usual assertiveness.
Tears streamed down her face, an emotional eruption that lasted only a moment...
After finishing his drink, Long Aotian crumpled the empty can in his hand.
He understood why Shen Mengjie was crying, and for the first time, he sensed the fragility that a girl her age should possess.
Even when he had pointed out her interactions with other men at KTV, or when he suggested she have dinner with other boys, she had maintained her strong demeanor, arms crossed, smiling at him, claiming she simply enjoyed the thrill of being pursued...
She had just said that if they could swap lives, she would learn to not care.
Long Aotian couldn’t know her past, but he knew that what she needed now wasn’t comfort; it was an outlet for her emotions.
In a way, she was quite similar to his little follower.
The difference was that the little follower had never once thought of giving up. She climbed higher and higher, eventually soaring to great heights.
But Shen Mengjie seemed to have compromised with life. She didn’t care whether someone was rich or ordinary; she just enjoyed the fleeting pleasures.
Even if those pleasures were short-lived.
She discreetly glanced at the last bottle of beer and quietly tucked it into her coat pocket.
“If you’re feeling down, you should find out who’s behind this. Although using the term ‘clearing your name’ might not be entirely accurate…”
The ones spreading rumors about Shen Mengjie were likely those who wanted to pursue her, or perhaps the girlfriend of a certain boy.
If that were the case, Long Aotian could understand.
But after all, it takes two to tango.
Both parties should bear the brunt of the public scrutiny for it to be fair.
If that boy pursued Shen Mengjie while having a girlfriend, and she was unaware of it, then the punishment would indeed be a bit excessive.
Conversely, if Shen Mengjie had known from the start that the boy had a girlfriend and still sought out the so-called excitement, then she would deserve the backlash.
After hearing Long Aotian’s words, Shen Mengjie shook her head. “I don’t know if any of the people pursuing me have girlfriends.”
“If they do, that’s just despicable.”
“You’re not much better.”
“But I have my principles. At least I wouldn’t accept the pursuit of other boys while having a boyfriend.”
“That girl is also crazy. If she can’t control her man, why is she targeting me?”
“I, Shen Mengjie, swear to the heavens, if it’s someone I like, I would take the initiative to approach them. But those who come after me, which one of them isn’t just after my body...”
“So you can comfortably flit around those men?”
“If one day you really meet someone you like, but that person knows everything you’ve done, how can you be sure they won’t mind?”
“The fun you’re borrowing now will have to be repaid slowly in the future…”
Surprisingly, Shen Mengjie didn’t continue to argue. Instead, she stammered, unable to articulate her thoughts.
“And about your earlier question, you said I was pitying you. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I really don’t pity you that much.”
“I came to find you because I heard the rumors and saw the messages you sent me on my phone.”
“You asked me: Is it you?”
“I’m now solemnly telling you, it’s not me.”
Shen Mengjie lowered her gaze and softly said, “I know it’s not you. You wouldn’t do something like that.”
“What should I do now?”
“If I were you, I would find the person who posted those rumors and confront them directly.”
“It takes two to make a quarrel. What you did was certainly wrong, but if the other party pursued you knowing they had a girlfriend, then they should also bear the corresponding public scrutiny, not just dump all the blame on you.”
“All of this is based on the assumption that you didn’t know that person had a girlfriend. If you did know, even if you found them, it would just be self-humiliation.”
Shen Mengjie nodded but quickly wilted again. She glanced at Long Aotian, her eyes shimmering with a strange light, and then quietly asked, “How can I find out who’s behind this?”
“Have you used all your brainpower on how to navigate between men?”
Shen Mengjie felt embarrassed, unable to meet Long Aotian’s gaze. She lowered her head and said, “I realize my mistake now. Please don’t keep lecturing me…”
Her humble admission made Long Aotian chuckle. If she had realized this was wrong from the start, how could such a situation have arisen?
Perhaps this is what the older generation means when they say that those who are pitiful must also have their faults.
“First, you need to understand that the internet isn’t a lawless place. As long as someone has done something, there will be traces left behind. Of course, you won’t track them down, but there are always professionals who can, like computer whizzes.”
“Of course, this should be done privately. Spend a little money to hire someone to help track it down. Following the clues will eventually lead to some answers.”
Shen Mengjie looked at Long Aotian and after a long pause, finally spoke, “Thank you.”
“Save your thanks. Clearing up the misunderstanding between us is worth more than anything else…”
---
A short while later, hurried footsteps approached from behind.
Long Aotian turned to glance back and waved at the figures coming toward him.
The first to arrive was Huang Fei.
His face was not good, clearly anxious, and it was evident that he was conflicted inside.
Also rushing over was Han Xiaojing, who jogged up, slightly out of breath. “Shen Mengjie.”
“I’m fine.” Shen Mengjie shot Long Aotian a glare when she saw Han Xiaojing and the others approaching.
This is why they say a woman can change her mood faster than flipping a page.
Just a moment ago, she was meek and seeking advice, and now she was rolling her eyes.
Han Xiaojing first looked at Long Aotian, nodding in thanks, before coming to Shen Mengjie’s side, looking a bit aggrieved and reproachful. “Why didn’t you even answer my calls?”
Shen Mengjie swayed slightly as she stood up. “Sorry, I wasn’t in a good mood today and just wanted some quiet time. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Han Xiaojing, along with Wang Lijuan and Zhang Mengmeng, hurried to support her.
The three exchanged glances, fully aware of the reason behind her bad mood.
“Thank you.” As she passed by Long Aotian, Han Xiaojing finally mustered the courage to speak to him.
Long Aotian waved his hand with a smile. “Just happened to run into her on the way.”
As he spoke, the strong smell of alcohol mixed with his warm breath reached her face, and Han Xiaojing suddenly felt her cheeks flush where his breath touched. She lowered her head, unable to look at Long Aotian anymore.
Huang Fei looked at the somewhat tipsy Shen Mengjie. Her usually vibrant and captivating eyes were now hazy and unfocused, and her fair face was tinged with a rosy hue from the alcohol. This was a side of Shen Mengjie he had never seen before.
The Shen Mengjie he had known was always so confident, fiery, and beautiful.
Now, she resembled a rose on the verge of wilting...
In fact, when Huang Fei saw the comments and some screenshots on the school forum, he felt a slight shift in his heart.
But now, seeing Shen Mengjie like this, for some reason, his previously wavering heart instinctively wanted to protect her, and he became resolute once more.
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