Chapter Thirty-Five: Twisting Truth and Falsehood

Luoshui was a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, her features delicate as a dewdrop, her long, silken hair cascading across the bed like a waterfall, exuding a faint fragrance. Her shapely figure, clad in a hospital gown, appeared exceedingly fragile, evoking a deeper desire to cherish and protect her.

She slowly moved her exquisite legs, gently brushing them along Qin Mu’s body, attempting to tease this cold, aloof man. But Qin Mu simply turned his head to look at her with helpless resignation, his gaze clearly saying, “Stop fooling around and go to sleep.”

“Why are you always so proper and serious? Don’t you have any sense of romance?” Luoshui pouted in disappointment. She knew Qin Mu was upright and would never act without her true consent, but she truly couldn’t fathom how he could remain unmoved, even sharing a bed with a beauty right beside him.

Was she not alluring enough? Impossible.

Perhaps next time, she should dress up more extravagantly, maybe try a gorgeous costume?

As these thoughts drifted through her mind, drowsiness overtook her, and she soon fell into a deep, peaceful sleep—more restful than any she’d had in the past decade.

The next morning, Qin Mu woke her gently, with breakfast already waiting at her side.

“Which breakfast shop did you buy this from? It’s not as tasty as your cooking.” Luoshui took one bite and immediately recognized the difference.

After breakfast, Qin Mu accompanied her out of the hospital. The doctors, though astonished, consented to her discharge after a brief re-examination confirmed her full recovery—she was even healthier than before.

Luoshui glanced curiously at the medicinal plaster on her body; it had not only healed her wound without leaving a scar but also invigorated her. Otherwise, with the amount of blood she’d lost yesterday, she would barely be able to stand, let alone walk.

“I’ll pick you up after work?” Qin Mu asked as he dropped her off at her company.

“Really? Then tonight I want to have dinner at your place!” Luoshui cupped her hands and smiled radiantly, as enchanting as a celestial maiden.

…

Driving away from Glorious Film & Arts, Wu Mu remarked, “Sharing a bed with him—this girl is truly fortunate.” He coughed twice to clear his throat.

The man before him was a general of unrivaled bearing and influence, who had spent the last decade campaigning on distant frontiers, with no time for love or leisurely affairs. Now, through a series of coincidences, Luoshui had met Qin Mu. Her lively, unrestrained nature was the perfect remedy for Qin Mu’s reserved temperament.

“By the way, there’s a rather unexpected development,” Wu Mu reminded him. “The Zhou family, after preparing Zhou Ming’s funeral a few days ago, is still unwilling to let matters rest. They’re trying to investigate further.”

“Let them investigate as they wish,” Qin Mu replied indifferently.

His background, from birth to the present, was classified among the highest state secrets; the Zhou family had no chance of ever reaching it.

“They can’t get to your records, General, but their investigation has turned towards Su Zhi instead.”

Qin Mu’s brow furrowed slightly. There was indeed a connection—if Zhou Ming hadn’t tried to take advantage of Su Zhi and made himself a target, Qin Mu’s first action might not have involved the Zhou family at all.

“Now that the Zhou family has regained some composure, they’ve shifted the trouble onto Su Zhi. They sent some documents to Jiangcheng High School, demanding the school publicly denounce her disgraceful conduct in order to utterly ruin her reputation.”

Unable to deal with Qin Mu, they went after a defenseless woman instead. Such was the hallmark of a wealthy clan that had secured its position by framing others twenty years ago.

“Truly the style of a great family,” Qin Mu nodded.

Wu Mu immediately understood and headed straight for Jiangcheng High School.

…

That day, Jiangcheng High School was particularly lively. The playground was packed with people, teachers organizing the students with the utmost care, wary of the slightest mistake.

A morning assembly was to be held, featuring a speech by a celebrated figure, with several education officials in attendance. The school had mobilized its students well in advance.

Several school administrators stood at the entrance, ready to receive the distinguished guests, especially Zhou Hong, a direct relative of the Zhou family and uncle to Zhou Ming.

As Zhou Hong’s car arrived, the students waiting on the field erupted into applause, and the school leaders hurried forward, their faces full of flattery, their words overflowing with sycophancy—one might have mistaken them for a pack of eager lapdogs.

“Today, we are honored to welcome Mr. Zhou Hong to Jiangcheng High School as our keynote speaker. He will share the journey of how he assisted Zhou Dongchen, head of the Zhou family, in leading their family to prominence here in Jiangcheng.”

A senior administrator took the stage, his every word dripping with adulation for Zhou Hong. Quickly shifting his tone, he continued, “But before that, an incident has occurred at our school—one that has tarnished our ethos and sullied our reputation. All members of our leadership are deeply ashamed that such a teacher exists among us!”

His words provoked a wave of shocked exclamations and speculation across the playground.

This announcement was meant to publicly condemn Su Zhi, to thoroughly disgrace her and drive her out of the school in utter humiliation.

A truly ruthless tactic.

“To warn both students and teachers, we have decided to bring Miss Su Zhi, who violated school regulations, onto the stage and expose her true, deceitful nature!”

With that, all eyes turned toward the edge of the podium, where a PE teacher was roughly shoving a reluctant Su Zhi forward.

“Get up there, now!”

Irritated, the PE teacher grabbed her by the hair and, ignoring her protests, dragged her onto the center of the stage without a trace of courtesy.

“That can’t be! Miss Su is known as one of the best teachers—how could she break school rules?”

“Who knows? I heard she tried to cozy up to Young Master Zhou for money,” someone muttered snidely.

“Everyone quiet down!” The administrator, Huang Tiancheng—Su Zhi’s own grade director—spoke into the microphone, signaling to the technician beside him.

“Perhaps you are unaware, but our leadership received reports that Su Zhi has been seen frequenting bars, casinos, and other such venues outside of school, and was even employed as a hostess at the Orient Pearl nightclub!”

Huang Tiancheng read the charges aloud indignantly as several photos appeared on the giant screen beside him.

There, Su Zhi was shown in makeup and a reception dress, about to enter the doors of the Orient Pearl nightclub.