In just one day, the entire internet was digging into Susu, with everyone saying terrible things about her.
At first, netizens were skeptical, suspecting that Huo Junya had hired trolls to whitewash her own image.
After all, the day before, Huo Junya had just clashed with Susu, and the very next day, a flood of damaging rumors about Susu surfaced.
In the dormitory, everyone felt sorry for Susu.
The girls gathered around her, offering comfort: "Don’t worry, those people online are just trolls. Someone’s trying to smear you."
Huo Junya sat on her chair, feigning indifference, occasionally tossing out snide remarks. "Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If you were truly innocent, why would there be so many exposes? Face it—your character’s just flawed."
"Enough!" A hot-tempered girl cut Huo Junya off. "Don’t push it! Just because your mom’s a talent agent and you know the ins and outs of the industry doesn’t mean you can slander people however you like.
Outsiders might not know the truth, but we do. Susu never badmouthed 'Smoke Emperor' in the dorm!
Besides, Susu’s always busy—she barely even comes back here except to sleep. She hardly interacts with you, so how could she have trash-talked 'Smoke Emperor' to you?"
Huo Junya tilted her head. Since her nice-girl act was already ruined, she saw no point in pretending.
After all, there were no cameras here—no one online would see her true colors.
Having grown up around her mother, Huo Sanchun, she’d met plenty of big-name celebrities who acted humble and charitable in public but were absolute nightmares behind the scenes.
A bad temper didn’t matter as long as the fans never found out.
"Hah," Huo Junya sneered, deliberately provoking Susu. "Look at her, playing the innocent victim while stirring up drama between us. Classic white lotus behavior."
"You—!"
The fiery girl was no match for Huo Junya’s sharp tongue and stomped her foot in frustration.
Susu stood up, took the girl’s hand, and stepped toward Huo Junya, speaking slowly and deliberately. "I know you’re gloating right now. With a powerful mother backing you, even when you mess up, someone’s always there to clean up your mess.
But your luck won’t last forever.
Sure, there are people in the entertainment industry who put on a kind face in public but are monsters in private.
But there are also those who stay genuine—kind and warm-hearted for decades.
You? You ignore the good and emulate the worst.
That just proves how shallow and shortsighted you are.
With such arrogance and pettiness, let’s see how far you’ll go!"
Huo Junya’s face darkened, her jaw tightening as she glared at Susu.
But Susu refused to engage further. She turned away, packed her things, and prepared to leave for Gu Nanyan’s side.
Seeing Susu unaffected by the online smear campaign, Huo Junya bit her lip, resentment boiling inside her. "Don’t think this is all I’ve got. What’s coming next will destroy you—just wait!"
Susu strode out of the dorm, pressing her phone against the wall as her heart pounded wildly.
She had recorded Huo Junya’s last words!
At just 16, Susu couldn’t possibly ignore the overwhelming flood of lies and slander online. It hurt so much she could barely sleep.
But whenever fear and despair crept in, she remembered Gu Nanyan’s advice—to stay true to herself.
She couldn’t let the rumors break her. Whether praise or hate, she had to rise above it.
She wanted to be like Gu Nanyan—unshaken, no matter the storm.
The power of an idol was immense. Channeling Gu Nanyan’s calm, Susu had deliberately provoked Huo Junya to capture that damning audio.
She didn’t know if the recording would help, but she refused to back down.
No matter how small her voice seemed, she would fight.
After Susu left, Huo Junya hurled a cup across the room in fury.
She hated Susu’s haughty demeanor—it reminded her of how Gu Nanyan had dismissed her, as if she were nothing but a pathetic joke unworthy of even a glance.
Huo Junya had always been the untouchable goddess, adored wherever she went.
Now, being mocked and ignored was unbearable. Rage twisted her face as she dialed her mother, Huo Sanchun, demanding immediate action to crush Susu.
She never wanted to see that detestable face again.
Huo Sanchun was startled by her daughter’s venom. In her eyes, Huo Junya had always been the poised, graceful girl—how had she become so vicious?
Susu was just some nobody, beneath them in every way. Was this really necessary?
She made a mental note to address her daughter’s issues later. For now, Susu had to be dealt with.
Though the internet was flooded with Susu’s "scandals," public skepticism remained.
Then, out of nowhere, Susu’s own mother, Liu Dong, entered the fray.
Liu Dong created an official account and publicly denounced her daughter:
"I am Susu’s mother. I apologize for failing to raise her properly, allowing her to hurt so many people. Since childhood, she’s been manipulative, stirring up trouble. I thought it was just childish mischief, but it’s only gotten worse.
"As a mother, admitting my daughter’s flaws breaks my heart. But more than that, I’m ashamed of my own negligence.
"The rumors online are true. She loves tattling, lies constantly, and thrives on drama. By middle school, she was already sneaking out, nearly getting pregnant.
"But I beg everyone to forgive her. She’s still young, and I’ll discipline her properly.
"To make amends, I’m pulling her from the 'Let’s Go to School' program to focus on her upbringing."
With her own mother confirming her "rotten character," even Susu’s staunchest defenders fell silent.
In the dorm, her former allies now kept their distance.
They had believed in her before—but if a mother would say such things, surely Susu was the problem.
Susu read her mother’s post on her phone, standing under the blazing sun yet feeling ice-cold.
Why?
Why would her mother do this?
She had always known Liu Dong favored her brother. She knew her mother was harsh.
But Susu had made excuses—her father was ill, unable to work, leaving her mother to shoulder everything alone.
Maybe the beatings and insults were just venting frustration.
Deep down, she had clung to the belief that her mother loved her, even if only a little.
Now, that illusion shattered.
Did her mother love her at all?
If so, why destroy her?
Liar. Troublemaker. The labels stung, but coming from her own mother—amplified, exaggerated—it was unbearable.
Susu crouched on the field, face buried in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
She had never felt so alone.
She didn’t even dare to return to her dorm, let alone face Sister Nanyan.
What would Sister Nanyan think of her? Would she, too, see her as a bad girl?
At that moment, Susu felt as if her world had collapsed.
She had no future!
