Chapter 23

Chapter 23
One Week Later
The roar of car engine filled the college parking lot as Lian stepped out of the car, pulling his coat tighter around himself. It's been cold lately. It had been a week since the honeymoon seven damn days, and the memory still wouldn’t leave him alone.
Every night, he replayed it. Cheng’s voice. His touch. That look in his eyes before he said those words.
“”
Lian swallowed hard, shoving the thought away before it could twist deeper. He wasn’t supposed to think about that night. Not the way Cheng held him. Not the way it ended but the moment he realized Cheng knew he had always been a boy, he wasn't Mei.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to breathe, he waved his head slightly to pull away from his thoughts.
As he walked into the college building, the noise changed.
It wasn’t sound anymore.
It was whispers.
Every damn head turned.
“Is that her?”
“She actually showed up?”
“She’s got no shame.”
He didn’t look up. He just kept walking, face calm, steps steady, even though his stomach twisted.
He could already feel their eyes burning holes in him.
The same people who used to smile at him were now whispering behind their hands.
“After that wedding scandal? I would’ve disappeared if it was me.”
“Did you see those pictures? She was with different men!”
“She’s not fit to marry into the Fu's family.”
“Cheng must’ve been drunk as hell to say yes.”
Lian clenched his jaw. His chest burned.
They were all talking about him.
About Mei.
About the pictures, the lies, the damn tape that wasn’t even his but what could he possibly do, nothing.
He walked faster. His heels clicked hard against the ground.
Every sound made his heart beat faster.
He wanted to scream. He wanted to tell them to shut the fuck up.
But he couldn’t.
“She’s acting like nothing happened.”
“Rich girls think they can get away with anything.”
“Her family must’ve paid the Fu's to keep her.”
“girl does a family even dare compare to the Fu's maybe she used black magic to trap him.“
He swallowed hard. His throat felt dry as dust just then he heard his name, fake name though.
“Hey Mei stop right there!“.
Lian turned back slowly to see who called him.
Amy and luisa, Mei bitchy slut friends. Why will they stop him. Isn't his actions clears he doesn't want anything to do with them.
“Well, well, well… if it isn’t Mrs. Fu's herself,” Amy drawled, her glossy lips curving into a mocking smile. Her tone dripped with venom and fake sweetness. “Didn’t think you had the guts to show your face here after that little show at your wedding.”
Luisa snickered beside her, arms crossed over her chest. “Oh please, Amy, you mean that porn screening in the middle of the altar? Girl, that was legendary. Half the city’s still talking about it.”
The words hit like knives, but Lian didn’t flinch. He stood there, clutching his coat tighter, staring at them with a calmness he didn’t feel. Inside, though, his pulse was racing, and his palms were slick with sweat.
Amy stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor. “You know what’s crazy?” she said, her voice lowering just enough for only the three of them to hear. “I didn’t think Cheng would still marry you after that humiliation. I mean, after the video? After seeing all that shit in front of his family?”
Luisa laughed harshly. “Guess money really does make miracles happen. Or maybe you’re just that good in bed, huh, Mei?”
Lian’s jaw tightened. His lips parted, but no sound came out. He wanted to say something anything to shut them up. But his throat locked.
Amy’s smirk widened when she noticed. “Aw, what’s wrong? Cat got your tongue, Mrs. Fu's?”
Lian finally breathed out, voice low but sharp. “You two done?”
Luisa’s smile faltered slightly at his tone, but Amy wasn’t backing down. “Not even close,” she said, leaning in until her perfume made him sick. “You know what’s funny, though? We weren’t even gonna leak that video.”
Lian froze. His heartbeat jumped. “…What?”
Amy tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Yeah. That little ‘wedding scandal’? It wasn’t our idea.”
Luisa giggled, covering her mouth. “We were paid heavily to send those pictures to the press. Anonymous account, huge amount of cash. We didn’t ask questions. Money talks, you know?”
Amy shrugged. “We just sent what we had. Didn’t even know it’d go that viral. But hey, whoever paid us must really hate your guts.”
Lian’s stomach dropped. “You ”
“Relax,” Amy interrupted, rolling her eyes. “We didn’t even know what it’d turn into. Thought it was just gossip. But turns out, someone really wanted to fuck you over.”
Luisa added with a sneer, “And honestly, whoever it was… they did a damn good job.”
For a moment, Lian couldn’t breathe. His pulse thundered in his ears. The hallway around them blurred the whispers, the stares, everything melted away. Someone paid them. Someone planned the scandal.
His mind immediately flashed to one face.
Mei.
Mei his fucking twin.
How could she have such a useless set of people close to her all in the name of friends. This is total bullshit, they are snitches. She was so gullible if she was alive he bet she'd have a heart attack from this.
Amy’s voice dragged him back. “Anyway, congrats again on the marriage. Didn’t think Cheng would go through with it, but guess love really is blind.” She smirked. “See you around, Mrs. Fu's.”
They turned and strutted off, laughing like the cruel, hollow dolls they were.
Lian stood there, frozen. His breath hitched, and his fists clenched tight until his nails dug into his palms.
Didn’t hear the next whisper.
Because right now, only one thought echoed in his head.
Someone had paid for his humiliation.
And he knows it no other than vivian. Seems he needs to toughen up and begin to start dealing with anyone one who trys to fuck him up, even if he is currently faking his identity doesn't me he will lay low.