Chapter 145 Together at the Centennial Celebration
Bianca raised her hand, stopping Jasmine. "Don't be impulsive. Besides, the instructor won't help me."
Jasmine's lips parted. Then she lowered her head. Her eyes dimmed.
She remembered going to a teacher when she'd been bullied. All she'd gotten was fiercer retaliation from her tormentors.
The truth was, teachers never helped in situations like this. They always sided with the bullies.
"It's okay." Bianca patted Jasmine's head gently. "I have my own way of dealing with them. We can't count on anyone else. We'll get justice ourselves."
Jasmine's eyes suddenly brightened. "Bianca, you're right! Is there anything I can do? I want to help."
She looked at Bianca, sincerity shining in her gaze.
Bianca thought for a moment. She met Jasmine's eyes. She couldn't refuse her goodwill. Her voice was low. "Keep an eye on the forum for me. If anything happens, tell me immediately."
"Okay!" Jasmine nodded vigorously. She pulled out her phone, excited. "I'll help you right now... Bianca!"
She suddenly cried out. Bianca instinctively leaned over to look.
"Look at this!"
Jasmine thrust her phone in front of Bianca. The post on the screen was clear as day.
Melissa again.
The tag read: #Attending the Anniversary Gala with Terrence, What an Honor
Every line dripped with bragging and smugness, poorly disguised as humility. The forced sweetness made it all feel wrong.
Her post read: [Terrence isn't coming just for me. Part of it is to visit his alma mater. After graduation, I don't plan to join the Anderson Group. I want to make it on my own. Terrence even said he admires my independence and strength.]
In the comments, some people fawned over her. Others brought up the fake photo incident.
She'd replied: [I was deceived too. Why keep attacking me? The other people who were there can vouch for me.]
Right on cue, Blair showed up in the comments to back Melissa up.
With her support, the doubts faded. More people started flattering Melissa in the comments.
Bianca's finger scrolled through the post. The screen's light reflected in her eyes. Not a ripple of emotion showed.
She refreshed casually. She watched Melissa reply to every skeptical comment. She even declared, "You'll see the truth at the gala." Bianca's lips curved slightly.
"Bianca, I'm so mad! How can she lie like this? Terrence would never be interested in her! And she dares to use his name! This is infuriating. I have to expose her!" Jasmine typed furiously, defending Bianca.
Bianca glanced at her. She didn't stop her. She just said calmly, "No one will believe you. And even if you comment, it'll get deleted."
Jasmine didn't believe her. She posted several comments, each one calling Melissa a gold digger and a liar.
When she tried to post again, the account had been blocked by the thread owner. She couldn't comment anymore. All her previous comments had been deleted.
She lowered her hand, deflated. "So we just let her get away with this? I can't stand people like her! Can't we tell Terrence? If he steps in, all the rumors will fall apart!"
"Don't tell him." Bianca's response was almost reflexive. She pressed her lips together. "I don't want to bother him with school stuff. I can handle this myself. They're just enjoying themselves for a little while. Besides, do you really think Terrence would accept her invitation?"
"Right!" Jasmine's lips curved up. Joy finally returned to her eyes. "Terrence would never accept her invitation. She's going to shoot herself in the foot. Ha! I can't wait to see how she explains herself when the time comes."
A smile appeared on Bianca's face too.
The auditorium's cold lights reflected off the polished floor. The reception team stood in a neat line. Blair walked up to Bianca in her heels.
She was the team leader. A gold-embossed leader badge was pinned to her shoulder. Her gaze swept over Bianca's hands holding the tea tray. Her brow furrowed sharply. "Your wrist is too high. The tray's angle is off by two degrees. Do it again."
Bianca didn't argue. She pulled her arm back as instructed. She adjusted the angle and stood still again. Her fingers were rock-steady. The water in the teacup didn't even ripple.
The team members around them held their breath. Blair's expression darkened further. She stepped forward. Her voice rose deliberately, cutting through the backstage noise.
"Have you even been practicing? Your posture is wrong. You're not engaging your core! The anniversary is the school's reputation on the line. This isn't something you can just wing. Do the full tea service routine ten more times!"
This was deliberate harassment. Everyone could hear it.
Bianca looked up. Her gaze met Blair's. She didn't flinch.
"Why don't you demonstrate the standard form, team leader?"
Blair's expression froze. It turned uglier. "Are you questioning me?"
"I think I've done it perfectly. I honestly don't know what's wrong." Bianca's tone was neither humble nor arrogant. She met Blair's eyes directly.
Blair's lips pressed together. Her face looked strained.
She gripped the schedule in her hand. Her knuckles turned white.
She'd wanted to use strict standards as an excuse to humiliate Bianca. But Bianca had performed flawlessly. There was nothing to criticize.
If she actually demonstrated, everyone would see that the team leader was worse than her team member.
"What are you trying to say?" She stepped closer. Her gaze was sharp.
Bianca looked up calmly. No panic showed on her face. No anger either.
The stark contrast between her and Blair made the team members who'd initially disliked Bianca start to resent Blair's harshness instead.
Their goodwill toward Blair quietly faded. Whispers spread through the line.
The situation was getting out of control. Melissa stepped out of formation at just the right moment.
"Bianca, your movements really are flawless. It's just that you haven't been at training, so you're still a bit out of sync with everyone. Blair's just trying to help you fit in better with the team."
Melissa's intervention gave Blair the perfect out. Blair immediately seized it. "You think I'm trying to make things hard for you? You're my sister. That's why I'm stricter with you. Otherwise, people will think I'm playing favorites. You understand, right?"
Unlike her earlier harshness, she deliberately softened her voice. Her eyes reddened slightly.
Bianca sneered inwardly. Her face stayed neutral. "I thought doing my best was how I fit in with the team. Or do you think the team's standards are so low that I need to deliberately hold back?"
Everyone on the reception team had been carefully selected. They all had pride. They were polite on the surface, but deep down, none of them thought anyone else was better.
Hearing Bianca's words, humiliation and resentment flashed across their faces.
They glared at Melissa and Blair. Silently waiting for their response.