When Bai Xi'er saw Bai Tang burst into tears, she was completely stunned. Bai Tang didn't say a word, tears streaming down her face, her expression both aggrieved and restrained. Her already delicate features, combined with her pitiful demeanor at that moment, made her even more endearing. She simply looked at Bai Xi'er with tearful eyes, saying nothing, but her gaze clearly conveyed: "I'm hurting inside, but I won't say it."
Bai Xi'er stared at Bai Tang in shock. Every look and movement from Bai Tang was a restrained, aggrieved accusation: "Why are you wronging me?" Bai Xi'er looked at Bai Tang as if she'd seen a ghost. Just moments ago, Bai Tang had casually admitted to posting those messages online. But now, Bai Tang was putting on this act of being deeply wronged yet holding back.
The crowd, which had initially leaned toward Bai Xi'er, now saw Bai Tang's sorrowful restraint—her silent suffering without a single complaint—and instantly felt they had misjudged her. When they caught Bai Xi'er's uncontrolled, hateful glare at Bai Tang, they became even more convinced that Bai Xi'er had been faking her own grievance. Thinking back to the videos online, they seemed genuine, not fabricated. The crowd's gaze toward Bai Xi'er turned scornful once again.
Bai Tang's tears kept falling. Her deskmate, feeling sorry for her, handed her a tissue and whispered comfort, "Don't cry. We all believe she's the one bullying you." Bai Tang wiped her tears with the tissue, her eyes reddened, and nodded at her deskmate, looking utterly pitiful. Bai Xi'er was so furious she wanted to tear off Bai Tang's fake mask.
"Bai Tang, stop playing the victim!" Bai Xi'er couldn't help but shout angrily. But Bai Tang flinched like a startled bird, and the tears she had just stopped began to fall again at the shout. Large, silent teardrops rolled down, making everyone around her even more sympathetic. No matter what, Bai Tang was one of their classmates, and Bai Xi'er had come to intimidate her.
So the entire class united against Bai Xi'er. "Bai Xi'er, have you no shame? You've done so much, and now you come here to bully Bai Tang!" "Yeah, do you think just because your family has money, you can do whatever you want?" "Who do you think you are?" "I always thought you were a scheming fake, and now it's confirmed!" "Two-faced!" "And they call you the beautiful, kind-hearted school beauty? I think you're a joke!"
Under the collective attack, Bai Xi'er's face turned pale. She had thought that with her own fragile, pitiful act, the crowd would believe her and condemn Bai Tang. At first, that had been the case, but Bai Tang shed a few tears, and they all switched sides! Surrounded by jeers and shouts telling her to get out, Bai Xi'er had never been so humiliated. If she had been pretending to cry earlier, now she was genuinely furious enough to cry.
Bai Xi'er glared at Bai Tang in rage, while Bai Tang only looked back at her with tear-filled eyes, the picture of pitiful innocence. The crowd grew even angrier and physically pushed Bai Xi'er out of the classroom. They all expressed concern for Bai Tang, telling her not to be upset. Bai Tang forced a smile at them, which everyone interpreted as her putting on a brave face to ease their worries.
When the bell rang, everyone had to return to their seats. Bai Tang calmly took out her math textbook and opened it. Her deskmate watched her, sighing inwardly: So beneath her strong exterior, she was still so fragile—yet so resilient, still thinking about studying at a time like this. It seemed Bai Tang had truly turned over a new leaf and was serious about learning!
Bai Tang, oblivious to her deskmate's thoughts, quietly listened to the lesson. As for her recent victory over Bai Xi'er, it was just routine—nothing to boast about.