Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 208: Qu Jing’s Betrayal

From Tao Tian’s perspective, Zhou Yuwen’s actions were undeniably excessive. She wasn’t some naïve freshman; she was a campus goddess, admired by countless boys during her three years at university.  But she had never paid attention to those boys. The first time she set aside her pride to pursue a man, it was Zhou Yuwen—someone two years younger and already in a relationship.  

It had taken tremendous courage for Tao Tian to open her heart. She had even described herself to Zhou Yuwen as a puppy rolling over, eager for its owner’s affection.  

A proud girl like Tao Tian saying such words? It meant she genuinely liked him.  

She recalled the night she had leaned into Zhou Yuwen’s arms, softly asking, “Don’t you want to touch me?”  

That night, they kissed. Zhou Yuwen was the first man to touch her body. She thought she had finally found someone she truly liked.  

As they exchanged whispers, Tao Tian felt overjoyed. Zhou Yuwen’s kiss was gentle, almost affectionate.  

“You still say you don’t like me?” Tao Tian teased playfully.  

“Stop messing around,” Zhou Yuwen replied.  

Pouting, Tao Tian said, “I’ll mess around if I want to. Call me Tian Tian, okay? When I’m with you, I feel like a little girl.”  

Zhou Yuwen didn’t reject her advances, and to Tao Tian, that meant acceptance.  

But today, Zhou Yuwen had cruelly shattered her illusions.  

Tao Tian couldn’t understand where she went wrong. All she wanted was for Zhou Yuwen to realize how much he needed her. She hoped he’d come to comfort her.  

Sensitive and emotional, Tao Tian was stuck between heartbreak and confusion. Her roommate, Min Min, grew increasingly angry.  

“That scumbag isn’t worth your tears! We should expose him and let the whole campus see his true colors!” Min Min fumed.  

“No,” Tao Tian said quickly. “If we expose him, it’ll ruin his reputation too.”  

“Reputation? He doesn’t care about yours! He kissed you, touched you, and now denies everything. You’re just going to let this slide?”  

“I…” Tao Tian hesitated, trying to find an explanation. “Maybe he’s being blackmailed by Yan Yan. She’s so conniving—what if she has something on him?”  

Min Min rolled her eyes. “Tian Tian, are you even listening to yourself? He’s a man. What could Yan Yan possibly have on him?”  

“But…” Tao Tian struggled to defend Zhou Yuwen.  

Min Min’s patience wore thin.   ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

“You stay here,” she told Tao Tian. “Leave this to me and Qu Jing.”  

Qu Jing, who had been unusually quiet since returning to the dorm, stammered, “I… I’ve got something going on.”  

“You’ve been acting weird ever since you came back. What’s going on? Don’t tell me you’re dating Xiao Yang!” Min Min teased.  

“Of course not!” Qu Jing denied, her voice sharp.  

Min Min shrugged, turning her attention back to Tao Tian. “This is ridiculous. Zhou Yuwen can’t just use you and then toss you aside like trash. If he doesn’t want to take responsibility, we’ll make him regret it!”  

As Tao Tian poured her heart out that night, Qu Jing’s mind was elsewhere.  

She couldn’t forget the feeling of Zhou Yuwen’s hand on her head earlier that day, his gentle voice telling her, “You’re a good girl.”  

Her heart fluttered at the memory.  

As she lay in bed, listening to Min Min and Tao Tian plot their next moves, a bold thought crossed her mind: What if I told Zhou Yuwen everything?  

She hesitated. Would Zhou Yuwen see her as a snitch, or would he appreciate her loyalty?  

The memory of his warm, reassuring presence lingered. Maybe if I tell him, he’ll see me differently. Maybe he’ll even start to like me.  

At 11 p.m., Qu Jing acted on impulse.  

She added Zhou Yuwen on WeChat.  

Zhou Yuwen was at home with Lu Lin, winding down after a long day. He had just finished writing and was about to sleep when he saw Qu Jing’s friend request.  

“Why is she adding me?” he muttered.  

Lu Lin glanced over, smirking. “What else? She likes you and wants to chase you.”  

Zhou Yuwen laughed. “You’re kidding. After everything, she’s still interested? She must have a masochistic streak.”  

“Who wouldn’t like you? You’re handsome, capable, and mysterious.” Lu Lin teased as she snuggled closer.  

Zhou Yuwen accepted the request.  

Qu Jing quickly sent a message: “It’s me, Qu Jing.”  

“I know. What’s up?”  

Qu Jing hesitated, carefully crafting her response. She didn’t want to seem like a tattletale, but she needed Zhou Yuwen to see her in a positive light.  

Finally, she wrote:  

“I overheard Tian Tian and Min Min talking. They’re planning to undermine you. Tian Tian even called Zhao Jun to cut a deal, saying she’d handle gigs cheaper than you.”  

Zhou Yuwen frowned, typing back a single “?”  

Encouraged by his response, Qu Jing continued:  

“They said you’re a scumbag and want to ruin you. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t agree with them. I thought you should know.”  

Reading Qu Jing’s messages, Zhou Yuwen couldn’t help but chuckle. He turned the phone toward Lu Lin.  

“She’s loyal, isn’t she?”  

Lu Lin rolled her eyes. “She’s just trying to impress you. Don’t fall for it.”  

Zhou Yuwen smirked, sending a reply to Qu Jing:  

“Thanks for telling me. I appreciate it. You’re more level-headed than I thought.”  

Seeing his message, Qu Jing’s heart soared.  

He thinks I’m level-headed!  

Suddenly, her world felt brighter. Maybe… maybe I could be more than just a friend to him someday.  

Smiling to herself, Qu Jing whispered, “Zhou Yuwen, I won’t let you down.”