Chapter 10: Restless

“Don’t worry, I’m not the type to just take it lying down. If anyone bullies me, I’ll definitely ask you to help me get back at them.”
She took Fang Xue’s hand, her tone laced with a playful coquettishness.
Fang Xue thought it over carefully. “That’s true.”
Qiao Weiwei added, “So, you have to become a big pop star, so I can proudly cling to your coattails.”
As they laughed together, the arts committee member Qin Ge announced the upcoming centennial celebration performance. Everyone was welcome to sign up, with a grand prize of 100,000 yuan.
Qiao Weiwei immediately grew serious.
She recalled the previous life’s school anniversary gala, when the legendary singer Zhou Bing was invited and immediately spotted Chen Jia’s performance. Zhou took Chen as his final disciple, guiding and protecting him all the way. With Fang Xue’s behind-the-scenes songwriting, Chen Jia shot to stardom within two years, sweeping the nation and even winning a Golden Melody Award.
Yet no one knew that the song performed at the gala was written by Fang Xue.
Qiao Weiwei changed the subject, “You said you wrote a song before. Why not sing that one at the centennial celebration?”
“Ah?”
Fang Xue looked surprised, clearly lacking confidence. “I’m self-taught in arranging music online. This is the centennial celebration—it would be too embarrassing.”
She was a perfectionist, always feeling her work lacked that final spark.
Her hesitation had caused her to miss many opportunities.
This time, Qiao Weiwei didn’t give her a chance to hesitate—she pulled her straight to the arts committee to sign up.
Then she said earnestly, “Trust me, the grand prize this time will be yours.”
Perhaps inspired by her friend’s faith, Fang Xue gained confidence and stopped refusing.
After school, back at home, Qiao Weiwei received the sheet music file from Fang Xue.
“Weiwei, could you help me with the accompaniment?”
“Of course.”
Without hesitation, Qiao Weiwei agreed immediately.
She would do anything to help Fang Xue.
The only problem was her violin was destroyed in the car accident and needed to be custom-made anew.
But commissioning a finely crafted violin with the right tone would take at least three months—far too long.
Thinking of Fang Xue’s dream, she sent a message to Gu Jinnian.
“Uncle, I’m collaborating with a friend for the school centennial performance and need to rent a violin. Do you know any good instrument shops?”
Her previous violin was handmade by her mother, so she wasn’t familiar with music shops in Haicheng.
Gu Jinnian had been a violinist before; he should know.
Minutes later, her phone buzzed.
“Third-floor music room. Pick whichever you like.”
???
Qiao Weiwei was puzzled. Did Uncle mean to lend her a violin he had used?
Still curious, she went to the third floor, entered the password, and stepped inside, eyes shining.
Each wall was adorned with six violins, their fronts made of Italian spruce with fine, smooth grain. The instruments felt warm and were dust-free, clearly well cared for.
After looking around, Qiao Weiwei was drawn to the bottom violin on the left. She picked it up unconsciously and tried it out.
Picking up the bow again, she rested her chin on the body of the violin. Though years had passed, the feeling was still familiar.
She played a few notes, a bit rusty, but muscle memory kicked in; soon she felt as if she and the violin were one.
Unable to contain her excitement, she opened the sheet music Fang Xue had sent and began to play.
The notes flowed from her hands, and she was completely immersed. The pain from her past life had refined her style.
When the piece ended, Qiao Weiwei was reluctant to part with the violin.
The tone was clear and balanced; even after so many years, it was perfectly in tune.
She took a photo and sent it to Gu Jinnian.
“Uncle, I’d like to borrow this one.”
“Sure.”
…
The rhythm of senior year was swift. The test from the day before had its results released today.
“Weiwei! You’re top of our class!”
Fang Xue shouted excitedly, “And top ten in the entire grade.”
Qiao Weiwei breathed a sigh of relief; this result could finally satisfy her uncle.
Fortunately, she had chosen liberal arts and had a good memory; otherwise, this exam would have been a disaster.
However, some questioned her, accusing her of cheating.
“Qiao Weiwei’s grades were always mediocre before. How could she improve so much all at once?”
“Her math score was only sixty, but her Chinese and humanities were nearly perfect. How is that possible?”
That same day, someone posted on the campus forum, claiming Qiao Weiwei had connections and stole the exam questions.
Others posted photos of her stepping out of luxury cars, accusing her of leeching off wealthy patrons, sullying the school’s reputation.
The school was thrown into chaos.
“With a face like that, she’s clearly up to no good behind the scenes.”
“I heard she stole from classmates before but was shielded by someone, forcing the victim to drop out.”
“My god, how can there be such vicious people?”
“Someone like that doesn’t deserve to be a student at Shengde.”
Incited deliberately, a vote was even launched to pressure the school to expel Qiao Weiwei.
Principal Zhang Shengnian already bore a grudge after the Chen Lin incident. Now that Qiao Weiwei had angered the masses, even if he expelled her, Gu Corporation would have no say.
He immediately summoned Qiao Weiwei to the office.
When Qiao Weiwei received the message, she was rehearsing in the music room with Fang Xue.
After checking the forum, she saw the expulsion vote post had thousands of replies.
…
But compared to the online abuse she endured in her past life, this was nothing.
Qiao Weiwei didn’t take it to heart.
These were baseless rumors, easy to deal with.
Fang Xue saw them too and was beside herself with worry.
“How can people slander others out of thin air like this!”
She logged in and began defending fiercely.
As a seasoned fan girl, her fighting spirit was no joke—she took on hundreds by herself.
Yet the attackers turned their fire on Fang Xue as well.
“You hang out with Qiao Weiwei so much. Has she been getting you business too?”
“Birds of a feather—both of you should get out of Shengde.”
“Go to the hospital with your bestie; who knows what dirty diseases you might have caught.”
…
Seeing these comments, Qiao Weiwei instantly flew into a rage.
They could insult her all they wanted, but not Fang Xue.
She ignored the message from Zhang Shengnian and told Fang Xue to go home first.
Then she returned home and booted up the computer Gu Jinnian had prepared for her.
She typed in a series of commands, easily tracing the IP address of the most aggressive forum poster.
Li Huang Apartments.
Seeing that familiar address, a cold light flashed in Qiao Weiwei’s eyes.
Chen Lin?
Still hadn’t learned her lesson.
No wonder.
She typed quickly again, hacking into Chen Lin’s computer in just a few keystrokes. Inside were numerous scandalous videos and photos.
They involved not only male students but also school teachers.
Qiao Weiwei prepared a single link, transferred all the videos, and posted them on the campus forum using Lin Zhiyi’s account.
Compared to a single photo, these videos carried far more impact.
With a thunderous blow, the campus forum crashed.
Every class chat was abuzz with talk about Chen Lin’s videos; no one paid attention to Qiao Weiwei’s photos anymore.
Someone couldn’t sit still and anonymously posted in the school group:
“Chen Lin’s been expelled. Isn’t the biggest issue now whether Qiao Weiwei cheated?”