Volume One, Chapter Eight: In the Depths of the Mire, the Heart Turns Toward the Sun

The screen flickered, and then the delicate features of the girl appeared. Her eyes were red, her lips pale.
“Hello, everyone, I’m Shu Tiantian.” Her voice was raspy.
“Hug for Tiantian the little fairy, don’t cry, little fairy.”
“I’m so sorry, Tiantian, I shouldn’t have messaged you harshly without knowing the truth.”
“Me too, I apologize.”
Her nose tingled, and the psychological torment she’d endured these past days finally found its outlet. Tears welled up uncontrollably. Remembering why she’d joined the livestream, she tried hard to steady herself and forced a lighthearted tone, “Then I forgive you all!”
“I’m crying, such a bright and good girl! Ruined by a jerk.”
“Sister, you’re not at fault. Don’t punish yourself for someone else’s mistakes. You’re still so young, you’ll definitely live better!”
The encouragement from the netizens was like a beacon in the night, dispelling the gloom before her eyes.
“Did you want to say something?” Qin Yu looked at this girl who had just clawed her way back from the brink and asked.
“Master Dianqiu, I want to share my experience in your livestream, if I may? I don’t want any other girls to be deceived like I was.”
“Oh, Tiantian is still thinking of helping others even as she’s in a pit herself.”
“Sisters, see this? Don’t get close to men, it’ll only make you unhappy.”
“Hey, you can’t condemn all men just because you saw one scumbag. There are still good men in the world.”
“Men are only good when hanging on the wall.”
“……”
“Haha, sister, you’re my mouthpiece on the internet.”
“If you want to speak, go ahead.” Qin Yu’s voice was soft, encouraging.
“I met Lu Jia in a game. After playing together for half a month, he suggested meeting offline. He said it would be awkward if it was just the two of us, so he invited his good friends. From them, I learned that Lu Jia was a very accomplished young entrepreneur. He’d rejected many outstanding heiresses for me. I was touched, and after I went home, I started dating him.”
“Sister, you were too naive! You fell for their act! It’s obviously a coordinated performance!”

“Reject self-sabotaging sentimentality! This man hasn’t actually done anything for you!”
“Rejecting many heiresses for her doesn’t count?”
“Isn’t that basic moral decency? If that’s enough, we’d have to praise men for eating meals without someone feeding them!”
“Sister above, can I hire you to argue for me?”
Sister Juan sent 666 [emoji] 10.
Little Carp sent Kneel [emoji] 1.
Brother Lei from Society sent Prostration.
“After we got together, Lu Jia told me his family had a history of depression. I felt sorry for him. So sometimes, I quietly tolerated his possessive and obsessive behaviors.”
“Women’s misfortune begins with feeling sorry for men.”
“Every time he lost his temper, he’d come to my school with flowers and gifts to apologize. He knew I was shy and wouldn’t make a scene in public. When I took the flowers, he’d explain privately that he only acted like that because he loved me so much and was terrified of losing me. Each time, he earnestly promised there wouldn’t be a next time.”
“Uh, why do I feel like she’s being manipulated?”
“You’re right, it’s manipulation!”
“Am I the only one who thinks she’s foolish? How can you trust someone who’s hurt you before?”
“You’re the smartest, your whole family must be geniuses.”
“It wasn’t until he hit me that I finally woke up and broke up with him. But he threatened that if I left him, he’d release my private photos. I was scared and attempted suicide.”
Shu Tiantian sniffed, trying to keep her words calm, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her true feelings.
“Alright, alright, don’t be sad. If he releases the photos, he’s breaking the law and will rot in jail.”
“See? Girls, don’t take private photos just because a man asks. Protect yourselves.”
“I’m a guy and even I think this man is trash.”
“Why did you start an online relationship? Is it because you couldn’t find someone in real life?”

“Yeah, flies don’t land on eggs without cracks. If you could be deceived, you must not be any good either.”
“Don’t be fooled by her weak act. I just checked her social media, and any girl who wears such revealing clothes can’t come from a good family.”
“Wow, she’s dressed so scantily, who’s she trying to seduce?”
“A jerk and a tramp, a perfect match, haha.”
Shu Tiantian’s eyes widened as she saw they’d even dug up information about her family. Her eyes stung, but the words she wanted to use to defend herself stuck in her throat.
“It’s the modern era—can’t we dress how we want?” Qin Yu scoffed, “Does a victim have to be perfect?”
“Sister, so powerful!”
“I’m falling more and more for this woman!”
“Watch your words above, she’s my wife!”
“If she didn’t dress like that, would a jerk have targeted her? Both sides have issues.”
Qin Yu squinted, her tone icy. “So, if your son gets beaten up in kindergarten, is it because he’s too weak?”
“What are you talking about? My son is in the smallest class, the bully is in first grade! They were bullying him!”
“Tsk, tsk, he’s getting upset now.”
“I know you’re anxious, but don’t be. If your son got beaten, he must have some problem himself, otherwise why would they pick him, not someone else?”
“You really understand sarcasm.”
“Wife, so fierce, so satisfying!”
Qin Yu frowned—wife? Who are they talking about?
Unbothered by the chaotic comments, Qin Yu turned to Shu Tiantian and said, “Shu Tiantian, I owe Lu Jia a reading. Now, I’ll give it to you instead, if you’re willing.”