Chapter Twelve: If You Say So, I’ll Believe You

The morning’s events spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the school. Everyone was intrigued by the gossip, especially since it involved a talented young woman from the music department and her sister, whom she had only recently reunited with. Wasn’t this exactly like the classic tale of the real and fake heiress facing off?

Behind closed doors, many had even started placing bets on who would come out on top in the end.

“Nonsense! Ning Lebao is definitely not that kind of person. If I ever find out who started these rumors, I won’t let them off,” said the young man sitting in the middle, dressed in designer clothes. His handsome yet youthful face was filled with anger.

“Master An, please watch your language. If your brother catches you swearing, we’ll all be in trouble,” someone cautioned.

An Xingcai turned his head sharply and raised his voice deliberately. “Do you think I’m afraid of him?”

The others exchanged glances, silently acknowledging their helplessness.

“Alright, alright, Master An, let’s stay calm.”

As the youngest child of the An family, An Xingcai had been spoiled since childhood by his parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Despite growing up in such a decadent environment, he hadn’t become a rake. Instead, he had been admitted to Jing City University, thanks largely to his elder brother.

The eldest An brother was ten years his senior and had received top-tier education from the family. After graduating from university, he took over the family corporation and managed everything impeccably.

Having such a perfect child, Mr. and Mrs. An had few expectations for their youngest son—they only wished for him to live a safe and happy life.

But as a teenager, An Xingcai was often shunned and disliked, spending his days following questionable friends to various places. No matter how much his parents admonished him, he found their words annoying.

Later, when the eldest brother returned from a business trip abroad, the first thing he did was give An Xingcai a stern talking-to and took strict control over him.

That control lasted until An Xingcai entered university.

Even then, he dared not act out. He attended classes diligently, and the friends around him were carefully vetted by his brother, who only allowed contact with those he trusted—friends who also kept an eye on An Xingcai at school.

Thanks to the benefits his brother provided, these friends would discreetly warn him.

Falling for Ning Lebao and pursuing her relentlessly was the boldest thing An Xingcai had ever done.

An Xingcai stood up, eyes resolute.

“No, I have to find Lebao and ask her. I don’t believe she’s that kind of person.”

Without hesitation, An Xingcai strode out, impossible to stop.

“Young master, Miss Ning probably doesn’t want to see anyone right now. If you go to her like this, won’t you be offending her?” someone warned.

“Young master, please slow down.”

But no matter what others said, An Xingcai held firmly to his conviction.

He simply did not believe it.

Soon, An Xingcai found Ning Lebao sitting alone in a small grove. She wore a white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, partly pinned up with a hair accessory. In her hands, she gently cupped fallen blossoms from the tree, her eyes filled with melancholy.

An Xingcai’s face lit up as he hurried over.

“Lebao, so you’re here. I was just about to look for you in the dormitory.”

Ning Lebao lowered her gaze, biting her lip slightly.

“How can I face going back to the dorm after what happened this morning? You must have heard about it, right?”

“I have, but I don’t believe it. I know you. You’re not that kind of person. It has to be a misunderstanding.”

Ning Lebao gave a bitter smile. “By now, probably only you believe that. Do you really trust me?”

She looked up and met An Xingcai’s eyes, a faint glimmer shining deep within, as if she had found her last hope.

An Xingcai’s heart ached unbearably. He immediately reassured her, “Of course I believe you. Whatever you say, I’ll believe.”

Moved by his words, Ning Lebao finally opened up.

“From start to finish, I never intended to harm my sister. What happened at the banquet was just an accident. Before it began, I was worried she wouldn’t come. I kept looking for her but couldn’t find her anywhere. When I finally did, she didn’t look happy. Since coming home, she hadn’t smiled much—I understood that. So I took her to the lakeside, hoping to talk to her privately.”

“I’m not good at comforting others and have never done this before. I only remember that when I was sad, Mom would pat my back to comfort me. I wanted to do the same for my sister, so I reached out to pat her back. But maybe she never saw me as her sister. She was so guarded that the moment I touched her, she pulled away. I lost my balance and fell.”

“I never blamed my sister for what happened. The first thing I said after being rescued was that I didn’t want Mom and Dad to blame her. What happened afterward… you already know. I don’t know why it turned out like that. My sister asked me to apologize, saying it was my fault. With so many people around, I was heartbroken. I only wanted to make things right, but this is how it ended.”

“But I’m terrible with words. When I tried to explain, I didn’t know where to start, and people just misunderstood me.”

Tears slipped down Ning Lebao’s cheeks.

Her carefully crafted posture made her look like a wilted flower, evoking pity.

An Xingcai was, unsurprisingly, completely captivated.

He held her protectively in his arms and said, “Lebao, don’t be sad. I knew this wasn’t what they said. I believe you. You did the right thing—your sister was in the wrong.”

Ning Lebao quickly reached up, placing her fingertips gently over his lips, shaking her head.

“No, don’t say that. It’s not my sister’s fault. She just doesn’t like me—and that’s understandable. I’ve taken her place for so many years. How could she like me? I don’t want her to be hurt by this. I just want to clear things up and let everyone know the truth. I don’t want to be misunderstood.”

An Xingcai’s gaze softened with even greater tenderness.

“Alright, I won’t let anyone misunderstand you.”

“Thank you for comforting me. If you hadn’t come, I’d probably have spent the whole afternoon feeling miserable here.”

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

An Xingcai keenly noticed the implication in her words.

“I can’t eat when I’m upset.”

“How can you not eat? I’ll take you now.”

Ning Lebao didn’t resist. She allowed him to help her to her feet.

Together, they walked outside.

Outside, An Xingcai’s companions waited, gathered together, speculating on the outcome.

“Do you think the young master will make up with that Ning Lebao?”

“Hard to say.”

“No way. The young master hates bullies the most. If Ning Lebao didn’t have a kind heart, he wouldn’t like her. Now that something like this has happened, they’ll definitely part ways.”

“That would require the young master to see Ning Lebao’s true colors first. She’s not exactly tight-lipped; she just says a few words, and the young master believes her.”

“Sounds like you think the young master has no brains.”

“Hey, hey, enough. Here they come.”

The group fell silent and craned their necks to look ahead.

When they saw An Xingcai holding Ning Lebao’s hand, they exchanged knowing glances.

Well, no need to wonder—these two won’t be separating anytime soon.