【32】The training center was embroiled in scandal.

Ji Shen would be back the day after tomorrow.

Wen Shuang deliberately rearranged her schedule for that night, intending to prepare a sumptuous feast for him.

Even though she had no idea what kind of relationship might develop between them after he returned this time, she couldn’t deny that, deep down, she was quietly looking forward to it.

She couldn’t fool herself.

The next day at work, a colleague with whom she often shared meals rushed over, looking flustered. “Something’s wrong! There’s trouble!”

“What happened?”

“Ms. Wen, it’s all over our organization’s social media accounts. Someone posted about you, saying some terrible things. You need to check it out right away!”

Wen Shuang immediately opened her phone.

Her eyes narrowed sharply.

Someone had spread malicious rumors online, accusing her of being a professional homewrecker who seduced the husbands of various CEOs. The post even included photos of her stepping out of luxury cars and walking alongside different men.

No wonder people had been looking at her so strangely that morning.

Wen Shuang’s hands clenched into fists with anger.

The director demanded an explanation, and Wen Shuang insisted it was all slander—she was single, after all!

Who could be so vile, smearing her like this from the shadows?

The photos in the post showed her walking next to Lin Ansheng, and a few others were simply of her coincidentally leaving with some of the children’s fathers who’d come to pick them up. She’d never imagined someone would twist such innocent moments into scandal.

“Wen Shuang, things look grim. Whether it’s true or not, there are pictures of you with male parents. If their wives see that, they’ll be furious. You know how suspicious women can get—most of our clients’ wives are full-time homemakers, their whole lives revolve around their husbands. Now this has happened, they’re bound to…”

The director didn’t finish her sentence, but Wen Shuang understood.

Sure enough, several mothers who’d seen the post marched in with their children to demand refunds.

No amount of explanation could change their minds.

“Ms. Ye, my child has studied dance here for five years, and I’ve always trusted you. But now you’ve hired this little temptress who specializes in seducing fathers—how can we women feel safe?”

The wives’ shrill voices echoed from the office, unrestrained.

Those who’d always resented Wen Shuang hid behind closed doors, snickering.

“So what if she comes back? After this, she’ll never return!”

“She always thought she was so special, just because she graduated from the Beijing Academy’s Dance Department. The director doted on her as if she were a treasure, and yet here she is, embroiled in a scandal for seducing men.”

…

Wen Shuang left the dance studio.

One of the children whose mother demanded a refund ran up and clung to her leg, crying, “Ms. Wen, I don’t want to leave! I still want to learn dance with you!”

The mother yanked her daughter into her arms, rolling her eyes in exasperation. “No more classes! If you keep coming, your father will be stolen away. Do you want Ms. Wen to become your stepmother?”

“Ma’am, you’re mistaken! I have absolutely no inappropriate relationship with your husband. Please don’t make such baseless accusations!”

“As if! Who knows how many men you’ve seduced around here!” The woman spat at her feet, her voice full of contempt. “Girls like you are the worst—using your youth to go after other people’s husbands. Disgusting!”

After hurling her insults, the woman stormed off with her child.

Soon, more parents followed suit, demanding refunds.

After all, compared to their children’s dance lessons, they were more concerned that Wen Shuang, with her beauty, would steal their husbands.

The director was a woman as well; although Wen Shuang hadn’t been there long, she could see the girl wasn’t that kind of person. That evening, after classes, the director tried to comfort her, telling her not to take it to heart.

Wen Shuang was deeply moved.

She opened the offending post, intending to trace the IP address.

Unfortunately, her skills weren’t enough to find it.

She’d have to wait for Ji Shen’s return and ask for his help.

Wen Shuang kept going to work as usual.

Most of her colleagues now eyed her with suspicion, gossiping behind her back—accusing her not only of being a habitual homewrecker, but also of being shameless.

She’d only been there a short while, yet she’d been given the best classes, and her students won the most competitions. Naturally, they were jealous.

Wen Shuang had no time for these petty gossips.

Though a number of parents had left, there were still some who trusted her, and she was determined not to disappoint them. She devoted herself to teaching with all her heart.

“Wen Shuang! Your mother and sister are here!”

At a time like this, what could the two of them want?

Aunt Chun and Wen Yao stood at the entrance. The moment they spotted her, Aunt Chun wailed, “Wen Shuang, you’re finally willing to see us. Since your father’s accident, you haven’t come home, not even sent a penny! Yao Yao and I are barely surviving!”

Wen Yao followed, looking aggrieved.

This time, both had learned their lesson.

They wore no designer labels, only cheap T-shirts from online shops.

People gathered, whispering among themselves.

Wen Shuang couldn’t help but laugh at the spectacle. “Why am I obligated to give you money? I earn my living through hard work!”

“Big sister, Mom and I already know about you and those sleazy executives. I used to think you did it for the family, but you’re only out for your own pleasure,” Wen Yao said, looking pitiful. “You won’t answer our calls, you’ve even blocked us both. Isn’t that too cold?”

Hearing this, the onlookers’ whispers grew louder.

So Wen Shuang was heartless—she didn’t even care for her own mother and sister!

Wen Shuang sneered. “Aunt Chun, you and Wen Yao are truly masters at twisting facts. The two of you do nothing but laze around all day—why should I support you? If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!”

Someone spoke up, “Wen Shuang, you’re too cold. They’re your mother and sister!”

“I have no such mother or sister!”

“I know, Shuang Shuang. Because I’m not your biological mother, you treat me this way…” Aunt Chun began to sob in front of everyone, drawing even more criticism toward Wen Shuang.

Turning away, Wen Shuang headed straight to the office to hand in her resignation.

The director tried to persuade her to stay, but it was no use.

She knew she wouldn’t last much longer, and rather than endure more humiliation, she’d leave now. She didn’t want to be called a homewrecker by angry parents, or allow that heartless pair to extort her.

Besides, she didn’t want to make things harder for the director, who was already under tremendous pressure dealing with the parents and trying to suppress the online rumors.

Now her stepmother and sister had come to cause a scene, which, if spread, would only further damage the school’s reputation.

The director had treated her kindly; Wen Shuang didn’t want to cause her any more trouble.

Aunt Chun and Wen Yao had thought that by shaming Wen Shuang in public, they could force her to give them money. They never expected she would simply resign.

They got nothing for their trouble, and their feigned tears were wasted.

On the way home after work, Wen Yao could no longer hide her true colors. “Wen Shuang, you’re really heartless. You’ve got time to sleep with those executives, but you can’t spare a moment to come home?”