Chapter 86: Chapter 85: Gossip and Rumors
The supermarket wasnât crowded in the morning. Lin Wanwan leisurely pushed a small cart, making big purchases in the fruit and vegetable aisle. Cherries, the must-have for Great Tang nobles during the New Year, were a necessity, so she directly grabbed three boxes of cherries; then came the grapes known as "market delights" in Great Tang; and next, some citrus fruits that Qingyu particularly liked.
After buying fruits, Lin Wanwan proceeded to shop for hot pot ingredients. In winter, hot pot is a must, and she craved it frequently.
While happily selecting items, suddenly, a strangerâs voice interrupted her contented mood: "Excuse me, are you the Kung Fu Girl?"
Lin Wanwan looked down at the kawaii girl with a panda headband who was ten centimeters shorter than her, eyes like sparkling water full of surprise: "You have the wrong person."
"Oh, youâre not the Kung Fu Girl who bravely fought bad guys on the Bund? You look really similar; can I take a photo with you?" The girl with the panda headband requested.
Lin Wanwan shook her head slightly, distancing herself as she refused: "Sorry, Iâd rather not."
The panda headband girl, despite being rejected, didnât get upset and just cutely furrowed her brows before walking away.
Lin Wanwan didnât expect that, over a month later, even with a mask on, a stranger could recognize her. Kung Fu Girl? Is this the nickname netizens have given her? Itâs rather amusing.
After finishing her purchases in the food section on the first floor, Lin Wanwan went up to the second floor of the supermarket to buy childrenâs lotion for Qingyu. There, she unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance she had blocked - Ye Ying.
Ye Ying showed no embarrassment from being blocked by Lin Wanwan; instead, she came straight up, questioning why she had been blocked while trying to grab Lin Wanwanâs arm, acting as if they were close.
Lin Wanwan gently moved aside to avoid her touch, coldly stating, "I donât think weâre that close."
Ye Ying half-jokingly, half-seriously said, "Wanwan, you wouldnât be the type to forget old friends just because you gained a bit of fame, right? After all, we grew up in the same neighborhood."
"Heh." Lin Wanwan replied with an indifferent smile.
Ye Ying didnât seem to care and continued, "By the way, Wanwan, did you know? Bao Juncai got arrested! Itâs supposedly for some embezzlement worth millions, and heâs going to jail."
"Oh, really? I didnât know; now I do thanks to you. Considering how much he took, itâs fitting that he got caught." Lin Wanwan wasnât interested in following news about such scumbags, but she was quite pleased to hear of his misfortune.
This sleazy guy who preyed on interns shouldâve been taught a lesson long ago; he tarnishes the brand image of a Fortune 500 company.
Ye Ying observed Lin Wanwan, but through the mask, she couldnât discern any expression; only from those emotionless eyes could she see the news hadnât made much impact.
Ah, so dull. Ye Ying wanted to share some gossip, see a reaction, and perhaps hear Lin Wanwan complain about Bao Juncai or recount his past sexual harassment, but there was nothing.
"Well, Iâll let you get on with it; I need to head to the first floor to buy stuff." Seeing how indifferent Lin Wanwan was, Ye Ying didnât want to stick around any longer.
Lin Wanwan nodded indifferently, pushed the supermarket cart directly, and walked away, not bothering to bid farewell.
Ye Ying looked back, noticing Lin Wanwan in the childrenâs section selecting a face cream. Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, a new piece of gossip surfaced on her face. She rolled her eyes twice, stealthily took a photo with her phone, then quickly turned back, opened WeChat, and posted a message in their old middle school group: "Hey, ran into our former school beauty; sheâs buying childrenâs products, has she had a baby so soon? Does anyone know?"
The group responded immediately: "ÎŁ(ââœâ"a Is this the Lin Wanwan from the advanced class? Hasnât she become quite the sensation? A while back, she was trending alongside Xiao Junning, and netizens called her âKung Fu Girl.â Has she already had a kid? No way!"
"What? Lin Wanwan has a child? Sheâs a college graduate, hasnât been out of school long, and has a kid already?"
"Hey boys in the group, Lin Wanwan had a child; your first love dreams are shattered."
A boy even joined the conversation: "Really? The school beauty married early too. Pity, after having a baby, itâs different."
Ye Ying watched the lively discussion in the group, her lips curling into a slight smile.
Soon enough, an exposĂ© appeared online, accompanied by the photo of Lin Wanwan choosing childrenâs products, vividly narrating the story of Kung Fu Girl having a child out of wedlock, living the luxurious life of a white-collar beauty without a steady job, piquing the curiosity of onlookers.
Of course, Lin Wanwan was none the wiser about all of this. She wasnât one for 5G surfing, and recently busy in Great Tang, she only learned today of her nickname "Kung Fu Girl" coined by netizens, so she naturally wouldnât know about the online gossip.
Since middle school, there were rumors of her early romances, fickleness, and many boyfriends, but her single-minded focus was on studying hard just to ensure she advanced to her schoolâs high school, so she never cared for such gossip.
The fifty percent high school admission rate meant many gossip-loving, fun-seeking teenagers would be eliminated. These petty middle-school dramas naturally unraveled themselves as she progressed to a stronger high school; soon enough, they wouldnât mingle in the same circles.
Lin Wanwan wasnât oblivious to her beauty. The numerous little notes and inexplicable harassment she received from a young age made her acutely aware of her attractiveness.
But she always understood clearly that while beauty was indeed a trump card, it was one that needed to be complemented with knowledge, family background, and ability; otherwise, it would merely become a spoilt hand from ancient times to the present.
Lin Wanwan never considered beauty a burden. On the contrary, she felt that being naturally attractive was a stroke of luck. No matter how tough life got, looking in the mirror and seeing herself could bring a touch of sweetness.
If not for her looks, she wouldnât have been able to earn her living expenses so easily with part-time jobs during college. The saying goes, the more slander you can endure, the more praise you can bear. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight; itâs quite fair.
She wasnât inherently aloof, but lifeâs many challenges had taken their toll, and simply living with effort exhausted her mental resources.
A child without parents is bound to be bullied. Even though her grandparents tried their best to shield her, their protective wings couldnât extend into the school. At every parent-teacher meeting, others had young parents attending, while she was always represented by her elderly grandparents, how could she not be belittled?
The more innocent and guileless children are, the more boldly wicked they can be. Because their good and bad traits are just too clear-cut, they donât know how to restrain themselves. This growing experience taught Lin Wanwan to put up her defenses and protect herself fiercely.
If not for the Space-Time Bracelet, perhaps Lin Wanwan would have spent a long time before she could afford to relax. Thanks to the Space-Time Bracelet, she no longer needs to struggle for survival; she can live and relax.