Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

”Mind your own business, and keep out of this.” No one expected Cao Yingying to speak up first. Although her tone wasn’t the best, there was still a hint of dissuasion.

”This has nothing to do with you guys. I bought bananas and left them on the table.” Cong Rong also softened her tone a bit, stood up, and pulled Qin Nuan and Luo Qianqian over, looking around before speaking, ”You guys are okay, right?”

”What could possibly be wrong with us?” Qin Nuan asked, looking puzzled.

Cong Rong took out her canvas shoes, her face sporting a cold smirk while showing them to Qin Nuan.

As soon as Qin Nuan took them into her hands, she noticed the problem: two large nails had been fully driven into the sole of the shoes. If Cong Rong hadn’t spotted them, they likely would have pierced the soles of her feet while walking.

How thick is the sole of a canvas shoe, anyway?

Luo Qianqian furrowed her brows but didn’t say anything, clearly aware that something must have happened for everyone to be wearing such stern faces.

”Is that all?” Cao Yingying was furious, tossing something down from the upper bunk, which landed right next to Luo Qianqian’s feet. Luo Qianqian picked it up; it was a backpack, but it had several irreparable large cuts made on it. Clearly, it was a new bag, the kind that Cao Yingying intended to sell.

Xiu Ran stood up as well, laying her notes out on the table. It was evident that the more recent entries had been scribbled on so much that they were illegible.

Zhang Yun glared at Cao Yingying as she laid out her newly bought makeup, which had barely been used. The lipstick was broken, the facial masks torn open – she wouldn’t dare use them anymore, fearing they may have been tampered with – and tears were almost spilling from her eyes.

Qin Nuan was startled and looked over her possessions, finding nothing out of the ordinary. But still, she wasn’t reassured. After carefully inspecting everything again, she noticed several inconspicuous cuts on one of her favorite skirts. They weren’t obvious, but they unraveled with a slight pull, and wearing it now would mean exposing herself.

Her face darkening in an instant, Luo Qianqian saw all eyes landing on her, and she too was taken aback. She rummaged through her belongings, turning them over and over, but couldn’t find anything amiss. It looked as though no one had touched them; her clothes were just as before.

Still uneasy, Qin Nuan sifted through her items as well, checking twice carefully to confirm there were no issues. She even scrutinized every corner of her bed, and took apart her pillow to check inside, finally breathing a sigh of relief when she found nothing unusual.

But then, something curious caught her eye inside Luo Qianqian’s cupboard.

A pack of large nails, a pair of scissors, a wallpaper knife, and a marker, all neatly placed together.

Luo Qianqian burst into a snort of laughter, ”Do I look like a fool? Keeping these things together?” After saying that, she packed the items in a plastic bag without touching them with her hands, ”Just check the fingerprints and we’ll know.”

With her conscience clear and knowing full well Luo Qianqian had no opportunity to be involved,

”We can file a case, can’t we, Nuannuan?” Luo Qianqian was calm, looking at Qin Nuan’s dress, ”I remember this dress cost over four thousand.” She glanced at Zhang Yun’s makeup, ”These mustn’t be cheap either, nor Cao Yingying’s backpack.” Luo Qianqian was serene.

”Yeah, why haven’t you guys called the police?” Qin Nuan was now catching on.

”We were waiting for someone to confess,” Cong Rong replied after hesitating for a moment.

”The evidence is with me, showing it’s not possible it was one person taking revenge on another. It had to be done by a single person, otherwise, why would the tools be in my cupboard?” Luo Qianqian said, her lips curling into a smile.

Cong Rong nodded; it did seem to be the case now.

Yet the only one who didn’t fit in their dormitory was Cao Yingying.

As she spoke, her gaze shifted towards Cao Yingying, shared by Zhang Yun and Xiu Ran. Cao Yingying was virtually powerless to refute; her not fitting in was a fact.

Qin Nuan and Luo Qianqian didn’t think so, after all, they were confronting the events that had already taken place, as well as the findings from the afternoon.

Everyone was a suspect, and it was obvious that this was targeting Luo Qianqian, but no one suspected her because wherever Luo Qianqian went, there were people to vouch for her presence.

Luo Qianqian couldn’t help feeling a bit scared. If she had skipped class and slept in the dorm, she would have been completely unable to clear her name.

Looking at the pile of water bottles and thermoses in the dorm room, Luo Qianqian shivered. Who knew if there was anything in them?

”But I’ve got some personal issues recently, and I can’t stay at school. I just asked for leave this afternoon; I need to go home tomorrow morning.” Cong Rong pursed her lips, her face showing her dilemma.

Qin Nuan and Luo Qianqian both looked understanding. It was normal for someone to want to leave under such circumstances to check on things.

Qin Nuan was silent for a moment before saying, ”If there’s anything, tell us. We’ll do our best to help.”

”Yeah, don’t shoulder it all by yourself,” Luo Qianqian echoed, turning away her gaze, not wanting Cong Rong to know they were informed and then have her refuse their help.

Unexpectedly, Cong Rong replied cheerfully, ”Got it, thank you guys.” When she looked up, her eyes were clear, expressing nothing but gratitude.

”I’ve also got something...” Cao Yingying frowned, ”My family has some issues too, I also asked for leave this afternoon...”

Luo Qianqian was quite surprised; she didn’t expect that both of them had asked for leave?

Qin Nuan was also taken aback and then asked, ”You’re both leaving tomorrow? Tomorrow morning? When will you be back?”

”I’ll probably be back by Wednesday or Thursday,” Cong Rong hesitated, ”or it’s possible I will return Sunday evening.” She had a wry smile on her face, but it disappeared instantly.

If Luo Qianqian hadn’t been watching her closely, she might have missed it.

”I’ll probably need a week,” Cao Yingying said with a bitter look on her face.

Luo Qianqian naturally knew the reason. Both had their unspeakable woes, but Zhang Yun and Xiu Ran frowned, clearly disapproving, ”Leaving at a time like this, doesn’t it seem like you’re admitting guilt?”

Luo Qianqian sighed, ”Let’s wait until they return to discuss it. Just keep everything preserved as is.”

In the end, Zhang Yun noticed the tiredness on Cong Rong’s face and nodded, while Xiu Ran still looked displeased but said nothing further.

Cao Yingying just gave a nonchalant smile. She didn’t care about anything now. Whatever others thought was irrelevant; as long as she had money, she was happy.

Since most people had made up their minds, the discussion did not continue. Everyone tidied up and lay down to sleep. However, after the lights were out, one could still hear the tap-tap-tapping of keyboards from every bed, along with the buzzing of message alerts.

Luo Qianqian and Qin Nuan messaged each other but did not stop observing. Light emanated from every bed, clearly showing no one could sleep.

Indeed, after such an incident, no one could feel at ease.

It was no longer merely a matter of jealousy; it was clear there was malice at play. The large tacks in Cong Rong’s shoes were definitely intended to harm.

Listening to the sound of keyboards, Qin Nuan sighed. How could all this have happened?