"A school model, and she's pregnant before marriage. It's a huge embarrassment to the school committee, leaving the teachers unable to show their faces."
"Even though she's an adult, getting pregnant while still attending school has such a detrimental impact."
"School rules explicitly state that female students who get pregnant during their studies will be expelled. Will Tang Xiaomin be expelled?"
"That... she'll probably be expelled for being pregnant. Otherwise, who would abide by the school rules in the future."
"Stop talking, she's looking at us. It'll be bad if she gets angry. Let's go, let's go..."
...
Tang Xiaomin frowned, listening to the baseless rumors.
After enduring a walk filled with pointed stares, she returned to her classroom.
She saw Lin Keke there, furious.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Without evidence, it's defamation. Which of your eyes saw Xiaomin pregnant, huh!"
"Keke, yesterday someone personally saw you accompanying Tang Xiaomin to the obstetrics and gynecology department. Everyone knows you're friends with Xiaomin, so you're naturally defending her and trying to cover it up."
"But even if you hide it, it's useless. Her belly will show eventually."
"That's not certain. What if she secretly aborted it? No one would know, like it never happened," a girl said coldly.
Lin Keke immediately exploded with rage and rushed towards that girl.
"Are you a worm in Xiaomin's belly? Why are you making wild accusations? Defamation is illegal. I advise you to watch what you say."
"Why are you so agitated? It's not like we're talking about you. Besides, if she wasn't pregnant, why would she go to obstetrics and gynecology?"
"Who told you that going to obstetrics and gynecology means pregnancy? Can't it be for a breast check-up?"
"You... an explanation is a cover-up, and a cover-up is the truth. There's definitely something fishy going on."
...
Lin Keke argued fiercely, not backing down an inch. She was about to resort to physical action.
Tang Xiaomin stepped forward and held Lin Keke back.
"Keke, stop."
Lin Keke's face was red with anger, and she was practically radiating heat.
"Xiaomin, these people are spouting nonsense."
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on taking you to the hospital for a check-up, it wouldn't have turned out like this."
Lin Keke hadn't expected her good intentions to backfire. Someone had photographed her and Tang Xiaomin going to the obstetrics and gynecology department.
Not only were there photos of them queuing for a check-up, but a pregnancy test result for Tang Xiaomin had also leaked. The situation was impossible to explain, and the whole school was making fun of Tang Xiaomin.
Lin Keke felt extremely guilty.
As for these groundless rumors, Tang Xiaomin believed in her own innocence. She didn't care much.
She glanced around at everyone. Just a look from her made them instinctively fall silent.
It wasn't for any other reason than her fiery temper and intimidating presence, which made them unconsciously fear her.
"Where did you all see the news about my pregnancy? Speak clearly."
Tang Xiaomin's tone was stern. Her inherent aura of deterrence and powerful presence immediately subdued everyone.
The girl who had been arguing with Lin Keke timidly stepped forward and mumbled, "Everyone saw it on the forum. And there's your pregnancy test report from the hospital."
Lin Keke took out her phone, opened the forum, and showed it to Tang Xiaomin.
On the forum, a user with the nickname "Green Apple Fairy" had posted a thread.
#Shocking! Modu University's First-Year Student Tang Xiaomin is Pregnant Out of Wedlock#
The post contained a photo of Tang Xiaomin vomiting in the restroom, photos of her and Zhang Guo'er at the hospital, as well as blood and ultrasound test results, all bearing the hospital's official seal.
Her pregnancy seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
Seeing the nickname "Green Apple Fairy," Tang Xiaomin thought of someone she had a conflict with, Zhang Guo'er.
Besides her, she couldn't think of anyone else so bored and so elaborate in maliciously slandering her.
She immediately had a clue.
Without offering any explanation, she quietly returned to her seat, acting as if nothing had happened, detached from the situation.
This behavior was interpreted by others as an admission of guilt.
The incident had a significant impact, and at noon, Tang Xiaomin was summoned to the Dean of Students' office for a talk.
"Tang Xiaomin, did you... are you pregnant or not?"
"No."
Tang Xiaomin flatly denied it, completely as the Dean of Students had expected.
"You say you're not pregnant, so how do you explain the evidence on the forum accusing you of being pregnant?"
Proving oneself had become one of the most difficult challenges of the century.
To prove whether she was pregnant or not, an authoritative ultrasound was sufficient.
However, Zhang Guo'er was not foolish and might have further tricks up her sleeve to deal with her.
Therefore, proving herself couldn't be too hasty.
Let the dust settle first.
"Dean, I'd like to request a few school leaders to accompany me to an authoritative institution for another examination. This matter has escalated, and I hope the school leaders will take it seriously."
The Dean of Students agreed to Tang Xiaomin's proposal.
"Since you've requested it, the leaders will cooperate with you and supervise you. This matter is urgent and needs to be done quickly."
"I can go, but I hope the results won't be announced until three days later."
"Why? Isn't it better to get the results sooner to prove your innocence?"
Tang Xiaomin didn't answer the Dean of Students but asked him another question.
"Dean, I'd like to know, how will the school deal with the person who slandered me?"
"Well... according to regulations, provoking trouble and spreading rumors warrants a major demerit."
"Why are you asking this? Do you suspect someone from the school is spreading rumors about you?"
A major demerit seemed too light a punishment for such malicious actions.
"Then, may I ask, how will the school deal with someone who commits a crime while enrolled?"
This time, the Dean of Students' expression became serious.
"If someone commits a crime while enrolled and is sentenced, the school will expel them."
"Right, why are you asking this?"
Tang Xiaomin understood.
"It's nothing. I can cooperate with the examination this afternoon."
...
That afternoon, Tang Xiaomin stormed into the broadcasting studio and did something extremely irrational. Su Dan Novel Network.
In a fit of rage, she called out to Zhang Guo'er over the broadcast.
"Zhang Guo'er, did you deliberately follow me? Take photos of me and get my test results?"
"If you have the guts, dare to admit it and face me on the sports field. I've already investigated and found out that you were the one who posted those photos on the forum. Don't think I don't know!"
Tang Xiaomin, at this moment, sounded like a foolish person driven mad by anger, admitting that she had gone to the hospital and undergone tests.
Hearing Tang Xiaomin's self-incriminating words on the broadcast, Zhang Guo'er smiled triumphantly.
She had collected various pieces of evidence of Tang Xiaomin's pregnancy and made it widely known. Tang Xiaomin had finally lost her composure.
The more agitated she became, the more it proved her guilt.
All of this was thanks to Lin Keke for taking Tang Xiaomin to the obstetrics and gynecology department.
Amidst the confused gazes of everyone, Zhang Guo'er stood up from her seat, held her head high, and walked towards the sports field with an unyielding demeanor.
She was the one who exposed it, so what?
The news of Tang Xiaomin's pregnancy was even more shocking.
And according to school rules, she was about to be expelled.
Her going there would only hasten Tang Xiaomin's expulsion.