The Chen Family Mansion stood in one of A City's wealthy districts.
Although luxurious by ordinary standards, it could not compare to the grandeur and prestige of Liang Manor.
The three-story European-style mansion featured cream-colored walls, tall glass windows, and a wide paved driveway leading to the entrance. Decorative hedges surrounded the property, and a modest fountain stood quietly in the middle of the courtyard. Inside, marble flooring gleamed under crystal chandeliers.
The layout was spacious. The first floor housed the grand living room, a formal dining hall, a modern kitchen, and a family lounge for entertaining guests. A wide staircase led to the second floor, where the private bedrooms were located.
The master bedroom belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Chen—large, elegantly furnished, with a private balcony overlooking the courtyard and a walk-in wardrobe. Nearby was Vivian's bedroom, bright pink and gold, filled with designer bags, cosmetics, and fashion pieces. A vanity table covered with beauty products stood beside the window, and framed photos of herself hung proudly on the walls.
At the end of the hallway was Lila's former bedroom. Compared to Vivian's, it was simple and elegant, with soft lavender curtains framing the tall window that overlooked the garden. A white study desk, once filled with books and academic materials, and a neatly arranged bookshelf reflected her calm personality. Most of Lila's belongings had been moved to Liang Manor, leaving the room quiet and empty.
Downstairs, Vivian scrolled through her phone, her face darkening with every refresh.
"How is this possible…?" she muttered. Her Weibo followers were dropping rapidly, while Lila's had already surpassed 3.5 million.
Across from her, Mrs. Chen remained calm.
"Panicking won't solve anything," she said.
Vivian slammed her phone on the table.
"Mother! Everyone is calling me a liar! They're calling me a white lotus!"
Mrs. Chen placed her teacup down slowly.
"Then prove them wrong," she said coldly.
Vivian frowned.
"How?"
Mrs. Chen's lips curved slightly.
"Reputation takes years to build… but only a moment to destroy. If Lila wants the spotlight… then we simply destroy that spotlight."
The Next Morning
A black luxury car stopped outside Jinling Imperial Academy. Vivian stepped out beside her mother, confidence restored.
"Mother, everything is ready," Vivian said eagerly.
Mrs. Chen adjusted her sunglasses.
"Good. Today, we only need to plant the seed. If the school believes Lila cheated, her reputation online will collapse."
At that moment, another car slowly pulled up. It was Ethan's car. Lila stepped out gracefully, ignoring the attention, but her sharp eyes immediately noticed unusual stares from certain students.
Inside the classroom, the lesson had just begun when Vivian stood near the teacher's desk.
"Teacher!" she called loudly.
Everyone turned.
Vivian hesitated, then declared, "It's about my sister… Lila. I saw the answer sheets inside her bag this morning!"
Before the teacher could react, Vivian's friends joined in, their voices harsh:
"She cheated! Look at her bag!" – Chen Rui
"She's been lying all this time!" – Wang Bo
"Top student my foot!" – Li Na
"She's a fraud!" – Huang Jia
"She's sneaky and manipulative!" – Zhao Yue
Whispers spread across the classroom. Some students gasped, others murmured in disbelief.
Serena steps Up
From the desk beside Lila, her loyal friend Serena stood up firmly.
"Stop it!" Serena's voice rang clearly, silencing the classroom.
"You all know Lila. She has never cheated, not once. You're just blindly believing Vivian's lies."
She glanced at the teacher, then back at the group of accusers.
"Lila is one of the most honest and hardworking students in Jinling. If you doubt her, then check the facts, don't just attack her blindly."
Some students nodded in agreement, whispering in support of Lila.
The tension in the classroom shifted slightly, as Serena's defense reminded everyone of Lila's true reputation.
The teacher, Emma Mo, raised her hand calmly.
"Enough. Lila, may I check your bag?"
All eyes turned to Lila. She nodded gracefully, her composure unshaken.
"Of course," she said, opening her bag.
Inside, the exam answer sheets lay open—exposed. Vivian's trap had been executed perfectly. But Lila's calm gaze revealed she had already anticipated this. She did not panic or attempt to hide anything.
"This is indeed the school answer sheets," Lila said clearly, her eyes scanning the room. "But I didn't do it. I didn't cheat. Someone is trying to frame me."
The classroom froze at her words. A chill ran down Vivian's spine.
Outside the school gates, a sleek black luxury car slowly pulled up. Students nearby gasped.
"That's… Ethan Li's car!"
The door opened. Ethan stepped out. His tall figure immediately drew attention. He looked calmly toward the school building, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I wonder… how my little girl is doing."
The classroom fell into tense silence. Everyone sensed that the storm was only beginning