Take Revenge on the Rumormongers

I rubbed my tired eyes and saw that someone had added me as a friend. It was a pure black avatar.

After accepting, the other person quickly sent me a message.

[Did someone say something bad about me?]

Thinking that the person was the girl whose inappropriate photo had been shared, I sent all the screenshots of Alexander's chat to her.

Afraid she might take it badly, I comforted her. [Don't worry, it's his fault. If you want to pursue this, you can report it to the police.]

I thought she would be angry, embarrassed, or cry.

To my surprise, she said: [That's my face, but the picture is AI-generated.]

[So someone took my photo, manipulated it, and spread it around, claiming they slept with me?]

[Yes.]

Before I could react, I saw the black avatar mention Alexander in the freshman group chat.

[Alexander from the junior finance department, did you say you slept with me? ]

One sentence, and the whole group chat exploded with onlookers.

[There's gossip!]

Another girl, eager for more drama, even sent a red packet in the group.

Alexander quickly appeared.

[What's up?]

Black avatar: [Explain yourself, dude. What do you mean by photoshopping my picture and saying I'm great in bed? Do I know how good I am, or do you know better?]

Alexander: [Stop pretending. Didn't you ask me out for drinks that day?]

[Inviting a guy out for drinks, we're all adults here, everyone knows what that means.]

Others chimed in.

[What's going on, wasn't the payment enough? ]

Some rude guys added: [We don't get these girl's logic. She agreed to drinks, she should know the consequences, right?]

I was amused by the logic of these guys in the group.

So, agreeing to drinks means agreeing to sleep together?

What kind of logic is that?

The black avatar didn't say anything.

Just as I was about to speak up for her, I saw her post some chat logs in the group.

I opened one, and it nearly made me sick.

[Babe, the cars my family's butler drives are all Maseratis. We usually bathe in red wine, the regular wine is used for flushing the toilet.]

[I'm here, babe, where are you? Are you shy? Come on out. Although you're not as pretty as my ex-girlfriend, you feel different from others. Oh, you might not know, Sophia used to chase me. You know Sophia, right? That idol from the girl group. But I'm looking for someone to marry. ]

[You might not mix with us high-class people. The uncles I meet daily are all top 100 businessmen in the country.]

[Alas, you don't know how much I hate being called young master. I've tried very hard to blend into the commoners' life, but you know, you can't hide someone's aura.]

*****

People in the group saw the chat logs and laughed like crazy.

I even thought Alexander seemed normal with me.

The black avatar spoke again: [Your ex-girlfriend is Sophia, and you still fancy me?]

Seeing Alexander not responding, everyone knew he was just pretending.

[Bro, come out and say something. If you don't speak, we'll assume you drowned in the wine used for flushing toilets.]

[Sophia Williams is your ex? Sorry, Sophia Williams has registered her marriage with me. Don't be a homewrecker.]

After a long silence, Alexander replied with a sarcastic comment: [Hmph, you're just jealous of me, aren't you?]

[You guys have such low standards. While you're typing insults at me, I've already secured a job with a big shot.]

The black avatar sent a sarcastic pink sausage emoji.

[Jealous of your photoshop skills, envious of the crap filling your head that you call dreams?]

Alexander: [Even if the picture is fake, who knows how many times a woman like you has been slept with by others.]

[I pity the guy who ends up with you.]

I couldn't hold back and tagged Alexander in the group: [You're still spreading such rumors to boost your ego?]

[So, in your eyes, if a girl has had an ex, that's something like settle down?]

Alexander didn't reply, but other guys uniformly agreed.

Some girls in the group couldn't stand it and started arguing with the guys.

Seeing me speak up, Alexander got more aggressive: [Did you betray me?]

[Olivia, do you know I was planning to settle down and marry you? But now, you've ruined that chance.]

I laughed angrily: [Really? Planning to settle down, do you have some shady business or no moral bottom line?]

[A blessed girl won't marry into a cursed family, even the sewer rats need to make way for you.]

The black avatar spoke again: [So you finally admit to photoshopping my picture? You were so convincing earlier, like we actually hooked up.]

Alexander got even angrier: [In the end, it's all about money. You two gold diggers just want my money, right? It's no big deal. Apologize to me in the group, say you made it all up, make me happy, and I might give you some breakfast money.]

[Olivia, you're just upset because there are better girls around me.]

[Now I see you two are equally filthy. Olivia, if you dare to say another word, I'll expose your dirty secrets.]

Hearing his threat, I laughed.

[Dirty secrets? Are you planning to photoshop a picture of me too?]

[Come on, you don't even know what I look like, and you're threatening me?]

[This is the first time I've seen a liar fooling himself first. A young master who asks me for money, asking for ten bucks for breakfast?]

With that, I posted a screenshot of Alexander asking me for money.

His humble request was a stark contrast to his arrogant demeanor in the group.

Everyone in the group burst out laughing.

[Doesn't care about ten billion, begs for ten bucks.]

[Can afford caviar and seafood, can't afford a fast food meal.]

[Brother, let me give you some advice]

Alexander replied: [What advice?]

[Now, walk to the rooftop and jump off, escape this miserable life. I'll call the richest man's daughter and get you a pregnancy slot for your next life. How about being rich then?]

Alexander, getting more agitated by us, started sending some unspeakable voice messages.

He even threatened us, warning us to watch out at school, claiming we couldn't afford the consequences of offending him.

I laughed hysterically: [Hahaha, you only managed to fool yourself into thinking you're rich.]

Alexander left the group chat.

Everyone chatted for a while longer before dispersing.

I privately messaged the black avatar: [He photoshopped your picture and spread rumors about you. We can't let him get away with this so easily.]

Black avatar: [I never planned to. This guy is too arrogant, who knows how many other girls he has spread rumors about.]

Thinking about it, I started to feel scared too.

Luckily, I never sent Alexander my selfies, so he still doesn't know what I look like.

If I had sent selfies, would he have photoshopped my pictures too?

Spread rumors about me?

If it were me being defamed, I might not have been as brave as this girl.

The black avatar, knowing about my relationship with Alexander, comforted me.

[As long as you didn't get deceived financially or emotionally by him, it's a timely escape. When looking for a partner in the future, make sure to see what kind of friends they have. Birds of a feather flock together.]

I felt a wave of gratitude and replied: [Thank you.]

You're welcome. I'm Ava Wilson. If you need anything, you can find me.]