The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 307

Chapter 307: Chapter 307 Fight Back With A Simple Move
Hera reconsidered her earlier assessment of Alice as being like Minerva—naive, straightforward, and easy to read. She realized that Alice’s actions were much more complex than she had anticipated, and she struggled to understand Alice’s true motives and her persistent efforts to create problems for Hera. However, Hera then recalled the male leads and began to piece together why Alice might be acting this way.

It seems that Alice would do anything to get the male leads, it seems.

Hera knew that her current position was supposed to be Alice’s—where the original female lead was meant to be in the spotlight, adored and admired by everyone. Hera, on the other hand, was originally intended to be a mere cannon fodder, destined to die long ago after her inheritance was seized to advance the storyline.

But Hera wasn’t just a character in a book; she refused to accept her predetermined fate. She knew that Alice wouldn’t passively accept being replaced either, especially since Alice had already experienced failure and an early death in her previous life before reaching her full potential. However, that didn’t mean Alice had to become like those who had hurt her. Becoming just like them would only perpetuate the cycle of pain.

Hera wasn’t about to surrender to those people. She turned to face the students who were staring at her with intense curiosity. With a sweet smile that turned her eyes into crescents, an idea sparked in her mind.

“Hello there, little beauty.” Hera approached the girl, who clutched a book to her chest and stiffened as Hera drew near. The girl’s face flushed red as she stared up at Hera, holding her breath. “I haven’t seen you around campus before. Are you a freshman too?”

“Ye-yes?” the girl stammered nervously. She was among those who had hurled insults at Hera on the campus forum. Driven by curiosity and the desire to see for herself, she had come to confront Hera, who was now being compared unfavorably to Alice—the girl she had been supporting as an angel in their eyes.

However, upon seeing Hera’s reaction—a simple chuckle after reading the campus forum, as if it were just a child’s prank—the girl realized that Hera was neither as petty nor as foolish as the comments had suggested. The poise and calm Hera displayed challenged the image painted by the forum, revealing a side of her that was unexpectedly composed and resilient.

What’s more, Hera was breathtakingly beautiful—her natural beauty surpassing even Alice’s, who, despite claiming to be barefaced, wore a thin layer of makeup to enhance her features. If Alice could look striking with just a touch of makeup, the unblemished, radiant appearance of Hera was all the more remarkable.

The girl felt as if an angel stood before her. Hera’s sweet smile, illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the tree leaves, seemed to cast a halo around her. Her melodious voice, cool and crisp, was music to the ears, making even the girl herself feel a flutter in her chest. As Hera approached and addressed her as “little beauty,” her heart skipped a beat, and she could feel her face flush with warmth.

‘Ah!!! I’m a fan now!’ the girl thought, her eyes wide with admiration as she gazed at Hera’s radiant face, eagerly awaiting her next words.

“I have a favor to ask,” Hera said, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassment and hesitation as she addressed the girl standing before her.

“Senior, please go ahead!” the girl exclaimed, grabbing Hera’s hands with fervent enthusiasm. Her book dropped to the ground as she eagerly looked at Hera, her voice brimming with urgency as if she feared Hera might ask someone else for the favor.

Hera’s smile grew even sweeter upon seeing the girl’s enthusiasm. The other students, too, were visibly eager, their eyes bright with anticipation as if they were waiting for their chance to offer their assistance. It was as though they had completely forgotten their original intent to undermine Hera and were now more focused on helping her.

Hera’s smile softened into a look of concern as she asked, “I recently came across the campus forum and discovered that I’m being referred to as the current Campus Bell. I also noticed there’s an ongoing vote, but my picture is blurry and unclear, while the other candidates’ photos are vibrant and clear. Could you explain what’s happening? Will this voting impact my university life or my scholarship?”

Her fidgeting and genuine worry made it clear that she was a dedicated student who prioritized her studies and important matters, prompting the others around her to consider that her scholarship and academic focus might be at stake.

To think that she’s even unaware of her current standing in the university that has nothing to do with academics was unknown to her, this shows that she was too busy to think about unnecessary things, and the question Hera posed also raised some suspicion through the scandals that were brought to the campus forum and the negative publicity she’s receiving was like an attack to her to elevate the other candidate for the Campus Bell and showed them as heaven and earth to highlight the other while demeaning the other.

Hera’s straightforward question and genuine confusion made it clear to the students that they had been manipulated into attacking her and spreading negativity. They now understood that their actions could potentially jeopardize her scholarship if this continued. The realization hit them hard, their expressions reflecting their discomfort. They were not foolish—this was a prestigious school known for its low acceptance rate, admitting only the best of the best, so, they were not stupid enough to be easily led by the nose which already happened and with Hera’s little hint they recognized the real issue.

Gradually, a sense of anger rose among everyone as they realized they had been manipulated into bullying a senior they didn’t even know personally. They felt enraged at the idea of being used to tarnish an innocent woman’s reputation and threaten her scholarship.

Several students who were live-streaming the exchange watched in disbelief as the anticipated drama turned into a public relations disaster for them. They had expected Hera to make a fool of herself, only to find that the joke was on them. Achieving Dean’s List status at their prestigious university was no small feat—it required straight A’s, competition against numerous other high-achieving students and six recommendations from professors in major subjects.

Securing a spot on the Dean’s List in such a rigorous selection process could easily label someone as a complete nerd, but the rewards were substantial. The scholarship came with generous monthly allowances, coverage for living expenses, and various other perks, making the stringent selection criteria worthwhile.

Someone who went to such lengths for a scholarship wouldn’t be foolish enough to engage in the antics described on the campus forum. It became clear that Hera didn’t even care about the Campus Bell status, which typically brought fame and recognition among students. In fact, she seemed completely unaware that she had held the title of Campus Bell for two years running.

“Se-senior, are you really a university scholar?” the girl asked, her voice trembling as she clutched Hera’s hand. Though she had been the top scorer in her province, her arrival at the university had humbled her, making her realize she was just another student among many exceptional peers. Her initial arrogance had faded as she struggled to surpass the other top achievers at the campus.