“Why isn’t Jiang Fuyue’s name on it?!”
He had thought that since both sides had fought, following the school’s usual rule of punishing both equally, Jiang Fuyue would be expelled, and at worst, they would each get a disciplinary note.
But what happened?
They got punished, while Jiang Fuyue came out completely unscathed!
Li Chen couldn’t believe it. He went through the entire document again, line by line, carefully checking. Sure enough, there was no mention of Jiang Fuyue or Liu Sisi.
The two of them had gotten away clean!
“Impossible!”
He’d even had Old Li step in personally!
Liang Jingzhou also found it unbelievable. “I called my mom. She said my dad’s been running to Ming University these past few days. How could it have failed?”
Gu Huaiyu coughed lightly. “Anyway, I told my dad, and he agreed to handle it. As for why it didn’t work out…”
He couldn’t say for sure.
Cheng Lian put down his phone and gave a soft laugh. “Seems we’ve bumped into someone powerful…”
Gu Huaiyu snorted. “Someone hiding their cards well.”
“What powerful person? Hiding what?” Liang Jingzhou was totally lost. “What riddles are you two talking in? I don’t understand a single word.”
Li Chen also gave him a questioning look.
Gu Huaiyu explained his earlier suspicion to the other two.
Liang Jingzhou rubbed his chin. “…So what you’re saying is, Jiang Fuyue has someone behind her? And this person’s status isn’t low?”
“Do you think someone without influence could affect the final decision?”
“That shouldn’t be possible… Aside from the principal, Uncle Li is the second-largest shareholder. Who could possibly have more say than him?”
Gu Huaiyu said, “Plus your family, my family, and the Chengs, four board members together. Who could possibly go against that?”
The room fell silent.
“There is someone,” Cheng Lian suddenly said.
“Who?”
“You’ve all forgotten someone, the principal.”
“Xiao Shan?” Gu Huaiyu frowned. “He’s just a proxy shareholder. If it really came down to it, he doesn’t have the moral or actual authority to go against four board members.”
Cheng Lian sighed. “What if it wasn’t him acting on his own, but under someone else’s orders?”
“Behind Xiao Shan… You mean that mysterious founder?! That’s impossible,” Gu Huaiyu waved dismissively. “According to my dad, that President Lou’s been missing for over twenty years. Ming University’s gone through at least five principals in that time. The dividends are paid every year, but he’s never shown up once.”
“Everyone seems to forget,” Cheng Lian said calmly, “that Xiao Shan forcibly took over as proxy shareholder after ousting the previous principal.”
Liang Jingzhou swallowed hard, realizing he couldn’t get a word in. “S-so what are you saying?”
Cheng Lian gave him a sideways glance. “Do you even understand what a proxy holder is? You need the original owner’s signed authorization within a valid time frame to handle such matters.”
“In other words, Xiao Shan got direct authorization from President Lou which means they’ve been in contact, and their relationship isn’t simple. That so-called ‘disappearance’ for twenty years? Just a rumor.”
“Wait, wait… Old Cheng, I’m getting lost here. Let’s go over this again,” Liang Jingzhou said, scratching his face. “You’re saying the principal, maybe even that President Lou, is protecting Jiang Fuyue?”
Cheng Lian gave him a look that was half-smile, half-taunt. “So you’re not as dumb as I thought.”
“…” Liang Jingzhou felt personally attacked.
“Anyway,” Cheng Lian went on, “guessing won’t get us anywhere. The most direct way is to confirm it.” He looked between Li Chen and Liang Jingzhou. “One of you call home. Find out what went wrong.”
“I’ll do it.” Li Chen took out his phone and called Li Jiahui.
On the other end, after a long hesitation, his father finally answered and began apologizing right away: “Little Chen, I’m sorry, this time I couldn’t—”
“Dad,” Li Chen cut in, “what exactly went wrong?”
“…Went wrong?”
“With your position as a board member, getting a student expelled shouldn’t be difficult. Why is Jiang Fuyue fine while we got disciplined?”
“This…” A heavy sigh came through the line. “I thought it’d be easy too. Who would’ve guessed Xiao Shan would strongly oppose it, even invoking the founder’s veto right to overrule me. Said he had to investigate everything thoroughly. That’s when it came out that you brought bodyguards to school and started a fight.”
Li Chen’s gaze sharpened. He caught the key point. “The founder?”
“Yes, President Lou.”
Li Chen and Cheng Lian exchanged a look. The latter saw the confirmation he needed in Li Chen’s eyes.
The call ended.
“So it was that President Lou! But… why?” Liang Jingzhou scratched his head. “Why would he help Jiang Fuyue?”
Gu Huaiyu said, “That’s something only Jiang Fuyue can answer.”
Cheng Lian put his hands in his pockets and said casually, “I’ve looked into her.”
All three turned to him instantly.
He smiled faintly. “What? Isn’t that standard procedure?”
“…”
“From what I found, Jiang Fuyue’s strongest backing should be the Han family. Other than that, it’s just some academic heavyweights like Professor Xu Kaiqing and Peter, both well-known scholars. Then there’s her parents’ business and her own achievements.”
“For ordinary people, that’s already impressive. But in the capital, where power and money are everywhere, she’s like a rootless water plant, lush on the surface, but a single breeze could scatter her.”
“In that kind of environment, it’s hard to expand one’s network further. After all, the essence of networking is equal exchange. She doesn’t have the leverage to attract higher-level figures.”
“So it’s clear that this President Lou who helped her this time isn’t someone she met after coming to the capital.”
Cheng Lian paused, the smile on his lips deepening. “But what’s strange is there’s no record of her ever knowing this mysterious founder. Not a single mention of the name ‘President Lou’ anywhere.”
Liang Jingzhou muttered, “Well, no investigation can dig up everything. There’ll always be missing bits and pieces…”
Cheng Lian nodded. “That’s one possibility. But there’s another.”
“What possibility?”
Cheng Lian turned to Li Chen, who had been silent since his call. “You want to say it, or should I?”
Li Chen stayed quiet.
“Alright, then I’ll say it,” Cheng Lian continued. “The other possibility is that all that information was deliberately erased. What we’re seeing now is only what they want us to see.”
“Hiss—! You’re saying Jiang Fuyue is that powerful? Now it’s sounding too far-fetched,” Liang Jingzhou scoffed.
“Yeah, Old Cheng,” Gu Huaiyu agreed. “Aren’t you overthinking this?”
Cheng Lian just gave his usual faint smile. “It’s just my speculation. Believe it or not, that’s up to you. But—”
He lifted his eyes toward Gu Huaiyu. “Before the disciplinary decision came down today, you also thought I was overthinking it. And yet?”
Gu Huaiyu fell silent.
The fact was, Jiang Fuyue did have backing and not just any backing. Even four board members working together couldn’t touch her.
At that moment, Li Chen finally spoke. “We’ll see how deep the water really runs once we test it.”
The others froze.
Cheng Lian asked, “What are you planning?”
“Just to see how powerful she really is.”
Gu Huaiyu frowned. “Don’t do anything rash. We can’t pull another stunt like bringing bodyguards to school. If we get expelled for real, that’d be humiliating.”
Li Chen chuckled. “I never said I’d do it myself.”
“Then who will?”
Li Chen’s eyes drifted past Gu Huaiyu and landed lightly on Liang Jingzhou. “Isn’t there someone right here?”
“Wha—what? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Old Liang, word is you’re pretty good at pulling pranks. I remember even the school bully back in high school got played by you, your legend still lives on at the affiliated school.”
Hearing that, Liang Jingzhou puffed up a little. “Of course! I might be useless at other things, but when it comes to pranks, I’m number one! Back in the day—”
“Good. Then it’s up to you!”
“W–what’s up to me?” Liang Jingzhou froze.
Li Chen clapped him on the shoulder. “Test Jiang Fuyue. We can’t make big moves while we’re under punishment, but a few small tricks? That’s your specialty.”
Gu Huaiyu nodded solemnly. “We’re counting on you, Old Liang. Don’t let us down.”
Cheng Lian said nothing, just sighed softly, shook his head, and walked away.
Liang Jingzhou stood there, completely dumbfounded. “…Wait—what? Why me?!”
“Because—” Li Chen called over his shoulder without looking back, “you’re the best man for the job.”
D*mn it!
Liang Jingzhou chased after them, shouting at the top of his lungs, “I can’t do itt—!”
Unfortunately, a passing student happened to record it and “accidentally” posted it on the school forum.
The result—
The entire school now knew that Young Master Liang was “can’t do it.”
Another cursed meme video was added to the “Heirs’ Collection.”
——
By the time Friday passed, the first week of the semester was already over.
Huo Fanjin and Cen Qiaoqiao were both locals, so they went home on weekends.
When they left the dorm, their family servants came to carry away big bags, all bedding and clothes for washing.
Huo Fanjin said, “I can’t wash them properly anyway. Might as well take them home.”
Cen Qiaoqiao munched on potato chips and nodded in agreement. “Time is limited. It should be spent on what matters.”
Huo Fanjin teased, “Like eating snacks?”
Cen Qiaoqiao frowned. “I feel like you’re mocking me.”
“I am.”
“…” So mean!
Once the servants finished changing their sheets and covers, both girls waved goodbye.
“See you, Sister Yue~”
“See you Monday.”
The two left happily.
Liu Sisi wasn’t staying either—
“Saturday I’ve got to head to the boxing gym. Haven’t sparred with anyone in a while, I’m getting rusty. Sunday, Uncle Liu’s got an assignment for me, might have to go out of town.”
With all three gone, Jiang Fuyue decided to return to the Han family estate as well.
The old man and her three uncles were all delighted. Han Shen and Han Ke even came home early from work for it.
As for Han Heng—
His new movie had just premiered to rave reviews, as usual. It was as if his major task was done, and now he could laze around as he pleased which he did, every day, at home.
Dinner that night was a feast.
The dishes piled up like small mountains in front of Jiang Fuyue—
“You’ve gotten thinner. Eat more.”
“Your face looks smaller too.”
“The cafeteria food can’t compare to home. Here, try this.”
Afraid that Jiang Fuyue wouldn’t eat enough, everyone kept picking up food for her, one chopstick after another, until the few grown men hardly ate a single bite themselves, too busy filling her bowl.
In the end, it was Jiang Fuyue who finally spoke up, telling them to just eat their own food, and only then did things quiet down.
After dinner, Jiang Fuyue played chess with Grandfather Han while the three Han brothers watched on the side.
Han Shen couldn’t help himself. “Yueyue, that move of yours should—”
Grandfather immediately cut him off, glaring. “Do you not know what it means to ‘observe chess without speaking’?”
Han Shen: “…”
At the same time, over at the Cen household—
Cen Qiaoqiao’s treatment was even more extravagant than Jiang Fuyue’s.
As soon as she got home, a whole crowd of relatives, big and small, showed up.
“Qiaoqiao, are you adjusting well to university life?”
“Have you cried from homesickness in the middle of the night?”
“Do you have enough snacks? Here, take a red envelope, buy some yourself.”
“Why don’t you just move back home? I can make arrangements with the school.”
“…”
No matter what they said, Cen Qiaoqiao just smiled as she ate and drank, eyes curved in pleasant amusement. In truth, everything went in one ear and out the other.
To everyone else, she looked sweet, sensible, and adorably clever.
After dinner, once that crowd of relatives finally left, Cen Qiaoqiao let out a sigh of relief, finally able to relax with her snacks.
She sat on the sofa, the TV showing news about the Schankwo virus raging overseas, claiming more lives.
The footage showed scenes of blackened devastation.
Cen Qiaoqiao’s hand slowed as she munched, a thoughtful look flickering in her eyes.
Suddenly, she shot up, running upstairs with a thud-thud-thud.
Soon came the sounds of rummaging through boxes.
Xie Yunmiao, in her own room, heard the commotion and hurried to her daughter’s door. “What are you doing? All that banging around, don’t like your snacks anymore, so you’re dismantling the house instead?”
When Cen Qiaoqiao turned around and saw her, her eyes lit up. “Mom! Do you still remember that music box Uncle gave me for my tenth birthday? The one with the crystal figurine that dances?”
Xie Yunmiao was surprised. “Why are you suddenly looking for that?”
“Ah, don’t worry about it! I need it. It’s really, really, really important! Mom…” She dropped the old junk in her hands, stepped over the messy pile she’d made, and looped her arm through her mother’s, soft voice coaxing.
“Mommy~ please help me look for it… okay?”
Xie Yunmiao’s heart softened instantly. She patted her daughter’s rosy cheek. “Alright, wait here. I’ll find it for you. Honestly, I must’ve owed you in a past life…”
Before long, Xie Yunmiao came back with a square box, carefully wrapped in a transparent dust-proof plastic bag.
When she took it out, it looked almost new.
Cen Qiaoqiao remembered how, as a child, her mom wouldn’t let her play with it for fear she’d break it but that didn’t stop her from sneaking it out once in a while to admire it.
Later, she had other toys that caught her interest, and gradually forgot about it.
She opened the lid. The crystal dancer inside twirled gracefully to the music.
Her fingers brushed along the box’s edge, then up to the center of the lid where two lines were written on white paper:
To Qiaoqiao, Happy Birthday!
— Xie Dingyuan
Then she covered all the words except the last one—“Yuan.”
The bold strokes, the vigorous energy, it was clearly the handwriting of someone strong and spirited.
“Mom, did Uncle write this himself?”
“Of course! Your uncle’s handwriting is one of a kind. Even your grandparents praise it endlessly.”
One of a kind…
So that day in the dorm, that card that fell, she hadn’t been mistaken. It really was her uncle’s handwriting!
But… why would Uncle write a card to Sister Yue? Oh, and even give her such a pretty cup!
“…What’s wrong with you, kid? I’m talking to you!”
“Huh? Mom, did you say something? Sorry, I was thinking about something~”
“I asked why you suddenly wanted to find that thing.”
But Cen Qiaoqiao wasn’t listening at all, lost in thought, her expression shifting rapidly. One moment she gasped, the next she murmured in disbelief: “No way… could it really be what I think? But if I’m wrong… how could it possibly—”
“Qiaoqiao? Qiaoqiao!”
“…Huh?” She blinked, belatedly responding.
Xie Yunmiao laughed in exasperation. “Were you even listening?”
“Mom,” the girl’s eyes suddenly sparkled, “can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
She pressed her lips together. “Um… does Uncle have a girlfriend?”
“Apparently he’s seeing someone, though he hasn’t brought her home yet. Your grandma’s been dying to pry it out of him, but your uncle’s lips are sealed, not a word.”
Cen Qiaoqiao’s eyes lit up. “So Uncle really has a girlfriend?!”
“He’s admitted it himself, so it’s not some joke. But…”
Xie Yunmiao folded her arms, giving her daughter a knowing look. “Why are you asking?”
“Ahem—just curious! I care about Uncle, you know. He’s given me so many gifts…”
Though she didn’t quite believe her, Xie Yunmiao said, “At least you’ve got some conscience. Your uncle’s love life’s been worrying your grandparents to death.”
“Is Uncle in the capital right now?”
“He came back for a couple of days before, then left again.”
“Where’d he go?”
“Hold on, Qiaoqiao, what’s with you today? Every other sentence is about your uncle.”
Cen Qiaoqiao’s eyes darted mischievously.
Could she tell her mom she’d just uncovered a massive secret?
The kind that would blow everyone’s minds?
Her uncle… was actually dating her roommate?!
Heavens!
Was she living inside a romance novel?
Could it be that she was the legendary… divine wingwoman?!
“Nothing~ Just thought of Uncle when I found the music box, so I asked casually… Anyway, I’m sleepy.” Yawn. “So tired.”
“Alright, alright, go wash up and sleep. Don’t make a mess.” Xie Yunmiao didn’t think much of it, giving a few reminders before leaving.
Once the bedroom door closed, there wasn’t a trace of drowsiness left in Cen Qiaoqiao.
She flopped onto her bed, grabbed her phone, and began searching like crazy.
If Uncle really was dating Sister Yue, they must have had contact. And if they’d interacted, there would definitely be traces online!
Sure enough, she found them!
In a provincial academic competition where Sister Yue won an award, Uncle happened to be the guest presenter; Then, at an international event, he was an invited judge; And later, they even co-authored a paper together?!
Oh. My. God. So many details!
And the most unbelievable part—
They had a CP fandom!
She found the fan group ID on a forum. The group name was — “YuanYue Processing Sugar Plant.”
Curious, she sent a request to join.
A verification popped up:
Q: “What’s our slogan?”
Cen Qiaoqiao stared blankly. There’s a slogan?!
She randomly typed: “YuanYuanYueYue.”
It was so cheesy it made her whole body break out in goosebumps.
Instantly rejected by the admin.
Cen Qiaoqiao: “?”
A minute later, she straightened up. “Hah! You think I can’t crack a CP fan group?”
Fueled by determination, she scoured the internet.
Turns out, this CP fandom was very well-hidden: organized, disciplined, and fluent in coded language. Ordinary people couldn’t find them easily.
But her? She was an online detective extraordinaire!
Before long, buried in a mid-level reply of an obscure thread on Zhihu, she found the answer—
‘The YuanYue banner will never fall!’
Miss even the exclamation mark, and you’d fail.
Such strict standards.
Two minutes later, Cen Qiaoqiao successfully joined the group.
And immediately it was like stepping into a whole new world.
[YuanYue’s Little Button]: Welcome, new sis! Let’s fangirl together~
[YuanYue’s Little Heart]: Another soldier joins the YuanYue army! Only true love can find us!
[YuanYue’s Little Cub]: Read the pinned posts first; if you’ve got questions, just ask. Only one rule—keep it low-key and don’t attract hate for the main couple.
Cen Qiaoqiao thought, wow, they’re actually pretty disciplined.
Looking at everyone’s matching nicknames, she figured she couldn’t stand out—so she changed hers to [YuanYue’s Little Qiaoqiao].
Ugh… so cringey!
[YuanYue’s Little Undie]: Welcome, Qiaoqiao!
[YuanYue’s Little Belly]: Applause! Confetti~
Cen Qiaoqiao couldn’t help but smile and replied: [Thanks! Happy to find my people~]
[YuanYue’s Big Kiss]: New day, new sugar, here’s your treat!
Then, a video appeared in the chat.
The group suddenly went quiet.
Curious, Cen Qiaoqiao clicked to watch—
And then…
