The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 56

Li Rong listened to Cui Mingyang’s explanation without much concern.

Cen Xiao had promised that no one would tamper with the spot, and keeping an eye on such a small issue in Blue Pivot District Three was relatively easy. After all, the United Commerce Association donated a significant amount to A University every year.

However, Li Rong was still curious about who Cui Mingyang mentioned as the person planning to oppose him.

Considerate as always, Li Rong worried that Cui Mingyang might feel uncomfortable spilling details in front of too many people. So, he stood up, bracing himself on the table, tightened his coat, and buttoned it up. “Let’s talk outside.”

Cui Mingyang initially didn’t want to say more, but seeing the faintly mocking smile on Li Rong’s face, he felt that Li Rong might not believe him.

He despised Li Rong and didn’t consider himself a virtuous person. He had schemed against Li Rong before, trying to take what was his. But precisely because of this, he was even more unwilling to let someone else frame him.

He had always been the one scheming against others—how could he allow someone to turn the tables on him?

After a moment of thought, he followed Li Rong out.

The classmates hadn’t seen the two of them speak in ages. Watching them leave one after the other, they couldn’t help but look up curiously.

Cen Xiao didn’t follow. He trusted that Li Rong could handle it.

Leaning back in his chair, Cen Xiao toyed idly with his earphone cord, his gaze growing darker.

The moment the “Talented Students Program” was proposed, he had asked Cen Qing to keep an eye on both A High and A University’s admissions office.

With District Nine as leverage, Cen Qing wouldn’t take his words lightly.

It was clear that A High School had followed protocol and submitted Li Rong’s name through proper channels.

If what Cui Mingyang said was true, then the problem laid on A University’s side.

Blue Pivot had already emphasized the importance of fair admissions at A University. If someone was still trying to manipulate the guaranteed admission spots, that person’s status must be significant.

Li Rong tilted his head, deliberately scrutinizing Cui Mingyang with a suspicious gaze.

After a moment, he let out a sneer. “You’re the beneficiary here. How can I believe you’re not behind this? Even if it’s not you, your parents wouldn’t pass up the chance to secure your admission.”

Being doubted and accused didn’t sit well with Cui Mingyang. As a top student who had always been praised by teachers and classmates, he wasn’t used to such treatment.

His face tensed, and his palms were damp with sweat.

“I already told you it’s not me. I want to be the top scorer in the city—that’s been my dream since I was a child. My parents know this. They wouldn’t do something unnecessary like this.”

Li Rong remained unimpressed. “Just comforting words. Haven’t your parents done enough for you? Or have you forgotten about that paper published under your name?”

That paper, which had been refuted by Li Qingli, was the very reason Cui Mingyang began resenting Li Rong.

His parents had indeed tried to pave the way for him early on. To him, not leveraging family resources was sheer stupidity.

He was well aware of the truth behind the paper, but this time, his family had truly stayed out of it.

Even his parents had said that they were too insignificant to interfere. But they were certain their family would take the blame for this.

Taking the blame didn’t bother them; in their eyes, the Li family was already ruined. Even if Li Rong bore a grudge, it wouldn’t amount to anything.

But Cui Mingyang saw things differently. He noticed how close Li Rong was getting to Cen Xiao and suspected that Li Rong might eventually align with Blue Pivot.

He envied Li Rong but also recognized his capability.

Unlike his parents, Cui Mingyang wasn’t optimistic. His gut told him that Li Rong was destined to stir up big trouble in the future.

Anxious and frustrated, Cui Mingyang felt that Li Rong’s disbelief was an insult. “The paper thing was real, but that was my family’s business, and we didn’t harm anyone. This time, it really has nothing to do with us.”

Li Rong appeared skeptical, tilting his chin slightly and looking down at Cui Mingyang with an aloof gaze.

“Capable of commissioning ghostwritten papers, it’s no surprise they’d exploit their influence to eliminate threats.”

Forced into a corner, Cui Mingyang cast a wary glance around.

The chilly corridor echoed with a draft. The skylight above was a pale gray, and the few students passing by hunched their shoulders, walking quickly as if eager to escape into the warmth of their classrooms.

No one noticed them. No one cared about their conversation.

Lowering his voice, Cui Mingyang muttered bitterly, “You should know my parents have no say in Hongsuo. They don’t even qualify to attend the joint meetings. This is deliberate—they’re pinning the blame on my family!”

“They?” Li Rong raised an eyebrow, immediately catching the key word.

Cui Mingyang clammed up at once.

This kind of information wasn’t something he could divulge to Li Rong, or it would surely bring trouble upon himself.

Li Rong smiled faintly. “You came to tell me this in advance—wasn’t it to shift the blame onto someone else?”

Cui Mingyang’s expression darkened.

“Heh, I knew you wouldn’t believe me. But unless I’ve lost my mind, I wouldn’t throw the blame onto people like them.”

Li Rong’s smile gradually faded. Lowering his gaze slightly, he toyed absentmindedly with a clear button on his coat. “Don’t you think what you’re saying contradicts itself? If they are as powerful as you say, why worry about me knowing? What could I, an ordinary high school student, possibly do?”

Cui Mingyang thought to himself: You can do plenty. My most naïve belief was that you’d wallow in despair and drift aimlessly through life.

With a cold snort, Cui Mingyang said, “You want me to tell you, but I refuse. Neither side’s fire is going to burn me.”

Li Rong stared at Cui Mingyang without a word.

From what Cui Mingyang had let slip, it was clear that those planning to revoke his spot were connected to the Hongsuo Research Institute—and their status was higher than Cui Mingyang’s parents, so much so that even Cui’s family could only silently accept being scapegoated.

Since severing his connections within the institute, such insider knowledge could only come from those entrenched in Hongsuo.

The Talented Students Program had been in the works and publicly announced for months. If someone had wanted to intervene, they would have done so long ago.

Although Yang Fenfang had hinted early on that he could cede his guaranteed admission to Cui Mingyang, Cui Mingyang had never shown interest in the program. This indicated that Cui Mingyang  wasn’t lying—he truly didn’t want guaranteed admission; his goal was to be the city’s top scorer.

This meant the decision to act wasn’t made initially but rather recently—something must have changed their minds.

Since his family’s troubles began, Li Rong had narrowly survived carbon monoxide poisoning, been grudgingly allowed an extra month in their house by the court, and openly set up tutoring classes at A High School—all because those people underestimated him.

They thought he was insignificant and allowed him to live freely.

Just as in his past life, he could gain admission to A University, choose the biochemistry program, graduate smoothly, and even work under Jiang Weide.

All because of their disregard, their contempt.

But once he crossed a threshold they couldn’t tolerate, retaliation would follow.

This time, it came earlier, triggered by the publication of that hypothesis.

No one could definitively prove that Li Rong had compiled and revised the paper, but no one could prove he hadn’t either.

They must have scrutinized all of Li Qingli’s connections and investigated every member of his family, yet they still couldn’t rule out Li Rong as a suspect.

The person responsible would need access to Li Qingli’s critical research, knowledge of A University’s intranet submission process, proficiency in writing professional academic papers in English, and the ability to address reviewers’ comments. Such a person would have to be intimately familiar with Li Qingli’s research.

While it seemed implausible for a high school student to accomplish this, if Li Qingli had already prepared a complete paper and discussed his research with Li Rong, it wasn’t impossible.

To prevent any leaks, they couldn’t allow Li Rong to enter the biochemistry program, gain related knowledge, or investigate matters about Luyinxu.

Thus, even if he passed the college entrance exam and entered A University, they would stop at nothing to prevent him from choosing biochemistry.

Li Rong sighed softly. “It’s Jiang Weide.”

His tone wasn’t questioning, nor did it seem directed at Cui Mingyang. It felt more like he was talking to himself.

Yet, Cui Mingyang’s face instantly betrayed a look of surprise.

Though he recovered quickly and stiffly retorted, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

But Li Rong had already confirmed the answer from his initial reaction.

Cui Mingyang had a few tricks up his sleeve, but he was only just an adult. Though he acted worldly, he hadn’t truly seen much of the world.

Some secrets are so easily extracted.

Li Rong even smiled as he raised a hand and patted Cui Mingyang’s shoulder. “Thanks.”

After that, Li Rong no longer paid him any attention, turning back toward his classroom.

Cui Mingyang felt like his head was going to explode. He quickly chased after Li Rong, stammering out a pale and feeble explanation. “What nonsense are you spouting? I didn’t admit to anything! Don’t take a feather and treat it as an imperial command. I never even mentioned Professor Jiang’s name!”

Li Rong, uninterested in his rambling, replied casually, “What are you so scared of? What can a high schooler like me do? If the spot’s gone, it’s gone. I’ll just go cry about it.”

Cui Mingyang: “…”

He couldn’t see even a hint of sadness on Li Rong’s face. On the contrary, he had a sneaking suspicion that Li Rong was planning something.

When Li Rong passed by Jian Fu’s desk, he rapped on it lightly before walking back to his own seat, shrugging at Cen Xiao along the way.

Jian Fu put his phone away, groaning as he dragged himself after Li Rong. “What’s going on? My squad is waiting for me!”

Cen Xiao and Li Rong exchanged a look.

“The higher-ups in the Hongsuo Research Institute?”

Li Rong closed his eyes and nodded slightly, then signaled to Jian Fu with his gaze.

Jian Fu, however, was utterly clueless. “Say something. What happened? What’s the big deal?”

Cen Xiao asked again, “Those uncles who frequently dine with your parents—you’re familiar with them, right?”

The first district of Blue Pivot oversees internet enterprises. Those who can dine with President Jian Changli and call him “brother” are titans of major internet companies.

Jian Fu pouted and let out a bitter snort, “You mean those old grandpas who make me perform abacus calculations every time we have a gathering?”

Li Rong’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Yes, it’s time to make use of those grandpas. We need you to sell your soul a little.”

Jian Fu looked at them warily. “Let’s be clear: I have my limits. I won’t disrupt the first district’s industry rules, and I won’t do anything that would get me targeted by the ninth district!”

Cen Xiao said calmly, “It’s not that complicated. Just ask them to do your dad a favor and push some news to the public on their platforms. If Liu Tanzhi can use the media to create hype, there’s no reason we can’t do the same.”

Li Rong leaned back lazily in his chair, his tone casual. “The autumn recruitment season just ended, right? Every year there are stories about people who aced the written exams but got replaced during the interviews. The fairness of recruitment affects everyone’s real interests—it’s something every ordinary person cares about and is willing to speak out about. It’s a shame we haven’t seen any discussions along those lines trending this year.”

Cen Xiao added, “Liu Tanzhi’s accounts are probably already prepared. If things escalate, they’ll likely post paid articles to sway public opinion.”

Jian Fu chimed in without hesitation, “Then why not limit their reach while we’re at it?”