《Kneel to Me》


 CH 1

    1. Is This World Real?


    Have you ever doubted whether your life and the world you live in are real?


    Song Juyao once doubted. She wondered why she had to lead such a life, why her life was such a failure. Hadn¡¯t she worked hard enough, or was she simply stupid? She had once blamed the gods and man, complaining about the injustice of the heavens, resenting those who were so easily able to get everything that she had to fight desperately for, because luck had never favoured her.


    She had been born in an extremely poor family, and most people living in the city couldn¡¯t have imagined that there were people living such a life. Their family lived near a landfill and her parents relied on sorting and picking up the garbage sent from all over the city everyday. Life was arduous and dirty. She did not wish to live such a life, hence she exerted her greatest effort in order that she may live a better life. When other children were still innocent and artless, she had already set up a goal for the future. She studied hard and made great efforts so that she could have the capability to realize her dream.


    Since the age of seven, she was aware that she needed money and that she had to find a way to make money. For the sake of earning money, she had tried all sorts of methods. She helped adults run errands, helped her classmates to do their homework, helped others do their cleaning, and sweetly flattered her teachers so that she could get convenience and benefits from them. Because of this, her fellow schoolmates had ridiculed her and disdained her behind her back, but she didn¡¯t care about this. She was clear that their mockery was too insignificant in comparison to her life. She saved her money and looked at the beautiful clothes in the shop window with her heart filled with envy, thinking that one day, she would become a superior person and that she would succeed.


    The person whom Song Juyao disliked the most was Wen Ruoning from her school. She was always running over to pester Song Juyao, constantly lecturing her and saying that she shouldn¡¯t help other people write their homework, that it was a sort of harm to other people and would cause them to have bad grades. She was always putting on a kind-hearted face that left Song Juyao disgusted and even gave her the clothes she had worn, just falling short of saying ¡°I know you¡¯re very poor and don¡¯t even have any decent clothes to wear.¡±


    Song Juyao almost cried with anger several times because of her, but she firmly endured it, and strengthened her efforts at studying and making money. She wanted to tell her, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play around with you, I need to study, I need to do my homework, go home and do the housework, I need to help my parents sort the damn trash.¡± She wanted to say, ¡°Even if I don¡¯t help those people write their homework and take their money, they still wouldn¡¯t do their homework, they would just ask others to do it for them for free or copy it from someone else the next day. Their poor grades aren¡¯t because I did their homework for them, but because they didn¡¯t intend to study hard.¡± She also wanted to say, ¡°Don¡¯t give your clothes to me in front of everyone as if you¡¯re giving alms, I may be poor but I still have my pride¡­.¡±


    However, Song Juyao did not say these things. She knew that even if she spoke, she still wouldn¡¯t bother to understand.


    Wen Ruoning was from a well-off family, and she was a rich young miss. How would she possibly be able to understand that there were people in this world who had to put in such great efforts in order to have a future worth looking forward to.


    Song Juyao thought that she and Wen Ruoning were from two different worlds without any intersection. Until the second year of high school, when Wen Ruoning¡¯s parents suddenly showed up at her door and said that she was their long-lost daughter and Wen Ruoning¡¯s fraternal twin sister. Her parents also admitted that they had bought her from a trafficker.


    Song Juyao was at a loss, because all of her efforts in the past, wasn¡¯t it just so that she could live a life like Wen Ruoning¡¯s? Suddenly, she was able to fulfill her dream, yet it wasn¡¯t due to her hard work, but because of a meat pie that fell from the sky?1  Then, what should she do in the future?


    The plans she had made for her life and the objective she had been struggling towards were all disrupted.


    ""


    At this time, Wen Ruoning dragged her over to her friend¡¯s party, and there, she met the handsome and confident Wei Qing, a young master from a wealthy family who was witty and funny. And he was very good to her. Song Juyao had never indulged in a young girl¡¯s feelings before, but she had suddenly turned into a rich young miss and her heart was abruptly left with a lot of vacant space. In the end, this space was occupied by Wei Qing.


    For Wei Qing, she learned to dress up, and he took her out to drink and sing. She feared that her inability to keep up with their rhythm might end up making them shun her, and her grades gradually fell to the bottom. Everytime she started feeling regretful and uneasy and wanted to pick up her books and study hard, Wei Qing would appear, those ¡°friends¡± would appear, and little by little, the books would not be picked up again.


    She thought she and Wei Qing were happily in love, until one day, she heard Wen Ruoning ask Wei Qing to continue to associate with her and not hurt her. Song Juyao realized that since the very beginning, Wei Qing had been entrusted with approaching her by Wen Ruoning! Wei Qing didn¡¯t like her at all! This was also charity, this was another one of Wen Ruoning¡¯s hateful and self-righteous acts of giving alms to her!


    Song Juyao was furious. She was angry at being made fun of, and she was jealous of Wen Ruoning. These dark emotions induced her to start opposing her with equal harshness and make sarcastic comments towards her, but the results were not good. Everyone turned towards Wen Ruoning and thought that she was stirring up trouble for no reason. Even her biological parents expressed their disappointment and said that they would not find her and bring her back if they had known that she would be like this.


    In the end, Song Juyao was sent out of the country. She was abroad and disheartened for a period of time. With great difficulty, she finally wished to pull herself together and get back up, but she met Raymond and he gave her a sweet love and drugs. Her biological parents severed all ties with her and Raymond also left her, leaving her to fall into an even deeper trough.


    Later, after going through the agonizing detoxification in the drug rehabilitation center, she started afresh as an upright person and worked hard to find a job to support herself, but due to her lacking academic qualifications and her dark history of drug abuse, she suffered countless refusals. She failed again and again, with people making things difficult for her and dismissing her, she was unable to accomplish anything.


    Finally, she walked around outside the mall, looking at the beautiful clothes in the display as she wondered; what happened to her, and why had her life become like this? From the moment when she had been retrieved by the Wen family, everything had deviated from the path that she had set for herself. However, she thought that the person who deserved the most blame was herself. Why didn¡¯t she persevere, and why was she influenced by others so easily?


    At that moment, on the LED billboard in the shopping mall, she saw Wen Ruoning accept Wei Qing¡¯s proposal. Wen Ruoning¡¯s face on the billboard was no different from the past, her eyes were still clear and innocent without any hardship, and her dress was like the ones from the shop windows that she had dreamt of wearing¡­


    The end? When she was crossing the street, a car suddenly rushed out and collided with her, leaving her mangled and mutilated. Her short, bleak and meaningless life finally came to an end¡­


    Have you ever doubted your world and your life?


    Song Juyao had doubted, but it was merely a suspicion; until her death.


    She saw herself floating out of her mangled body, floating higher and higher, higher and higher. And then, what did she see? Inconceivable, unbelievable, she felt like she was floating out of the screen, she saw a lot of people, a lot of machines, and a director-like person said, ¡°It¡¯s a wrap! Song Juyao has been killed off, how¡¯s the response from the audience?¡±


    ¡°Director, you shouldn¡¯t say ¡®killed off¡¯ nowadays, you should say that the trial is over.¡±


    ¡°What nonsense.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s awesome, everyone is praising you, director. Most of the audience¡¯s comments are saying that Song Juyao is a profiteer, conceited, scheming, with a lot of intentions, licentious and greedy¡­ anyway, basically, it seems like she has no hope of commutation¡­¡±2


    At this moment, another staff member rushed over. ¡°Director, that Song Juyao seems to be dead.¡±


    ¡°After experiencing so many terrible things inside and accumulating so many negative emotions, having a mental breakdown is not a big surprise. In any case, she¡¯s a murderer and she should use her life to pay for the Huo family¡¯s young master. Just inform the higher-ups.¡±


    What were they talking about? What did they mean? Song Juyao uncontrollably followed behind the young man, and then she saw herself. She was all skin and bones and lying in a strange cabin. Two people lifted her up like she was a sack and put her inside a body bag.


    She followed the body bag and passed by another room, catching sight of more oval cabins identical to hers. Wen Ruoning and Wei Qing were sitting inside the cabins and drinking the water that other people were offering to them; when she went out, she actually saw the biological parents talking to the adoptive parents who had passed away six years ago.


    Seeing the body bag that was passing by, they casually asked a sentence, then shook their heads and continued talking, as if it was just an insignificant dog that died¡­


    What was this? What kind of weird scene was this? Song Juyao seemed to have fallen into a terrible dream. Everything in the dream was so strange, subverting her cognition.


    At that moment, her hidden memory recovered.


    She finally understood, from the beginning, everything was all fake. Her identity and her life, everything was fake. It was just a live performance, just a TV drama guided by other people. Her suspicions were true. The direction of her life was indeed controlled by others, and even her life and death was not under her own control!


    Star Dream Entertainment, the largest entertainment company in the Red Lotus Empire, was controlled by the nobles of aristocratic families, and this was the most popular ¡®Dream Works¡¯ under their banner and over one billion people watched their programs every day. Among them, their most popular and discussed program was a live holographic reality show called ¡°Judgement Day.¡± The leading roles of this program were held by convicts who had committed crimes, yet refused to obey the sentence and objected to the judgement.


    The convicts sign an agreement and enter into a game cabin, after which the original memory in their brain is concealed, allowing the convict to be set up as a completely new individual in the virtual world, starting a brand new life under the gaze of more than a billion pairs of eyes.


    Your fate is entirely in the hands of the director and the spectators. Supposing that the audience finds your performance inside likable and they feel that your inherent is good or that the mistakes you made in the past are actually pardonable, you can be given another chance, and it¡¯s even possible than an injustice may be redressed with the court complying with the public opinion and granting a retrial. Furthermore, even if no evidence can be found to prove that the previous sentence was incorrect, the sentence could still be commuted.


    At a time when mankind is lacking more and more in ways to entertain themselves and the spirit is in more and more need of stimulation, this ultimate theater experience and the feeling of being able to control the fate of others makes this program wildly popular.


    Naturally, it isn¡¯t easy for the convict to reduce their sentence. In fact, since the launch of the show, there hasn¡¯t been even a single convict who was able to change their fate. This is because the director can design countless hurdles that would guide them to fall and make them experience numerous difficulties in life. Just like Song Juyao, her pride was shattered again and again, and she was hindered every step of the way as she tried to move towards her dreams. They devised up every method possible in order to lure her fall and become a beautiful clown to serve as a foil to the protagonist.


    Yes, on her Judgement Day, the real protagonist was the girl who played Wen Ruoning, an actress of the new generation who was strongly supported by the Star Dream Entertainment group.


    It was an extremely unfair trial.


    The reason why Song Juyao had to accept the stage of this trial was because someone had tried to rape her, she had resisted, and as a result, the rapist had accidentally fallen down the stairs, winding up falling to his death. She had been sentenced to life imprisonment. The man was from a very wealthy family, therefore, the ending waiting for her could only be such a lamentable end.


    Of course, It was only natural that Song Juyao was unresigned. Hence, she had decided to participate after hearing about the reality show trial, and then¡­ she had a mental breakdown and died in the game cabin without causing any splashes. And only now did she know that the rapist¡¯s family was also an investor of this program.


    After finally realizing the truth, Song Juyao burst into laughter, laughing madly until tears came out. So that¡¯s how it is, so that¡¯s how it is, hahahaha¡­

 CH 2

    2. First Arc: Great Prodigy VS Campus Violence (1)


    Song Juyao woke up in a burst of struggling and crying. Fierce, dark emotions such as despair, anger and a sense of mental collapse enveloped her, causing her to open her eyes and burst into tears.


    Before she even had the time to think, she was shocked by the scene before her. She was lying on the ground in an old-fashioned, countryside cottage. Her forehead was throbbing with pain, and on the bed in front of her, a man was pulling off a woman¡¯s clothes. The woman was struggling, both of her hands weak and powerless. The sound of her sobbing stimulated the man¡¯s beastliness to an even higher degree.


    In an instant, time seemed to freeze and all the sounds disappeared for a brief moment. She lifted up her hand and saw a dark, scrawny hand like a chicken¡¯s claw. She was reborn. She had returned to¡­ her first trial.


    One season of ¡°Judgement Day¡± had at least eight episodes, and each episode would be broadcast live for half a month1 with every episode covering a brand new trial.


    Each episode was a whole new life, and for the person being judged, this life was hell.


    In this trial, in this life, the program team arranged for her to grow up in a rural area in an 18th tier city. Her father was a carpenter, and her mother was a delicate beauty with no ability who was unable to stand on her own two feet and protect her children. When she was ten years old, her father happened to die in an accident while he was away. On account of the fact that he had been the party at fault, the family lost all their money in order to pay the compensation. The penniless mother-daughter pair were forced to depend on each other for survival.


    At this time, her father had already died, and her beautiful mother was attacked by a good-for-nothing deadbeat from the village who had broken into their house in the small hours of the morning.2 And what had she done? Once she regained her consciousness after being knocked aside, she saw this scene and hurried over to save her mother. But how could a scrawny ten year old child beat a strong man?


    As a result, she was pushed heavily and thrown onto a chair in the corner. A nail protruding from the chair caught her face, tearing a long gash across it. The blood all over her face finally scared off the deadbeat; he abandoned his assault and ran away. And since then, this scar followed her throughout the remainder of her life. It made her the subject of ridicule, causing her to feel inferior and afraid to lift up her head and look at other people.


    Song Juyao looked at the scene in front of her with an icy expression. She got up from the ground, turned her head and walked out of the room.


    She walked into the kitchen and took out the sharpest knife from the knife-holder hanging on the wall. Then, she stood at the doorway and screamed, ¡°Someone wants to rape my mother! Help! Come quickly!!¡±


    The child¡¯s voice was very shrill, startling the deadbeat who jumped up from the bed and rushed out. ¡°Little brat, shut up for¡­¡±


    His voice suddenly got stuck in his throat and he froze. Looking at the little girl who was holding a knife and standing at the doorway, his heart quivered.


    Song Juyao was extremely skinny without much flesh on her face, making her eyes appear to be so big that they were somewhat scary. At this moment, those eyes were as dark as thick, black ink without the slightest trace of light. She was looking at him coolly, without so much as a hint of fear. Those eyes were not like the eyes of a normal child, it was very strange.


    The deadbeat just felt that his blood froze in an instant and he was struck by a strong sense of terror as if he had bumped into a ghost. With the addition of the beauty beneath him coupled with the silence of the early hours of the morning, everything seemed to be coloured with a layer of horror.


    This child was abnormal, even more terrifying than an adult. No matter how high the deadbeat¡¯s interest was, at this moment, he was scared to the point of peeing his pants and ran away.


    ¡°Yao, Yaoyao¡­¡± The thin, delicate woman called out timidly. Liu Yan grabbed the collar of her shirt and sat up, her face covered with tears as she looked at Song Juyao with eyes filled with fear.


    Song Juyao turned her head and looked at her expressionlessly.


    Liu Yan was born very beautiful. She did not look like someone from a rural village and looked more like a pampered young lady from the big city. Her skin was fair and tender and she didn¡¯t have any calluses on her hands. She wore a jade bracelet around her slim wrist, and although the quality wasn¡¯t that good, it was enough to make all the women in the village envious of her. She also wore a necklace around her slender neck with small, delicate jade beads that fell at her collarbones. It was extremely exquisite.


    There was a bit of naivete in her charming demeanor, more like a young girl rather than a married woman who had already given birth.


    Liu Yan timidly shrank back at the sight of Song Juyao and called out stutteringly, ¡°Yaoyao, don¡¯t scare Mom¡­¡±


    After breaking away from the layer of confusion, Song Juyao found that Liu Yan looked like a person with mental retardation.


    ¡°Get up and clean the house.¡± Song Juyao ordered indifferently in a tone that brooked no disobedience.


    Liu Yan hadn¡¯t done any housework since getting married. For a moment, she was dumbfounded after hearing Song Juyao¡¯s command, but she didn¡¯t dare to contradict her and nodded falteringly.


    Song Juyao went out with the kitchen knife.


    She walked into the bathroom.


    The mirror in the bathroom reflected the figure of a child who appeared to be around seven or eight years old. She was dark and stunted with a head full of long, frizzy hair tied messily at the back of her head; she looked like a child from a poverty-stricken area.


    The ¡°Judgement Day¡± program team would not allow her to have an easy time and even her family was a gathering of outrageous people whose existence was a source of torment for her.


    The father loved Liu Yan crazily, holding her in the palms of his hands, as though she was a treasured pearl while his own daughter was like a slave. She had been doing all the housework around the house for as long as she could remember. She looked dark and emaciated, her growth stunted. Obviously, their family¡¯s conditions were pretty good in this village, but she looked like a child from the most destitute family.


    And after her father¡¯s death, she had to take on the responsibility of supporting their family and protecting her mother, even getting disfigured in this incident for Liu Yan¡¯s sake.


    But she had no other choice, because at that time, after ten years of being brainwashed by her father, coupled with a child¡¯s natural feelings towards her mother, she was unable to abandon her biological mother.


    If she didn¡¯t support her family, if she didn¡¯t protect her, Liu Yan would only cry without coming up with a solution. She had been forced to grow up.


    She was exhausted and full of anger for having to live this kind of life where she could only live day by day under the tears of her mother.


    Until a few years later, her mother was kept by a rich man and became his lover.


    Song Juyao didn¡¯t care that she became the daughter of a mistress. She had never been to school and nobody had taught her the concept of morality. She only saw that she could finally leave that small, suffocating place and she could finally eat her fill, wear warm, beautiful clothes and live in a comfortable house that wasn¡¯t damp and smelly. Furthermore, she could even go to school.


    But how could the program team allow her to live a good life? The short-term happiness was simply for the sake of making her fall into a deeper abyss and taste even more pain.


    ""


    She went to school, but the man¡¯s wife was aware of the existence of the mother-daughter pair, and both of her children also went to the same school.


    Since then, she had been subjected to campus violence every day; living in hell, yet unable to escape. Her survival instincts spurred her into becoming a groveling dog who flattered and fawned over others, but she was still unable to escape the fate of being humiliated.


    In the end, her mother¡ªwhom she had protected for many years with her thin, small hands¡ªactually chose to cast her aside for fear of being abandoned by the rich man.


    Consequently, after graduation, she¡ªwho had already become abnormal¡ªturned into a dreadful lunatic and began to retaliate against those who had bullied her. Then, the audience began to shout that, as expected, she was inherently evil and had wicked genes! Finally, an even more perverted murderer was arranged to torture her to death, ending the first trial to the cheers of the delighed audience.


    Was this right? Was it her fault? She didn¡¯t pass the test, she didn¡¯t maintain a kind heart amidst the incessant malice. She didn¡¯t face the life that gave her countless pains with a smile on her face. When others humiliated her, she had the audacity to bear a grudge instead of forgiving them. When others forced her to eat shit, she had the impertinence not to smile at them and say ¡°thank you¡±, so she deserved to have such an ending.


    Was this right?


    Tears rolled down from Song Juyao¡¯s eyes as she squeezed the handle of the knife. However, there was a terrifying flame burning in the depths of her eyes.


    Song Juyao wiped her tears and washed her face and hands. She walked into the kitchen and went through the cupboards, finding an egg and a block of lean meat that was only half as big as the palm of her hand. After boiling a bowl of noodles, she ate it in big gulps.


    Their family was very poor now and they had almost lost their entire savings. Furthermore, there was still a mother who had been spoiled by her father and did not know how to curb her spending. In the past, she had been reluctant to eat and left most of the food for her beloved and fragile mother to eat, but now, it was different.


    Fuck off! What reluctance? This old mother can get lost, Laozi3 doesn¡¯t need you!


    The feeling of a full, warm stomach was very comfortable. After Song Juyao finished eating, Liu Yan stumbled over and eagerly looked at Song Juyao¡¯s bowl as she said, ¡°Yaoyao, Mom has finished cleaning the house.¡±


    Song Juyao: ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Yaoyao, Mom is also hungry.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, then go and cook. I¡¯m going to bed now, goodnight Mom.¡± After saying this, Song Juyao ignored Liu Yan and got up from the chair and left. She really didn¡¯t believe that someone would starve herself to death because she couldn¡¯t cook, wasn¡¯t it just spoiling her?


    If such a time really came and she wasn¡¯t able to cook, she would be forced to gnaw on the grass in order to survive.


    Song Juyao returned to the master bedroom. When Liu Yan said she had cleaned up, she had simply casually dragged the broom across the floor. The urine released by the deadbeat scum hadn¡¯t been cleaned at all. The items that had fallen onto the ground had been picked up and randomly placed on top of the table or piled up against the corner of the wall. Cleaning was almost the same as not cleaning.


    Song Juyao didn¡¯t care. At any rate, she wasn¡¯t the one sleeping in this room.


    She washed her face and took a box of face cream from Liu Yan¡¯s table before digging out a glob of cream and wiping it on her face. Using her rough fingers, she spread it out across her face and carefully massaged it into her skin, allowing it to get absorbed.


    Liu Yan took great care of her face and body. She used the money her husband gave her every month on clothes and skin care products. Song Juyao didn¡¯t care whether she could use adult face cream at her age. At any rate, this was a virtual world. Regardless of how carefully it had been designed, it was unlikely for them to make face cream with the consideration of whether it was suitable for minors. Anyway, as long as it was expensive, it would definitely have some effect.


    All of Liu Yan¡¯s skincare products were from famous brands and they were very expensive.


    She remembered that the first trial hadn¡¯t started until she had grown up and turned 18, when in fact, she had been thrown into the virtual world only an hour earlier than the actors. It was just that the flow of time was adjusted to be very fast. When she turned 18, the actors who existed to target her would enter this world.


    One hour in the real world was equivalent to 18 years in the virtual world. The speed was so fast that none of the scenes were visible to the naked eye of the outside world. Furthermore, they disdained to record and watch the mundane first 18 years of her life, so Song Juyao was very safe.


    She still had another 8 years to prepare for her battle.

 CH 3

    3. First Arc: Great Prodigy VS Campus Violence (2)


    First and foremost, she had to be beautiful.


    A beautiful appearance could add a great amount of points. She was all too aware of humankind¡¯s nature of judging a person according to their appearance.1


    In the past, she had been tormented so badly in prison that when the live broadcast started for the first time, she was all dark and dusty with scars on her face. Even if she wore beautiful brand name clothes, she was still poor and musty, like an ugly duckling dressed in a layer of swan feathers; she was just a joke.


    She would give them whatever they liked.


    She didn¡¯t know what had happened, nor why it had happened, but the result was that she had been reborn and returned to the time of her first trial, and this time, her memory had not been suppressed.


    Although her heart was filled with anger and resentment, with the desire to destroy the world, she knew that all of it was useless. If she wished to survive and change her fate, she had to play by the rules of the game.


    Her fate was in the hands of the audience. She had to make them like her, and make them think she was lovable. No, she wanted them to worship her and regard her as a spiritual pillar, only then would they protect her and fight against the world for her!


    To this end, she could live as a beautiful lie!


    Although the flow of time in the virtual world was adjusted to be very fast, Song Juyao, who was living in this world, could not feel this speed. After sleeping for a while, the soft cries of Liu Yan woke her up the next day.


    Song Juyao looked at the time; it was 06:49 in the morning.


    Liu Yan was waiting for Song Juyao outside in the dining room. Her eyes were red and swollen, brimming with tears as she looked at Song Juyao and said, ¡°Yaoyao, what shall we eat this morning?¡±


    After Song Juyao left last night, the hungry Liu Yan looked at the greasy kitchen and finally chose to go to bed hungry. She lay in bed thinking about everything that had happened that evening and the way that her daughter had abandoned her indifferently and gone to bed. She wept bitterly. She missed her late husband who had always pampered her and fell asleep crying.


    When she woke up in the morning, she felt even more hungry.


    Song Juyao ignored her and walked into the bathroom.


    Her room had no bathroom. There was a lot of junk like lumber and machinery piled in there; her little bed was crammed into the middle of the mess.


    She was like a child labourer who had been bought by them from a human trafficker for a couple thousand dollars.


    All of this was very unreasonable in reality, without any semblance of logic. The program team must have taken great pains to find an NPC with such a character in order to torment her.


    Song Juyao earnestly brushed her teeth and washed her face before carefully applying Liu Yan¡¯s skincare products, layer by layer. She didn¡¯t forget to put on her hand lotion either.


    Finally, she combed her hair and pulled it into a neat ponytail before opening the bathroom door and walking back out.


    Liu Yan was still waiting for her to make breakfast.


    Song Juyao was also hungry. For her own sake, she wanted to eat healthy and grow up well, but she couldn¡¯t surround herself with fire and smoke again.2


    Song Juyao glanced at her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out to eat.¡±


    For a moment, Liu Yan was dumbfounded. She rose to her feet and said, ¡°Bu.. but we don¡¯t have much money¡­¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s no money, then go earn it. You are an adult, I¡¯m only ten years old. It¡¯s your responsibility to raise me.¡± Song Juyao replied and turned around to leave. Although most of their family¡¯s savings had been lost, it wasn¡¯t to the point where they didn¡¯t have a single cent left; Liu Yan had some private savings hidden away.


    Liu Yan looked at Song Juyao¡¯s retreating figure and felt extremely wronged.


    Song Juyao glanced back at her, Fuck! She was mentally challenged! Liu Yan seemed to have already forgotten the fright she had received last night; she didn¡¯t even have a hint of any psychological shadows.


    The two of them went to have breakfast at a breakfast shop in the village that had been running for over ten years. The business in the shop was quite good; all of the tables were full and they could only share a table with others. All kinds of gazes surrounding them fell on the mother-daughter duo. They were mainly looking at Liu Yan, all of them wanting to talk to the pretty woman in mourning clothes.3  She was wearing a white dress with a white paper flower in her hair, perfectly interpreting the meaning of this sentence.


    Liu Yan leaned against Song Juyao uneasily. Song Juyao lowered her head and ate the steamed buns and drank her soy milk, as if she was completely unaware of the attention; no longer glaring at Liu Yan like a vicious little wolf.


    ¡°Mei¡¯er,4 you¡¯re here. Let me go to your house.¡± A square-faced middle-aged man dressed in a suit walked into the breakfast shop and spoke with a broad smile on his face. Dressed in his neat suit and shoes, he appeared somewhat out of tune with the plai, rustic country-folk in the breakfast shop. The envious and respectful glances around him made him raise his head and puff out his chest, making him look more and more proud.


    He was a white-collar elite. Although he was just a rural credit cooperative,5 he was still better than these hardworking rural folk who were scorched and drenched by sun and rain.6c


    ¡°Dage.¡±7 Liu Yan looked at Liu Guoqing with a trusting smile on her face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ve got something to tell you.¡± Liu Guoqing pulled Liu Yan out, disregarding the fact that Liu Yan hadn¡¯t finished her breakfast.


    Song Juyao ignored them and continued to eat, she even took the steamed buns that Liu Yan hadn¡¯t had time to bite.


    Liu Gouqing pulled Liu Yan away for a while before realizing that Song Juyao hadn¡¯t followed them. He walked back to the breakfast shop and saw that Song Juyao was languidly sipping at her soy milk.


    ¡°This kid, you didn¡¯t even notice that your mom left, so slow, you wouldn¡¯t even know if you got sold.¡± Liu Guoqing said and went to pull Song Juyao¡¯s arm.


    The soy milk had just come out of the pot. It was very fragrant, but it was scorching hot. Getting pulled in such a manner, some of the milk spilled onto Song Juyao¡¯s hand, scalding the back of her hand.


    Song Juyao¡¯s eyes darkened instantly. She continued to hold onto the bowl of soy milk, appearing as though she didn¡¯t feel any pain from the burn. Going along with his tugging, she spilled the milk towards him.


    ¡°Aahhh!¡± The trousers were instantly soaked with soy milk and clung to his flesh. Liu Guoqing immediately let go of Song Juyao¡¯s arm and started hopping in pain, He quickly tore the cloth away from his skin and trembled.


    The people in the breakfast shop laughed when they saw the embarrassed appearance of the ¡°white collar elite.¡±


    Liu Guoqing held some prestige. As one of the few people from the village who went to college ten years ago, he enjoyed how the other middle-aged men his age admired him. At this moment, he lost his temper due to his embarrassment and glared fiercely at Song Juyao before turning around and running away.


    ¡°Boss, another bowl of soy milk.¡± Song Juyao turned back and spoke to the boss.


    When Song Juyao returned home after having her fill of food and drink, Liu Guoqing was calmly sitting in the living room. Liu Yan stood in front of him, tears streaming down her face as her thin shoulders quivered, showing an appearance which was typically very well-received by men.


    ¡°Why are you crying? Aren¡¯t I thinking for your sake? Take a look at yourself, what can you do? It isn¡¯t everyday that someone from a rich family wants to marry you, and they don¡¯t even mind you bringing your daughter with you. What are you dissatisfied with?¡±


    ¡°My husband has only been dead for two months and you want me to get remarried. What will other people say, how can I still go out and meet people?¡±8 Liu Yan sobbed and sniffled as she spoke softly.


    ¡°Think clearly. Most of the people in our village are young girls who want to get married. It¡¯s your good fortune that they¡¯ve taken a fancy to a widow like you. You would be a fool to miss a golden opportunity like this.9 Liu Guoqing retracted his raised thumbs. There was a bit of threat in his eyes as he added, ¡°I didn¡¯t mention this before, but I lent 20,000 yuan to Chengcai before he died, and he said that he would pay me back in two months. Right now, I¡¯m in urgent need of money, you can figure out a way to pay me back.¡±


    Liu Yan looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Dage, you obviously know, where can I get the money to pay you¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have money now, how will you have money in the future?¡± Liu Guoqing hit Liu Yan with a fatal blow.


    Instantly, Liu Yan was rendered speechless. Yes, where would the money come from?


    Would Liu Guoqing be unaware of what kind of person his sister was? There was basically no problem with this matter, so he had accepted a big red envelope from the Chen family with confidence before coming over to play matchmaker for his sister and Chen Lao¡¯er.10


    He was not in a hurry to get an answer at this time, he was already sure of the result. He got up to leave and saw Song Juyao who was standing by the doorway and staring at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to greet someone when you see them?¡±


    The corners of Song Juyao¡¯s mouth twitched as she walked past him with a sneer.


    Liu Guoqing was so angry that he scolded Song Juyao for having no upbringing, but Song Juyao remained unmoved as though she wasn¡¯t the one being scolded.


    He was so angry that he cursed and grumbled in his heart. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Song Juyao had a somewhat abnormal character. But then, he wondered whether he was just overthinking. She was just a ten year old kid.


    Song Juyao glanced at the weeping Liu Yan and poured herself a glass of cold water. Drinking more water was good for the body.


    According to the program team¡¯s plan, Song Juyao¡¯s suffering had to escalate step by step. It was necessary to make her feel that nothing could be more painful, only to give her more pain and defeat her psyche.


    When her father was still alive, at most she was just malnourished and fatigued. After her father¡¯s death, Liu Yan¡ªthat incompetent woman who was destined to attract bees and butterflies¡ªturned into her shackles and became the cause of her suffering, trapping her in the first level of hell designed for her by the program team.


    Liu Yan would eventually get remarried to Chen Lao¡¯er. The Chen family had opened up their own factory and made some money, building a four-storey villa and becoming the wealthiest family in the village.


    Chen Lao¡¯er had already been interested in Liu Yan for a long time, and now, he finally had a chance. Afraid that someone else would take the lead, he went to Liu Guoqing to ask him to be their matchmaker. Liu Guoqing only had his own self-interest in mind. In spite of the fact that Chen Lao¡¯er¡¯s deceased wife had been killed due to domestic violence, he used both intimidation and bribery on Liu Yan for the sake of money, until he finally succeeded.


    When the mother remarried, the daughter naturally followed.


    Then, the second level of hell began.


    For a period of time after the marriage, Chen Lao¡¯er was really good to Liu Yan. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t take long for his old habits to resurface and he started to beat Liu Yan. In order to protect Liu Yan, Song Juyao had been dragged into the fray numerous times; it was uncertain how many times she had her bones broken.


    Chen Lao¡¯er and his deceased wife had a son who was two years older than Song Juyao. He had inherited Chen Lao¡¯er¡¯s temper; he often got into fights and had an ugly appearance. With their family¡¯s reputation, although they were wealthy, it would probably be difficult for him to find a wife. Furthermore, if the bride happened to have an accident, her family members would definitely make a lot of noise.


    Hence, the Old Lady of the Chen family looked at Song Juyao and thought of saving her up11 for Chen Lao¡¯er¡¯ son. From then on, she regarded her as a child bride12 and detained her for fear that she would run away, not even allowing her to go out of the village.


    This hell would not end until Song Juyao turned 16 when Liu Yan was finally beaten to the point that she couldn¡¯t endure it and ran away from home. She collided with/ the car of a rich man from the city in the heavy rain and the man took a fancy to her.


    Song Juyao lowered her gaze. Now, she naturally wouldn¡¯t follow the fate that the program team had designed for her. She wanted to get out of this cage.


    ¡°Yaoyao, what should we do?¡± Liu Yan walked over slowly as she asked in a soft voice. She had wailed for half the day, yet she hadn¡¯t received any comfort from Song Juyao.

 CH 4

    4. First Arc: Great Prodigy VS Campus Violence (3)


    ¡°Domestic violence has become second nature for Chen Lao¡¯er. His previous wife was beaten to death, you can¡¯t marry him.¡± She was not worried about Liu Yan¡¯s life or death, but she was currently only 10 years old and had to live with her mother. Even if she were to run away, they would still report it to the police. Regardless of her refusal, the police would forcibly take her back to Liu Yan.


    The growing environment that the program team had designed for her was especially abominable. The people in this village couldn¡¯t be called bad people, but they were definitely not good people either. They were mean and indifferent, without any compassion for orphans and widows, to the point that they would take advantage of any small benefits available to them.


    Therefore, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get any help from them.


    Liu Yan rubbed her arms in fear, ¡°But how will we get money?¡±


    Song Juyao looked at her. The icy look of condemnation made Liu Yan feel a bit guilty.


    Although the family had lost all their wealth, they still hadn¡¯t sold off all their belongings. Song Juyao sat in the living room and turned on the TV.


    A variety show called ¡°I Am a Big Winner¡± was playing on the TV. This program was a quiz show where the participants acted independently and competed to answer the questions. There was no age limit nor any occupational limit, and you could join simply by signing up, with the prize money increasing with each promotion.


    Song Juyao¡¯s gaze was fixed on the screen.


    Before going to prison, she had been a top student in the nation¡¯s capital, having passed the college entrance examinations as the top scorer of the year. Although she was a science student, she loved reading; from astronomy to geography, she had mastered various knowledge about the customs of various countries in addition to all sorts of remote trivia. Her classmates called her a ¡°living encyclopedia¡±, and she rarely failed to answer any of the questions they asked. Now that her memories were no longer suppressed, all of her knowledge had returned to her mind.


    In an instant, Song Juyao had a clear plan in her mind.


    She got up and went into the kitchen.


    At this moment, Liu Yan was crying whilst cooking.


    Song Juyao: ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry, I¡¯ve figured out a way.¡±


    Liu Yan didn¡¯t understand what she was saying and looked at her aggrievedly, ¡°What way?¡±


    ¡°Get your ID and bank card and pack your things, we¡¯re going on a long trip away from here.¡± Song Juyao explained.


    Song Juyao¡¯s indisputable and uncompromising sense of command made Liu Yan feel wronged, but she still obeyed subconsciously.


    ¡°How much money do you have?¡± Song Juyao asked.


    Liu Yan stammered, ¡°Around a thousand¡­¡±


    So poor.


    ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    The longer the delay, the easier it would be for new complications to arise. If Liu Guoqing knew that they were going to go far away, he would try any means possible to detain them in order to prevent his red envelope1 from flying away. So Song Juyao had to leave without giving others a chance to obstruct her.


    Riding their electric tricycle, Song Juyao took Liu Yan to the bus station in their village and went to buy tickets.


    People entered and exited the station. Liu Yan was an eye-catching target and their gazes swept over her from time to time. Song Juyao¡¯s muscles slowly tensed. The waiting time at the station seemed to have been extended.


    Would they be able to leave smoothly? That man making a phone call was looking at them. Could it be possible that he recognized them and was informing someone?


    At that moment, the bus finally arrived. With a wooden expression on her face, Song Juyao boarded the bus with Liu Yan.


    It wasn¡¯t until they finally drove out of Li¡¯an Village that Song Juyao¡¯s tense muscles slowly relaxed.


    Inside the bus, Song Juyao and Liu Yan sat diagonal to each other, at the back. A middle-aged auntie stared at the two of them, her gaze flitting between the two of them. Noticing that they seemed to be leaving with their clothes, her eyes burst forth with the fervor of gossip and she took out her phone to make a call.


    She whispered softly, ¡°¡­who else, it¡¯s that vixen in our village, she¡¯s taking her little brat into the city¡­ Her whole family is in the village, who do you think she can go to, I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s a lover¡­ This kind of woman, you can tell at a glance that she¡¯s restless, I don¡¯t know how many green hats2 she¡¯s put on her men¡­¡±


    In the rural areas, there were fewer people and less entertainment; there were countless gossipy women who wished to see the world thrown into chaos.3 The speed of spreading gossip was exceptionally fast, and soon, someone spread the news to Liu Guoqing¡¯s ears.


    Liu Guoqing was drinking tea at the Chen family¡¯s house. When he heard the news, the joyous expression on his face changed instantly, and the expression on Chen Lao¡¯er¡¯s face¡ªwho had been pouring tea for him¡ªalso turned unsightly.


    Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er immediately drove off to chase after them, and Liu Guoqing called from person to person before finally managing to get the phone number of the auntie on the bus and calling her.


    ¡°Please help me stop her, we are on our way there now, when the time comes, we will definitely express our gratitude.¡± Liu Guoqing hung up the phone and glanced at Chen Lao¡¯er who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat. Chen Lao¡¯er had fierce facial features, and a hulking figure; he looked as though he would be able to knock out the gentle-looking Liu Guoqing with a single punch. At this moment, his face was gloomy, making him appear even more frightening.


    Liu Guoqing was afraid and hated Liu Yan for being so insensible. He was kind enough to help her plan for her future, but she actually ran away with her daughter. Unexpectedly, the rabbit was courageous and ambitious!


    The bus drove for nearly three hours and finally arrived at the terminal.


    The bus station and train station were close by, adjacent to each other. The flow of people there was very high and the area was crowded with people jostling into one another. Song Juyao held Liu Yan¡¯s hand and pushed past the crowd.


    Suddenly, a hand stretched out and grabbed Liu Yan¡¯s hand, catching the mother and daughter with a firm grip.


    Liu Yan was startled and turned her head to look at the person, only to exclaim in surprise, ¡°Aunt Mei!¡±


    Song Juyao turned and looked at the woman. Sure enough, it was impossible to leave this place so easily.


    Auntie Mei thought of the benefits promised by Luo Guoqing and her coarse hand holding onto Liu Yan¡¯s slender wrist tightened its grip as she smiled and said, ¡°Chengcai¡¯s wife, where are you going with your daughter?¡±


    ¡°Nowhere, we¡¯re just going on a trip.¡±


    ¡°You sure are going far, you even have to take the train and you have luggage with you as well, who are you going to meet?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about¡­¡± Liu Yan was pained by her tight grip and tried to pull her hand away, but how could her physical strength compare to that of a woman who was used to doing farm work? Her steely grip was unbudgeable as Liu Yan pleaded, ¡°Aunt Mei, let go of me first¡­¡±


    There was no way that Aunt Mei would let the cooked duck that had already reached her mouth fly away.4 She dragged Liu Yan outside and said, ¡°There are too many people here, it¡¯s too hard to talk. Let¡¯s go outside and talk.¡±


    Song Juyao had already bought the tickets for the next train online and it would be arriving soon, so how could she allow Liu Yan to get dragged away?


    ¡°Aunt, let go of my mother!¡± Song Juyao stepped forward to block her, but Aunt Mei didn¡¯t pay any attention to her. She simply grabbed Song Juyao and dragged both the mother and daughter out.


    Song Juyao¡¯s lips curled up into a sneer and she suddenly shrieked, ¡°It¡¯s a human trafficker! Help!¡±


    The little girl¡¯s scream was sharp and piercing, instantly attracting the attention of the people around them. Those with children immediately hugged their children and looked towards the source of the sound vigilantly.


    The three of them were instantly pinned down by countless eyes.


    Aunt Mei was embarrassed and tugged at Song Juyao. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡­ Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense, I¡¯m not a trafficker, we¡¯re from the same village, they ran away from home and their family asked me to stop them¡­¡±


    The little girl struggled desperately and the sound of her guileless sobbing stimulated the conscience of the people around them. ¡°You¡¯re the one talking nonsense, I don¡¯t know you! Uncles and Aunties, save me and my mother!¡±


    In recent years, there had been an endless stream of news about human traffickers using deception to kidnap women and children. Several people immediately stepped forward and pulled Aunt Mei away, separating the two parties, and capturing Aunt Mei.


    Aunt Mei was extremely flustered: ¡°What is wrong with you all? I really know them¡­¡±


    ¡°Call the police, call the police first.¡±


    ¡°Whether you¡¯re a trafficker or not, we¡¯ll know when the police arrive!¡±


    ¡°She has such a wicked appearance, she doesn¡¯t look like a good person¡­¡±


    Taking advantage of the public¡¯s attention being focused on Aunt Mei, Song Juyao quickly pulled Liu Yan¡ªwho was in a daze the whole way¡ªto the train station.


    Seeing this, Aunt Mei was in a great hurry. Unlike the bus, private cars did not need to pause midway through the journey and the speed was much faster. Liu Guoqing was only one block away from them now, she couldn¡¯t let the person run away!


    ¡°Get out of the way, get out of the way¡­¡± Aunt Mei broke free from grasp and pushed through the crowd and ran after them.


    ¡°You human traffickers, die for me!¡± But a father whose child had been kidnapped by a human trafficker heard the commotion rushed over from the distance and kicked her. Aunt Mei¡¯s plump body fell onto the ground instantly and she immediately supported her waist as she howled in pain.


    At that moment, Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er rushed over to the scene. ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°Ahhh¡­ They just went in, hurry up.¡± Aunt Mei was filled with hatred. Before, she had just wanted to get some benefits, but now, she really wanted to see Liu Yan and Song Juyao get caught. The more they wanted to run away, the more she wanted to capture them.


    Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er immediately ran towards the train station.


    Song Juyao had just used Liu Yan¡¯s ID card to pick up the tickets at the self-service station when she turned and caught sight of Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er standing at the entrance and looking around all over the place. Her heart skipped a beat and she immediately pulled Liu Yan and ran towards the ticket gate.


    ¡°Ah! Yaoyao, slow down¡­¡± Liu Yan still didn¡¯t understand what was going on and made a sound which quickly attracted the attention of the two men who were looking for them, and they immediately ran towards them.


    Song Juyao¡¯s heart beat faster, but her face showed no outward signs. She pulled Liu Yan and ran like mad, and Liu Yan almost fell several times.


    ¡°Sorry, uncles, aunties, brothers and sisters, please excuse us, we¡¯re late¡­¡± Song Juyao dragged Liu Yan to the front of the queue and forcibly cut in line amid the noises and gazes of discontent.


    At this time, Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er had already reached the end of the line and rushed forward with red eyes.


    Song Juyao and Liu Yan had already passed the ticket inspection.


    ¡°What are you doing?! Take out your ID card!¡± A stern shout came from behind. Song Juyao turned back expressionlessly and saw Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er who had been stopped by the officers at the train station.


    Liu Guoqing gasped for breath and suddenly met Song Juyao¡¯s eyes. Those eyes looked at him fixedly with a strange, dark gaze. Song Juyao tilted her head and curled up her lips. In the blink of an eye, she became sweet and innocent once again. It was just that, paired with those eyes, this sweetness and innocence was painted with a cruel and terrible flavor.


    Song Juyao raised her middle finger in Liu Guoqing and Chen Lao¡¯er¡¯s direction.


    Get out of my world, scum.


    At that moment, Song Juyao felt a sense of relief. Her enemies were extremely powerful and they had designed all sorts of traps for her, wanting to see her scream in pain and expose a twisted face. They had already succeeded once, but this time, she would be the winner!


    The train rumbled and slowly moved along the track, leaving the shadow of the roof of the train station. The bright light gradually came into view and her eyes suddenly opened to a wide panorama.5 Today, the sunshine was gloriously bright.

 CH 5

    "Welcome to ¡®Judgement Day¡¯ produced by Dreams Factory of Star Dreams Entertainment! In the previous season, Li Qiang, the defendant, was convicted of domestic violence and killing his wife. He claimed that he had killed her because she constantly insulted and belittled him, causing harm to his self-esteem and that it was a mistake he made in a fit of anger. He firmly refused the life sentence handed down by the court."


    "In the ¡®trial¡¯, we gave him a gentle and kind wife and a successful career. But he still revealed his true nature by committing infidelity, sleeping with young girls, and complaining that his wife was not young or beautiful enough. He even physically abused his wife when his business started to decline. Even after his wife divorced him and took their children to live a difficult life, he still had the audacity to harass her repeatedly."


    "The three-month holographic reality show ¡®Judgement Day'' began promptly at 8 PM, with over a billion viewers eagerly tuned in. The righteous and suspenseful opening credits, along with the show''s title, appeared on the screen, accompanied by the familiar voice of the host recapping the previous episode."


    ¡¾Li Qiang''s season really pissed me off. How dare this scumbag refuse the court''s verdict! I think the deserves not just life imprisonment but the death penalty!¡¿


    ¡¾Right. When I saw my goddess being treated like this, it nearly brought me to tears.Thank God it''s just acting.¡¿


    ¡¾Finally, Ou Lan divorced him and started her own business and found someone who appreciates her. She is truly heroic. Watching the scumbag getting what he deserves was such a refreshing experience!¡¿


    ¡¾Ou Lan''s acting skills are simply amazing, I''ve become a fan!¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    Ou Lan was the actress who portrayed the gentle and lovely wife of Li Qiang in the previous trial. She had been married for several years and had a child, causing her to lose her initial popularity in the entertainment industry. However, her impeccable performance in the live reality show has made her famous once again. The audience was captivated by her realism and had forgotten that she was only acting. Her role has earned her several awards, and she has been invited by the renowned director Sun Ying to star in a movie.


    The live holographic reality show by Star Dream Entertainment has become a true test of an actor''s skills. Only those with real talent dare to participate, and those who do, become popular after just one season.


    As people watched the show on their smart brains, they couldn''t help but comment. The thousands of comments per minute demonstrate just how popular the show has become.


    By now, the pre-review had finished, and the audience stopped commenting to listen to the information about the defendant who would be on trial next.


    "...the defendant being judged in this season is Song Juyao, 22 years old. The prosecution confirmed that she flirted with a 17-year-old boy during her job as his tutor. She got angry when she failed to seduce the boy and pushed him off the stairs, resulting in the boy''s death. Our fair judge sentenced her to life imprisonment. She was adamant and firmly refused to accept the verdict, insisting that she pushed the boy off because it was the teenager who tried to rape her." The host shrugged his shoulders and made a false regretful expression while further adding, "According to the statement of the victim''s family, the victim had a childhood sweetheart of the same age, who shared mutual affection and was from similar deep family backgrounds."


    Despite the claim as a ¡®Judgement Day Trial¡¯, the public held a deep-seated mistrust and disdain for the defendants due to past seasons and their faith in the state authorities, so even though they knew that the host¡¯s words were guiding them, most people didn''t mind it.


    After introducing the main character who was undergoing the trial, it was time to introduce the two main actors of this episode. For Song Juyao, this trial is a trial, and she faced it with genuine apprehension. But the celebrity players entering the holographic world viewed it as merely a show of their acting skills.


    The host interviewed both the celebrities, eliciting their nerves and fears as the trial approached.


    "Ladies and Gentlemen, the actors will now take their places and the ¡®Judgement Day Trial¡¯ will commence. To all of our viewers at home, keep a sharp eye out for any hidden details or potential instances of injustice in the case of the accused murderer, Song Juyao. After a short 120-second advertisement break, the trial will begin!"


    As the advertisement began, those who hadn''t already grabbed snacks or drinks rushed to do so, and those who needed a bathroom break took advantage of the time, bringing along fruits and calling family and friends. The break ended, and the first episode of the new season of ¡®Judgement Day¡¯ was underway.


    ......


    In a lavish villa, a woman dressed as a noble watched the proceedings on TV. Hatred contorted her features as anger boiled within her.


    A young woman with red eyes comforted quietly on the side: "Aunt, that woman will be punished. I''ve already spoken with the program team, she will definitely face the consequences. Her reputation will be tarnished and she''ll ultimately die in the bio-pod."


    "Bitch, she killed my son and is still bothering me with her lousy life. I think she should be chopped to a thousand pieces directly!" The noblewoman cursed with gritted teeth. She had actually arranged for Song Yuhao to be tortured to death in the most miserable way in prison. However, she never expected that she signed an agreement to participate in the reality show trial, ruining her plan. Although her cleverness couldn''t save her and she just went from the dragon''s den into the tiger''s den, the noblewoman still felt itching with hatred at the thought of letting her live a little longer.


    "That bitch killed my son and still has the nerve to bother me with her lousy life. I think she should be chopped to a thousand pieces directly!" The noblewoman cursed through gritted teeth. She had actually arranged for Song Juyao to be tortured to death in prison, but she never expected that Song Juyao signed an agreement to participate in the reality show trial, thwarting her plan. Although her cleverness couldn''t save her and she just went from the dragon''s den into the tiger''s den, the noblewoman still felt seethed with hatred at the thought of letting her live a little longer.


    Footsteps echoed from upstairs, and a cold-faced man in a suit and leather shoes walked down. The young woman immediately stood up and greeted him eagerly: "Sen Ge. The trial for that woman is about to start, would you like to watch it together?"


    "No," Huo Sen walked out of the door while replying with a voice devoid of emotion, as if his younger brother''s death and the murderer''s punishment were of no concern to him.


    The young woman watched his back, biting her lip. As the program started, she slowly sat down and pressed the remote control to open the barrage area, to see the reactions of other viewers and interact with them. It would be more interesting that way.


    As usual, the screen lit up, and the audience was first introduced to the celebrity players gathered in the black space known as the ¡®Small Dark Room¡¯.


    In the barrage, the sound of fans frantically waving flags and shouting for their beloved idols appeared immediately.


    There was a table in the Small Dark Room, two actors sat around the table and began to read cards. These cards were put to introduce the family background set up for Song Juyao by the director group.


    "In this trial, Song Juyao was born in the countryside. Her father was a carpenter, and her mother was beautiful, weak, and incompetent. When she was ten years old, her father died in an accident leaving the mother and daughter to rely on each other for survival. A few years later, the mother was taken care of by a rich man and became his lover. So Song Juyao was able to wear good clothes and go to a good school. The wealthy man''s partner became aware of the existence of the mother and daughter, and her two children also went to the same school as..." said actor Tang Kai, who had been absent from the film industry for three years and was making a comeback with this reality show.


    After understanding the basic settings of Song Juyao in this issue, it was time to introduce the identities they would be playing. The NPCs in the virtual world all have their own set of behavioral and logic operation systems, each of them could respond to various events like a real person, and have their own emotions. They couldn¡¯t be controlled by the director¡¯s team during operation, so the program required real NPCs who could adjust to the situation and follow the plan.


    The use of real people NPCs wasn''t because the defendants couldn''t be controlled. In fact, from the start of the program, every defendant was already under the control of the program group. The program group had a team of behavior psychology and logic experts who designed the backgrounds of the defendants, and the outcome that the defendants would eventually face had already been predetermined.


    Putting real people NPCs into the program was simply to add interest and popularity to the show.


    "My identity is that of a newly hired physician at Jinke Duola Academy. I am married and have a daughter less than a year old. My task is to provide physical and psychological treatment to the defendant, and my ultimate goal is...to seduce the defendant, make her fall in love with me, and then reject her, revealing that I am already married and have a child." Tang Kai looked at his character task card with a hint of frustration, "It seems a bit unethical."


    "This trial is meant to test the defendant''s moral integrity. Regardless of the temptations they face, they must not indulge in falling in love with a married man who is already a father of a baby and become a third party that destroys someone''s family." explained the newly debuted female idol, Ming Shu.


    "Is that right, senior?" she added, addressing Tang Kai.


    Tang Kai: "It should be. What role are you going to play?"


    "I''m a transfer student. My task is to gain the defendant''s friendship and test whether they will abandon me in a life-or-death situation," replied Ming Shu.


    These trials have a high degree of flexibility and the players are allowed to act freely within the scope of their task. How much attention and popularity they can attract depends on their own abilities, but the primary goal is always to make Song Juyao suffer.


    "Everyone, please prepare. The portal is about to open." The director''s voice echoed in the Small Dark Room.


    The portal opened and the two celebrities were suddenly greeted by a blindingly bright light.


    The trial of Song Juyao had begun. On the screen in front of the audience, a picture appeared, showing the back of a girl crouching on the road. As the camera zoomed in, she suddenly turned her head, taking the audience by surprise, with a small white kitten in her arms.


    In the sunlight, Song Juyao''s skin looked fair and glossy, her features were delicate, and her long black hair was surrounded by a hazy halo. Her black eyes were clear and bright, giving the impression of an angel. The small white kitten with round eyes in her arms added twice to the cuteness.


    There was a momentary silence on the barrage screen. Song Juyao stood up with the kitten in her arms and spoke softly, with a hint of worry in her voice: "We can''t just leave it here. We should take it to the vet."


    The driver replied, somewhat helplessly: "But you will be late for school. Isn''t it not good to be late on the first day back?"


    "Well... there''s no choice then. I have to do it this way." Song Juyao lowered her head and tenderly rubbed the kitten''s head. The kitten meowed pitifully and cutely, looking at her with its head tilted. Song Juyao smiled and touched the kitten''s nose with hers, her clear eyes curving into a crescent. She looked sweet and cute, like the moment when snow melts. She wrapped the kitten in her school uniform jacket and got into the car, still hugging it in her arms.


    Netizens finally snapped back to senses and began a lively discussion.


    ¡¾Oh my gosh... I''m smitten! Is this an angel?¡¿


    ¡¾Is this the main shot? No way.¡¿


    ¡¾The main focus should be on the defendant. This beauty couldn''t possibly be Song Juyao, right?¡¿


    ¡¾If you take a closer look, the name in the upper right corner says Song Juyao! She''s the defendant!¡¿


    ¡¾??? To be honest, with her looks, could she really not be able to seduce someone?¡¿


    ¡¾"I''m guilty, I''m willing to lie down and let her do her way with me..."¡¿


    ¡¾These beauty-obsessed people are really disgusting. If she killed someone in your family, would you still think she''s pretty?¡¿


    ¡¾"No matter how attractive the appearance is, her mind is distorted. Gross."¡¿


    ¡¾I bet she''s definitely going to abuse the kitten when she takes it home.¡¿


    The beauty-seekers were besieged and soon disappeared silently.


    Not only the audience, but even the directing team was shocked. This¡­ this was different from the behavior and psychological logic reasoning predicted by their experts!


    In the virtual world, people''s projections are based on their real-life appearance for the audience''s convenience to identify them, which means that the murderer Song Juyao was actually this beautiful. When the program crew met her before the show started, she was already emaciated and unrecognizable from the year-long detention and sentencing process. It was only now that they realized that she was actually so beautiful.


    However, the more pressing issue was that given the background they had set for Song Juyao, her current state shouldn¡¯t have been like this.

 CH 6

    Initially, it was expected that Song Juyao, who grew up in a humble family, would appear dark, skinny, or at least with a sallow complexion and dry hair. In short, she should have the look of a country bumpkin from the bottom of the society. However, she surprised everyone with her sweet, lovely, and elegant appearance.


    In this reality show, the criminals usually aren''t the main characters, especially with high-profile good looking celebrities involved, who would spend a lot of time on the criminals? The audience didn''t really care about the behavior of the defendants, all they cared about was the performance of the celebrity players.


    So usually after the audience briefly observes the criminal''s appearance and situation, they typically switch to other players'' live broadcast rooms. Yet, despite this trend, Song Juyao''s appearance hasn''t affected her audience count and a large part of them have stayed in the live broadcast room.


    Fortunately, the change in appearance won''t affect her pre-designed life trajectory nor her ending. After all, today, Song Juyao did transfer to the Jinke Duola Private Academy. Her kind of family simply can not afford to go to this kind of aristocratic school, possibly her mother became a mistress, allowing her to enroll as a special admission student.


    ......


    As the car slowly drove towards the school, Song Juyao lowered her eyes and petted the little kitten in her hands with a soft, pure smile.


    The little kitten nestled in her coat and purred contentedly as Song Juyao stroked it and fell asleep defenselessly.


    She knew that thousands of viewers were watching her through the cameras, even though she couldn''t see them.


    She could imagine how they must be feeling right now, and the thought of it made her feel incredibly happy inside.


    ¡®Why didn''t she appear before them in an ugly and miserable state? Why didn''t she appear in the image they expected? It was shocking beyond belief.¡¯


    It''s fantastic, let them continue to be shocked, everything will not go as they wish.


    Because, it''s my world.


    ......


    Meanwhile, the auditorium at Jinke Duola Academy was already filled with students and parents who had come specifically for the event, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere.


    Two celebrity players were also inside the auditorium, they were still unsure why they had been gathered there


    "I wonder where Song Juyao is," Ming Shu turned her head to look around, directly bypassing a girl who seemed cheerful and sunny. In her mind, Song Juyao should be gloomy, lonely, and cowering with her head down in this auditorium.


    Tang Kai, the school doctor, was in no rush as he knew Song Juyao probably had to visit the school clinic every day.


    But he actually felt a little bored in his heart because it was too simple. Song Juyao lost her father at the age of 10, and such a girl would naturally have some Oedipal tendencies, making her more prone to being attracted to older people. After experiencing so much hardship and with such a useless mother, Tang Kai believed that given a little tenderness, Song Juyao would quickly fall for him.


    The two of them didn''t find Song Juyao, but instead spotted the two big bosses of the advanced hell the production crew designed for Song Juyao - Jin Yao and Jin Yu.


    The two were identical twins who looked exactly the same but had entirely different temperaments. Despite the difference, both were equally arrogant. Due to Song Juyao''s mother becoming their father''s mistress, they casually made a remark that resulted in Song Juyao being isolated and subjected to violence from the entire student body.


    Seated in the front row, their aura was no less impressive than that of the adults who looked imposing in their suits sitting next to them.


    Ming Shu''s eyes sparkled with interest. Testing Song Juyao alone was too simple and uninteresting. For someone like Song Juyao, who was drowning in her troubles, all Ming Shu had to do was reach out her hand, and the other person would eagerly grab onto it. Thus, her team helped her design a script where the male leads were precisely these two.


    ......


    The car stopped at the entrance of Jinke Duola Academy, and the headmaster and several teachers were gathered there chatting. When they spotted Song Jiyao, they welcomed her warmly.


    "Welcome back, Dr. Song!" The headmaster smiled and extended his hand.


    "The headmaster should still call me classmate Song. I''m more accustomed to it," Song Juyao replied with a sweet smile. She still looked like a young girl but shook his hand with grace and ease.


    "Oh, the last time I called you classmate Song was 7 years ago when you were only 11 years old. It feels like yesterday! I am delighted that you can return to your alma mater to give a speech this time," the headmaster said.


    "I am also happy to be back, and it is an honor for me to give a speech on the day of the school''s 200th anniversary," Song Yi Yao replied.


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they walked together through the gates of Jinke Duola Academy.


    ......


    Suddenly, an excited scream erupted in the auditorium, as if fans had just caught a glimpse of a celebrity. Jin Yao and Jin Yu, who were seated in the front row, turned their heads to look over.


    Ming Shu and Tang Kai also turned around curiously.


    A girl as beautiful as an elf gracefully walked into the auditorium from the entrance, and upon hearing the enthusiastic screams, she showed a sweet, cute, and somewhat shy smile. The cat in her arms woke up and peeked out curiously, confused by the commotion.


    As Song Juyao walked up to the podium, the screams gradually subsided. She placed the cat on the table, and the well-behaved kitten didn''t wander around but sat obediently in her clothes, looking like a lucky cat (maneki-neko).


    "Thank you very much for the warm welcome. It''s an honor to come back to my alma mater, the Jinke Duola Academy, and to be invited by the headmaster to give a speech on the 200th anniversary celebration..."


    Ming Shu couldn''t help but think to herself, "This woman is too stunning, and her voice is so pleasant to listen to! She''s like a living painting, and the cat and her complement each other perfectly. When she speaks, the whole auditorium becomes gentle."


    Ming Shu felt envious and jealous because she and Song Juyao were about the same age.


    "Ah! Song Juyao is even prettier in person than on TV!"


    "Her voice is so nice. I feel like crying as soon as she starts speaking..."


    "If my mother knew that Song Juyao is giving a speech today, she would regret it so much that she would buy a plane ticket to come here right away."


    "My grandparents adore her so much, and it''s so annoying. They always tell me to learn from her. But how can I learn from her when they didn''t give me the genes for high intelligence!"


    "......"


    Behind her, some girls were whispering to each other, and Ming Shu overheard them.


    Ming Shu suddenly turned around and pointed to the podium, "Is she Song Juyao?!"


    Her voice was too loud because of the excitement.


    Song Juyao paused her speech but wasn''t angry. "I am Song Juyao."


    Ming Shu''s expression froze, and her head was in chaos. She even ignored the various unpleasant glances from people around her.


    What the hell? Is she really Song Juyao? It must be fake. It should be the same name, right? Isn''t Song Juyao a poor, abused, dirty and ugly little clown? This popular and elf-like girl, who is being listened to by Jin Yao and Jin Yu, can''t be their mission target, Song Juyao, right?!!


    Even Tang Kai, who had been through many ups and downs, was shocked and confused at this moment.


    Not to mention Ming Shu and Tang Kai, even the barrage in the live broadcast room was already full of question marks.


    Before the program started, they already had a general idea of what the script was like, but what was presented in front of them now was completely different from the script that the program team had shown them!


    In the broadcast hall of "Judgement Day Trial" in Star Dream¡¯s Dream Factory, the program team''s staff were also in a hectic mess.


    "Where''s the panel of experts?!" Chief Director Tan Wei shouted.


    "Coming!"


    Several middle-aged men and women wearing suits of different sizes walked in.


    Tan Wei said with an ugly expression, "Did you watch the live broadcast? Why has it turned out like this now? Song Juyao doesn''t look anything like the predetermined image you set for her!"


    "This....perhaps there''s some trait in Song Juyao''s personality that we don''t know about. She''s not just a string of programmed behaviors that will follow our expectations perfectly. It''s normal for there to be variables in her growth process¡­.. From what we''ve seen so far, she''s actually been able to break free from the life we''ve set for her, and her personality should be very resilient and intelligent..."


    Tan Wei interrupted the expert with an ugly expression. "Did I ask you to praise her? Song Juyao is a murderer who has defied the court''s verdict without the slightest reflection on her mistakes. Our show is meant to make her suffer the pain of the victims'' families, and torture her soul! Tell me the solution!"


    The experts looked at each other. "Now we need to first figure out what kind of personality she really has, and then find the flaws in her character to design traps, but this is not something that can be done overnight. We need to watch the live broadcast for a few more days first..."


    Tan Wei''s face looked even worse, but he had no other options. When the virtual world was running, they couldn''t interfere with the thoughts and actions of NPCs. Although they could instruct real human NPCs to do certain things, but now the situation was completely beyond the control of the production team, it was not good to make a rash move.


    If only they had recorded her life during the 18 years she spent in the virtual world, they could have traced her past and understood why she had become the way she was.


    Unfortunately, they had underestimated this defendant, assuming that she could be manipulated just like those who had been judged before.


    With great pleasure, Song Juyao''s eyes swept over Tang Kai and Ming Shu. Her expression was delightful.


    A storm erupted in the live broadcast room. The fans who had been focused on Tang Kai and Ming Shu shifted their attention to Song Juyao. Even people who were not watching the show heard the news and rushed over.


    They did not want to see a murderer living a good life in the virtual world! This situation had never happened on this reality show from the first season to now. What''s going on?!


    Very well.


    She dropped a bomb first and turned everyone''s attention to her, just like intentionally creating a microphone buzz before a speech to divert the attention of sleepy and distracted students.


    Song Juyao had intentionally diverted everyone''s attention to her by dropping a bomb first, similar to creating a microphone buzz before a speech to get the attention of sleepy and distracted students.


    She spoke in a gentle and pleasant voice that was soothing, like a refreshing spring breeze that made people feel peaceful and calm.

 CH 7

    The reality show "Judgement Day Trial" is popular not only because people crave something real, dark, and even bloody to stimulate their increasingly dull inner world but also because of their sense of justice. Sometimes, people feel that simply imprisoning or executing criminals is too simple, and such punishments are not enough to ease the pain of the victims'' families.


    Even those who don''t watch the show still feel a sense of pleasure when they think about the suffering and torment that the criminal endures in this program. They simply do not believe that any defendant is truly innocent. After all, in previous episodes of the show, no defendant was able to pass the program''s tests, and every single one of them ended up revealing their ugly and disgusting side.


    But now, as the live broadcast begins, the murderer, Song Juyao, hasn''t suffered any hardship. Instead, she seemed to have had a good life in the past. Just the thought of this made the viewers burst with anger.


    Song Juyao, however, was extremely happy at the thought of this. Wasn''t this the effect she wanted when she dropped this bombshell? The viewers had become accustomed to seeing the miserable appearance of those on trial, but they had never seen a defendant appear so glamorous.


    She had to stir their emotions, whether it was anger, disgust, or curiosity, to make them interested in her, or else they would lose interest. This was her chance to show who she was, to make them understand her and become emotionally invested in her ups and downs.


    Otherwise, she was just a tool for their entertainment, like every other defendant in the past. So, watch me.


    ......


    Song Juyao''s live stream viewership skyrocketed from 200 million to 500 million in a very short period of time, and continues to climb. This level of viewership was only seen during the first season of Judgment Reality Show, when people felt a newfound sense of curiosity for the program.


    Mrs. Huo was very angry and was about to call the program team to scold Tan Wei and ask how he had handled things, but Su Qing intervened and stopped her.


    "Aunt, please don''t be anxious. Look at the barrage, the netizens are even angrier than you. They may not know what this woman did in the virtual world, but the program team will definitely take action soon. They won''t let her off the hook for too long. Even if she''s feeling triumphant right now, what can she really do? No audience will give her a vote of justice. The better she performs in there, the worse her reputation will be in the real world..."


    Mrs. Huo was successfully appeased, "It''s just that I can''t stand seeing her laughing in there. I feel like throttling her, that woman who has hurt my precious son..."


    Su Qing quickly comforted her. "She won''t be able to laugh for long."


    Su Qing said that but as she looked at the big screen in front of her, her heart was still filled with shock. She had contacted the program team and had friends in the production team, so she was among the first to read the script, and knew more details than the viewers. The family upbringing and environment that this woman had endured were horrifying, a kind of hellish experience that got worse with each passing level. It was enough to drive anyone insane. Su Qing wondered how she had managed to escape and become the person she was now.


    This was the answer that everyone was currently seeking.


    "What do we do now, Director?" Ming Shu quietly asked the director team as she rushed into the women''s restroom.


    Tang Kai was also in the men''s restroom next door, waiting for instructions.


    After a while, one of the assistant directors, Tang Shan, spoke up, "Although the difficulty has been upgraded, your task remains the same."


    Tasks that were thought to be easy or even boring, such as gaining friendship and seducing love, suddenly rose up from easy mode to hard mode.


    Ming Shu took a deep breath and put on her signature energetic smile that her fans loved.


    "Wow! I suddenly feel more motivated to take on this challenge now that the task has become more difficult!" How am I going to get close to her and gain her friendship when she''s already graduated from this school? This is insane!


    Tang Kai rubbed his chin thoughtfully before leaving the restroom.


    After a few moments, he hurried to the school nurse''s office, where he found a computer. He opened it and typed "Song Juyao" into the search engine.


    Information about Song Juyao quickly appeared on the webpage. She was a celebrity and upon further research, he stumbled upon her detailed biography on an encyclopedia site.


    "Quick, switch to Tang Kai''s perspective!" In the real world, both the production team and the audience were fixated and all followed him as he leaned in front of the computer screen.


    Song Juyao: National darling, renowned prodigy, great mathematician, youngest member of the Leo awards winners team...


    A string of titles flashed in people''s eyes, and the production team couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing. This was impossible, this was not the life trajectory they had planned for her! They had envisioned a struggling underdog, not an accomplished overachiever. This was clearly a winner of life!


    After the resume was finished, a brief summary of her life story came into their sight.


    Life experience: At the tender age of 10, Song Juyao faced the tragic loss of her father and had no family savings. In an effort to support herself and her mother, she joined a puzzle- solving variety show called "I Am the Big Winner". She shocked the nation by knocking out all the guests and her astonishing ability to outperform all the guests secured her a spot on the show as a contestant for the entire season. She set a legendary record by achieving a 100% correct answer rate, earning her the title of the season''s champion and nationwide fame. She became a household name and nation¡¯s darling. Song Juyao went on to enroll in the junior high school of the prestigious Jinke Duola Academy, where she skipped a grade and entered the high school section after just one year. She even took the college entrance examination in the same year and was admitted to the highest institution...


    Evaluation: Song Juyao''s tragic childhood forced her to grow up quickly, but resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity were remarkable. Her achievements were well-deserved, and anyone with these qualities, theoretically cannot fail to achieve success.


    This encyclopedia seemed really impressive, and they finally discovered some clues as to why Song Juyao had become the person she was now. It appeared that she deviated from the expected path after the first level of hell, and by participating in the show, she won bonuses, and gained the love of many NPCs nationwide... With these achievements, it was easy to imagine how her story would unfold from here.


    ¡¾Damn, isn''t this defendant a bit too awesome?¡¿


    ¡¾This defendant was a top student at Capital University studying for a dual degree before being imprisoned.¡¿


    ¡¾A high IQ criminal?¡¿


    ¡¾If she''s so capable, why didn¡¯t she pursue a legitimate career in real life? What kind of fresh meat is more important than a successful career? High intelligence alone cannot conceal her short-sightedness, acute lust, and mental illness.¡¿


    ¡¾Even if this defendant does have a high IQ, why did she resort to murder after failing to seduce a minor?¡¿


    ¡¾Having a high IQ doesn¡¯t change the fact that this defendant committed the heinous act of killing a teenager. This type of person is even more dangerous in society. I estimate that behind her current glory, she must be doing things that cannot be seen. Only time will tell.¡¿


    ¡¾Waiting for the wolf in sheep''s clothing to show its true colors!¡¿


    ¡¾Go to hell, murderer!¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    The program group staff exchanged glances while the expert panel rubbed their bald heads in frustration.


    It was true that the personality and behavior of the defendant, whose memories were hidden, were thrown into the virtual world, would be influenced by their real-world selves. It could be argued that the more pronounced the traits and characteristics of their real selves, the more evident they would be in their virtual bodies. Otherwise, the show could not be deemed a "trial."


    However, they had made a grave miscalculation and underestimated an ordinary civilian girl with no influential family background. She may have seemed easy to exploit, but her intelligence and unique personality traits were not to be overlooked.


    ......


    Shortly after the live broadcast began, due to the sudden excitement, people became extremely unhappy and pushed it to the top of the hot search.


    As Luo Chao scrolled through his phone, he saw the news and turned to Huo Sen in the back seat, "Hey, isn''t this the girl who killed that idiot, Huo Hai? How could you just stand by and do nothing when she looks like this?"


    Huo Sen was focused on the papers in his lap and didn''t bother to look up. "No time."


    "Right, you were preparing for your cabinet exams at that time last year, and even you were nervous at the thought of facing our ruthless king. So, you didn''t have time to pay any attention to this innocent girl, did you? I bet you didn''t even bother to look at her picture," Luo Chao said.


    Looking out the window, he could already catch a glimpse of the top of the Crystal Tower of the Palace. HE further added, "If I had known what she looked like, I would have intervened and saved her. It would have been worth it to play with her for a couple of years. But now it''s too late. She''s still in jail and on this show. Our Majesty detests criminals like her who attempt to challenge the fairness of the judiciary and use this kind of show as a means to reduce their sentence or gain popularity..."


    Huo Sen: "You''re scared."


    Luo Chao chuckled, "Just kidding. I''m a skilled and courageous person. What do I have to fear about a simple second trial in the cabinet?"


    Huo Sen quipped back, "You sure talk a lot when you''re scared."


    Luo Chao muttered quietly, "Who wouldn''t be scared when meeting the king, especially ours? We still have to be interviewed by him later, ooh..."


    Despite his apprehension, there was a glint of intense desire in Luo Chao''s eyes.


    ......


    In the virtual world.


    Auditorium was filled with thunderous applause as Song Juyao finished her speech and Q&A session.


    Jinke Duola School was celebrating its 200th anniversary, with students bustling about setting up small stalls and people coming and going in the corridors.


    Ming Shu and Tang Kai hid in the crowd, following behind Song Juyao, looking for an opportunity to strike up a conversation with her.


    But it seemed too difficult, as there were not only them following Song Juyao, but a group of students with pens and paper were also vying for her autograph. However, because Song Juyao was walking alongside school leaders, nobody was crowding around her.


    Ming Shu felt very nervous and uncertain about how they were supposed to complete their task under these conditions.


    "I heard that you have completed the previous stage of work and are ready to take a break?" the headmaster asked tentatively.


    Song Juyao''s gaze scanned the crowd, somewhat distracted. "Yes."


    "Would you be interested in taking a break here at the school?" The principal suggested, the idea having been on his mind for several rounds. "You know our dormitory environment is no worse than a hotel, with beautiful scenery and convenient food and accommodation..."


    "Well, it''s not bad." Song Juyao''s gaze was still searching around.


    "What is she looking for?"


    "I''m a little curious, let me switch to the main perspective."


    The headmaster saw this as an opportunity to pitch his idea. "Jinke Duola Academy is a great school, but our enrollment rate has been declining year by year. On the other hand, St. Mary''s has been recruiting many students by offering various benefits and advertisements... (sigh) If you stay here for a while, you can give a lecture to the students whenever you have free time and are in the mood."


    St. Mary''s was Jinke Duola''s biggest competitor, and the headmasters of both schools were fierce rivals. Nobody wanted to lose. As the nation''s darling, Song Juyao was well-known in the parent circle. If she stayed, she would be a living advertisement for the school. The headmaster imagined parents hearing that Song Juyao was giving a lecture and immediately transferring their children to Jinke Duola.


    Song Juyao''s searching gaze suddenly stopped. Her eyes lit up like a young girl seeing her crush. The radiance in her eyes was pure and clear, moving people''s hearts, very different from her usual demeanor.


    "Okay," she said, turning to the headmaster.

 CH 8

    When Song Juyao uttered the word "okay," Tang Kai, Ming Shu, and the production team let out a collective sigh of relief. If Song Juyao remained in the school, it would be simpler to manipulate her as a real-life NPC.


    Of course, she had to stay in this school because it was the platform for her most significant performance.


    The kitten in her arms meowed, and Song Juyao said to the headmaster, "I want to take it to see a doctor first."


    "Good. You remember the way to the school doctor''s office, right?"


    "Yes."


    Tang Kai''s eyes gleamed with excitement, and he hastened back to the school clinic.


    Ming Shu grew increasingly anxious as she watched Tang Kai sprinting away upon spotting a chance to connect with Song Juyao. Ming Shu and Tang Kai were competitors, and every NPC that entered the show was their adversary. They competed for the audience''s affection and popularity. Otherwise, what was the purpose of participating in this show?


    But now she had no idea how to establish a relationship and make friends with Song Juyao.


    Tang Kai rushed back to the school clinic, straightened his clothing and hair, regulated his breathing, and waited for Song Juyao to knock on the door while the audience also waited in anticipation.


    Tang Kai had already contemplated several gestures and ways to interact with the cat to garner Song Juyao''s attention. Tang Kai had faith in his looks and demeanor and even though Song Juyao was no longer a vulnerable child, she still lost her father at the age of 10, Tang Kai was confident that her preference for older individuals would not waver.


    However, after waiting for an extended period, no one arrived. Some spectators in the live stream chat began to ridicule him.


    ¡¾Ha-ha-ha, what a dimwit! Song Juyao went to the veterinary clinic, not the school infirmary.¡¿


    ¡¾Ha-ha-ha, private schools for the elite are different. They even have a vet for students'' pets..¡¿


    ¡¾Use your brain. How could they bring a cat to the school infirmary?¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    ......


    Jinke Duola was an elite private school exclusively for the wealthy. With the exception of a handful of specially admitted students like Song Juyao, all attendees hailed from affluent families. The campus was vast, boasting stunning scenery, opulent amenities, and apartment-style dormitories. Moreover, Jinke Duola wasn''t far from the city center, and the school gate was only four bus stops away, making transportation very convenient.


    Song Juyao''s dormitory was a luxurious two-story apartment fully furnished with top-of-the-line amenities. It was located within the student dormitory building. Initially, the school wanted to provide her with a dormitory in the teacher''s quarters, but Song Juyao declined and chose this one herself.


    Song Juyao''s baggage was minimal, comprising only a handful of clothing and daily essentials. The sole valuable possession she had was a computer, and she also brought along the little stray cat she picked up on the way to Jinke Duola Academy.


    Seated on the sofa, wearing thin-framed glasses and engrossed in reading, Song Juyao exuded a scholarly charm akin to that of a painting. Fans couldn''t help but express their admiration, but they didn''t dare to post in the chat, fearing potential backlash.


    The kitten paced back and forth next to her, mewing beside her. The sound seemed to unsettle Song Juyao, prompting her to turn and glance at the feline. Her eyes were profound and enigmatic, and as the cat''s round orbs met hers, a moment of connection was established.


    ¡¾Here it comes, here it comes!¡¿


    ¡¾We''ll finally see the true face of this beast!¡¿


    The audience in the live broadcast became excited.


    Slowly, Song Juyao removed her glasses and her aura suddenly exploded. She then pounced on the little cat, pressing it down on the sofa like a girl being pinned down. She buried her face in its belly, taking a deep breath.


    The little cat stared back at her with confused, round eyes.


    Song Juyao was smitten, putting down her book and starting to play with the cat, rolling around on the floor with it.


    Her love for small animals was no different from that of an ordinary person.


    It was especially evident after playing with the cat for a while as she watched variety shows with the cat by her side, sending bullet comments (danmu).


    Song Juyao exclaimed, "Ahhh! You guys are all amazing! Let''s walk the flowery road together!"


    But throughout the hour, Song Juyao remained very restrained. An hour later, she returned to her image as the unattainable winner of life. With a book in hand, she made her way to the balcony and read it intently. The little cat had finished eating, drinking, and playing, and had curled up at her feet to sleep.


    While reading, the soft light illuminated her gentle eyes, the curve of her lips softened. Time seemed to stand still in this picturesque moment.


    Occasionally, she would pick up the binoculars on the table and glance across the way, as if she were observing something. However, whenever the audience tried to catch a glimpse of what she was looking at, till then she would quickly avert her gaze.


    ¡¾Isn''t that the boys'' dormitory across the way? Is she peeping on them?¡¿


    ¡¾And with binoculars, no less. How disgusting.¡¿


    ¡¾I knew she couldn''t be as normal as she seems on the surface. There must be something she''s hiding!¡¿


    ¡¾She''ll eventually reveal her true nature if we keep watching her!¡¿


    ¡¾Is she looking at the same person from earlier? The one she was searching for during the day?¡¿


    ¡¾It''s so dangerous. I almost fell for her facade!¡¿


    As Song Juyao turned the page, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepened.


    When an average person engages in everyday activities, it''s not considered noteworthy. However, when someone who appears to be above the common people does something ordinary in private, people tend to find them cute and endearing due to the contrast effect. The so-called contrast effect is synonymous with cuteness.


    But they had too high expectations for her to do bad things and show her evil true face. If they found out that she was just an ordinary person, the sense of gap would be too great, and they might turn away in anger, so they had to throw a hook to pique their interest.


    The audience had high expectations of Song Juyao, hoping that she would do something bad or reveal her true evil nature. But if they discovered that she was just an ordinary person, it would create a significant gap in their perception of her, and they might turn away in anger. So, Ming Shu had to use a hook to capture their attention.


    In this way, step by step, she would slowly lead them into her trap.


    ......


    Ming Shu was worried that Tang Kai had already established contact with Song Juyao, leaving her feeling anxious and flustered.


    Since she couldn''t think of a way to connect with Song Juyao and form a friendship, she focused on increasing her livestream''s popularity. The team''s script centered around romantic campus idol dramas, which appealed to a broad audience.


    To make the audience empathize more with the transfer student Ming Shu, the team decided to make her a special admission student, which means she was also a commoner girl just like many of the viewers.


    Although she was excited when the script was presented, the virtual world felt overly realistic, with NPCs that seemed like real people and the five senses feeling 100% real to reality all made her recoil.


    As she walked into the women''s restroom, she saw several girls pulling another girl''s hair and slapping her repeatedly, and she was dumbfounded.


    She recognized the victim as Li Zhao, another special admission student in her class. She had good grades, but was often quiet and gloomy. The moment after school, she would pick up her school bag and rush out as if there was a ghost chasing her from behind. Several of the little princess-like girls in the class would immediately follow suit.


    Ming Shu had suspected that the special admission student might be a victim of campus violence, but she did not dare to intervene, so she could only pretend to be ignorant to avoid letting the audience in the live broadcast room think she was cowardly. Those viewers may be even more cowardly in real life than her, but she knew that they have high expectations of their idols, and any negative quality shown by a star could lead to disappointment.


    Now, the bullying was right in front of her.


    What should she do? Should she intervene? She had to decide whether to intervene and risk becoming the next target, or to run away and risk damaging her public image. If she got beaten in front of the audience, it would be embarrassing, but running away would also be a negative reflection on her character.


    Ming Shu''s body froze as if she had fallen into an icy cave.


    "Hey, I''ll give you two seconds to get out of here," one of the girls warned her while Li Zhao looked at her with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.


    Ming Shu turned and ran away, leaving Li Zhao''s hope to vanish into the darkness.


    ¡¾Did she just run away like that? So disappointing.¡¿


    ¡¾She usually puts on a positive and energetic appearance, but in reality, she''s just a coward.¡¿


    ¡¾Put yourselves in her shoes, would you dare to do anything? It''s easy to talk tough from behind a screen.¡¿


    ¡¾Ming Shu was alone, and if she had intervened, she would have put herself in harm. It''s better to prioritize your own safety before helping others. Isn''t that what the government encourages?¡¿


    ¡¾See, Ming Shu sought out a teacher for assistance, rather than standing idly by.¡¿


    ¡¾The defendant has arrived. Observe her, she''ll certainly turn tail and flee, even quicker than Ming Shu did.¡¿


    Upon entering the teaching building, Song Juyao heard voices emanating from the women''s restroom. Curious, she pushed the door open and went inside to check. As soon as she saw a girl''s head being forced into a toilet bowl, her expression changed drastically.


    "Stop it!" she exclaimed, without hesitation. "What are you doing? How can you treat a fellow student like this?"


    The girls, upon spotting Song Juyao, were not as bold as they were when they saw Ming Shu. The person who had been holding Li Zhao''s head down looked at Song Juyao with a hostile expression and sneered, "Mind your own business and get out of here."


    "Release that student," Song Juyao commanded firmly.


    The person''s expression grew even more unpleasant. They let go of Li Zhao and approached Song Juyao, attempting to push her with their hand. "Who do you think you are to boss me around? Do you really think everyone at Jinke Duola is a fan of yours? You''re just a nerd..."


    "I advise you not to touch me. The moment you lay a hand on me, you''ll be in violation of the Imperial Personal Safety Law, the Imperial Criminal Law, and the Imperial Campus Violence Law. Once I sue you in court, you''ll face a sentence of three to five years," Song Juyao stated coldly. She had already turned on her phone and started recording.


    The person''s hand froze in mid-air, just as it was about to touch Song Juyao''s shoulder.


    "Don''t try to intimidate me. Do you know who I am?" the girl said, attempting to sound threatening.


    "Do you even know who I am? I have 30 million A-blog followers, and I dined with the president at the Red House with my team just last month. Who''s your dad? What''s your family''s business? Real estate? How much is your family worth? Can your company''s stocks withstand instability? Hmm?"


    The girl''s complexion paled, and she couldn''t even muster the courage to move her hand forward. Her friends also looked frightened and stood rigidly.


    In the end, they fled like beaten dogs.


    ¡¾I''m completely captivated by her appearance.¡¿


    ¡¾She''s so cool!¡¿


    ¡¾Think about how different it is from the scene where Ming Shu turned and ran away. The contrast is too strong.¡¿


    ¡¾If Ming Shu had the same background as Song Juyao, she wouldn''t be scared either. Besides, she was going to find a teacher and not ignore someone in danger!¡¿


    ¡¾It''s as if Song Juyao comes from a very influential family. Let''s not forget the background given to her by the program group.¡¿


    ¡¾Just because someone is wealthy doesn''t mean they would help someone in danger. There are many wealthy students in this school. I don''t believe no one in the class knew this girl was being bullied.¡¿


    ¡¾Regardless, Song Juyao is a murderer, and I don''t believe she''s a good person in the virtual world!¡¿


    ¡¾She''s definitely pretending!¡¿


    In the end, the prevailing public opinion was that Song Juyao was not a good person. Although some people were charmed by her and had softened their dislike of her since last night, they still weren''t willing to defend her and argue with others online.

 CH 9

    "Teacher, someone is bullying others. Come with me quickly!" Ming Shu rushed to a male teacher, grabbed his arm, and tried to pull him along.


    The male teacher didn''t budge and embarrassingly pried her hand off, saying, "This kind of thing is not the teacher''s responsibility. You should go to the student council."


    "What?" Ming Shu was about to say "what a joke," but suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity. The student council president was Jin Yu, and the disciplinary committee chairman was Jin Yao. She had been worried about not finding a reason to get in touch with them!


    The opportunity was too good to miss, so Ming Shu turned and made her way to the student council.


    ......


    The cold water was so frigid that it made Li Zhao shiver all over, and tears nearly spilled from her eyes.


    She leaned her head under the sink faucet and roughly splashed cold water over it. The bone-chilling coldness made her tremble, and she could barely hold back her tears.


    Just then, someone turned the faucet in another direction, and the cold water gradually became warm. A pair of gentle hands rubbed her scalp and then covered her head with a soft towel.


    Li Zhao stiffened, lifted her head wrapped in the fluffy towel, and saw Song Juyao''s exquisite chin. The corners of Juyao''s mouth, which always held a slight smile, were now pursed seriously, but her hands that helped Li Zhao wipe the water droplets were always very gentle.


    ¡¾Ah ah ah, I feel so warm!¡¿


    ¡¾It''s a little sweet!¡¿


    ¡¾Why hasn''t Song Juyao revealed her true face yet? Hurry up and remove your disguise, I can''t hold on anymore! I have no resistance against gentle people.¡¿


    ¡¾If you''re so easily swayed, it''s better not to watch this program. If you accidentally vote for someone who actually committed a heinous crime like rape and caused the death of a young boy, your vote could cause further pain to the victim''s family!¡¿


    ¡¾That kind of crime is really despicable. Thanks for the earlier reminder. My favorable impression of this person immediately dropped.¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    There was a moment of silence in the virtual world before the towel on Li Zhao''s head slid up a bit, and she met a pair of warm and caring eyes.


    "Thank you," Li Zhao said softly with slightly red eyes. Her hands were tightly clenched into fists, and she was so nervous that she couldn''t even bring herself to say that she would handle it on her own. In her memory, no one had ever helped her dry her hair.


    "Are you a specially recruited student?" Song Juyao asked.


    "Yes."


    "Do they often bully you like this? Have you reported it to the teacher?"


    Song Juyao''s tone was serious and earnest. Despite only being one year older than Li Zhao, she suddenly felt like she had found someone to rely on, an elder who she could confide in. With tears in her eyes, Li Zhao nodded vigorously, "The teacher said it''s a matter for the student council and not their responsibility. The headmaster is never around and just shirks his duties."


    "When I first enrolled in Jinke Duola Academy, the principal promised me that he would reform the school system and treat specially recruited students well. He has disappointed me greatly," said Song Juyao, her voice filled with anger. She looked at the red mark on Li Zhao''s face with concern and furrowed her brows. "Let me take you to the school infirmary first."


    The school doctor''s room.


    Inside the infirmary, Tang Kai remained composed despite his recent failure. As the audience watched the performances of the two real NPCs, they couldn''t help but think that there was a huge gap in intelligence between Ming Shu and Tang Kai. It was like the difference between an idol and an award-winning actor.


    Now, Tang Kai had thought of something that the production team was highly concerned about, and it was something very important.


    "Where is Song Juyao''s mother, Liu Yan?" he asked, stroking his chin.


    According to the script of the show, Song Juyao''s mother was supposed to have become the mistress of Jin Yao and Jin Yu''s father two years ago. But now it seemed that her mother hadn''t become their father''s mistress after all. In that case, are the identities of the two big bosses, Jin Yao and Jin Yu, still useful?


    However, Liu Yan''s personality was specifically designed by the program team to hinder and restrain Song Juyao. Unless she dies, she should always drag Song Juyao down. How could she become a winner in life so smoothly?


    Where did Lui Yan go?


    Tang Kai tried to search the internet but didn''t find any information about Liu Yan''s whereabouts. However, he found out that Liu Yan had also become a celebrity, but a notorious one.


    After participating in "I''m a Big Star" and becoming popular, Song Juyao was invited to participate in other program groups. Among them was a parent-child outdoor reality show, which invited Song Juyao and Liu Yan as guests. However, Liu Yan overturned the cart and things didn''t go as planned.


    In the show, Liu Yan did not even try to restrain her spoiled princess temperament, or perhaps she didn''t understand the concept at all. She felt entitled to sit and enjoy Song Juyao''s care, appearing in a cheongsam dress, high heels, and delicate makeup. This formed a sharp contrast with Song Juyao, who was still skinny and dark at that time, looking like a child from a poor area. Song Juyao carried a big backpack and pushed the luggage like a child laborer, while Liu Yan swayed her willow waist with nothing on her shoulders.


    In another task assigned by the program team, they had to cook pig food. Liu Yan covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and sat far away, while Song Juyao skillfully cut the meat with a big kitchen knife and cooked the food next to the pigpen. During the cooking segment, Song Juyao stepped on a stool and cooked skillfully...


    "How can Juyao be so good at everything at such a young age? Does she often do this at home?" one of the other mothers asked.


    "Yes, my Juyao is very good. She has always been doing these things in our family,"Facing the questions from other mothers suppressing their anger, Liu Yan replied proudly.


    Tang Kai and the audience who were watching this episode of the variety show from Tang Kai''s perspective were all astounded, not to mention the other mothers who were clearly suppressing their anger.


    What kind of retard is this?


    Although Song Juyao and Liu Yan only appeared as guests for one episode on the parent-child reality show, the fallout from the episode was significant. Liu Yan received intense criticism, and mothers on the show expressed harsh condemnation on social media. "As a mother, one should not behave like Liu Yan" became a popular catchphrase that year.


    ¡¾I understand now. Song Juyao must have intentionally brought Liu Yan onto the show and used the opportunity to distance herself from her mother.¡¿


    ¡¾I can only imagine how much criticism Liu Yan faced after the show aired and how much sympathy Song Juyao received.¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao must have planned this all along. Without her mother holding her back, she can¡¯t become a winner in life.¡¿


    ¡¾Her actions towards her own mother are truly terrible, her scheming is so deep, she''s doing this to her own mother. Even if her mother is deemed useless, she wouldn''t resort to this method of dumping someone, right?¡¿


    ¡¾Using her mother as a stepping stone to success and even subjecting her to cyber-violation shows that she''s a highly intelligent criminal, vicious enough.¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    People are not afraid to speculate on Song Juyao with the greatest malice, precisely because they would feel suffocated if they had a mother like Liu Yan. Therefore, they believed that Song Juyao would not be able to tolerate it even more, and therefore she must have found this way to get rid of this burden. But even if everyone wants to do this, Song Juyao cannot. As the defendant, Song Juyao must be truthful, kind, and beautiful, and cannot act on such impulses.


    As the door to the school doctor''s office was open, Song Juyao walked in directly with the specially recruited student.


    Tang Kai was caught off guard upon seeing the target person and quickly stood up, leaving the computer screen displaying the variety show. Liu Yan''s voice calling Song Juyao was still audible, soft and delicate like a vine wrapping around someone''s neck.


    Song Juyao stopped and asked, "Teacher, are you watching ''The Unmatched Mother''?"


    Tang Kai quickly regained his composure and said, "I just returned to China and am not familiar with your situation. I became curious and searched online, and saw that you have appeared in many variety shows."


    "I did participate in some variety shows in the past to earn money," Song Juyao said as she gestured for Li Zhao to take a seat. "Could you please check her for me, Doctor?"


    Tang Kai conducted a thorough examination of Li Zhao, showing kindness and compassion towards her injuries. "These are all external injuries that can be treated with medication. However, the internal injuries also require proper treatment with medicine to fully recover. You are welcome to come to me anytime."


    ¡¾Ahhhhhh! Dr. Tang, I''m sick!¡¿


    ¡¾The movie emperor is so charming, uh-huh¡¿


    ¡¾My heart is wounded, I need Dr. Tang to kiss it and make it better TAT¡¿


    Li Zhao had never interacted with such a refined and elegant man before, and she felt so shy that she couldn''t even look at him.


    After completing the examination, Tang Kai noticed Song Juyao staring blankly at the computer screen. He took the opportunity to ask, "I can tell that your mother is very reliant on you. Would she be able to take care of herself if you weren''t there? Are you still living together?"


    "No," Song Juyao snapped out of her thoughts, and her face habitually showed a faint smile. "In this world, there is no one in this world who can''t do without someone else."


    "Is it because..."


    "Can I turn off the program? You can watch it after I leave," Song Juyao cut in.


    "Of course."


    She switched off the program, and the school clinic became silent. As Tang Kai treated Li Zhao, he couldn''t help but wonder about Song Juyao''s attitude towards the show. Song Juyao seemed to have a strong aversion to the program. Did something happen because of it? Did Song Juyao use the show as an opportunity to break away from Liu Yan? But she was only ten years old then, still a minor, and it would have been impossible for her to leave her guardian no matter what.


    ......


    Meanwhile, in the real world, the ''Judgement Day Trial'' studio hall¡­


    A staff member rushed in, "Mr. K has arrived."


    The assistant director Tang Shan stood up to greet him.


    The person who came in was a disheveled young man wearing a black hoodie. He looked like he hadn''t slept in days.


    "Mr. K, do you have any solution?" Tang Shan asked.


    "Going back to past scenes through the database without recording?... How dare you even think that? Who do you think invented and designed the virtual world building system? The computational complexity is enormous, it''s impossible..." K replied.


    Tang Shan''s disappointment was evident on his face. Was it really impossible to access past scenes? They needed to know what happened and what Song Juyao did in the past 18 years, whether it was to analyze her personality and understand the traits in her intriguing character or to uncover her true nature.


    Although the executive director, Tan Wei, said it was unnecessary because Song Juyao''s true face would eventually be revealed, Tang Shan had a hunch that things were not that simple. So far, Song Juyao has not made any mistakes. According to backstage data, the barrage of insults against her had started to decrease in a spiral since last night when she was playing with a cat, and the number of positive comments about her had started to increase in a spiral. These fragments, hidden in the vast ocean of comments, were too small to be noticed by anyone, but Tang Shan felt sensitive enough to care.


    The human heart is really too easily shaken, it can be easily influenced by appearances, a few small actions, and events that strike a chord. The production team would never allow a real criminal to be granted a reduced sentence or be exonerated by the audience''s vote.


    "Complete retracing is impossible, but it should be possible to trace back a few short-term segments," K said.


    Tangshan was thrilled, feeling like riding a roller coaster. "That''s enough, that''s enough! You''re indeed a member of the Palace Network Security Department. You''re amazing!"


    Tracing back a few short-term segments should be enough for them to see the unknown true face of Song Juyao.


    "Well, can we trace back to the second half of Song Juyao''s 10th year?" Tang Shan asked.


    Song Juyao spent 18 years in the virtual world. If they casually traced back segments, they might waste time and resources on mundane activities such as sleeping or taking exams. The second half of Song Juyao''s 10th year was the time when she and Liu Yan participated in the "Unmatched Mom" variety show. From the just-concluded live broadcast, it can be seen that Song Juyao''s reaction was a bit strange. They could check whether Song Juyao intentionally ditched her mother. Once this point is confirmed, Song Juyao would not be able to wash away the stain.


    "Yes, but because the database has an instruction prohibiting copying, we can only go back based on the current broadcast, which means a small window will pop up in the upper right corner of the broadcast for the audience to see, okay?"


    Tang Shan considered the matter and concluded that it was not a problem. The audience would be interested in learning about Song Juyao''s past, which could boost ratings. If this turned out to be a black mark on Song Juyao''s record, then it was intended to be revealed to the audience. Even if things didn''t go as planned and it turned out to be a false lead, the worst-case scenario would be maintaining the current status quo.


    ......


    Song Juyao appeared to be in a bad mood, likely due to being reminded of her past. As Tang Kai was administering medicine to Li Zhao, she stood up and prepared to leave.


    "Teacher!" A panicked boy rushed in carrying another male student on his back.


    The boy being carried had a nosebleed, numerous bruises on his face from the fall, and looked dirty and disheveled. Most notably, his ankle was swollen and appeared very serious.


    Tang Kai quickly attended to the injured boy. He had learned some simple first aid procedures for his role and had also done an internship in a clinic.


    "How did you get hurt like this?" he asked.


    The boy was extremely embarrassed to be seen by Song Juyao in such a state. He blushed and stammered, "W-We were working as ball boys at the tennis court, and today they played a little too fiercely, so I..."


    The "they" referred to the aristocratic children in the school.


    "Did they ask you to pick up the balls during the game?" Song Juyao asked, her anger barely contained.


    The boy remained quiet, implying that the answer was yes. After all, he couldn''t have been injured so severely by merely picking up balls. It was likely intentional. Who would allow ball boys to enter the court and obstruct the game, which was both annoying and dangerous?


    "It''s not a typical occurrence. A new student appeared out of nowhere and played the hero, which triggered their rage, and we were caught in the middle..." The boy complained.


    "A new student? Was it the girl with a mole on her chin?" Tang Kai inquired.


    "Yes, that''s her. She offended Jin Yao, and I''m afraid it should be worse for her. She might require an ambulance," the boy replied.


    Song Juyao furrowed her eyebrows and immediately headed out.


    The viewers in Tang Kai''s live broadcast also switched to Ming Shu''s live broadcast.


    ¡¾Oh my goodness, it''s so tragic!¡¿


    ¡¾I came from the Film Emperor''s live broadcast. What happened?¡¿


    ¡¾Ah, my girl goose, mommy¡¯s heart hurts so much!¡¿


    ¡¾These individuals are so vile. Was this a deliberate act of harm? How dare they! Is the school violence law just a facade?¡¿


    ¡¾For individuals with affluence, most laws are merely a facade. It''s disheartening to think about. What''s the purpose of an ordinary person''s existence in this world? To be a replaceable brick or screw? ¡¿


    ¡¾Can someone provide an explanation for what happened? I missed the events leading up to this, and it''s truly distressing!¡¿


    ¡¾...¡¿


    The time goes back half an hour.


    Ming Shu dashed to the Student Union seeking assistance for Li Zhao, while also hoping to capture Jin Yao''s attention and initiate a conversation with him.


    But when the students in the Student Union building saw her, they all looked down on her.


    "The leader is not present, what do you want?" A disciplinary committee member uttered icily.


    "There''s a girl being beaten up in the restroom on the third floor of the No.4 Teaching Building." Although disappointed by the absence of Jin Yao, Ming Shu couldn''t reveal her motives too overtly with numerous viewers watching.


    "Who?"


    ¡°Li Zhao.¡±


    The disciplinary committee member entered the name into the computer and, upon seeing the words "specially recruited student" appended to it, grew impatient. "Okay, I''ll call someone to come and investigate."


    "Call someone? She''s currently being severely beaten in the bathroom. Shouldn''t you be providing immediate assistance?" Ming Shu protested.


    "Student, it''s lunchtime now. Don''t I have to eat?" the committee member retorted.


    "You! How can you be like this? Isn''t it the responsibility of the disciplinary committee to uphold campus order and prevent misconduct?" Ming Shu was really angry now.


    The person smirked and uttered, "What can you do to me? If you genuinely want to rescue someone, why don''t you do it yourself? Ultimately, you''re simply too fearful of getting into trouble and lack the courage to stand up. I''ve encountered numerous individuals like you. Specially recruited students such as yourself are all spineless trash."


    Ming Shu''s face flushed, "What kind of person are you! I... I want to see Jin Yao!"


    The disciplinary committee member looked at her with a wicked grin and replied, "Oh, he''s currently at the tennis court."

 CH 10

    Chapter 10: First Arc [9]


    Jinke Duola Academy was a distinguished institution with a 200-year history, known for its aristocratic background. It was not the kind that a person could get into by just having money. Its founder strongly believed in the superiority of bloodlines and only accepted blue-blooded aristocrats as students.


    However, as time passed and technology advanced, new industries emerged, created opportunities and new aristocrats emerged from various fields. Meanwhile, the old aristocrats were abandoned by the wheel of time and gradually became impoverished. Consequently, the school''s income and operating funds dwindled.


    To prevent bankruptcy, the management sought a new path and started to lower the admission standards by admitting ordinary wealthy children. Later, with the development of society, the government began to rate various schools. To avoid a low ranking, the school needed to increase its enrollment rate based on meritocracy (referring to admission to various universities through the college entrance examination, rather than through money), and started accepting students through special recruitment.


    Nevertheless, class conflict arose due to the historical legacy of the school. Students with blue-blooded aristocratic backgrounds regarded themselves as the true owners of the school and labeled wealthy students as upstarts or mere guests, deeming them inferior and adopting a haughty attitude. Wealthy students, on the other hand, felt that the blue-blooded students were impoverished individuals with nothing to be proud of but their titles, and questioned whether they could even afford luxury cars or mansions.


    In recent years, the rivalry between these two factions had escalated to the point where even specially recruited students became cannon fodders. Taking a side would result in being looked down upon by the other faction, while remaining neutral could lead to bullying from both sides. Thus, those who were unable to fight back against the upper class naturally used the specially recruited students as punching bags. As a result, the situation for specially recruited students in this school became extremely challenging.


    The tennis court was bustling with activity. Jin Yao and Jin Yu''s family were among the few old aristocratic families that had kept their wealth and status through the changing times. They held a dominant position in the school and were well-liked by both factions. In other words, no one would dare to challenge them.


    Jin Yao had a habit of exercising during his lunch break, either on the tennis court or at the horse racing track. Consequently, many students would gather here at noon.


    Ming Shu approached with a bold attitude but was immediately intimidated by the luxurious tennis court, which appeared capable of hosting world-class tennis matches. The surrounding audience seats were filled with students, and the slender waist cheerleaders resembled star-chasing girls, swooning over the players on the court. If she dared to rush up, she would immediately be surrounded.


    She steadied herself and pulled out a jade pendant from around her neck, determined to make the most of her opportunity. Her team had come up with a script for a Cinderella campus idol drama for her, naturally finding a point of entry that could make this script work.


    From the character information card of these twin brothers, it could be seen that they were kidnapped when they were young and later rescued by a family of three who were hiking in the mountains. The family''s daughter who happened to pick up the jade pendant that Jin Yao had dropped, had been wearing it around her neck since she was young but forgot to return it.


    The team spent money to buy the jade pendant from the program group, giving Ming Shu a way not to be killed by these twin brothers. For the sake of their saviors, even if these twin brothers were cruel, they would not harm her. And it can also give her a lot of room to perform.


    With the jade pendant in her hand, Ming Shu gained some courage. She gambled that if she succeeded, she would gain fame and fans, but if she failed, she would lose everything.


    Jin Yao''s impressive tennis skills were on full display as he played on the court. The smooth and explosive lines of his arm muscles were exposed to the audience, and his muscles instantly tightened as he swung his racket, sweating profusely. However, his style of play reflected his unrestrained and rough personality, with his opponents only able to hold their racket with both hands to avoid being hit by the wild python-like onslaught of his balls.


    It was estimated that getting hit by one of his balls would result in a fracture, but in most cases, the ball boys who picked up the balls on the court were in more dangerous situations than his opponents.


    Due to Jin Yao''s OCD, he couldn''t stand having a ball on the ground in the way, so ball boys had to be there to pick up the balls during the game. This job was usually done by specially enrolled students, and two ball boys stand in the corners behind the two players, waiting to pick up the ball at any time.


    "Clang!" The opponent''s racket was hit away, and it happened to fly to the ball boy who was going to pick up the ball on his side, hitting his nose and causing him to bleed and fall to the ground.


    "Bang!" The opponent failed to return Jin Yao''s ball, and the ball hit the ball boy who couldn''t dodge it.


    Jin Yao didn''t seem to care about the injured ball boys and continued playing, causing the audience in the live broadcast room to become outraged. It was at this moment that Ming Shu rushed out, shouting delicately to get Jin Yao''s attention.


    "Stop!" A delicate shout was heard.


    All eyes turned to that direction as if suddenly under a spotlight.


    Ming Shu burst onto the scene like a courageous Cinderella schoolgirl protagonist, rushing to the aid of the injured male student and glaring righteously at Jin Yao.


    "How dare you mistreat others for your own selfish desires? Are their lives not worth anything? They also have parents. If their parents saw them like this, how heartbroken would they be?!" Ming Shu''s eyes were ablaze with fiery passion, her voice was sonorous and powerful. She tried hard to hold her neck high with determination.


    The students were stunned. The tennis court fell silent, everyone looking at Ming Shu with disbelieving, bewildered eyes. What happened to this woman who appeared suddenly? Has she gone mad?


    ¡¾Ah ah ah! As expected of my idol, she''s so great!¡¿


    ¡¾Thumbs up! Ming Shu has a strong sense of justice. That Jin Yao guy is really unpleasant. He treats people like they''re nothing. If it wasn''t for his good family background, this bastard would have been beaten to a pulp long ago.¡¿


    ¡¾Emmmm... why didn''t she go to the toilet to save that girl?¡¿


    ¡¾Maybe she was criticized by someone in the student council and is taking her anger out on Jin Yao.¡¿


    ¡¾It seems a bit dangerous and scary.¡¿


    Unbeknownst to the live viewers, Ming Shu''s body tensed as she watched Jin Yao approach her, feeling scared and anxious. Her mind raced as she thought about her jade pendant, hoping it would protect her. Jin Yao looked down on her, then turned to the male student who was injured and cowering behind Ming Shu.


    "You special admissions students are going to rebel, huh?" Jin Yao sneered.


    "No... I don''t know her! Jin Yao, this has nothing to do with me, I''ve never seen her before!" The male student quickly denied.


    Jin Yao continued to mock him, "Do you still think I''m not paying you enough?" Jin Yao sneered. As a ball boy, he did receive a salary. After all, it was dangerous work, so he had to pay some medical expenses, right?


    "You''re insulting people with money! Can every injury be healed? In the end, your job itself is unreasonable. How can you make people pick up balls on the court during the game? Is it worth it to pay a salary? Only special admissions students in this school are willing to do this job because among them nobody dares to refuse. It''s heartless and outrageous that you can continue playing without even caring about the injured person. What''s so great about you?" Ming Shu''s voice trembled with fear under the intense pressure from Jin Yao, but she recited the script given to her by the team as best she could.


    "Classmate, please don''t say anything," pleaded the male student despairingly. The job of retrieving balls during games was usually not this risky, but today the sun was too bright and he forgot to wear sunglasses making it difficult for him to see the ball and avoid getting hit.


    Jin Yao''s smile sent a chill down everyone''s spine. "Ah, it seems like the special admissions students are finally ready to rebel. A tough one has arrived, very good. Here are two options for you. First, catch my ball and I won''t care about your rudeness this time. Second, kneel down and kowtow to me to admit your mistake."


    Ahhhhhhhhh, things aren''t going according to the script, spicy chicken team! The useless spicy chicken boss has nothing but money! Ming Shu panicked inwardly and her inner demons had already knelt down and begged for mercy, but in reality, she couldn''t possibly kneel down and beg for mercy in front of so many viewers in the live broadcast.


    Desperately, she nodded stiffly and forced a smile before touching the jade pendant around her neck. Quick, look at the jade pendant!


    Jin Yao''s gaze instinctively darted to the pendant, but his pupils contracted, his face darkened, and his expression turned dangerous.


    It turned out to be her. Back then, he and his brother were kidnapped, and a family of three accidentally stumbled upon them and saved them. Later, they took advantage of the situation and made unreasonable demands on his family, with a greedy attitude that was not much different from the kidnappers. After returning to the Jin family, he realized that the jade pendant was missing. He sent people to look for it but couldn''t find it. When he asked the family of three, they denied seeing it. In the end, he couldn''t find it and had to let it go.


    What a greedy thief! Other things don''t matter, but this act of stealing the jade pendant was unforgivable!


    Unfortunately, the character cards provided by the program team were not detailed enough to include every event. The brief mention of the kidnapping simply stated that "the twin brothers were kidnapped in their youth and saved by a family of three who were hiking in the mountains. Jin Yao lost the family heirloom jade pendant gifted to him by his grandmother in this incident."


    Ming Shu''s heart skipped a beat, and she felt a chill run down her spine. The feeling of fear made her face turn pale and her body cold. She mechanically took her tennis racket and walked to her position, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.


    ......


    When Song Juyao rushed to the tennis court, she met with an eerie silence. Despite the large crowd, there was no sound except for the "pop" of the tennis ball hitting the ground hard.


    Song Juyao hurried over and pushed aside the cheerleaders blocking her view. Song Juyao saw Ming Shu in the center of the court, covered in bruises and wounds. Her legs, exposed outside her school skirt, were covered in countless overlapping wounds, as if the ball had scraped forcefully over her skin. Her face was swollen and battered. Struggling to get up from the ground, she was bleeding from her mouth, with her gums presumably severely injured. she had blood and tears streaming down her face, making her look utterly miserable.


    "Still not begging for mercy?" Jin Yao squinted his eyes and extended his hand to the side. His hand was strong and slender, possessing a certain boyfriend-like charm as it could be wrapped easily around the girl''s hand. Yet, in his grasp was a tennis ball that had been swiftly and respectfully delivered by the ball boy.


    Ming Shu''s tears continued to flow as she struggled with a dilemma. She desperately wanted to kneel and plead for mercy, but doing so would mean the end of her idol career. Even if it meant risking her life, she couldn''t bring herself to beg¡­.


    Jin Yao''s sneer deepened as he threw the tennis ball into the air and swung his racket with all his might towards Ming Shu. Since her bones were so hard, he intended to just break them directly.


    Ming Shu was completely unable to move. She lifted her hand to protect herself and closed her eyes in despair. The viewers watching the live stream couldn''t bear to witness the brutal scene, and the system automatically mosaicked the screens of underage viewers with intellectual brains.


    "Bang!"


    In midair, the yellow tennis ball collided with the basket, causing half of the balls in the basket to scatter in all directions.


    Ming Shu opened her tear-filled eyes and saw the overturned basket nearby and the tennis balls flying like petals.


    As if sensing something, she turned her head towards the direction of the basket. In the glaring sunlight, the girl retracted her foot, standing firm with a cool demeanor.


    Ming Shu was taken aback, tears streaming down her face, her heart racing.


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah I''m going crazy!¡¿


    ¡¾F**k, f**k, f**k!!! So handsome!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah, Song Juyao is killing me!!¡¿


    Screen of the live broadcast room was filled with frenzied screams.


    When two real people in the virtual world get close enough in the virtual world, their respective live broadcast rooms merge into one, allowing them to share each other''s audience and expanding the live broadcast angle wider.


    Just moments ago, all the viewers in the live broadcast room witnessed Song Juyao''s quick and decisive reaction as she delivered a powerful spinning kick to the nearby tennis ball basket, knocking away the deadly tennis ball.


    In the bright sunlight, Song Juyao looked effortlessly cool and handsome.


    For a moment, the scene fell into a stunned silence before everyone in the stadium finally reacted. All eyes turned towards the stadium entrance where Song Juyao had appeared, causing a sudden stir of whispers among the audience.


    "That''s Song Juyao!"


    "Is she going to meddle in our school''s affairs?"


    "She''s merely a guest residing in our school. What right does she have to meddle in our school''s affairs?"


    "If Jin Yao strikes her, what will happen?"


    "She''s done for. Even though she''s a member of the Olympiad Award team, she can''t defeat a capital giant like Jin''s family."


    "......"

 CH 11

    Chapter 11: First Arc [10]


    The cheerleaders, who had been pushed away, were still in shock from witnessing Song Juyao''s kick. They stood with open mouths, gazing in admiration and awe at her back while she walked past the whispering crowd and into the tennis court.


    Hunching her shoulders, Li Zhao followed closely behind, looking up at Song Juyao with a mix of admiration and concern. Would she be alright? The piercing stares from those around them were far from friendly, and there was also Jin Yao...


    Approaching Ming Shu, Song Juyao asked with concern, "How are you? Can you walk?"


    Tears streamed down Ming Shu''s face as she looked at Song Juyao. She was unable to speak, but her nods and shakes of the head conveyed her happiness at seeing Song Juyao there.


    "Zhao Zhao, take her to the school infirmary," Song Juyao instructed Li Zhao.


    Li Zhao nodded and immediately went to help Ming Shu.


    "Stop." Before they could leave, a low, hoarse, and cold voice interrupted. "Did I allow her to leave?" It was Jin Yao.


    Song Juyao turned around to meet his amber hawk-like eyes, which held a wild, untamed brilliance.


    Jin Yao looked down at Song Juyao from above the net.


    ¡°Whatever the reason, it''s justified to beat a girl like this,¡± Song Juyao expressionlessly looked at him.


    ¡°Is that so? Then what are you going to do about it?¡± Unfazed, Jin Yao pressed the net with his racket and pointed directly at Song Juyao''s nose. His gaze turned dangerous, "Are you gonna seek justice for her? Song Juyao?"


    After staring at him for a few seconds, Song Juyao averted her gaze and turned to Ming Shu and Li Zhao, "Let''s go."


    Jin Yao looked at Song Juyao''s back who didn''t take him seriously, his face showing anger at the insult to his dignity. He shouted, "Close the door!"


    The door of the tennis court was immediately shut.


    "Since you want to play the hero so badly, Song Juyao, I''ll give you a choice. Either you catch the ball instead of her, or you kneel down and apologize to me in her place. Otherwise, don''t think about leaving," Jin Yao''s menacing voice sounded like a demon.


    Li Zhao looked at Song Juyao with anxiety, while Ming Shu shrank back in terror. She realized how foolish she had been to think of following Jin Yao in some school idol drama plot. He was a monster capable of such cruelty towards a girl. How could anyone go through with this!


    She couldn''t help but look at Song Juyao and some worries crept into her heart involuntarily. Obviously not too long ago she was fretting over how to make Song Juyao suffer.


    "Okay, I''ll play with you. Let them out first, they''re just getting in the way here." Song Juyao said to Jin Yao.


    Jin Yao''s anger was now directed towards Song Juyao, and he no longer cared about Ming Shu. He signaled to the gatekeeper to release the others. The two of them anxiously stayed behind and peered through the iron wire fence.


    Song Juyao picked a racket that felt comfortable in her hand and walked onto the court.


    It was a continuation of the match between Jin Yao and Ming Shu that had been interrupted earlier, so it was now Song Juyao''s turn to serve. The yellow ball bounced twice on the ground before she held it in her delicate hand.


    ¡¾Oh no, I''m scared! Song Juyao is going to get hit!¡¿


    ¡¾I have mixed feelings. It''s strange. I used to hate her, but now I''m starting to worry about her.¡¿


    ¡¾She looks so fragile. Her bone structure  looks even smaller than Ming Shu. I hope her bones don''t break on the first serve.¡¿


    ¡¾Jin Yao is disgusting for hitting women. He''s going to become a domestic abuser in the future.¡¿


    ¡¾Everyone, please calm down. The live stream has just started and we haven''t seen enough yet. Remember that in the real world, she killed a teenage boy on impulse and lust!¡¿


    Song Juyao executed her serve with a perfect posture, sending the yellow ball flying over the net with skillful precision. It was evident that she was an experienced tennis player.


    However, the onlookers expressed concern as they discussed the match.


    "Jin Yao has been playing tennis since he was young. If it wasn''t for his family''s wealth and influence, he could have been a professional player."


    "I can''t watch this. I''ve started to like Song Juyao," another one chimed in.


    "I don''t mind as long as he doesn''t hit her face. I''m a fan of Song Juyao''s face."


    "Jin Yao is too strong. Even guys can''t handle his shots with one hand. With Song Juyao''s small arms, it''s going to be even worse¡­" another one commented.


    "......"


    "Bang!"


    The serve was ordinary as the yellow ball was hit out. Jin Yao, with a sneer of disdain, easily dodged to the side and effortlessly hit the ball back. However, his shot was malicious and the ball directly scraped Song Juyao''s cheek as it passed by. The rough texture of the ball combined with its velocity made it feel like her cheek had scraped against concrete.


    "Bang!" The ball smashed into the fence with a loud noise.


    A red bruise instantly appeared on Song Juyao''s fair cheek.


    Jin Yao said, "I advise you to kneel down and beg for mercy."


    Song Juyao ignored him. She remained unfazed and continued to serve the ball calmly.


    Watching her, for no apparent reason, Jin Yao felt a wave of irritability wash over him and he tightened his grip on the racket.


    This ball was the same as the last, with identical spin speed and angle, and hitting it back for Jin Yao was no more difficult than before.


    "Bang!"


    The ball once again grazed past Song Juyao''s cheek, this one containing a playful taunt as it left a parallel scratch below the previous one.


    There were six serves in a round. Throughout the round, Song Juyao served each ball exactly the same, resulting in distinct scratches on her arms, thighs, and neck.


    As he hit the final ball back, Jin Yao suddenly realized that this could not be a coincidence. If it were not intentional, it would be impossible to hit six balls exactly the same. Anyone with even a basic understanding of tennis would know that the contact area, angle, swing, and even the force used to strike the ball could all affect its spin direction. Therefore, if it were not a deliberate act by a professional player, it would be impossible for every ball to be the same.


    Jin Yao narrowed his eyes. Sensing a conspiracy afoot, he decided to put an end to this farce immediately.


    He aimed his racket towards Song Juyao and declared, "It''s my turn to serve. You''ve had plenty of chances already. This time, I won''t be merciful."


    Song Juyao slightly raised the corner of her lips.


    Jin Yao tossed the tennis ball high into the air and prepared to strike it with his racket. However, as soon as his racket made contact with the ball, he felt a jolt of electricity run through his arm muscles, and a strong stimulus hit his brain. The force in his hand suddenly unloaded, causing the ball to be struck lightly.


    What?!


    Song Juyao sprinted a few steps, swung her racket, and easily returned the lightly served ball.


    Everyone was caught off guard and hadn''t fully processed what had just happened, leaving them all confused.


    "She...did she just receive Jin Yao''s serve?"


    "Song Juyao...managed to catch the ball and win?"


    "What happened to Jin Yao? Did he suddenly go easy on her?"


    "He wouldn''t do that. Then why?"


    The ball rolled towards Jin Yao''s feet, and his expression turned grim. "What did you do?"


    Song Juyao smiled and explained, "Each serve I made was either a topspin or backspin ball. Despite appearing ordinary, the spin angle was very deceptive. Underestimating it would make it difficult to get the ball over the net. You''re an excellent tennis player and quickly discovered the spin''s secret. You adjusted your posture and hit the ball back accurately, but failed to notice the damage to your wrist extensor muscles. Especially since you put so much force into hitting every ball back, it puts a great burden on your muscles. After only six serves, they would send sharp pain signals to your brain."


    Since she couldn''t break through Jin Yao''s skills head-on, Song Juyao had to resort to a different approach. Fortunately, Jin Yao''s overconfidence gave her an opening. While her tennis abilities were average at best, Song Juyao possessed exceptional foresight honed for such time through consistent training in serving the ball.


    ¡¾Although I don''t understand, it seems pretty impressive!¡¿


    ¡¾Wow, suddenly feeling so passionate!¡¿


    ¡¾Although I don''t understand, it seems like Song Juyao outsmarted Jin Yao and won.¡¿


    ¡¾Awesome! High intelligence is truly impressive!¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao is really cool!¡¿


    ¡¾She is so clever!¡¿


    Jin Yao realized what had happened and laughed in anger. "I didn''t expect Song Juyao to resort to such despicable tactics."


    "Jin Yao, do you only challenge others with your strengths and not allow them to use their own strengths to respond to your challenge?" Song Juyao pointed to her head and met his gaze fearlessly.


    Something in Song Juyao''s eyes seemed to provoke Jin Yao, and he suddenly became furious, jumping over the net and approaching her.


    The entire audience was stunned, expecting to witness Jin Yao beat up Song Juyao, and no one dared to make a sound for a while.


    Jin Yao grabbed Song Juyao''s chin and stared down at her condescendingly, asking, "What are you so proud of? Are you also worthy of looking down on me? Who do you think you are?"


    His hand was large, and her face seemed small in comparison. Song Juyao''s chin was on the verge of being crushed, and the pain made her eyes turn red instantly. She reached out to grab his hand, but it was as immovable as a pair of pliers. A hint of wolfishness appeared in her gentle eyes, and suddenly she forcefully turned her head and opened her lips, taking his finger into her mouth.


    The soft touch of her lips and the wetness of his finger were particularly distinct, and Jin Yao was stunned for a moment before intense pain hit him.


    The bite from Song Juyao was so fierce that it felt like a wolf had sunk its teeth into his thumb and was about to tear it off. Jun Yao immediately released her and violently pulled his hand away.


    "You!" Jin Yao looked incredulously at his thumb, which had been bitten with a circle of blood marks, and stared at Song Juyao in disbelief.


    Song Juyao''s eyes were slightly red, and she wiped her lips with the back of her hand, "Violence can''t solve any problems, but if student Jin Yao dares to touch me again, don''t blame me for being impolite."


    After speaking, she turned and left. The student guarding the gate was shocked and didn''t dare to stop her.


    Li Zhao and Ming Shu had been waiting outside for her. When they saw her coming out, they met up with her and left together.


    Ming Shu looked at Song Juyao with a complicated expression. Song Juyao was covered in bruises, and the thumbprint on her chin was shocking. She couldn''t believe someone had gone to such lengths to help her. Even in reality, she had never met someone like this. It turned out to be such an overwhelming feeling to be offered a helping hand in a moment of despair.


    "Thank you." Ming Shu said tearfully.


    As Song Juyao looked at her, her still slightly angry eyes softened as if they had melted. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.


    "Come on, let''s go see the doctor."


    Song Juyao smiled, and under the sunlight even though she looked a little bit embarrassed, nothing could stop the radiant soul inside of her from shining brightly.


    That''s right, the feeling of someone reaching out to help you in moments of despair is very warm, isn''t it? Very moving, right? At this moment, you feel like you want to repay the other person with the whole world, don''t you? The other person seemed like an angel, right?


    In the previous life, she had also been subjected to this kind of attack. Despite wanting to avoid drawing attention to herself, she still stood up to save her classmates. However, she didn''t realize that several beatings she received for the sake of being a savior were all orchestrated by the very classmates she had tried to protect.


    Now the tables had turned, and experiencing this feeling of being saved by someone else felt good.


    Jin Yao held his thumb, staring at Song Juyao''s retreating figure for a while. Eventually, he noticed that many people in the audience were still staring at him. He angrily shouted, "What are you looking at? Get out of here!"


    The students hastily got up and scattered.

 CH 12

    Chapter 12: First Arc [11]


    In the real world, the production team was in a state of restlessness. The staff in the studio hall went from being busy and frenzied to becoming quiet and unsure of what to do. They were now watching Song Juyao and Ming Shu''s live broadcast room with mournful expressions.


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah, I can''t take it anymore, Song Juyao is so sassy!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah, that bite! That bite let me smell the taste of idol dramas!¡¿


    ¡¾Jin Yao is a big jerk, go die! How can there be such a disgusting man? He makes me so angry. Little sister, teach him a lesson.¡¿


    ¡¾Will Jin Yao fall? Is he going to fall? Is he going to fall?¡¿


    ¡¾The scent of campus idol dramas is so alluring!¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao is a murderer!¡¿


    ¡¾Even if she is really a murderer, maybe there are other hidden reasons? She hasn''t revealed her so-called true face until now.¡¿


    ¡¾I think that someone with her current family background, she can still live in such a gentle and just way, would it be logical to say that she would suddenly want to rape someone in a moment of acute desperation? With her intelligence, would she do such a thing? She is stunning, what kind of man does she not have a choice of?¡¿


    ¡¾Knowing someone''s face but not their heart, it''s not surprising that the victim, who is even more handsome than entertainment stars and looks gentle and cute, could trigger the beastly nature of some women.¡¿


    ¡¾What''s going on? Are these comments from the online trolls? Does the murderer have some unknown background? Otherwise, why would anyone speak up for the murderer?¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    Online communication platforms such as live streaming barrage, social media platforms, chat groups, and other online communication venues were buzzing with ongoing discussions. From the moment Song Juyao kicked the tennis basket, the excitement level peaked, and the last thing the production group wanted to see had also appeared - some people started to speak up for Song Juyao.


    Even though these voices were still faint, it was concerning because this episode of the broadcast had only just started!


    Tang Shan sensed the gravity of the situation. It had been less than two days since the start of the first live broadcast, and it was already stirring the hearts of the audience. This was all because Song Juyao was out of their control.


    Human nature tends to idolize the strong, and now Song Juyao was shining like a strong person. However, because of her down-to-earth side, people perceived her as genuine, without that cold and distant feeling that makes people feel unapproachable.


    She was just too perfect.


    If this continues, it was unimaginable how many fans she would gain by the end of the first episode.


    Director-in-chief Tan Wei entered the room with an unpleasant expression. Hearing Tang Shan''s comment, his face turned even uglier.


    "One or two, I don''t know what you are anxious about! You also know that this is the first episode! How many episodes do we have in total? Eight episodes! So what if she''s doing well in the first season? Can she escape from our control? There are plenty of opportunities to bring her down! I am the director-in-chief of this show. How many seasons have I directed? Do I need your advice?!"


    Tan Wei scolded Tang Shan and vented all his anger on him. Not long ago, Madame Huo had also scolded him on the phone, asking him why Song Juyao was having such a great time in the virtual world. Tan Wei was a prominent director in the industry, and even award-winning actors and actresses had to butter him up to get a chance to appear on his show. But now, he had been scolded from head to toe. If it weren''t for the fact that the Huo family was one of the investors, he would have smashed his phone in Madame Huo''s face long ago.


    Now that he came back, he was pointed out by his assistant director, triggering his rebellious mindset.


    "Director Tan, what I''m saying is that a murderer, who should have been condemned and serving time in prison, is now gaining fame and living a free and beloved life in our virtual world. This is unacceptable..." How uncomfortable would the victims'' families feel seeing this kind of scene?


    "I have everything under control! The buzz, the popularity, the ratings, they''re all approaching the peak of the first season. What are you dissatisfied about? Let her be proud, the higher she climbs, the harder she falls, got it? Understood! If you''re dissatisfied, get out!"


    Tan Wei''s explosive temper was infamous, particularly since he became the director of the "Justice Trial" reality show, his temper amplified with his fame. The studio hall fell into an awkward silence.


    With an unpleasant expression, Tang Shan returned to his work, choosing not to say anything further.


    A colleague came over and whispered to comfort him, "Don''t mind him, he''s getting old."


    "Ok. How''s Mr. K doing?" Tang Shan could only hope to find a fatal flaw in Song Juyao''s past as soon as possible. He had a feeling that things were not as simple as Tan Wei thought, and if they continued down this path, something more dangerous might happen.


    "Not so fast." Despite everything being displayed on the screen, the virtual world was made up of vast amounts of complex data that were difficult to sort through. To backtrack to a specific scene, they would have to navigate through countless lines of code and then piece them together into images or sounds. It was not an easy task.


    Thinking about this, he couldn''t help but exclaim, "Our king is too powerful."


    ......


    Tang Kai had expected that Ming Shu would be injured, but he had not expected them to be so severe. It seems that even though this is a virtual world, one must still be cautious and careful. Song Juyao also had injuries on her body, which gave him an opportunity to have close proximity and physical contact with her.


    Ming Shu had already figured out Tang Kai''s intentions and felt a sense of unease, but was unsure how to act. They were here to subject Song Juyao to tests and hardships, after all.


    As Tang Kai tended to Ming Shu''s injuries, Song Juyao walked towards the window and drew back the curtain. Her gaze swept over the outside scenery and suddenly paused. Her beautiful eyes once again sparkled with a different kind of brilliance.


    The audience''s attention quickly shifted to the main camera, revealing a football field and a group of boys playing. Near the field was a small grove where some students were lounging in wooden chairs. Song Juyao''s gaze was fixed on a boy who was reading a book.


    ¡¾What is she looking at?¡¿


    ¡¾Looks like it''s a guy?¡¿


    ¡¾What the heck, am I blind? I didn''t see him just now!¡¿


    ¡¾Could this be the same guy that Song Juyao was spying on through her dorm room telescope after the school celebration?¡¿


    ¡¾Why is Song Juyao looking at him?¡¿


    ¡¾He looks gloomy... and has a very low sense of existence. From Song Juyao''s perspective, I had to scan the people around him before noticing him. It''s doubtful that she would be interested in him.¡¿


    Regardless of how the audience speculates, Song Juyao''s gaze remained fixed on the seemingly unremarkable and gloomy boy.


    After administering medicine to Ming Shu, Tang Kai turned his attention to Song Juyao.


    She was seated by the window, her cheek resting on her hand as she stared outside. She wasn''t afraid of the sun and bathed in the afternoon sunlight. Her side profile was outlined with soft, fluffy golden edges. Her long eyelashes, delicate high nose, red and well-defined lips, and light brown pupils shimmered in the light. She was captivated by the view outside.


    She was lost looking at the scenery outside, oblivious to the fact that she was also a sight to behold in someone else''s eyes.


    "What are you looking at?" Tang Kai approached her with the medicine.


    Song Juyao tore her gaze away and shook her head.


    "I''ll apply some medicine on you. Don''t worry, it won''t leave any scars." Tang Kai walked up to her, lifted her chin and leaned down to apply the medicine.


    From Ming Shu''s perspective, the sight of this couple was simply too pleasing to the eyes. Both of them were stunningly attractive, with an excellent temperament. The tall man dipped a cotton swab into the medicine and gently applied it to the bruises on the girl''s face. As their eyes occasionally met, there seemed to be an ambiguous spark igniting between them in such close proximity.


    Li Zhao covered her mouth, her ears turning red.


    Tang Kai had already rehearsed this scene several times. He was handsome, charming, and a perfect gentleman. Even Ming Shu blushed when he applied medicine to her face earlier. With his carefully planned moves to flirt with her, their occasional eye contact was bound to make any woman''s heart skip a beat.


    The female fans in the live stream room were already screaming with excitement. Those who switched to Song Juyao''s perspective couldn''t help but curl up their toes tightly.


    However, the main protagonist of the scene, Song Juyao''s skin did not turn red in the slightest. Her gaze was also not evasive, meeting his gaze without evasion. Her clear and innocent eyes were like a vast pool of autumn water that held a hint of curiosity and a bit of natural charm, which unconsciously made her even more seductive.


    Being unknowingly seductive is the most deadly.


    Thump...


    Tang Kai, on the other hand, couldn''t maintain eye contact and was the first to look away. He awkwardly turned his head and used the back of his hand to cover his face as he coughed.


    Damn...what a shame.


    "Dr. Tang Kai." Suddenly, Song Juyao spoke up.


    "Hmm?" Tang Kai immediately switched back into his flirtatious mode, his voice low and magnetic.


    "Are you married? Do you have children?"


    The fatal question was suddenly thrown out, Tang Kai''s expression froze, and Ming Shu also let out a "crap" in her heart.


    What should he do now? Should Tang Kai deny it? Although their task was to make Song Juyao suffer, they would also try to avoid playing negative roles themselves, so as not to influence the audience''s perception of them. Even though the character may not be as significant as the actor, there are still many people who associate both and dislike the actor due to their dislike of a role.


    Would the test still hold if Tang Kai denies it? Currently, Song Juyao does not have any romantic interest in Tang Kai. If she finds out that he is married with children, she may distance herself from him immediately, and will not be tempted at all.


    Song Juyao should be a despicable and immoral person. Initially, Ming Shu also  believed that Song Juyao was a despicable and immoral person, and she held this view before entering the virtual world. However, her perception of Song Juyao has changed.


    Song Juyao was still looking at Tang Kai, waiting for an answer.


    Tang Kai was indeed a film emperor. He had already calmed down in an instant and asked in return, "Why do you suddenly ask such a question?"


    In response, Song Juyao chuckled and said, "I just think Dr. Tang Kai is a father figure for me."


    Tang Kai''s expression froze again, "F-father?!"


    "Yes, I have always had an image of a father figure in my mind, and Dr. Tang Kai just fits it perfectly."


    "Pfft!" Ming Shu covered her mouth. "Excuse me, I just remembered something funny."


    [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]


    [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]


    [Tang Kai''s expression is so hilarious, who would have thought? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA]


    [I want to flirt with you, but you treat me like an old father, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]


    The barrage of comments were crazy with laughter.


    Feeling overwhelmed, Tang Kai lost interest in flirting. He forced a gentle smile and gave Song Juyao her medication, and escorted the three of them out of the school clinic.


    As they left, Song Juyao deliberately took a detour to a small grove, searching for someone with probing eyes, but the person she was looking for was nowhere to be seen.


    Ming Shu turned to look at the small forest. Who was she searching for? She wanted to ask, but their relationship wasn''t close enough to discuss such matters.


    "Ming Shu, Li Zhao, why don''t you come to my place to rest tonight." Song Juyao offered.


    The two of them were momentarily stunned but quickly understood that Song Juyao was concerned that something terrible might be awaiting them in their dormitory after today''s incident, so she wanted them to stay at her place first.


    Ming Shu nodded, feeling touched and thinking to herself that Song Juyao was really gentle and kind... Ahhhhh, Mingshu, you have to stay clear-headed! You can''t fall for her! ! She''s a murderer and you''re an idol who came here to complete a mission! This was a perfect opportunity to investigate if Song Juyao had anything suspicious that could interest the audience.


    Song Juyao retracted her lingering gaze and lowered her eyes.


    Who am I looking for? Of course I won''t let you guys know easily, that''s my secret weapon ah.

 CH 13

    Chapter 13: First Arc [12]


    Song Juyao stopped at the pet supplies store adjacent to the veterinary clinic before heading back to her apartment.


    Since many students in her dormitory kept pets, the store had a wide selection of pet supplies. Having become a cat owner, Song Juyao had hastily purchased cat food and a litter box the day before, and was now in search of other essential items.


    "I should just get what''s necessary to avoid the hassle of moving when I return to the research institute," Song Juyao made up her mind.


    As it turned out, Ming Shu and Li Zhao were outside the store, observing as Song Juyao gathered various snacks, canned food, and cat toys, filling an entire basket at the checkout counter. Her posture of being conquered by the cat couldn''t have been more obvious.


    "Isn''t this too much?" Li Zhao scrutinized the price of the canned food, feeling momentarily blinded by the steep cost. As a commoner, she couldn''t fathom what kind of cheap goods could be found at an aristocratic school like theirs. Why was she even bothering to check the price?  She was burned by the luxury of capitalism!


    Song Juyao appeared distressed. "I just can''t help but think of how adorable Song Wanwan is and want to get everything for her..."


    "Mm, Song Wanwan? That''s the name the Senior Sister gave the cat, right?" Ming Shu inquired.


    "Yes, isn''t it a lovely name?"


    "Yes, "It''s a nice name."


    "Your total comes to 4210.9 yuan," the cashier announced with a smile.


    Song Juyao reached for her phone to make the payment, but her movement suddenly paused, and her cheeks turned slightly red as she looked up with a slightly embarrassed expression. "I''m sorry, I only need a few of these."


    "Sure."


    She selected a few items and paid for them.


    Observing Song Juyao''s behavior, Ming Shu couldn''t help but wonder what had caused her to react like that. Did she not have¡­ enough money?


    But that couldn''t be true. Song Juyao was supposed to be very wealthy. She had started making money from variety shows at a young age, and her value skyrocketed as she grew older and became famous overnight. She didn''t have many expenses as a child, and even after entering the prestigious Jinke Duola Academy, she received a 500,000 yuan entrance bonus and had all her tuition fees waived. She was also awarded the highest level of scholarship and was now a member of the Olympiad team. Therefore, Song Juyao should be a rich woman.


    ......


    Before Tang Kai could get out of the blow of "old father", he was called to the student union by a student.


    Carrying his medicine box, he knocked on the office door of the president of the student union. A girl who looked like a secretary opened the door and invited him in.


    Inside, he was surprised to see a grand and opulent room that resembled a rich family''s living room rather than an office.


    On the gorgeous dark red carpet, two aristocratic figures, who looked nearly identical but with opposing temperaments, caught his attention. One sitting and the other standing, looked over at the same time.


    "Please attend to the wound on his hand," the standing figure''s voice was cold and metallic, giving him an even more ruthless demeanor. Even the thin-framed glasses he wore reflected a cold metallic luster.


    Jin Yao seemed annoyed as the bite mark on his thumb began to feel hot and itchy. "It was just a rabbit bite."


    "That''s precisely why you should be cautious about rabies. Doctor," Jin Yu stated.


    Tang Kai understood that these two individuals were the top figures, not only in the school hierarchy but even outside the school in the virtual world. Ming Shu''s recent lesson echoed in his mind, so he dutifully and quietly approached to treat Jin Yao''s wound.


    The appearance of the two handsome men caused a surge in Tang Kai''s live stream popularity, which had recently dropped considerably.


    Upon seeing the wound on Jin Yao''s thumb, Tang Kai was taken aback. It had stopped bleeding, but the tooth mark left by Song Juyao''s bite was deep and would probably be there for the rest of his life.


    Despite the injury, Jin Yao allowed Tang Kai to treat him while he absentmindedly stared at a certain point, his hand holding his cheek in annoyance.


    "That woman, when I see her again..." he muttered to himself.


    ¡¾He''s thinking about Song Juyao! I knew it!!¡¿


    ¡¾It wasn''t in vain that I rushed over here. The atmosphere of idol dramas has become even stronger. I''m so excited to think that this is a ''real'' occurrence and not just a scripted TV drama!¡¿


    ¡¾I came to see the accused being tortured and tested, not to watch a Cinderella campus idol drama!¡¿


    ¡¾Ahhh, Jin Yu is my type! I love this refined scum feeling! He''s exactly my type!¡¿


    Jin Yu: "Sure enough, the special enrollment is the rat shit of our school, and it should all be cleaned up."


    The secretary asked, "President, if special admissions are eliminated, what will happen to the enrollment rate?"


    "When the police select police dogs and society chooses to train guide dogs and other working dogs, they require that the dog''s ancestors for several generations have no record of biting, injuring, or going mad. Why? Because any inferior behavior is brought about by genes. In this school, every family, except for specially admitted students, has undergone a certain degree of bloodline purification, accumulating excellent genes and eliminating some inferior genes. Do you think that students from wealthy families with superior genes, under targeted training, will be inferior to merely specially admitted students?" Jin Yu''s tone was composed, and his words sounded ordinary, but his message was exceptionally conceited.


    "Understood. I was mistaken. I will make arrangements immediately," the secretary replied.


    The young lady turned and left.


    Tang Kai was stunned; it was, indeed, quite arrogant. However, upon reflection, there should be quite a few individuals in the real world with this kind of aristocratic mentality.


    Jin Yu aimed to eliminate specially admitted students, and Tang Kai had a hunch that this school was about to usher in a storm.


    ......


    As the apartment door opened, Song Wanwan darted out, meowing excitedly. Song Juyao bent down to scoop her up, and the two of them nuzzled each other fondly.


    "You both should rest now," Song Juyao said. Both girls had been through an emotional ordeal that day.


    They entered a spare room to rest.


    Song Juyao cradled Song Wanwan in her arms, sitting in the living room and rummaging through her purse. She withdrew a 100 yuan bill, two 10 yuan bills, and three 1 yuan coins.


    Gazing at the 123 yuan, Song Juyao let out a deep sigh, as if she was holding her last possession.


    Just then, her phone buzzed on the table, and Song Juyao stretched over to answer it. The caller ID read "Umbrella."


    "Sister Yulin?"


    A loud and irate woman''s voice greeted Song Juyao on the phone. "You turned eighteen last week. Why haven''t you canceled your bank card or transferred your household registration yet? Do you know that your salary that just arrived yesterday was taken away just like that?"


    "I forgot......"


    Ren Yulin''s voice boomed with anger. "Are you trying to piss me off?! Could it be that if I hadn''t remembered that your research institute paid your salary yesterday, so I went to take a special look at it, would you not want even the next payment?"


    "Don''t be angry. I''ll handle the paperwork in a couple of days, okay?"


    "A couple of days? You go tomorrow, and my brother will speak with the authorities to expedite the process for you." Ren Yulin''s tone softened.


    "Mm-hmm, thank Brother Jiaqi for me."


    After hanging up, Song Juyao stuck out her tongue in a childish manner, then opened her silent mailbox and clicked on a notification from the bank.


    She had only three cents left in her account. Luckily, she had a few hundred yuan in her mobile payment wallet, or she wouldn''t have been able to afford even a can of cat food.


    Song Juyao stared silently for a while before murmuring to herself, "Fortunately, I accepted the headmaster''s invitation to stay at the school; otherwise, I would have to sleep on the streets."


    ¡¾I have a bold guess, is Song Juyao''s money with Liu Yan?¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao has only recently become an adult, so before she turned 18, her money was probably with her legal guardian, right?¡¿


    ¡¾So Song Juyao didn''t kill or get rid of Liu Yan at all, and even Liu Yan took away all of Song Juyao''s money, making her almost unable to afford food?¡¿


    ¡¾Are you really eager to help a murderer wash their hands clean with just one phone call? Who knows who the person on the other end of the phone was? What if the money isn''t with Liu Yan? If you think logically, with Liu Yan''s personality, it''s impossible to be so dominant.¡¿


    ¡¾The lottery company has launched a new round of betting, this time betting on whether the person who took Song Juyao''s money is Liu Yan or not. I''ll take a step ahead!¡¿


    ¡¾Yulin? Is it Ren Yulin? The foul-mouthed woman who participated in ''I am the Big Winner'' with Song Juyao?¡¿


    Tang Kai had previously watched the episode where Song Juyao first appeared as a challenger on ''I am the Big Winner''. Some viewers had switched to Tang Kai''s perspective to watch it together. In that episode, there was a very annoying female challenger who was the common enemy of the virtual world audience. She had a sharp tongue, an extremely arrogant attitude, and everyone was unable to deal with her until Song Juyao challenged and defeated her, taking her place.


    The ultimate PK between Song Juyao and Ren Yulin could be said to be the most classic and exciting battle in the history of "I''m the Big Winner". The two fought until the question bank was emptied twice, and in the end, that thin, dark-skinned little girl who was only 10 years old won. The moment the girl won, not only the audience in the virtual world but also the audience in the real world felt thrilled and exhilarated.


    After watching the show, they thought that Ren Yulin was just a passerby. But who would have thought that Ren Yulin would actually make another appearance and have a good relationship with Song Juyao.


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah, I''m so curious! What has Song Juyao been through in the past few years?¡¿


    ¡¾I always feel that Song Juyao''s growth experience is like a legend.¡¿


    ¡¾Being friends with someone like Ren Yulin proves that Song Juyao is not necessarily a good person either. Ren Yulin obviously got some issues if she can be so disliked by so many NPCs.¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿

 CH 14

    Chapter 14: First Arc [13]


    Song Juyao took the money and went out to the school supermarket. She bought some vegetables as the student canteen was too expensive and she could no longer afford it due to her poverty.


    When Ming Shu got up, the sky was ablaze with colorful clouds, and the sun was half-hidden behind the coastline. The smell of food wafted in the air, and the sound of bustling activities from the kitchen caught her attention.


    For a moment, Ming Shu was confused and thought she was still in the real world, in a warm home. It seemed like a dream.


    As she followed the sound to the kitchen, Ming Shu caught a glimpse of Song Juyao wearing casual clothes, her hair neatly tied up in a bun. The pot on the stove was bubbling and steaming, and with a rhythmic tapping sound, Song Juyao was skillfully chopping the sliced carrots into thin julienne strips. From the side, she looked so beautiful and gentle. Meanwhile, Song Wanwan was lying lazily on her cotton home slippers, scratching the back of her ears.


    "Are you awake? Are you feeling better?" Song Juyao turned her head to look at her.


    Ming Shu nodded dazedly.


    "Go to the living room and watch TV for a while," Song Juyao suggested.


    With a hoarse voice, Ming Shu replied, "Okay." Her eyes were slightly red, and Song Juyao''s warm and friendly demeanor made her feel like she was with a family member. This feeling made her heart tremble because she had been living and working in the capital alone, away from her family since the age of 14.


    Ming Shu was skeptical and wondered, She really wouldn''t be the kind of person who would use her power to sexually assault others because of lust, would she?


    She suspected that there might be some unknown circumstances, but she knew she couldn''t express her opinion on the show. Judging Song Juyao was the job of the audience, and as real-life NPCs, they had no qualifications or permission to influence the audience''s opinions.


    Ming Shu stood in the living room for a while, stealing a glance at Song Juyao, who was busy in the kitchen before quickly making her way into Song Juyao''s bedroom.


    The bedroom was sparsely furnished, with a neatly made bed and only a few clothes in the cabinet. Ming Shu searched for any clues that could prove Song Juyao had done something bad behind the scenes.


    Just when she thought she wouldn''t find anything, she inexplicably picked up Song Juyao''s pillow and, to her surprise, a stack of photos appeared in front of her.


    As she picked up the stack of photos, Ming Shu realized that they were all pictures of the same boy. He was tall, but always seemed to have his head lowered and his back bowed. The air around him appeared colder than anywhere else, and he had a gloomy temperament that made people unconsciously avoid him. The photos showed him walking on the road, reading in a coffee shop, and eating indoors from various angles¡­They were obviously taken secretly.


    What the hell? Song Juyao... took these pictures secretly? And who is this guy? Ming Shu was confused.


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah, it''s the guy from the small forest!¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao is really abnormal, what is she doing?¡¿


    ¡¾Who is this guy? Is Song Juyao trying to kill him? Is he her chosen target?¡¿


    ¡¾It''s so scary, she looks perfectly normal, why is she secretly taking pictures of people?¡¿


    ¡¾Please, I really believe that there is a hidden reason for your killing, don''t disappoint me [about to cry] [about to cry]¡¿


    ¡¾I''m willing to bet everything that Song Juyao doesn''t want to kill him!¡¿


    "Senior sister..."


    Li Zhao''s voice came from outside, startling Ming Shu. She quickly put the photos back under the pillow and went out.


    ¡¾Fool! You didn''t put the photos back in the right order!¡¿


    Song Juyao remained oblivious to Li Zhao''s entry into her room as she busied herself in the kitchen, preparing soup and stir-fried vegetables for dinner. The three of them gathered around the table to eat.


    "Does it taste okay?" Song Juyao asked.


    "It''s so delicious!" Li Zhao said loudly, her ears turning red with delight as she never expected that Song Juyao would cook for them. She couldn''t believe that not only did she get to sleep in her idol''s apartment, but she also had the opportunity to taste the food cooked by her.


    Ming Shu''s mind was still preoccupied with the discovery of the photos and she was a bit slow to respond. However, Song Juyao was understanding and comforted her, assuming that she was feeling low due to the tennis court incident.


    At night, Song Juyao spent her time on the terrace engrossed in her studies, reading books, writing papers, and analyzing experimental data received from her colleagues. She occasionally picked up her binoculars and glanced at the apartment building across the street. Li Zhao would sometimes approach her with questions and Song Juyao patiently explained the concepts, while also providing her with additional exercises. Over time, Li Zhao became comfortable enough to sit with her on the terrace and do homework together.


    Although Li Zhao was curious about what Song Juyao was looking at with the binoculars, she didn''t ask. This left the audience in the live broadcast speechless. Despite being a fan of Song Juyao, Li Zhao didn''t even consider the possibility that Song Juyao might be using the binoculars to peep on others. She was engrossed in doing her homework.


    And Song Juyao was actually peeping so openly. Was she fearless, or did she actually have a clear conscience? But she was clearly peeping at the boys'' dormitory!


    The bewildered audience felt conflicted; they loved Song Juyao but were also apprehensive of her actions.


    While the two were busy, Ming Shu didn''t dare to approach any closer and had to hide in the bathroom, pretending to analyze what she had seen and heard today for her audience. She was afraid of being exposed as a college slacker in the live stream. Even though many idols in the entertainment industry have average academic qualifications, it was still embarrassing to reveal it in front of the audience.


    Finally, the moment that many viewers had been waiting for arrived - Song Juyao went back to her room to sleep.


    She got into bed and took out the stack of photos from under the pillow, pausing for a moment.


    ¡¾She really found out.¡¿


    ¡¾A little scared¡­ Is Ming Shu in trouble?¡¿


    ¡¾Is she finally going to reveal her hidden side?¡¿


    ¡¾Nervous, looking forward to it!¡¿


    Song Juyao appeared briefly confused as she glanced in the direction of the door. However, she soon relaxed, leaning against the pillow and flipping through the photos in her hand with a focused and gentle expression. There was a faint smile on her lips.


    ¡¾Do her eyes look like she wants to kill someone? People who say that must be blind.¡¿


    ¡¾Hard to say, who knows what a psycho''s thought process is like?¡¿


    Song Juyao spent some time looking at the photos before turning off the lights and going to sleep. The following day, she treated Ming Shu the same way she did before.


    "Thanks for making such a delicious breakfast, Li Zhao," Song Juyao said with a smile as she put down her chopsticks.


    "Thank you." Ming Shu blushed a bit as she said that. She felt so embarrassed that while Song Juyao cooked dinner for them last night, and Li Zhao got up early to prepare breakfast, she had slept soundly like a pig. She felt so impolite in comparison.


    Song Juyao said, "You two stay in the dorm, I''ll go find the headmaster."


    But Li Zhao shook her head and declined, "We have a monthly exam today, I can''t miss it." Without good grades, she won''t be able to receive the full scholarship.


    As for Ming Shu, who had developed a fear of attending classes at this school, she had to hold back her fear and follow Li Zhao back to class.


    ......


    Song Juyao became famous in the Jinke Duola  Academy and the whole school was talking about her.


    Song Juyao had clearly provoked Jin Yao. Initially, she was only a guest staying at the school upon invitation from the headmaster and was not a student. People were free to like or dislike her as they pleased. However, offending the school''s emperor was a different story altogether. After all, Song Juyao could leave anytime, but the rest of them had to continue to survive and study at the school.


    So as Song Juyao made her way from the dormitory to the headmaster''s office, she noticed that every student she encountered was looking at her differently than before.


    Song Juyao didn''t think much of it. The headmaster obviously knew why she was here and looked a bit embarrassed. Especially since there was a student union''s plan for the second half of the year on his desk at the moment.


    "You promised to reform the school and treat special admission students well," she said.


    "Well... the special admission students in our school already receive better treatment than all the noble schools. They receive entrance bonuses, waived tuition and miscellaneous fees, and scholarships¡­." the headmaster tried to defend the school''s treatment of special admission students.


    "Except for a little less money, most special admission students can get this kind of treatment even in public schools," she continued. "They can even make equally good friends in public schools, get the preference of teachers in various subjects, and be admired by classmates, instead of being looked down upon and bullied like here. As the headmaster, how can you turn a blind eye to this? They have raised the school''s rankings and are heroes of the school, aren''t they?"


    The headmaster became increasingly nervous as he was criticized. If it weren''t for Jin Yu being the student council president, he would have dared to interfere with the affairs of the student council. However, who made Jin Yu the president? He knew that he didn''t dare to do anything as Jin Yu held that position.


    "This has nothing to do with you, so don''t get involved..." he replied, trying to calm Song Juyao down.


    "If I hadn''t witnessed the situation, that would be one thing, but I did see it. How could I pretend that I haven''t?" Furthermore, she had already intervened and helped Li Zhao. If she were to stop now and do nothing, what kind of retaliation would the girl face? To pull someone out of the abyss and then push them back in with your own hands is undoubtedly the cruelest thing in the world.


    He simply quit and played dumb, saying, "Those students only listen to the student council. If you really want to help the special admission group, you should go to the student council and find them!"


    The headmaster regretted inviting Song Juyao to live on campus. He didn''t expect her to be so nosy and now he was in a difficult position.


    ¡¾What kind of trash educator is this, this type of person is still worthy of being a headmaster!¡¿


    ¡¾It''s this kind of irresponsible educator that has ruined countless young seedlings!¡¿


    ¡¾I''m so angry, so angry, so angry, so angry!¡¿


    ¡¾Am I the only one who cares that Song Juyao hasn''t canceled her bank card yet? What if more money comes in and then gets taken away? I''m so worried.¡¿


    ......


    Ming Shu instinctively shrank behind Li Zhao. It was evident that they had become famous on campus after the tennis court incident yesterday. As they walked, students looked over with malicious eyes, but surprisingly, no one approached them to cause trouble; they merely watched them pass by with cold gazes.


    "What''s happening now? The Special Admissions Student Alliance?"


    "It depends on what Jin Yao and Jin Yu say later."


    "Are they stupid? Do they not realize the situation? Song Juyao isn''t even a student. What if she leaves after provoking Jin Yao? What will they do then?"


    "Who knows......"


    The annoying murmurs kept coming, Li Zhao lowered her head and Ming Shu followed suit.


    Suddenly, someone walked past them, and Ming Shu caught sight of two legs clad in black school pants. She looked up instinctively and saw a pale side profile darting past.


    ...It¡¯s the boy in the photo!!!


    Ming Shu''s eyes widened as she watched the boy walk into Class 11, her heart beating violently. Suddenly, she remembered that Song Juyao had appeared on this floor of the teaching building yesterday and saved Li Zhao. She had forgotten about it at the time, but now she realized that Song Juyao might have appeared here because of this boy!


    "Ming Shu?" Li Zhao called out when she noticed that Ming Shu had suddenly stopped walking.


    "Do you know who that guy is who just walked by?" Ming Shu asked, her voice filled with excitement.


    "Which one?" Li Zhao looked over.


    "The one who just went into the Class 11 through the back door!" Ming Shu said.


    Li Zhao scratched her cheek and responded calmly, "Oh, him? Yeah, I know who he is."


    The entire live-stream chat room became excited, curious about the boy who Song Juyao was watching and the mystery was finally going to be revealed!

 CH 15

    Chapter 15: First Arc [14]


    Li Zhao looked at Ming Shu in confusion, not understanding why she was so excited.


    "That''s Jiang Baiqi from Class 11. He''s also a specially recruited student and a weirdo."


    Ming Shu silently repeated the name and followed Li Zhao''s lead. "A weirdo? What do you mean?" she asked.


    "He never communicates with anyone, like a mute, and he''s very gloomy and scary. Sometimes he looks at people with strange eyes, and he has a very low profile. He''s like a ghost, appearing and disappearing at will. Everyone thinks there''s something wrong with him, even the rich kids are afraid to provoke him for fear of some terrible revenge," Li Zhao whispered, pointing to her head. He''s truly unique in the school, because he looks so gloomy and scary that even bullies don''t dare to bully him.


    Rubbing her arm, Ming Shu expressed her unease. "I also find him weird and scary after hearing you say that. Do you know anything about his background? How many people are in his family?"


    Li Zhao gave her a strange look. "Are you checking his household registration?"


    Ming Shu shrugged. "Just curious." Otherwise, how would she know why Song Juyao was watching him?


    "I have no idea," Li Zhao admitted. "But since he''s a specially recruited student, he''s probably from an ordinary family like us. The wealthy ones wouldn''t bother with the school''s enrollment bonus and wouldn''t enter as a specially recruited student, becoming a bottom-level student."


    Ming Shu found it even more curious and strange that someone with an unremarkable background, a gloomy disposition, and a low profile would attract the attention of girls like Song Juyao, who seemed to come from a completely different world, shining brightly.


    The barrage section was abuzz with speculation, and numerous internet sleuths emerged, meticulously analyzing various possibilities. Viewers were captivated and couldn''t tear themselves away from the live broadcast. The show''s ratings had been steadily climbing, and the topic was being discussed incessantly on the internet, even sparking disagreements within the production team.


    Director Qin Wei and his supporters viewed this phenomenon positively. After all, Song Juyao was firmly under their control, so why not let the floodgates remain open? It would only benefit them without causing any harm. The group led by deputy director Tang Shan, however, believed in being cautious and looking out for potential danger. They were determined to uncover Song Juyao''s fatal flaw so that the audience wouldn''t be swayed.


    ......


    The student union building spanned an entire building, with each department boasting offices, a members'' lounge, and a conference room. The president''s office was situated on the highest floor.


    As Song Juyao stepped into the student union building, everyone who saw her was taken aback.


    "Song Juyao? What is she here for?"


    "Probably to apologize to Jin Yao."


    "Is Song Juyao that kind of person?"


    "Who knows what kind of person she really is..."


    Song Juyao stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.


    "She''s headed to the top floor. Is she looking for the president?"


    "Is she trying to approach the president? But even though the president appears more refined than Jin Yao, she''s in for a rude awakening if she thinks the president is easy to approach."


    "The president loathes specially-recruited students¡­"


    As they observed the elevator''s ascending numbers, they continued to speculate. Compared to Jin Yao, Jin Yu was a bona fide aristocrat, with arrogance woven into his very being. He believed in the supremacy of bloodlines. Rumor had it that at the age of seven, he had already selected his future fiancee simply because her family was deemed to be of the same social status as his own.


    The elevator door chimed, and the doors slid open.


    As the student council president owned the entire floor, the hallway was empty and peaceful, distinct from other floors where students constantly came and went. Sunlight shone in from a large, floral glass on the left, and Song Juyao approached the office door and rapped on it.


    "Enter." A cold male voice came from inside.


    Song Juyao pushed the door open and stepped inside.


    Seeing Song Juyao, Jin Yu was not surprised. When she entered the student council building, someone downstairs had already notified him.


    Song Juyao''s eyes reflected the young man sitting behind the desk. He had exactly the same facial features as Jin Yao, but sported a different hairstyle. Each strand of hair was immaculately managed, the buttons of his attire were neatly fastened, and he wore thin-framed glasses on his high nose bridge, giving him the appearance of an old-fashioned aristocrat.


    "Miss Song, if you''re here to apologize, it''s too late for that now." Jin Yu stared at her with a blank expression.


    "I''m not sure what I need to apologize for," she responded.


    "It seems you''re not here to apologize." Jin Yu closed his pen and rose to his feet. "Then it must be about the special admissions student."


    "Regardless of their status upon entry, all students at Jinke Duola School represent the institution. When they leave, they become faces of Jinke Duola. Furthermore, they may become employees of your company and become rare talents to contribute to your family industry. I don''t understand why the Student Union would treat them differently."


    Despite Jin Yu''s cold and aggressive gaze, Song Juyao met his stare without flinching. Her back remained straight and resolute, like bamboo in the wind.


    Jin Yu''s eyes narrowed slightly, "Are you blaming me?"


    "As the president of the Student Union, it''s your responsibility to manage the school and maintain order. You''ve failed to do so," replied Song Juyao.


    Jin Yu retorted with a sneer, "In what capacity are you accusing me here? Just another poor worm like those special recruits? Do you feel sad and pathetic watching your own kind being bullied, so now you want to play the hero?"


    Song Juyao''s eyes burned with anger, and her usually upturned mouth turned downwards as she spoke, "Regardless of whether the bullied student is a specially admitted student or a wealthy kid, I will always extend a helping hand when I see them being unjustly hurt. I didn''t come here with the intention of blaming you, but it seems that I can''t communicate with someone like you. Bullied students choose to endure because they fear retaliation, but I won''t. You can choose to turn a blind eye to the experiences of specially admitted students, indulge the bullies, or even encourage them to harm others. But the evidence of your negligence will be presented to those in authority to judge, or in the worst-case scenario, it may end up on the President''s desk. (President of the country)


    Jin Yu wore an amused expression and remarked sarcastically, "It seems like meeting the President once has become your proud capital."


    Ignoring the taunts, Song Juyao stated, "I understand that the centipede dies but never falls. The status and wealth amassed by the Jin family is so significant that even if someone were to be murdered and I presented evidence to the President, it might not be enough to sway your family. However, I do know that the government is discontent with the existence of aristocrats and is seeking ways to diminish their power and wealth. Do you believe that I won''t provide them with a means to weaken the Jin family? A dam spanning a thousand miles can be destroyed by a small ant''s nest. Doesn''t President Jin comprehend this fact? Or maybe he''s become so conceited that he believes his family is invincible?"


    With a sneer, Song Juyao turned around and walked away.


    Jin Yu''s face darkened with anger, clearly feeling pricked at a sensitive spot. The power struggle between the nobility and the government had reached a boiling point, and the Jin family had become increasingly cautious and vigilant. Song Juyao''s actions had caught him off guard. However, what irritated Jin Yu even more was Song Juyao''s complete lack of respect for him and his family.


    Damn it, never before had he encountered a commoner who dared to threaten him! It seemed that yesterday''s bite to Jin Yao was not accidental, but rather a clear indication that this person did not take them seriously at all.


    Suppressing his surge of emotions, Jin Yu regained his usual cold indifference, and spoke to Song Juyao''s retreating figure,"You''re somewhat right. So don''t worry, I don''t intend to leave such a handle for you to exploit."


    Song Juyao''s pace slowed down a bit.


    Jin Yu expressed, "In my opinion, having special admissions students at Jinke Duola Academy is unreasonable. Humans have been a part of modern society for countless years with generations of accumulation, yet they still remain at the bottom of society. This illustrates the inferiority of their genes, which disqualifies them from receiving an elite education on this land. As a result, all special admissions students at Jinke Duola will be dismissed."


    As Jin Yu spoke, Song Juyao halted her steps and turned to face him. "What did you say?"


    Jin Yu lowered his head and fidgeted with his sleeve cuff. "Don''t worry, the severance pay won''t be insufficient. Since their grades are so good, there will definitely be public schools willing to accept them."


    ¡¾Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I''m going to explode! ! ! ¡¿


    ¡¾Go to hell with your genetic theory! The reason people remain at the bottom of society is because rich people like you monopolize educational resources and force others to survive in poverty!¡¿


    ¡¾Look at what these disgusting rich people have done! When their grades are not up to par, they steal other people''s scores during the college entrance exam, exploiting the poor and proudly saying that it''s their own genes that are to blame for their poverty!¡¿


    ¡¾I''m so angry, ah ah ah ah ah!¡¿


    "Bang!"


    With a dull sound of a fist hitting flesh, Jin Yu, who had just finished speaking, was knocked backwards and stumbled two steps before finally falling to the ground in a sorry state.


    ¡¾!!!¡¿


    ¡¾(¡Ñ£ß¡Ñ)(¡Ñ£ß¡Ñ)¡¿


    ¡¾!!!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Oh my God!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡­Grass!¡¿


    Jin Yu held his cheek after being punched in the face, and for once, a pleasing expression appeared on that arrogant face. He looked at Song Juyao in disbelief and then his eyes were filled with offended anger.


    As Song Juyao approached him, she condescendingly gazed down at him, as if he were a piece of trash. "Violence is never a solution to any problem, which is why I didn''t initially intend to resort to it."

 CH 16

    Chapter 16: First Arc [15]


    Jin Yu was seething with anger: "How dare you-"


    "How dare you trample on other people''s dignity like this!" Song Juyao''s anger burned even hotter than his. Her face darkened as she spoke, "Every school has made numerous promises to bring in outstanding students with promising prospects. Entering this school, it''s one thing to not show them respect, but to actively try to drive them out is despicable. You are truly disgusting."


    "You..." Jin Yu could feel his blood boiling.


    Undeterred, Song Juyao bent down and grabbed his collar. "Let me tell you, even the poor people have pride and a backbone. What makes you so superior? If I want to hit you, I''ll just hit you. Won''t your noble body still feel pain under my fist?"


    Song Juyao''s eyes flashed with a wolf-like ferocity, her gaze blazing with a red-hot flame that seemed capable of burning souls to ashes. As Jin Yu stared into those eyes up close, he felt as if he was being burned alive, and his breath caught in his throat.


    "You. Are. Asking. For. Death." After finally coming back to his senses, Jin Yu spat out word by word through gritted teeth.


    Song Juyao smiled faintly, but it lacked any warmth. She spoke confidently, "What can you do to me? I''m a member of the Olympiad Prize team, a prestigious group of individuals known as the ''National Treasure,'' with only one representative from each country. The government knows I''m living in Jinke Duola Academy. If anything happens to me, do you think the government won''t pursue it? This gives me considerable leverage. Besides, let me remind you of Mr. Albert, you should know him, right? If he fails to excel in his research, he''ll have to go back and inherit the legendary figure of the family''s arms empire. I''m his sole student. Your father would slap you around if he knew you''d got him into such trouble, wouldn''t he?"


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah, so handsome!!! ¡¿


    ¡¾Damn it''s so cool, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah¡¿


    ¡¾Oh my god, what kind of great plot is this? My brain is about to explode from excitement!!¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao, you''re killing me!! It''s so cool!! I want to switch to Jin Yu''s perspective, but he''s just an NPC, waaahhh!¡¿


    Jin Yu''s face rapidly changed from red and blue, as he was filled with anger and hatred. He never expected that one day he would kick this kind of iron plate, especially since the opponent turned out to be a commoner without any noble bloodline and a special admission student, someone he had previously looked down upon.


    Song Juyao released her grip on him, and Jin Yu saw the disdainful look she gave him, as if he were something filthy, an expression he typically used to look at others.


    He was so enraged that his mind went blank, and he impulsively rose from the ground and reached out to grab Song Juyao. "Stay put--"


    The moment his hand made contact with Song Juyao''s shoulder, the sky spun, and Jin Yu''s vision went black.


    "Bang!" Jin Yu tumbled to the ground. At that moment, the sound of his bones cracking seemed to fill the air. But louder than the sound of bones cracking was the sound of his shattered pride as if his entire world had been crumbled to pieces.


    For a fleeting moment, everything stood still. He couldn''t tell if he had passed out or if this was all just a dream. Otherwise, how could something like this even happen to him? How could someone dare to treat him in such a manner?


    Song Juyao glanced at the boy who had been tossed over her shoulder and slammed onto the ground. His carefully styled hair was now disheveled, his glasses had flown off, and his clothes were in disarray. He appeared dazed and uncertain about his existence.


    Song Juyao blinked, turned her head and walked towards the desk, "Don''t suddenly attack me from behind, okay?"


    ¡¾Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha¡¿


    ¡¾Ha ha ha ha ha ha, I''m laughing so hard my head is about to fly off.¡¿


    ¡¾I''m laughing so hard that roosters within a ten-mile radius are crowing ha ha ha ha¡¿


    ¡¾I''m so thrilled!!!¡¿


    Song Juyao grabbed the desk''s landline and dialed the school''s infirmary.


    ......


    When Tang Kai received the phone call, he was searching online for why Song Juyao was so popular. Song Juyao''s biography was very long, and she had participated in several programs, but Tang Kai didn''t have enough time to watch them all because being a school doctor was really busy, especially since he was really handsome.


    The news that the new school doctor was a handsome and refined guy spread around the school, resulting in girls finding excuses to visit him. He spent his days dealing with admirers and felt like a male publicist rather than a doctor.


    Finally, today was the monthly exam, and he had a little free time, so he resumed his search for Song Juyao. Tang Kai believed that knowing oneself and the enemy was key to winning every battle, so he wanted to thoroughly understand Song Juyao before he could conquer her. He wasn''t concerned about his popularity in his live streaming room, as he believed that the audience would only be more curious than him. As long as he sat in front of the computer and searched for Song Juyao with a few clicks, there would be a large wave of viewers coming over, switching to his perspective to watch the information with him.


    Tang Kai searched - Why is Song Juyao so popular?


    He clicked on a reply with over 120,000 likes:


    When Song Juyao participated in "I''m a Big Star", there was a classic segment that caused people''s love for her to soar straight to the clouds.


    In the clip, when Song Juyao had eliminated all the other contestants, the host asked her why her father was not present and only her mother was there. The host intended to lead Song Juyao into saying that her father had passed away, thereby eliciting a sad story that would bring tears to the audience''s eyes. However, Song Juyao, who was still impoverished and skinny at the time, remained steadfast and resolute. She stood there with a steady gaze and just didn''t sell her tragedy.


    "Dad has gone to a distant place and doesn''t have time to accompany me."


    "Has he... passed away?"


    "No, he just went to a distant place."


    After this episode was broadcast, the audience was left confused, wondering whether Song Juyao''s father had passed away, went to work in a distant place, or abandoned her and her mother. Tang Kai had seen this segment before while watching the episode, but at that time he didn''t know that this segment needed to be watched together with another clip to achieve its full impact.


    On the night of the broadcast, the director of the show "I Am the Winner", Peng Jia posted a backstage segment on his own social media account.


    "Yao Yao, the host uncle asked you a question, why didn''t you tell the truth? The uncles, aunties, brothers, and sisters who watch the show also want to know," the director, Peng Jia, squatted in front of her and asked.


    Song Juyao looked at him seriously and said, "Uncle Peng, I have been very sad since my father passed away. This is not a happy thing. I feel the pain every day, and I don''t want to spread this painful feeling to others."


    The young girl''s innocent voice had a natural ability to move people to tears, and many soft-hearted staff members were seen with red eyes. The director wiped his face, and with a loving expression, he couldn''t resist stroking her head.


    Such a mature, sensible and well-behaved child is so lovable.


    It was this segment that topped the trending list that night. The program team created a social media account for Song Juyao, and her fan base quickly grew, with countless parents rushing in.


    The comments flooding the live broadcast room were also full of emotions and tears.


    ¡¾Mom, instant tears.¡¿


    ¡¾Oh my God, I''m crying.¡¿


    ¡¾As a mother, I really can''t bear this scene. I feel so distressed.¡¿


    ¡¾I really suspect that Song Juyao has some inside story about the murder. Whatever kind of person she becomes in this virtual world is influenced by certain strong qualities in her real world. She is such a good child at heart. To say that she would try to rape someone out of lust is ridiculous!¡¿


    ¡¾Don''t say such things without evidence. Please also consider the feelings of the victim''s family, okay?¡¿


    ¡¾Although the victim''s family is undoubtedly pitiful, Song Juyao did not accept the court''s verdict. She decided to join this program and entrust her future to us. We must rely on our own observations to assess the situation. If there is a hidden truth or she may have been wrongly accused, then what about Song Juyao''s feelings?¡¿


    ¡¾What we see is not necessarily the truth. Isn''t it too reckless to assume that a murderer is actually wrongly accused?¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    The barrage erupted into another argument.


    Tang Kai, as a movie star, had mixed feelings, but he wouldn''t easily show his emotions on the surface.


    ¨CUntil he received a call from Song Juyao and rushed to the student union building with a nurse. Looking at Jin Yu on the ground, his expression cracked.


    "He fell on his own." Song Juyao said with a smile.


    Tang Kai:...... Could your expression be more insincere?


    Soon, Tang Kai and a few nurses together lifted Jin Yu away.


    The student council members were dumbfounded and stunned to the point of being speechless.


    Song Juyao explained once again, "Jin Yu just accidentally fell."


    Is it true? Their student union president is a dignified, elegant, and aloof nobleman who has never been inappropriate. Now, not long after she went to find him, the noble president was carried out of his office?


    They looked at Song Juyao with fear. Yesterday, she had made things difficult for Jin Yao and bit him, and today she let Jin Yu leave the student union building on a stretcher. This woman is too scary!


    ......


    In the real world, Tang Shan looked at Song Juyao, who had once again become a trending search topic with skyrocketing popularity. He held his forehead in frustration and wanted to say to Tang Kai - Can you please stop searching for Song Juyao''s past? If she were a cunning and highly intelligent criminal, why would she expose her ugly side to the public? Let''s just focus on the present and let us handle the search for her past, okay?


    Song Juyao''s repeated increase in popularity among audiences could be said to have been helped by Tang Kai.


    However, they couldn''t speak to him, as it was against the rules and the audience would hear it.


    Tang Shan looked at Qin Wei, the chief director who had already been stimulated to become rebellious and ignored Song Juyao''s popularity. Now, he could only hope that Mr. K would quickly find the backtracking point and bring Song Juyao''s unknown past to the light.


    Meanwhile, in the Huo family, Mrs. Huo, that is Yuan Manzhi, watched people speak up for Song Juyao in the live broadcast. She was so angry that she almost passed out.


    "Are these people crazy? They''re actually defending a murderer! My son is dead! This is completely unreasonable. His Majesty the King will ensure justice is served for my son once he hears about this. It''s absolutely senseless for these people to speak up for Song Juyao."


    Su Qing noticed Yuan Manzhi shaking with anger and quickly turned off the live broadcast. She comforted her, saying, "Aunt, take deep breaths. It''s okay. I''ve contacted the program team. They''ve invited a network expert from the palace who will soon uncover her unknown past. It''ll be soon exposed what kind of person she really is. And when that happens, those who are defending her now will be the first to curse her the most."


    Upon hearing this, Yuan Manzhi immediately grabbed Su Qing''s hand and asked, "When?"


    Su Qing winced as she felt the tight grip, and a hint of impatience flashed in her eyes. "It will happen soon, in two or three days at the most," she replied softly.


    Yuan Manzhi grumbled, "Still two or three days?"


    "This is the system designed by His Majesty the King. Two or three days is already considered fast. Don''t worry about it for the next few days, rest well. I will take care of it for you. I''ll let you know when it''s done, okay?" Su Qing reassured her.


    Yuan Manzhi spoke in a vengeful tone, "I want to see her suffer and be condemned by the entire country. I want her to be put on the pillar of shame!"


    "...It will definitely happen."


    However, Yuan Manzhi was still dissatisfied. "It makes me uncomfortable to see people defending her in the barrage. Buy some internet navy to manipulate the trend and suppress the comments!"


    ......


    After the morning class ended, Ming Shu immediately ran out of the classroom and headed towards Class 11 to try to find out about Jiang Baiqi. She didn''t dare to ask anyone, but to her surprise, she couldn''t find him even after the class bell rang. Ming Shu got confused and began to wonder if Jiang Baiqi was not in the classroom at all? Or did he really have such a low presence that she couldn''t spot him?


    ¡¾I must be blind¡¿


    ¡¾Is he not there?¡¿


    ¡¾I saw him!! In the corner seat of the fourth row!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah! Dang! ¡¿


    After school, Ming Shu, who didn''t give up, stood in the corridor and peered in to check the situation in Class 11. Because she was afraid of not being able to find him, she whispered, "Jiang Baiqi, Jiang Baiqi, Jiang Baiqi, Jiang Baiqi..."


    "Are you looking for me?" a low, hoarse voice suddenly sounded in her ear.


    "Ah!" Ming Shu was startled and turned her head, meeting a pair of large, light grey eyes that reflected a chilly glow like glass beads. Instantly, goosebumps rose all over her body.


    ¡°N-No! Sorry!¡± Ming Shu was scared and quickly ran back to her classroom.


    Jiang Baiqi stared at Ming Shu''s back with his eerie eyes for a moment before turning around and walking away, his expression dark and gloomy.


    Breathless, Ming Shu ran to Li Zhao''s side and exclaimed, "Oh my god, I was scared to death! I thought I saw a ghost in broad daylight!"


    Li Zhao knew that she had gone to find Jiang Baiqi and asked, "Why are you curious about him?"


    Ming Shu was afraid that Li Zhao would tell Song Juyao and arouse her vigilance, so she said, "Because he''s weird. Isn''t everyone curious about unusual people? Let''s just pretend I wasn''t curious. Curiosity kills the cat."


    Why is Song Juyao observing someone like Jiang Baiqi? Is it because he is weird? But isn''t it even more peculiar for Song Juyao to use a telescope to spy on such a weird person?


    ......


    Upon exiting the Student Union Building, Song Juyao left the school and noticed an SUV waiting at the gate. She recognized the license plate number and smiled as she approached.


    "Brother Jiaqi," she knocked on the car window.


    Inside the car, Ren Jiaqi sprayed some perfume into the air and waved his hand to completely cover the scent of smoke. He then rolled down the car window, revealing his mature and handsome face.


    Ren Jiaqi raised his eyebrows, appearing a bit playful and charming. "Long time no see, little beauty. You''ve grown up," he remarked.


    "Uh-huh, I''m an adult now," Song Juyao beamed, displaying a hint of childishness, clearly the attitude of a young child towards a trusted and loved elder.


    "To be an adult means starting a new life, facing loneliness, and living independently," Ren Jiaqi stated, pointing as he reached over to mess up Song Juyao''s hair with his big hand.


    "Hmm!" Song Juyao settled into her seat and buckled her seatbelt. "Did Sister Yulin ask you to come here? I told her I could manage it myself. It''s just a small matter like canceling my bank card and transferring my household registration."


    "I''m on vacation, and there haven''t been many cases in my jurisdiction lately that demand my attention. Plus, it''s been a while since I last saw you. So, let''s grab a bite of something delicious after we''re done. Brother will take you to eat something delicious." Ren Jiaqi suggested.


    Song Juyao smiled in gratitude, glancing at his fingers fiddling with the steering wheel from the corner of her eye.


    Song Juyao participated in "I''m a Big Winner" back then, and when she saw Ren Yulin, she remembered about her past life. In this episode of her previous life, even though she was a disfigured, ugly, rag-like person, the name Ren Yulin still appeared in her life, but only for a very short time. However, the one who lingered in her life longer was Ren Jiaqi.


    As she began exacting revenge on those who had bullied her, Ren Jiaqi had trailed her closely. She had narrowly avoided capture by him several times. Despite being her enemy, he ultimately tried to save her from the clutches of the psychopathic murderer just before she died. She still recalled the pity in his fiery red eyes at that moment.


    Presumably, as her pursuer, he had delved into her life and felt a sense of indignation and injustice over her tragic experiences. Therefore, upon witnessing her meet a tragic end, he had shed tears for her.


    Both Ren Yulin and Ren Jiaqi are good people.


    They have helped her a lot.


    Ren Jiaqi first took Song Juyao to the Public Security Bureau. She didn''t have the required documents for household registration.


    "I called them a week ago, and they wanted me to come back in person to get it. But I didn''t go back," she explained.


    Ren Jiaqi only felt his scalp tingling instantly, "Count yourself smart. Those people don''t have good intentions, you''d be a sheep in a tiger''s mouth if you went back."


    "I''m not that little kid anymore." Song Juyao said with a helpless smile, but there was a hint of loneliness in her eyes. Then Ren Jiaqi rubbed her head again, and she became angry at being rubbed, her cheeks flushed, "Brother Jiaqi!"


    "Don''t cry casually when you''re older. If there''s anything you need, brother will take care of it for you," he assured her.


    The Ren family was a family of military and police officers. Ren Yulin and Ren Jiaqi''s father was the director of a provincial public security bureau. Many of their relatives held positions in different government departments, granting them connections worldwide. Even if there are some omissions in the documents, it could be easily handled.


    In no time, all formalities were taken care of, and a fresh household registration book bearing only Song Juyao''s name would be in her hands within two days.


    Once the household registration procedure was completed, she proceeded to cancel her old bank card and applied for a new one.


    She had obtained this card a long time ago, but as a minor, it was only a supplementary card linked to the main card of her guardian. She made several calls to change to a new card, so that her salary and personal income would not be deposited into the old card again.


    Ren Jiaqi said, "Congratulations, you''re finally free."


    "Thank you."


    "Come on, let''s go. Brother will treat you to a celebratory dinner."


    "Okay."


    ¡¾She needs to transfer household registration, so it can be seen that Liu Yan is still alive. When Ren Jiaqi refers to ''they,'' does he mean that Liu Yan has remarried and the entire family is sucking on Song Juyao''s blood? Otherwise, why would she need to cancel her bank card?¡¿


    ¡¾Poor Song Juyao...¡¿


    ¡¾How can you be sure that it was Liu Yan who remarried and took advantage, and not Song Juyao selling her own mother?¡¿


    ¡¾It seems more plausible that Song Juyao sold her mother. In order to rid herself of this troublesome burden, she married off her mother and used money to silence everyone. She can then play the victim and make it seem as if her family is draining her dry.¡¿


    ¡¾Where is Liu Yan now? She might be suffering from abuse in her new household, but what about Song Juyao? By buying off her relationship with her mother for millions, has she ever considered that her mother could also live comfortably with that money?¡¿


    ¡¾Liu Yan is in such a terrible situation, yet Song Juyao is celebrating severing ties with her own mother without shedding a single tear. It''s better to have a piece of barbecued pork than to give birth to a daughter like this.¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    Tang Shan furrowed his brow. Suddenly, the barrage section of the live streaming room was covered with a large number of malicious and rhythmic provocative messages. After the staff checked it out, it turned out to be from a group of navy posters.


    "Do you want to clean it up?" The staff asked.


    Tang Shan was about to reply when Qin Wei intervened, "No need to bother." He knew who had purchased the navy posters, and if they were removed, that woman would come back to harass him. Regardless, they couldn''t let Song Juyao win. If they needed to manipulate public opinion, then so be it.


    Tang Shan had to keep his mouth shut when the chief director gave the word.


    However, in the end, this was merely a conjecture. It might influence and confuse the audience for a brief moment, but it was not a sustainable solution. Song Juyao needed a solid evidence-backed accusation. The viewers were not fools, and they would soon realize that it was the paid navy who was controlling the comments'' rhythm. When that happened, it would backfire, and the program would suffer the consequences.


    "How''s Mr. K doing?" Tang Shan asked again.


    "Mr. K says it''s almost done."


    "Alright, great." Tang Shan breathed a sigh of relief. In reality, he disapproved of Qin Wei''s conduct in allowing the paid posters to do as they pleased. Once their actions were revealed, it would raise questions about the fairness and impartiality of the programme''s authority.


    ......


    The sun was setting.


    The car arrived at the school gate, Song Juyao jumped out of the car, "I''m going back."


    "Juyao," Ren Jiaqi rested his arms on the windowsill and said, "why do you want to live in the school? I have an empty apartment. Why don''t I lend it to you?"


    Something extra appeared on Song Juyao''s face, and Ren Jiaqi''s heart sank as he watched her.


    "Didn''t I tell Brother Jiaqi before? I''m looking for someone."


    "Is that person in this school?" Ren Jiaqi''s voice was hoarse.


    "Uh-huh." Song Juyao''s eyes curved into sweet crescents as she waved to him and turned to enter the school.


    Ren Jiaqi watched her back, took out a cigarette and smoked two before driving away.


    Song Juyao walked briskly, with a smile on her face, humming the school song of Jinke Duola. She felt like her heart was floating in an ocean of happiness. As she approached building 3, her eyes fixed on a figure of a boy walking towards her from a distance, and she took a deep breath.


    Ming Shu was a little absent-minded, but Li Zhao''s joyful voice brought her back to the present moment. When she looked up, she saw Song Juyao walking towards them not far away. But what made her eyes sparkle even more was when she saw Jiang Baiqi walking towards them from the opposite direction.


    The two were getting closer and closer, about to meet face to face!


    Finally!


    Will they collide and spark something? Will Song Juyao reveal the reason she has been peeping at him? Will the gloomy Jiang Baiqi show something different?


    Ming Shu widened her eyes and the live audience also stared in anticipation.


    As they got closer and closer, they came face to face, and then... they simply brushed past each other.


    It was as if they didn''t know each other at all, like two strangers who had never met before, just passing by each other.


    Mingshu: ????


    Audience: ????


    Is that all? Ah ah ah ah ah, how much longer is she going to keep us in suspense?!! What is so special about Jiang Baiqi? Why did Song Juyao secretly peep, take pictures of him and dedicatedly stalk him like an idiot, but in reality, just walked by him without even looking at him? Was she afraid of being caught, or because she was too guilty to watch? Or is there another reason?


    "How are you doing today? Are you okay?" Song Juyao asked as she walked up to Li Zhao and


    Li Zhao replied, "Mhm, nothing much happened today."


    Song Juyao walked back to the apartment with them.


    Song Juyao walked back to the apartment with them, and Ming Shu couldn''t help but notice the soft, gentle smile on her lips and the bright glint in her eyes. It was as if she was looking at something that delighted her. Ming Shu followed her gaze and saw that it was directed at Jiang Baiqi, who was walking slowly ahead of them.


    Jiang Baiqi was hunched over and walking slowly, so they caught up to him again. It seemed that Song Juyao would always notice him at first glance.


    Ming Shu had an impulse to ask Song Juyao about Jiang Baiqi, but then she remembered the way Song Juyao had been secretly peeping and sneaking around, she didn''t know what unseemly thoughts Song Juyao was hiding about Jiang Bai Qi. If she rushed to ask, would it unveil some horrible consequences that she couldn''t bear? The thought scared her, so she didn''t dare to ask and felt a bit dejected.


    Little did she know that the point of view could be switched, and Jiang Baiqi happened to be within the live broadcast camera range of the two. As a result, the audience in the live room saw something else.


    ¡¾OMG!!! It scared me to death!! Jiang Baiqi was using his phone as a mirror to look at Song Juyao!! The way he looked at her was really creepy!¡¿


    ¡¾Oh my god! It was so sudden, it scared the hell out of me!¡¿


    ¡¾So creepy!¡¿


    ¡¾Did Jiang Baiqi notice that Song Juyao was staring at him all this time?¡¿


    ¡¾I suddenly feel so nervous!¡¿


    ¡¾I''m both scared and curious at the same time.¡¿


    ......


    At night, as usual, Song Juyao sat on the terrace, reading and watching the boys in the opposite dormitory.


    At this moment, her phone rang, and Song Juyao looked at it to see that it was a call from "Ms. Liu Yan".


    The barrage instantly became excited, Liu Yan, the disappeared Liu Yan, appeared for the first time!


    Song Juyao stared at the caller ID for a while and answered the phone.


    "Yaoyao, it''s Mom..." Liu Yan''s familiar and weak voice came from the other end.


    "Is there something wrong?"


    "Did you cancel your bank card?" After the secondary card was canceled, Liu Yan naturally received the cancellation notice from the bank.


    "According to the agreement, I have canceled that card and updated my household registration after becoming an adult."


    A sob immediately came from the other end of the phone, and Liu Yan''s tearful voice came through, "Yaoyao, do you really not care about your mother anymore? Anyway, I''m still your mother. I carried you for nine months and gave birth to you. Even if I''m useless, I''m still your mother."


    Song Juyao was silent for a while. "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up."


    "Wait!" Liu Yan hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Yaoyao, you can''t just ignore me. Mom is sick and needs a lot of money. Our family can''t afford it. Can you please help mom?"


    Song Juyao replied, "So, after all this time, you called me just to ask for money?"


    "Yaoyao..."


    "I don''t have any money. Please don''t call me again."


    Song Juyao hung up the phone, and it rang again. This time, she didn''t answer and let the phone ring in the quiet apartment.


    ¡¾Your mother is sick, and you''re ignoring her?¡¿


    ¡¾Bingo, caught red-handed, Song Juyao abandoned Liu Yan.¡¿


    ¡¾No matter what, you shouldn''t abandon your own mother.¡¿


    ¡¾Earning money is so easy, yet you''re not willing to give a little to your own mother?¡¿


    ¡¾If someone can be so cold-hearted towards their own mother, who can they be expected to show warmth to?¡¿


    Song Juyao flipped through the book in her hand, listening to the incessant ringing of the phone, and calculated the progress of the program.


    Presumably, they have already begun arranging the navy to manipulate public opinion. How could the Huo family stand by and watch her popularity soar? Even if it''s just temporary, Yuan Manzhi would be infuriated enough to spit blood upon seeing her being adored and the program team would not let her take down the votes for injustice from the audience.


    Ha, slander and attack me as much as you like. These bricks and stones thrown at me will become the stepping stones for me to reach the top.


    She lowered her gaze, hiding the burning flames in her eyes. Then, she picked up the little cat that came running over happily after waking up. The corners of her mouth lifted in a light, soft smile as she happily rubbed against it.


    "??? I''m doubting my own values. Isn''t Liu Yan clearly sucking the life out of Song Juyao? Hasn''t she sucked enough after so many years?"


    "No matter what, Liu Yan is her mother!"


    "I suspect there are navy troops in the barrage, repeating that Liu Yan is a mother over and over again. So what if she''s a mother? Did the child ask to be born? Ultimately, it''s the mother''s choice. Why should the child sacrifice everything for the mother? What has Liu Yan done for Song Juyao?"


    As expected, some people began to suspect that the navy was manipulating public opinion. Even those who disliked Song Juyao united with her, because in people''s minds, this reality show was not supposed to allow the navy to deliberately guide and sway people''s hearts. Otherwise, it would be no different from other variety shows.


    This caused a great impact on the show''s reputation.


    Tang Shan was contemplating how to salvage the situation when a staff member rushed over excitedly.


    "Director Tang, we''ve received news from Mr. K!"


    Tang Shan stood up immediately, his expression turning ecstatic. "Can we go to the backtrack now?"


    "Yes!"


    "That''s fantastic!" Tang Shan clenched his fists tightly, as if he had already envisioned the flashback scene showing the dirty and ugly side of Song Juyao that couldn''t be washed away.

 CH 17

    Chapter 17: First Arc [16]


    What did Song Juyao do in her past? How did she escape the hell and shackles that the program team prepared for her and become the stunning Dr. Song Juyao that amazed everyone at the beginning of the live broadcast?


    Everyone was curious because, from the first season of "Justice Trial" to the current 20th season, spanning ten years with over fifty defendants, no one was like Song Juyao.


    While some may have exceeded the life path designed for them by the program team, like Song Juyao, most were unlikely to develop positively. Some couldn''t even bear the primary level of hell and became villains hated by the audience early on.


    During the live broadcast, except for nudity and sex scenes that the system automatically mosaicked, every move and expression of the defendants would be seen by billions of viewers, and any disguise couldn''t be maintained for long.


    But Song Juyao was different. She was flawless and could attract crazy fans. She was beautiful and cool, sweet and salty, and righteous and kind. The only criticism people had was the incident of peeping at Jiang Baiqi. But even so, some people were still crazy about her.


    Therefore, people were very curious about her past.


    Regardless of whether they liked or disliked her, people were full of curiosity about Song Juyao.


    The program team could now show past clips, and the audience was extremely excited.


    ¡¾Please, hurry up, I''m suffering. I am on the verge of being conquered by Song Juyao.¡¿


    ¡¾Hurry up and reveal the hidden true face of the murderer, and slap the faces of those who have no three views!¡¿


    ¡¾Are Song''s fans afraid? I don''t believe that her goodness is not just an act. I bet all my money that she must have climbed up by stepping on the bones of others!¡¿


    ¡¾Who''s afraid? I bet everything on Song Juyao being a good person! There must be a valid reason why she peeked at Jiang Baiqi! In judicial history, there have been cases where criminals have been wronged or wrongly judged, and there are many of them!  For those who say they have bet everything, show us the electronic receipt of the lottery ticket. Don''t just talk big!" [Screenshot][Screenshot]¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    A small window soon appeared in the upper right corner of the live broadcast room in front of the audience. In the normal timeline of the virtual world, it was already late at night, and Song Juyao had gone to bed, so there was nothing interesting to see. Therefore, most people zoomed in on the playback window to watch Song Juyao''s past.


    The first segment that was reviewed was the one where Song Juyao and Liu Yan participated in the program "Unmatched Mother".


    ¡¾Great, see, Song Juyao must have convinced Liu Yan to join the program with her.¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao wants to use this program to expose Liu Yan''s true colors, gain the sympathy of the public, and take revenge on Liu Yan by dumping her.¡¿


    ¡¾How could someone like Liu Yan suggest participating in this program herself? She''s not that stupid.¡¿


    In the hotel room, Liu Yan was filled with excitement as she held her phone. When Song Juyao stepped out of the bathroom, she immediately approached her.


    "Yao Yao, ''Unmatched Mother'' just called me and invited us to participate in the program. They''re even paying us a lot of money!" she exclaimed.


    Ten-year-old Song Juyao, still skinny and dark-skinned, appeared like a child from a slum. However, her maturity and sensibility made people feel sorry for her. She was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this news and asked, "Is that the program that your favorite Fairy Yanbo is participating in?"


    "Yes!" Liu Yan became even more excited at the mention of her idol. "Shall we participate, Yao Yao? Shall we?"


    "But in that show, you''ll have to do tasks and farm work. It''s very hard..." Song Juyao frowned like a little adult.


    "Isn''t that why we have you? With Yaoyao here, we won''t have any problems with the tasks. Let''s go and participate. Mom really wants to see Fairy Yanbo, okay?" Liu Yan didn''t even consider the consequences of the show and coquettishly asked her daughter like a teenage girl.


    "That''s true. Okay then. As long as Mom is happy." Song Juyao smiled, looking a bit naive and adorable, and completely trusting her mother. She had always been serving Liu Yan like this since she was little. How could she know how unreasonable it was in the eyes of others? How could she know that Liu Yan would be criticized by the entire nation because of this?


    ¡¾I''m getting goosebumps watching this. I can''t stand how this character, Liu Yan is portrayed in this show¡¿


    ¡¾She looks so glamorous and beautiful compared to Song Juyao, it''s like comparing a rich girl and a beggar. Song Juyao is so pitiful.¡¿


    ¡¾Are you kidding me? Saying that Song Juyao deliberately invited Liu Yan to participate? It''s absurd! Does your face hurt after making such a ridiculous claim???¡¿


    ¡¾The fact proves that Liu Yan can really be so stupid, this character portrayal by the program group is truly amazing!¡¿


    Liu Yan faced severe criticism after the airing of "Unmatched Mother", leaving her feeling wronged and crying alone in her hotel room.


    "Why are they criticizing me? Who says a mother and child have to fit into certain roles? My daughter is outstanding and can take care of me. What''s the harm in that? Wuwuwu..."


    Meanwhile, outside the hotel room, Song Juyao and Ren Yulin were in the hallway. Song Juyao looked confused and asked, "Why are they criticizing my mom? It was my decision. My mom is very fragile and my dad asked me to take care of her..."


    Ren Yulin was annoyed and pinched Song Juyao''s face, "You''ve been brainwashed, you fool! What kind of mother treats her child like that? You''re her daughter, not her slave! You''re only ten years old! It''s unbelievable that you were so strong and confident on ''I''m the Big Winner'', but now you''re so confused? Are you a nerd or something?"


    Song Juyao''s face was pinched, listening to the crying of her mother inside, and looking at the angry Ren Yulin, she was bewildered and unsure, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. She looked pitiful and helpless, as if her small world had been turned upside down.


    At that moment, Ren Yulin felt a pang of pity for the child. With red eyes, she thought that Song Juyao was being treated like a child laborer by her parents. In her world, she had never realized the importance of being protected and cherished.


    Ren Yulin released her grip on her face and exclaimed, "What a fool!"


    "Is there any way to stop Mom from being scolded again?" Song Juyao asked cautiously.


    "How is it possible to have a way? Liu Yan will never be able to clear her name in this lifetime," the more Song Juyao would explain, the more people would scold Liu Yan. Living with such a mother, Song Juyao would be dragged down for the rest of her life.


    At this moment, Liu Yan received a phone call in the room.


    "Big Brother." Upon seeing the caller ID, Liu Yan found someone to confide in. She immediately answered the phone, crying.


    Liu Guoqing said, "What''s the use of crying? Didn''t I tell you before? That brat has such a wild heart. Sooner or later, she will fly out. Can she be relied upon?"


    Liu Yan: "Woo woo woo......"


    Liu Guoqing took the opportunity to say, "Come back, everyone in the family is here. When you were here before, who scolded you? Who dared to scold you? Why do you have to suffer outside?"


    Liu Yan was a little tempted but also somewhat hesitant. Since they had taken the train to this city, Song Juyao had confiscated her phone and hadn''t allowed her to contact Liu Guoqing. It was only in the past few days that she had returned her phone, but also warned her not to contact Liu Guoqing. Now she not only answered his call but also wanted to return to her hometown¡­..


    Liu Yan said, "I don''t want to marry Chen Lao''er. He is a domestic violence person, and Yaoyao forbade me from marrying him."


    "If you don''t want to marry him, then don''t. I wanted to find you a good family before, and you and Juyao are widows and orphans. As your brother, shouldn''t I help you find a way out? Since Juyao can earn money to support you now, then don''t marry him. Just come back home, and with Juyao''s money, I will help you build a big villa. You can hire a housekeeper and live a comfortable life at home, playing mahjong with your girlfriends in your free time, and having relatives and friends come over to chat with you. Wouldn''t it be very comfortable? What kind of scoldings are you getting from those people outside?"


    Liu Guoqing was very persuasive, and Liu Yan was a person who wanted to retreat when faced with setbacks. She used to think that living in the city was much better than in the countryside, but now that she was being criticized, she thought of the good things about living in the countryside and she also felt that Song Juyao had gradually changed since participating in "I am the Big Winner".


    Even though Juyao''s recent behavior towards her had improved and was somewhat similar to before, she still felt like she couldn''t grasp Song Juyao. This made her feel insecure, and if she couldn''t feel safe with Song Juyao, she wanted to go back to her mother''s home to find a sense of security.


    In the countryside, Liu Guoqing''s wife whispered to him, "Let Liu Yan come back secretly without telling that brat. That brat is very clever now. If she finds out, she will stop her and ruin our plan like she did before."


    Liu Guoqing spoke so, and Liu Yan also replied in agreement.


    The flashback was different from the live broadcast since the live camera only followed the real people. The flashback was more like watching a TV show because there was no live camera. Therefore, after Liu Yan and Liu Guoqing finished their conversation, the audience saw Liu Guoqing talking to a group of relatives who had gathered together.


    Liu Guoqing gritted his teeth and said, "That little brat, didn''t she ignore my calls and block me before, and even forbid Liu Yan from contacting me? When I catch Liu Yan, wouldn''t she still have to obediently come back?"


    "Yes, she''s only ten years old. If she doesn''t come back, we''ll call the police and have them send her back!"


    "Yes, yes, yes!"


    "Big brother, what about Chen Lao Er''s side? Are we still going to marry Liu Yan over there? His mother found me last time, and she liked that little brat''s brain and wanted to improve the Chen family''s genes. She''s willing to pay this amount and buy that little brat to be her grandson''s concubine. If we marry Liu Yan over there, that little brat will definitely have to go along too..." Liu Yan''s second brother stretched out ten fingers, greed written all over his face.


    Liu Guoqing didn''t speak, and the whole family expectantly waited for his decision.


    The live broadcast room exploded.


    ¡¾F**K, the background set up for Song Juyao by the production team is so damn disgusting!¡¿


    ¡¾I''m crying, Song Juyao is so pitiful, what kind of disgusting stuff is this?¡¿


    ¡¾Liu Yan, just disappear already! Please die quickly!¡¿


    ¡¾I strongly feel the malice of the production team. Who are these people? Song Juyao must have worked very hard to become what she is today in this environment, right? I really want to cry just thinking about it.¡¿


    ¡¾I''m so angry that I want to kill someone. What the hell is this? They even want to sell Song Juyao? Who are you guys? What right do you have to do this?¡¿


    Actually, these are all old tricks of the program team. The audience has seen such disgusting and extreme people before, but they weren''t as angry at that time.


    In the end, it''s all because of the reverse narrative technique. The viewers were first presented with Song Juyao''s charming and likable appearance, learned about her achievements, and developed a favorable impression of her. When the story took a dark turn, the viewers found it particularly unbearable. They were moved by the fact that Song Juyao could still be a good person in such an unbearable environment, and at the same time, they also felt indignant on her behalf. Even Song Juyao''s black fans couldn''t help but frown and feel uncomfortable.


    In other words, they should have focused on the reactions of the defendant facing the trial, but now people''s attention has been shifted to how despicable and disgusting these NPCs are.


    Tang Shan looked at this and had a bad premonition in his heart. But now that things have come to this, he could only tell himself that it doesn''t matter. Who knew if there would be any reversal until the last moment?


    The plot continues. Liu Yan, the mindless idiot, sneaked out of the hotel and took a cab to break free and return to her hometown early in the morning when Song Juyao was still sleeping.


    Shortly after, Song Juyao woke up, couldn''t find Liu Yan, called but no one answered, and searched around worriedly, with eyes like a helpless abandoned child.


    It was only after Liu Yan had landed and was picked up by Liu Guoqing that Song Juyao received her call.


    "Mum?"


    The voice from the other end made her blood freeze.


    Liu Guoqing: "Your mother just got off the plane and is tired. She doesn''t want to talk to you. I am your uncle."


    Immediately, Song Juyao shouted vigilantly, "Don''t you dare marry my mother to Chen Lao''er! He is a domestic violence man and will hurt my mother!"


    "We will discuss this when we meet. Pack your things and come back soon. Otherwise, I will report that you have run away from home to the police and have them bring you back."


    Whether it was for Liu Yan or not, Song Juyao had no choice but to agree since she was a child and couldn''t be separated from her guardian. She could only go back.


    ¡¾Don''t go back!!¡¿


    ¡¾My heart is half cold, I dare not look back.¡¿


    ¡¾Could it be that they really sold Song Juyao? How did she escape again?¡¿


    ¡¾I understand now. After Song Juyao returns this time, Liu Guoqing will use Liu Yan to coerce her to give them all the money before she becomes an adult. That''s why Song Juyao canceled her bank card and moved her household registration after she turned 18!¡¿


    However, the reality was far more dangerous than they had anticipated. Liu Guoqing did not initially plan to do this, instead as soon as Song Juyao returned, she was imprisoned. Liu Yan didn''t even have the chance to speak a word for her before Liu Guoqing interrupted and shut her up with a retort. No matter how much Song Juyao screamed for her mother from inside, it was useless.


    The audience was repeatedly provoked, and their anger grew so intense that anyone who defended Liu Yan was targeted and attacked. Is this really what a mother does? Children with such mothers are truly unfortunate. Some even went as far as to say that if they were in Song Juyao''s shoes, they would have taken a knife and stabbed Liu Yan. They began to feel disappointed in Song Juyao for iron to not become steel. Why is Song Juyao so obedient and can''t see Liu Yan''s selfishness? How can she still expect her to be clear-headed? It''s really infuriating!


    When Song Juyao was detained, her phone was confiscated, and her bank card was found by Liu Guoqing. However, Liu Yan didn''t know the password, and Song Juyao didn''t have an ID card since she was still young. Therefore, the bank card was issued under Liu Yan''s ID card. Liu Guoqing took Liu Yan to the bank on the pretext of checking how much money Song Juyao had made, to see how big a villa he could build for Liu Yan. He also changed the password using Liu Yan''s ID card.


    When Liu Guoqing saw the numbers in the bank account, his eyes widened with greed and covetousness. "This little brat, I didn''t expect her to be so smart! She must have inherited it from her uncle, my niece looks like me." Fortunately, they managed to lure Liu Yan back. Otherwise, with Song Juyao''s shrewdness, they wouldn''t have gotten a dime.


    After sending Liu Yan away, the siblings gathered together again at night to drink and celebrate. However, they soon began to argue about how to split the money they could get from Song Juyao.


    "Big brother is the biggest hero for bringing Liu Yan back. He deserves the biggest share. But why should you, Third Brother, split it with me?"


    "Second brother, I, at least, drove to the airport to pick her up. What did you do? Didn''t you just come here two days earlier than me and move your mouth a few more times?" the Third Brother retorted.


    "Big brother, my house hasn''t been renovated yet, and I even have to sleep with air leaks at night..."


    "Big brother, my wife has just become pregnant..."


    Liu Guoqing basked in the praise of his younger siblings, smoking and holding the money from Song Juyao. He felt confident and assured as if the money were his own. Therefore, he did not make an immediate decision but suddenly changed the topic: "I''ve thought about it carefully. The Chen family''s 100,000 yuan is too little. Nowadays, the brain is everything. The Chen family thinks they can improve their genes with just 100,000 yuan. That''s impossible. At least they have to double it."


    The others all thought it made sense.


    As the audience seethed with anger at the family''s shamelessness, Song Juyao stopped calling out to Liu Yan and wiped her tears. Her eyes changed, as if she had realized something.


    " Cousin, go call your father over," Song Juyao said. "I have a business deal to discuss with him."


    That cousin who was guarding the door had been playing with his mobile phone while Song Juyao was crying. However, upon hearing her tone now, he felt a little restless. After thinking about it, he decided to call Liu Guoqing.


    ¡¾Is she really going to sell Liu Yan?¡¿


    ¡¾Please, please sell Liu Yan already!¡¿


    ¡¾Someone like Liu Yan should really just die. Sell her to Chen Er and let her be tortured to death!¡¿


    The netizens were furious, but in fact, if Song Juyao really did it, they would once again think of her as cold-blooded and ruthless.


    But how could Song Juyao not know that? She had been aware of it all along. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, but in her heart, she was laughing happily. She had to exert so much effort to get rid of Liu Yan, that disgusting thing. Liu Yan was deserving of the shackles arranged by the program crew.


    And now, she wanted to break free from these shackles, just like crushing this evil world.


    Liu Guoqing arrived, followed by the rest of the Liu family. They wanted to see what else she could say.


    The thin girl stood in front of a group of filthy and ugly adults. She looked frail, yet held her head up high, her eyes still red. Her stubbornness and maturity made people feel distressed for her.


    "There is only 400,000 yuan in the bank card, and you think that''s enough?" the little girl said.


    "Before I came here, I signed a contract for the next season of ''I Am the Big Winner.'' The appearance fee after tax for one episode is 1.5 million yuan. I can guarantee that I will stay until the last episode. You can calculate how much money I will have in the end."


    When Song Juyao mentioned 1.5 million yuan, everyone''s eyes almost popped out. As ordinary rural people, they had no idea that Song Juyao could actually make so much money from the last program she participated in.


    "Also, there are programs such as ''Super Brain'' and ''Empire Idioms'', which are in contact with me. There is even a prestigious school called Jinke Duola that has promised me a 500,000 enrollment bonus if I attend."


    The group of people led by Liu Guoqing had their eyes rolling with greed and covetousness, as if it was about to materialize in saliva and flow out. They had never imagined such a large sum of money appearing in their lives, and it seemed effortless, just within reach! Sell her? A mere 200,000? After hearing the numbers just mentioned by Song Juyao, 200,000 was too little for them to even look at.


    Liu Guoqing stopped his excited brothers and sisters and looked at Song Juyao, "Can you really give us all that money?"


    "I will give it all to you, but I have one request."


    "What is it?"


    "I want to bring my mom with me. With this much money, you''ll make more than what you''d get for selling her, right? Is that enough?" Song Juyao was still a child after all, and anger was shown in her eyes.


    ¡¾Silly child, they don''t just want to sell Liu Yan, they want to sell you too!¡¿


    ¡¾It''s so frustrating, I can''t take it anymore. How can this child not abandon a mother like that and still want to take her along?¡¿


    ¡¾She''s only 10 years old, you know? A child''s attachment and feelings towards their mother can''t be severed so easily.¡¿


    ¡¾All I can hope for now is that Liu Yan becomes a better person and stops following Song Juyao. It makes me so angry I could cry.¡¿


    Liu Guoqing and his siblings went outside to discuss. Everyone was ecstatic. With so much money, they could each get millions if they split it equally! The Chen family couldn''t provide that kind of money, and Liu Yan couldn''t be sold for that much either!


    Liu Guoqing flicked his cigarette and his eyes gleamed. "You guys are shortsighted, only looking at that meager amount of money instead of the hen that lays the golden eggs."


    "Big brother, what do you mean?"


    "Let Liu Yan and that brat go. Can she give us all the money? Even if she did, how much would it be? As long as Liu Yan stays here, that brat will be like a kite tied to a string, unable to escape."


    "Big brother, that''s brilliant!"


    They called Liu Yan over and a group of people surrounded her, making her fantasize about her future. Liu Yan was a little princess who wanted to be held in the palm of someone''s hand, a piece of candy could coax her away. She was quickly coaxed into dizziness and decided to stay in her hometown.


    "I''m not going with you. I want to stay at home," Liu Yan refused to go back with Song Juyao. "You go ahead, work hard, and send the money back on time."


    Song Juyao glared angrily at Liu Guoqing and the group of people, gripping Liu Yan''s hand tightly. "Mom, come with me. I''ll protect you. Come with me! I''ll buy you a big villa and take you to eat delicious food. Come with me!"


    Liu Yan now believed that Song Juyao only wanted to take her away because her guardian needed to sign all the contracts for her, not because she genuinely cared for her. If it weren''t for this, why would she take her to participate in that kind of program and let her be criticized by the entire country without explaining for her? She only saw Liu Yan as useless and would abandon her after becoming an adult, once she was no longer of use.


    The more Liu Yan thought about it, the angrier she became and pulled her hand away. "I''m not going! Just send me the contracts you need me to sign, and I''ll sign them for you. Since I''m so useless, I won''t hold you back!"


    ¡¾You''d better do it. Thank you!¡¿


    "No, you can''t stay here! They''re all bad people!" Song Juyao became frantic and tears streamed down her face as she tried to pull Liu Yan outside, but Liu Yan shook her hand off.


    "They''re my brothers, how could they harm me?" Liu Yan''s eyes turned red as she pointed at her with accusation.


    At this moment, a car outside rushed over.


    Ren Yulin and Ren Jiaqi got out of the car. Song Juyao had previously contacted Ren Yulin while boarding her flight, informing her that her mother had been abducted by her own relatives. Although Ren Yulin had not known Song Juyao for a long time, she was a loyal person and immediately dragged her brother to the plane and rushed over.


    After a heated argument, Ren Yulin and Ren Jiaqi finally understood what was going on. Ren Yulin was very angry, but this matter couldn''t be handled by the law. At the same time, she had long looked down on Liu Yan and thought that this was a great opportunity.


    Ren Yulin pulled Song Juyao behind her and said, "We know what you''re planning! Liu Yan, is it true that you don''t want this daughter anymore?"


    Liu Yan turned her head away.


    "Liu Yan, do you really not care that after Song Juyao  comes of age, she will change her household registration and sever ties with you?" Ren Yulin continued.


    Liu Guoqing chuckled and replied, "Ha, you sure like to joke around. A mother-daughter relationship cannot be severed just by changing household registration. Now the daughter is going to study and work part-time in a big city, while her old mother will be waiting for her in her hometown. It''s all for Song Juyao''s future. After all, it''s for her own good."


    Liu Yan was hesitant at first, but upon hearing Liu Guoqing''s words, she became firm. Yes, even if Song Juyao became an adult, she would still be her daughter. Could their relationship really be severed?


    However, the 10-year-old child believed it. She broke down in tears and pleaded, "Mom, please don''t abandon me..."


    Ren Yulin then seized the sobbing girl and pulled her out of the Liu family''s home, forcing her into the car and driving off. In the car, the little girl cried uncontrollably, reminiscent of a pitiful child abandoned by her mother.


    ¡¾Grass, I''m crying my eyes out.¡¿


    ¡¾What kind of human tragedy is this, Ren Yulin good job!¡¿


    ¡¾Little Juyao is so pitiful, the only redeeming thing about Liu Yan in this life is that she didn''t leave with Song Juyao.¡¿


    ¡¾She''s so pitiful, my heart aches for her. Fortunately, it''s all over now.¡¿


    ¡¾I swear if anyone says ''Liu Yan is her mother after all,'' I''ll lose it!!¡¿


    The shackles named Liu Yan were completely shattered at this moment.


    The little girl was hugged by Ren Yulin, and her mouth curled up slightly, as if she knew the victory she had just achieved.


    The program group fell into silence.


    Tang Shan wiped his face and turned his head, only to find that many of the staff had red eyes, and several tables still had several clusters of tissues. A female staff member whispered, "I don''t think Song Juyao is a bad person..."


    She never abandoned Liu Yan; it was Liu Yan who abandoned her.


    "Shhh!"


    Tang Shan felt conflicted. He had always believed that the judiciary was correct and that Song Juyao was a murderer. Even if Master Huo was rich and Song Juyao was an ordinary person, the fact remained that the boy had died.  It was not necessarily that poor people were good and rich people were bad. This was a stereotype and he refused to fall into it.


    So he always believed that Song Juyao had a hidden evil side, but watching this scene unfold before his eyes, he felt heartbroken and began to doubt his judgment.


    ...No, no, no! Tang Shan suddenly slapped himself in the face. As the director of the program group, how could he be swayed so easily? What if Song Juyao had done something bad in these eight years? What if there really was something bad in her character?


    "Continue!" Tang Shan said.


    Liu Yan was a fool, and her family thought so too. They didn''t take her seriously at all.


    After Song Juyao left, Liu Guoqing did keep his promise and used the money earned by Song Juyao to build a big villa for Liu Yan, with a garden and hired a maid. However, Liu Guoqing and his family moved in with her.


    At first, Liu Yan was happy, but she was later constantly dissed and belittled by her sister-in-law. She could not sleep at night due to the noise made by Liu Guoqing and his brothers playing mahjong and eating supper in the living room. To make matters worse, her nephew would start crying in the early morning. Although it was her daughter''s money, they held onto it and treated her like a homeless person sheltering in someone else''s home.


    Feeling aggrieved and missing Song Juyao, Liu Yan wanted to leave, but Liu Guoqing forbade her from calling Song Juyao and even hid her ID card. Eventually, Liu Yan realized that she had been deceived, but she did not know what to do and could only cry.


    Liu Guoqing was tired of her crying and wanted to marry her off, but he did not dare to marry her to Chen Lao Er for fear of Song Juyao finding out and not sending money anymore. So, he patiently found a family with a decent reputation for her to marry into.


    However, that family did not treat Liu Yan like a princess. She had to work like an ordinary rural woman and gave birth to a son. She could not afford expensive skincare products and had to work hard. Gradually, she became less attractive and occasionally hugged her son and cried, reminiscing about the days when she had a husband and a daughter to spoil her¡­.


    ¡¾Serves her right!¡¿


    ¡¾This is just karma!¡¿


    ¡¾It''s really the fate of being a maid instead of a lady. She could have been a princess, but she just didn''t have the luck.¡¿


    ¡¾Ha ha ha, Liu Guoqing''s son has developed a gambling addiction and is bound to go bankrupt and fall into debt. Just wait until Song Juyao becomes and adult, you''ll be waiting to die!¡¿


    On the other side, Song Juyao led a busy and arduous life, appearing on programs, studying, and writing papers. Every day, every second of her time was fully, and sometimes excessively utilized. Liu Guoqing was afraid she might forget to send money, so he called her every month to remind her that Liu Yin might marry Chen Lao Er at any time. Sometimes Song Juyao couldn''t even scrape together a dime to afford the cheapest porridge and side dishes in the cafeteria.


    She just kept working hard and despite the challenges, she became an outstanding individual, surpassing most people.


    In the final scene, Song Juyao stood out from many outstanding students with her excellent grades and received recognition from her mentor, Professor Alberg. Amidst thunderous applause, she rose from her seat and walked towards the podium, officially becoming a member of the Olympiad team.


    ¡¾Wow! I''m overwhelmed, I can''t stop crying.¡¿


    ¡¾She''s amazing! ¡¿


    ¡¾This is truly inspiring. How can someone be so wonderful? ¡¿


    ¡¾But what about Song Juyao secretly filming Jiang Baiqi?¡¿


    ¡¾If Song Juyao did this, there must be a reason. I believe it''s a positive one!¡¿


    ¡¾I never thought I would vote for a criminal to plead for justice on this show, but now I want to say that I''m willing to vote for Song Juyao. At the very least she deserves a chance for a reduced sentence and to start anew!¡¿

 CH 18

    Chapter 18: First Arc [17]


    "Bang!" The teacup slammed forcefully into the television screen. As if it wasn''t enough, fruits, fruit platters, vases...everything in sight was thrown at the TV screen.


    "No way! Don''t even think about it!" Yuan Manzhi screamed in a crazed state, "My son is dead and you still want a reduced sentence? You''re dreaming! I''m telling you, you''re dreaming!"


    Yuan Manzhi was so hysterical that none of the servants dared to approach her. They looked at each other, bewildered, and hid in a corner, not daring to make a sound.


    Just then, the butler walked in, furrowed his brows upon seeing the scene, and looked at the servants. "What are you all standing there for? Quickly clean up the living room. The young master is back."


    Only then did the servants rush over to tidy up, getting hit several times by Yuan Manzhi in the process.


    The butler said, "Madam, please calm down. The Young Master is back."


    Yuan Manzhi stopped throwing things when she heard that Huo Sen was returning, but she remained seated on the sofa, crying and cursing Song Juyao.


    When Huo Sen returned, he went upstairs without even glancing at Yuan Manzhi. Seeing this, she felt even more wronged and desolate and cried even louder.


    "This is so unfair. I should go see His Majesty the King. Even he will take pity on me..."


    At the mention of the King, Huo Sen finally reacted a bit and mocked, "How long has it been since the first seven?. Are you still mourning?"


    The butler who followed behind him said, "Madam is watching the reality show on trials, and the young master''s killer is receiving a lot of sympathy votes for reduced sentencing."


    Oh? Huo Sen was a little surprised that someone could receive votes for injustice in this show. He suddenly remembered that not long ago, when he participated in the second round of the Cabinet Examination, Luo Chao had mentioned that the accused person seemed to have caused quite a controversy.


    The butler said, "The master woke up once today and asked me about your performance in the second round of the Cabinet Examination and the mood of His Majesty."


    Huo Sen withdrew his thoughts and said, "I passed the second round of the Cabinet Examination."


    The butler''s calm face suddenly showed a joyful expression, "That''s great! Once you pass the third round, you will become an imperial official of His Majesty and will have the opportunity to serve him. If you are chosen as a ''Divine Envoy,'' the Huo family will be elevated to the nobility!"


    The Huo Sen family was already one of the wealthiest families, situated at the pinnacle of the social hierarchy. They are seemingly only a step away from the nobility, however, it was akin to a rift in the sky.


    "When my father awakens, please inform him that the king''s mood remains as sour as it was before." In truth, when Luo Chao saw the king in the palace,  he almost wet himself with fear. He turned deathly pale, only slightly more composed than Luo Chao.


    "Yes."


    Huo Sen entered the study room, and the moment the study door closed, he heard Yuan Manzhi''s shrill howl. Unable to resist his curiosity, he pulled out his phone and opened a social media platform. He quickly searched for the relevant tag on the trending list and clicked on it.


    Suddenly, a still of Song Juyao, cut from a live streaming platform, appeared and caught his attention. The girl in the picture was beautiful, with a gentle and sunny smile, and her eyes sparkled with starlight.


    Huo Sen was stunned, and his heart began to beat slightly faster.


    ......


    The program team.


    "Director Tang, the number of petitions... has reached 650,000," the staff reported to Tang Shan.


    Tang Shan sat in his chair, feeling as if he had reached a state of enlightened wisdom. Everything seemed dull and meaningless, and he didn''t feel like speaking.


    Although the current number of petitions, 650,000, was still far from the threshold of 50 million required for a sentence reduction, the highest number of votes any criminal had received on the show before today was only 560,000, accumulated over several episodes. In just the first episode, Song Juyao had already received more votes than anyone else.


    Many people were moved to tears and felt the urge to vote for her, but due to various reasons they had yet to cast their votes. After all, each vote held weight, and Song Juyao''s fate hung in their hands. Considering the feelings of the victim''s family, not everyone could be swayed to cast such a vote with just one emotional moment.


    ¨C¡¯When you make a decision, you''re not just deciding one person''s future, but the future of two families. This show is not a talent competition, so please make every decision carefully.¡¯


    This was the cautionary message that would be displayed in front of the viewers at the start of each episode.


    Furthermore, there was still no answer to the fact that Song Juyao had spied on Jiang Baiqi. What if the tables turned? These "redress of grievances tickets" required viewers to purchase them using their own ID, credit points, and money.


    It is precisely because these tickets hold such significance and are not easy to acquire that people value and use them cautiously.


    But to accumulate so many votes in just the first episode, Song Juyao was truly¡­ too impressive.


    "I have a feeling that Song Juyao might receive a reduced sentence!" whispered a staff member.


    "I actually secretly voted...... for her," admitted another.


    "If she does indeed get a reduced sentence, how many years could be reduced?"


    "That would depend on the court''s discretion. If there''s a strong reaction from netizens, she may receive a few more years off."


    ......


    A reduced sentence?


    The oil in the frying pan sizzled as the eggs cracked and hit the surface. The egg whites quickly solidified, releasing a delightful aroma into the air. The morning sun shone through the window, casting a soft glow on Song Juyao''s face, giving her a serene and peaceful appearance.


    ¡¾Good morning, Yaoyao!¡¿


    ¡¾Even having breakfast alone, you look so relaxed and seem to be thoroughly enjoying it.¡¿


    ¡¾I want a sandwich too!¡¿


    ¡¾Yaoyao is still beautiful today. Seeing her so motivated makes me want to study harder!¡¿


    ¡¾This is a court trial show, not a talent show. Don''t treat it like one.¡¿


    ¡¾It''s only the first episode and we still don''t know what kind of person Song Juyao truly is or what her true intentions are. Let''s wait and see.¡¿


    ¡¾We still don''t know why she spied on Jiang Baiqi!¡¿


    As the toaster popped, Song Juyao slowly sliced the clean tomatoes into pieces, the silvery white knife surface reflected the shallow smile lingering on the corner of her mouth.


    For some common criminals, 50 million votes to reach the discretionary sentence line may be enough as they have gained something, right? But how could she be satisfied? Not to mention she was sentenced to life imprisonment, so even if her sentence was reduced by 50 years, she would still have over a decade to serve. And if she lived longer, she would have to stay in prison even longer.


    Her enemies would not let her spend those remaining years in jail peacefully either.


    Fifty million votes can result in a sentence reduction, while one hundred million votes can trigger an investigation by His Majesty the King''s own National Review Board, whose genius detectives can discern even the slightest clue no matter how much time has passed. And it only belongs to the King, and even the nobles are powerless to interfere, let alone the Huo family.


    Song Juyao vividly remembered the events leading up to her encounter with Huo Hai, the rapist. She recalled signs of a party in the living room, a strange smell in the air, and some white powder on the sofa. She also remembered that Huo Hai was already mentally unstable before he laid a hand on her. Despite thinking all the time while being in the detention center, she couldn''t understand how Huo Hai, who was tall and strong, fell down with just one push and died from the fall.


    Was Huo Hai''s death really caused by her push, or was it something else?


    If it was as she suspected, the Huo family would be ruined.


    Just keep watching me, folks.


    The knife sliced diagonally, and the sandwich was ready.


    Song Juyao took a bite and appeared satisfied with the taste, her eyes curved into a smile.


    Song Wanwan came out of her room, biting a photo and playing with it. Song Juyao walked over, bent down to retrieve the photo from the cat''s mouth, and gazed at the gloomy boy in the picture. Her smile grew even wider.


    ......


    In the real world, the program group.


    Qin Wei was scolded by Yuan Manzhi again, but now looking at Song Juyao''s grievance redressal tickets, he finally felt a little uneasy. He called for a meeting with the assistant directors.


    "It seems that we may have made the difficulty level too simple for her in this episode," Qin Wei said. "Her popularity is already high enough, and her development is too smooth. The audience will feel dissatisfied. This is not a reality show or an idol audition, but a program to judge and question her soul. She is not an idol star, but a murderer!"


    "What do you mean?" Song Juyao was indeed proving to be completely beyond their control.


    "From now on, we will command the real NPCs to act. At the same time, we will also arrange for more real NPCs to go in. If there are no difficulties, we will create difficulties for her!"


    Qin Wei didn''t believe that if a group of people calculated and designed her, they still wouldn''t be able to bring her down!

 CH 19

    Chapter 19: First Arc [18]


    After breakfast, Song Juyao left the school.


    Meanwhile, on this peaceful and sunny morning, the student union dropped a bombshell on the school''s specially admitted students. With a loud announcement, it ignited a flame amongst the special admissions students.


    Early in the morning, the student union posted a major announcement regarding the school on the campus BBS (Bulletin Board System) - The special admissions system will be abolished, and some of the current special admissions students will need to transfer to other schools. The list is still being discussed by the student union and will be announced in two weeks. All special admissions students should be mentally prepared for the change.


    This announcement caused a stir throughout the school.


    "Great! This school shouldn''t have any special admissions students in the first place. They are a bunch of poor and annoying people to look at."


    "Wow, did the board of trustees approve this decision?"


    "Hahaha, isn''t the chairman the father of Jin Yao and Jin Yu?"


    For the specially admitted students, this news was like a bolt from the blue.


    "What, what does this announcement mean? Hey, what does it mean?"


    "Does it mean we''re going to be expelled? On what grounds? What did we do wrong?"


    "Yes, why are they expelling us for no reason?"


    The special admission students have a campus group. Ming Shu watched the chat box scrolling quickly, and every special admission student''s reaction was very intense. However, since she was not a real special admission student, her reaction was calm. Turning her head, she noticed that Li Zhao''s face had turned pale.


    "Zhaozhao?"


    Li Zhao didn''t speak, she just picked up her phone and started chatting in the group.


    Ming Shu continued to look at the group, and found that many people were mentioning a student named Zhou Shuchen. The group had a remark of "Grade 3" so he was a senior student in the special admission student group.


    Li Zhao also mentioned him.


    It turned out that Zhou Shuchen was a very popular student in the special admission student group at Jinke Duola Academy. He was like a leader to them. Whenever an issue arose, such as delayed scholarships or mistreatment and doing particularly outrageous things to the special admission students to the special admission students, Zhou Shuchen was always there to voice his concerns and demand an explanation from the school administration. His commitment to justice made him a respected young man.


    Therefore, when the big event occurred, everyone eagerly awaited Zhou Shuchen''s response and solution.


    Zhou Shuchen appeared quickly.


    "Everyone gather at the C Playground, let''s go together and demand an explanation from the principal," Zhou Shuchen said in the group.


    As soon as Zhou Shuchen spoke, all the special admission students in the high school department stood up and rushed to the C Playground to gather.


    Naturally, it was impossible for Li Zhao and Ming Shu to fall behind.


    Soon, a crowd of students had gathered in the C playground. Zhou Shuchen stood on the flag platform, a tall and thin boy with a crew cut and striking features.


    "Everyone, don''t worry. The announcement from the student council seems illogical and unreasonable. There must be something wrong. Let''s go find the principal together and demand an explanation!" Zhou Shuchen said.


    A large group of students marched towards the principal''s office while the wealthy students in the teaching building sneered at them.


    The principal had already received the notification and had long since gone into hiding.


    "This matter is the decision of the student council. If you are dissatisfied, go to the student council," a teacher who couldn''t bear to see them standing under the sun came out and told them. "The principal left before you arrived."


    "This kind of school-related matter can only be decided by the student council? The school board can''t possibly approve it!"


    "It''s no use talking to me. Go to the student council."


    A large group of people had to turn to the student council building.


    The members of the committee blocked them at the entrance and wouldn''t let them in. Meanwhile, Jin Yao lazily leaned against a pillar and smoked.


    "Do you want to rebel?" With her arms crossed, Fu Meiling, a girl blocking the entrance with an unyielding stance, asked coldly.


    "We just want an explanation. What does the announcement mean?" Zhou Shuchen asked.


    "Aren''t you the top student of your grade? Is your comprehension this poor? Wasn''t it clearly stated?" Fu Meiling retorted.


    "How can you do this to us? On what grounds are you expelling us?!" one special admission student said, voicing the collective frustration.


    "Yes, why?"


    "What did they mean by ''all special admission students must prepare''? Prepare for what?" another one questioned.


    The special admission students protested angrily and clamored for answers.


    "Shut up, all of you!" Fu Meiling shouted angrily. "I''m giving you face by even letting you stay here. Jinke Duola Academy is a private high school, not a public school for compulsory education. If I say you have to leave, then you have to leave. What grounds do you have to question me? Do you even have the right to say such things?"


    Upon hearing this, the special admission students fell silent and their faces turned pale.


    ¡¾Oh my god! This is so hurtful!¡¿


    ¡¾I''m so angry, why does this trash school treat students like this?¡¿


    ¡¾It''s so pitiful. They''re all just teenagers. The school should be an ivory tower, but instead, they''re experiencing the cruelty of a capitalist society where money is paramount. What kind of people will they become in the future?¡¿


    ¡¾This is really throwing their dignity to the ground and trampling on it.¡¿


    ¡¾Yaoyao, come and beat up the bad guys!!¡¿


    ¡¾Why are you calling Song Juyao? She can also only protect herself. How can she manage so many people?¡¿


    Zhou Shuchen''s face turned red, but he refused to back down: "The Board of Trustees cannot ignore the school''s admission rate!"


    "Hmm, we plan to reform the college and provide every student with elite education. No longer will there be students idling here. Do you think the Board of Trustees will support our decision? When the admission rate no longer necessitates special admissions students, they won''t be concerned about the well-being of these special admissions students."


    Zhou Shuchen''s lips went pale, "You don''t have the final say in this."


    "Whether or not we have the final say, you''ll find out soon enough." A cold voice reverberated, sending chills down everyone''s spine.


    Fu Meiling immediately stepped aside, allowing Jin Yu, who was in a wheelchair, to be slowly pushed out by his secretary. Jin Yu was not lightly injured after being attacked twice by Song Juyao. He wore a neck brace and had a cast on his right leg. Of course, to maintain the nobility''s dignity, he claimed to have fallen instead of revealing that he was beaten by Song Juyao. He would rather be known for falling from the stairs than admitting to being beaten by her.


    Despite his appearance, no one at the scene found it funny. The man''s aura was still regal, and the kind of arrogance that made people feel insignificant, remained undiminished.


    "Zhou...Shuchen, isn''t it? You have half a month to prepare to leave," Jin Yu declared.


    Zhou Shuchen was stunned.


    "What? What do you mean?" asked the special admissions students, shocked.


    "Senior Brother he..."


    Jin Yu: "Whoever speaks up for him can leave with him."


    The cold voice, though not loud, made the air freeze.


    Jin Yao, holding a cigarette, glanced towards the direction of the student dormitory and thought about when Song Juyao would appear. Somehow, the mere thought of her made the bite mark on his thumb itch again.


    The specially recruited students opened their mouths, but for a moment, no sound came out. They were all hesitant to speak up, as no one doubted Jin Yu''s authority. He was the tyrant that Jinke Duola obeyed without question.


    Leave this school? Although the wealthy students looked down on them and sometimes even physically assaulted them without reason, the scholarships offered here, even those of the third-tier, were quite generous, and tuition, food, and lodging expenses were all free. These scholarships could also help ease the financial burden on their parents, and if they were accepted by a foreign university, part of the cost could be covered. Even if they were admitted to a renowned domestic university, they would still receive a substantial cash reward.


    If it were only their first year of high school, it would be okay, but what about second year and third year? The college entrance exam was approaching fast, in less than three months. Would they be able to fit in with a new group at a regular public school? Would they be constantly asked about their previous school and the treatment they received there? Would they be questioned about why they transferred? Could they even find a school willing to accept them? Would their families be able to use their connections to transfer them to a better school?


    Countless questions arose, and their faces turned pale. They couldn''t feel the warmth of the sun. Zhou Shuchen was still standing in front of them, but they couldn''t speak.


    Several girls had already bowed their heads and started to sob.


    Ming Shu was so angry that she exploded and jumped out, saying, "Let''s just go! Who wants to stay in this lousy school? You are all garbage, a group of garbage, parasites in society! It''s not just you, but your parents are also like that! They suck the blood of ordinary people and look down on them, and they taught trash like you!"


    "Students, let''s go!"


    The air was very quiet.


    No one moved, no one responded.


    After Ming Shu''s anger subsided, she began to feel a little embarrassed.


    ¡¾Cool... a little embarrassed after being cool.¡¿


    ¡¾Damn, it''s too real!¡¿


    ¡¾Speechless, why stay in this kind of school? It''s better to transfer. With such good grades, aren''t there any other schools that would want you?¡¿


    ¡¾It''s not the same. There are many students with good grades in good public schools, and the competition for scholarships is fierce. Moreover, scholarships are definitely not as generous as those offered by these elite schools. What''s more important is that it''s difficult to adapt to a new environment. Being expelled because of poverty is too damaging to self-esteem. There are many third-year students here, and if one''s mentality is unstable, they will definitely have to repeat the year.¡¿


    ¡¾I feel so much empathy. I''m really crying. Did I choose to be born into a poor family? If I could, I would also like to be born with a silver spoon in my mouth!¡¿


    "It''s you again. You think you''re on top of the world just because Song Juyao helped you once," Jin Yao recognized this "thief" Ming Shu.


    Ming Shu had exhausted herself after scolding them without any response. When Jin Yao spoke up, she recalled the terror of being dominated on the tennis court, causing her face, which had turned red from anger, to suddenly turn pale.


    Jin Yu glanced at Ming Shu and said, "You can leave as well."


    No student dared to speak up at this point.


    Jin Yu said, "Not all special admission students have to leave. The student council considers that not every special admission student can adapt to our school and integrate into this community. Hence, the student council is preparing to ''lay off'' some of them. However, we will keep some of the special admission students based on recommendations from their fellow students, provided they can adapt to our way of life and integrate into our Jinke Duola Academy community."


    "You have 30 seconds to return and take the exam. Even the special admission students who performed poorly in this month''s exam must also leave Jinke Duola."


    Upon hearing this, the special admission students stirred uneasily, hesitated, and gradually began to leave.


    Gradually, only a handful of people stayed behind, including Zhou Shuchen, Ming Shu, Li Zhao, and¡­


    Huh? Ming Shu''s sweeping gaze suddenly froze, her eyes widened - Jiang Baiqi!


    This boy was too strange. Even when standing in the sunlight, he seemed to be shrouded in a gloomy aura, grey and dusty. He was easily overlooked.


    Jin Yu coldly swept his gaze over the few people and his secretary pushed his wheelchair and left. Jin Yao, who was waiting for someone, yawned disinterestedly and turned to leave.


    "How can I stay?" Zhou Shuchen''s voice followed them, low and hoarse, making people feel heartbroken.


    Jin Yu ignored him.


    "Can I kneel down and beg you?"


    Ming Shu was taken aback and confused, as she took a step forward, Li Zhao pulled her back and shook her head with a complicated expression.


    Zhou Shuchen''s family was in difficult circumstances. His father was paralyzed in bed, his mother had diabetes, and he had a younger brother in elementary school. The family expenses were all supported by Zhou Shuchen''s scholarship. If he left Jinke Duola Academy, his only fate would be to drop out and work.


    Thinking of this, Li Zhao''s eyes turned red. Zhou Shuchen was an outstanding person, kind-hearted, and always ranked first in the grade. He could definitely attend the best university in the capital in the future and become an excellent adult. Being expelled from school on the verge of the college entrance examination would shatter his countless opportunities and give him a difficult future.


    And who were they to stand in his way when he was fighting for himself? None of them could be responsible for him and provide any help to him.


    Jin Yu, however, continued on as if he didn''t even see him. Fu Meiling laughed mockingly, as if belittling him for regretting his actions: "You can try. But do you really think your knees are worth that much?"


    Zhou Shuchen''s face turned ugly.


    Soon, only a handful of them remained outside the Student Union building. Even the scorching sun couldn''t warm the hearts that had sunk to the bottom.


    Ming Shu slapped her forehead and quickly said, "Don''t worry! We still have Song Juyao! She must have a way, and she won''t leave us alone!"


    Zhou Shuchen''s dark pupils faintly lit up, as if he had finally caught a life-saving straw.


    Jiang Baiqi stared at Zhou Shuchen for a few moments before turning around and leaving slowly.


    ......


    Song Juyao didn''t come to school for several days.


    She went to participate in a show.


    For years, she had been the unbeatable champion of "I Am the Big Winner" and a superstar on the "Big Winner Throne" of the program. After Song Juyao became a member of the Olympiad prize team, numerous geniuses from China and abroad came to challenge her. The academic qualifications of the guests who signed up to participate became higher and higher. Originally, the program had guests from all walks of life with broad knowledge, but now it has become an arena for geniuses.


    However, since Song Juyao joined the Olympiad team, she became very busy, making it impossible for her to participate in the program in person. Instead, she only competed with her opponents via video during the final challenge. Therefore, her presence at the show was a pleasant surprise for Peng Jia.


    Peng Jia was the director of "I Am the Big Winner" ten years ago, and now he has been promoted to the head of the TV station. It could be said that he was an elder who watched Song Juyao grow up and has always taken good care of her.


    Apart from "I Am the Big Winner," she also became a judge on "Super Brain" shortly after.


    As Song Juyao became increasingly involved in variety shows, the situation of the special admission group at Jinke Duola Academy worsened, causing concern among the audience.


    The barrage in the live broadcast room urged Song Juyao to stop participating in the program and quickly return to school, but Song Juyao couldn''t see it.


    ¡¾Ahhhhhh, it''s driving me crazy! You dropped the ball at a crucial moment!¡¿


    ¡¾Hurry back to school, those students are really going to be played to death.¡¿


    ¡¾This is too irresponsible. Jin Yu had to resort to such tactics because Song Juyao meddled and angered the twins. And now she just patted her butt and left without any sense of accountability?¡¿


    ¡¾Do you have a problem with your brain? Jin Yu and Jin Yao are notorious for their malicious behavior. Without Song Juyao''s intervention, they would have eventually forced the special admission students out.¡¿


    ¡¾When Song Juyao was helping others, she had no idea that such an incident would occur. Should she have stood by and watched them suffer? If that''s how you think, I hope that when you face difficulties, others will also think the same, stand by and watch you suffer!¡¿


    ¡¾I''m speechless. Can you please stop participating in these crappy shows and hurry back to school?¡¿


    ¡¾.....¡¿


    At this moment, after several days of fermentation, many students at the Jinke Duola Academy, under the threat of being expelled, acted in accordance with their human nature and made choices.


    Because the student council said they would decide which special admission students to keep based on the number of recommendations from students, the "students" they referred to, of course, meant non-special admission students.


    Consequently, many special admission students started pleasing these students. The latter were aware of the special admission students'' intentions but didn''t mind seeing them fawning over them like clowns.


    "Hey, you look so much like a dog. Why don''t you bark like one?" someone taunted with a smirk.


    The special admission student''s face momentarily froze, but remembering their family''s predicament, they quickly became servile.


    "Woof! Woof woof woof!"


    "Hahahahaha ......"


    Amidst the resounding mockery, there was a young heart that had plunged into darkness.


    "What are you standing there for? Are you in the same group as Zhou Shuchen?" The person who had kicked Zhou Shuchen down glared fiercely at several special admission students.


    Although most of the special admission students had received assistance from Zhou Shuchen, no one dared to speak up at this moment.


    One person struggled to shake their head in denial, and others followed suit.


    Once they had crossed this threshold, everything became much simpler. First, deny; then, they could start physically attacking and even eventually start actively insulting the other person. In this way, they could distance themselves from the other person and become an accomplice of the perpetrator, thereby avoiding being targeted by the perpetrator.


    The special admission students who were singled out by the student council were not spared, and the most pitiful thing was that the singled-out special admission students, including Ming Shu and Li Zhao, were bullied by other special admission students. Even Jiang Baiqi, who had always kept a low profile, was not spared.


    Ming Shu was shocked when she saw Jiang Baiqi in the school infirmary.


    "You actually got beaten up?"


    There were bruises on Jiang Baiqi''s pale face, and he looked a little happy as he lowered his head. When he heard her words, he looked up expressionlessly, as if asking what was so strange about him being beaten up.


    ¡¾I know what Ming Shu is thinking!¡¿


    ¡¾Ming Shu: I thought you were a big shot, but you''re just a noob like me?¡¿


    ¡¾Honestly, I was also surprised. I always thought Jiang Baiqi might be a hidden big shot.¡¿


    ¡¾Yeah! That gloomy aura, those eerie eyes that look at people, and even caught the attention of Song Juyao. I thought he would pull out a knife and slit someone''s throat if he was bullied, but instead he ended up crouching down while holding his head and getting beaten up!¡¿


    ¡¾Am I the only one who noticed that he seemed quite happy just now? What''s he happy about? Is he thinking of some perverse way to get revenge?¡¿


    ¡¾When is Song Juyao coming back? I''m really going to explode!! I feel so sorry for Zhou Shuchen.¡¿


    ¡¾Human nature is really scary, but when you think about it, their behavior is understandable...¡¿


    The Jinke Duola Academy has descended into chaos.


    Tang Kai has been dealing with "insignificant" matters, such as treating students'' wounds, every day. Initially, he felt annoyed, but later his annoyance turned into anger.


    The special admissions students were betraying and attacking each other every day, or chose to stand by and watch in fear of being implicated.


    Tang Kai asked, "Where is Song Juyao?"


    Ming Shu replied, "I don''t know. She seems to have gone out and hasn''t come back yet."


    "Can''t you call her?!" Tang Kai said.


    Ming Shu responded, "I, we don''t have her phone number..."


    Upon careful consideration, they realized that they were not even close with Song Juyao, they were just easily drawn in by her gentle and kind nature. They had forgotten the time distance between them, thinking that they had known each other for a long time.


    "......"


    Ming Shu''s side could not contact Song Juyao, Jin Yu called for her.


    The fact that Song Juyao would happen to leave was unexpected, giving him a feeling of a fist on cotton. He even thought that Song Juyao might be the kind of person who would leave everything behind and never come back. The dorm manager went to her apartment and found her belongings and the cat was still there, too, before he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The situation did not develop as he expected. He felt pleased at the thought of what expression Song Juyao would show upon returning to see this scene.


    The situation did not unfold as Jin Yu had expected. First, he felt pleased at the thought of what expression Song Juyao would have upon returning to see this scene.


    However, when she didn''t come back for several days, it tested his patience, so he decided to call her.


    As it turned out, Song Juyao was having dinner at Director Peng Jia''s house. Mrs. Peng had always been fond of her and would invite Peng Jia to pick her up for dinner on holidays. She had prepared a table full of dishes that Song Juyao loved.


    "You are so thin, thinner than those female stars. You look like you''ll blow away with just a gust of wind. You should eat more."


    "It''s not that exaggerated. My muscle mass is actually higher than that of women who don''t exercise," Song Juyao responded, looking at her bowl of food with some helplessness.


    Mr. Peng Jia ate his food with his head down, glancing at his son, who usually acted domineering. At this moment his domineering son was at a loss, his face was flushed and he kept his head looking at the table without saying a word. Peng Jia felt extremely disgusted. That''s it? Is this the guy who likes Song Juyao? And he even wants to chase her like this? Do you even deserve to pursue her?


    As the son lifted his head, he happened to catch his father''s critical gaze. Master Peng? Really? Is that my biological father?


    Song Juyao''s phone rang, and she picked it up. Seeing that it was Jin Yu, she stood up and went to the balcony to answer.


    "What''s up?"


    Jin Yu narrowed his eyes upon hearing the question, "Song Juyao, you don''t think that I would forget about you hitting me like it never happened, do you?"


    "So what?"


    "You''d better go back to Jinke Duola and see for yourself." Jin Yu hung up the phone after speaking. He was waiting for Song Juyao to come back and beg him to change his mind. Wasn''t she supposed to be kind? Wasn''t she fighting for the special admission students? He would like to see how far she could go for them.


    Song Juyao frowned as she looked at her phone.


    "What¡­.what happened? Is something wrong?" Young Master Peng probed out and asked incoherently.


    Song Juyao turned around and smiled, "It''s nothing."


    The audience expected Song Juyao to immediately rush back to Jinke Duola after receiving Jin Yu''s phone call, but she didn''t. Instead, she stayed in the city, appearing on shows and having meals. Many people in the live broadcast room were anxious and cursing.


    Enduring and waiting, Song Juyao finally left and returned to the city where Jinke Duola was located.


    ¡¾Ahhhhhh hurry up!!! So many kids are waiting for you to save them!¡¿


    ¡¾Go and torture that pair of bastards Jin Yao and Jin Yu!¡¿


    ¡¾So angry! So angry! So angry! So angry!¡¿


    ¡¾Finally! I''ve waited enough.¡¿


    "Well... Let''s not go to Jinke Duola for now, could you please turn to First Middle School?" Song Juyao suddenly said to the driver.


    ¡¾? What are you doing? Why did you suddenly change direction?¡¿


    ¡¾I''m speechless. Can you stop dilly-dallying?¡¿


    ¡¾I can''t take it anymore. I really want to get angry with Song Juyao. She knows very well what the special enrollment students'' status is in the school and what kind of person Jin Yu is. How could she not think about what those students are going through? But she still drags her feet and attends those shows. What''s so important about them? She didn''t even call the principal to ask!¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao doesn''t really care about the special enrollment students. When she reached out to help them before, it was just a casual gesture. She doesn''t care about the life and death of others afterwards.¡¿


    ¡¾If that''s the case, it''s better to turn a blind eye from the beginning, instead of giving others hope and letting them down. They''ve been waiting for her!¡¿


    ¡¾Now we''re going to scold Song Juyao? Is this a moral blackmail? If you save someone, do you have to be responsible for them for a lifetime? Then why not just watch them die from the beginning!¡¿


    ¡¾What''s the use of calling the principal? Haven''t we seen what kind of person he is in the livestream before?¡¿


    Song Juyao got out of the car at the First Middle School and approached the guard to ask him to make a phone call. Soon, a teacher arrived to meet her.


    The teacher led Song Juyao to the principal''s office. As she entered, the principal stood up and greeted her with a smile. It was evident that he was taken aback by her unexpected visit.


    "Your reputation precedes you, and my wife is a big fan of yours. We have two sons, but she''s unhappy that I haven''t been able to give her a daughter..... Excuse me," the principal coughed awkwardly, realizing he may have misspoken.


    Song Juyao replied with a smile, "Actually, I''m here to request a favor."


    "Oh?"


    "I would like to request that First Middle School accommodate and provide support to a group of students."


    She went on to briefly explain the situation of the special admission students from Jinke Duola. The students who would be attending Jinke Duola Academy were all high-achievers, and the First Middle School was willing to admit some good students. After all, good students meant a higher enrollment rate, which would benefit the school.


    However, the special enrollment students from Jinke Duola High School were over a hundred in total from the first to third year. If over a hundred students were suddenly transferred, most of whom were in need of financial assistance, it would be a significant challenge and burden for the school.


    Song Juyao took out a check and said, "I will take full responsibility for the scholarships and miscellaneous fees of these students. Some of them have special circumstances and require extra attention. Moreover, I also want to assist those First Middle School students who are academically competent but are unable to continue their studies due to family reasons."


    The principal was very shocked, "This...are you helping them to this extent? This is a substantial sum of money."


    Song Juyao tilted her head and smiled, "I believe the future of so many talented children is more precious than just this money."


    ¡¾Ah ah ah, the amount on this check is exactly the same as the appearance fees Song Juyao earned from all those TV shows she''s been doing in the past few days!¡¿


    ¡¾Oh my god! Did she plan this from the beginning? Is that why she''s been so busy with recording TV shows non-stop these days?¡¿


    ¡¾Is she really planning to help all the special admission students? Oh my god.¡¿


    ¡¾You''re basically the same age as them, and you''re still a child!¡¿


    ¡¾She is really too kind. Liu Yan and the others took all her money, she is not a millionaire with unlimited resources.¡¿


    ¡¾Does the face of the person who scolded her hurt? ¡¿


    ¡¾I initially thought she would convince Jin Yu to change his mind at most,  but I didn''t expect her to plan to transfer all the special admission students. She''s amazing and truly admirable!¡¿


    Song Juyao''s actions deeply touched the First Middle School''s principal, who promptly decided to admit all special admission students from Jinke Duola Academy.


    ......


    As Zhou Shuchen was just about to walk to his seat, a foot suddenly kicked from the side knocking his table to topple over.


    Zhou Shuchen tightened his grip on his backpack and looked at the student who had kicked the table.


    "You idiot, you''ve already been expelled, don''t you understand? Hurry up and leave, do you want to stay here?"


    Zhou Shuchen remained silent as he crouched down to pick up the table. However, he was kicked in the process, causing him to tumble to the ground.


    A burst of taunts rang out around him.


    "I get it, you''re all still hoping that Song Juyao will return and help you stay at this school, right? Hahaha..."


    The jeers got louder.


    "Let''s see what you special admission students have been posting in your group chat. ''Waiting for Senior Sister Song Juyao to come back,'' ''Things will certainly improve, Senior Sister Song will help us,'' ''Don''t give up, persevere, Senior Sister Song will help us fight for justice from the school''....."


    In a disgustingly mocking tone, the person read aloud the special admissions students'' messages before bursting into laughter. "Who do you think Song Juyao is? Can she make President Jin Yu change his decision? What are you all thinking? By the way, let me tell you, Song Juyao isn''t coming back."


    What?! Zhou Shuchen looked abruptly at the speaker, "What did you say?"


    The person made up and said nonsense, "We''ve already received the news. Song Juyao has returned to her team and went to the capital a long time ago. Who do you think you are? Can you compare yourselves to her work?"

 CH 20

    Chapter 20: First Arc [19]


    Zhou Shuchen''s face turned pale. "It''s impossible..."


    "It''s up to you to believe it or not. I''ve been finding you unpleasant for a long time. You''re even better at pretending than me, and it''s annoying to look at you." The man spoke, ordering the special admission students next to him, "Since he won''t leave on his own, I''ll have you guys do the favor of throwing him outside the school."


    What? The few special recruits who were ordered had ugly faces and struggled to resist. How could they do that?


    "Hmm?" The man''s cold eyes swept over them, and his tone was threatening. They shuddered and finally lifted their feet and stepped forward.


    "Shuchen...you should leave."


    "Shuchen...you..."


    They were too embarrassed to use force, hoping that Zhou Shuchen would leave on his own. The struggle on their faces seemed to say that there was nothing they could do.


    Zhou Shuchen looked at his classmates who used to hang out and study together. Although his family was poor, his parents had taught him to be an upright, brave, and kind person. Since young, he tried his best to help his classmates who sought his help within his ability. How he yearned for someone like that to help him in his current state of utter helplessness.


    But now, when Zhou Shuchen desperately needed help, he found himself alone. Not only did nobody lend a hand, but some of those he had helped before now betrayed and ridiculed him. They showed such a helpless expression, hoping that he could forgive them and act more reasonably. At this point, do I still have to take care of your emotions and sympathize with your helplessness?!


    A pale smile appeared on Zhou Shuchen''s face, and a burst of anger welled up from the bottom of his heart and darkness seemed to cover his eyes.


    "No, I''m not leaving. Why should I leave? I can at least stay here for another half month. Even Jin Yu didn''t ask me to leave immediately!" Zhou Shuchen stood up angrily and stubbornly turned to pick up his desk and chair.


    His attitude angered the boy. "Fine! You''re amazing! Let''s see how long you can keep it up! Hey, what are you guys standing there for? Useless things, you still want to stay in school and be my lackey like this? What do I need you for?"


    The few special recruits were scolded and their faces turned red. They also became displeased with Zhou Shuchen and immediately stepped forward to pull him away.


    "Zhou Shuchen, don''t force us. Leave now!"


    "Let go of me!" Zhou Shuchen protested.


    They dragged Zhou Shuchen out of the classroom. Zhou Shuchen struggled desperately, his eyes were red as if he was trying to break free from not just those hands, but also from his suffocating fate. But he couldn''t escape and was watched all the way from the class to the corridor.


    "What are you doing? Let go of Shuchen!" A special admission student in shock angrily stopped them.


    "Don''t deceive yourself. There is no room for things to change. Song Juyao has already returned to the team and won''t come back!"


    "We''ve been abandoned long ago!"


    "That''s impossible! Our senior sister went to the headmaster''s office and the student union for us. She can''t just leave like that..."


    "That''s the fact! Who can prove that she will come back? On the contrary, we''ve seen with our own eyes that she has been away for many days!"


    "......"


    Some didn''t believe it, but more people did. They had waited for many days without any news from Song Juyao. They didn''t know her whereabouts, and in fact, were not qualified to know. Perhaps it was just their wishful thinking that they regarded her as a savior, when in fact she didn''t take them to heart at all.


    "Wooo...... don''t do this......"


    "It''s because of you servile guys that they say we are spineless and treat us like dirt!"


    "You have backbone, you have potential, why don''t you leave quickly? Why do you want to stay here?"


    "Hurry up and go, we don''t need a backbone now. How much money is the backbone worth huh? If I can exchange it to become successful and give my parents a good life, I''d be willing to walk on my knees now!"


    "You f*cking...!"


    The scene was chaotic and out of control. From the teaching building to the playground, more and more special students joined in. Initially it was because of Zhou Shuchen, but later, it somehow turned into a brawl that even Li Zhao and Ming Shu got caught up in. Jiang Baiqi wandered outside the crowd, unable to join the fray even if he wanted to, and his gloomy little world seemed incompatible with the chaos of the situation."


    ¡¾Stop fighting, wuwuwu...¡¿


    ¡¾I''m so worried, Song Juyao, please come quickly, they''re really about to collapse¡¿


    ¡¾Stupid children, you don''t even know what your Senior Sister Song has done for you. Stop it now¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao really thinks too far ahead. This school is rubbish. Even if she helps special recruits to fight for their rights and help them stay in this school, how much good will it do? Their hearts will be polluted by the cruelty and money worship here, discrimination will always exist, it is better to directly move them them to an equal environment.¡¿


    The fight was not far from the school gate. As soon as Song Juyao got out of the car, she saw the frenzied crowd. Her pupils dilated in shock, and she hurried over.


    Upon seeing Song Juyao, the doorman immediately picked up the landline on the table and called the student union.


    Jin Yu''s face showed a pleased expression. "The show has been going on for so long. Finally, she''s back."


    Jin Yao jumped up from the sofa, unconsciously rubbing the teeth marks on his thumb. "I''ll go take a look."


    "I''m going too." Jin Yu sneered. "I don''t want to miss her expression."


    ......


    Meanwhile, Jiang Baiqi stood outside the crowd, unable to blend in even during the midst of a fight. No one could spot him at first glance. He was always a person with a very thin presence, and sometimes even his parents would leave him at the mall for half a day before returning to search for him in a panic.


    It was as if his existence in this world was superfluous. No one needed him, and no one could see him.


    Jiang Baiqi looked at the crowd of fighting people with his gray eyes. When he saw someone fall down, he took two steps forward to help him up, but the person, as if he had gone mad, indiscriminately swung at him.


    The fist was caught by a hand before it could hit Jiang Baiqi''s face.


    He froze for a moment, then followed the slender hand to see a delicate and beautiful face. The girl''s expression was one of anger and shock. She threw away the hand while pulling Jiang Baiqi behind her, positioning herself in front of him.


    "Don''t lay a hand on him!" Song Juyao shouted in anger.


    Jiang Baiqi looked at the girl''s back and blinked.


    The special enrollment student saw Song Juyao and was stunned. "Senior... Senior sister..."


    Song Juyao, "All of you stop!"


    Her voice couldn''t overpower the chaotic crowd and was drowned in the clamor, but it entered the ears of some people on the edge.


    "It''s Senior Sister!"


    "Senior Sister Song is back!"


    "I knew it, those people are liars. Senior Sister wouldn''t abandon us!"


    "Stop it, Senior Sister is back!"


    The voices passed one by one, the students raised their heads in bewilderment and shock, and finally returned to their senses. After a burst of ecstasy, the stagnant silence shrouded over the area.


    Song Juyao gazed at their more or less battered faces and felt a mix of anger, pain, and disappointment, causing the students to avert their gaze from hers and lower their heads in shame.


    "Senior Sister!" Ming Shu emerged from the crowd, half of her white shirt was ripped out from the hem of her skirt, her messy hair looked like a chicken coop, not knowing how many strands had been ripped out. "You''re finally back! Everyone thought you wouldn''t come back. You don''t know what''s been happening in the school these days..."


    Ming Shu crackled and quickly recounted the situation to Song Juyao, who took a deep breath and said, "I''m already aware of all this."


    She turned and saw a group of people from the Student Council walking towards them.


    Led by Jin Yu and Jin Yao, this group of people looked gilded, exuding a luxurious aura of upper-class society. They were from a completely different world than the ragged and disheveled group of teenagers on their side.


    "The little chickens have finally waited for the mother hen," Jin Yao said with a wild and unruly smile.


    "It''s a pity that the ones who should be eaten will still be eaten. After all, it''s just a mother hen," Jin Yu said coldly.


    Song Juyao asked, "Is this what you wanted me to see?"


    "Isn''t it exciting? Your so-called backbone of the poor is nothing more than that. For money, they can even betray their benefactor, stand idly by, or turn against each other. The people you defend are nothing but worthless figures among the masses."


    "Even so, you still want to stand on their side?" Jin Yu showed a hypocritical smile. "In fact, with your status, you could have crossed the class long ago and become one of us. Why waste time with people who are of a different class and a different world? Abandon them and come to us."


    The specially admitted students looked nervously at Song Juyao. Li Zhao noticed that Zhou Shuchen had kept his head down the whole time and didn''t show much reaction even with Song Juyao''s return.


    Song Juyao smiled without warmth, full of disdain. "Get lost."


    Jin Yu''s face changed slightly.


    Fu Meiling was furious and immediately stepped forward. "You have no shame! The student council president just spoke a little more politely. Do you really think you''re some kind of big shot? If you have the guts, take your group and leave the school now!"


    Song Juyao looked at her.


    "What? Let me tell you, begging for mercy is useless. Even if you kneel down, your knees are not worth the money!"


    Song Juyao turned to the specially admitted students. "Go pack up your things."


    "What ...... what?"


    "What...what does that mean?"


    "I have already made an agreement with the First Middle School. You will all transfer to the First Middle School. Go pack up your things, we are leaving here," Song Juyao said.


    There was a sharp intake of breath. Some people covered their mouths in disbelief, and Zhou Shuchen also raised his head.


    First Middle school? What''s the ''First Middle school''? It is the best public high school in the city, and ranking No.11 in the top First Middle Schools of the country in terms of promotion rate?


    Can we really, really get out of here?


    Not to nowhere, but transfer to the First Middle School? Will everyone go together?


    Will we no longer have to endure everything here?


    Will our dignity not be trampled on anymore?"


    Excitement overwhelmed Li Zhao as she covered her mouth and shed tears. She knew that there was hope as long as Song Juyao was there.


    Now it was the turn of the student council members to be shocked. What? Song Juyao was actually prepared to take all the special enrollment students away?


    Jin Yu tightened his grip on the wheelchair''s armrest and glared at Song Juyao with an ugly expression.

 CH 21

    Chapter 21: First Arc [20]


    Note: Dear readers! We''ve got some awesome news for you. Starting this week, our super exciting novel will be hitting the shelves every Sunday! But wait, there''s more! We''re also stoked to let you know that we''ll be launching a Patreon soon. That means you can support our work and get your hands on advance chapters. Keep an eye out for more details! Get ready for a captivating journey as we dive into the enchanting world of this masterpiece.


    He was waiting for her to beg for mercy, to watch her lower her despicable head for these special enrollment students, but she actually did something so extreme ¨C she wanted to take all the special enrollment students away!


    ¡¾Hahahahaha, you didn''t see that coming, did you? Idiots!¡¿


    ¡¾And you still want Song Juyao to beg for mercy. Are you surprised or shocked?¡¿


    ¡¾Hahaha, their expressions are priceless! Scared them all to death!¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao is really so domineering, I love it!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!¡¿


    Even Jin Yao was shocked, looking at Song Juyao''s eyes that still showed no fear towards them, a flicker of admiration crossed his eyes.


    Ming Shu opened her mouth wide in shock. What had she just heard? Damn it! She''d barely found a place to play, and had been manipulating and brainwashing these special admission students in the group, instilling in them a reliance on Song Juyao. The intention was to morally kidnap Song Juyao, turning these students against her and fueling their hatred after their emotional breakdown. Ming Shu had hoped that even if only one or two of them turned against Song Juyao, it would still cause some trouble for her and create challenges. But what was the result? Song Juyao? You?


    I kneel down to you, Boss! I dare not provoke you!


    She never expected that she would directly transfer all the specially recruited students from Jinke Duola Academy!This move was too ruthless!


    Can Jinke Duola really expel all the specially recruited students at once? What about the college entrance examination in three months? Don''t they care about the enrollment rate anymore? Arch-rival St. Mary''s Academy is still watching closely. With these spoiled dandies, how high can this school''s ranking really be?


    Even if Jin Yu really wanted to get rid of these specially recruited students, it should have been done gradually. The senior students in their third year were definitely not in the scope of cleaning up. They needed to leave some buffer time, right?


    As a result, Song Juyao actually...


    Jin Yu''s face contorted as he coldly said, "Do you think you can just take them away as you please?"


    Song Juyao retorted, "Wasn''t it you who let them leave?"


    Jin Yu retorted, "When I want them to leave, they can leave. When I don''t want them to leave, nobody can leave."


    The specially recruited students glared at Jin Yu, seething with anger. After the fight and venting, Song Juyao reappeared. Their crumbling world paused, and a glimmer of hope pierced through their hearts that were shrouded in despair and darkness. Their rationality returned and they finally realized that Jin Yu had been playing them, intentionally pitting them against each other like monkeys in a circus.


    And they had fallen right into his trap.


    Li Zhao approached Song Juyao, her face pale, and said, "Senior, we have an agreement with the school..."


    Jinke Duola Academy had provided these specially recruited students with a substantial amount of money, not out of charity, but to improve the enrollment rate. Therefore, to ensure that these students wouldn''t transfer midway, perform poorly, or fail to gain admission to a reputable university, they had signed an agreement upon admission. It stipulated that if they changed schools  in the middle of the session, experienced a significant decline in grades, or performed poorly in the college entrance examination, they would face consequences. They would have to spit out everything they had gained during their three years in the school.


    Hence, while the school had the authority to expel them, the students themselves were not allowed to withdraw voluntarily.


    "I know." Song Juyao calmly retrieved her phone from her pocket, and the screen indicated that it was recording. She gazed at Jin Yu without any trace of emotion and stated, "The actions Jinke Duola has taken against the specially recruited students, if exposed to the public, will subject this school and your families to public scrutiny. While your agreement may hold legal weight, the treatment you have inflicted upon these students can be viewed as abuse, intentional harm, coerced injury, and psychological assault... What kind of judgment do you think a judge will render? Do you want to give it a try?"


    With so many specially recruited students and only a few needing to testify, combined with Song Juyao''s testimony and the recorded evidence, the scandal surrounding Jinke Duola Academy would become a national sensation, dominating headlines. However, the ones who would suffer the most would not be the specially recruited students who already have nothing to lose.


    Jin Yu''s face twisted with anger. He sneered, "Even if you manage to resolve everything in their favor, do you think you can simply take them all away? Those of you who choose to stay will have their scholarships doubled."


    He knew their weakness all too well¡ªtheir poverty. How could a group of underprivileged individuals resist the temptation of money? Even if he had manipulated them before, what did it matter? As long as more money was offered, wouldn''t everything be swept under the rug? Weren''t all their previous issues stemming from the fact that they would have no money once they left Jinke Duola?


    ¡¾Even now, they are still using money to humiliate people!!! Jin Yu is so disgusting! I can''t stand it!¡¿


    ¡¾I wish I could smash his face with a brick made of money! Argh!!!¡¿


    ¡¾But this temptation is really strong. If it were me... I might have stayed.¡¿


    ¡¾Please don''t stay! Straighten your spine, kids!Stand tall! Your senior sister Juyao has already taken care of everything for you!¡¿


    The specially recruited students glanced at each other, and after exchanging glances, the awkward and tangled emotions began to spread again. Over the past few days, they had been played by Jin Yu, causing them to betray one another and forsake their integrity in pursuit of personal gain. Not long ago, they were even fighting each other. Now, transferring to First Middle School together wouldn''t necessarily guarantee a pleasant experience either.


    If Song Juyao knew the true nature of the people they had become, she probably wouldn''t even spare them a glance, let alone help them.


    It was truly¡­ shameful. Even they were startled by their own actions. Were they fundamentally such ugly beings? Would they stoop so low in times of crisis?


    In the midst of this suffocating silence, Song Juyao turned and made her way to the podium.


    Everyone couldn''t help but look up at her.


    "Everyone, I am powerless to change the essence of this school. Each of us will face numerous choices throughout our lives. I am merely doing my best to provide you with an alternative path. As for how to proceed, I will not make the decision for you. I will not stay at Jinke Duola forever, and you cannot always expect help from others. Some opportunities come only once, so I urge you to carefully consider them before giving a response, and I will accept whatever choice you make."


    Song Juyao''s voice was gentle and eloquent, carrying a soothing quality akin to flowing water gently seeping into the depths of their hearts.


    "I only hope that you remember: If the sky grows dark, then survive in the shadows; if speaking out puts you in danger, then remain silent; if you feel powerless to shine, then retreat to the corner. But do not defend darkness simply because you''ve grown accustomed to it; don''t get carried away with your own compromise and resilience; do not ridicule those who are braver and more passionate than you. We can be as humble as dust, but not as twisted as maggots."


    As her words resonated, her gaze swept over certain specially recruited students. Those individuals froze for a moment, then buried their heads deeply in shame. It became evident that she knew, she knew what kind of monsters they had become these days for their own sake. Yet, knowing this, she remained so gentle and did not abandon them because of it...


    The girl stood bathed in sunlight, radiating a brilliance even surpassing that of the sun itself. Whether it was the sway of her dress or the flutter of her black hair in the wind, she resembled a resplendent scenery, delicate and fragile yet standing with majestic grace.


    All eyes were fixed upon her, and for a fleeting moment, the entire world seemed to fall into silence. Even Jiang Baiqi''s gloomy and lifeless eyes reflected the radiance emitted by this person.


    ¡¾We can be as humble as dust, but not as twisted as maggots!¡¿


    ¡¾Oh my goodness, Song Juyao truly shines. She''s amazing!¡¿


    ¡¾Ahhhhhhh, I love her so much ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Taking notes!!!¡¿


    ¡¾It is absolutely impossible for a person who can say such things to stoop to rape others on a whim. Such reasoning is an insult to Song Juyao!¡¿


    ¡¾I don''t care, I''m voting for Song Juyao. She doesn''t deserve to spend the rest of her life in prison!¡¿


    ¡¾But what right does she have to grant these people a second chance? The one who was hurt was Zhou Shuchen! She''s too much of a saint, neglecting the principles of reward and punishment. Her kindness and tenderness towards others are akin to a knife for Zhou Shuchen.¡¿


    ¡¾Zhou Shuchen is truly pitiful.¡¿


    ¡¾But those people also have their own difficulties, don''t they? I always remember the boy who said what is backbone, he could even walk on his knees for the sake of a good future for his parents. In a critical moment, when they had to make a choice, didn¡¯t they just choose someone more important? Why can''t they be given a chance? Perhaps this experience and lesson will shape them into better individuals in the future?¡¿


    Song Juyao walked down from the stage and followed Li Zhao''s line of sight to see Zhou Shuchen. The young man had changed so much in such a short time, and his once upright demeanor had become gloomy.


    Song Juyao walked up to him, "Student Zhou."


    Zhou Shuchen lifted his head and looked at her expressionlessly.


    "You''re really amazing."


    "Are you mocking me?"


    Surprised, Song Juyao looked at him, "Why would you think that? I''m simply speaking from the heart. It''s the first time I''ve witnessed so many people standing up to protect someone during a fight, even female classmates were willing to take punches for you."


    Zhou Shuchen stood there, stunned. Following Song Juyao''s gaze, his eyes landed on Li Zhao, not far away. Her cheek was bruised and swollen, and she averted her gaze in embarrassment, attempting to conceal it with her hair. Zhou Shuchen then glanced at the people surrounding him and realized he was positioned amidst the crowd, assuming the posture of a protected person.


    Zhou Shuchen felt a jolt in his heart, and the sourness that erupted from the bottom of his heart welled up and extinguished the burning flames in his chest, but it also instantly brought tears to his eyes.


    He had grown accustomed to standing before everyone as a protector¡ªhis parents, younger brother, classmates, and friends¡ªso he couldn''t see how protective others were of him. That''s why in these past few days, he had seen the betrayers and suffered unprecedented blows, neglecting those who knew how to repay him and stood in front of him with all their might to protect him.


    Wasn''t it because they intervened and stopped those people that the fight had erupted in the first place? It was all for his sake.


    "Thank you..." His voice was hoarse.


    "What are you thanking us for? It''s actually... a bit weirdly embarrassing."


    "Yeah, it is."


    "..."


    ¡¾Oh my god, I suddenly feel moved!¡¿


    ¡¾His collapsing world has come to a halt. Let''s not fixate on what''s been lost, or else we might overlook the more precious things that still remain!¡¿


    ¡¾Go, Zhou Shuchen! Effort will be rewarded, and good people will receive goodness in return!¡¿


    ¡¾This is so touching ... I feel healed.¡¿


    Song Juyao looked at them and also revealed a gentle smile.


    On the other side, the student council members stood as if in a separate realm, observing the individuals in the opposing world.


    Fu Meiling crossed her arms and snorted unconvinced.  This woman''s way of speaking was quite likable, but she was so ignorant and willing to degenerate. The staircase to the upper class was right there, yet she chose to concern herself and take care of these worthless people.


    Jin Yu''s gaze remained fixed on Song Juyao''s face, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. He couldn''t quite discern if it was anger or something else, but it burned intensely, making him want to lose his temper. Yet, he struggled to find the right words to express himself.


    Jin Yao turned his head to observe his twin brother, carefully studying his expression and eyes. The special connection between twins instantly made him understand something. He involuntarily rubbed the bite mark on his thumb, lowering his eyes in annoyance.


    "Shuchen, what do you say? We''re with you!"


    "Yes, Senior Juyao has paved the way for us. The choices we make from here on are ours to make."  They couldn''t let Song Juyao make decisions for them, because they couldn''t burden her with their future. Taking ownership and voicing their own decision was what they should do now.


    "We''re in this together!"


    Those who stood with Zhou Shuchen expressed their unwavering support. Previously, they were trapped and unable to leave even if they wanted to, but now, with Song Juyao''s help, they had the opportunity to leave Jinke Duola without having to pay a single penny. They wanted to be admitted to the university of their choice together with Zhou Shuchen, and even struggle and strive to start a business together in the future.


    Zhou Shuchen possessed a unique power that inspired others and fueled their determination for a brighter future. He was their spiritual leader.


    As the voices of trust and support echoed, Zhou Shuchen felt the warmth of the sun envelop him, completely dispelling the darkness from his eyes.


    "Everyone, I ......"


    "Wait!!!" A piercing cry interrupted Zhou Shuchen''s words. He turned his head and saw the cowardly headmaster, who had been evading the school and hiding these past few days, hastily approaching them with his obese legs in stride.


    The headmaster''s face was flushed, his lips pale. Upon learning that Song Juyao actually intended to take away all the specially recruited students, he was so frightened that he desperately crawled and rolled his way from home to the school.


    "Students, let''s have a discussion if you have something to say. Please don''t act impulsively!" The principal anxiously and flusteredly said, "This matter of transferring schools can be discussed, it can be discussed..." He pleaded to Song Juyao, whispering, "Dr. Song, you were once a student of our Jinke Duola Academy. This is your alma mater. Can you please show some mercy?"


    If this year''s enrollment rate appeared bad, his position as headmaster would be in jeopardy, and the school would become a subject of ridicule. As a blue-blooded aristocratic academy, ranking at the bottom would be too  disgraceful! In short, he regretted it. If he had known that Song Juyao would go to such extremes, he would have mustered the courage to control Jin Yu and prevent things from escalating too far.


    Translator''s Note: Hey readers! This chapter is my absolute favorite so far! Tell me, which chapter stole your heart? Share your favorite and what made it special for you. I believe everyone connects differently, and I''m eager to hear your thoughts! Happy reading!

 CH 22

    Chapter 22: First Arc [21]


    "Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come." Song Juyao sarcastically remarked.


    "Dr. Song ......"


    "It''s not me who makes the choice. There are some things you shouldn''t say to me."


    The headmaster then turned and went to talk to the group of specially admitted students. The specially admitted students didn''t want to deal with someone like him. He then went to pull Zhou Shuchen along, and eventually, Zhou Shuchen was half-dragged by the headmaster to the office. The others could only return to the dormitory and wait for news.


    Song Juyao''s role was already completed, and the rest was the specially admitted students'' own business. She smiled and turned her head, but her gaze subconsciously fell upon the slightly disheveled young man. Coincidentally, their eyes met for a moment, and she quickly and somewhat unnaturally averted her gaze.


    Ming Shu, who had been paying attention to Song Juyao: ...Ah ah ah ah ah, what''s really going on between you two? I''m so curious!!!


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah ah, when will this be revealed!¡¿


    ¡¾Why is Song Juyao paying attention to Jiang Baiqi? He''s clearly a loser!!¡¿


    ¡¾Alright, just when I thought I was done enjoying the intrigues, my curiosity has resurfaced and is once again scratching at my heart and lungs.¡¿


    ¡¾Ming Shu, go ahead and ask, go ahead and ask! I believe that it''s definitely not something scandalous. Song Juyao is not a bad person!¡¿


    ......


    In the real world.


    Song Juyao once again became a hot topic and sparked discussions. Her brief speech was widely circulating.


    ¡¾She did an incredible job!¡¿


    ¡¾So touching!¡¿


    ¡¾We can be as humble as dust, but we must not be twisted like maggots! Are these really the words of a murderer? I wasn''t interested in this show, but now I suddenly want to watch it.¡¿


    ¡¾Please, I plead with you to watch the show. You will also fall in love with her. Please vote for her, please!¡¿


    ¡¾This kind of judgment trial prohibits campaigning! Can Song''s fans shut up? Whether or not to vote is a personal decision. Don''t bring the entertainment industry''s tactics into this!¡¿


    ¡¾The first episode hasn''t even ended yet. We still don''t know what kind of person she truly is. People can change.¡¿


    Song Juyao''s popularity continued to soar, and the show''s ratings kept increasing. The number of votes for her grievance redressal also gradually grew.


    Huo Sen was watching the live broadcast from his study, his gaze fixed on Song Juyao''s face on the screen when suddenly, he felt a sense of irritation.


    It was her, something he never would have expected. It turned out to be her.


    Back in junior high school, there was a specially admitted student at their school who didn''t fit in with the wealthy kids'' group. While their school was nowhere near as crazy as the Jinke Duola Academy, she still faced isolation. However, she seemed completely unfazed, showing no intention of blending in. She always had a book in hand, greedily absorbing its contents, even in the face of mockery and ridicule, she remained unaffected. Eventually, they grew bored and stopped teasing her.


    One sunny afternoon, as sunlight streamed through the library''s floor-to-ceiling windows, he saw that girl sleeping peacefully with her head on the desk. Suddenly, every strand of her hair and every breath she took became remarkably noticeable, and it grew so compelling that he couldn''t help but repeatedly turn his head to steal glances...


    "...Hello."


    "Ha... Hello."


    "Song Juyao, your name is a bit unusual."


    "Really? My name has a literary reference, taken from the Book of Songs, specifically ''Guan Ju.'' ¡®Guan, guan! A pair of turtle doves are cooing on an islet in the river. The elegant virtuous maiden - the noble person would love to marry her.¡¯ (gu¨¡n gu¨¡n j¨± ji¨±, z¨¤i h¨¦ zh¨© zh¨­u, y¨£oti¨£o sh¨±n¨·, j¨±nz¨« h¨£o qi¨².)"


    "By the way, what''s your name?"


    "...Huo Sen. What is the Book of Songs?" [T/N: The Classic of Poetry, also Shijing or Shih-ching, translated variously as the Book of Songs, Book of Odes, or simply known as the Odes or Poetry, is the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry, comprising 305 works dating from the 11th to 7th centuries BCE. (Source- Wikipedia)]


    "It''s something from my hometown. You don''t need to care about it."


    "......"


    Huo Sen reached up and pressed his hand to his forehead. Damn it......


    ......


    In the virtual world.


    Because of the headmaster''s intervention, the decision regarding whether the specially admitted students would leave or stay remained unresolved.


    Song Juyao also felt that being too forceful would imply pressuring the specially admitted students. Such a decision should be left to them. In any case, Jinke Duola Academy temporarily calmed down.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ming Shu came to Song Juyao''s apartment and told her about the various recent situations and events at school.


    "The headmaster didn''t show up even once, and only came out at the end. How can someone like that be qualified to hold such a position..."


    Song Juyao was shoveling shit from the litter box, and Song Wanwan was wrapped around her feet, trailing her around.


    Ming Shu also followed her around, her eyes rolled, then she tried to gauge Song Juyao''s mood. "Senior, are you really not angry? You have paved the way for everyone, yet if they still refuse to leave in the end..."


    "What''s there to be angry about? You haven''t provided any help to others in their past, so you have no right to criticize their present, let alone decide their future." Song Juyao earnestly cleaned the litter box, speaking with a hint of helplessness. "Besides, I only did what I could. Why does it seem like you''re portraying me as some kind of savior?"


    Ming Shu was momentarily stunned.


    "Because I witnessed it firsthand, so I can''t simply turn a blind eye. It would trouble my conscience. Ultimately, it''s more for my own sake. Don''t think of me as too great. I''m just an ordinary person."


    ¡¾No! You''re not, you shine!¡¿


    ¡¾She''s so open-minded, I really love her.¡¿


    ¡¾I feel so sorry for her. She has become so mature. It''s all because of that group of people led by Liu Yan .¡¿


    ¡¾Even while shoveling shit, Song Juyao looks adorable. I wish I could be that piece of shit.¡¿


    ¡¾? To the friend above, you can, but there''s no need for that, hahaha.¡¿


    Finally finished cleaning the litter box, Song Juyao tightly tied the bag into a knot and threw it into the trash bin before getting up to wash her hands.


    In reality, Ming Shu had actually come because of Jiang Baiqi. She had seen it¡ªSong Juyao was protecting Jiang Baiqi! Her curiosity had reached its peak, and she was eager to know the answer.


    Ming Shu had actually planned to inquire carefully, but she now dared to ask the question because deep down, she truly believed that Song Juyao was a good person. Perhaps there was a more positive reason for secretly filming Jiang Baiqi... although secretly filming itself was not a positive act.


    However, she never expected to suddenly witness Song Juyao taking out a telescope and blatantly looking towards the male dormitory building across from them.


    Ming Shu: ?!!!


    "Senior, what are you doing?" Ming Shu was shocked, and the question instinctively slipped out of her mouth.


    ¡¾Damn, finally!! She didn''t pretend not to see it like Li Zhao did!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Finally asked, finally asked, finally asked!!!¡¿


    ¡¾I really want to see how Song Juyao responds. Just seeing this kind of voyeuristic behavior, no matter how likable she is, I can''t give her my vote for grievance redressal.¡¿


    ¡¾One more thing, as she is a murderer seeking a retrial, we, as judges, must demand the highest standards from her. She must be flawless!¡¿


    Meanwhile, in the male dormitory building, Jiang Baiqi was sitting at his desk. His slender fingers held a small screwdriver, tightening a tiny screw, completing a small mechanical mosquito.


    He turned on the computer and manipulated the mechanical mosquito. Its wings fluttered, lifting off from the table and flying out of the balcony. Crossing the space between the male and female dormitory buildings, it headed towards Song Juyao''s apartment.


    ¡¾? What is that thing? It looks like something flew over?¡¿


    ¡¾Holy shit! What a big  mosquito!¡¿


    ¡¾Seems like it''s mechanical?¡¿


    ¡¾Huh?¡¿


    ¡¾Seems like it came from Jiang Baiqi''s side. Could it be a bug? Damn it, why isn''t there an NPC perspective!¡¿


    ¡¾It''s finally happening. It perfectly matches Jiang Baiqi''s gloomy and twisted aura!¡¿


    From the audience''s god''s-eye perspective, they could see the scene that real-life NPCs couldn''t see. Many people witnessed a palm-sized mosquito flying in the night, landing just outside the balcony railing, and hiding behind a pillar.


    Meanwhile, due to Ming Shu''s question, Song Juyao coincidentally lowered her telescope.


    "I was observing someone," she confessed.


    Ming Shu asked, "Who?" No, wait, you? How can you openly admit to spying on someone like that?


    Song Juyao responded, "Haven''t you seen the photos in my room?"


    Ming Shu''s blood instantly ran cold. She looked at Song Juyao''s gentle face, and due to psychological effects, it seemed to be covered in  a terrifying hue. She, she actually knew...


    Ming Shu''s heart pounded heavily, and a chill spread through her limbs. Her expression stiffened as if it were coated with a layer of cement, rendering her unable to utter a word.


    Mom, I''m... I''m so scared!


    Song Juyao tilted her head slightly. "So why did you enter my room?"


    "I, I... I''m sorry, I was just too curious, couldn''t resist... I... I actually have a condition where if I don''t enter someone else''s room and walk around, I''ll fdie. Ah, no..." Ming Shu''s words became incoherent.


    Seeing her like this, Song Juyao felt a bit helpless: "Don''t be so afraid, I won''t do anything to you."


    Ming Shu couldn''t relax at all as various thriller movie scenes flashed through her mind. But after being scared for a while, she started to calm down a bit. Calm down, there''s no need to be afraid. This was a virtual world, and she wouldn''t actually be harmed! At most, she would just return to the real world! Since Song Juyao already knew, she had to ask for clarity, or else she would be at a loss!


    Ming Shu said, "I''m sorry, I was just too curious about you. It''s a bad habit, and I''ll definitely change it! I didn''t mean to see that photo..."


    Song Juyao didn''t seem to want to delve into this matter. She simply glanced at Ming Shu and said, "Hmm, it''s good that you''re willing to change."


    "But," Ming Shu glanced around and asked in a low voice, "Why does the senior have the photos of Jiang? He seems so ordinary, with a weak presence. It''s always so difficult to even find him..."


    Inside the male dormitory, Jiang Baiqi slightly turned his head, revealing the earphones he was wearing. The mechanical mosquito rested on the balcony railing, its eyes occasionally flickering with a faint glow.


    Song Juyao looked surprised, "Really?"


    Ming Shu was even more surprised, "Isn''t it?"


    "I think you''re talking nonsense," Song Juyao said seriously, "Student Jiang is clearly shining brightly. He''s the most eye-catching person in the crowd. I''m always immediately drawn to him. How could he be the ordinary and non-existent person you''re talking about?"


    Ming Shu: ?


    Audience: Huh?


    Jiang Baiqi''s large, grayish eyes appeared somewhat dazed.


    "Hold on!" Ming Shu abruptly sat up, her expression a mix of shock, confusion, and bewilderment. She blurted out, "Are we discussing the same individual? I''m talking about Jiang Baiqi, the special admission student in Grade 11, Class 1!"


    Song Juyao replied with a serious tone, "I was also referring to Jiang Baiqi, the same student."


    "No, I don''t think so. Jiang Baiqi clearly has a weak presence, gloomy aura, and intimidating eyes. He''s a weirdo, not the one you''re describing at all." Ming Shu spoke earnestly.


    Shining brightly, captivating attention in a crowd¡ªthat description perfectly fits Song Juyao. How could it possibly be Jiang Baiqi?!


    Song Juyao became a little angry. "How can you say that?"


    Ming Shu: !!! That''s exactly the kind of person he is! Unbelievable, could it be that Song Juyao is blind?


    Ming Shu apologized, "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have said that. But senior, why do you collect photos of Jiang Baiqi and use a telescope to observe him?"

 CH 23

    Chapter 23: First Arc [22]


    Song Juyao''s face suddenly turned slightly red, revealing a hint of shyness. However, she couldn''t resist sharing her feelings with others. She blurted out, "Because he''s so incredibly good-looking, I just can''t help but want to keep staring at him..."


    The water glass slipped from Jiang Baiqi''s hand, causing hot water to splash all over him. In a hurry, he quickly bent down to clean up the mess. His dark, tousled hair fell over his ears, which turned so red that they seemed to be dripping with blood.


    Ming Shu: ...It''s confirmed, Song Juyao is really blind!!!


    ¡¾? OMG!!¡¿


    ¡¾?¡¿


    ¡¾?¡¿


    ¡¾I''m stunned silly...¡¿


    ¡¾Huh? Does the sun think a speck of dust is shining?¡¿


    ¡¾It''s unbelievable, I don''t believe it, this can''t be real¡­ No way, it''s impossible!!!¡¿


    Netizens previously used their reasoning abilities, and some speculated that Song Juyao was staring at Jiang Baiqi because she wanted to kill him down as prey. Others believed that Jiang Baiqi was a hidden psychopathic killer, and Song Juyao had discovered his secret, so she was staring at him. A few even pondered the possibility of a special connection between them¡­ In short, no one ever suspected that Song Juyao had feelings for Jiang Baiqi.


    Why? Well, it was because Jiang Baiqi and Song Juyao were complete opposites who seemed incompatible. Even the livestream viewers struggled to locate Jiang Baiqi among the NPCs. Yes, he''s a person with such a thin sense of existence, making him even more inconspicuous than a mere passerby. It became a game of "Find Jiang Baiqi in the picture below" every time he appeared.


    If this were a TV series, people like Jin Yao and Jin Yu, who possess a commanding presence and radiate brightness, would undoubtedly be the male lead and second male lead, respectively. On the other hand, Jiang Baiqi would, at best, be an inconspicuous figure silently having a crush on the female lead from a distant corner.


    Song Juyao resembled the sun, always shimmering and radiant, while Jiang Baiqi exuded a gloomy aura. They seemed to belong to entirely different worlds.


    The production team was dumbfounded. They had been waiting for Song Juyao to reveal her secret of peeping at Jiang Baiqi, wanting to see what tricks she was up to, and whether she would reveal an unacceptable side to the audience. Anyway, they thought it must be very complicated, only to discover that the truth was so simple.


    Indeed, the truth was that Song Juyao was blind. She had fallen for that scruffy guy!


    Song Juyao: "Sorry, it seems a bit perverted, but I can''t control myself. It''s like how people can''t resist gazing at something beautiful and captivating..."


    Ming Shu, feeling a touch of indigestion, asked, "So, you like him, huh? You like... that Jiang Baiqi?"


    Song Juyao picked up her cat, Song Wanwan, and placed her on her lap, continuously stroking her fur. "This kind of feeling, I think... I genuinely like him."


    "But, but! What do you like about him ah?"


    "Everything. His charming hair, his captivating eyes, even the way he walks... Everything is so cute about him."


    "In that case, do you find Jin Yu and Jin Yao attractive?"


    "Huh? They''re alright," she replied in a casual tone, devoid of the joy and shyness that surfaced when discussing Jiang Baiqi.


    Ming Shu felt like she needed to go outside for some fresh air to calm down. She got up and left to take a walk. On her way back to her dormitory, she was in a trance, her mind still consumed by thoughts of Song Juyao''s affection for Jiang Baiqi.


    Eventually, Ming Shu reached a conclusion: Song Juyao''s taste in aesthetics differed from that of the general public!


    The barrage in the livestream chat went wild, filled with question marks and exclamation marks, depicting the disbelief and frustration of the audience.


    Huo Sen, who was watching the livestream, pursed his lips, absentmindedly tapping his fingers on the table.


    The mechanical mosquito, having finished eavesdropping, stumbled and flew back to the apartment. Blushing red, Jiang Baiqi rushed into the bathroom like a gust of wind, crouching down in a corner, his head buried in his hands.


    ...What is this? Am I going crazy to hear such words? Clearly, she''s the one who shines brightly, so why would such a person find someone like me... find me cute?


    Has she been staring at me all this time because she... likes me?


    Memories from the past flashed through Jiang Baiqi''s mind. From childhood to adulthood, his parents frequently forget about him, leaving him behind in shopping malls, busy streets, and buses. Even traffickers didn''t bother to abduct him. Once, during a game of hide-and-seek with other kids, he hid in crates, but no one came to find him. When he finally came out, it was already dark, and the other children had already gone home. He stood alone at the intersection, eventually making his way back home, gazing down at his own shadow.


    Things didn''t improve as he grew older. No matter how exceptional his grades were, they were all useless. He failed to capture anyone''s attention and was treated as a freak monster.


    "Xiao Qi is becoming more and more peculiar."


    "Should we take him to see a psychiatrist?"


    "Lately, he''s been doing those strange experiments in his room. He even killed a cat and dissected it!"


    "We can''t communicate with him properly. Why is he so elusive? He moves silently. His younger brother has been scared and cried numerous times! I feel like I''m also about to have a heart attack!"


    "Let''s send him to a boarding school."


    "......"


    He stood in the corridor, overhearing his mother''s frantic conversation with his father, while she held his younger brother in her arms.


    Even those who were willing to be his friends struggled to spot him amidst the crowd. They would walk past him, engrossed in laughter and play with others... He felt superfluous, someone who shouldn''t exist in this world.


    He truly envied her, always shining brightly, never being forgotten or abandoned.


    Seated cross-legged in his bedroom, he couldn''t help but delve deeper into his thoughts as he watched the thin, dark-skinned girl on the "I''m a Big Winner" show on TV.


    Because people seldom looked at him, he had become highly sensitive to gazes. He could sense it every time when Song Juyao stared at him. He had suspected she had ulterior motives, perhaps aware of his true identity and desiring the technology he possessed.


    However, the outcome was far from what he expected. This girl, who radiated brighter than the sun on stage, had actually confessed to her friend that she liked him and found him cute...


    Was he dreaming? Had he lost his sanity? Was this merely a figment of his imagination? Jiang Baiqi was utterly bewildered, desperately scratching his hair, his entire body turning as red as a steamed shrimp.


    ......


    #Song Juyao''s Aesthetic# This tag has appeared in the trending searches, sending shockwaves among the viewers who had been following the live broadcast of "Justice Trial" and were curious about the secret between Song Juyao and Jiang Baiqi.


    Jiang Baiqi? Why him? On what basis? Has the goddess fallen for a loser? Unacceptable! They were eagerly anticipating the idol drama showdown between Song Juyao, Jin Yao, and Jin Yu! But Song Juyao''s aesthetic turned out to be so abnormal!


    Inside the Show''s studio.


    Tang Shan rubbed his temples. "Jiang Baiqi is useless now. Both Liu Yan and Jiang Baiqi, the two potential fatal flaws for Song Juyao, no longer exist. Let the real-life NPCs prepare to take action."


    Merely engaging in peeping couldn''t be a fatal blow to Song Juyao. And now, with the added excuse of love, it becomes even less likely to be a fatal blow. Netizens can be so shallow. If the roles were reversed and Jiang Baiqi was peeping at Song Juyao out of love, he would be despised and considered disgusting.


    However, because Song Juyao is incredibly attractive and her sense of aesthetics is so abnormal that she finds Jiang Baiqi, this insignificant speck of dust, shining, people''s attention has completely shifted. Male viewers had even started to envy and feel jealous, thinking that with Song Juyao''s exceptional sense of aesthetics, she could also be interested in them. But now, Jiang Baiqi has taken advantage of this opportunity.


    Was Jiang Baiqi just a tiny speck of dust, gloomy and sullen?


    Song Juyao opened a can of food for Song Wanwan. The little kitten curled up into a ball and earnestly began eating. Song Juyao squatted beside it, wearing a gentle and warm smile, playing with the kitten''s raised tail. The little kitten was pure white, except for the tip of its tail, which was covered in black fur. That tiny black tip softly twirled and wrapped around her fingers.


    In this virtual world, the number of NPCs was comparable to the population of a country, exceeding 5 billion. Apart from specific NPCs, most of them were randomly selected. In this vast number, the probability of the same NPC appearing twice in the same episode was extremely low.


    However, in her previous life, Jiang Baiqi appeared in every episode of her trial.


    In the last episode of her previous life, he helped her seek revenge on the people she wanted to take revenge on. Without his help, she alone wouldn''t have been able to kill so many or escape from the clutches of the NPCs in this chess game multiple times. What did the audience call him at that time?


    "The Witch''s Vicious Dog."


    If it weren''t for Jiang Baiqi''s plan, it wouldn''t have been possible to escape the punishment of the virtual world''s law, and the program team wouldn''t have brought out that deranged, perverted serial killer to kill her.


    Why did Jiang Baiqi help her so much? Song Juyao didn''t know the answer either. Was it because he had no sense of presence, no friends, and no one could notice him at a glance? But she could. Could this be the reason he developed different feelings for her?


    It was truly perplexing. In her previous life, she wasn''t particularly kind to him. Although she could notice his existence at a glance, she was living in too much pain, with countless and innumerable malice wrapping her up, so that she no longer had the energy to love or trust anyone.


    She hadn''t trusted Jiang Baiqi back then, always on guard and afraid that he was just another trap to hurt her. She treated him coldly and spoke harshly to him, yet he remained by her side, ultimately helping her seek revenge by committing murders for her.


    If this hadn''t been a reality show where their every move was exposed to the audience and the program team, perhaps she could have lived an innocent life under the sun after avenging herself with his help, starting anew.


    Though she was still confused, she could at least be certain of one thing.


    Jiang Baiqi was a trustworthy NPC. Once she gained his loyalty, he would be steadfastly loyal, willing to do anything for her. He could be her most powerful weapon.


    And it wasn''t limited to just this episode.


    Song Juyao picked up the cat that had finished eating the canned food, gently stroking its soft fur. Her eyes held a combination of gentleness and strong intensity, akin to a potent wine capable of intoxicating anyone with just a glance.


    Jiang Baiqi, this time I will treat you well. You have to give me your whole being as you did in the previous life.


    ......


    Jin Yao heard the sound of something falling to the ground from Jin Yu''s room, so he walked out of his own bedroom and went to take a look. He saw that Jin Yu was wide awake, and his computer lying on the floor.


    "What happened?" Jin Yao inquired, bending down to retrieve the computer. As he glanced at the screen, he noticed it displayed relevant information about Song Juyao.


    "Song Juyao went to participate in a program a few days ago, just to earn a little money and give scholarships to those lowly idiots." Jin Yu said sarcastically, "Is she the Virgin Mary? Overflowing with love and meddling in other people''s affairs."


    However, Jin Yao could sense the underlying anger beneath Jin Yu''s seemingly calm demeanor. He touched the bite marks on his hand and said, "You don''t need to concern yourself with where she went a few days ago."


    "Know yourself, know your enemy, and win every battle. I underestimated her before, but it won''t be the same next time."


    "What do you mean by ''next time''? Once the special admissions students leave tomorrow, Song Juyao probably won''t continue staying at Jinke Duola. She might go back to the capital directly to rejoin her team."


    Song Juyao was a member of the Olympic Award team, and once she returned to the team, she would basically bury herself in the research institute. It was not like anyone could see her whenever they wanted.If it hadn''t been for Song Juyao coincidentally being on vacation and coming to give a speech for the school anniversary, and also accepting the invitation from the principal to stay at the school, they wouldn''t have had any interactions at all.


    Jin Yu was taken aback, and his fingers involuntarily tightened.


    After Jin Yao left, Jin Yu contacted Fu Meiling. "Go find Zhou Shuchen and bring him to me."

 CH 24

    Chapter 24: First Arc [23]


    Jiang Baiqi lay on the bed, his mind consumed by thoughts of Song Juyao and her captivating presence.


    Song Juyao could actually spot me in a crowd and even find me cute. Is she...going crazy?


    He pondered over the puzzling question of how Song Juyao could have any interest in him. It simply didn''t make sense. With eyes as radiant as stars, she clearly wasn''t blind. Then, how could an angel like her, who had perfect vision, find any appeal in a weirdo like him? Moreover, she had gone to the extent of taking pictures and secretly observing him.


    Could it be related to his technological prowess? Mr. Albert, her mentor, had sent people to approach him multiple times, but he had declined their offers. Did Mr. Albert took a different approach and sent Song Juyao to ask for it?


    That seemed more logical than the idea of Song Juyao genuinely having feelings for him.


    She could notice him so easily, perhaps she had exceptional perception, sharper than that of ordinary individuals, or she possessed some advanced high-tech gadget. Even if his presence went unnoticed by most, it was highly improbable to escape facial recognition systems. It was also possible that the things she said to Ming Shu, which he happened to overhear, were all part of a well-crafted plan.


    ......


    The next day, the sky loomed with gloom, as if it was about to rain.


    Having just finished her breakfast, Song Juyao was about to raise the telescope to her eyes when the doorbell interrupted her.


    "Sister Juyao, Zhou Shuchen is waiting for you in the lobby downstairs," Ming Shu said. Boys weren''t permitted to casually enter the girls'' dormitory building, so when Zhou Shuchen saw Ming Shu, he asked for her help in finding Song Juyao.


    Song Juyao nodded and made her way downstairs.


    Ming Shu was still in a trance, looking at Song Juyao''s retreating figure with a mix of complex expressions. Even her retreating figure looked mesmerizing, emitting an ethereal brilliance. Why is her aesthetics so strange? She actually likes Jiang Baiqi!


    A group of special admissions students gathered in the lobby, led by Zhou Shuchen. They had come to inform Song Juyao of their decision.


    The headmaster had a long conversation with Zhou Shuchen yesterday and was forcibly taken to Jin Yu and Jin Yao''s villa by Fu Meiling in the evening. Faced with multiple threats and temptations, what decision would he make?


    When they saw Song Juyao, they exchanged glances. Zhou Shuchen took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Senior."


    Actually, Song Juyao was the same age as them. If she followed the usual path, she would be their classmate. However, she now had a different status and identity. In the eyes of her peers, she was someone worthy of respect and admiration, so no one found it awkward to call her senior or treat her as their senior.


    Zhou Shuchen suddenly bent down. "Senior sister, I deeply apologize. We have decided to stay."


    ¡¾Damn it, is this for real!¡¿


    ¡¾Despite everything that transpired, they still intend to stay here. Are they out of their minds?¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao has done so much for them. What''s wrong with this group of people? Do they really have no backbone? They agreed to stay just to double their scholarship money?¡¿


    ¡¾This is infuriating! Ungrateful wretches! They don''t deserve any help. It''s no wonder Jin Yu and the others look down on them!¡¿


    The others probably felt that they had let Song Juyao down, and couldn''t bring themselves to meet her gaze.


    Zhou Shuchen dared not lift his head, fearing to see the disappointed and reproachful eyes of Song Juyao.


    "Raise your head, Student Zhou." Song Juyao''s voice remained as gentle and melodious as ever, filled with warmth and understanding. "I''ve said it before, I only provided a choice. How you proceed from here is entirely your decision, and I accept it wholeheartedly."


    Zhou Shuchen lifted his head, meeting those eyes, his heart fluttered. Anxious to prevent any misunderstanding, he hurriedly explained, "I pondered over it deeply last night, not just for myself, but for all our classmates who entrusted me with this decision. I believe I should make a choice that benefits everyone.  So, my decision is that all the special admissions students in the senior year stay here."


    Song Juyao nodded.


    "We entered the school in the first year and have endured, persevered until now. With only three months left until the entrance exam, the school has made more promises and offered additional scholarships. Many of our classmates come from difficult backgrounds and are in desperate need of money. Although the First Middle School will also provide scholarships, it''s what Jinke Duola owes us, and we are determined to claim what is rightfully ours. In these last three months, no matter what, we all want to persist and ensure that the hardships we have endured over the past two and a half years do not go to waste."


    Zhou Shuchen wrestled with his thoughts throughout the night, torn between fleeting pride and financial gains. Ultimately, he chose the latter. He knew they would face ridicule afterward, but so what? Truly courageous individuals wouldn''t lose their integrity just because of three months of endurance; he was looking beyond that.


    In society, having money equates to more choices. They had already persevered for almost three years, so why would they give up in the final stretch? The opportunity for scholarships was within arm''s reach, and the school even promised to double the amount. If they secured it, they would be able to focus more on their studies in university, support their families more effectively, and perhaps become individuals who, like Song Juyao, could help and make a positive impact on others'' lives in the future.


    ¡¾In fact, Zhou Shuchen''s choice isn''t wrong. They''ve endured beatings and insults for almost three years, and now, enduring a little longer to secure double the amount of money doesn''t seem like a bad idea, isn''t it? Moreover, after this incident, I believe the treatment of special admissions students should improve significantly. At the very least, these three months will be bearable.¡¿


    ¡¾The adult world is truly difficult. For a little bit of achievement, people have to bow down, swallow their pride, and even drink until they have gastric bleeding. Jinke Duola is actually a microcosm of society. Now, Zhou Shuchen and the others have the choice of enduring until they receive the money from the client, or smashing the contract in the face of the client and walking away with their heads held high. If it were me, I would choose to take the money first and then smash the contract in the client''s face.¡¿


    ¡¾Those who claim that Zhou Shuchen lacks integrity and backbone probably haven''t been beaten down by the harsh realities of society just yet.¡¿


    ¡¾Zhou Shuchen has experienced a lot of hardship in the past, allowing him to see things from a broader perspective. If he were an ordinary 18-year-old youth, he might have walked away driven by momentary pride. But in the world of the affluent, how much does your integrity and backbone truly matter? Once you turn around, they will quickly forget about you. Therefore, it is wiser to choose what benefits yourself the most.¡¿


    ¡¾......¡¿


    Song Juyao nodded. "I understand. What about the first and second-year students?"


    ¡¾That''s a wise decision. The third-year students are almost done with their studies. However, it''s a different story for the first and second-year students. It''s best to cut losses in time.¡¿


    ¡¾At least Juyao''s efforts won''t be in vain!¡¿


    ¡¾I feel much more at ease now.¡¿


    Song Juyao still had that gentle and kind appearance, fully accepting their choice without a trace of disappointment. She didn''t add even the slightest psychological burden to them.


    "Alright, those who want to transfer can come to me for registration. I''ll take you away."


    The students, determined to transfer, followed Song Juyao and lined up at the side. Ming Shu and Zhou Shuchen volunteered to help because they were eager to contribute in some way, leaving Song Juyao with nothing to do but chat with them on the side. However, she quickly showed a searching gaze, looking back and forth among the students in the queue.


    Ming Shu glanced at her, wondering if she was searching for Jiang Baiqi. As for whether Jiang Baiqi was in the crowd or not, sorry, she had no idea. The game of "Find Jiang Baiqi in the picture" was simply too challenging for her.


    "Sister, will you leave Jinke Duola with us?"


    "Most likely."


    "Sister, how long will your vacation be? When will you return to the team?"


    "Sister..."


    Song Juyao became somewhat absent-minded, looking worried. After a while, she stood up and grabbed an umbrella. "Ming Shu, can you do me a favor and take note for me? I have something to attend to."


    "Okay." Ming Shu agreed, and as soon as Song Juyao walked a little further away, she told Li Zhao that she had a stomachache. Then she quickly and quietly followed Song Juyao.


    Raindrops, as large as beans, began to fall from the sky, creating a rhythmic pitter-patter sound as they hit the umbrella. The distance between the girls'' dormitory building and the boys'' dormitory building seemed to have stretched considerably.


    Ming Shu, though holding an umbrella, felt a bit disheveled by the rain. On the other hand, Song Juyao, walking ahead in this gloomy weather, somehow emanated a distinct artistic charm through her silhouette.


    This is too much! How can she look so stunning!


    Jiang Baiqi was standing in the pavilion outside the boys'' dormitory building. The pavilion was concealed by surrounding shrubs and trees. He saw Song Juyao walking towards him from a distance.


    Jiang Baiqi glanced at the gloomy sky. His presence would become even more elusive in this kind of weather, as the dust would blend with the darkness, wouldn''t it? Besides...


    He pressed a button on his watch, and in an instant, the magnetic fields within a radius around him were all disrupted. This way, Song Juyao could forget about using her technological devices to detect him.


    Just as this crossed his mind, Jiang Baiqi''s dull eyes suddenly met those bright, star-like beautiful eyes.


    Jiang Baiqi was taken aback, frozen in astonishment.

 CH 25

    Chapter 25: First Arc [24]


    And those brilliant eyes swiftly shifted away, seemingly startled, only to return once more. However, in that moment, the radiance within those eyes underwent a transformation, turning moist, bright, joyful, and shy. They shed their usual air of maturity and resembled those of a blossoming young girl in the throes of love.


    ¡¾Although I feel Jiang Baiqi is not worthy of Yaoyao, seeing how happy she looks, I''ll accept it reluctantly!¡¿


    ¡¾Those eyes are so enchanting! No man can resist their allure!¡¿


    Jiang Baiqi felt as if his feet had sunk a few centimeters into the ground. Panic coursed through him, and he looked down, only to realize it was a mere illusion. When he lifted his gaze once more, Song Juyao had already approached him, her eyes fixated on him. In that fleeting instant, Jiang Baiqi caught a glimpse of himself through her eyes. He indeed looked radiant, no longer a neglected speck of dust.


    He seemed like an entirely different person, completely unfamiliar.


    As Song Juyao drew near Jiang Baiqi, Ming Shu finally took notice of him, thinking, so Song Juyao did come to find Jiang Baiqi!


    Lost in her thoughts, Ming Shu felt a tap on her shoulder, startling her. She turned her head and saw Tang Kai.


    Tang Kai had heavy dark circles under his eyes, his gaze numb and drifting. "What are you doing?"


    Ming Shu was frightened. "Teacher Tang! What''s wrong with you, Teacher Tang?"


    Tang Kai replied, "Ah... It''s nothing. Being a doctor is truly a noble profession..."


    Ming Shu: ...How tragic!


    ¡¾Hahaha, Tang Kai is too miserable!¡¿


    ¡¾Tang Kai, a doctor who was delayed by his career as an actor!¡¿


    ¡¾This is the first time I''ve witnessed a real-life NPC on this show, transitioning from an examiner to a prop, transforming the judgment trial show into a career performance. Hahaha!¡¿


    ¡¾I used to be indifferent towards Tang Kai, but now the highlight of my day is tuning into his livestream and witnessing his utterly loveless expression. Hahaha!¡¿


    ¡¾I must admit, Tang Kai''s skills have improved tremendously. Who knows, he might even consider attending medical school.¡¿


    ¡¾Advising him to study medicine is asking for trouble! May lightning strike you!¡¿


    Song Juyao stood before Jiang Baiqi, her gaze filled with incredible tenderness, brimming with an uncontrollable joy that seemed to have erupted from the depths of her heart. "Student Jiang... Are you¡­ you are Student Jiang Baiqi, right?"


    "...Is something wrong?" Jiang Baiqi slightly furrowed his brow and uncomfortably averted his gaze. He couldn''t help but think, she had clearly taken secret photos of him and spied on him before, so why was she asking now?


    Song Juyao spoke, "Student Jiang, I''m Song Juyao. I''m responsible for registering the list of students who will be transferring to First Middle School. You..."


    "I''m not transferring," Jiang Baiqi interrupted her.


    Song Juyao froze, her gaze sweeping over the bruise on his cheekbone. Growing somewhat anxious, she asked, "Why not? Weren''t you also a victim of bullying?"


    "It''s none of your concern." Jiang Baiqi turned and walked into the rain. After a few steps, he suddenly heard footsteps chasing after him, and then the rain falling on his head was blocked.


    A warm fragrance approached, penetrating his senses and causing Jiang Baiqi to tense up. Despite his slender frame, he was quite tall, and Song Juyao had to raise her arm high to shield the umbrella over his head.


    "You''ll catch a cold. Let me accompany you," she said, her tone filled with deep concern.


    No one had ever cared for him this much. Jiang Baiqi felt awkward and uneasy. He quickened his pace, attempting to shake off Song Juyao, but she seemed oblivious to his chilly reception. She followed him with small steps, running alongside him.


    ¡¾?¡¿


    ¡¾Jiang Baiqi! What''s a loser like you doing? You actually let the goddess chase after you?!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah, what kind of world is this? My eyes must be blind to witness such a scene!¡¿


    ¡¾Stop kidding. Are we supposed to believe that Song Juyao is a heartthrob? Jiang Baiqi''s disinterest in her has caused a commotion, earning him the hate of both people and gods alike?¡¿


    ¡¾This sense of aesthetics truly exceeds my expectations. The contrast between Jiang Baiqi and the person she allegedly assaulted in real life is simply staggering.¡¿


    ¡¾You''re absolutely right. The disparity is immense, so I find it hard to believe that Song Juyao genuinely likes Jiang Baiqi. My instincts tell me there must be an ulterior motive behind her actions.¡¿


    Song Juyao wasn''t the type to suffer in silence. Seeing Jiang Baiqi walking faster and faster, she reached out and grabbed his sleeve.


    "Slow down, student Jiang, I can''t keep up with you," she said, her voice gentle as she lightly tugged at his sleeve. However, her grip seemed to possess an unexpected strength, causing Jiang Baiqi''s legs to involuntarily stiffen, almost walking in sync.


    Ming Shu looked at Tang Kai with sorrowful eyes. Ah, it''s too miserable¡­ you still came with the purpose of seducing Song Juyao, but her aesthetics seems extraordinary. I''m afraid you have no room to maneuver. You might as well just quit the show.


    Tang Kai: No, being a doctor brings me joy. I won''t quit even if I die!


    "Doctor Tang, what are you doing here? The president has been waiting for you for quite some time," Fu Meiling interrupted their thoughts as she approached.


    Both of them were startled and turned to see Fu Meiling.


    Fu Meiling''s gaze followed their line of sight and noticed Song Juyao... and a boy?


    Tang Kai was called here to check Jin Yu''s physical recovery, but compared to his physical condition, his psychological state seemed to be in worse condition.


    "Damn Zhou Shuchen! He can''t recognize what''s good for him!" Jin Yu almost crushed the glass in his hand upon hearing Zhou Shuchen''s decision this morning.


    He took the initiative to make a concession, but the other party not only didn''t show gratitude, but also rejected it. Compared to the few senior students remaining at school, those who transferred to the First Middle School clearly needed Song Juyao''s support more. With her saintly personality, she would undoubtedly leave with them.


    However, there was someone even more reluctant to let Song Juyao leave Jinke Duola.


    In the real world, inside the broadcasting hall of the Justice Trial Show...


    "It will be troublesome if Song Juyao leaves Jinke Duola. We must find a way to make her stay," Tang Shan said. Jinke Duola Academy was their meticulously designed stage, and all the specific NPCs were arranged here. Moreover, it was more convenient to carry out various tests with this school as the focal point. If Song Juyao were to leave, the production team would be in a very passive state and could only be led by Song Juyao.


    "Don''t worry, Director Tang. Among the applicants for the temporary real-life NPCs, there are quite a few formidable individuals this time. They have already been put in, so Song Juyao won''t be able to leave."


    ......


    Jiang Baiqi entered the boys'' dormitory building, while Song Juyao stood still, watching him as he stepped into the elevator. She didn''t turn around until he had entered, and then she left.


    Jiang Baiqi leaned against the cold, glossy wall of the elevator, covering his chest and taking several deep breaths. He irritably scratched his flushed ears, and then lowered his head to check his watch, suspecting it might be broken. However, it was functioning normally. The elevator opened again, and a person entered, still grumbling about the state of the internet.


    How could Song Juyao see him without the aid of technological devices? The person in front of him, currently complaining about the internet, paid no attention to him standing in the corner. If he were to speak up now, he could startle the person so much that they would jump and hit the elevator ceiling.


    It was frustrating and incomprehensible. Even a professionally trained police officer would have difficulty noticing him at first glance. So why could Song Juyao?


    And that kind of gaze...


    Impossible, liar.


    ......


    Song Juyao thought of something pleasant and laughed silently, her eyes curving into crescents.


    It was truly... surprising. Because in this life, her starting point was too high, too proactive, so he became cautious, right?


    She could understand that, so she felt even more heartfelt love when she looked at him.


    The current Jiang Baiqi¡­ wasn''t he the same as in the previous life? He had been hurt countless times and had gradually built up his defenses, afraid of being hurt again. So he simply didn''t believe that anything good could happen to him, right?


    He''s still like a stray dog.


    The rain had slightly subsided, and Song Juyao looked up at the gray sky. Against her fair and translucent skin, all colors, whether white, red, or black, appeared pure. Her delicate features stood out distinctly. She seemed to shine even brighter in the darkness.


    It''s probably about time for the temporary real-life NPCs sent by the production team to stir up trouble soon. How could they possibly let her have the stage? Let''s see what kind of people would come in.


    The corners of her mouth curled up and the smile in her eyes grew softer.


    ......


    The production team made an announcement to the audience in the live broadcast room, revealing that the temporary real-life NPCs were about to make their move, and the notified that Song Juyao''s true test was about to begin.


    The audience was familiar with the concept of temporary real-life NPCs. Before each season of the show, the production team opened a registration channel for individuals to become temporary NPCs. Initially, this was done to handle situations like Song Juyao''s, where the defendant deviated from the program''s intended path, rendering the actor NPCs unable to respond. In such cases, temporary real-life NPCs would be arranged to ensure the smooth progress of the judgment trial.


    However, cases like Song Juyao''s were rare, so the temporary NPC channel was rarely utilized. Over time, it became a game for some people to enter the virtual world and punish defendants (essentially, it was a means to vent their emotions).


    The temporary real-life NPCs were spiritual entities infused into the bodies of virtual world NPCs. Unlike Song Juyao, Ming Shu, and Tang Kai, who appeared in their true forms, the identities of these NPCs were kept secret. In the virtual world, they had the freedom to do all sorts of things with defendants in various ways without consequences and might not necessarily follow the production team''s instructions.


    Therefore, the appearance of temporary real-life NPCs signified an unpredictable and thrilling turn of events in the plot. It also meant that the defendants would face the most dangerous situations.


    Originally, these temporary real-life NPCs were meant to appear towards the end of the show, and at that point, the audience would usually often hope for the defendants to suffer misfortune, torture, or even swift demise. It was truly unprecedented for someone like Song Juyao to encounter these NPCs at this particular juncture of time.


    Usually, at such moments, the audience would get excited as if they were injected with chicken blood.


    However, this time, there was a polarization.


    ¡¾Finally!!!!¡¿


    ¡¾I''ve been waiting for this moment. It''s unbearable to see a murderer gaining popularity!¡¿


    ¡¾She''s been way too smooth, why? Other defendants never had it this easy. How can this torture her soul to see if she''s pure and kind?¡¿


    ¡¾Go for it! Quickly expose Song Juyao''s true face!¡¿


    ¡¾What do you mean by a "real test"? Have you all forgotten what the production team initially planned and did to Song Juyao? Are you all blind or brainless?¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao has come this far through her own efforts! Haven''t you seen how much hardship she has endured in the past? What "real test"? Are you saying the previous ones don''t count? I can''t accept this rhetoric from the production team!¡¿


    ¡¾This is the first time I shed tears for a defendant. The production team is too ruthless. She has already suffered so much, and they still find it insufficient? Please let''s end this round of judgment trial soon!¡¿


    ¡¾I can''t bear to watch anymore.¡¿


    Many viewers who couldn''t bear to watch any longer were urging for this round to end quickly. However, according to the regulations, each round of live broadcasting lasts for half a month. Moreover, most importantly, how can they let Song Juyao end the first round with a true, virtuous, and beautiful image?


    It''s impossible. If that were the case, it would be a dereliction of duty on their part as a production team.


    The first temporary real-life NPC entered the body of an official NPC from the Education Bureau. He lowered his head and glanced at his potbelly appearance, curling his lips in displeasure. The beautiful secretary was stunned by his sudden change in temperament.


    "What are you looking at? Come here." Seeing the secretary''s appearance, he squinted his eyes and beckoned her over.


    The female secretary was somewhat scared. "Boss?"


    He stood up, and the secretary tried to run out, but he grabbed her from behind. "Hehe, come on, baby!"


    How thrilling! This virtual world should be turned into a game for everyone to play. Here, you can do anything you want without any fear of breaking the law. Human nature can be liberated. How exhilarating! Although he has wealth, a wife, and children in the real world, he is still bound by societal norms and restrictions. But it''s different here.


    ......


    The capital, the Research Institute of the Olympic Prize Team.


    The sudden arrival of the Prime Minister caused some commotion within the research institute, and the staff members started discussing.


    "It seems to be about Juyao?"


    "What happened to Juyao? Last time, she collapsed from exhaustion because she was too engrossed in her work and forgot to eat. So, didn''t Dr. Albert forced her to take a break?"


    "Is the Prime Minister here to bring her back?"


    "Who is that teenager accompanying the Prime Minister?"


    Inside the office of the institute''s director, the director wore an unpleasant expression as he looked at the high-ranking national leader before him with great distress. "Dr. Song is extremely talented, and the Olympic Prize team needs her. She hasn''t made any mistakes. Isn''t it unreasonable to dismiss her?"


    "How can you say it''s dismissal? We''re just asking her to take another break and temporarily hand over her work to this person to try. Trust me, his level of excellence won''t be inferior to Song Juyao." The Prime Minister said kindly, his gaze meeting the young boy standing beside him, exchanging a knowing look.


    "That''s true, but Song Juyao is Mr. Albert''s student, and¡­ you know Mr. Albert''s temperament..."


    "Dr. Albert is indeed outstanding and has made significant contributions to our country''s science and technological development, but you are the director. Don''t let him overstep his authority in certain matters."


    The director was extremely surprised, looking at this strange Prime Minister who seemed to be a completely different person.


    ......


    The production team of the show "I''m the Big Winner" was editing the footage of Song Juyao''s recent recordings when suddenly the director of the television station arrived.


    Peng Jia, who received the news, rushed over with an ugly expression.


    "What''s going on? What do you mean by cutting all of Song Juyao''s scenes? Director, do you know how much the ratings will increase by Juyao''s presence in the show?!"


    The director retorted, "Deputy Director, is this how you speak to me?"


    "Song Juyao she..."


    "Indeed, Song Juyao can boost the ratings of the show, but so what? How often does she appear? And her appearance fee is so high! If it weren''t for us, would she have achieved what she has today? She''s nothing but an white-eyed wolf. I believe the viewers are almost getting tired of watching her, so it''s time to cultivate a new popular figure to replace Song Juyao. Just as we elevated Song Juyao, we can also bring up another one."


    Peng Jia could hardly believe it. Has the director gone crazy? Just a few days ago, he praised and liked her so much. How did he suddenly change his tune?


    ......


    In the virtual world''s operation, the production team couldn''t control the NPCs, but they could "kidnap" NPCs and allow outsiders to "possess" them and take their place.


    While any NPC could be chosen, most of the time, the production team wouldn''t let these individuals possess NPCs at the level of national leaders in the virtual world due to the inherent dangers involved. However, considering Song Juyao''s influential status and position, particularly as a member of the Olympic Team, they needed to target someone at the level of the Prime Minister if they wanted to strip her of everything.


    The seven deadly sins of human nature encompass arrogance, jealousy, rage, laziness, greed, gluttony, and lust. Everyone possesses these traits to some extent, and Song Juyao couldn''t be an exception. If these traits weren''t visible, it meant that the current environment wasn''t sufficient to bring out those traits in her.


    So, what would happen if they stripped away everything she relied on and was proud of, leaving her with nothing?


    In the live broadcast room, there were still only three people present, but they understood the implications of what was unfolding.


    Song Juyao suddenly received a call from the principal of First Middle School. "I''m sorry, Dr. Song, I don''t have the specific details either. It was a sudden notification from higher-ups, and I have no authority to change it. Did you... offend someone?" The principal''s tone was awkward, tinged with embarrassment, anger, and helplessness.


    He had already convened a meeting with the teachers and informed them that a group of outstanding students would be arriving soon. The teachers had eagerly started competing to enroll these students, only to receive an unexpected call from the Education Bureau. Though the message was conveyed tactfully, it effectively meant that students from Jinke Duola were no longer permitted to transfer to First Middle School.


    Just as Song Juyao ended her call with the principal of First Middle School, she received another unknown call, and a malicious male voice came through the receiver.


    "Hello? Is this Song Juyao? If you have a moment, please hand over your work to me. There''s no need for you to return in person; we can communicate online."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Haven''t you been informed yet? Starting today, your position in Albert''s Team belongs to me."


    "......"


    Finally, she received a call from Peng Jia. He hesitated and stuttered, reluctant to deliver the news that could potentially hurt her. But if he didn''t say anything, on the day of the program''s broadcast, she would be caught off guard and might get even more hurt.


    Eventually, Peng Jia found the courage to speak.


    That familiar sensation washed over her, as if a malevolent force was surging from all directions, suffocating her like tightly compressed air.


    She unlocked her phone and attempted to access her social media accounts, only to discover that she couldn''t log in anymore. Her account was locked. They aimed to silence her on the internet, preventing her from seeking support from her fans and influencing public opinion.


    Song Juyao stared blankly at her phone, unable to regain her composure. It seemed like she couldn''t comprehend this sudden blow, leaving her in a state of disbelief.


    ¡¾These temporary real-life NPCs are incredible, creating such a spectacular scene right at the first shot.¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah, my heart aches so much! She worked tirelessly to achieve everything bit by bit!¡¿


    ¡¾Absolutely! A person''s true character can only be revealed in times of adversity. Song Juyao always carried herself with such superiority, making it difficult for us to truly know who she is.¡¿


    ¡¾Those who say that she suffered in her childhood, that''s all in the past now. She has grown and people change with time.¡¿


    ¡¾I''ve never despised a temporary real-life NPC this much before. ¡¿


    ¡¾Suddenly, I''m starting to hate the program team.¡¿


    Song Wanwan worriedly trotted over, looking up at her and meowing in concern.


    Song Juyao bent down and picked it up, gently stroking it to provide comfort. "It''s alright, I''m fine."


    She really was fine. She had anticipated this a long time ago. It was their usual routine: first, let people have something, then take it away; first, show them something beautiful, then let them witness the disappearance of that beauty. People suffer most pain during such moments, and it''s when their dark side, which they want to see, is exposed the most.


    Song Juyao leaned down and kissed the fluffy head of Song Wanwan, hiding the emerging smile at the corners of her mouth.


    Malice, ah! You can come at me with all your might.  It will only add more bricks to my stage.

 CH 26

    Chapter 26: First Arc [25]


    "Isn''t everything foolproof now?" Qin Wei reclined in his chair, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face. That woman would never call to scold him again!


    The atmosphere of the production team was a bit stiff. Some of the staff members were dissatisfied with Director Qin Wei''s approach, feeling sympathy for Song Juyao and finding his actions rather despicable.


    Clearly, they had done similar things to the defendants in the past, without feeling any qualms. However, when it was done to Song Juyao, they found it despicable. Perhaps because so far, she had always been on the positive side¡ªgentle, kind, hardworking, and amiable. So now, instead of experiencing any sense of accomplishment for punishing the wicked, they themselves began to appear as the villains.


    "These people sent in this time... they are utterly disgusting," murmured a staff member quietly. Although the audience couldn''t see those NPCs, the staff members could see it backstage.


    The person who entered the role of the Director of the Education Bureau NPC was actually someone who seemed very obedient and henpecked in real life. But once he went in, he began to enjoy his power recklessly.


    "Who made them rich? Keep quiet," another staff member cautioned. Naturally, they couldn''t expose this to the audience, as it would undermine the program''s credibility. If it were discovered that they leaked it, they would be in trouble.


    The Huo family.


    Huo Sen puffed on his cigarette while Luo Chao rang him up, "What are you doing at home? Come out for a drink! The brothers want to celebrate your success in passing the second round of the Cabinet exam. Come out quickly."


    "No, thanks," Huo Sen refused as he looked at Song Juyao in the live broadcast room.


    "What''s the matter? Is there something more entertaining at home than chilling with brothers?" Luo Chao asked eagerly, seemingly prepared to rush over to have a good time with Huo Sen.


    Huo Sen hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Judgment Trial show... Song Juyao, don''t you remember her?"


    "Ah?"


    "When we were in middle school, she was a special admission student at our school."


    "What the hell? Really? That''s why her name sounded so familiar! The girl who always used to eat instant noodles in the cafeteria, right? She''s turned into such a beauty. If I had known back then, I would have made a move on her!"


    Hearing this, Huo Sen lost interest in continuing the conversation and hung up the phone in annoyance.


    He could intervene and put a stop to some of the things the production team was doing to Song Juyao, but...


    Damn it!


    ...


    Song Juyao approached the floor-to-ceiling window and glanced at the boys'' apartment opposite, and turned on the mosquito repellent lamp on the balcony.


    Jiang Baiqi turned his head to observe Song Juyao''s apartment. The lights were on, and the balcony''s mosquito repellent lamp was glowing. Normally, when that lamp was lit, it meant she was about to dive into her books and she would keep a telescope nearby, occasionally using it to steal glances at him.


    Today, the lamp was on, but she didn''t step out onto the balcony. Instead, she stood behind the sliding glass door, not even sparing a glance in his direction. Jiang Baiqi couldn''t help but wonder if she was angry because of his bad attitude earlier.


    But he hadn''t needed to switch schools in the first place. The recent beating he endured was just an unfortunate incident. Typically, no one would pay him any attention, and this situation wouldn''t improve even after transferring to the First Middle School.


    Slightly worried, his mind once again became consumed by those twinkling starry eyes. They seemed to possess an enchanting magic, lingering in his thoughts and bringing back that sinking feeling.


    Jiang Baiqi shook his head abruptly, managing to regain his composure and dispel the sinking feeling. He lightly patted his expressionless face, as if to shake off the lingering thoughts.


    Curiosity about someone often leads to troublesome situations. The easiest way to quell that curiosity about a person is to ensure they have no secrets in front of you, leaving no room for imagination.


    So, since it was Song Juyao who started it, Jiang Baiqi believed that no one could criticize him for doing the same.


    With that thought in mind, Jiang Baiqi retrieved his telescope and aimed it at Song Juyao''s apartment in the apartment building across the street.


    This one glance made him struck motionless.


    Song Juyao... Was she in tears? No, she wasn''t crying, but her sorrowful expression was incredibly moving, tugging at the heartstrings and evoking deep sympathy. It gave the impression that her tears were on the brink of falling.


    What could have happened? For someone like her, aside from life-or-death situations, most issues should be easily solvable. Considering Song Juyao''s current relationship with her mother, Liu Yan, if Liu Yan were to pass away, she might feel grief, but it shouldn''t be to this extent.


    In that moment, Song Juyao suddenly crouched down in pain, her delicate frame contorting, exuding an air of fragility.


    Is it a stomachache? Having witnessed it firsthand, he couldn''t ignore the delicate curve of the girl''s slender and fragile back. He realized that neglecting it would burden his conscience heavily...


    Song Juyao heard a thud sound from the sliding glass door and turned to look. She saw a large, terrifyingly black insect suspended in mid-air.


    ¡¾F*ck, scared the hell out of me!¡¿


    ¡¾What a big bug!¡¿


    ¡¾Ahhhh, it''s so disgusting!¡¿


    Song Juyao stood up and approached the door. She blinked, her eyes devoid of fear, and focused on the lifelike mechanical beetle. There, she spotted a small white bag hanging from its neck.


    She carefully took off the bag, opened it, revealing a box of stomachache medicine inside.


    A faint smile appeared on Song Juyao''s pale face as she gently brushed the cold antennae of the mechanical insect. Then, she cast a glance toward the boys'' apartment building. The distance of around two hundred meters between the boys'' and girls'' buildings made it impossible to see anyone on the opposite side with the naked eye. However, among all the small windows, Song Juyao effortlessly locked onto Jiang Baiqi''s window with just a single glance.


    It was as if she instantly recognized the person behind this gesture.


    "Hold on." she murmured to the mechanical beetle, as if it could understand. She turned around to fetch pen and paper.


    Unexpectedly, the mechanical beetle remained suspended in mid-air, its wings buzzing as it patiently awaited further instructions.


    Song Juyao slipped a note into the bag and hung it around the beetle''s neck. Only then did the insect return to its place of origin.


    Jiang Baiqi unfolded the note and saw a few elegant words written upon it.


    [Thank you, Student Jiang ^^]


    Peering through the telescope, Jiang Baiqi confirmed that Song Juyao had indeed taken the medicine he had sent. He reproached himself for having such a weak guard.


    The bug swiftly returned to Song Juyao''s balcony, carrying yet another note.


    [What happened?]


    [Is Classmate Jiang worried about me? (#^.^#)]


    Jiang Baiqi glanced at the note, the emoticon causing a slight blush to tinge his ears. He felt a mix of irritation and indignation, quickly stowing away the beetle. What did she mean with that playful and smiling face directed at him!


    ¡¾Jiang Baiqi doesn''t seem to be simple.¡¿


    ¡¾Jiang Baiqi must be closely observing Song Juyao. How else could he know about her stomachache?¡¿


    ¡¾What''s going on? Are they spying on each other?¡¿


    ¡¾Ever since the incident with the mechanical mosquito, I''ve had a feeling that Jiang Baiqi is not an ordinary person.¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao has been hit too hard. I hope she can bounce back.¡¿


    Jiang Baiqi stored the beetle away and heard a burst of cheers coming from the apartment next door.


    The students residing on these two floors were all specially selected students. They were celebrating the fact that tomorrow they would be able to transfer and escape from this school filled with nightmares, starting a new chapter in their lives.


    None of this concerned Jiang Baiqi, and no one paid attention to whether he would transfer or not. After all, hardly anyone remembered him.


    He paused for a moment, his thoughts drifting to Song Juyao. At least she cared. Tomorrow she would leave with the other specially selected students.


    Li Zhao and Ming Shu approached Song Juyao, carrying the compiled list of transfer students from the first and second years. They sought her help in submitting the list to the headmaster and completing the transfer procedures together, before finally submitting them to the First Middle School. With Song Juyao as the intermediary, everything would be done quickly, and the students could depart together for the First Middle School.


    Li Zhao was also going to transfer school. While she couldn''t be Zhou Shuchen''s classmate anymore, she was determined to enter the same university as him and become his junior.


    "Sister, everyone is very happy. We''ve never experienced such happiness since entering this school." Li Zhao said, her face beaming with a smile as she entered the door.


    "Sister, would you like to join us downstairs? Everyone is throwing a celebration party for the transfers!" Ming Shu suggested.


    Song Juyao silently looked at them with a very forced expression on her face.


    ¡¾Ah, my heart aches so much.¡¿


    ¡¾What would she do now? Everyone is counting on her.¡¿


    ¡¾Song Juyao must be feeling awful. Seeing those smiling faces, how could she possibly turn around and say that she can no longer help them transfer?¡¿


    ¡¾The production team is really going too far. Why did they do this? They are so annoying, I hate them!¡¿


    ¡¾Are those who believe the show went too far, watching the livestream in a daze? This is a trial show, and Song Juyao is a murderer! The families of the victims are still mourning the loss of their loved ones. Why should Song Juyao be allowed to lead a peaceful and trouble-free life in the virtual world? Support the program group!¡¿


    Song Juyao gazed at the two of them and suddenly uttered, "I''m sorry, it seems I won''t be able to help them transfer to another school."


    Li Zhao panicked, "Wh-what happened?"


    Ming Shu shared the same confusion. Wasn''t the matter concerning the specially selected students supposed to be resolved by now? The final step of their transfer should have been a simple task.


    Both she and Tang Kai were wondering what to do next. Song Juyao was supposed to leave Jinke Duola Academy, and they might become the least accomplished real NPCs within the realm of real NPCs, never having conducted a single trial for the accused.


    As a result, another moth has appeared now?


    Song Juyao remained silent, offering no explanation. However, the truth soon came to light the following day.


    Early in the morning, Jin Yu woke up seething with anger. He accompanied Jin Yao to the dining hall for breakfast and heard the news of the specially selected students'' departure. His face contorted in displeasure. "Get lost! They should leave as soon as possible, a group of low-born idiots. Song Juyao better hurry up and take them away!"


    Ironically, he used to want to eliminate the specially recruited students from Jinke Duola Academy, and now that it was actually happening, he felt no joy at all. It was the first time in his life that he felt so helpless. Song Juyao was truly something!


    Jin Yao, who was seated across from him, abruptly straightened his posture, his attention drawn to the message that had just arrived on his mobile phone. "Yu, take a look at this."


    Jin Yu took the mobile phone handed over by Jin Yao, his eyes changed instantly, "What?! Song Juyao was... how is it possible?"


    Jin Yu immediately went to verify the news.


    As members of the prestigious Blue Blood aristocracy, known for their delicate ties to the government, they always paid attention to the government''s every move. Song Juyao was a big celebrity, and her popularity in the National Academy of Sciences was not low. Therefore, rumors about her had already started to circulate.


    Although the Nobel Prize team did not make a public announcement about her expulsion, even fools knew what it meant.


    When both the position and job responsibilities were replaced, what else could it be if not expulsion? Perhaps they were just waiting for Song Juyao''s own resignation letter.


    Jin Yu''s thoughts raced as he swiftly made a phone call. Sure enough, misfortunes never come alone. Not only was Song Juyao expelled from the Olympic Prize team, but the plan for First High School to accept the specially recruited students had also  fallen through. In line with the customary practices of manipulating power, it wouldn''t be limited to just First High School blocking her. It was likely that she would be blacklisted nationwide. Consequently, not only would First High School refuse her admission, but it seemed that no prestigious schools across the country would accept her either. It was inconceivable for Song Juyao to force the students into those trashy schools.


    "Song Juyao is truly amazing. Who has she offended?"


    "If they are capable of intervening even with the Olympic Prize team, it must involve one of the top-tier individuals."


    "What will Song Juyao do now? All the specially recruited students are relying on her. She can''t transfer them, and there''s nowhere else to go," Fu Meiling said with a frown.


    "What else can she do? She has no choice but to stay," Jin Yu remarked with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, eager to seize the opportunity. Finally, the time had arrived to counterattack against Song Juyao. In such a precarious situation, she would undoubtedly seek his assistance for the sake of those specially recruited students. This time, he would compel her to lower her haughty head! She had no other way out!


    Jin Yu eagerly awaited Song Juyao''s arrival, expecting her to apologize and implore him to let go of the past, ensuring a promising future for the remaining specially recruited students.


    This news surfaced on the campus BBS, its source unknown. It detonated like a bomb among all the students, leaving them bewildered and shaken.


    "Song Juyao is expelled by the Olympic Prize team?"


    "Oh my God! How is that even possible?"


    "Is this some kind of prank? How could our Senior Sister possibly face expulsion?"


    "Did Song Juyao offend a powerful figure, so the plan for First Middle School... fell through too?"


    "...Can''t we transfer anymore?"


    Someone immediately wanted to go and ask Song Juyao about the situation but was stopped by Li Zhao.


    "It''s true." Li Zhao now understood why Song Juyao said that yesterday.


    The specially recruited students, who had been ready to transfer and were celebrating happily, suddenly fell into a profound silence.


    Jiang Baiqi stood there in shock. Recalling Song Juyao''s expression from yesterday, so that''s why she had that look and felt stomach pain?


    Ming Shu rushed to Tang Kai''s side.


    Tang Kai had a serious expression and nodded. "If I''m not mistaken, it''s highly probable that temporary real NPCs have entered."


    "Damn it!" Ming Shu couldn''t help but curse. "How many of them came in? What kind of formidable NPC avatars did they possess to strip Song Juyao of everything in an instant?"


    Ming Shu had always played petty tricks and schemed against Song Juyao in the past, but at this moment, she actually felt a tinge of anger!


    "Now that they''ve entered, they must be here to eliminate her in one fell swoop," Tang Kai stated with a furrowed brow. Lately, he had been watching a multitude of variety shows, speeches, and inspirational stories featuring Song Juyao when he had nothing else to do. Initially, he watched them to ride on Song Juyao''s popularity. Since he had no chance of seducing her anymore and found himself confined to the school infirmary, he needed to find a way to increase the popularity and viewership of his livestream. Watching programs related to Song Juyao became his only option, and he believed that numerous viewers would switch to the first-person perspective to witness her shows.


    However, after watching so much, he couldn''t help but acknowledge that this girl was truly remarkable, possessing great charisma. He even found himself admiring her to some extent. Therefore, when he witnessed the actions of the program team, he felt a twinge of discomfort.


    He struggled to find the right words to describe this feeling. He simply believed that these methods were exceptionally underhanded.


    Since they couldn''t defeat Song Juyao directly, they resorted to such despicable tactics, dragging down the accomplished Song Juyao to their level for a PK, right? Of course, he had to admit that he and Ming Shu hadn''t truly assisted the production team, but it wasn''t because of their incompetence. It was solely because the opponent was too formidable.


    But this was a result of Song Juyao''s own efforts.


    Ming Shu felt a surge of anger rush to her head, and she was about to voice her thoughts when Tang Kai quickly covered her mouth.


    "Don''t speak recklessly. Do you realize how many people are watching this livestream? Are you trying to ruin your career?" Tang Kai warned her through his eyes.


    Ming Shu had no choice but to calm down. She silently turned around, and left. Yet, her eyes inexplicably held a hint of redness.


    The atmosphere at Jinke Duola Academy became very strange.


    With the failed transfer, the specially recruited students had no choice but to continue their stay at Jinke Duola Academy. As a result, the rich students taunted them relentlessly.


    "How amusing! Weren''t you all so haughty before? Behaving as if you had escaped from a wretched life, and now you return in such a pitiful state?"


    "Hey, hey, how dare you show your faces here? Weren''t you looking down on Jinke Duola, acting too superior to attend school with us?"


    "Now that Song Juyao is gone, how are you going to be so arrogant?"


    "If you ask me, you lot are nothing but scourge. It''s probably because of you that Song Juyao ended up in trouble and left with nothing."


    "..."


    Mockery pervaded the air. Except for the third-year students who had chosen to stay from the beginning, the specially recruited students in the lower grades faced piercing gazes and derisive laughter wherever they went.


    Following the previous incident that caused a big uproar and nearly resulted in all the specially recruited students transferring out, Jin Yu suffered substantial losses due to Song Juyao. Consequently, the student council became sensitive to the bullying of the specially recruited students, and many people perceived the subtle atmosphere. Therefore, they somewhat refrained from casually harassing the specially recruited students.


    But it still made the specially recruited students blush, feeling embarrassed and extremely uncomfortable.


    "I know it''s not Senior''s fault. She even got expelled from the prestigious team, but... but..."


    "If you can''t ensure something, don''t make promises..."


    "I should have chosen to stay from the start to avoid such painful embarrassment."


    "Indeed, in this world, apart from ourselves, there''s no one else we can rely on."


    Some of the specially recruited students couldn''t help but complain in private.


    A few of them were conversing in the restroom when suddenly, the door of the adjacent compartment swung open, and a foot forcefully kicked one of the specially recruited students, causing him to crash into the urinal and fall to the ground.


    They turned their heads in horror, only to see Jin Yao with a sullen expression on his face. His feral eyes filled with an emotionless gaze akin to that of a predatory beast.


    "Bang!"


    Students in the hallway turned their heads and witnessed several students being kicked out from the men''s restroom. Wow, who would dare to bully these "fragile" specially recruited students at such a time? Oh, it''s Jin Yao!


    That''s all right.


    "Jin Yao, what did we do wrong?" The student who was kicked didn''t understand what they had done wrong. They felt like they were peacefully using the restroom when suddenly, they were attacked.


    "I can''t stand spineless individuals, and I especially can''t tolerate ungrateful wolves like you," Jin Yao said as he kicked them once more. "Song Juyao didn''t take you along with her, but why do you think few people beat you now? It seems like you prefer getting beaten rather than being ridiculed."


    "We''re sorry! Spare us, please..."


    After giving them a thorough beating, Jin Yao''s somber expression slightly eased. He ran his fingers through his curly, fluffy hair, adjusted his sports jacket, and turned around to leave.


    "Did they badmouth Song Juyao?"


    "Damn, really? That''s impressive."


    "Song Juyao went above and beyond for them, yet some people always want more. When they don''t get it, they start harboring resentment."


    "Idiots! They should educate themselves more. This situation can be summarized as ''giving ten pounds of rice gains gratitude, while giving five pounds gains hate''."


    [T/N: The Chinese idiom ''ÉýÃ׶÷¶·Ã׳ð'' translates to "giving ten pounds of rice gains gratitude, while giving five pounds gains hate." The story goes that there was a kind and charitable rich man who would regularly donate ten pounds of rice to his poor neighbors. However, one day the rich man encountered financial difficulties and had to reduce the amount of rice he could give. He ended up giving five pounds of rice to his neighbors, which made them angry and led to accusations that the rich man had stolen something they deserved. This idiom is used to satirize ungrateful people.]


    "There aren''t many people in this world who possess both talent and a benevolent heart like Song Juyao. Sadly, these people fail to appreciate her worth."


    "I haven''t seen her these past few days. Is she wallowing in despair in her apartment?"


    "She wouldn''t do something reckless, would she?" someone suddenly panicked.


    "You''re a fake fan. Song Juyao isn''t the type to commit suicide. Although I''m curious about what she''ll do next, she certainly won''t engage in anything reckless."


    "..."


    ...


    Having been expelled from the award-winning team, her bank account frozen, fired from her few regular shows that provided income, and her mentor ignoring her emails... Song Juyao had lost everything. She struggled to afford meals and the impact on her was devastating. She remained holed up in her apartment for days, refusing to go outside or even eat. The residential staff would knock on her door once a day, waiting for any response before leaving, as if they were afraid she might resort to reckless actions.


    Other students didn''t dare to approach her door. What could they possibly say if they saw her? Empty words of encouragement would be meaningless, and asking her who she had offended would only deepen her wounds.


    Every day, a beetle would fly over from the boys'' apartment, carrying a bag filled with easily consumable food. The bag contained sandwiches, pre-cut fruits, and some nutritious snacks¡­


    She was like a wilting flower, evoking an irresistible urge in people to provide her with some water.


    ¡¾Is this what you all wanted to see?¡¿


    ¡¾Who could endure such a devastating blow? In reality, encountering such circumstances might drive someone to contemplate suicide.¡¿


    ¡¾No, this isn''t what they truly want to see. They want to see more than just this.¡¿


    ¡¾When even survival becomes a problem, what will Song Juyao do?¡¿


    ¡¾She''s no different from an ordinary person. She might even give up on herself.¡¿


    ¡¾Hahahaha, as long as she doesn''t smile, I''ll be happy.¡¿


    ¡¾Indeed, I would find solace if she no longer smiles. It would be better to see her shed tears. How could she be laughing while the families of the victims are left in tears?¡¿


    On top of the lunchbox, there was a sticky note attached.


    [Don''t give up on yourself, stay strong.]


    Not being good at comforting others, the words spoken were dry and lacking warmth.


    However, Song Juyao''s lips curled into a smile.


    "It''s not about giving up on myself, I''m just confused."


    "?"


    "I doubt if my life is real. I feel like something is off in this world."


    In an instant, everyone watching the show widened their eyes.


    In the program group, Tang Shan only felt his scalp tense for a moment.


    "Damn it!"


    "She noticed?"


    "How is that possible? The virtual world boasts one hundred percent realism, with scarcely any loopholes. Someone like Song Juyao, whose memories were sealed and has been placed in this world since childhood, couldn''t possibly sense that something is awry!"


    The members of the production team panicked for a moment, feeling as if their secret had been discovered. Why did she suddenly utter such words? When and where did she feel this way?


    "Everything should have logical explanations, yet at times, this world makes me doubt. How is it possible for someone to have parents like mine? The Prime Minister suddenly changed his attitude and expelled me from the team, the bank froze my funds for no reason, and the Education Bureau refused to let the student transfer... It''s illogical and unreasonable, almost as if they are doing it all just for the sake of targeting me."


    So that''s the situation. The temporary live NPCs went too far; indeed, it defies reason. But only through these illogical acts of sabotage could Song Juyao lose everything and find herself trapped in this predicament. Fortunately, even if she harbors doubts, what could she really do about it? Without evidence, unless she resorts to suicide, she cannot escape this virtual world.


    Regardless of how she ponders the situation, she could never imagine that she is in fact within an unreal world, with a live broadcast underway and billions of viewers observing her every move, criticizing and demanding her tears and laughter.


    "But because you''re here, I believe this world must be real."


    This sentence could be rephrased as: "You are the only real thing in this world."


    Jiang Baiqi gazed at the note, and these words, which were almost akin to a confession, caused a faint flicker in his otherwise dull eyes. His ears turned red in an instant.


    "I want to eat sweet and sour pork." Song Juyao shamelessly made the request, as if they were very familiar with each other.


    Make it yourself! Jiang Baiqi thought with an expressionless face. However, after school in the morning, he happened to pass by a supermarket and eventually decided to purchase the pork ribs.


    Taking into account that she is going through a rough period¡­


    Song Juyao peered through binoculars and saw Jiang Baiqi wearing an apron, cooking in the kitchen. A smile involuntarily blossomed on her lips.


    And Jiang Baiqi knew she was watching him. His movements gradually became stiff, but unfortunately, the kitchen window had no curtains.


    Lunch that day turned out to be quite satisfying. Jiang Baiqi used several beetles to deliver them together. After lunch, Song Juyao went to the bathroom to wash her face. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she said, "It''s time to cheer up. Otherwise, if I get kicked out, I''ll end up sleeping on the streets."


    She switched on the computer to search for a job. The audience expected her to finally experience the hardships of job hunting, just like an office worker. However, to their surprise, she quickly found an urgent, well-paying temporary online translation job. With her proficiency in four languages and with very few technical terms in this document, it was fairly easy to translate.


    Just as Song Juyao was about to earn the money in a few hours and improve her dire situation, the production team inserted a hacker from the virtual world. Song Juyao''s computer suddenly went black.


    Song Juyao stared at the computer in astonishment.


    After finally managing to turn it back on, she discovered that the translated document had been completely deleted.


    Song Juyao had to start over, but before she could finish, her computer was invaded once again.


    "Hehehe, sorry, it''s a request from the production team. I''m just following orders," the hacker muttered to himself, residing in a clean apartment.


    "Hehehe, sorry, it''s a request from the production team. I''m just following orders," the hacker muttered to himself, residing in a tidy apartment.


    When he heard the production team say that Song Juyao was not giving up and starting again, he was shocked. Isn''t this woman too persistent? She is not giving up yet! So, he attacked again.


    The expression on his face suddenly cracked. "What?"


    As soon as he virtually touched Song Juyao''s computer,  a hand suddenly extended and seized his neck through the network. Realizing he was up against a formidable opponent, he immediately broke free and fled to clean up the trail, not realising that the other party was coming after him like a rabid dog all the way.


    He swiftly attempted to shut down the computer, but the power button had malfunctioned. Hastily, he yanked out the plug, but since it was a laptop with a built-in battery, the computer still couldn''t be turned off.


    The files within the computer were rapidly copied and transferred. The hacker panicked, as creatures lurking in the shadows like him feared nothing more than having their masks torn off, exposing their true identities.


    The transfer was over.


    The hacker sat in his chair, disoriented and dazed.


    "Director, I don''t want to play anymore! I quit, I quit!" He shouted into the air. Although only the NPC he was controlling had been exposed just moments ago, he had become that NPC now! It felt as though a layer of skin had been peeled off him.


    "No, once you enter the virtual world, you must fulfill the task and cannot quit at will," the program team replied coldly. "If you insist on quitting, you can choose to end yourself and subsequently pay for the breach of contract."


    The production team didn''t permit automatic exits. The only way to exit was to end the life of the NPC he controlled. Contemplating the penalties specified in the contract, the hacker immediately felt despondent. The contract stated that they could do whatever they want as long as they complete the instructions from the program group.


    His instruction was to prevent Song Juyao from completing her work on the computer.


    At that moment, two words appeared on his computer screen.


    [Looking for death?]