As a villain's lackey, Fang Ming never expected to awaken a Protagonist Chat Group as his cheat.
But Fang Ming didn't have time to overthink it now.
Regardless, he had to meet this Soldier King's sister first.
With that thought, he hung up the phone. His car quickly emerged from the underground garage and sped into the blinding sunlight.
Twenty minutes later.
Rongcheng University, South Gate.
Although it was summer vacation, there were still many students on campus, mostly those studying for postgraduate entrance exams or impoverished students like Chu Yao who stayed for work-study programs.
Many luxury cars were parked at the entrance. In this place filled with youthful hormones, the "secret signal" of placing a bottle of water on top of a luxury car was no longer anything new.
Fang Ming's audi a6 didn't stand out among these cars, but it certainly wasn't cheap either.
Just as he parked and before the door even opened, a greasy face pressed against the glass.
"Brother Ming, over here!"
Wang Meng was wearing a tight black T-shirt that squeezed his rolls of fat like a bunch of freshly made ham sausages. The thick gold chain around his neck was blinding in the sunlight.
Fang Ming pushed the door open and got out, greeted by a wave of heat.
He pushed away the approaching Wang Meng in disgust. "Stay away from me, you're covered in sweat."
"Hehe, it's just the heat."
Wang Meng wiped the sweat from his bald head and handed over an ice-cold cola. "Brother Ming, have something to cool down."
Fang Ming took it, adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, and scanned the students coming and going at the school gate, his tone indifferent.
"How's the business going?"
At the mention of business, Wang Meng immediately perked up, his silly expression instantly turning into the smugness of someone seeking credit.
"Don't worry, Brother Ming. When I, Wang Meng, do things, it's like Zhang Fei threading a needle—rough but meticulous!"
He lowered his voice and pointed toward the Administration Building.
"I just made a scene at the Academic Affairs Office. That Balding Director's face turned green with fear. I told him that if they didn't re-examine the eligibility for impoverished students, our Qin Corporation would withdraw all sponsorships next year."
"That old fellow wouldn't dare offend his benefactor. He had someone print out the public list on the spot."
"It should be posted on the bulletin board by now, and the radio station will broadcast it soon. I guarantee that little girl's reputation will be ruined!"
Listening to Wang Meng's remorseless report, Fang Ming cursed him in his heart as a beast.
This was one of Qin Xiao's lackeys.
In their eyes, destroying an ordinary person's future and dignity was as simple as crushing an ant, and even something to brag about.
"Lead the way."
Fang Ming uttered two words expressionlessly.
"Sure thing! That Chu Yao is at the Second Canteen. She's probably eating right now. If we go now, we'll be just in time for the show!"
Wang Meng trotted ahead to lead the way.
Along the way, many students were frightened and avoided them upon seeing Wang Meng's ferocious appearance.
Seeing Fang Ming following behind in his shirt and trousers, looking like a refined scoundrel, their gazes became even more complex.
It was the look people give when they see a "mob boss taking his henchman to cause trouble"... Rongcheng University, Second Canteen.
Although it was the holidays, there were still quite a few people scattered throughout the canteen.
The air conditioning here was mediocre, and the air was filled with the unique smell of grease from large-batch cooking mixed with the scent of old food.
Fang Ming stood in a corner by the canteen entrance, not in a hurry to go in.
He didn't need to look for her intentionally.
Because that girl was simply too conspicuous.
In that noisy, greasy, and cheap environment, she was like a Little White Flower stubbornly growing out of a crack in the concrete.
Chu Yao sat in a corner by the window.
She wore a cotton T-shirt that had faded from washing, the neckline slightly loose, revealing her delicate collarbones.
On her lower half was a pair of light blue jeans, the hems heavily worn, and on her feet were a pair of canvas shoes scrubbed clean.
She wore no makeup, showing her natural face.
Her palm-sized face was somewhat pale and thin due to malnutrition, which instead made her eyes appear exceptionally large.
At this moment, she was looking down, taking small bites of the food on her tray.
A portion of rice, a free bowl of seaweed and egg soup, and the cheapest portion of stir-fried shredded potatoes—not a single trace of meat could be seen.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Wang Meng beside him made a lewd clicking sound. "Brother Ming, look at that figure. Even dressed like that, you can't hide it. That waist is so thin, I could snap it with one hand."
"And those legs, so straight and long. If she wore black stockings... hehe."
Fang Ming glanced at him and said irritably, "Shut your mouth, you're annoying."
Just then, a harsh static sound came from the old-fashioned speakers hanging in the corner of the canteen, followed by the emotionless voice of the announcer:
"Now broadcasting a notice from the Academic Affairs Office."
"By the temporary decision of the Board of Directors, an emergency review of this year's 'Spring Rain Financial Aid Program' recipient list is being conducted."
"Upon investigation, Chu Yao, a freshman in the Foreign Languages Department, has submitted questionable materials regarding her family's financial situation and is suspected of recent illegal high spending. It has been decided..."
"...to immediately revoke Student Chu Yao's eligibility for the top-tier scholarship and recover the eight thousand yuan scholarship issued last year."
"Student Chu Yao is requested to go to the Academic Affairs Office to explain the situation before five o'clock this afternoon."
*Whoosh!!*
The broadcast was loud, echoing in the empty canteen.
The students who were eating and chatting instantly fell silent, followed by an uncontrollable burst of discussion.
All eyes, like searchlights, shot toward Chu Yao in the corner.
"Holy crap? For real? Chu Yao?"
"You can know a person's face but not their heart. She usually looks so aloof, even rejecting the department's heartthrob. Turns out her lifestyle is problematic?"
"Tsk, I knew it. With that poor look of hers, where would she get the money for new books? Turns out..."
"High spending? Could she be a kept woman? And then the sugar daddy stopped paying, so she got reported?"
Although those whispers were lowered, in this enclosed space, they were still like poisonous thorns, clearly piercing the ears.
In the corner, Chu Yao's hand holding the chopsticks suddenly froze in mid-air.
In that instant, Fang Ming clearly saw her face turn from pale to deathly white, and finally almost transparent.
It was as if she had been struck on the head; her whole body was trembling slightly.
The scholarship.
For the vast majority of students here, it might just be the cost of a new phone or a few big meals.
But for Chu Yao, it was her tuition for the next semester, her last life-saving straw for surviving in this city.
"I don't believe it... How is this possible..."
Chu Yao stood up in a panic. Because she rose too quickly, her knee hit the table leg, and the seaweed soup in the tray spilled, splashing onto her faded T-shirt.
A large stain appeared; she was in a wretched state.
She didn't bother wiping it, just stared blankly at the pointing and mocking gazes around her.
Grievance, shame, despair.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip hard, refusing to let them fall.
"Hey, she's crying, she's crying!"
Wang Meng slapped his thigh excitedly. "Look, Brother Ming, her mental fortitude is no good. She's breaking already? Young Master Qin's move is truly a heart-killer!"
Watching this scene, Fang Ming's hand hidden in his trouser pocket clenched into a fist. This was too damn bullying.
This Qin Xiao was really a piece of work.
But on the surface, Fang Ming just indifferently pushed up his glasses, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Can't take it already? The show has only just begun."