Chapter Twelve: Assistance from the Vast Plains

“When will the rankings be released?” Bo Ye asked.

“Soon, I suppose. There are still some people reviewing them, so it will take about half an hour.”

Wen Zhi returned with the director and the others to the W University lounge, where Wang Wei was already bandaged up and watching the big screen inside.

“Director, we must report this to the police! We have to find out who is trying to sabotage our fair competition!” Wang Wei said, unwilling to accept the situation.

“I’ve already reported it to the organizing committee. I distinctly remember checking everything before leaving. How could it have been tampered with so quickly?”

“Then it means there’s a mole among us,” Wang Wei said, his gaze casually flickering toward Wen Zhi.

“Wang Wei, if your eyesight is bad, you might as well donate it early!” Chi Minmin retorted.

“Chi Minmin, shut up!”

“Then don’t maliciously speculate about others before the real culprit is found.”

“Malicious speculation? You knew you couldn’t compete today, yet you still practiced Master Zhou’s signature move to outshine everyone.”

“The biggest beneficiary here is you, Wen Zhi!” Wang Wei pointed directly at her.

“You dislike me, I have nothing to say about that. From the moment I got off the bus until the competition started, I was on-site helping the staff organize everything. There are cameras everywhere here,” Wen Zhi replied, skeptical but firm.

Wang Wei’s dislike for her had always been clear—from his expression to his tone.

“Director, I asked; they said we don’t have permission to review the footage.”

Wang Wei’s eyes locked onto Wen Zhi. “A girl with backing is definitely different.”

“What did you say?” Wen Zhi’s temper finally snapped.

He continued on his own, “Everyone in W City knows you and Bo Ye are involved. He’s a judge today, so the scores don’t even matter. Our school will be first for sure. With the CEO’s wife here, the CEO has to show some support.”

“Slap!” A sharp slap echoed through the quiet lounge. Wang Wei gritted his teeth and said word by word, “Wen Zhi, how dare you hit me?”

“Wang Wei!” The director stepped in to stop Wang Wei from retaliating.

Wen Zhi regretted it a bit afterward, but at that moment, she was furious. Being slandered to her face like this—was she really that easy to bully? She had willingly lost to Wang Wei and given up her spot, enduring his attitude silently for days of preparation. Today’s incident was sudden. She could have walked away, but…

“Didn’t your parents teach you that malicious speculation is slander?”

“Who’s talking about me?”

Bo Ye pushed open the door, his hoarse voice barely suppressing his anger.

“This student just made me out to be like Zhou Youwang, burning the beacon fires and betraying his own kingdom for a woman’s smile, spending a fortune to go against all advice.”

“Director?”

The man looked at the middle-aged man with a large belly beside him. “Is this how W University educates its students? Always talking about men and women. What, is this student who studies biology intimidated by women stronger than himself?”

“We will handle the matter of the deliberately damaged knives fairly. But when Wen Zhi went on stage just now, she used the same new knife as you did, yet she wasn’t panicked like you. She stayed calm and thought about how to fix the problem.”

Wang Wei was intimidated by this important figure and dared not say a word.

“Apologize to Wen Zhi.”

Hearing the word ‘apologize’ made Wen Zhi’s heart skip a beat. She had thought about hitting him back and wasn’t too bothered by it, but was asking for an apology too much?

“Sorry.”

Wang Wei looked at Wen Zhi and lowered his head.

“Do you want to forgive him?”

Wen Zhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“And about you saying we’re involved—” Bo Ye dragged out the words.

“That’s not ‘involved.’ We’re actually dating.”

Dating? Love? The three words exploded in her mind.

“What do you want to do?” Wen Zhi knew no one else here could understand sign language, so she asked directly.

He lowered his voice, “I said I don’t want to work hard for years just to be spat on and accused of mixing work and private affairs.”

Should she even praise his cleverness?

The director, sensing the situation, stepped forward and flattered, “Miss Wen was also first in the school competition and has always performed well in our lab.”

Chi Minmin spat inwardly. Then why, when Wen Zhi couldn’t speak up before, did she immediately think her image was bad and want to replace her? Wen Zhi even had a boyfriend—juicy gossip, yay.

Bo Ye looked up but didn’t respond.

“Wang Wei, someone’s looking for you!”

A voice came from outside.

Wang Wei frowned and whispered, “Who is it?”

“Don’t know, a girl.”

Wang Wei left, and Chi Minmin immediately linked arms with Wen Zhi, gesturing for her to look at her phone.

Min: [Zhi Zhi, why didn’t you tell me you have a boyfriend? Don’t you consider me a good friend? QAQ]

Zhi: [Sorry, I really didn’t want to make it public.]

Min: [Alright then, Zhi Zhi~]

Wen Zhi glanced sideways at Bo Ye, who was leaning against the edge of the table, scrolling through his phone with no particular expression.

Bo Ye: [Can you bypass the firewall, kid?]

Zhuang Sui: [The teacher told me not to do anything illegal.]

Bo Ye: [If you do, I’ll tell you the address.]

Zhuang Sui: [Send me the location.]

After a few minutes, Wang Wei returned.

“The surveillance footage is here,” Bo Ye announced.

“No need,” Wang Wei interrupted.

“What the heck! You were the one who wanted to see the footage just now. Why not now? Don’t go around the campus spreading rumors again,” Chi Minmin said.

Wang Wei’s face paled. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything again.”

With that, he ran out.

Wang Wei’s decision not to pursue the matter just like that left Wen Zhi admiring this so-called director’s sense of responsibility…

For the first time, she truly realized the dangers lurking behind W City, a metropolis far grander than Z City. Perhaps the culprit was one of her rivals—or maybe even herself.

If she had been the first contestant today, she would have been the one with the sabotaged knife.

Wen Zhi realized this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened to her in W City. The Wen family, Bo Ye, Jiang Shiwei—they were all from W City and had long become part of its underlying dangers.

And her one-night stand with Bo Ye was further proof of that.

When she came back to her senses, only she and Bo Ye remained in the room.

“Thanks for today, for both things,” she said.

“Mm,” he replied, unusually not sarcastic.

“I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Treat me to a meal?”

Bo Ye’s eyes flickered.

Wen Zhi nodded again.

“Alright, but I’m very busy.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

The girl’s round eyes looked at him sincerely.

His heart stirred slightly—

The rankings were announced, and as expected, she was first. Wen Zhi saw the numbers flash on the big screen and finally smiled.

“See? I told you you’re the best!” Chi Minmin said.

Bo Ye, sitting in the audience, saw the girl’s smile from this angle and recalled her focused expression during the competition.

They say people who work seriously are the most attractive. He had always thought that was just the boss morally coercing employees, but today he truly saw a trace of beauty in this woman.

Finally? Actually, he had seen it long ago.

Ahem, Bo Ye, rein in your little thoughts—she’s Jiang Shiwei’s person.

Bo Ye withdrew his gaze.