Inside Fuyuan Academy, the usually orderly campus had turned restless and noisy.
Students streamed toward the school's grand hall from every direction, their footsteps echoing against the polished walkways. The atmosphere was strange, half excitement, half malice.
Reporters had already filled the front rows, some kneeling to adjust their camera angles, others standing with microphones in hand while assistants checked sound levels. Laptops were opened, fingers hovering over keyboards, waiting for the moment that would explode across headlines.
Teachers filed in quietly and took their seats with stiff expressions. They exchanged glances but said very little. Everyone knew what today was about.
The hall itself was massive, designed in a quadrangle shape. Every seat faced the elevated stage clearly, ensuring that no reaction, no expression would go unnoticed. Above, students leaned over railings, whispering loudly, phones raised and ready.
The chatter was sharp and merciless.
"I heard she won't dare show up."
"Su Ning is definitely getting expelled this time."
"Tch, dating a director for money. I always knew she was fake."
"What if she doesn't show up?" One asked curiously.
"Either she does or not doesn't matter, her fate is sealed," another gloated.
Some laughed openly, their voices filled with schadenfreude. Others smirked, enjoying the drama even if they pretended not to care. A few students remained neutral, arms crossed, watching quietly. But they were the minority.
Several students had already started recording, their cameras pointed at the empty stage. Someone even whispered about betting pools—whether Su Ning would run, cry, or beg.
At the front, the ROYAL 6 sat in their reserved seats.
Gu Yingying leaned back casually, her lips curled in a smug smile. Her eyes sparkled with cold satisfaction, as though she were already watching a show she had paid for.
Mo Lingxue leaned toward Xu Jinghan, her voice deliberately loud. "Do you think she even has the courage to come? If it were me, I'd hide under a rock."
Xu Jinghan laughed, twirling the coffee cup in her hand. "Please. If she shows up, I'll drink this without sugar."
Fang Yiren turned excitedly toward Li Zixuan, her eyes bright. "What do you think will happen if she really ran away? Wouldn't that be hilarious?"
Before Li Zixuan could answer, Gu Yingying cut in sharply, her tone icy. "Run? Don't be stupid. If she tries, my family will hunt her down to the ends of the earth."
Her words were calm, but the threat beneath them was unmistakable.
Zhou Mingyu glanced at his watch, brows slightly furrowed. "Where the hell is the principal? He's late."
"That trash, my dad is going to have him step down after today," Gu Yingying smirked, crossing her arms.
"Really? Di Fulin is really screwed." Fang Yiren laughed.
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the hall, Chen Anya and Mu Suying sat close together.
Chen Anya's hands were clenched tightly in her lap, her face pale with worry. "I tried calling her again," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. "Still unreachable. What if she really comes? What if they twist everything?"
Mu Suying remained calm on the surface, but her eyes were dark with restrained frustration. "Don't panic," she said softly. "Su Ning isn't someone who runs."
Chen Anya shook her head. "But this is too much. The media, the board, even the Minister of Education… How can a student handle all this?"
Mu Suying sighed, she had tried to talk to her dad to clear Su Ning's name, Su Ning owned Imperial International Hotel all by herself already, so it was ridiculous she would date for money.
But her dad had told her that Su Ning had ordered him to stand down. Mu Suying had no choice but to keep quiet.
She wished she could tell Chen Anya the truth to calm her down but she couldn't tell her about Su Ning's identity. She sighed again as she turned her sights back to the gloating students, she looked at them with disdain, they didn't even know who they were aiming at.
Just then, a ripple ran through the hall.
The principal, Di Fulin, entered with several board members. Walking beside them was Minister of Education Ma Yao, surrounded by officials. The moment they appeared, the hall erupted.
Camera flashes exploded from all directions. Reporters surged forward, voices overlapping.
"Minister Ma! Is it true the academy covered up a scandal?"
"Principal Di! Will Student Su Ning be expelled today?"
"Is the alleged relationship real?"
Security quickly moved to maintain order as Ma Yao was escorted to his seat. Once things barely settled, Di Fulin walked onto the stage.
He raised his hand.
The hall gradually fell silent.
Di Fulin stood straight, his presence calm and authoritative. "This academy has stood for integrity and excellence for decades," he began evenly. "Today's issue will be addressed openly and fairly. I ask everyone present, students, staff, and media, to exercise patience and professionalism."
His voice carried weight, forcing even the most excited students to quiet down.
Then he continued, "The matter involving the recent scandal will be clarified by the owner of Fuyuan Academy herself."
The hall exploded again.
"The owner?!"
"She's coming?"
"Is it a proxy?"
"Now that the owner is here in person, doesn't this mean that Su Ning is finished?"
Reporters typed furiously. Students leaned forward, eyes glued to the entrance.
Di Fulin turned slightly, smiling. "I invite the owner of Fuyuan Academy," he announced clearly, "Miss Su."
The doors opened.
Su Ning walked in.
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Gasps echoed across the hall.
She walked forward calmly, every step steady and unhurried. Her looks and presence was overwhelming, elegant, commanding and jaw dropping. Her eyes were clear and sharp, her posture straight like a ruler. Behind her stood two sharp bodyguards, their expressions cold and alert.
The board members stood instantly with Di Fulin and bowed deeply.
Minister Ma Yao and his officials rose as well, faces full of respect.
Students stared, frozen.
"She… she's the owner?"
"No way…"
"What the f...."
Su Ning ascended the stage, her bodyguards positioning themselves behind her like silent shadows. She released her aura subtly, not aggressive, but dominant. It swept across the hall like a quiet tide.
Students felt their hearts tighten. Some blushed uncontrollably. Others lowered their heads instinctively, unable to meet her gaze.
Her gaze moved slowly across the audience.
When her eyes rested briefly on the ROYAL 6, especially Gu Yingying, her lips curved into a faint smile.
Then she spoke.
"My name is Su Ning," she said calmly. "I am the owner of Fuyuan Academy."
Her voice was steady, clear, and powerful.
She spoke briefly about the academy's values, its reputation, and her responsibility as its owner. Then her tone sharpened slightly.
"I met Director Zhao Qi of Zongsheng Medical Centre in the Capital during a business meeting," she said plainly. "There was no inappropriate relationship."
Murmurs exploded.
"Fuyuan Academy," she continued, "will not tolerate fabricated scandals. Anyone involved in spreading false information will be investigated and punished."
"That will be all."
Cameras flashed wildly.
She bowed slightly, then turned and left.
Chaos erupted behind her.
Outside, reporters chased, shouting questions, but her bodyguards released their Qi subtly, blocking any approach.
Back inside, the ROYAL 6 remained frozen.
Xu Jinghan's coffee cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
Mo Lingxue whispered, trembling, "This… this can't be real right?"
Gu Yingying stood abruptly, her fingers were clenched so tightly that her nails had pierced her palms, thin lines of blood seeping out, but she didn't seem to feel the pain at all.
Her face was pale, the smugness and confidence she had worn earlier shattered beyond repair. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing uneven, she turned and left.
Xu Jinghan stared blankly at the spilled coffee at her feet, her mind still replaying the scene on the stage. Her lips trembled slightly as she whispered, almost to herself, "Su Ning—she.... owns Fuyuan?"
No one answered her.
Mo Lingxue swallowed hard, her face drained of color. She looked toward the exit Gu Yingying had disappeared through, then back at the stage that was now empty. Her voice came out hoarse. "We… we didn't imagine that, right?"
Zhou Mingyu exhaled slowly, his usual calm completely gone. His fingers tightened around his phone as if grounding himself. "No," he said grimly. "That was very real."
Xu Jinghan felt her legs weaken. The excitement she had felt earlier now turned into dread, crawling up her spine like ice. "Then… what happens to us?" she asked in a small voice.
No one responded.
Li Zixuan pressed his lips together, his gaze dark and thoughtful. Without a word, he stood and followed Gu Yingying out. The others exchanged uneasy glances before hurriedly leaving as well, their once-proud backs now stiff and tense.
Students stood up in waves, voices overlapping in disbelief.
"Did you see the way the board bowed?"
"She wasn't lying… she really owns the academy."
"My God, we've been mocking the owner this whole time…"
"Did you see her, she was so beautiful, I couldn't close my mouth.."
"You idiot, are you really thinking about that right now, aren't you worried?"
"Why should I be, I never said anything against her"
"You didn't support her either!"
Faces turned pale. Some students laughed nervously, others stared at their phones in shock, replaying the footage they had just recorded. What they thought would be evidence of a scandal had turned into proof of their own foolishness.
Outside the hall, the atmosphere was even more intense.
Reporters crowded the exit, voices rising urgently.
"Miss Su! why did you keep your identity a secret?"
"Will there be legal consequences for the students involved?"
"Can you comment on your relationship with Zhao Qi?"
Su Ning walked forward without breaking stride.
Her expression was calm, indifferent, as if the noise around her didn't exist. Ah Fu and Ah Ming flanked her on both sides, their steps synchronized, their presence imposing. A subtle pressure radiated from them, enough to make people's chests feel tight.
No one managed to get close.
Minister Ma Yao walked beside her, his face glowing with excitement and admiration. "Miss Su," he said with a wide grin, "this was masterfully handled. You've truly broadened my horizons today. May I invite you to dinner? I would love to—"
Su Ning turned her head slightly, her smile polite but distant. "Thank you, Minister Ma," she replied calmly, "but I already have plans."
Ma Yao laughed, not offended in the least. "Of course, of course. Another time, then."
She nodded lightly.
Di Fulin followed closely, his expression filled with respect and gratitude. "You did very well today," Su Ning said to him as she walked. "Continue managing the academy properly."
Di Fulin bowed slightly. "I won't disappoint you."
Her Zenon Seraph X9 waited, the sleek sports car gleamed under the sunlight, its lines sharp and elegant. As Su Ning approached, the doors lifted automatically like wings. She stepped in gracefully, the interior lights illuminating her calm, beautiful face for a brief moment before the door closed.
The engine roared to life, low and powerful.
"Woah, that's—that's..."
"Zenon Seraph, the least model costs over a hundred million yuan, I heard the latest X series is over half a billion"
"Damn! I've been attending classes with a bigshot!"
"She—she won't get back at us right?"
As the car sped away, Ah Fu and Ah Ming entered the BMW behind her, following closely. The principal and board members stood at the entrance, bowing until the vehicles disappeared from sight.
Inside the car, Su Ning relaxed back into her seat.
Her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen and smiled before answering, switching it to speaker. "Anya."
"Ningning!" Chen Anya's voice burst out excitedly. "Do you know how terrifying you were just now?! I thought my heart was going to jump out!"
Mu Suying's calm voice followed. "You were… impressive."
Su Ning chuckled softly. "Come over to my villa after school," she said casually. "Both of you."
Chen Anya didn't hesitate. "We're coming!"
The call ended.
Su Ning looked out the window, her lips curving slightly as Gu Yingying's pale, furious expression replayed in her mind.
"You better brace yourselves," she murmured quietly, eyes cold with amusement. "Your end is really near."