Cai Xiang knew him—he’d even clinked glasses at the same dinner table with him before. This man was a seasoned pro, well-connected, the type you’d never expect to end up convicted.
But who was this girl she’s with? Just how influential could her background be?
Jin Zhou couldn’t even begin to imagine. He slumped into the chair, looking utterly defeated.
Glory shared is glory doubled, but losses spread far and wide—there was no space for schadenfreude in a moment .
"Find me Qi Baotan’s address. As long as there’s the slightest hope, I won’t give up."
Jin Zhou’s eyes reignited with determination.
Shen You’an had a good sleep and woke up at five sharp to practice her routines.
During breakfast, Shen You’an picked up her phone and glanced at it, ready to skim through the day’s news.
Just then, Chong Ming sent a message: [Boss, that whole ’golden spoon’ incident was your doing, wasn’t it? Respect jpg. Wiping out an entire listed restaurant brand over the course of one meal—you, boss, are the boss of bosses. You’re my idol.]
Chong Ming was a master of flattery, and someone else might already have been swept away by this sweet-talking barrage.
Shen You’an coolly blocked him and resumed reading the news.
Her news interests were all over the place—entertainment, finance, society—it was her way of staying sharp during breakfast.
After finishing, Shen You’an tidied up and got ready to head out.
Today, she was helping Tan’er move house, then stopping by the company to give Zhao Heng a heads-up.
Just as she was stepping out, she received a call from an unfamiliar number.
"Is this Shen You’an?"
"Hello, hello! I’m the Director of Academic Affairs at Lanya High School. My surname is Shen."
"Hello, Teacher Shen."
Shen You’an closed the door and walked to the elevator.
"Here’s the thing, Shen. With the school year about to begin, the opening ceremony will feature a speech from the new student representative. I don’t think anyone is better suited for the role than you."
Shen You’an paused for a moment.
"Is it possible to decline?"
She was never interested in being under the spotlight for things .
What she didn’t know was how many freshmen would go to great lengths for this opportunity—it represented absolute ability, reputation, and status, paving the way for a dazzling three-year journey.
"Come on, Shen! You were the top scorer in the middle school exam, a provincial and municipal model student, and the only student to consecutively receive the Yaguang Scholarship for eight straight years since its inception. No one else is as qualified as you. Plus, student representatives earn academic points for the speech..."
Lanya Group’s schools operated on a points system for their scholarships—earning enough points was necessary for qualification.
But this wasn’t the only way to earn a scholarship; Shen You’an had secured the Yaguang Scholarship throughout her junior high with outstanding grades.
However, in high school, the situation might change.
To boost their admission rates, Lanya Group had spent heavily to recruit top-performing students from across the country, many of whom were just as brilliant as Shen You’an or even provincial or municipal exam champions.
Qingzhou was an education powerhouse, and Lanya Group was unrivaled. To maintain its reputation, it had pulled out all the stops to gather top-tier talents.
Which meant Shen You’an’s ability to maintain her legendary status in high school was far from certain.
Still, as a homegrown success nurtured by the Group, Shen You’an was undoubtedly a key figure they planned to cultivate. Selecting her as the freshman representative was already an indication of the Group’s stance.
As long as Shen You’an didn’t slip up, her future as the Group’s star pupil was assured.
"Alright, Teacher Shen. I’ll prepare the speech carefully."
Having secured her agreement, Shen Huailu smiled contentedly.
He knew no student could resist the allure of the scholarship.
After all, Lanya Group offered way too much.
What could you do? Money talks.
From what he knew, both of Shen You’an’s parents were deceased, and her family was impoverished. She currently lived with her uncle, and her aunt was notoriously harsh—being under someone else’s roof couldn’t feel good.
Sensible and intelligent as Shen You’an was, she naturally knew how to make the right choices.
What Teacher Shen didn’t know was that Shen You’an simply thought he was a bit too verbose.
"With Shen having such an exceptional way with words—she even won a first prize for a writing competition in elementary school—I have no doubt about the quality of her speech. Still, it’s best to have teachers review it before the big day."
Shen You’an stepped out of the elevator, ready to leave, when she suddenly noticed a familiar figure.
"Understood, Teacher. Something’s come up, so I need to hang up now."
Shen You’an pocketed her phone and followed the person into the standard elevator across the hall.
Qi Baotan was lost in her own thoughts and didn’t even notice Shen You’an behind her.