But Rong Xingyu simply stared at Pan Yinhu expressionless and said: "Do you really not know who did it?"
Earlier, Rong Zhijian had asked Rong Xingyu the same question in the lab, then it had been simple curiosity.
But now, Rong Xingyu’s tone was icy, and his gaze sharp.
For the first time, Pan Yinhu felt a sense of pressure emanating from Rong Xingyu. The smile on his face faltered and could not be maintained.
"You... you’re not suspecting me, are you?"
Pan Yinhu was first shocked, then flustered.
He cast a pleading glance at Ye Shiyuan, only to realize that Ye Shiyuan’s expression had also turned serious.
"I wasn’t in the lab that afternoon either. Not long after you left, I went to see Professor Zhou. How could you even think that of me?!"
Pan Yinhu’s eyes turned red as if he had been falsely accused.
His naturally almond shaped eyes and round face gave him a cute and innocent look. Staring at Rong Xingyu like this made it feel as though Rong Xingyu was actually pressuring him.
Seeing Rong Xingyu remain unmoved, Pan Yinhu looked at Ye Shiyuan.
"Shiyuan, you’ve got to help me explain to Xingyu. How could he think that? When I came back from Professor Zhou’s, didn’t I run into you guys?"
Hearing Pan Yinhu’s pleading, Ye Shiyuan let out a derisive laugh.
Pan Yinhu instinctively took a half step back, his face paling slightly. He gave Ye Shiyuan a strained smile. "You don’t believe me either, do you?"
"Don’t drag Shiyuan into this. This is between you and me," Rong Xingyu frowned, fixing Pan Yinhu with a sharp look.
Pan Yinhu: ...
"Did I say you tampered with my experimental data?"
But before Pan Yinhu could even relax, Rong Xingyu continued, "But can you explain to me why the data model you used in your assignment overlaps so heavily with mine, Yinhu?"
Pan Yinhu’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. He looked at Rong Xingyu and said, "Xingyu, w-what are you saying? How could our models possibly overlap?"
Rong Xingyu looked coldly at Pan Yinhu after he saw him put on an innocent act.
Pan Yinhu had panicked for just a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He even smiled at Rong Xingyu as if he had been brainwashed, "Xingyu, I know you still have doubts, thinking I tampered with your previous data, but it really wasn’t me."
Pan Yinhu let out a small helpless sigh. The way he looked at Rong Xingyu made it seem as though Rong Xingyu was an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum.
"See? You even said our models overlapped."
Rong Xingyu: ...
Ye Shiyuan was also shocked by Pan Yinhu’s audacious display. He couldn’t help but interject, "Hey, do you even understand what people are saying?"
Rong Xingyu stared at Pan Yinhu who remained calm and smiling and realized that Pan Yinhu intended to play dumb and deny everything.
Pan Yinhu also knew that Rong Zhijian would not care about student squabbles and now that all the assignments had been submitted to the system, only Rong Zhijian could see them.
Rong Xingyu could not access his original draft.
Rong Xingyu let out a cold laugh. He took the tablet from his bag and placed both assignments in front of Pan Yinhu.
"So... do you need me to explain in detail where they overlap?"
Rong Xingyu hadn’t wanted to escalate things to a confrontation, but he suddenly felt exhausted and unwilling to continue dealing with Pan Yinhu’s evasions.
He looked at the frozen smile on Pan Yinhu’s face and sneered: "Or maybe your memory isn’t that good, can’t you recognize your own work?"
Ye Shiyuan who is standing beside him also mocked, "What’s this? Using someone else’s data and still claiming you did it yourself? How’s that ’your own work’?"
Pan Yinhu: ...
Pan Yinhu hadn’t expected Rong Xingyu to actually have access to the original copy of his assignment.
He was completely unnerved by the synchronized pressure from Rong Xingyu and Ye Shiyuan. His face turned pale and his legs went weak as he sank back onto the chair.
"I-I..."
Pan Yinhu stammered for a long moment, unable to say anything else. Seeing the disappointed expression on Rong Xingyu’s face, he choked up.
"Xingyu, I—I really just lost my mind for a moment..."
Pan Yinhu reached out to grab Rong Xingyu’s sleeve, but Rong Xingyu shifted his body just in time to avoid him.
"I’m sorry... I’m sorry."
Pan Yinhu’s voice was hoarse as he kept apologizing to Rong Xingyu.
His eyes were bloodshot and he tilted his head upward in shame, tears streaming continuously from the corners of his eyes.
"I’m really sorry, Xingyu. I honestly had no other choice."
Rong Xingyu pressed his lips together and stared at Pan Yinhu in silence.
Pan Yinhu’s tears seemed endless as he sobbed, "I don’t dare ask for your forgiveness, Xingyu. I was completely blinded by my own foolishness. But... could you just let me off this once? I swear I’ll never do anything like this again."
Rong Xingyu: ...
He looked at Pan Yinhu almost in disbelief.
He hadn’t expected him to have the audacity to say something so brazen while practically crying his eyes out.
For a fleeting moment earlier, Rong Xingyu had thought Pan Yinhu was genuinely remorseful.
Now, seeing the apology and the tears, it was clear, they were just an attempt to make Rong Xingyu stop pursuing the matter.
Rong Xingyu who is barely holding back a laugh of exasperation said: "Why should I?"
Pan Yinhu pleaded desperately with Rong Xingyu, "Please, Xingyu, I really need this opportunity. My family is poor, my parents scrimp and save to send me to college. This is truly my last chance to make something of myself!"
Rong Xingyu replied coldly, "Opportunities are earned by yourself, not given by others, and certainly not taken through shameful, underhanded methods."
"I know... it’s because I lost my mind... it’s my fault!" Pan Yinhu was still crying.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped his own face several times.