Chapter 17: Oops, Did I Interrupt?

Kai was nothing if not efficient. By the next morning, he had already compiled a list of potential suspects. Lin Yuxi sat across from him in their penthouse, a steaming cup of tea warming her hands as her eyes scanned the names on his laptop screen. The soft light from the screen flickered against her face, but her expression remained calm, almost indifferent—a stark contrast to the thoughts whirring in her head.

"Out of all the girls who fit the criteria, two stand out the most," Kai said, tapping the screen. His tone was cool and precise. "Both come from families involved in business, but unlike most Royal Crest students, their families aren't particularly influential. More importantly, both families have been facing financial trouble recently."

Yuxi's fingers hovered over the edge of the laptop as she read the names, her mind already forming connections.

Qiao Ling, a second-year business student. Her family had owned a once-thriving textile company, but over the past two years, it had crumbled under fierce competition.

Zhao Min, a first-year, just like Yuxi. Her family ran an overseas shipping enterprise, but rumors swirled around campus that their business had suffered devastating losses.

Kai leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple thoughtfully. "If someone needed leverage, these two would be prime targets. Desperate people make for easy pawns."

Yuxi tilted her head, deep in thought. "That makes sense. But it doesn't explain why they'd go after me specifically."

Kai's jaw tightened slightly. "It's either personal, someone higher up is pulling the strings, or..." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "You were just collateral damage."

Yuxi didn't respond immediately, her mind already cycling through the possibilities. It wasn't a coincidence. Whoever had done this knew exactly what they were doing—making her the perfect scapegoat, painting her as the primary suspect with surgical precision. But why?

And more importantly—what was in that missing file that made even the Royal Crest professors so desperate to recover it? She was more curious about this than clearing her name.

By the time Yuxi arrived at Royal Crest University, the campus buzzed with whispers.

The rumor about her being summoned to the administrator's office had spread like wildfire more intensely, and now every step she took seemed to draw curious—or judgmental—eyes.

"She still dares to come here? How shameless."

"She doesn't belong at Royal Crest."

Yuxi maintained her usual composed expression, her gaze steady and her steps unwavering. The words slid off her like rain on glass.

But internally, she was already memorizing the faces of those who spoke the loudest. Gossip was cheap ammunition—easy to ignore but impossible to forget.

One day, perhaps, they'll find out how much I enjoy returning favors.

By the time Yuxi arrived at her 3rd lecture, she slipped into her usual seat near the back, her mind far from the lesson. Today, her thoughts lingered on Zhao Min and Qiao Ling.

She had spotted Zhao Min earlier that morning in business class, sitting calmly in the front row. Her posture was flawless, her expression serene—completely unaffected by the campus gossip. Not a single crack in her composure, as if the rumors didn't touch her at all.

Qiao Ling, however, was a different story. When Yuxi passed through the student café during the break, Qiao Ling was nowhere to be found.

That wasn't a good sign.

Yuxi tapped her fingers lightly against her notebook, keeping her outward expression composed. Qiao Ling had been on edge the last time she saw her—skipping class entirely wasn't something to ignore. Her eyes swept across the classroom briefly before settling back on her notes.

Beside her, Su Ruoyan leaned in with a playful grin. "You're unusually quiet today," she said, arching an eyebrow.

Yuxi offered a faint smile. "Just thinking about a few things."

"Ah," Ruoyan teased. "Your little… predicament?"

"I'll handle it," Yuxi replied smoothly.

Ruoyan nodded, accepting the answer without pushing further. But Yuxi didn't miss the way Ruoyan's sharp gaze flicked toward Zhao Min more than once during the lecture.

She had noticed them too.

By evening, Yuxi still hadn't seen Qiao Ling anywhere on campus. Her eyes narrowed, a knot of unease tightening in her chest. Not good.

Something was wrong.

Yuxi's gaze swept over the campus grounds once more, but it was clear—Qiao Ling was nowhere to be found. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and called Kai, skipping any pleasantries.

"Find Qiao Ling," she said curtly.

Kai didn't need clarification. The sound of rapid typing filled the line as he worked.

"Last camera footage shows her heading toward the back of the campus," he said moments later, his voice steady. "Near the old greenhouse. No cameras beyond that point."

The old greenhouse? Yuxi's grip tightened around her phone. Why would she go there?

"Got it. I'll handle the rest," she replied before ending the call.

Turning on her heel, she changed direction immediately, her steps quick and purposeful as the fading light bathed the campus in gold.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over the campus as Yuxi reached the secluded area behind Royal Crest. The old greenhouse stood abandoned, its glass panels cracked and covered in ivy. Beyond it stretched a forgotten part of the once-beautiful gardens—now a lonely, overgrown space.

And standing there, trembling, was Qiao Ling.

Her head was bowed, her shoulders hunched, sweat trickling down her face despite the evening chill. She looked small and frightened, like a child caught in a nightmare.

But she wasn't alone.

Three figures loomed before her.

The tallest among them was unmistakable—Qin Lei.

His very presence seemed to make the air feel heavier, more oppressive. His silver eyes gleamed with a calm, almost lazy focus, but beneath that calm was a sharpness that cut through the silence like a knife.

Beside him stood Jiang Cheng and Lu Bei, their expressions unreadable.

Qin Lei's voice was calm but cold. "Who asked you to do this?"

Qiao Ling flinched visibly. "N-no one," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "I… I did it on my own."

Jiang Cheng smirked, leaning against a tree. "You expect us to believe that? At least come up with a better lie."

Lu Bei sighed dramatically. "We're very patient people. But our boss?" He gestured toward Qin Lei. "Not so much."

Qiao Ling's legs shook. "I swear—I wasn't told by anyone. I just—"

Qin Lei took a step forward, and she immediately fell silent, her breathing ragged. The pressure in the air grew suffocating.

Then—

A new voice broke through the tense silence, light and almost cheerful.

"I think that's enough, don't you?"

All eyes turned.

Lin Yuxi stepped forward, her head tilted slightly, a gentle smile on her lips. She looked every bit the picture of calm curiosity, her eyes wide with feigned innocence as if she'd simply stumbled upon something unexpected.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked softly, her tone polite, almost playful.

The charged atmosphere wavered for a split second, thrown off by her seemingly harmless presence.

Qiao Ling turned toward Yuxi, her eyes wide and desperate, clinging to that small flicker of hope.

Yuxi's gaze swept across the group before finally landing on Qin Lei. Her eyes were clear, open, and unassuming.

But beneath that innocent façade, her mind was already calculating.

Neither of them spoke, but the unspoken challenge between them still hung heavy in the air—a game of masks, where every word carried more weight than it seemed.