A Royal Flush of Humiliation

The privilege to use ap-tier laboratory—what did that even signify?

From the moment they entered Nan High, in their first physics, chemistry, or biology class, all three subjects' teachers had emphasized this. Nan High was dedicated to nurturing scientific research talent and provided students with ample resources for conducting biological and chemical experiments. However, not everyone was granted access to mid-level or higher chemistry labs. Even students needed to have internationally recognized experimental achievements to gain entry to a mid-level lab.

And what about a top-tier lab? In the century since Nan High's establishment, there had only been one student capable of using the top-tier chemistry lab. That student was a now-deceased Nobel Prize winner. Could Ji Chuxing really be compared to such a distinguished figure?

But Teacher Wu's words clearly conveyed a fact to everyone present: "Ji Chuxing has an exceptionally high aptitude for chemistry. Her experimental skills surpass mine. There are many questions I need to seek her guidance on. She is the most dedicated person I've ever seen when it comes to chemistry experiments. How could she possibly sabotage an experiment over personal issues?"

He recalled Wen Xinyue's previous badmouthing of Ji Chuxing and immediately became suspicious: "Did you fail your own experiment and then slander your classmate?"

Although Teacher Wu often seemed a bit off, when he scrutinized someone, his gaze as a top-tier teacher was more than Wen Xinyue could handle.

"Te-teacher, I didn't. There's surveillance footage," Wen Xinyue instinctively shrank back.

"Right, there's surveillance!" Lu Yang chimed in, "Teacher Wu, look, this is the surveillance video from the lab building yesterday..."

Before he could finish, a loud "Wow" erupted from the crowd.

Everyone turned to see what was happening. They were standing in front of the teaching building, and through the wide square, they could see the large screen in front of the administrative building, which usually displayed news. Now, it was showing a clear surveillance video.

The video showed Ji Chuxing leaving the lab building with a black backpack at 7:30 PM. But five minutes later, a figure quietly appeared at the entrance of the lab building. The corridor lights were dim, and at first, it was unclear who the figure was. When the figure turned a corner, the light revealed a familiar face—it was Wen Xinyue.

No one was shocked by how the surveillance video ended up on the administrative news screen, but all eyes were on Wen Xinyue.

Didn't she say she left at 5:30 PM? What was she doing coming back at 7:35 PM?

Didn't she claim Ji Chuxing was the last to leave? Why did she come back after Ji Chuxing left?

Lu Yang was also stunned. He looked at his phone and then at Wen Xinyue: "Didn't you say Ji Chuxing was the last to leave?"

Zhao Feifei chimed in, not missing the chance to add fuel to the fire: "Oh, so it's a case of the thief crying 'stop thief'? I knew it. With your poor skills, who would bother with you? And you accused her of ruining your experiment, claiming you were in danger if she came near. You're just a fraud."

"So, you and your friends were trying to smear our Goddess Ji, huh? Wen Xinyue, I've never liked you. Calling our Goddess Ji 'sister' is already pushing it. Do you even deserve to call her that? We don't even have the right to call her 'sister'!"

"Goddess Ji is our ancestor!"

"And you said she was just there to clean the lab. You, a fake school beauty, are a joke, aren't you?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this thief crying 'stop thief' act is well-directed. You should get an award for it."

Wen Xinyue's face alternated between red and white.

How could this happen?

She had carefully observed the area; there was no surveillance at that entrance. How could she still be caught on camera?

Ji Chuxing seemed to read her mind: "There's no surveillance there, but the opposite building has cameras. You miscalculated, idiot."

"Xinyue, didn't you say you left at 5:30 PM?" Lu Yang was incredulous.

He had always liked Wen Xinyue, but his family background wasn't as good as hers. He knew she didn't think much of him, so he could only secretly admire her and strive to become better.

This morning, they met at the school gate. His long-admired goddess finally spoke to him, and he happily accompanied her to the lab. When her experiment failed, he went with her to the surveillance room to find the cause. She suggested it might be Ji Chuxing. But now...

It was all a lie.

All her nasty scheming.

Teacher Wu, seeing the video, was very displeased: "Wen Xinyue, what is the meaning of this? Last time, I told you not to slander Ji Chuxing out of jealousy. I let it slide then, but this time, you've gone too far. You have no respect for the experiments. My lab doesn't need people like you."

Teacher Wu was stern: "From now on, you are not allowed to set foot in my lab. Additionally, you must apologize to Ji Chuxing!"

Wen Xinyue felt as if she had been struck by a bolt from the blue.

"Te-teacher, it's not like that. I just forgot something and went back to get it. I didn't do anything."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier? Everyone can make excuses after the fact," Zhao Feifei rolled her eyes. "You think everything you say is right. Why don't you just fly to the sky?"

Wen Xinyue finally broke down in tears: "I really didn't frame her, Teacher Wu. I just went back to get something, I swear."

Ji Chuxing shrugged and said to Teacher Wu, "I don't care, but if you're interested, you can go back and test the equipment used in the lab yesterday. There will be fingerprints."

Pausing, Ji Chuxing tilted her head and asked, "Do you know how to test the retention time of fingerprints?"

Fingerprints are traces left by oils and other substances on objects, and their retention time can be tested through experiments.

Teacher Wu fell silent, then his eyes lit up: "That's not my area of expertise, Ji Chuxing. Can you teach me?"

Since meeting Ji Chuxing, Teacher Wu felt that his thirty years of experimental experience were practically useless!

He wanted Ji Chuxing to guide him!

Ji Chuxing sighed deeply: "I'll teach you later. It's simple, just a few reagents..."

She rattled off a string of principles, and Teacher Wu had a sudden realization: "Ah, I see."

Watching the two of them converse fluently, using terms she couldn't understand, Wen Xinyue experienced the most humiliating moment of her life.

Every word exchanged between Ji Chuxing and Teacher Wu was like a slap in the face.

The malfunctioning screen in front of the administrative building, which automatically played the surveillance video, caused a headache for the surveillance room staff. Even Director Yan and the principal rushed over.

When they arrived, they saw a crowd gathered and, upon inquiry, learned what had happened.

The principal and Director Yan were speechless, but mostly, they were furious.