Early the next morning, Li Qiao went to school to attend her thesis defense.
Because of the scandal that had erupted during the previous session, the university specially arranged a separate, private defense for her. Maybe worried someone might try to stir up trouble again, the administration even stationed two faculty members at the door of the classroom to stand guard.
This time, everything went smoothly. In less than half an hour, Li Qiao's defense was complete, and the committee announced on the spot that she had passed.
She was, after all, the most promising student in the bioengineering program in recent years—already guaranteed a position at the research institute before graduation. She might even become the poster child for Nanyang Medical University's bioengineering department in the future.
One of the professors on the committee smiled kindly and reminded her not to forget the school's nurturing when she became a researcher someday—standard polite fare.
With the defense complete, Li Qiao's college life had officially come to an end.
Once she received her diploma and left campus, the sky was the limit, and the sea vast for her to swim—her life was about to unfold with endless new possibilities.
…
Walking out of the academic building, Li Qiao's gaze swept over the surrounding sports fields and buildings. Her expression remained calm, though a faint wistfulness flickered in her eyes.
What now? What comes next?
"Li Qiao, I've been expelled. Are you satisfied?"
Jiang Yi had appeared behind her at some point. In just a few days, she looked utterly haggard and defeated.
She wore a baseball cap and a black mask hung under her chin. The once-luxurious dress she used to flaunt was now wrinkled and sad—gone was the campus belle admired by all.
That top-pinned post on the forum really had predicted her downfall.
Now she was tasting the full bitterness of social ruin.
At the sound of her voice, Li Qiao slowly lowered her gaze and turned around. Her tone was indifferent and cool. "I'm very satisfied. What about you?"
Jiang Yi's breath caught. Anger and resentment twisted across her face.
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, and though she hated every second of it, she was forced to bow her head to reality. "Li Qiao, we lived in the same dorm for four years. Can't you at least…"
"No." Li Qiao cut her off without a trace of emotion, her expression wild and unruly.
Jiang Yi began to tremble, her breathing growing unsteady. "I'm begging—"
Li Qiao gave her a cold glance, then turned to leave, tossing over her shoulder, "Say one more word, and I'll have you thrown out of Nanyang entirely."
That one sentence brought Jiang Yi to a frozen halt.
Three days ago, she wouldn't have believed Li Qiao had that kind of power.
But after hearing with her own ears that Chen Lizhou had been fired from his unit, and seeing the Chen family's modest business empire crumble overnight, she was utterly lost.
Just who had been backing the classmate she'd tormented for four whole years?
…
Meanwhile, Li Qiao returned to her car without a single expression on her face. She didn't start the engine right away, but turned to open the storage compartment and pulled out her gold-plated Desert Eagle.
The gun's body gleamed with a cold metallic sheen. She held it in her palm, gently caressing it. The icy touch seeped into her bones, calming the storm inside her.
Was Jiang Yi pitiful?
Not in her eyes.
Everything was karma, plain and simple.
Truthfully, she could have made Jiang Yi suffer even more—but she didn't think it was worth the effort.
After a while, she returned the Desert Eagle to its case. Just as she started the car, her phone rang in her pocket.
She pulled it out and saw an unfamiliar number. "Who is this?"
A flirty whistle came from the other end of the line. "Hey babe, I gave you my business card and everything. Why haven't you called me? Still want that internship or not?"