Under the Experiment Building, the songs and laughter of the School Anniversary pierced the rain, sounding even clearer and more intense in this gloomy weather.
Fu Mingxuan straightened his collar, took one last look at the distribution map of green light dots representing the core area of the Auditorium on the monitoring screen, and could no longer suppress the curve at the corner of his mouth.
The feeling of victory in hand was like fine wine, making him slightly dizzy.
Chen Jingyi sat in front of the Command Console, her expression calm and unruffled.
She glanced at Fu Mingxuan without a word, her fingertips quickly gliding over a Complex Instruction Sequence on the touchpad in the corner, then quietly withdrawing.
“Frontline reports, the Strike Team is fully in position, awaiting final orders.”
As if nothing had happened, Chen Jingyi reported as usual, her voice still calm.
“Tell them, action!”
Fu Mingxuan waved his hand, a cold light flashing in his eyes, his tone icy.
“I want to inspect the results myself.”
He would never be satisfied with remote command alone; he wanted to see with his own eyes that ever-calm and indifferent face of Fu Yi, shatter in the face of failure.
He wanted to control her with his own hands, to make her understand who the true winner was!
This desire to crush his lifelong rival’s pride with his own hands coiled around Fu Mingxuan’s reason like a venomous snake, making him forget how risky it was to go in person.
And why Fu Yi was so calm, showing no sign of a counterattack.
Having made his decision, Fu Mingxuan took two personal Security Guards and strode out of the Experiment Building, blending into the bustling crowd of the School Anniversary.
Rain soaked his shoulders, but he paid it no mind—his heart was already filled with the burning anticipation of victory.
The group passed through tree-lined paths adorned with banners, circled noisy Fair booths, and entered the Backstage area through a lesser-used side door of the Auditorium, silent and unnoticed.
According to Chen Jingyi’s Information and monitoring, Fu Yi should still be in the Student Union office at this moment, or perhaps struggling to remotely control the chaotic situation everywhere.
His current goal, however, was to quickly secure the Props Warehouse and Power Control Room No. 2, two strategic locations, cutting off any chance of Fu Yi’s counterattack.
Then, with the posture of a victor, invite her over for a proper talk.
The Backstage lighting was dim, with only emergency and a few work lights on, forming a stark contrast to the deafening music and cheers from the stage.
The air was filled with a strange mix of cosmetics, sweat, and electronics.
Familiar with the layout, Fu Mingxuan moved past stacked props and busy staff, heading straight for the Props Warehouse deep Backstage.
The warehouse door was ajar, with weak light seeping out.
Fu Mingxuan’s cold smile grew—just as Chen Jingyi had said, the defenses here were thin.
He signaled his Security Guards to be alert, then pushed open the heavy warehouse door himself.
Yet inside was not the cluttered scene he expected, but a strangely empty space.
In the vast warehouse, only a few lonely lights hung from the ceiling, casting pale circles on the floor.
And at the center of the light, back turned to him, stood a familiar figure in an elegant dress, posture upright.
Fu Yi!
Why was she here?!
Fu Mingxuan’s pupils shrank, a wave of foreboding gripping him.
Fu Yi slowly turned around.
There was none of the panic he expected on her face, only a calm that seemed to understand everything, tinged with pity.
“My dear brother.”
Her voice was clear, echoing in the empty warehouse, with a faint, elusive smile on her lips.
“You still couldn’t resist coming in person.”
“You….”
Fu Mingxuan’s heart shook violently.
His pupils contracted, mouth open, unable to speak.
He realized instantly—he had been tricked!
Chen Jingyi’s Information was false!
The lack of defense here was a lie!
It was all bait!
Fu Mingxuan tried to retreat, but heard the warehouse door slam shut and lock behind him!
His two Security Guards didn’t even have time to react before being subdued by figures emerging silently from the shadows, stripped of communication gear and weapons.
“What are you trying to do?!”
Fu Mingxuan forced himself to remain calm, shouting harshly as his eyes swept the surroundings.
One look—and his blood ran cold.
He saw faint red lights blinking in several corners of the warehouse!
Hidden Surveillance Cameras!
Fu Yi had set up recording devices here!
As if sensing his shock, Fu Yi’s smile grew.
She raised her hand lightly, and a man beside her handed her a Tablet Computer.
She tapped it a few times.
The Screen in the center of the warehouse suddenly began to play a video.
Fu Mingxuan stared, shaken.
The Screen was playing footage of him just now, storming into Backstage with his Security Guards, heading straight for the Props Warehouse.
The angle was sharp, capturing every detail of his undisguised expression and aggression.
He commanded his men as he advanced.
“Illegal intrusion, bringing unauthorized armed personnel into the core area of a major campus event, unclear intentions…”
Fu Yi spoke slowly, every word piercing Fu Mingxuan’s heart like an icicle.
She paused slightly, the ridicule in her eyes growing stronger.
“Add to that previous attempts at kidnapping, spreading rumors, and disrupting event order.”
“My dear brother, do you think this Evidence is enough for the Family Council and Police to launch a thorough Interrogation of you?”
At Fu Yi’s words, Fu Mingxuan’s face turned deathly pale.
He had come in person, only to fall into her carefully laid Trap and leave undeniable Evidence behind!
***
At the same moment Fu Mingxuan stepped confidently into the Trap, Yu Qing was lurking like a ghost behind a dense thicket of Wintergreen Bushes at the edge of the Auditorium.
She and Li Ming hadn’t stayed long in that hidden Restoration Materials Room.
Though confusion and curiosity were nearly tangible in Li Ming’s eyes, Yu Qing had neither the time nor the means to explain.
Facing Li Ming’s questioning, she only pressed her voice low, speaking in as neutral and hoarse a tone as possible.
“Thank you. Go, don’t get involved.”
Then, ignoring Li Ming’s low calls behind her, she pulled her hoodie lower and fled the Library like a startled rabbit.
Persistent abdominal pain and high-strung nerves left her nearly faint, but she forced herself to stay calm.
The School Anniversary had begun.
With both sides about to move, this was her only chance.
She had to get closer to the Auditorium, observe the situation, disrupt both sides’ plans, and search for that one-in-ten-thousand possibility.
According to her earlier plan, Yu Qing picked a hidden spot where she could watch both the Auditorium’s side door and part of the Backstage corridor.
Rain soaked her clothes, chilling her skin and making her shiver.
She stared intently at the area, watching Fu Mingxuan’s men use various methods to lure away Fu Yi’s people one by one.
No!
She couldn’t let Fu Mingxuan succeed so easily!
When the sandpiper and the clam fight, the fisherman profits.
If one side collapsed too quickly, she, the ‘fisherman,’ would have no chance at all.
As Yu Qing gritted her teeth, ready to risk sending a vague warning to the junior on Fu Yi’s side—at least to prompt some action—
A cold hand suddenly landed gently on her shoulder from behind!