Xu Chuyao had no idea what was said inside. All she knew was that after Principal Lü came out, he called them aside and then, with a helpless expression, said that everything had been done to the best of their ability.
The look on his face was like that of a doctor just coming out of the operating room.
“Wait, wait a minute, what do you mean by ‘done to the best of your ability’?”
Xu Chuyao couldn’t accept it. How could it just be ‘done to the best of your ability’? Without her saying a word, they had already wrapped up the matter?
Principal Lü took a sip of tea and thought carefully for a long while. He categorized what he could and couldn’t say before finally explaining to the two girls:
“Professor Svina, representing the Locke Morgan family, has proposed a research project based on Shen Ning’s unique traits. It has to be her. But don’t worry, he said she only needs to work there for a period of time. At the earliest, one or two weeks; at the latest, a few months, and then she can come back.”
Hearing this, Xu Chuyao nearly laughed in disbelief. “A few months? A few months is more than enough… more than enough to do what exactly?”
Not wanting to discuss what was ‘enough’, Yao Yao straightforwardly changed the direction: “He says that, but in reality, once she goes, any minor issue will be used as a reason to hold her down, and then they just won’t let her go.”
“That probably won’t happen. The project Professor Svina asked Shen Ning to help with shouldn’t have any major problems,” Principal Lü said.
What danger could there be in translation?
“No way!” Xu Chuyao was so anxious she wanted to stomp her foot. “He definitely didn’t tell the whole truth!”
Does Yao Yao not know what kind of research the Locke Morgan family conducts?
“Principal, I’m telling you, they speak as if there’s no problem, but in reality, look—if they really achieve something, the confidentiality level will surely increase, right? Once confidentiality gets high, people are naturally held back. The more achievements they make, the higher the secrecy. The higher the secrecy, the less chance people have to return. The less they return, the more results they produce. In the end, it turns into something that can’t be undone!”
Principal Lü fell silent.
He felt Xu Chuyao had a point, but…
“This matter has already been decided by those above. I have no grounds to oppose it. Even Minister Long couldn’t find a reason to refuse.”
That was the real reason.
Principal Lü really had no way out. He had been so happy today, thinking the Academy was making history, but then the family came to take someone away and even gave the higher-ups an unchallengeable reason.
He glanced at Xu Chuyao, then at Shen Ning, noticing the white-haired girl had been silent since arriving, standing quietly behind her girlfriend, clutching the hem of her clothes.
She really was very dependent. No wonder the parking lot incident had erupted just because someone wouldn’t let her be in a lesbian relationship. But this time, there really was nothing they could do.
Xu Chuyao bit her lip. “Is it because of the woman in the video? What’s her name? And the Locke Morgan family too!”
The Locke Morgan family, and some unidentified senior female, their story was something Yao Yao knew a lot about.
“Xu Chuyao, don’t be impulsive…”
“I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to confront them!”
Why had it come to this?
Ever since arriving here and hearing the Principal’s verdict, the girl was in a shutdown state.
Just a moment ago, she was sure of her feelings, embracing the beauty beside her, fantasizing about happy times ahead. But only a few hours later, her tomorrow suddenly turned into a separation.
One or two weeks? So long.
Several months? Pfft, that’s way too long. No way.
It wasn’t until she heard her girlfriend’s analysis—that she might be detained even longer with no room for negotiation—that the girl completely lost it. Her feet felt like they floated off the ground, her mind was filled with a buzzing noise, and her vision was covered with a layer of haze; she couldn’t see clearly.
She had never imagined she would be so sad after hearing just one piece of news. She wanted to cry, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
“Shen Liu!”
A Doppelganger Reflection appeared faintly in the mist before her eyes and loudly called out her name. The reflection’s long hair floated, bangs nearly covering her eyes, messy and fragmented.
It was a Broken Shadow.
At that moment, she happened to hear Xu Chuyao say she was going to confront them. Suddenly, a certain memory surged in her heart, and a strong sense of struggle pushed her body forward.
“No!”
Shen Ning suddenly hugged Xu Chuyao and whispered in her ear, “Don’t go, don’t… confront them.”
“Clack!”
“Don’t be impulsive, don’t confront them.” The girl slowly recalled what the Broken Shadow had once said, “There must be evidence.”
After her girlfriend’s intervention, Xu Chuyao calmed down a bit.
“But if we do that, you’ll be taken away by them.”
“It’s okay.” Shen Ning quietly wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’ll protect myself.”
Xu Chuyao hesitated a moment, then gently patted the girl’s waist. “Be careful. Wait for me a while, it won’t be too long.”
“Hmm.”
Principal Lü stood silently nearby, watching the interaction between this young couple. A Third Rank person was shedding tears, while a Second Rank told her to be careful and promised to come save her… It seemed fine, but somehow, something felt off.
Just then, someone knocked on the door of the conference room.
“Principal, Professor Svina asked me to remind you, it’s getting late.”
It wasn’t quite night yet, but for someone about to take a flight, the earlier the better.
Half an hour later, the girl let go of her girlfriend’s hand at the school gate.
Svina gestured for them to get in the car and casually said to the other girl, “Miss Xu Chuyao, this is business. I hope you don’t blame me?”
Xu Chuyao ignored him and just told Shen Ning some reminders.
“Take good care of yourself, be cautious, observe more, think more, and act carefully.”
“Ha, ho, pfft-kd, lu-xi ho-ho ho!”
The mocking voice came from the Doppelganger Reflection of Nai Ning. The girl herself felt very sad and speechless.
She sat alone in the back seat of the car. The driver started quickly, and the vehicle soon left the school gate. Shen Ning didn’t even have time to press her face against the car window.
At such a moment of parting, even the sexually repressed reflection only sighed, with nothing else to say.
The Broken Shadow comforted her: “Don’t be too sad. At least you did what I never could—avoid the worst outcome. Unlike me, who, out of fear, watched Yao Yao rush forward impulsively, causing… ugh…”
Halfway through comforting, she broke down herself.
“Miss Shen Cha,” Svina said from the front seat, “Have you ever actually been to the family’s real research institute? You’d like it there.”
Shen Ning ignored him, as if she hadn’t heard.
At Shengling Academy, the invited guests were still celebrating, unaware that the protagonist of today had already been taken away.
Xu Chuyao returned to the conference room because Principal Lü had received news that Minister Long wanted to see her.
“Their reasons are reasonable, and it involves some confidential matters. It’s not up to me alone to decide,” Long Jun explained.
Xu Chuyao silently nodded, acknowledging she understood.
Seeing his beloved protege so distracted, Long Jun felt a little guilty and after some thought said:
“Alright then, since you did well during the Ya Ha Tower incident, I’ll report this in a few days and try to get you an official position there. You’ll have the right to view the videos from the conference room. Then you’ll know what kind of work Shen Ning has been transferred to.”
“Thank you, Minister Long.” Xu Chuyao raised her chin. “There’s one more thing—I’ve been too free lately and want to resume work.”
Long Jun frowned slightly. “If it’s about Shen Cha’s matter, you better not rush it.”
“No, it’s about the Clown Gang. It’s my regular work,” Xu Chuyao said seriously. “I plan to investigate their superiors, to see who gave the orders originally.”
Seeing she seemed serious, Long Jun thought it over and nodded in approval.
Indeed, with the girl’s girlfriend taken away, she was bound to feel unsettled. Giving her something to do was good.
“Thank you, Minister Long. I’ll gather a team and start the investigation immediately.”
Xu Chuyao smiled sweetly, ended the video meeting, and turned to leave. But the moment she stepped out of the office building, her smile vanished and her face tightened.
Super serious.
“Xu Chuyao, are you done chatting?” Principal Lü met her outside and asked with concern, “Are you alright? Maybe take a break? You don’t even have to attend classes in school right now…”
“No problem. I’ve taken enough time off. Now it’s time to work.” Xu Chuyao quickened her pace. “Principal, I’m off to investigate the Clown Gang.”
The girl rushed past, and Principal Lü was slightly stunned.
Are all young people like this now? The worse their mood, the harder they work?
What he didn’t know was that Xu Chuyao was indeed working hard, but all that energy was spent on gritting her teeth.
The Locke Morgan family took the female lead right in front of her, and Yao Yao’s teeth were nearly ground to bits.
And she still had that villainous little devil in her eyes!
“Picking a fight with the wrong person,” Xu Chuyao muttered softly, “You started it, so don’t blame me for not holding back.”
Having answers but lacking proof, the plan was to find evidence. As for who to get to do this, Shen Ning had just given her a candidate a few days ago.
Taking her official ID, Xu Chuyao headed straight to the “Shengling Academy Staff and Student Assistance Office” and slammed down her proof at the front desk.
“Investigation! I need you to provide information. Tell me which room Xiao Si Nuo has rented in the family residential area?”
The so-called family residential area was actually a row of commercial apartments near the school, only rented out, never sold, and only to the school’s teachers and students, so their friends and relatives would have a place to stay when visiting.
First-year and fifth-year students had the most family members living there—first years because the children just arrived and their families were reluctant to part, fifth years because graduation was near and they moved in early to prepare for pickup.
At a recent concert, the band’s female member who needed help was arranged to stay there by Xiao Si Nuo. It was nearby and offered good security.
When Xu Chuyao slammed down her ID, she already had a complete plan forming in her mind.
Wait and see, Locke Morgan family. You’ll soon understand—no matter what, you must never anger an omniscient…
“Uh, this young officer… I mean, senior officer.”
The female receptionist first addressed Xu Chuyao in a formal but cute way. But standing up and seeing her impressive figure, she quickly changed her words and respectfully asked:
“May I ask, who is Xiao Si Nuo?”
[ Yao Yao biting her finger: Are you there, Xiaolu? Help me ask a classmate. What’s the real name of that curly-haired girl in our class who loves to brag? ]
[ Mi Xiaolu: ? ]
[ Mi Xiaolu: I’ll ask in the class QQ group for you. ]
A few minutes later, Xu Chuyao returned to the front desk and handed over her ID again.
“Please help me check Liu Siyu’s rental address.”
This time there was no problem. The staff typed on the computer and quickly gave an answer.
“Senior officer, the address you’re looking for is No. 13 Shengling Avenue, School District Apartment, Unit 4, 7th Floor, Room 7. It’s recommended to exit from the southwest gate.”