Chapter 20: Huh? How Was This Mission Completed?

Counselor Wu held the expulsion documents prepared by Director Zhao as if he were clutching a scorching hot potato. This was a matter involving a young person’s entire future!

He hesitated, saying, "Director, as of now, we only have a vague, out-of-context video. We don't really know the full situation. How about we wait until Chu Qiao returns and ask her before making a decision? That way, we can avoid any potential regrets later..."

Director Zhao cut the counselor off, sneering, "This video was posted in the group chat by Chu Han herself. She is a student of Academician Cai; do you think she would frame someone who is inferior to her in every way for no reason? Or are you implying that Academician Cai would recruit a student with poor character?"

Counselor Wu was struck with alarm. With such a heavy accusation hanging over his head, he could not afford to offend Academician Cai. However, before he could respond, Chu Qiao’s voice, laced with mockery, drifted in from the doorway:

"In all your decades of living, Director Zhao, it seems you’ve learned nothing at all. Just because someone isn't 'wrongly accused' doesn't mean they aren't taking facts out of context, does it?"

Director Zhao turned to see Chu Qiao standing straight in the doorway and chuckled, "If a fact is taken out of context, isn't it still a fact? No matter how much you quibble, is it not true that the ancient texts were destroyed? Is it not true that you were the only one who fled the scene?"

"With so many schools, so many teachers and students present, you were the only one who left in a guilty panic. You don't mean to tell me you were rushing off to restore the texts, do you? And I suppose you wouldn't also claim that even President Zheng of Lu'an University is deeply grateful to you for restoring them?"

After finishing his last sentence, Director Zhao clearly felt he had made a hilarious joke and couldn't help but laugh out loud. But before he could finish laughing, he saw the university president pushing open the office door, leading two men in suits, his face beaming with joy.

"Director Zhao, congratulations! Your department has produced a top-tier talent!"

Before he could finish, the president noticed the tense atmosphere in the office and paused, "What is going on here?"

Director Zhao was also somewhat confused, "President Sun? Why are you here?" His gaze shifted to the two men behind the president, and he asked suspiciously, "And these two are?"

President Sun replied, "These two are from Lu'an University. They are here because..."

Before President Sun could finish, Director Zhao had an immediate epiphany. He straightened his expression, pointed at Chu Qiao, and said to the two men, "You two are here to hold our school's Chu Qiao accountable, right? I am truly sorry. We deeply regret your school's loss and will do our best to compensate you. Chu Qiao has already been expelled from our school and no longer has any ties to us. Whatever responsibility you wish to pursue, we will not interfere!"

Upon hearing this, President Sun's previously joyous face turned incredibly ugly. "What?! You expelled Chu Qiao?!!"

The two men from Lu'an University, however, wore expressions that suggested they were thinking, *Wait, we get that kind of bonus?* They turned to Chu Qiao:

"Student Chu, you might want to consider transferring to our university. We can offer you guaranteed admission to our graduate program, and you can pick whichever professor you want as your mentor! If they aren't willing, our president will go to their home and talk to them personally!"

President Sun's expression darkened further, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth, "Enough! Trying to poach talent right in front of me—have you no shame?"

Fearing that the Lu'an University representatives might offer even more enticing conditions, he quickly said to Chu Qiao, "Student Chu, our school can also guarantee your graduate admission. I can also go talk to the professors myself."

He had been the president of this school for years, only to be constantly overshadowed by the president of Lu'an University! Now that he finally had a student capable of outshining Lu'an University, a student who had finally allowed him to hold his head high, he would rather die on the spot than see her leave before graduating from his school!

Director Zhao was left bewildered. Watching the scene of President Sun and the Lu'an University representatives fighting over Chu Qiao, he was completely stunned. *What, what is going on? Didn't Chu Qiao destroy the ancient texts, cause a disaster, and run away? Why is everyone fighting over her now?*

Chu Qiao, having never experienced such a spectacle, was momentarily dazed. But she quickly regained her composure, pointed at Director Zhao, and said, "However, Director Zhao just said he wanted to expel me... He also previously tried to force me to give up my spot in the exchange tournament to his nephew... After I refused, he specifically created a rule targeting me, attempting to delay my graduation..."

As Chu Qiao laid out her accusations one by one, cold sweat began to cover Director Zhao’s forehead and face. "No, it's not like that, I..." he stammered, trying to defend himself.

President Sun waved his hand impatiently, "You don't need to say anything else. I will have the school's investigation committee look into this later; you just need to cooperate."

President Sun was no fool. When he walked in, Director Zhao had been shouting about expelling Chu Qiao. To expel a student so hastily without even an investigation—it was impossible for there not to be something fishy going on!

Director Zhao felt his world go black, his legs turned to jelly, and he nearly collapsed to the floor. He thought about all the things he had done, abusing his power for personal gain... If he wasn't investigated, it would be one thing, but once exposed, he would be looking at at least a decade in prison!

"President, I..." Director Zhao tried to struggle.

Impatiently, President Sun ordered the school security to drag him out of the office. As he was being dragged away, Director Zhao suddenly remembered what Counselor Wu had advised him... If only he had listened, if he hadn't been so arrogant and looked down on Chu Qiao... If he had just waited for her to return and asked her before making a decision... he wouldn't have ended up in this state!

Regret. Director Zhao was now filled with nothing but endless regret.

...

Back in the office, President Sun dismissed the representatives from Lu'an University and comforted Chu Qiao, terrified that she might actually be considering a move to Lu'an.

Chu Qiao didn't actually have any interest in moving to Lu'an. Had this been before she received the System, she might have been tempted. But now, with the System, the knowledge she could acquire at school held no attraction for her.

Rather than going to a new school and adapting to a new environment, she preferred to stay where she was. At the very least, her good friend Qin Fan was there.

"President, please rest assured, I have no intention of leaving the school." Chu Qiao reassured him before handing over the surveillance footage she had copied. "However, I do hope the school will issue an announcement to clear my name."

President Sun readily agreed, "Of course! Even if you hadn't asked, we would have handled this matter seriously!"

President Sun handled the situation with great efficiency. Within half a day, the school released the surveillance footage and expelled Bu Yuzhu, who had destroyed the ancient texts and framed her classmate. Furthermore, the school issued a formal reprimand to Chu Han for taking things out of context and fabricating facts to incite chaos.

Upon learning this news, Chu Han, who was still participating in the exchange tournament, felt as though the sky had collapsed! Because of her superior talent, she had grown up surrounded by praise and admiration. In university, she had been recruited early by Academician Cai due to her outstanding performance, becoming a top-tier prodigy that others could only look up to.

And yet... she had now been formally reprimanded because of Chu Qiao, someone she considered inferior in every way?! She would have to carry the stain of a university reprimand for the rest of her life!!

Chu Han trembled with hatred, a deep sense of unease rising in her heart. Ever since that banquet, Chu Qiao had become different. It was as if Chu Qiao had slipped out of the family's control and was moving in a direction that was increasingly unfavorable to her...

Just then, Bu Yuzhu came to find Chu Han, her eyes red from crying, "Chu Han, I've been expelled... what do I do? If my parents find out, they'll kill me!"

Chu Han looked at Bu Yuzhu, her mind racing. She leaned in close and whispered, "You can get Chu Qiao expelled, too! If she’s expelled, wouldn't it be easy to come up with an excuse that you were framed and implicated by her?"

Bu Yuzhu was stunned, then immediately felt that what Chu Han said made perfect sense! But she quickly became troubled again, "But everything is fine now, how could the school possibly expel her?"

Chu Han smiled faintly and beckoned her to lean in closer, "That's simple..."

...

In the temporary apartment she had rented, Chu Qiao looked at the System prompt:

【Congratulations to the Host for completing the task of sowing discord between two major righteous sects.】
【Reward: Double skill experience points.】
【200 points.】
【Unlocked the function to gain experience points by using skills.】
【Unlocked the Space Mall.】

Chu Qiao was full of question marks. She... she hadn't done anything? How had this task been completed?