Chapter 84 - 83: If You Want It, Take It

Chapter 84: Chapter 83: If You Want It, Take It

Lin Zhenxiang created the vulnerability herself?

What did the Commander-in-Chief mean by that?

The crowd was utterly baffled.

Seeing Yerman’s smug, all-knowing expression, Edgar couldn’t help but ask, "Bro, do you know what’s going on?"

Yerman grinned, showing his teeth. "Nope."

Edgar: "..."

’As the Commander-in-Chief’s right-hand man, how could he say he’s ignorant so nonchalantly!’

Yerman frowned, a hint of impatience flashing in his amber eyes. "You got a problem with that?"

Edgar flinched. "No!"

’As if I’d dare!’

Yerman shot him a "good, you know your place" look, then turned his gaze meaningfully toward Shu Yao.

After following Qin Shiwei for so many years, this was the first time he had ever seen the cold and detached man be so protective of someone.

And a woman, at that.

Shu Yao got up, went to the classroom doorway, and beckoned to Ke Dancheng with her finger.

Ke Dancheng hesitated for a moment before squeezing through the crowd toward her.

Shu Yao asked in a low voice, "The day Lin Zhenxiang was live-streaming at Luoxing Port, did you watch her stream?"

Ke Dancheng pushed up his glasses and nodded silently.

’It was his day off, and a lot of people had been watching Lin Zhenxiang’s stream on the Star Network.’

When they heard Shu Yao’s next question, Ke Dancheng and the students around him were all stunned. He was silent for two seconds, then nodded again before turning to look at the somewhat clueless Lin Zhenxiang with a complicated expression.

At the same time, Lin Zhenxiang noticed that the students in that area were giving her unfriendly looks. Some were even openly whispering about something.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Swaying as if about to collapse, a miserable, helpless laugh escaped her pale lips as she taunted with a look of tragic beauty:

"Sister Shu, if you want people to respect you, say what you have to say to my face. Can’t you stop with the underhanded tricks?"

A faint but meaningful smile played in Shu Yao’s dark eyes. "Security has been so tight recently all because of the rumor about Star Thieves appearing at Luoxing Port. And the day that rumor started was the day you went to Luoxing Port to live-stream."

Lin Zhenxiang’s face tensed, her voice laced with cold vigilance. "What are you trying to say?"

Shu Yao suddenly laughed out loud.

"You haven’t forgotten your own words, have you?" She shrugged nonchalantly. "It’s fine if you have. The internet has a memory. Let me recap for you—

That day, a popular influencer, on a whim, suddenly decided to do an outdoor live stream at Luoxing Port. To cultivate an image of being brave and fearless, she started a rumor in her stream about Star Thieves at Luoxing Port. She even ignored her fans’ warnings and insisted on going to the ’dangerous’ place.

So, her fans believed her and flooded the relevant authorities with reports about the security risks at Luoxing Port. Tens of thousands of people. Because the number of reports was so massive, the authorities immediately took it seriously. But after deploying so much manpower and working for days, they didn’t find even a shadow of a Star Thief..."

Lin Zhenxiang felt as if all the air had been sucked out of her chest. Her breathing became more and more difficult, yet the sounds around her grew exceptionally clear—

"That’s right! I watched Lin Zhenxiang’s stream that day, too. I remember she definitely said something about Star Thieves at Luoxing Port!"

"So it was fake!"

"The entire Federation imposed a curfew in every Star District because of one thing she said! My God, that’s insane!"

"Couldn’t she just stick to her cooking streams?! Why did she have to stir up so much trouble! What for?!"

"She has so many fans and makes so much money. I really don’t know what more she could possibly want!"

Amid the uproar, Shu Yao’s clear voice rang out again:

"I recall that under Interstellar Federation Law, the sentence for spreading rumors is generally three to seven years in prison. I wonder how long you’ll get for this."

Overwhelmed by the accusations, feeling as if she were on pins and needles, Lin Zhenxiang bit her lip and lowered her head, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze.

"She lies so easily! The evidence she showed in her stream yesterday was probably fake too!"

"She got someone wrongfully imprisoned. No wonder his son came after her!"

"She brought this on herself!"

"She dragged someone’s name through the mud, yet she acts more innocent than anyone. I really don’t know how she does it!"

Qin Shiwei commanded in a cold voice, "Take her away."

A Star Warrior stepped forward, about to place electronic cuffs on Lin Zhenxiang.

The color drained from Lin Zhenxiang’s face. Panicked, she exclaimed, "Commander-in-Chief, sir, I’ll confess!"

"The Star Network is not a lawless place," Qin Shiwei said indifferently. "And this is not the place for you to confess your crimes."

Lin Zhenxiang suddenly raised a hand and pointed at Shu Yao, her voice filled with hatred and bordering on hysterical:

"But this is all her fault!!!"

A cold light flared in Qin Shiwei’s dark green eyes. "Are you saying she forced or threatened you into doing all this?"

A mocking glint flashed in Lin Zhenxiang’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but sneer. "How could she possibly threaten me!"

The Commander-in-Chief gave her a "responsible" reminder. "If your accusation proves to be false, you’ll be charged with false accusation in addition to spreading rumors."

Lin Zhenxiang reluctantly lowered her hand, glaring resentfully at Shu Yao. "Shu Yao, are you telling me this isn’t all part of your scheme to take back your position as the Lin Family’s daughter!?"

’Everything had been fine, but ever since Shu Yao appeared, her very existence was a constant reminder that everything she’d gotten from the Lin Family was stolen from that trash girl!’

’It was as if she were a thief!’

’Every time she thought about it, she was overcome with a profound sense of humiliation!’

"Miss Lin, what you consider a priceless treasure might not have the same value in another’s eyes." The sarcasm in Shu Yao’s eyes was bone-deep. She waved her hand magnanimously. "The title of the Lin Family’s daughter—if you want it so badly, take it. No need to be grateful to me."

’Grateful?’

Lin Zhenxiang had never felt that way toward her! In fact, hearing those words only made her feel even more humiliated!

’Now everyone will think she just picked up something someone else didn’t want or care about.’

’Wouldn’t something discarded by that trash girl be worse than trash itself?!’

Consumed by hatred, Lin Zhenxiang blurted out, "You were defiled by some stray mutt in the Lower Star District at seventeen and gave birth to a bastard at eighteen! Someone like you is unworthy of ever returning to the Lin Family!"

Qin Shiwei: "..." ’Stray mutt? Bastard?’

"Heh heh~" Shu Yao gave a couple of ambiguous chuckles, then gave Lin Zhenxiang a thumbs-up in mock admiration. "You’ve got guts! Real brave!"

Then she offered a sincere blessing and a kind piece of advice: "I hope those words of yours can lessen your sentence. When you get to the interstellar prison, be sure to get along with your cellmates."

A trace of anger entered Qin Shiwei’s deep voice. "Cuff her!"

The Star Warrior jumped, immediately stepping forward with the electronic cuffs.

But just then, the situation changed.

Before the Star Warrior could get close, Lin Zhenxiang clutched her neck, her pale face instantly contorting in pain. Her brows knitted tightly as she collapsed toward Qin Shiwei.

The man sidestepped, a flicker of disgust entering his dark green eyes.

The Star Warrior hurried forward and caught Lin Zhenxiang before she hit the ground.

Lin Zhenxiang was ashen-faced, her lips white and her breathing faint. She was unconscious, her eyes closed.

’She’s in this state. Cuff her, or not?’

"What convenient timing for a fainting spell," Yerman said, his tone ambiguously sarcastic. "School medic, come take a look at the situation."

After an examination, the school medic reported fearfully, "It... it could be that she fainted from excessive blood loss... Just... just now, I only performed basic first aid to stop the bleeding. I’m... I’m not sure if the weapon that injured her... was... was poisoned..."

Li Haisheng sucked in a sharp breath.

’Poison on the Fish Spear!?’

’He had never even considered doing something like that!!’

’Besides, when he held the Fish Spear to her neck, even though he’d lost some control, he only broke the skin!’

But even if Lin Zhenxiang was faking it, what could be done? Her current appearance was just too convincing.

Witnessing this scene, Shu Yao could only sneer inwardly.

Lin Zhenxiang was sent to the hospital, and Li Haisheng was taken away.

Before leading his team away from Imperial High School, Qin Shiwei sent Shu Yao a few text messages:

"Need a tutor? The all-rounder kind."

Shu Yao felt like someone was subtly showing off.

The next second, she received a pile of someone’s academic transcripts from his school days.

Always first, never surpassed.

Shu Yao was shocked. "...These have to be fake, right!?"

"Starting tonight." The person whose abilities were being questioned was eager to prove himself!