Chapter 49: Then Let's Make a Bet

Chapter 49: Then Let's Make a Bet

Shen Ci tried forcefully to pull her hand back, but finding it futile, her gaze darkened as she let out a low growl: "Let go!"

"Li Xiao, calm down. Let go of her hand first." Seeing this, Gu Lianxing also stood up and spoke. There were so many people in the cafeteria; making a scene would only make them a laughingstock.

Li Xiao's eyes were bloodshot. He had stayed up the entire night and hadn't slept at all, leaving him looking both haggard and irritable.

But facing Shen Ci now, looking at her flawless, porcelain-white face, the anger in Li Xiao's heart dissipated by more than half in an instant.

He released his grip, forcing himself to calm down: "I'm sorry, Shen Ci. I... I was a bit impulsive."

He had returned to school to face these matters together with Shen Ci, not to interrogate her.

Recalling his original intention, Li Xiao hurriedly adjusted his wording and said, "I know that the Li Group canceling the donation to the department has implicated you. But don't worry, I will definitely help you resolve this. I won't let the words you spoke in front of everyone fall empty."

"There's no need. I will fulfill the promises I made myself; I don't need your help," Shen Ci said coldly, turning to walk away.

Li Xiao impatiently blocked her path, asking in confusion, "Even at a time like this, you're still refusing my help? Do you have any idea how much an astronomical telescope costs?"

"Of course she knows. Isn't she the top student of the Astronomy Department?" Lin Biqi sneered. "Brother Li Xiao, I think you should stop bothering her. I'd actually like to see how she handles the boastful claims she made beyond her capability."

"Can you just shut up?" Li Xiao turned and roared at Lin Biqi.

Lin Biqi's voice caught in her throat. "I... am I not allowed to tell the truth? She created this mess herself, and the whole school is waiting to see her become a joke. Why should you be the one to clean it up?"

Before anyone else could react, Gu Lianxing looked at Lin Biqi with a face full of indignation and rebuked her, "What kind of talk is that? When have you ever seen Shen Ci ask Li Xiao to clean up a mess? Wasn't it Li Xiao himself who insisted on sticking to her? Has Shen Ci ever called him once to 'beg' for anything? Where is the evidence?"

Lin Biqi opened her mouth, momentarily unable to argue. Finally, she glared and said, "Just because of her, she dares to say she'll donate an astronomical telescope to the school? Isn't she saying this just to get Brother Li Xiao to step up and solve it for her? Does she have that kind of ability herself?"

She had already investigated; this Shen Ci was from the Shenzhen-Hong Kong area, and her family background was very ordinary. While not exactly impoverished, she was definitely far from wealthy.

If she weren't relying on Brother Li Xiao's affection for her, how would she dare claim she could donate things to the school?

In the end, wouldn't it still be Brother Li Xiao finding a way to beg Uncle Li to donate?

Hearing Lin Biqi's words, Gu Lianxing only found it laughable. She had personally seen Shen Ci's order page; when she had advised her to donate one, Shen Ci insisted on donating four.

To think that in others' eyes, Shen Ci's strength was viewed with such contempt—they were truly blind.

Whispers began to rise around them. Everyone held a skeptical attitude toward Shen Ci's words. Unlike Li Xiao, whose status as a wealthy scion was known to all, Shen Ci had gained fame in school primarily for her beauty. Those who didn't know her family situation found it hard to believe she had the ability to donate something worth over a thousand yuan to the school all at once, especially in her own name.

Those massive donations were always made under the name of a corporation or group. Even the Li Group's donations were promoted under the banner of corporate philanthropy; the honor was never attributed to Li Xiao alone.

Hearing the surrounding discussions, Lin Biqi couldn't help but raise her eyebrows triumphantly. She didn't even care that Brother Li Xiao might get angry with her; she only wanted to seize this opportunity to stomp on Shen Ci and make her lose face.

With a cold laugh, she said, "Shen Ci, you keep saying that you and Brother Li Xiao have already broken up, so you shouldn't be using his feelings. If you can't afford it, just say so. No one actually held any hope for this in the first place. Even with the most basic configuration, four astronomical telescopes are not a small sum. If you admit now that you were just bragging, people will at most laugh at you in their hearts; they won't blame you."

"Lin Biqi, shut your mouth!" Li Xiao roared. He turned and leaned in close to her, saying fiercely, "If you say one more word, I'll throw you out. Do you believe me?"

Lin Biqi tilted her head back, meeting Li Xiao's gaze without flinching. She loved Li Xiao deeply, but she was never an obedient little rabbit.

"Auntie told me to watch over you. I won't let you do anything foolish," Lin Biqi said, not backing down.

Shen Ci was already tired of this back-and-forth performance between the two. She composed her expression, walked up to them, and gently pushed Li Xiao aside, stepping in front of Lin Biqi to face her.

Lin Biqi's eyes darkened, and she immediately glared back with a provocative expression.

Seeing her aggressive and unyielding attitude, Shen Ci couldn't help but curl her lip into a light sneer. "You keep saying I'm bragging and that I can't afford it. Then, let's make a bet."

"A bet on what?" Lin Biqi frowned, asking with slight hesitation.

Shen Ci said nonchalantly, "If I fulfill my promise to the school, you will run three laps around the playground during the evening when it's most crowded, shouting that you are an idiot. How about it?"

"Pfft..."

"Is she being that blunt?"

"A beautiful girl using profanity is actually kind of cute. I'm starting to like Shen Ci's personality."

"Is that girl Li Xiao's sister? Calling him 'Brother Li Xiao' every second—she's being way too targeted toward Shen Ci."

"Even though I don't really believe Shen Ci can fulfill the promise, what if I want to see that girl do the punishment?"

"How about we crowdfund to help Shen Ci? I want to see it too."

The surrounding students instantly became interested, their discussions clearly reaching the ears of the group.

Lin Biqi's face flushed red instantly. How dare Shen Ci humiliate her in public?

"And what if you lose?" Lin Biqi said through gritted teeth. "You cannot use Brother Li Xiao's connections!"

"Of course. He and I have long since had no relationship. From now on, there will be no further emotional or financial involvement with him," Shen Ci said with a face full of composure. "If I lose, I will also run three laps and undergo the same punishment as you. I'll even drop out of school if you like; whatever makes you happy."

The moment she heard the words "drop out," Lin Biqi's eyes lit up. "Really? If you lose, you're willing to drop out and leave Ke University?"

"Leaving the Earth is also fine. Anything works," Shen Ci said.

Shen Ci's casual and certain manner caused Lin Biqi to instinctively feel a sense of dread. But on second thought, without Brother Li Xiao's help, how could Shen Ci possibly donate something worth over a thousand yuan on her own? It was absolutely impossible!

Moreover, the punishment of dropping out was far too tempting. Even with Auntie's methods, the school hadn't been able to expel her. If she could do it, Auntie would surely appreciate her even more. Then, her relationship with Brother Li Xiao would have the support of his parents.

Thinking this, Lin Biqi's mind was filled with the benefits of winning the bet. Her mouth twitched with a joy she could barely suppress. "Fine! I'll bet you. If you can't donate the promised items within three days, you drop out and get the hell out of Ke University!"

(End of Chapter)