Chapter 44: Accused by the Whole Class

Chapter 44: Accused by the Whole Class

Facing him head-on this time, Gu Lianxing introduced him: "This is Jiang Lingchuan, do you remember him?"

Shen Ci nodded.

Jiang Lingchuan seemed very introverted. Seeing Shen Ci arrive, he said to Gu Lianxing, "Then I'll head back first."

Gu Lianxing raised an eyebrow as she watched him give Shen Ci a quick nod before walking away.

Gu Lianxing let out a light chuckle. "Look at him, he's so dull and slow."

"Wasn't that other guy who suddenly confessed his love to you also from the Math Department? I'll just ask him later; maybe they're in the same class."

The sudden mention of that person brought his image flooding back into Shen Ci's mind. He was simply too distinctive; it was impossible to forget him even if she wanted to.

"Don't even mention him, it makes my skin crawl," Shen Ci said irritably.

Gu Lianxing laughed even harder. "Got some psychological trauma, huh? Are all the people in our school's Math Department this strange? Your 'crazy' one feels naturally like a pervert, while mine is so silly all day he seems like an idiot."

"Don't say that. I think he looks quite clean and decent. He even came to bring you things."

No matter how dazed Jiang Lingchuan appeared, he looked clean and quite good-looking, though his glasses were a bit thick—the standard look for a top student.

Gu Lianxing pursed her lips and nodded. "True. Comparing him to *that one* of yours is indeed a bit unfair to him; at least he looks like a normal person."

"What 'that one'? Which one? Stop talking nonsense," Shen Ci quickly corrected her, trying to distance herself from Hao Penghui.

Gu Lianxing hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, my mistake. I just meant that, in essence."

Then, she held up what she was carrying. It turned out Jiang Lingchuan had brought her skincare products. "Look at this, a Swiss brand. It's amazing and doesn't even have counters in this country. I had someone bring it back from abroad. Let's each take a set."

Shen Ci immediately broke into a smile and waved the high-end sushi in her own hand. "What a coincidence, I also brought you something delicious: 'Qi Jia' sushi."

"Oh! I love their sushi the most. Thanks, babe!" The two chatted and laughed as they entered the dormitory building.

The next day, the sun was shining brightly. Shen Ci woke up early and followed her schedule to Multimedia Classroom No. 2. However, the moment she stepped through the door, she felt that the atmosphere in the classroom was off.

Or rather, the atmosphere only turned strange the moment she appeared.

The students in the classroom first turned their gazes toward Shen Ci in unison. Most of them showed expressions of suppressed anger in their eyes, but no one spoke, and then they all looked away.

Shen Ci blinked in confusion. She didn't think she was being overly sensitive; she had definitely felt those unfriendly stares.

But she had no idea why.

Just as she found an empty seat and sat down, she saw the teacher walking briskly in from the door.

Shen Ci didn't listen to the lecture very attentively. In fact, since returning to university, she hadn't been able to focus on her classes at all.

Firstly, she was already intimately familiar with the course material. Secondly, she seemed to have developed a very distinct feeling: she no longer had much interest in astronomy.

She had spent decades of her life on astronomy, yet the height reached by future humanity in the exploration of outer space had not achieved any substantial breakthroughs.

The unknowns remained unknown, and the things humanity could touch and verify were insufficient to change the status quo.

Shen Ci didn't know if it was the decades of wholehearted devotion that had gradually eroded her pursuit of ideals and passion, or if it was because she was too wealthy now that she had lost interest in studying and hard work.

Regardless of the reason, she truly felt the loss of her passion for astronomy.

Should she change her major?

But she didn't seem to have any other interests at the moment, and changing majors was a hassle—and she hated hassles.

"That's all for today's class. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask me privately after class."

Shen Ci rubbed her somewhat drowsy temples. Just as she was about to stand up and leave, she suddenly heard someone stand up and ask the teacher loudly, "Teacher, we heard that the four astronomical telescopes the Li Corporation originally intended to donate to the department have been canceled. Is it true?"

The teacher didn't react much to the question, as if he had expected someone to ask. He nodded calmly. "The department has already received notice. The matter regarding the telescopes is temporarily shelved, but the department still has many other pieces of equipment."

"How is that the same? I heard the Li Corporation intended to donate world-class telescopes. One alone costs nearly three hundred million! The department's telescopes are all over ten years old; they can't even compare."

At this moment, many students turned their eyes toward Shen Ci again. The resentment and anger in their eyes were blatant, clearly blaming her for this situation.

Shen Ci froze momentarily. Recalling the fierce battle she had just had in the principal's office with Li Xiao's mother two days ago, she realized belatedly that it was because of her that the department had lost the telescopes the Li Corporation intended to donate.

In this moment, she understood the students' resentment. For an astronomy student, being able to use top-tier telescopes was a dream.

And because of her, that chance had vanished. Once missed, they might never have the opportunity to touch such high-end equipment again in their entire lives.

No wonder she was receiving "special attention."

Shen Ci did not evade. She stood up immediately and said, "I am very sorry that the department lost such important equipment because of me. I'd like to apologize to everyone first."

"What's the use of an apology? Can't you and Li Xiao just resolve your issues properly?"

"Exactly! Why should your dating life affect all of us!"

"I just don't get it. Are all beautiful people this arrogant? Now even a guy with Li Xiao's status can get dumped?"

As soon as Shen Ci spoke up, it directly intensified the students' negative emotions. They actually began to voice their accusations against her on the spot.

Some of the comments became increasingly outrageous, making Shen Ci want to laugh.

"What are you laughing at? Did we say anything wrong?"

Shen Ci followed the voice and found that the speaker was a girl who was quite good-looking. She was the one who had said, "I just don't get it. Are all beautiful people this arrogant? Now even a guy with Li Xiao's status can get dumped?"

Shen Ci didn't quite remember this girl's name, but she looked at her with cold eyes and asked, "Why shouldn't a guy like Li Xiao be dumped? Just because his family is rich? Because he's handsome? So it's only 'reasonable' if every girl gets dumped by him? You're a girl yourself—how can you say such things so easily?"

The girl hadn't expected so many people to join in the accusations, nor had she expected Shen Ci to single her out for a rebuttal. Her face flushed red instantly. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"That is exactly what you meant!" Shen Ci said in a low, heavy voice. "If you want to be a delusional fangirl for Li Xiao, do it yourself. Stop belittling women here."