Chapter 45: If the Li Family Won't Donate, I Will!

Chapter 45: If the Li Family Won't Donate, I Will!

After a merciless rebuttal, Shen Ci directly ignored the other party's expression of indignant shame and turned to look at the other students. "I was not aware of the matter regarding the astronomical telescopes beforehand, but ultimately, the outcome of this situation was caused by me. Since the department has been implicated because of this, I am willing to take responsibility."

"How are you going to take responsibility? The school isn't going to punish you for something like this."

"Exactly. What's the use of just taking responsibility verbally? The department lost a donation worth nearly a thousand yuan. Is that a consequence you can handle just by moving your lips?"

"I think everyone is being a bit too much. Shen Ci has already apologized to everyone; why be so aggressive?"

"That's right. Donations are voluntary by nature. Now that the Li family has gone back on their word, you shouldn't blame it all on Shen Ci. Even if she were expelled, what would be the point?"

At this moment, a few female students were actually willing to speak up for her. Shen Ci cast them grateful glances.

As for the other students who were hurling insults at her out of anger, Shen Ci didn't feel particularly angry, because she truly understood how they felt.

Ultimately, this situation had likely occurred because she had offended Li Xiao's mother.

"I said I would take responsibility, and I will," Shen Ci said with poise. "The 'Harper CHV24-33' is currently the best astronomical telescope on the international market. If the Li family won't donate, I will! In my own name, I will donate four units to the university's astronomy department."

Her words were stunning. After she finished speaking, the classroom fell into an eerie silence; it seemed as if no one could believe what they had just heard.

"What do you mean? Shen Ci, you're saying you want to donate to the department?"

"And four of them?"

"Are you crazy? How can you say such a boastful thing? Do you even know how much one of those telescopes costs?"

"Exactly, one costs over three hundred yuan. She actually said she'd donate four. I wouldn't believe her even if she said she'd donate one."

The girl who had just been rebuked by Shen Ci let out a cold laugh upon hearing this. "She called me a 'delusional fangirl,' but I think she's the one who hasn't woken up from her dream!"

The girl sitting in the front row turned around, looked at Shen Ci, and shook her head. "Shen Ci, everyone just thinks it's a pity. It's normal to have some emotions. You don't need to dig such a huge hole for yourself."

Even the teacher, after regaining his composure, did not take Shen Ci's words seriously. He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and said to Shen Ci in a heavy, earnest tone, "Shen Ci, you can't just say things like that recklessly. I'll just assume you're joking. Please sit down."

Shen Ci's expression remained unchanged. She didn't show much reaction to the students' skepticism, because anyone can make empty boasts, and it was normal that no one would believe her before seeing the actual donation.

Thus, she did not argue further, only saying at the end, "I will resolve this matter as soon as possible, within a week."

With that, she picked up her belongings, turned around, and left the classroom through the back door.

Watching the direction in which she disappeared, the students all wore expressions of disdain.

"As expected, beautiful women lack brains. Does she really think an astronomical telescope is some cheap thing that can be bought easily?"

"She scored over 700 on her college entrance exams; there's no way she's a fool."

"Then do you believe her? If you believe her, you're a fool too."

"She's probably been driven crazy by her relationship. Li Xiao is crazy too; he hasn't come to class for days. He's completely vanished."

The news spread like wildfire, reaching almost every corner of the university campus in less than a day. Everyone who heard it treated it as a joke; no one believed Shen Ci actually had the ability to donate something worth over a thousand yuan to the school.

Upon learning of this, Gu Lianxing rushed back to the dormitory immediately to verify. Seeing Shen Ci nod, her eyes widened in shock. "You're crazy! That's over a thousand yuan!"

Even for Gu Lianxing, whose family wealth exceeded ten thousand, a thousand yuan was a massive sum.

"That's not how you spend money, babe." Gu Lianxing pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at Shen Ci with great solemnity. "Even if you want to donate telescopes to the school, can't we just donate one?"

Shen Ci curled her lip indifferently. "I caused the department to lose four. Donating just one wouldn't make sense."

"No, what does this have to do with you? The Li family decided not to donate; how can you be the one to cover for them?" Gu Lianxing felt it was unfair to Shen Ci.

However, Shen Ci said truthfully, "I have to take the blame. It really is because of me."

Gu Lianxing wanted to say more, but Shen Ci quickly patted her hand to soothe her. "Oh, you're more worried about spending my money than I am? I really don't mind."

"I *am* worried!" Gu Lianxing pouted. "A thousand yuan is enough for us to eat 'Qi Family Sushi' for a lifetime."

The comment amused Shen Ci. "I'll cover your sushi for the rest of your life."

Gu Lianxing still looked huffy, but she pulled out her phone. "Wait, let me contact my dad and see if he can use his connections to get you a discount."

"No need, Lianxing. I've already placed the order." As she spoke, Shen Ci showed the order on her phone to Gu Lianxing.

Four Harper CHV24-33s, unit price 279 yuan, total price for four: 1,116 yuan.

Seeing the actual total price, Gu Lianxing still couldn't accept it for a moment. She wailed for Shen Ci, "Oh my god, so expensive! This is too much!"

Shen Ci could only smile helplessly, but inwardly, she felt a slight sense of satisfaction. The last time she had felt this way was when she bought her house and invested in Lu Jinzhao.

As expected, given her current assets, she needed to spend money like this to feel it.

Besides, donating to her alma mater's department was a good thing; it was supporting national education. Even if the Li family hadn't gone back on their word, she would have been willing to donate.

That afternoon, Li Xiao, who was recuperating at home, also learned of the matter through his classmates.

"Mom, did you cancel the astronomical telescope donation for our department?"

Wearing silk pajamas, Li Xiao came rushing down from his upstairs room to the living room to question his mother in a rage.

Mother Li was arranging flowers. Hearing this, she gave him an impatient glance and said calmly, "Yes. Is there a problem?"

"Of course there's a problem!" Li Xiao said discontentedly. "My father made that promise to the school on behalf of the Li family. What's the meaning of you going back on it?"

"And everyone knows that Shen Ci and I are in the middle of a breakup. By doing this, aren't you making Shen Ci a target at school? Everyone will blame her!"

Hearing that her son was still considering that girl named Shen Ci at a time like this, Mother Li casually tossed a flower at him. "Do you have any backbone at all? I think you're being too soft. You've been turned into this state by her, and you're still speaking up for her?"

"And let me correct you: you and her aren't 'in the middle of a breakup,' you have already broken up. Do you understand?!"

"I haven't agreed to it yet!" Li Xiao retorted, before pulling the topic back. "I don't care. Our family must fulfill the promise of the telescopes to the school, otherwise, Shen Ci will become a laughingstock at school!"