Chen Yubing’s face could no longer be described as pale; it was a translucent, bloodless despair.
Her carefully maintained pride and decorum shattered into dust at this moment.
“Student…”
Her lips trembled, her voice as thin as a spider’s thread about to break, “Can you… can you ask for something else? Please…”
She seemed to grasp at a last straw, a hint of morbid hope flashing in her eyes.
“I… I’ll stamp it for you right now! No, not just stamp it, I’ll give you money! Lots of money! Really, much more than that scholarship you applied for! With all that money, why would you need a scholarship?”
She spoke incoherently, trying to resolve the impending disaster in the way she was most familiar with and confident in.
Money, power—these things that had always been unfailingly effective—were now her only hope.
The coldness in Lu Xuan’s eyes showed no sign of melting; instead, her words only added a few more layers of unconcealed disgust and contempt.
“You people,”
He shook his head lightly, his tone like a sigh, yet also like mockery.
“Why is it always about money? Is it that in your eyes, everything in this world can be measured by money, settled with money?”
He took a step forward, looking down at Chen Yubing, who was slumped in the chair, his voice low but every word piercing her heart.
“Today, I’m going to make you realize that some things cannot be bought with money. And some debts cannot be wiped clean just because you have money!”
With that, Lu Xuan unhurriedly pulled out his phone from his pocket and skillfully opened the video recording function.
Then, he casually picked up the somewhat aged celadon brush pot from the corner of the desk, adjusted the angle a few times, and steadily propped the phone on the edge of the desk, the camera precisely aimed at the inner side of the desk, directly at the disheveled Chen Yubing.
“Come, Director Chen,” A playful curve appeared on Lu Xuan’s lips, like an artist about to begin creating.
“Since you’re so talented, how about we create some ‘artworks’ together today?”
He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of “talented” and “artworks.”
“Don’t you like to film? I’ve seen your previous works; most are solo shows, a bit lacking in creativity.”
“Today, let’s try a different style, something… you haven’t tried before, hmm, something more ‘interactive.’”
When Chen Yubing heard the word “interactive,” she felt as if her last bit of strength had been drained, and she fully understood Lu Xuan’s intention.
Her face turned from pale to ashen, and even her phoenix eyes, wide with fear, lost all their luster, leaving only boundless emptiness.
“No… don’t…”
“Student, I beg you, please let me go… Ask for something else, anything I can do, I’ll agree to it!”
She suddenly looked up, the last glimmer of a desire to survive bursting in her eyes, her voice becoming sharp with agitation.
“My father! Yes, my father! He can help you! How about I have him specially recruit you? Let you join the Military Region Headquarters!”
“That’s a place countless people would break their heads to get into! As long as you nod, I guarantee you’ll rise rapidly, with boundless prospects!”
She stared intently at Lu Xuan, not missing any subtle change in his expression.
She refused to believe that this young Student would be unmoved by such immense wealth, such a golden opportunity to ascend!
This was already the most substantial bargaining chip she could offer.
However, Lu Xuan merely glanced at her indifferently, his gaze like he was watching a clown.
“Director Chen, are you still dreaming?”
He scoffed, his tone filled with unconcealed mockery, “I think you might have gotten the order wrong, haven’t you? Once our ‘artwork’ is finished, you’ll naturally have plenty of opportunities to help me, won’t you?”
Lu Xuan no longer gave her any chance to speak, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed the already half-torn neckline of her black lace T-shirt, yanking it down forcefully!
“Rip—!”
Chen Yubing screamed, instinctively trying to cover herself with her hands, her scream shrill and despairing: “No! Don’t! I beg you! Lu Xuan! You devil!”
But Lu Xuan’s movements were faster, and his strength greater; her meager struggles were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot before him.
He coldly watched her futile actions, without a shred of pity in his eyes.
“Devil?” He chuckled, “Compared to some hypocrites who act one way in front of people and another behind their backs, what are my methods?”
An hour later…
It was lunchtime, and the entire administrative office building was quiet, with hardly anyone moving around.
The Director’s office of the Student Financial Aid Management Center returned to its usual silence.
“Detected that the target’s psychological defenses have completely collapsed, and the internal contrast has been strongly satisfied, greatly increasing control value.”
“Current control value: 80/100.”
“Reward: Black Material Exchange Coupon × 2.”
“Reward points: 500.”
“Obtained random drop reward: Black Material APP Upgrade Shard × 1 (10 shards can upgrade Black Material APP).”
Black Material APP Upgrade Shard?
Lu Xuan’s eyebrows raised slightly; this was an unexpected surprise.
Could this black technology APP actually be upgraded?
He couldn’t help but feel a little anticipation, wondering what more awesome and incredible functions the APP would gain after upgrading.
Overall, the rewards this time were quite generous.
At this moment, Chen Yubing, sitting in the large office chair, had long since cried all her tears dry.
Her hair was disheveled, sticking to her sweaty cheeks and forehead, and her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, as if her soul had been pulled from her body.
However, beneath that dead emptiness, there were other emotions.
It was a mixture of extreme humiliation, fear, despair, and a sense of submission.
When Lu Xuan stood up and picked up the phone on the desk that recorded all her disgrace, Chen Yubing’s gaze subconsciously followed his figure.
That look was no longer the initial cold aloofness, nor the terror and resentment from earlier.
Instead, it was a gaze filled with tender affection, looking at Lu Xuan with gentle eyes.
And a submission to the strong that she herself had not even noticed.
She just quietly watched Lu Xuan, watching this young man who had personally crushed all her pride.