Chapter 51: Different Lives

On the competition stage, Vice President Chen's speech managed to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. Most spectators adopted a wait-and-see attitude, anticipating an official announcement.

Little did they know, this was a classic case of the thief crying "stop thief!"—a charade that could never yield a fair outcome.

Ke Lu, unwilling to waste any more time, stood up and began moving toward the steps.

This movement immediately made Chen Yu restless.

Chen Yu, who had been sitting very close to Ke Lu, saw her about to leave and lunged forward, her hand clawing at Ke Lu's shoulder with such force it seemed she wanted to tear off a chunk of flesh.

Even with her back turned, Ke Lu could feel the violent intent behind the attack. She subtly shifted sideways, narrowly evading Chen Yu's grasp.

Caught off guard, Chen Yu continued lunging forward, barely maintaining her balance thanks to her martial artist physique.

Suddenly, her foot caught on something—Ke Lu's deliberately positioned foot—and she tumbled headfirst down the stairs, rolling like a ball down the steps.

The scene was so absurd that even the audience, who were trying to suppress their laughter, couldn't contain themselves. Their chuckles swelled into a wave that echoed through the hall.

"You did this on purpose!" Chen Yu, who had never faced such humiliation in her life, couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face.

"She's trying to escape! She must be guilty! Grab her!" Her eyes blazed with anticipation as she glared at her father, who had rushed down to help her up. Her voice was nearly a command: "Grab her!"

"You're going to arrest me?" Ke Lu descended the stairs at a leisurely pace, passing by the pair. "Vice President Chen, do you have an arrest warrant or other official documentation to detain me?"

Vice President Chen's face darkened, but he forced a nauseatingly fake smile to avoid losing face in public. "Of course not," he said. "Our association will handle this matter with utmost seriousness. We won't let any wrongdoers escape justice, nor will we falsely accuse any innocent person."

"That's good to hear," Ke Lu replied, her voice light as a feather, yet each word landed like a landmine in Vice President Chen's personal minefield. "In that case, should I call the police for you?"

"Call the police? Of course, call the police! You won't escape once they arrive!" Chen Yu straightened her back instantly when Ke Lu brought up the topic, her confidence seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

Vice President Chen, seeing his daughter's reaction, wished he could shut her up immediately.

The last thing they needed was to escalate the situation. The more attention it drew, the worse it would be for them. Why couldn't his daughter understand this?

"Heh," Ke Lu scoffed, though she had no intention of actually waiting for the police to arrive. "Then I'll wait for your update. I'm leaving now."

"Fine. Anyway, according to the rules, I'll advance straight to the finals. There's no need for me to stay here."

If the police arrived, every citizen would be obligated to cooperate with the investigation, trapping her there.

She still needed to meet with Hysilens.

Just moments ago, she had ordered Hysilens to conduct a thorough background check on Chen Yu, uncovering some intriguing findings.

She had no time for this petty squabble.

If these revelations proved true, Vice President Chen and his daughter Chen Yu might be facing serious prison time.

With that thought, she didn't bother saying another word. She turned and strode purposefully toward the exit, leading back to the outside world.

"Catch her! Catch her!" Chen Yu shrieked from behind, still consumed by impotent rage.

Ke Lu's complete indifference deeply wounded Chen Yu's self-centered worldview. For the first time, she realized that some things, even her father couldn't solve for her.

Clawing and flailing, she resorted to her specialty: a full-blown tantrum.

Vice President Chen tossed over his shoulder, "This student needs psychological counseling," and "This match is under investigation. All competitors, please wait." Then he led Chen Yu away.

The remaining competitors, having finished their spectacle, dispersed. For them, this was just entertainment—especially for those who hadn't made the top eight, who were now free to leave.

Their only concern was whether the results would be nullified. While this could potentially elevate them to higher rankings by filling Ke Lu's vacant spot, it also risked invalidating everyone's scores—an outcome they utterly refused to accept.

The other top-eight finalists glared resentfully at Chen Yu:

Why is this girl causing so much trouble?

Outside the arena,

Ke Lu paused to consider her options. Finding a secluded corner where no one would notice, she rubbed her hand across her face, instantly transforming her appearance into a completely new one.

She had completely altered her facial structure, a transformation far more extensive than the cosmetic adjustments she had previously made to Su Rou—this was full-fledged plastic surgery. She had even altered her fingerprints.

This was a perfect disguise, impervious to any scrutiny in the world.

With this new face, she strolled through the bustling streets, unnoticed among the crowds.

She overheard snippets of conversations about the recent commotion inside the arena, yet no one even suspected that the real "Ke Lu" was walking right past them.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Hysilens: Turn left, 500 meters. Coffee shop, second floor, Table 35.

Ke Lu pocketed her phone, waited for the green light, and entered the coffee shop.

The café was warmly decorated, owned by a kind old woman who kept cats. Her daughter, a music student, played the piano in the corner.

After Ke Lu explained her purpose, the owner enthusiastically pointed her to the correct table.

Ke Lu climbed the stairs and found Hysilens sitting by the window, her eyes closed as if resting.

But Ke Lu knew better. With the telepathic bond they shared since inheriting the Cerydra Template, she could sense Hysilens was actually immersed in the music.

"You really like this music?" Ke Lu asked. As a musician herself, she found the girl's playing rather ordinary, lacking any particular flair.

Why is Hysilens, a true virtuoso, so captivated by it?

As she approached, she sensed a barrier enveloping them, blocking any sound from escaping.

Hysilens opened her eyes, her voice tinged with amusement. "Yes, there's a childlike purity in this music."

Purity? Ke Lu glanced at the distant stadium. Several police cars sped past, sirens wailing, clearly responding to an emergency.

A sardonic smile curled her lips. "Even though they're only a few years apart, some children are naturally innocent and lively, while others scheme relentlessly, wasting their energy on such devious pursuits."

"Ultimately, they'll walk down completely different paths in life."

"I wouldn't have known about any of this if you hadn't repeatedly provoked me, jumping right into my face. But since you insist on being so reckless, I'll play the role of a concerned citizen and send you all to jail."

The "others" she referred to were, of course, self-evident.

After a brief moment of reflection, Ke Lu quickly regained her focus. "Hysilens, I need you to act now."

"Yes, Imperator," Hysilens replied, her usual respectful and formal demeanor restored.

Ke Lu opened the file Hysilens had just sent her. It contained a detailed breakdown of Vice President Chen's situation:

"My sudden appearance has already thrown them into disarray. Your mission is to monitor their every move."

"If I'm not mistaken, they'll likely take further measures to win the competition."

"For example... stealing the exam questions." Ke Lu's eyes burned with insight, already seeing through the myriad possibilities of the future.

"And I... will go here."

Ke Lu tapped her finger on a picture of a woman.

In the image, Chen Yu's mother was being seized by a group of men and shoved into the pitch-black cargo compartment of a van.