Chapter 50: The Upright Gentleman's Integrity

Inside the competition arena,

Chen Yu saw Ke Lu's score displayed at the top of the screen and felt like she'd seen a ghost, a sensation as sickening as swallowing a fly.

How is this possible? How is this even possible?!

Even after cheating for a full half-hour, someone else finished in just one minute and ten seconds?

This can't be real! It's impossible!

Wait, I know! The only explanation is that they're cheating too! They must have stolen the exam paper, memorized the answers, and rushed through it!

That's it! That has to be it!

Chen Yu suddenly felt like she had uncovered an earth-shattering secret, a chance to turn the tables.

"I'm reporting them for cheating!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but the drone camera captured it and projected it onto the giant screen for everyone to see.

[This girl's really impressive! One of only two contestants to solve the Ultimate Challenge. Her potential is limitless!]

[True, but she still can't compare to Ke Lu.]

[She's still amazing! Most people couldn't even solve the original problems!]

Previously, the atmosphere had been one of universal praise for the competition. But Chen Yu's outburst instantly shifted the mood, casting a dark shadow over the proceedings.

[Hiss... I think she has a point. One minute and ten seconds does seem a bit absurd.]

[Exactly! We didn't suspect anything earlier because it was an official event organized by the Education Bureau. But now that I think about it, something's definitely off.]

The vast majority of uninformed people were like reeds swaying in the wind, shifting their opinions from one extreme to the other.

The comment section was immediately flooded with skepticism.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Qin Yu, standing nearby, instantly lost his composure. "If you lack the ability yourself, don't go around making baseless accusations. Slander is a crime."

"How am I slandering anyone?" Chen Yu retorted, ignoring him completely. Her entire focus was now on this person named Ke Lu. "Who is this person? I demand the organizers conduct a thorough investigation!"

Chen Yu scanned the entire contestant passage but saw no one step forward. She continued her inflammatory remarks: "Hah! Can't own up to what you've done?"

She harbored the worst possible assumptions about others.

"Are you talking about me?" A cold voice suddenly drifted into her ear.

Chen Yu looked around frantically, eventually tracing the voice to its source: the contestant lounge just beyond the passage.

"It's you!" Chen Yu's face darkened further.

She remembered him now—that ugly, short girl who had been with Qin Yu earlier and dared to tell her to get lost.

Old grudges and fresh resentment surged through her heart, fueling a hatred so intense it nearly warped her features.

Furious, she stormed up to Ke Lu. "You! Did you cheat?!"

Ke Lu didn't even look up from her phone. "The burden of proof lies with the accuser. Don't make baseless accusations without evidence."

Ke Lu's nonchalant attitude only intensified Chen Yu's rage. She lunged forward to snatch Ke Lu's phone, but a surge of Spirit Power slammed into her, sending her stumbling back. A figure materialized before her, shielding Ke Lu.

Who is it?!

"Enough!" the figure commanded, their face emerging from behind the barrier. Chen Yu stared in disbelief.

It was her father!

"Dad..." Chen Yu couldn't comprehend it. Her father, who had always doted on her, was now standing on the enemy's side.

In that instant, a wave of betrayal washed over her, paralyzing her completely. She couldn't even lift a finger.

The word "Dad" was about to escape her lips when a suffocating force clamped down on her throat.

Her father, President Chen, turned to address the crowd: "There has been absolutely no foul play in this competition. Everything has been strictly monitored by the Education Bureau, ensuring complete fairness and impartiality. Please don't misunderstand. This contestant simply acted impulsively."

[Ugh... I can't tell if there's foul play or not anymore.]

[Of course there is! Ke Lu's scores are clearly abnormal. It's definitely rigged.]

[This major competition affects College Entrance Examination bonus points. I suggest a thorough investigation.]

Vice President Chen was sweating profusely. We can't afford an investigation!

If his involvement in setting the competition questions as Chen Yu's immediate family member were exposed, he would face at least a suspension from his position, and possibly legal consequences.

That was the least of his worries. If his assistance in helping his daughter cheat were revealed, the severity of the offense would escalate dramatically.

At that moment, he genuinely regretted helping Chen Yu cheat.

What on earth possessed me to do this?

Why can't my daughter ever read the room?

Everyone was cheating, and even if Ke Lu, the girl in question, was cheating too, they had no choice but to endure it.

His uncharacteristic behavior further convinced Ke Lu, who knew about their father-daughter relationship, that something was amiss.

She put her phone away, faced the drone camera hovering overhead, and declared frankly, "No problem. I agree a thorough investigation is necessary."

"Since no one believes me, let's investigate then."

[This girl seems pretty open and honest, almost like she's not cheating at all.]

[If she were really cheating, she'd be desperately trying to cover it up right now, wouldn't she?]

[Hmph, maybe she has someone powerful backing her, so she's not afraid.]

Vice President Chen watched Ke Lu's nonchalant demeanor, itching to escalate the situation, his anxiety growing.

But now that everything had been thrust into the spotlight, he had to do everything he could to salvage the situation.

Most importantly, President Chen was watching the live stream, and he absolutely couldn't let the president intervene.

Even if an investigation was necessary, it had to remain under his control, leaving room for concealment.

He shot Ke Lu a fierce glare, but when their eyes met, he was met with her gaze that seemed to see right through him.

Suddenly, he felt as if she knew everything.

How could that be? She's just an ordinary high school student. I must be overthinking this.

For some reason, he subconsciously avoided making eye contact with her again.

"Fine, a thorough investigation it is."