《Dear Mayor》 Chapter 1 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At four or five in the morning, the faint morning light seeped into the messy room. On the luxurious bed, a young man and woman were sleeping in each other¡¯s arms. In a daze, Ji Ying felt a little uncomfortable and struggled to move her body. ¡°Ugh!¡± The sudden pain made her grunt in agony. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ji Ying panicked slightly. She frowned and opened her eyes. She was awake. Feeling the unusual warmth on her body, her heart raced. A strange man¡¯s face came into view. The man had short hair and thick eyebrows. He was handsome and had fair skin. He was elegant and dignified, and his appearance striking. ¡°Well¡­¡± Ji Ying almost screamed! She rubbed her forehead as she tried to remember what had happened last night. She was still a little dizzy from getting drunk. She found out that her ex-boyfriend, Lin Yongjie, had cheated on her, and they had a fight. Despite her sour mood, she inexplicably went to a party after that. Then what? ¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t remember!¡± Ji Ying knew that she might have drunk too much to drown out her sadness. As for what happened after that, she had no recollection at all. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this happened after letting loose for once. How embarrassing!¡± ¡°Oh no, I have to leave before this guy wakes up. Everything¡¯s so messed up!¡± With that in mind, Ji Ying carefully moved the man¡¯s arm, got off the bed, and started to get dressed. Even with her body in discomfort, she moved with effortless grace. However, just as she put on her underwear, a large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled hard. Caught off guard, Ji Ying let out a gasp and tumbled back onto the bed into a warm, firm embrace. When she looked up, she was looking into the man¡¯s eyes, and time seemed to freeze! Zhao Weili looked at the innocent, clear eyes in front of him, and his cold gaze softened slightly. ¡°What were you trying to do?¡± Ji Ying struggled to leave, but the man in front of her held her tightly, his face solemn. ¡°Of course I was going to leave. Am I supposed to stay here?¡± ¡°You were going to leave without a word?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know me, and I don¡¯t know you. Isn¡¯t that perfect? It¡¯s just a one-night stand. We¡¯re both adults. We got what we wanted, and we can now part on good terms. What more do you want?¡± ¡°You want to leave after sex?¡± Zhao Weili¡¯s tone was filled with indignation and mockery. Ji Ying almost exploded at that. ¡°I blacked out last night. I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m here. You don¡¯t think I did anything to you, do you?¡± Zhao Weili glared at Ji Ying and said confidently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°This is all a misunderstanding!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. It was my first time. You¡¯re my first woman. You have to take responsibility!¡± Ji Ying was stunned by Zhao Weili¡¯s shameless words! ¡®Take responsibility? How could he say that? Then who¡¯s going to take responsibility for me?¡¯ As if it wasn¡¯t the first time for anyone! However, her heart was in a mess at this moment. She really did not want to be entangled with this man anymore. She would just treat yesterday as a ridiculous dream. ¡°I have absolutely no idea what¡¯s going on. What responsibility? Besides, shouldn¡¯t it be both our responsibilities for something like this to happen? Why should I be the only one responsible?¡± Ji Ying wriggled out of his arms and jumped off the bed to dress quickly. ¡°You seduced me. Do you expect me to take responsibility?¡± Zhao Weili also sat up from the bed and questioned here as he put on his clothes. ¡°Bah! Who seduced you?¡± Ji Ying said angrily. ¡°I already said I was drunk and blacked out. How did I seduce you? Do you think I would rape you if you didn¡¯t get hard?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. This was supposed to be a two-person affair. Could I have done it alone? You¡¯re just taking advantage of me!¡± Zhao Weili put on his clothes much faster than Ji Ying. At this moment, he walked over directly with a fierce look in his eyes. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Ji Ying met the other party¡¯s gaze without any fear. She simply said, ¡°So, we¡¯ll part on good terms. Even if we slept together, let¡¯s pretend it never happened!¡± With that, she pushed Zhao Weili away and left with her bag. Zhao remained in the room and did not stop her. He only watched as Ji Ying left, but a faint smile appeared on his face. ¡­ When Ji Ying left the hotel, she kept her head down the entire way, afraid that she would bump into someone she knew! Her mood was even worse. A woman¡¯s most precious first time was gone just like that! The throbbing pain of her body was nothing compared to the stabbing pain in her heart. However, at this point, there was no point in feeling sad, regretful, or resentful. She would just treat it as one of the many unpleasant experiences in her life! She took a deep breath and gathered herself. Chapter 2 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The sky was beginning to look bright. Taking out her phone, she saw that it was five in the morning. Ji Ying felt apprehensive. It was her first night out and she wondered how her family would react. Especially her stepmother who had a very bad relationship with her. If she confronted Ji Ying, it would be very troublesome. When Ji Ying returned home half an hour later, she found the house brightly lit and bustling with activity. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is there a banquet at home?¡± The moment she entered, she saw her arrogant stepmother, Jiang Hong ordering the servants around. ¡°There. Clean those vases. Can¡¯t have a speck of dust¡­¡± At this moment, Jiang Hong¡¯s expression darkened when she saw Ji Ying walk in. ¡°You haven¡¯t been back all night. Where have you been fooling around at?¡± Given the bad relationship between the two of them, it was normal for them to speak harshly. However, Ji Ying was physically and mentally exhausted. She could not be bothered to pay attention to the question. She only said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m tired!¡± Jiang Hong criticized from behind Ji Ying, but her eyes were filled with confusion. Ji Ying was not usually like this. Now, she actually did not retort. Had she really been fooling around? Ten minutes later, Ji Ying came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, and slumped down on the sofa. The image of a certain man involuntarily appeared in her mind again. ¡°How annoying!¡± Then, she remembered that the other party had asked her to take responsibility. She could not hide the anger on her face. ¡°I hope we never cross paths again!¡± Although she felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. She felt lazy and listless. However, she was not sleepy at all. She could only take out her phone and look at it. A few funny short videos made Ji Ying feel better and more relaxed. When the phone¡¯s screen refreshed again, a figure instantly came into view. ¡°Huh?¡± Ji Ying¡¯s eyes instantly widened. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy?¡± Then, the commentary in the video came. ¡°The new mayor of our city, Zhao Weili, is attending¡­¡± ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± Ji Ying felt her heart tremble. She did not hear the rest of the sentence clearly. All that remained in her mind were the words ¡°new mayor¡± and ¡°Zhao Weili.¡± In the same video, Zhao Weili was sitting on the main seat. The name tag in front of him was clear and unmistakable. This man was the new mayor of Y City. ¡°How? How? Did I¡­ really sleep with the mayor yesterday?¡± Ji Ying swallowed. Now that she thought about it, it was no wonder that guy reacted that way this morning, as if he had suffered a huge loss. It was not her imagination. She was pretty sure everything was real¡­ ¡®Slap!¡¯ Ji Ying gently slapped her pretty face and muttered to herself angrily, ¡°What are you thinking? It¡¯s both our first times. At most, we¡¯re even. Neither of us owes the other anything!¡± However, when she thought about the other party¡¯s words about making her responsible, she was furious. ¡®How could he, a mayor, ask a young woman like me to be responsible for him?¡¯ ¡°Hmph, this man won¡¯t get to see me anymore. At most, I¡¯ll retreat when I see him next time. Besides, he¡¯s a mayor. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll have many chances to meet in the future!¡± That was what she said and thought, but she was still a little worried. So, she turned on her computer, went to the forum where she often lurked, and posted a request for help. ¡°Hurry, hurry! What happens if we accidentally sleep with the new mayor?¡± Ji Ying sat in front of the computer, wrapped in a towel, waiting anxiously. Soon the first reply appeared. ¡°It¡¯s daytime and you¡¯re still dreaming?¡± ¡°The new mayor? OP, you¡¯re really bold! Do you know the background of the new mayor? He¡¯s the youngest mayor in the history of the Dragon Kingdom. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say that he¡¯s a young man with a promising future ahead of him. I wonder how many people are thinking of marrying him!¡± ¡°Are you delusional? As the youngest mayor of the Dragon Kingdom, Zhao Weili is the most righteous person in the city. When did he become someone whom you can sleep with just because you want to? I¡¯d like to sleep with him too!¡± ¡°Save it. Zhao Weili is so young and promising. I heard that he¡¯s already engaged to someone. Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± ¡°A potential stock is gone just like that. It hurts!¡± ¡­ At first, the post was ignored. Yet, only a few minutes later, the popularity of the post rose. Many people spoke up one after another. They were all very optimistic about Zhao Weili. There were even people who posted to scold her, saying that she overestimated herself and was delusional. Chapter 3 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ji Ying was speechless. These people were crazy. However, this also confirmed one thing. Zhao Weili was very popular, especially with countless unmarried women waiting to marry him! However, she was not among these women! ¡°Hmph, you think he¡¯s honey, but I think he¡¯s poison! Plus, that fellow actually has an engagement partner already. In that case, the other party wouldn¡¯t pester me anymore, right?¡± Suddenly, she remembered how busy the house had been when she returned. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly changed her clothes and walked out of the room. ¡°Your sister is getting engaged today. Change into something more presentable. Don¡¯t embarrass the Ji family!¡± Jiang Hong instructed with a smug expression. Ji Ying was stunned. At the same time, she had a bad feeling. ¡°Engaged? Why didn¡¯t I know that? Engaged to whom? Isn¡¯t that a bit rushed?¡± ¡°What do you know? It¡¯s not your place to worry about such things. Just be prepared to be a pretty face. Don¡¯t cause me any trouble, or I won¡¯t forgive you!¡± Ten minutes later, Ji Ying changed into a low-key blue evening gown and went to Jiang Ningxin¡¯s room. Jiang Ningxin was considered a cold beauty. Her style was tough and fierce, and she had many suitors. As soon as Ji Ying entered, Jiang Ningxin saw her attire and frowned. She said unhappily, ¡°Are you wearing such shabby clothes to my engagement party?¡± ¡°Be grateful! I¡¯m lucky to have such an evening gown!¡± ¡°You mean you think Father is biased?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. Of course, I¡¯m fine with you thinking that!¡± Even as Ji Ying spoke, she was thinking, ¡®That¡¯s the truth!¡¯ Jiang Ningxin¡¯s gaze landed on Ji Ying¡¯s neck and chest, and a cold smile appeared on her face. ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Father doesn¡¯t buy you a gown, and you come to my wedding with a body full of hickeys to show that you¡¯re more desirable to men than I am, huh?¡± Ji Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she turned to the mirror. There were several hickeys on her neck and above her chest that had yet to dissipate. Ji Ying blushed slightly. Jiang Ningxin sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you did this with Lin Yongjie!¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting married today and now you¡¯re here gossiping about my private life. Do you think your wedding plans are going too well and you¡¯ve got nothing to do?¡± Jiang Ningxin felt terrible at these words. Yet, the more Ji Ying remained silent, the more curious she became. ¡°Who exactly were you with last night?¡± Ji Ying snorted. ¡°This has nothing to do with you, and there¡¯s no need for me to tell you!¡± ¡°Lin Yongjie came to look for you last night and waited until midnight. It couldn¡¯t have been him.¡± At this moment, Jiang Ningxin seemed to have been possessed by a great detective. She deduced with certainty, ¡°Ji Ying, you cheated on him!¡± Ji Ying felt her blood start to boil. Lin Yongjie, the bastard, was the one who had cheated on her. She had found used condoms in his apartment, along with the scent left behind by the heat of passion. She knew what had happened without asking. The other party refused to admit it, but the truth was right in front of her. After the argument, she asked to break up without hesitation. After that, because she was depressed and, in a daze, she slept with someone by mistake. No matter what, she had already completely cut ties with Lin Yongjie. There was no moral quandary. However, this matter was very vexing no matter how she thought about it. Now that it was brought up, it made her mood even worse. Jiang Ningxin had been observing Ji Ying¡¯s expression and reactions. At this moment, she confirmed her guess and sneered in her heart. ¡°I guess I was right!¡± Ji Ying responded coldly. ¡°Miss, Master said that his future son-in-law¡¯s men will be here soon. He told you to dress up quickly and not miss the auspicious time!¡± Now, Jiang Ningxin was no longer in the mood to pay attention to Ji Ying. Ji Ying took the opportunity to leave and return to her room to deal with the hickeys. If she went to the wedding with all these hickeys as a bridesmaid, she would really become a joke. Ji Ying walked out of her room about ten minutes later. Not far down the corridor came a young man in a suit and glasses. ¡°Miss Ji!¡± ¡°You are¡­¡± The man stopped at a safe distance and bowed slightly. ¡°Hello, Miss Ji. I¡¯m Mr. Zhao¡¯s secretary, Yang Ping. He asked me to tell you that no matter where you run off to, you have to take responsibility! Moreover, you have to come to the engagement venue today!¡± Ji Ying was shocked when she heard those words. Her eyes widened. Chapter 4 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°This bastard actually tracked me here? Did he send someone to follow me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the so-called Mr. Zhao you mentioned?¡± ¡°Zhao Weili!¡± ¡°How did he know that my house was here? No, could he be Jiang Ningxin¡¯s engagement partner?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sir said that he definitely won¡¯t get engaged to Jiang Ningxin! If you don¡¯t believe me, just come to the engagement venue and find out!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ji Ying was speechless. ¡°Why should I be worried? What does his engagement with Jiang Ningxin have to do with me?¡± ¡°Okay, I understand. You can go now!¡± Yang Ping nodded with a smile and turned to leave. Half an hour later, in the banquet hall of Paradise Hotel. Ji Ying saw Zhao Weili in a corner of the hall, looking a little gloomy. Although this guy was slender and had an outstanding appearance, he exuded an aura that kept people away. Just as Ji Ying spotted him, he, too, turned as if by telepathy, and their eyes met again. Ji Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned her head and looked away. She even wanted to turn around and leave. However, Zhao Weili was unrattled and walked over quickly. Although Ji Ying had turned her head away, her attention had been on Zhao Weili. From the corner of her eye, she saw Zhao Weili walking over and her heart tightened. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit arrogant betrothed man to come calling in public? Doesn¡¯t he have any scruples at all?¡± Her mind racing, she turned and ran. Zhao Weili¡¯s long legs only took a few quick steps before he caught up and grabbed her arm. Terrified, Ji Ying quickly put on an annoyed expression as if being harassed by a stranger, but her voice did not match her expression at all. ¡°You¡¯re about to get engaged, yet you¡¯re harassing me in public. Where¡¯s the decency? Let go!¡± Zhao Weili was unmoved and said coldly, ¡°This marriage is over!¡± ¡®Huh?¡¯ said Ji Ying, shocked and incredulous. ¡°Wait here for me. There¡¯s a good show coming up and you¡¯ll understand everything! Don¡¯t leave. We¡¯ll talk then!¡± ¡°And what do we have to talk about? We¡¯ve said all we needed to say.¡± Suddenly, she saw her stepmother, Jiang Hong, looking over angrily. She was already walking over. ¡°Mr. Zhao, don¡¯t drag me into your mess! I can¡¯t afford to offend my stepmother. Her daughter is engaged to you. Aren¡¯t you just toying with me by dragging me along?¡± Zhao Weili turned around and saw Jiang Hong¡¯s furious gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you can¡¯t afford to provoke her, I¡¯ll do it for you. But you can¡¯t run!¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Wait here!¡± Before long, the music faded from the hall and the host came on stage. After warming up the venue, Zhao Weili and Jiang Ningxin were invited onto the stage. Jiang Ningxin had obviously seen Zhao Weili before. At this moment, she was unusually gentle. However, when she looked at Zhao Weili again, she realized that his expression was a little cold. ¡°Today is a good day for Mr. Zhao and Miss Jiang to get engaged. Do you have anything to say now?¡± For a moment, Ji Ying caught a flash of sarcasm and disdain on Zhao¡¯s face. She found the expression eerie. Zhao Weili said indifferently, ¡°If you want to know what I have to say, just look at the big screen!¡± Instead of answering directly, he turned to look behind him. Ji Ying and the many guests were also very surprised. When the big screen lit up, the scene that appeared in front of everyone was a large bed in a room. The woman in the bed had black hair like thunderclouds, and her skin was as white as snow, revealing her beautiful back. This woman was none other than Ji Ying. Was this not the scene from the last time she went to the hotel? Bastard. This hotel actually secretly installed surveillance cameras in the rooms? Ji Ying was shocked! There was an uproar in the banquet hall. Many people recognized Ji Ying¡¯s back and were already glancing vaguely over. Ji Ying saw her father, Ji Yunshan, stand up in shock and anger, his eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°Shit, this is bad. Dad won¡¯t where to hide his face this time!¡± She quickly lowered her head, not daring to meet her father¡¯s gaze. She was flustered and did not know what to do. In her heart, she hated Zhao Weili, this meddlesome fellow. Zhao Weili¡¯s eyes were filled with surprise. The video he had requested to play had been changed? Jiang Ningxin suddenly chuckled and said, ¡°Sorry! I took the wrong disc! I didn¡¯t expect it to be my sister¡¯s photo. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± She apologized, but there was no remorse on her face. Chapter 5 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ji Ying¡¯s gaze landed on Jiang Ningxin. She definitely did not believe such an excuse. From this, she instantly deduced that the surveillance cameras in the hotel were installed by Jiang Ningxin. At the very least, they were indirectly related to her. How vicious! How poisonous! How sinister! Her gaze turned to Zhao Weili, who also looked over. Then, he shook his head, his eyes filled with undisguised confusion. Her heart settled a little, and she understood at once. This Jiang Ningxin took the opportunity when Zhao Weili brought everyone to watch the video to show her indecent photo first. Then, she used the excuse of taking the wrong disc as an excuse. Her intentions were self-evident and extremely vicious. At this moment, Zhao Weili also saw through Jiang Ningxin¡¯s sinister intentions. His cold and fierce gaze shot over like a sharp sword. Jiang Ningxin did not dare to look at Zhao Weili and quickly turned her head away. Zhao Weili turned his head slightly and gave a look to his secretary, Yang Ping, who was standing in a remote corner, telling him to clarify the matter immediately. Ji Ying looked at Jiang Ningxin¡¯s face again. Jiang Ningxin finally squeezed out an apologetic smile. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry. I accidentally showed everyone your private photo!¡± Ji Ying knew that Jiang Ningxin had done it on purpose. ¡°My sister¡¯s pictures are beautiful, aren¡¯t they? Why don¡¯t we keep going? Maybe there¡¯ll be a surprise. Like a threesome or something¡­¡± That unrepentant tone aroused the curiosity of countless people. Ji Ying was flustered. She had been a virgin before last night. Naturally, she did not have had any outrageous photos. However, looking at Jiang Ningxin¡¯s expression, it was possible that she had come up with some embarrassing photos to defame Ji Ying. At that time, even if she knew that the photos were fake, her reputation would be completely ruined. Zhao Weili¡¯s expression was cold as he said indifferently, ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s see what surprises there are next!¡± Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the screen suddenly went black and lit up again. The image had been changed. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Ji Ying did not have the courage to continue watching, but her head snapped up when she heard the crowd¡¯s exclamation. She thought it was really something embarrassing about her, but when she saw it clearly, she almost screamed. It was a completely explicit scene, the kind that made one¡¯s nose bleed. Although the key points were all pixelated, one could still tell at a glance that one of the people the screen was Jiang Ningxin. As long as one was not blind, they would know that Jiang Ningxin was having sex with a man. The high-definition image was so clear that one could see the sweat and strands of hair of the people in the photo. Their bodies were intertwined, and Ji Ying found the man¡¯s body familiar, especially after seeing the small red birthmark under the man¡¯s neck. She instantly recognized that this guy was none other than her ex-boyfriend, Lin Yongjie. Ji Ying¡¯s body stiffened slightly. She instantly recalled the condoms she had seen in Lin Yongjie¡¯s apartment and the strange smell that she could not get rid of. It turned out that it was Jiang Ningxin and Lin Yongjie yesterday! After returning, Jiang Ningxin actually had the cheek to say that she had cheated on him? ¡®Pot calling the kettle black!¡¯ Ji Ying understood that the previous photo was Jiang Ningxin¡¯s way of defaming her, and the current photo was what Zhao Weili wanted her to see. ¡°Stop, stop! You¡¯re not allowed to show this!¡± Jiang Ningxin also cried out involuntarily and roared for someone to turn off the video. However, the photos did not stop playing. Instead, several photos were played consecutively. They were all different, each exciting, and in different poses. They would fit perfectly in textbooks on how to make love. ¡°Close your eyes and don¡¯t look!¡± Jiang Ningxin looked panicked, and her voice became distorted. At this moment, Zhao Weili suddenly picked up the microphone and said simply and quickly, ¡°Thank you for your support, relatives and friends, but unfortunately, this engagement banquet has been canceled. However, as gesture of thanks, the banquet today will continue. My treat!¡± Ji Ying saw that the farce was finally over, but she was not happy at all. Her heart sank. Although Jiang Ningxin was a wicked person, this had nothing to do with her anymore. She turned around and walked out. Just as she reached the door, a black shadow blocked her way and she accidentally walked into an embrace. ¡°Where were you yesterday, Ji Ying? I¡¯ve been looking for you all night!¡± ¡®Slap!¡¯ Ji Ying slapped the man hard across the face. It was only a slap, but she did not think it was enough. After withdrawing her palm slightly, she raised it again. ¡®Slap!¡¯ Another extremely loud slap. She used so much force that her palm went numb from the heat. Her hand hurt, but her heart hurt more. Chapter 6 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Yongjie did not expect to be slapped twice as soon as they met. He almost fainted. He roared with red eyes, ¡°Ji Ying, are you crazy? I¡¯m Lin Yongjie!¡± The two loud slaps grabbed the attention of everyone nearby. They looked over in surprise, and many of them had gossipy looks in their eyes. They were just short of grabbing popcorn, moving stools, and waiting to watch the show. Lin Yongjie was extremely embarrassed and angry. He wanted to explode, but because of the timing and venue, he could only endure with red eyes. Ji Ying shook her numb hands and sneered, not bothering to hide the disgust and disdain in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s who I¡¯m hitting! Don¡¯t come near me again, you disgusting thing!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Yongjie stood in front of Ji Ying, furious. ¡°Tell me why you hit me!¡± Ji Ying pushed past him and hurried away. ¡®Scum!¡¯ Lin Yongjie did not understand and was a little annoyed by the scolding. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sick and blind. Why else would I have taken a fancy to you in the past!¡± Ji Ying was filled with regret that she had ever fancied a piece of trash like Lin Yongjie. At the same time, she was furious that Lin Yongjie had deceived her. ¡°Ji Ying, don¡¯t be shameless!¡± Lin Yongjie was also furious. He had spoken nicely, but he did not expect to be slapped twice and scolded again. What was she after? ¡°You¡¯re the shameless one. Get out of my way!¡± Ji Ying was furious when Lin Yongjie blocked her way again. ¡°Just remember, we broke up yesterday. Completely and utterly! Move!¡± Ji Ying pushed Lin Yongjie again and prepared to leave. However, he did not push this time. ¡°Ji Ying, are you done? Haven¡¯t you had enough?¡± Lin Yongjie grabbed Ji Ying¡¯s hand and held it tightly. No matter what, he could not accept the fact that they had broken up. Ji Ying¡¯s hand hurt from his grip, and her eyes were filled with frustration. ¡°Let go of me!¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t agree to the breakup!¡± Ji Ying could not take it anymore. She kicked out angrily and hit Lin Yongjie¡¯s crotch. ¡®BANG!¡¯ ¡°Oh¡ª¡± Lin Yongjie quickly let go and held his crotch with both hands. His face belied the intense pain he felt, and he was sweating profusely. ¡°Lin Yongjie, have some shame!¡± Lin Yongjie flew into a rage out of humiliation. This was the first time he had been beaten and scolded by a woman in front of so many people. This made him feel embarrassed. Resisting the pain in his lower abdomen, he gritted his teeth and pounced on Ji Ying. Ji Ying had been paying attention to Lin Yongjie¡¯s reactions, so when he moved, she immediately dodged nimbly. ¡°Lin Yongjie! If you¡¯re still a man, stop pestering me!¡± Ji Ying really did not expect Lin Yongjie to be such a person. She was both angry at her lack of judgment in the past and glad that she could see through this guy¡¯s true colors now. Seeing that Ji Ying¡¯s expression was getting uglier, Lin Yongjie calmed down a little. ¡°You hit and scolded me. You almost crippled me. You should vent your anger, right? Now, let¡¯s go to your sister¡¯s engagement banquet. We can talk later!¡± Clearly, Lin did not know that the engagement party had been canceled. ¡°The engagement party has been canceled. There¡¯s no need to go.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡®Didn¡¯t you know?¡¯ Ji Ying was disgusted that he was still playing dumb. ¡°What do you mean? How would I know?¡± Lin Yongjie¡¯s heart skipped a beat and he felt guilty. ¡®Does she know something? She shouldn¡¯t!¡¯ Ji Ying could not be bothered to explain. She and Lin Yongjie were over, and his ugly appearance just now made her feel even more disdainful. Besides, she had already slept with Zhao Weili, so there was nothing to salvage. At this moment, Zhao Weili walked out of the banquet hall with Yang Ping with a cold expression. ¡°Miss Ji seems to be in trouble!¡± Yang Ping reminded Zhao Weili. Zhao Weili nodded silently. His cold gaze had long noticed the situation on Ji Ying¡¯s side. ¡°I see it!¡± Then he hurried over to Ji Ying. Suddenly, a figure chased after Zhao Weili and grabbed his arm. He asked fiercely, ¡°Zhao, you framed my daughter. Do you want to leave now?¡± Zhao Weili¡¯s eyes flashed with extreme disgust and hatred. He said coldly, ¡°Jiang Hong, this is just the beginning!¡± When Jiang Hong heard this, a strong uneasiness surged in her heart. She stared at Zhao Weili and asked with a trembling voice, ¡°Who are you really?¡± Chapter 7 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Hmph! Back then, you and your mother caused my mother to jump off a building. I want you to pay this blood debt with your own blood. Today is just the beginning!¡± Jiang Hong seemed to have remembered something. Her face instantly turned pale as she took a few steps back. Her legs went limp, and she fell to the ground. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re Zhao Zhiyuan¡¯s son?¡± Zhao Weili looked down at her with a cold smile and finally swept past her. This smile made Jiang Hong feel cold all over, as if she had thought of some terrifying consequences. She shivered. Ji Ying wanted to leave quickly, but Lin Yongjie gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and blocked her way. Even this time, he used his real strength. After grabbing her arm, she could not break free. Suddenly, Lin Yongjie¡¯s gaze focused on Ji Ying¡¯s chest. Then, he roughly grabbed Ji Ying¡¯s clothes. Ji Ying¡¯s expression changed drastically. She resisted desperately, but Lin Yongjie still saw the slightly red hickeys on her chest. Lin Yongjie instantly felt hot blood rush to his brain. He fell into a violent state and roared, ¡°I was wondering why you insisted on breaking up. It turns out that I¡¯m not the only one who cheated on you. You also cheated on me!¡± Ji Yin gritted her teeth. ¡°That¡¯s not true. I only got together with someone else after we broke up. It¡¯s completely different!¡± ¡°Who is the man?¡± Lin Yongjie was so jealous that he went crazy. He had spent so much effort to woo this woman, but instead of getting her, she had slept with someone else. Not only was he at a disadvantage, but he also felt that he had been played for a fool. ¡°Don¡¯t be unreasonable. You cheated on me and broke up with me. Who I was with has nothing to do with you!¡± ¡°Not as long as I didn¡¯t agree to break up. Now you¡¯re cheating on me with someone else!¡± When Ji Ying heard this, she felt even more disdain and deliberately provoked him. ¡°It¡¯s not that I look down on you, but compared to that man, you¡¯re useless. In terms of looks, height, talent, and status, you¡¯re not worth mentioning at all. Even if it¡¯s my first day knowing him, I¡¯m willing to give my first time to him and not you!¡± Lin Yongjie was also completely agitated. ¡°Since I couldn¡¯t get your first time, I¡¯ll get your next countless times!¡± Then he hoisted Ji Ying over his shoulder. ¡°Let her go!¡± A cold voice suddenly sounded behind Lin Yongjie, causing him to freeze. On his shoulder, Ji Ying¡¯s heart trembled when she heard this familiar voice. She struggled desperately in her panic and instantly escaped Lin Yongjie¡¯s control and returned to the ground. She looked up slightly and met Zhao Weili¡¯s eyes. Frowning, Lin turned and looked back. When he saw who it was, he could not help but be slightly stunned. ¡®Wasn¡¯t this Jiang Ningxin¡¯s engaged partner, Zhao Weili? This guy¡¯s gaze was so cold. Did he know something?¡¯ In his guilt, he had wanted to question the other party, but now he did not dare to speak. Zhao Weili was dressed in a black formal suit today. Anyone who was attentive would know that he was definitely not here for the banquet. It looked more like he was attending a funeral. Compared to Lin Yongjie who looked like a child next to Zhao Weili, Zhao Weili¡¯s refined and cold temperament naturally exuded a confident and powerful aura. No one dared to ignore him. He was like a crane in a flock of chickens, he was definitely the focus of everyone. Lin Yongjie grabbed Ji Ying¡¯s arm and forced her to smile at Zhao Weili. ¡°Today is Mr. Zhao¡¯s big day. Congratulations!¡± Zhao Weili could not be bothered to feign civility with the other party. He ignored him and said to Ji Ying, ¡°Xiao Ying, why aren¡¯t you coming over?¡± Ji Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to refuse. Lin Yongjie raised his eyebrows in surprise and met Zhao Weili¡¯s cold and disdainful gaze. Then, Zhao Weili¡¯s gaze darkened slightly and landed on the hand that was holding Ji Ying¡¯s arm. It was as his eyes were radiating an uncomfortable warmth, making people feel extremely uncomfortable. Therefore, Lin Yongjie subconsciously let go. Now free, Ji Ying immediately fled several meters away. Only then did Lin Yongjie realize that he had been too cowardly just now. In his anger, he said directly, ¡°Mr. Zhao, Xiao Ying is my girlfriend. You¡¯d better not interfere in our private matters!¡± Zhao Weili looked at Ji Ying with unquestionable authority and said, ¡°Xiao Ying, come here!¡± Ji Yin stepped back in horror and instinctively shook her head. ¡°No!¡± Chapter 8 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhao Weili¡¯s gaze became deeper, like a bottomless vortex that could swallow her up at any moment. ¡°Mr. Zhao, this is my private matter. Don¡¯t interfere!¡± After being rejected again, Zhao Weili¡¯s expression began to turn solemn, and his gaze became even sharper. Ji Ying took a deep breath and turned to Lin Yongjie. ¡°Lin Yongjie, I¡¯ve already made myself clear. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other anymore!¡± ¡°I disagree! Tell me who that man is first!¡± Lin Yongjie said angrily. Ji Ying replied angrily, ¡°It¡¯s a ghost! Go to hell and look for him there!¡± Zhao Weili was speechless. Women were indeed fickle! She had just said that even if they had only known each other for a day, she was willing to give her first time to the other party. Now, the man was a mere ghost. Her words seemed insincere. ¡°Hmph, if you don¡¯t tell me who that man, don¡¯t even think about leaving this place today!¡± Lin Yongjie gritted his teeth and blocked the way out again, looking like he would not stop until he achieved his goal. ¡°Let her go! I can tell you if you want to know!¡± Zhao Weili¡¯s indifferent voice suddenly sounded. Ji Ying felt as if she had been struck in the head. She swayed and almost lost her footing. She turned around and glared at Zhao Weili with her beautiful eyes. When Zhao Weili saw Ji Ying bristling like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, not only did he not feel threatened, but he also felt that she was very cute. ¡°Xiao Ying, if you really don¡¯t want to come over, you can leave first!¡± Ji Ying met Zhao Weili¡¯s meaningful gaze. Her heart was filled with reluctance, but she had no choice but to give in. She could only glare at him before walking over. Seeing Ji Ying¡¯s reaction, Lin Yongjie¡¯s eyes widened. He cried out in disbelief, ¡°Xiaoying, you¡¯re actually with him?¡± Ji Ying completely ignored Lin Yongjie¡¯s reaction. Zhao Weili said with a cold expression, ¡°Lin Yongjie, from the day you touched Jiang Ningxin, you¡¯ve forever lost the right to have Xiao Ying. In the future, you¡¯d better retreat when you see Xiao Ying. Otherwise, the entire Lin family might face a calamity. This is not a threat, but a kind reminder. You can even treat it as a warning!¡± When Lin Yongjie was pointed out about his relationship with Jiang Ningxin, his heart tightened. When he heard that the family would be in danger because of this, he was even more shocked. Although Zhao Weili said that this was not a threat, it was a threat veiled as a reminder. ¡°Who¡­ exactly are you?¡± Zhao Weili did not answer or explain. He only said in a calm but extremely confident tone, ¡°Believe me, I¡¯m a man of my words!¡± Lin heard absolute confidence and undisguised menace in those words. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Zhao Weili took Ji Ying¡¯s slender hand. At this moment, Ji Ying took a deep breath and rushed out, shaking off Zhao Weili. Lin Yongjie was stunned when he saw this scene. His eyes were filled with shock. ¡­ Just as he ran out of the hotel, Zhao Weili called out to Ji Ying. ¡°Wait a minute! Hey¡­¡± Ji Ying did not stop. Like a frightened rabbit, she instantly ran far away. At this moment, she was filled with sorrow and wanted to cry. Standing on the sunny street, watching the stream of people coming and going, she smiled to herself and stood under a bus stop sign. Zhao Weili quietly looked at the dejected Ji Ying and did not chase after her. A black Town Car slowed to a stop beside him. Secretary Yang Ping got out of the passenger seat and opened the door respectfully. ¡°Sir, where are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere. Follow her!¡± Yang Ping followed Zhao Weili¡¯s gaze and immediately understood. A short time later, Ji Ying boarded a bus bound for Yanzhou University. The black Town Car immediately followed suit. In the back seat, Zhao Weili was unusually calm at this moment. Not only was he not annoyed or irritated by the engagement party, but his brow was also relaxed. When they were about to reach the west gate of Yanzhou University, Zhao Weili instructed, ¡°Go ahead and stop near the west gate. Stop at the bus stop on the way to the west gate.¡± The driver did not hesitate. He stepped on the gas and immediately sped forward. Ji Ying had calmed down by the time she got off the bus. She was prepared to go back to the dormitory for a few days. Now that the house was most likely in chaos, there was no need to go back and get into trouble. Chapter 9 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She had just taken a few steps out of the bus stop when her eyes widened! Ji Ying thought she must have been mistaken. She even rubbed her eyes. ¡®Look again!¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s him all right!¡¯ How was that possible? Under the bright sunlight, the slender Zhao Weili stood under a tree in a suit. There was an inexplicable expression on his face. Ji Ying blinked, then turned and walked away. She wanted nothing more to do with this guy. Zhao Weili raised his eyebrows slightly, and displeasure flashed across his bright and deep eyes. ¡°Am I that scary?¡± He thought about it, but he strode forward and chased after her, blocking her way. Ji Ying knew that she could not avoid him, so she stopped and looked up at Zhao Weili. ¡°What do you want?¡± Zhao Weili did not say anything and just handed over a box of medicine. Ji Ying took it in a daze. She looked down and instantly blushed. Contraceptive pills! ¡°¡­¡± When he looked up and saw Zhao Weili¡¯s wry smile, she instantly exploded. ¡°You don¡¯t have to remind me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take the pills!¡± ¡°Eat my ass!¡± ¡°If you get pregnant, you can have the baby if you want. I¡¯ll raise it!¡± Ji Ying¡¯s face was still burning, but she still refused to be outdone. ¡°Hmph, by the time your medicine starts working, the eggs will have already fertilized! I¡¯ve already taken it!¡± Zhao Weili was slightly stunned and felt a little uncomfortable. ¡®Does she hate having my child so much?¡¯ Feeling indignant, he reached out and grabbed Ji Ying¡¯s hand. ¡°Let go!¡± Ji-Ying struggled for a moment. ¡°How long do you want this to go on?¡± Zhao Weili let go, but he leaned closer. Ji Ying could not help but take two steps back, her expression wary. ¡°For life!¡± Ji Ying was stunned by Zhao Weili¡¯s casual words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t push you or pester you, but I have to tell you that we have a long future! Ji Ying!¡± Ji Ying wanted to cry but had no tears. She pleaded, ¡°Mr. Zhao, please let me go on account of my first time with you!¡± Zhao Weili gave Ji Ying a long look. Without a word, he turned and left. ¡°What does this guy mean? Agree or disagree? Give me a definite answer!¡± Ji Ying felt uneasy. ¡­ As soon as she returned to the dormitory, she received a call from home. ¡°Miss, Master ordered you to go back today!¡± Ji Ying thought to herself that today¡¯s engagement party was a farce. The Ji family had lost all face among their relatives and friends today. At this moment, her father must be furious at home. Whoever wanted to go back could go back. Anyway, she wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Tell my father my schedule is packed with classes today. I can¡¯t go back!¡± ¡°But Grandpa said we have to go back even if the sky falls!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s wait until the sky falls. Studies come first. I can¡¯t do this halfheartedly! I¡¯m hanging up!¡± Ji Yin quickly hung up. Then she turned her phone off. The excuse was simple, there was no need to even think about it. She was in class, so of course she had to put it on mute. She was a model student. It was normal for her to turn off her phone. However, just as she turned off the phone, the dormitory phone rang. Ji Ying looked at the phone and had a bad feeling. Shu Lanqing picked up the phone and turned around. ¡°It¡¯s for you. It¡¯s Uncle!¡± Ji Ying could not help but sigh inwardly. She got up and took the phone. However, she did not put it to her ear. She answered faintly, and then there was a roar. ¡°What have you been doing, Ji Ying? Where are you now? Why haven¡¯t you come back?¡± The rapid questioning revealed the anger in Ji Yunshan¡¯s heart. ¡°I¡¯m at school. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Come back here at once!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go back, it¡¯s not a day off today!¡± ¡°Then take a leave of absence!¡± ¡°Why do you insist that I go back?¡± ¡°You still have the cheek to ask me?¡± Ji Yunshan roared angrily. ¡°Your mother said that Zhao Weili left with you. Why do you think I was looking for you?¡± Disgust flashed across Ji Ying¡¯s eyes when she heard that. She said stiffly, ¡°Jiang Hong isn¡¯t my mother! Besides, there¡¯s only one door. If we leave together, that doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re cool with each other!¡± ¡°A stepmother is still a mother! If you disrespect Jiang Hong, you disrespect me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to discuss this with you, and I can¡¯t do fake respect!¡± Ji Ying¡¯s words were clear. ¡°That¡¯s what I think. You can disapprove of it, but you can¡¯t force me to change. Besides, it¡¯s a busy period at university now. There¡¯s no time for me to waste on anything else. That¡¯s all. Goodbye!¡± Chapter 10 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She promptly hung up the phone. However, it started ringing again. Ji Ying frowned slightly and looked at her roommate Shu Lanqing. ¡°If they phone in again, just say I¡¯m not here!¡± Shu Lanqing nodded and picked up the phone. Sure enough, the call was from Ji Yunshan again, but this time Shu Lanqing did not ask for Ji Ying. ¡°Uncle! Ji Ying just ran out in a hurry. She was probably going to be late for class!¡± ¡°Hmph! Tell her that if she doesn¡¯t come back today, then she can forget about using the credit card I gave her!¡± After Ji Yunshan finished speaking, he hung up the phone with a slam. Shu Lanqing relayed the conversation to Ji Ying. To be clear, the voice from the phone¡¯s receiver was quite loud. Ji Ying had already heard Ji Yunshan¡¯s words, and her eyes instantly turned red. However, she did not cry. She just raised her head slightly and stayed silent. Shu Lanqing comforted her. ¡°Xiao Ying, don¡¯t worry. If you¡¯re worried about your living expenses, I can cover for you!¡± Ji Ying¡¯s eyes were red as she revealed a bright smile. She was so beautiful it made one¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Thanks!¡± The next day. The professor¡¯s spittle flew as he lectured on the podium while the students were dozing off. Ji Ying was also getting drowsy. She had no idea what the professor was talking about. Near the end of class, the professor clapped his hands and said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be in a hurry to leave. I have something to say first. Yesterday, I picked out a few of the more outstanding plans from the submissions and presented them to the city council. The leader of the city council saw them and took a liking to them. They specifically asked to meet this group of students!¡± ¡°Wow! Who could they be?¡± The students were in an uproar, brimming with curiosity. ¡°Ji Ying, Shu Lanqing, the two of you, head to the City Hall tomorrow. The council would like to speak to you!¡± Ji Ying and Shu Lanqing looked at each other. They did not expect that their projects would be chosen. ¡­ The next day, Ji Ying got dressed in a fresh set of clothes. She was wearing a light blue t-shirt and white jeans. Although the outfit was simple, it highlighted Ji Ying¡¯s youthful air. Since she was going to meet the leader of the city, she had to dress as a student would. That means no outlandish getups. Her current outfit suited the occasion. Shu Lanqing also heeded Ji Ying¡¯s suggestion and dressed up in a similarly refreshing and simple manner. Ji Ying did not know what was going on with this leader. Why would he take a fancy to the plan submitted by the two of them? However, since she had been selected, regardless of what happens, she would just go with the flow. She had been very unlucky recently, but now she felt that her luck had finally turned around. She could not afford to mess this up. The two of them immediately became the focus of attention when they left the university, attracting many gazes along the way. Ji Ying¡¯s expression was calm. She did not react to these gazes and continued walking forward. Shu Lanqing held Ji Ying¡¯s arm and asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°This leader is really weird. As the leader of the city, he should have a whole host of talents he can choose from. Why would he need our district plans? I fully expected that your proposal would be chosen, but not mine!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so modest. Maybe the leader has a different perspective. What you think is mediocre may be seen as useful or even excellent in the eyes of the leader.¡± At this point, Ji Ying also revealed a thoughtful expression. ¡°Then again, we have to prepare for the worst. After all, this matter is indeed a bit strange. Nothing¡¯s set in stone. Maybe the leader was just being impulsive and felt that our proposals were fresh ideas, so he wanted to take our opinions as a reference!¡± ¡°Is this leader doing his job right?¡± Shu Lanqing shook her head speechlessly. ¡°Either he¡¯s got nothing to do, or he¡¯s just bored to death!¡± Ji Ying chuckled and said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s really as you said! Maybe he¡¯s just bored!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± The two of them chatted as they arrived at the bus stop. Not long after, the two of them arrived outside the City Hall. The City Hall was a building with more than twenty floors. It was majestic and soared into the sky. When Ji Ying and Shu Lanqing arrived at the gate, they were stopped by the police stationed there. ¡°Lanqing, after coming here, I suddenly feel that people should still strive toward their ideals and goals! If our proposals are actually selected, then I¡¯ll give it my all and give this leader a big hug!¡± Shu Lanqing was amused by Ji Ying¡¯s reaction. ¡°You wish! Even if you throw yourself into his arms, the leader might not agree!¡± ¡°Hmph, you can¡¯t say that for sure. I¡¯m so young and cute, and everyone loves me!¡± Ji Ying was just having a banter. If it really came to that, she might not be able to do it. ¡°Then you should be careful. If he really takes a fancy to you, I¡¯ll see what you¡¯re going to do!¡± Chapter 11 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At this moment, Ji Ying took out her student ID and handed it over. ¡°Hello, we have an appointment with the leader to talk about our proposals!¡± The guard looked at their IDs seriously and crosschecked them before saying, ¡°Go right ahead! You¡¯ll want to head to the 18th floor. Secretary Yang will be there to receive you!¡± ¡°Alright, thank you!¡± Ji Ying and Shu Lanqing thanked him and quickly walked into the courtyard. ¡°The atmosphere here seems a little tense!¡± ¡°Yup! I¡¯m really a little nervous! However, this is a government institution after all, so it¡¯s only right for it to be heavily guarded!¡± The two of them walked into the lobby, entered the elevator, and went straight to the 18th floor. ¡®Ding! Ding!¡¯ The elevator door opened, and Ji Ying and Shu Lanqing stepped out. A young civil servant in a formal suit came over and asked with a smile, ¡°May I ask who you are looking for?¡± ¡°Hello, we¡¯re students from the architecture department of Yanzhou University. I¡¯m Ji Ying and this is Shu Lanqing. We have an appointment with the higher-ups!¡± ¡°Oh? So, it was you guys! Secretary Yang has already informed us, please follow me!¡± He walked down the corridor and arrived at the end. The plate on the left of the door read ¡°Mayor¡¯s Office¡±, while the office of the mayor¡¯s secretary was directly opposite of that. ¡°Shu Lanqing, go to the secretary¡¯s office and meet Secretary Yang. Ji Ying, head into the mayor¡¯s office opposite to meet the mayor!¡± The two of them were slightly taken aback and somewhat confused. Yet, before they could say anything, the man had already pushed open the door and entered the secretary¡¯s office with Shu Lanqing. When Ji Ying saw this, she snapped out of her stupor and went to knock on the door of the mayor¡¯s office. ¡°Dong dong dong!¡± ¡°Please enter!¡± A deep and familiar voice came from inside the door, but she did not recognize it at first. When Ji Ying pushed the door open and entered, she saw the person sitting behind the mahogany desk. She immediately exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s actually you!¡± At this moment, she finally remembered that Zhao Weili was the new mayor. Previously, she had even posted a thread on the internet asking for help, asking what she should do if she slept with the mayor. However, she still could not make the connection in her head that Zhao Weili was the new mayor. She felt that they were two different people, which was why she did not think of him. At this moment, Zhao Weili was working with his head lowered. When he heard the door open, he looked up. When he heard Ji Ying¡¯s surprised cry, he said indifferently, ¡°Why can¡¯t it be me?¡± When Ji Ying heard this, she was immediately speechless. She did not expect that after hiding for so long, she still delivered herself to him in the end. With such thoughts in her heart, she had already started to retreat, wanting to leave immediately. ¡°Bang!¡± For some reason, the door suddenly slammed shut. Zhao Weili¡¯s expression was calm. He carefully sized up Ji Ying¡¯s outfit and nodded. ¡°Are you questioning my ability, or are you questioning the country¡¯s decision in appointing me?¡± She already knew that Zhao Weili was the most popular young man in Yanzhou City, the newly appointed mayor, and a potential rich son-in-law. However, she did not understand why someone of his status would suddenly get engaged to someone like Jiang Ningxin. She did not see Zhao Weili¡¯s family at the engagement party the other day, only his secretary. Jiang Hong did not even mention anything, so there must be something else. She wondered if the mother-daughter duo knew that Jiang Ningxin was engaged to the newly appointed mayor. If they did not, they would probably be filled with regret now. If he had not known that Jiang Ningxin was capable of such viciousness, his future would have been bleak! Many thoughts flashed through Ji Ying¡¯s mind, and she was stunned for a moment before she came back to her senses. She now recognized Zhao Weili as the new mayor. The layout of the office was simple yet sophisticated. Facing the door was a desk, on the left was a long bookshelf. On the right was a side door, which probably led to a lounge. The decorations in the office were tasteful, but they were not luxurious. On the windowsill behind him, there were seven or eight pots of flowers and plants. It was unclear if they were left behind by the previous owner or Zhao Weili put them there himself. However, no matter how she thought about it, she was certain that this was Zhao Weili¡¯s office. Ji Ying was dumbfounded. What should she do? She could not afford to offend the mayor. Zhao Weili found Ji Ying¡¯s constantly changing expressions and reactions very interesting, and a rare smile appeared on his face. ¡°Before the engagement, I was appointed as the mayor of Yanzhou City. If nothing unexpected happens, I will be working here for at least five years!¡± ¡°That long?¡± Ji Ying exclaimed in shock, but immediately shut her mouth when she met Zhao Weili¡¯s meaningful gaze. She thought to herself, ¡®This guy is staying for five years. Once I graduate, won¡¯t I have to live and work in a territory under his jurisdiction? No, wherever this guy is, it¡¯s a place of trouble. I might have to leave after graduation.¡¯ Chapter 12 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhao Weili seemed to be able to guess what she was thinking. ¡°After knowing that I will stay in Yan State for 5 years, are you thinking about leaving this city after graduation?¡± ¡®Eh? This fellow is too terrifying. How does he know what I¡¯m thinking? No, no, I have to stay away from him.¡¯ ¡°Did you call me here just for the proposal?¡± Zhao Weili¡¯s deep eyes fell on Ji Ying¡¯s face. ¡°Could it be that you think I called you here because I have selfish motives?¡± Ji Ying was a little rattled. She did not want to talk about what happened that day. ¡°Our professor said that the leader wanted to talk to us about the proposals, so he called us here. If it¡¯s not about that, then I¡¯ll take my leave!¡± Zhao Weili smiled and slowly stood up. The moment he stood up, Ji Ying was so frightened that she took a few steps back. Her face was filled with vigilance. However, the door was already closed behind her, and she had nowhere to go. Zhao Weili chuckled, ¡°What? do you think I¡¯m going to eat you up? Didn¡¯t you want to talk about the planning project? Your attitude right now is really heartbreaking!¡± When Ji Ying heard this, she suddenly felt trapped! Could it be that he really did not have any other intentions and it was just a coincidence that he called her over to discuss business? Now that she recalled the whole thing, she could not believe it no matter what. She was just an ordinary student. How could the higher-ups be interested in her proposal? If the leader was not Zhao Weili, she would have been overjoyed. It was an affirmation of her own abilities. However, she could not believe Zhao Weili¡¯s words. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ji Ying looked nervously at the approaching Zhao Weili. At the same time, a faint tobacco smell invaded her nose. She had never thought that an accidental indulgence would embarrass her so much and result in her completely losing her calm and peaceful life. All she wanted to do now was to get as far away from Zhao Weili as possible. She did not want to have anything to do with him anymore, and she wanted her life to return to what it was before. How could she face the person she had slept with every day and live a peaceful life as if nothing had happened? If she had not forgotten that he was the mayor, she would not have stepped into this place today. Zhao Weili observed the changes in Ji Ying¡¯s expression, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. He did not say anything and just looked at her. Ji Ying¡¯s gaze was a little scattered, and she could not even meet his eyes. For a moment, all kinds of thoughts rose in her mind, and in the end, only one thought was left. She mustered up the courage to look up and said, ¡°What do you want? just say it!¡± The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense. ¡°What were you thinking? I asked you to come because I¡¯m really interested in your project.¡± Zhao Weili said calmly, a faint smile on his lips. Coupled with his handsome appearance, he looked intoxicating. Even Ji Ying could not help but swallow her saliva, becoming even more nervous. She hurriedly lowered her head to avoid his gaze, but she still felt that the other party¡¯s eyes were omnipresent. After a while, she mustered up her courage and retorted, ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary student with an ordinary proposal. No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s not worth the mayor¡¯s attention, much less an audience with him!¡± This had always been a question in her heart. It just did not make sense! ¡°So, you don¡¯t have any confidence in yourself?¡± Ji Ying took a deep breath and raised her head to meet Zhao Weili¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you really only care about our proposals?¡± ¡°Ha! If you want to talk about private matters, it¡¯s not impossible, but it¡¯s best to talk about it after work. It¡¯s working hours now, even if I¡¯m the mayor, I have to do my duties!¡± Zhao Weili¡¯s tone was solemn. ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t mind talking to you about being my woman after work!¡± Ji Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her heart instantly rose to her throat. Her eyes flickered, and she pursed her cherry lips. Her hands clenched uneasily. ¡®This guy said that he wanted to talk to me about the project, but he¡¯s actually abusing his power!¡¯ Things had developed too suddenly, and she was at a loss for what to do. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Alright!¡± Let¡¯s talk about the proposal!¡± Zhao Weili nodded and said, ¡°Come and sit down. I¡¯m very interested in your idea of a theme park. The issue regarding the ecosystem in the proposal is also worth taking a look at!¡± ¡®This guy actually went through the proposal very carefully!¡± Ji Ying¡¯s mood relaxed slightly. In the end, she took a deep breath and walked over. Chapter 13 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Sit!¡± Zhao Weili waved his arm and gestured for her sit. ¡°Thank you!¡± Ji Ying sat down on the sofa in an unnatural manner. ¡°Did you complete this plan on your own?¡± Zhao Weili asked a simple question, his voice calm and magnetic. ¡°Mhm!¡± Ji Ying did not explain and only grunted. ¡°You¡¯re not satisfied with the Yan State¡¯s current layout?¡± ¡°Eh? Why do you ask?¡± Ji Ying shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± Zhao Weili stood up and swept his gaze across the bookshelves, as if he was looking for something. When Ji Ying saw that, she had an indescribable feeling in her heart. It was as if from the moment she entered the room, the other party held the initiative. She had also witnessed this guy¡¯s composure. Soon, Zhao Weili pulled out a folder from the bookshelf and placed it on the coffee table in front of Ji Ying. He said calmly, ¡°This is the latest planning proposal for the Yan State. It¡¯s pretty much the as your proposal!¡± Ji Ying glanced at Zhao Weili, picked up the folder on the coffee table, and opened it. There were instructions, an introduction, and a blueprint inside. It was much more detailed and professional than the proposal she had made herself. She did not know what Zhao Weili meant. Was this only for comparison, or was there something else? No matter what, she still looked at it carefully. After a long while, Ji Ying closed the folder. Her expression showed that she was not happy with the proposal. However, she did not understand what Zhao Weili meant, so she asked, ¡°Mayor, why did you show me this?¡± The mayor! Zhao Weili did not like the how distant that sounded, but he only frowned and stayed silent. He looked at the document and said seriously, ¡°Tell me the flaws of this proposal!¡± ¡°You want me to say it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Just say it!¡± Ji Ying hesitated for a moment. She did not want to offend the seniors of the Architecture and Design Institute, so she could only say, ¡°Our professor said that any plan that doesn¡¯t take into account the cost and environmental damage is a failure!¡± Zhao Weili was not satisfied with Ji Ying¡¯s opportunistic answer. He chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t try to be smart, you have to believe in yourself. I approve of the proposal you¡¯ve submitted, so I¡¯d like to formally implement it. ¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Ji Ying was shocked. ¡°Aright, you can go back and brush up your plan, then show it to me after!¡± Ji Ying was very tempted, but she did not want to have anything to do with Zhao Weili anymore, so she met his gaze and refused, ¡°I don¡¯t plan to make any changes. I don¡¯t even plan to work in related industries after graduation. Thank you for your high regard, mayor. Goodbye!¡± Before she was done speaking, she had already stood up and walked quickly toward the door. She had thought that Zhao Weili would stop her, but she had already walked to the door, and she did not hear any words of persuasion from him. He even took the initiative to open the door for her. This was too surprising. Sitting on the bus, Ji Ying fell into deep thought. Shu Lanqing noticed that something was off with Ji Ying. She was in a daze and asked in confusion, ¡°Xiao Ying, what are you thinking about? Could it be that you were captivated by the new mayor? Or are you scared?¡± ¡°What?¡± Ji Ying beautiful eyes blinked a few times, and she came back to her senses. She shook her head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no such thing!¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s wrong with you? You look like you¡¯re in a trance!¡± ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t! I just happened to meet an acquaintance and talked about some things from the past!¡± Ji Ying gave a perfunctory reply. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s just that we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time. Our relationship in the past was nothing out of the ordinary! He asked me to revise my proposal, but I rejected him!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Shu Lanqing asked in surprise. Then, she said helplessly, ¡°What should we do? Secretary Yang also asked me to make some changes to my proposal, but I¡¯ve already agreed. Now that you¡¯ve rejected the mayor, what should I do? How could you reject such a good opportunity? It¡¯s just a few changes, so it won¡¯t take much effort!¡± In contrast to Shu Lanqing¡¯s excitement, Ji Ying had no reaction. Suddenly, she found a flaw in Shu Lanqing¡¯s words. Why was it that her own proposal had to be looked at by Zhao Weili, while Shu Lanqing¡¯s could be directly handed over to Secretary Yang? There was definitely something fishy going on. By the way, what did Shu Lanqing say just now? Did she agree to change her proposal? Chapter 14 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Qingqing, what did Secretary Yang say to you?¡± Shu Lanqing was feeling carefree. She said excitedly, ¡°He said that my proposal was very creative and full of childlike wonder. Compared to your idea of an amusement park which the mayor liked, my pedestrian street is easier to implement. It can bring more vitality to the entire area and increase the economic value of the nearby land!¡± ¡°Our proposals were made for each other. We can¡¯t do without either. So, since you rejected the mayor, I¡¯m afraid my proposal is useless!¡± Ji Ying sighed helplessly. If she still could not figure out Zhao Weili¡¯s scheme, she might as well kill herself. ¡°Forget it, it doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ll cross the bridge when we get there. Let¡¯s go back first!¡± When she arrived at the station, Ji Ying received a call from an unknown number. She thought it was a harassment or scam call and simply hung up. However, the phone kept ringing as if it would not give up until it got what it wanted. She had no choice but to answer it. ¡°Hey! Who are you?¡± ¡°Ji Ying, it turns out that you¡¯ve already hooked up with the new mayor. No wonder you wanted to break up with me!¡± Lin Yongjie¡¯s angry voice came from the phone. Ji Ying coldly said, ¡°Lin Yongjie, you called just to say this? Before I hang up, I¡¯ll remind you again. We¡¯ve already broken up, understand?¡± ¡°Xiao Ying, I¡¯ve also said that as long as I don¡¯t agree, our relationship is not over. Besides, didn¡¯t you want to intern at the Lin Group? As long as I put in a good word on your behalf, you can choose any department, and you¡¯ll start as a supervisor at the very least!¡± ¡°Save it! You¡¯re a nobody who just sits around and does nothing, yet you¡¯re giving me a job?¡± Ji Ying sneered disdainfully, ¡°Lin Yongjie, it¡¯s not like you can keep pestering me just because you don¡¯t agree to the breakup! I¡¯m not your mother, and I won¡¯t indulge in your bad habits. Don¡¯t call me again, get lost!¡± ¡°Xiao Ying¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Ji Ying had already hung up the phone. Ji Ying gently exhaled and shook her head helplessly. She did not know if she was lucky or unlucky to have encountered so many things in just a few days. She hated herself for falling in love with such a scumbag in the past, but at the same time, she was secretly glad that she saw the red flags early. Otherwise, if they had really been together, it would be too late for regrets. At the same time, she warned herself to be more observant in the future. Shu Lanqing, who had been standing at the side, naturally overheard the phone call. She was shocked. ¡°Xiao Ying!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m upset now and don¡¯t want to talk!¡± After that, she quickly walked into the campus. Just inside, she ran into the counselor. ¡°Ji Ying, Shu Lanqing, Professor Zhang wants you to go to his office immediately!¡± ¡°Uh, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. You guys should hurry up. From Professor Zhang¡¯s tone, he seems to be in a hurry!¡± Ji Ying bit her lip helplessly. She could only follow Shu Lanqing to Professor Zhang¡¯s office in the teaching building. She knocked on the door and entered. Before she could speak, Professor Zhang scolded her, ¡°Ji Ying, where did you get the guts to reject the mayor? This kind of planning is related to many people¡¯s lives and involves many considerations. Do you think it¡¯s a game? You rejected him just like that? Do you still want to graduate?¡± He scolded her for a long time. When Professor Zhang finally stopped, Ji Ying took a deep breath and said, ¡°Professor, I have the right to refuse, even if the person I refuse is the mayor!¡± Professor Zhang had never seen someone with such a temperament and stubbornness. He raised his hand and pointed at Ji Ying, exasperated at her for not living up to his expectations. If Ji Ying was his own child, he would have picked up a big stick and beat her up to vent his anger before talking about anything else. ¡°You¡¯re just being stubborn! This was a good opportunity! It¡¯s a great honor to be valued by the mayor!¡± Ji Ying also felt very helpless. Her decision was not something she could explain to anyone. She knew that she had not handled the matter of rejecting the mayor well. If Zhao Weili really wanted to find trouble with her, she would be helpless. However, after these few interactions, her intuition told her that Zhao Weili was not that kind of person! ¡°Ji Ying, this is a rare opportunity. You must not give it up!¡± Professor Zhang felt that he had to continue counseling her, so he continued in a heavy tone, ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way. From the time I was a lecturer to the time I became a professor, in all these decades, this is the first time I¡¯ve encountered such a good opportunity. A student¡¯s work being valued by the higher-ups isn¡¯t just your achievement, it¡¯s also my glory, and the school¡¯s glory! Why did you reject it? It¡¯s a win-win situation!¡± Chapter 15 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation As a matter of fact, Ji Ying felt very regretful in her heart. Of course, she wanted her proposal to be valued and brought into reality. Ji Ying also felt that it was a pity, but the thought of facing Zhao Weili made her back down. Shu Lanqing also knew what was going on, but she could not say anything. ¡°Ji Ying, this matter is very important, and the school¡¯s higher-ups are also paying great attention to it. If your proposal doesn¡¯t pass, don¡¯t blame me for not letting you graduate. Also, as long as I¡¯m still in this position, don¡¯t even think about graduating.¡± ¡°Professor, are you threatening me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Professor Zhang went all out and said in a serious tone, ¡°If you¡¯re not convinced, you can sue me. No matter who you find to back you up, my stance will still be the same. If you go to Principal Zhao, he¡¯d probably expel you. You¡¯re completely disregarding the school¡¯s glory by doing this. You only care about your own selfish motives!¡± Ji Ying was completely speechless. How much hatred did he have for her? How could he treat her like this? Seeing that Ji Ying still had no intention of compromising, Professor Zhang looked at Shu Lanqing, who was standing quietly at the side, and said, ¡°It¡¯s not just you. Shu Lanqing will also be dragged into this miss. She won¡¯t be able to graduate either!¡± ¡°Professor, be reasonable!¡± Ji Ying was really about to die from anger. Professor Zhang snorted and ignored her. He turned to Shu Lanqing and said, ¡°Shu Lanqing, if you can¡¯t graduate, it¡¯s all Ji Ying¡¯s fault. Don¡¯t say that I¡¯m being heartless. If you have the time, you should try and change her mind. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re asking her to do anything shameful. It¡¯s a good thing, but she¡¯s still putting on airs. What a terrible attitude!¡± ¡°Sir, don¡¯t be angry anymore. Ji Ying has her own reasons for rejecting the mayor. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have come up with the proposal in the first place.¡± The more Shu Lanqing thought about it, the more guilty she felt. ¡°Whatever difficulty she is facing, that¡¯s her own business. She can¡¯t affect the school¡¯s reputation. I only care about the results!¡± At this point, Professor Zhang waved his hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Go back and think about it. If you insist on being stubborn, don¡¯t bother coming for classes anymore. It¡¯s up to you if you want to repeat a year or drop out of school!¡± Ji Ying and Shu Lanqing left the office with heavy hearts and heads full of worry. They stayed silent as they walked toward the university¡¯s massive sports field. Ji Ying was very unhappy and frowned. ¡°Qingqing, I¡¯ve implicated you. I¡¯m very sorry!¡± Although Shu Lanqing and Ji Ying were good friends, this was a matter that involved their future. It was impossible to let it go with just an apology. However, she did not know where to start when she was asked to say something. ¡°Xiao Ying, you¡­¡± Shu Lanqing wanted to speak but stopped. ¡°I understand, Qingqing. You must be very confused as well. Why did I reject such an opportunity? In the end, everything is messed up.¡± Ji Ying gently exhaled. She did not want to explain at first, but this involved her good friend¡¯s life and future. She had to make it clear and not cause any misunderstandings and create a rift between them. ¡°I have some irreconcilable differences with the new mayor. If I agree to revise the proposal, we will have to meet frequently for a period of time. This will make it very awkward for the both of us. Thus, my plan is to avoid him and stay as far away from him as possible. Now, that¡¯s easier said than done!¡± ¡°Xiao Ying, I understand, but what about the professor? Are you really going to quit?¡± Shu Lanqing did not ask what the backstory was, but she still wanted to know how Ji Ying was going to deal with this matter. Ji Ying nodded to show that she understood what she meant. She squeezed out a smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll think of a way. I won¡¯t let you miss your graduation. Wouldn¡¯t I be a sinner if I did? ¡± ¡°Alright! I don¡¯t know how I can help, so if there¡¯s anything I can do, just tell me!¡± Hearing Shu Lanqing¡¯s words, Ji Ying felt even worse. Her best friend was always thinking about her, but Ji Ying risking her graduation. The guilt she felt was overwhelming. Sure enough, there were many things that she could not take for granted. She had yet to reach the level where she could control her own fate. Half an hour later, the two of them returned to the dormitory building. As soon as they entered the gate, they were stopped by the Vice President of the Student Union. ¡°Hey, the two of you came back just in time. The university¡¯s new library is having an opening ceremony soon, and we¡¯re short of two female attendants. Come with me and do this for two hours. The labor fee will still be the same, and you¡¯ll be paid by the hour!¡± Chapter 16 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°Yes, you have to take your places within an hour!¡± When Ji Ying was still in school, she would occasionally do part time jobs to fill her wallet, mainly because her living expenses had been deducted again and again. This had all started after her father married Jiang Hong. That was why she would usually look for paid part time work. After changing into blue cheongsams, Ji Ying and Shu Lanqing followed the Vice President to the school¡¯s newly built library. When they arrived, there were already more than a dozen other classmates who worked as attendants gathered here. These attendants were all young and beautiful students. When they gathered together, they would chatter and gossip about all kinds of things. ¡°Have you heard? This time, it¡¯s not just the school leaders who are cutting the ribbon for our school¡¯s new library. Even the newly appointed mayor of the city is here. He¡¯s known as the nation¡¯s husband. He¡¯s young and promising. More importantly, he¡¯s handsome and good-looking. I won¡¯t be able to stop my heart from going wild when I get to see him today!¡± Ji Ying had just arrived when she heard this. She was stunned. Why was this guy like a phantom? He seemed to be everywhere she went! ¡°No, I can¡¯t stay here any longer. I have to leave!¡± She turned around and was about to leave. Unfortunately, the Vice President was quick to react and caught her red-handed. ¡°What are you doing? The ceremony is about to begin, so quickly line up and maintain a good posture and smile. Don¡¯t drop the ball, or else you won¡¯t be paid, and you¡¯ll get a demerit.¡± At this moment, the principal and his entourage were already walking over. On both sides of the road, reporters and cameramen were crowding around. ¡°It seems like I can¡¯t escape for a while!¡± Ji Ying sighed helplessly when she saw this scene. She could only line up by the roadside. The principal and the other school leaders walked over quickly. All of them had serious expressions on their faces, and they did not smile or speak. It was as if they were waiting for the arrival of some important figure. Soon, a few low-key black cars of the same model drove into the campus. Ji Ying was arranged to hold a tray with scissors, which had been arranged for beforehand. As the car drove in, Ji Ying saw someone walk forward to open the car door. Then, she saw Zhao Weili get out of the car. His slender figure was very eye-catching in the crowd. After patting himself down a little, he walked toward the crowd. He had a gentle smile on his face and his footsteps were steady. He looked up, and his gaze swept past another attendant and found Ji Ying¡¯s figure in the crowd. His eyes flickered slightly. Ji Ying¡¯s heart clenched slightly, and she quickly lowered her eyes, not daring to meet Zhao Weili¡¯s gaze. However, in her heart, she felt that the other party¡¯s gaze had clearly stopped on her for a brief moment. At this moment, the principal led a group of school leaders to give them a warm welcome. ¡°Mayor Zhao, welcome! It¡¯s our honor to have you take time out of your busy schedule to cut the ribbon for our university¡¯s new library!¡± ¡°A library is the most important building in an educational institution, and a university¡¯s library is naturally even more important. I¡¯m very honored to be able to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony as a guest!¡± ¡°Haha, Mr. Zhao, you¡¯re too polite. Please!¡± The principal was very respectful to the newly appointed mayor and hoped to leave a good impression on him. The school had prepared very well for this ceremony, and the venue¡¯s layout was also very appropriate. It was not the kind of commercial ribbon-cutting ceremony with a cluster of flowers, nor was it the kind of grand ceremony prepared for a big project. It was simple, clean, and stylish. In order to highlight the importance of this ribbon-cutting ceremony, they even invited a host from the Yanzhou TV station to cover the event. There were reporters and cameramen who recorded the entire process and would broadcast it on the evening news later. In addition, all kinds of props used for the ribbon-cutting were also carefully prepared. Red ribbons, white gloves, trays, carpets, and so on were all top quality. As the most important person at the event, Zhao Weili was quickly invited to the center of the venue. In an instant, some lights flashed, and that made Ji Ying feel uneasy. Zhao Weili walked over and stood beside Ji Ying. His gaze swept across Ji Ying¡¯s small face with a hint of understanding. That made Ji Ying feel a little uncomfortable, especially after what had happened the other night. It really made her feel very troubled. Zhao Weili simply stood there, his unique scent seeping into Ji Ying¡¯s nose, causing her body to stiffen. Chapter 17 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She was not paying attention to what the emcee said at all. With the flashing lights in front of her, she had to keep a straight face and hold the tray still and wait for the next set of instructions. She didn¡¯t know if it was an illusion or a psychological effect, but she couldn¡¯t concentrate when Zhao Weili was standing next to her! ¡°Now, let the ribbon-cutting ceremony begin. Let¡¯s welcome the mayor, Mr. Zhao Weili, to cut the ribbon for our Yan State University Library!¡± ¡°This student, isn¡¯t it time to pass me the scissors?¡± Suddenly, Zhao Weili¡¯s deep and magnetic voice jolted Ji Ying out of her daze. As she turned around, she saw Zhao Weili looking at him with his head slightly tilted, his bright and deep eyes reflecting her own. At the same time, everyone else was also looking at her. In an instant, she was the center of attention. ¡°I¡­¡± Ji Ying said in shock. Then, she pulled herself together, and her face turned red. She quickly raised the tray in her hand. At this moment, she felt her face turn red and hot. She felt that all eyes were focused on her, making her feel breathless. Even her palms were covered in sweat. ¡°I can¡¯t focus but I don¡¯t want anything untoward happening. However, as long as I¡¯m by Zhao Weili¡¯s side, I can¡¯t focus, and I can¡¯t do anything about it!¡± Zhao Weili saw her reaction, and his lips curled into a smile. However, in Ji Ying¡¯s eyes, she felt like she was being ridiculed. In an instant, Ji Ying felt that she was being looked down upon. She found whatever courage was left in her and calmed down. ¡°Mr. Zhao, scissors!¡± Zhao Weili¡¯s expression turned serious as his gaze fell on her face. That gentle smile of hers dazzled him. When he first found out that Yan State University had invited him to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, he had some thoughts in his mind. However, he really did not expect to meet Ji Ying so soon and even have her standing by his side. Ji Ying was now wearing a cheongsam that fit her body well. Her fragrance lingered in his nose, and her faint smile was reflected in his eyes. The youthful Ji Ying he had seen in the office and the mature Ji Ying in the cheongsam were both so perfect that he felt moved. Zhao Weili was only dazed for a moment, and he quickly returned to his senses. He only smiled at Ji Ying before turning around. In an instant, this scene was recorded by multiple cameras. The young man and woman, who were in different moods, smiled side by side. Zhao Weili took out a pair of scissors from the tray and said politely, ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Soon, Zhao Weili cut the ribbon, and the emcee announced the success of the ceremony with an excited and animated tone. He then invited the mayor to give his speech. Zhao Weili went off-script and gave his speech. It made everyone¡¯s heart thump with excitement, and he received a round of applause. After the ceremony ended, Ji Ying immediately sneaked away. However, Zhao Weili¡¯s voice rang out from behind her. ¡°Student Ji Ying, please wait!¡± Ji Ying¡¯s body stiffened. She was so shocked by the voice that she almost lost her balance. She turned around and saw Zhao Weili looking at her with a bright smile. Many people nearby looked over in surprise. These people did not know what the relationship between the two was, but all kinds of speculations instantly appeared in their minds. Ji Ying¡¯s eyes flashed with annoyance as she stared at them. She could not leave even if she wanted to, so she could only stop and pretend to be polite. ¡°Mr. Zhao, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Hearing the conversation between the two, Zhang Zian and the others beside Zhao Weili were all surprised. ¡°Mr. Zhao, you actually know a student from our school?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! This morning, she came to my office and rejected my suggestion to modify her proposal. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a student who doesn¡¯t care about fame and fortune,¡± Zhao Weili said calmly. ¡­ Ji Ying¡¯s heart sank when she saw the principal frowning. ¡°Mayor, don¡¯t worry. Student Ji Ying¡¯s proposal will be revised immediately, and she will personally send it to you!¡± Ji Ying fell silent upon hearing this. Zhao Weili acted as if he did not notice anything and nodded with a faint smile. ¡°No need to force matters. We still have to respect Ji Ying¡¯s personal wishes!¡± ¡°How could this be? Her wish is to do her part as a student and listen to the leader¡¯s arrangements. This is also for her own future!¡± The principal made the final decision without even asking Ji Ying. Zhao Weili¡¯s faint smile deepened when his eyes landed on Ji Ying¡¯s shocked and speechless face. Chapter 18 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhao Weili left the school with a meaningful smile. Ji Ying was immediately asked to go to the principal¡¯s office afterwards. Standing in front of the principal¡¯s desk, Ji Ying straightened her back and pursed her lips tightly. She did not say a word. The principal had seen many people and was good at reading people¡¯s expressions. From Zhao Weili¡¯s reaction, he could tell that the two of them not only knew each other, but also had something between them. As a result, when he faced Ji Ying, he did not speak harshly like Professor Zhang. Instead, he was friendly and had a kind smile on his face, as if showing off his magnanimity. ¡°What¡¯s your name again?¡± In the face the principal¡¯s antics, Ji Ying felt that she had met an old fox, and she stayed on guard. ¡°I¡¯m ji Ying!¡± ¡°Ji Ying, what a nice name! You¡¯ve brought honor to our school. You¡¯ve made me, the principal, feel proud in front of so many leaders in the city.¡± ¡°¡­¡± When Ji Ying heard this, she immediately praised him in her heart. Since the principal had already said so, if she still refused to amend the proposal requested by the mayor, she would not only be ignorant of the big picture, but she would also be completely disregarding the school¡¯s honor and the principal¡¯s ego! He was going in for the kill! What could she say? ¡°Principal, you¡¯re too kind. There are many people in the school who are better than me, and many of them have good proposals! Anyone can come up with something better.¡± The prinpical shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think so! Some things cannot be taken for granted. Who is your teacher?¡± ¡°Professor Zhang!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Ji Ying was shocked, not knowing what the old principal meant. ¡°Dong dong!¡± There was a knock on the office door. A man pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Principal, you called for me?¡± ¡°Get Professor Zhang to come over here!¡± Seven or eight minutes later, Professor Zhang arrived in a hurry. The moment he saw Ji Ying, he was also stunned. He did not say much, and he was wondering why the principal had called him over. However, when he saw Ji Ying, he immediately understood. Could it be that Ji Ying took offense at his threat to prevent her from graduating, and she came to the principal to complain? This thought flashed through his mind, but he did not show it. Ji Ying knew that Professor Zhang was only saying those words out of anger because he was disappointed in her. He might not really use such ruthless means against her. What made her furious was that Zhao Weili must have known that he had caused a lot of trouble just to get her to send the proposal to him. Although he did not make it explicit, it was obvious. Plus, it was not easy to hold off the principal and the professor. ¡°Principal, you were looking for me?¡± Professor Zhang asked. ¡°Professor Zhang, you¡¯ve really raised a good student! The mayor took a liking to her with just one proposal?¡± Professor Zhang¡¯s face was filled with anger when he heard this. When he turned to look at Ji Ying, his eyes were filled with dissatisfaction. Other than laughing dryly, Ji Ying had no other reaction. Professor Zhang nodded. ¡°That¡¯s indeed the case. However, I don¡¯t know what this girl is thinking at all. She¡¯s not remorseful at all about this matter. It¡¯s as if she wasn¡¯t the one who wrote the proposal back then! I can¡¯t even threaten her with not letting her graduate. I¡¯m out of options!¡± After the old principal heard this, he was only slightly surprised but not angry. He only looked at Ji Ying with a smile. Ji Ying felt her hair stand on end from the principal¡¯s stare. She did not know what tricks the old principal had up his sleeve. She felt a little uneasy for some reason. ¡°Ji Ying, right?¡± The principal finally spoke. His tone was neither too fast nor too slow and could even be said to be rather gentle. ¡°Principal, if you have something to say, just say it. Just don¡¯t look at me like that, I¡¯m a little scared!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± The old principal laughed and shook his head helplessly. ¡°You still know fear? If you really know fear, why did you reject the mayor? That¡¯s the leader of over 10 million people in Yanzhou City!¡± Ji Ying chuckled but did not say anything. She did not know what to say. ¡°Student Ji Ying!¡± The principal was still smiling. This was how the old man did things around here. ¡°Please speak!¡± ¡°Do you still want to graduate?¡± Ji Ying took a deep breath. ¡°Of course I want to graduate. I¡¯ll go back and change the proposal immediately!¡± ¡®I don¡¯t really have a choice!¡¯ Ji Ying muttered in her heart and found an excuse to compromise. Chapter 19 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Professor Zhang¡¯s face brightened up when he saw Ji Ying finally compromise. ¡°Then, can I go back and work on the proposal now? Principal, professor, I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± ¡°Go!¡± After leaving the headmaster¡¯s office, Ji Ying rubbed her slightly stiff face. The smile on her face instantly disappeared, and she could not help but sigh. She tried her best, but in the end, she still could not escape. However, whether it was for her own sake or for Shu Lanqing¡¯s, she had to get through this. Acting impulsively was not the solution. Returning to the dormitory room, Shu Lanqing was overjoyed when Ji Ying spoke of her decision. Seeing the surprised smile on her friend¡¯s face, Ji Ying felt that she had made the right choice. After taking a shower, the two of them went out and headed to the cafeteria. As soon as she got close to the eatery, she saw many people on the sidewalk pointing at her and mumbling to each other. Their eyes were filled with a familiar look of nosiness. Ji Ying did not know what was going on and was very confused. At this moment, another dormmate, Zhou Hui, walked over and shoved her phone in front of the duo. ¡°Xiao Ying, take a look. An indecent video of you has actually appeared on the school¡¯s intranet and is spreading like crazy!¡± Ji Ying was shocked. She lowered her head to look and almost fainted. The video showed a man and a woman intertwined with each other. As the camera zoomed in, the footage transitioned, and the woman revealed to be Ji Ying. After that, even her private parts were not spared, and everything was revealed to everyone. Ji Ying was so angry that her eyes turned red, and her hands trembled. The person in the video was not her at all, and it could not be her. Someone was trying to frame her! ¡°Who is it that wants to frame me?¡± A few suspects flashed through her mind, but she could not be sure. Ji Ying bit her lips and forced herself to calm down. After that, she stood up and left the cafeteria quickly without eating. She logged into the school network as she walked. The person who posted it was someone with the username ¡°infatuated lover.¡± The information only showed that he was male. Not information could not be gleaned, and nothing else could be found about the person online. Ji Ying quickly saved some screenshots as evidence. The person in the video was not her, but they had her face. This kind of deepfaked video could be identified through technical means. However, even if she could identify it, this was too disgusting, and she hated it from the bottom of her heart. The problem now was that many people only believed what they saw. They did not even care if the video was real or not. They just wanted to watch everything unfold. Everyone believed that the person in the video was her. She shamelessly did that kind of thing with a man and was even recorded. In the end, in everyone¡¯s eyes, she was a laughingstock, and this stain would never be erased. After leaving the cafeteria, Ji Ying did not return to the dormitory. Instead, she walked out. Shu Lanqing followed her, not knowing what Ji Ying was going to do. ¡°Qingqing, I have something urgent to attend to. You can go back first!¡± ¡°Xiao Ying, what exactly happened? I¡¯m very worried about you!¡± ¡°Would you believe me if I said I wasn¡¯t the person in the video?¡± Ji Ying asked through gritted teeth. Shu Lanqing nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s definitely not you! We¡¯ve spent so much time together. Your body type and complexion are completely different from the person in the video!¡± Ji Ying was very happy to have the trust of her friend. ¡°Thank you! I¡¯m so happy that you believe in me. I feel so blessed!¡± Ji Ying grasped Shu Lanqing¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°Qingqing, go back and help me keep an eye on that post. Save everything you can.¡± At this moment, Zhou Hui caught up to them. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Shu Lanqing asked, a little worried. ¡°We¡¯re going to contact the police, of course!¡± Ji Ying made haste and came out of the South Gate in a short while. She walked less than 200 meters west and crossed a street before arriving at a police station. The jurisdiction of this station just happened to cover the entire campus. She quickly entered the compound and was about to enter the station to report the case when she saw a car parked at the gate. Then, a familiar figure came into view. Ji Ying was stunned. Why was he here? This was only a small police station. As the mayor, he should not be here at all. If he were to be at a police station, he would be at the headquarters. Zhao Weili was surprised to see them again so soon. What was Ji Ying doing at a police station? The two of them looked at each other. Ji Ying did not say anything, and neither did Zhao Weili. He only looked at her in confusion.