Arrogant and domineering!

Shan Lan's finger was nearly poking Qiu Mingli's nose. She looked at him and sneered, "I shouldn't have been soft-hearted enough to give you a hand back then. You shameless thing."

Qiu Mingli's face flushed bright red. "I just told you not to talk about Xu Ke. I haven't forgotten your kindness..."

"Bullshit," Shan Lan rudely interrupted, her lips curling in scorn. "I think you're just using this as an opportunity to vent. I knew you were a cold-blooded snake. Keeping you around only brings shame to Tianhai University."

Qiu Mingli tried to speak again, but Shan Lan pressed on aggressively, "Don't bother explaining. The more you talk, the worse it gets, you know that? Qiu Mingli!"

Qiu Mingli's eyes turned crimson, but he couldn't utter a single word. He was gentle and soft-spoken; he was no match for Shan Lan.

Seeing this, Shan Lan became even more smug. In terms of position, she could crush ten of him. In terms of arguing, she could crush a hundred. Trying to stand up for a student? He doesn't even know his own place.

Just then, Xu Ke stepped forward, completely shielding Qiu Mingli. "Shan Lan, you're acting quite high and mighty. But if I were to submit the evidence I held back three years ago, I wonder if you'd still be able to run your mouth."

At his words, Shan Lan's face stiffened. "What did you say?"

"You know exactly what I said," Xu Ke sneered, a mocking, cat-and-mouse glint in his eyes.

Shan Lan's complexion paled. "Make yourself clear. Don't think you can just slander people with empty words."

Looking at Xu Ke's expression, a seed of fear was planted in her heart.

Her mind raced, flashing through all the shady, underhanded things she'd done over the years... Could Xu Ke really have more evidence?! Impossible...

Xu Ke shook his head. "Shan Lan, you should know what kind of person I am. Do you think I'm like you, running that filthy mouth of yours and making baseless accusations against everyone?"

Shan Lan should have been furious at Xu Ke's biting insult, but now she didn't dare make a peep.

She was panicking. Truly panicking. If Xu Ke really had more evidence, she would be finished.

Xu Ke continued calmly, "It was Teacher Qiu who told me not to blow things up back then, since it could have complicated my own graduation.

"But I've graduated now, and my reputation at Tianhai University is already in the gutter.

"So, a barefoot man isn't afraid of one with shoes. I wouldn't mind crushing your damn head while I'm at it."

After he spoke, Shan Lan's expression changed dramatically.

Xu Ke's words were incredibly intimidating. If he had claimed that he held back on his own three years ago, she might not have believed him. But hearing that it was Qiu Mingli who had advised him to hold back for the sake of his graduation... A cold sweat broke out on her back. That was entirely plausible. Qiu Mingli was always one to consider the bigger picture. Persuading Xu Ke to show mercy was exactly something he would do.

Xu Ke looked at Shan Lan expressionlessly, a hint of mockery playing on his lips.

But behind him, unseen by Shan Lan, Qiu Mingli was completely bewildered.

Three years ago? When did I ever tell Xu Ke to hold back? Even though I care about the big picture, I would have been more than happy to see Shan Lan get what she deserved...

"What... what do you want?" After weighing the pros and cons, Shan Lan finally backed down.

If Xu Ke really had evidence, then antagonizing him and Qiu Mingli was absolutely not worth it.

"What do I want?" Xu Ke stared at her, his face a blank mask. "I'm just a student. How would I dare to tell you what to do, Teacher Shan? You decide."

With that, Shan Lan's face became as ugly as if she had just eaten shit.

She had wanted him to name his price so she could bargain. But now he was making her decide. If what she did didn't satisfy him... wouldn't she still be completely at his mercy?

"Then... I'll apologize to you and Teacher Qiu..." Shan Lan said tentatively.

Seeing Xu Ke remain silent, she struck while the iron was hot, hurriedly bowing. "Teacher Qiu, it's my fault. I was just confused for a moment. I hope you won't take offense."

"And Xu Ke, I've just been so busy, I hope you can understand. I sincerely apologize to you..."

After apologizing and bowing several times, Shan Lan straightened up and looked at Xu Ke with hopeful eyes.

But Xu Ke said indifferently, "Teacher Shan, you can try deciding again."

Shan Lan's face immediately turned livid with indignation.

If you weren't satisfied, you should have said so earlier! Waiting until I've finished apologizing to speak your mind?

Furious but too afraid to show it, she could only squeeze out another sentence. "Then, in addition to apologizing, I'll offer a thousand yuan as compensation."

Xu Ke said nothing, simply staring at her with the ghost of a smile.

Seeing this, Shan Lan nearly ground her teeth to dust.

A thousand yuan is a lot of money! What more does he want? How did he get even more overbearing than he was three years ago?

At this moment, Qiu Mingli suddenly stepped forward. "Let it go, Xu Ke. Teacher Shan and I usually get along. Let's just pretend this never happened."

Hearing this, Shan Lan's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes."

"What 'yes, yes'?" Xu Ke shot her a cold glance.

Her joy froze on her face.

Then, Xu Ke turned back to Qiu Mingli. "Teacher, you decide."

"Mm," Qiu Mingli nodded, then faced Shan Lan. "Teacher Shan, if there's nothing else, I'll go tidy up the archives room later."

"Yes, yes!" Shan Lan nodded vigorously in excitement. "Then I'll be leaving now."

With that, she hurriedly turned and fled without so much as a glance at Xu Ke. She was terrified he would overturn Qiu Mingli's decision and humiliate her again.

After Shan Lan disappeared down the hall, Qiu Mingli closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. "That woman is getting more and more difficult to deal with."

"Indeed," Xu Ke agreed, shaking his head.

As long as Shan Lan was here, Qiu Mingli wouldn't have a single good day.

Suddenly, Qiu Mingli's expression changed, and he broke into a laugh. "But Xu Ke, when did you get so good at bluffing? You didn't even bat an eye. I almost believed you."

He had already figured it out. How could a student who graduated three years ago possibly hold on to evidence for so long? It had to be a bluff.

"I actually don't know what she did," Xu Ke said with a smile, "but she's easy to bluff. With her guilty conscience, a few words were all it took to corner her."

Qiu Mingli laughed heartily. "Haha! That's true. 'He who has a clear conscience fears no knock at midnight.' I also figured out you were bluffing her, so I decided to step in and give her an out. If we had pushed her too hard, she might have realized something was wrong..."

He had intentionally waited for Shan Lan to finish her apology before speaking. If he hadn't even let her finish, he would have felt he was disrespecting Xu Ke for standing up for him. But to keep up the bluff any longer, he felt, would have been going too far.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.