"Ugh!" Lin Ran nearly gagged on the spot.
"Liu Ruxue, you disgust me. I suggest you wake up and face reality."
A dangerous glint in Lin Ran's eyes silenced Liu Ruxue instantly.
Liu Ruxue's words sent the crowd into an uproar again.
At this point, they barely cared whether Lin Ran and Liu Ruxue had any history—Liu Ruxue’s audacity alone left them stunned.
"What did Campus Belle Liu just say? Did I suddenly forget how to understand Mandarin?"
"What campus belle? Liu Ruxue’s reputation is in the gutter now."
"I can’t believe this. Liu Ruxue is disgusting. Wasn’t she just exposed for two-timing a few days ago?"
"Damn, she’s Lin Jian’s cousin—his mom’s niece—but has no blood relation to Lin Ran, right?"
"Honestly, she’s kind of brave. How many women would dare confess like this in front of everyone?""Pfft, please. Back then, Senior Lin Ran gave her everything, and she threw him away like trash. Now she’s pulling this ‘deep love’ act?"
Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, Lin Jian broke into a cold sweat. He had done everything he could, yet it still ended like this.
Was there really no other choice?
Even Liu Yuemei lost her fighting spirit at this moment. A terrible premonition gnawed at her—if this continued, something disastrous would happen.
She tugged at Lin Jian’s sleeve, but he was still reeling, his gaze fixed on Liu Ruxue with deep intensity.
Liu Yuemei sighed inwardly, heartbroken.
She never imagined her beloved niece would stab her in the back at the most critical moment.
She had her reasons for betraying her son—Lin Ran clearly had dirt on her.
But why would Liu Ruxue betray Lin Jian?
Liu Ruxue ignored everything else. Right now, she just wanted to rush to Lin Ran’s side, to stand with him and shield him from the fallout. But Lin Ran seemed unwilling.
Why? Because of that woman, Luo Yao?
"Lin Ran, I know you’re worried about me, but it’s okay. I’m not afraid—"
Lin Ran felt sick.
"Shut up. One more word and I’ll vomit. You’re even more disgusting than Shi Nanci and Lin Jian combined, you know that?"
Liu Ruxue’s eyes widened. The look in Lin Ran’s eyes warned her—if she dared speak again, he’d make sure she regretted ever being born.
He knew everything—her secret rendezvous with Shi Nanci at Pangu Hotel, then sneaking upstairs with Lin Jian.
So she kept quiet.
She still clung to the last shred of her nonexistent dignity.
But she didn’t realize Lin Ran’s thoughts were elsewhere.
Lin Ran simply didn’t want to hear her voice. He was also waiting for Wang Bao.
Today, he would publicly humiliate both Liu Ruxue and Lin Jian.
A live broadcast to the entire internet—what a rare opportunity.
"What’s taking Wang Bao so long?"
Lin Jian finally steadied himself. He had no choice but to go all-in now.
Suddenly, the temperature seemed to drop. Lin Jian looked up and locked eyes with a woman in the crowd—her gaze sharp as a blade.
Luo Yao?
What was she doing here?
Luo Yao trembled with anger. Liu Ruxue’s public confession infuriated her, but she held back—all because of the changes Lin Ran had brought into her life.
She had to trust him.
Lin Jian steeled himself. "Doesn’t matter if Luo Yao’s here. If we’re going down, we’re going down together."
So he unleashed his ultimate move—a verbal "R skill" straight at Lin Ran.
"Fine, even if I was wrong about everything else, answer me this—aren’t you someone’s kept man? Don’t you—"
"Hold on." Lin Ran smirked. "You think you can just slander me like that?"
Since Wang Bao wasn’t ready yet, why not serve an appetizer first?
"Since you’ve been proven guilty of defamation, shouldn’t you kneel and apologize? Otherwise, I’ll have you dragged to the police station right now, and you can forget about saying another word."
Principal Tang, seated in the audience, smiled faintly and straightened his posture.
As expected of Lin Ran.
Lin Jian froze, then felt an unexpected surge of hope.
Was Lin Ran really about to ruin his own reputation like this?
Before he could speak, Lin Ran coldly demanded again.
"Kneel. Apologize. Then talk."
The students quickly caught on, eager for drama.
"Apologize!"
"Apologize!"
"Apologize!"
Lin Jian forced a smile. He knew if he refused, Lin Ran’s bodyguards would step in.
The fake bodyguards he’d brought wouldn’t stand a chance.
He had already prepared for the worst. Besides, kneeling wasn’t new to him—it would paint him as the victim. And who didn’t sympathize with the underdog?
So, in front of the entire school, Lin Jian dropped to his knees.
"Brother, I’m sorry. I upset you again. I apologize. I just… I love you too much. I don’t want to see you go down the wrong path."
His practiced ease suggested he’d done this many times before.
"Holy crap! He actually knelt? That was way too smooth."
"I don’t like Lin Jian, but isn’t Lin Ran going too far?"
"Too far? ‘Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked in his shoes.’ If you don’t know Lin Ran’s story, go check the forums. Besides, weren’t you just chanting ‘apologize’ too?"
"Yeah, but I didn’t say ‘kneel’!"
"Honestly, Lin Ran seems like he’s drunk on power now."
"Oh sure, sure. Just remember that when you’re using the new library, ‘Mr. High-and-Mighty.’"
Once Lin Jian stood back up, he pressed on.
"Brother, you have to admit it—you’re someone’s sugar baby. You’re a kept man. You don’t deserve to represent the students."
Lin Ran spread his hands. "Proof? Who exactly am I supposedly involved with? Too scared to name names? You’re just throwing baseless accusations now?"
"Looks like you want to kneel again, huh? Since when did slander not require evidence?"
Lin Jian’s eyes widened. He couldn’t believe Lin Ran’s audacity.
"You really want me to say it?"
"Go ahead. Tell me—whose ‘kept man’ am I? I’d love to know." Lin Ran pushed.
Lin Jian hesitated, fear creeping in. Liu Yuemei, still in shock, finally spoke up.
"Jian, maybe… let’s just drop it."
If they stopped now, there was still a way out.
But if Luo Yao’s name came out, it was game over.
Lin Jian wrestled with the decision—should he expose Luo Yao?
Some students in the crowd began whispering guesses.
Meanwhile, students from Nuanyao Group watched with barely contained excitement.
Was today the day their boss and his rumored lover went public?
Seeing Lin Jian’s hesitation, Lin Ran smirked in disdain.
"If you can’t say it, kneel and apologize again."
Finally provoked beyond reason, Lin Jian snapped. If Lin Ran wanted to burn bridges, so be it.
"Luo Yao. The heiress of the top financial empire. Admit it—you’re Luo Yao’s lover, aren’t you?"