Chapter 53 is not the sun, but the goddess of moonlight...
The entire forum exploded in an instant.
--ah? ? ?
—No relation? ??
—No way, did the young lady really fall out with Lu Ran because of Ye Qingyu??
—Could Ye Qingyu and Jing Lin have broken up because Ye Qingyu got involved with the young lady? Maybe the young lady persuaded him, after all, Jing Lin is notorious for being a womanizer.
—Wow, once I think about it that way, the logic suddenly makes sense.
Good heavens, what is it about Ye Qingyu that makes her so captivating? Lu Ran, Jing Lin, and the young lady... ah... even An Yinyou, who's in the hospital, all have inextricable connections with her. Even novels wouldn't dare write something like this.
—emmm…a Mary Sue female lead in a campus romance novel.
In short, due to Pei Ci's involvement, Ye Qingyu's fame and popularity have reached a new level. Everyone at Anta Academy knows Ye Qingyu, and the upper echelons of Anta know this student to varying degrees.
Did Ye Qingyu, who was born in an orphanage, achieve upward social mobility simply by entering Anta Academy?
That's really something.
“Very good, we can do more publicity.” Her well-maintained fingers were adorned with an emerald ring, and the woman’s hair at her temples was slightly gray, but this did not detract from her elegant and noble face; instead, it added a touch of maturity to her appearance. She rested her hand lightly on the edge of the black table and said calmly, “Anta can’t remain stagnant forever. I think this is also what Speaker Anta is thinking.”
“Yes, Speaker Lu,” Principal Anta said with a smile, “We always have to give those people some room for delusion.”
Without the lure of carrots, how could the donkey move?
Thus, with the deliberate promotion of the Anta official, Ye Qingyu became a top student who "shines in the school with excellent grades and receives attention and support from the school," which was widely publicized and caused quite a stir in society.
*
"Mom, I want to study hard!" A third-grade student watched the news report intently. "I also want to get into Anta School so that my family can be happy for the rest of our lives!!!"
"Oh?" The elderly woman with a face full of wrinkles couldn't help but smile. "Then Mom will wait."
"Uh-huh!"
*
"What outstanding achievements earned you the favor of a powerful figure?" She threw her half-smoked cigarette on the ground, crushing it into a mess. The bright lights illuminated her youthful face. "Isn't it just having a pretty face that allowed me to hook up with a rich second-generation heir?"
"Then I can too..."
*
"I think this special admissions system is quite advanced." The video blogger didn't hold back his praise. "In this capitalist monopoly country, this is one of the few channels that ordinary people can use for upward mobility, so everyone must seize this unique opportunity. I really love Anta, and I want to be reborn in Anta in my next life."
With the continuous participation of others, Ye Qingyu's fame spread to its maximum extent.
This is just the first step in the plan.
And then...
"Holy crap, the school and student council actually approved Ye Qingyu's celebration plan in the end. Isn't this ridiculous? Does Ye Qingyu even know what a celebration is? What kind of vision can an ordinary person have? Will the final result look like an arts performance at an orphanage???"
"The most outrageous thing is making her the overall person in charge of the celebration? In the past, the person in charge of the celebration has always been the president of the student council. Although the school allocates a large sum of money for the celebration, which person in charge hasn't personally funded the event to make it more perfect? What could this penniless Ye Qingyu possibly come up with?! I'm truly speechless!!!"
"...Ahem, actually, I think the main concern for both sides is the young lady behind Ye Qingyu."
"Was the young lady really not involved in either the planning or the execution of the celebration?"
"I also think it's mainly because of the young lady. With her family background and influence, using her name is a continuous source of resources."
"It's said that the young lady will be performing a piano piece at the celebration..."
"Oh... never mind then, which match is it?"
"Why hasn't anyone posted Ye Qingyu's plan? I'd like to help her with it."
"The specific details of the celebration are known only to the staff inside; no one else knows them."
While Ye Qingyu was recruiting staff for the celebration, many students came to apply. Aside from those admitted through special admissions programs, the students here all came from extremely wealthy families. When introducing their strengths, they all offered to provide financial support. As for their skills and abilities, these people far surpassed ordinary people. In just one afternoon, Ye Qingyu recruited twice as many people as she had expected.
"Are you done, Ye?"
Just before school ended, Pei Ci came to find Ye Qingyu. Ye Qingyu had just finished the recruitment process, and the classroom where she had interviewed all the successful candidates was filled with them. Ye Qingyu had a faint bluish-gray tinge under her eyes.
Ye Qingyu paused, looking up at the girl outside the door. She stood quietly in the light, gentle and serene.
After spending so many days together, Ye Qingyu's thorns seemed to have softened. She smiled at Ye Qingyu, "That's about enough."
Pei Ci walked in, knowing it was an interview. She politely said to the people in the classroom, "Thank you very much for participating in the celebration. Ye and I will remember it."
After thinking for a moment, Pei Ci said, "I'll treat you to drinks next time."
The air suddenly became quiet.
Perhaps the silent person himself sensed something was amiss, and hurriedly spoke up, "Okay, okay, Pei."
If their initial goal was simply to see the young lady perform, they now realized that while handling the celebration, it was also a good opportunity to make a lasting impression on her.
I have to work harder!!!
After Pei Ci finished speaking, she left the classroom with Ye Qingyu.
“I think we should practice our teamwork when we get back,” Pei Ci said to Ye Qingyu.
The celebration mainly includes an opening ceremony, an exhibition showcasing the school's achievements in academics, science and technology, and the arts, followed by an awards ceremony and a closing ceremony. Pei Ci will indeed be playing the piano on stage, but only as accompaniment to Ye Qingyu's speech as a special admissions student—essentially serving as background music for Ye Qingyu's speech.
Pei Ci had suggested this herself, but Ye Qingyu objected. However, Pei Ci insisted on going ahead with it.
"Ye Qingyu, your current situation is very dangerous." Pei Ci's expression was quite serious. "You may not know how famous you've become. And the Anta Academy's school festival is not just a school event, but more than that..."
Before Pei Ci could finish speaking, Ye Qingyu automatically added, "It is closely related to the prime ministerial election."
Antalya is a parliamentary capitalist country where the prime minister, elected by parliament, is the de facto ruler. Parliament is primarily divided into two factions: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate mainly represents the aristocracy, while the House of Representatives represents the less powerful capitalist class, while also considering the lower and middle classes.
The special admissions system initially arose as a way for the House of Representatives to gain votes from the lower and middle classes. It was initially blocked by the Senate and ultimately abandoned, but historically, it was linked to numerous acts of violence stemming from class conflict. To alleviate class tensions and consolidate rule, both the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed to the system. The House used it to garner votes, while the Senate used it to project an image of aristocracy and populism.
The presence of officials from both sides of parliament at the campus celebration was mainly for show.
Ye Qingyu's actions were a heavy blow to both sides.
“Yes.” Pei Ci hadn’t expected Ye Qingyu to think of this. She said calmly, “With me here, you will be safer.”
In short, thanks to Pei Ci's insistence, the program was indeed finalized.
With the school festival approaching, things will get busier and busier, and she's running out of energy. It would be better for her to practice now. That's why Pei Ci brought it up specifically this afternoon.
"Okay," Ye Qingyu said.
After returning to the Pei family home and having dinner, Pei Ci took Ye Qingyu to her music room.
The music room was the same one Pei Ci had used when she was a child. Three years had passed, but thanks to professional cleaning and maintenance, it still looked brand new. Pei Ci was playing a folk tune from Antha, a very soothing piece of music that only became slightly hurried towards the end. This piece was suitable for both casual and easy speech, and it was also a piece that Pei Ci could easily play in its entirety.
"What are you daydreaming about?" After finishing the piece, seeing that Ye Qingyu hadn't reacted for a long time, Pei Ci turned to look at her, her eyes slightly puzzled. "Classmate Ye?"
"Really?" Ye Qingyu blinked and said with a smile, "Sometimes I feel like you can do anything."
"All-powerful..." Pei Ci said, "Isn't that money?"
"The young lady actually has a concept of money."
Pei Ci sat down next to him and casually said, "Maybe you didn't completely forget it in your past life."
She remembered that small, bare room, where she was seriously ill and unable to earn a single penny while being a huge money-devouring beast; she would easily die if she left that person.
“Then I might not have forgotten either.” Ye Qingyu naturally wrapped her arms around her, resting her face on her shoulder. “It hurts so much…”
Does it hurt a lot?
"Um."
Ye Qingyu closed her eyes, and as her vision went dark, countless terrifying images flashed through her mind.
Why do you look just like her?
"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it."
"Why did you get plastic surgery to look like Ah Ci?!"
"Am I crazy? I'm not crazy, it's the world that's crazy. How could you be the leading lady in my story? What the hell are you? You don't even deserve to be in my shoes."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it."
His neck was gripped tightly, and Lu Ran's bloodshot eyes stared blankly at the person he was lifting. His voice was twisted and crazed, "Ye Qingyu, can't you just die?"
"Just kill yourself, okay?"
She couldn't remember how many days and nights she had been tortured like this. Her only consolation was that Pei Ci never once looked at Lu Ran. And her only relief was to jump off the building, just as her bullies had hoped, until she died completely.
Then, when I opened my eyes again, fate had begun in the same way once more.
"Ah Ci?"
Why are you imitating her?
"I'm not crazy, who the hell is crazy?"
"It shouldn't be you, it shouldn't be you."
"Want to be free? Just jump."
"You should kill yourself."
Ye Qingyu opened her eyes from her dark memories and took something out of her pocket, handing it to Pei Ci.
“This is…?” Pei Ci looked at the ring on her hand.
The ring Pei Ci gave her was the first thing they did together. Later, she swallowed it, had it pumped out, and kept it in her pocket. Even after regaining her memories, she could still remember the ring's warmth, something she had never experienced before.
Ye Qingyu now knows that Pei Ci won't remember, because that's just the kind of person she is—a cold person who never cares about things that don't concern her.
But her world was always dark; she had never seen the real sun or felt its radiance. So when the cold moonlight shone on her, she could mistake it for sunlight.
"I bought it." After a few seconds of silence, Ye Qingyu smiled and said, "It's a gift for you."
Pei Ci opened her arms, so naturally, as if she were a princess who was born to be pampered.
So Ye Qingyu carefully put the ring on her finger.
The item was returned to its rightful owner.
"May you live a long and healthy life." She gently embraced her, embracing the moonlight around her.
On the other side...
Private hospital, consultation room.
"Young Master Lu, are you still hallucinating?"
Lu Ran sat in the chair with his forehead wrapped in bandages. He was slouching and looked dejected, his whole being in a state of violent distortion.
“Yes,” Lu Ran said.
"What hallucination?"
"It's the same hallucination I had after I was hospitalized," Lu Ran said, pursing his lips, "but it's clearer."
How clear is it?
“I grabbed Ye Qingyu’s head and slammed it against the wall. As I kept slamming it, she suddenly turned into… Aci. I let go and slapped myself, and she turned back into Ye Qingyu. I hate her, I despise her, I loathe her, I reject her from the bottom of my heart, but I can’t kill her myself.”
"So what did you do in your hallucination?" The doctor observed Lu Ran's expression.
“She committed suicide,” Lu Ran said calmly. “There’s always a way to make someone commit suicide.”
"I see..."
"I can't control myself right now." Lu Ran grabbed his hair with his hand. "I feel like if I'm not careful, I'll strangle her."
But you can't.
no.
Lu Ran's clenched fingers bled continuously.
“Young Master Lu, it seems that only medication and physical intervention are possible, but this may leave you feeling unwell,” the doctor said. “Young Master Lu, this is no small matter, I hope you will think about it carefully.”
"Stop talking nonsense and let's begin," Lu Ran said.
He cannot kill Ye Qingyu.
At the very least, Ye Qingyu must not be killed before Aci recovers from her illness.
After about two weeks, Lu Ran's treatment showed some progress, but this was replaced by a side effect of drowsiness. During her second treatment session, Lu Ran received an invitation from A Ci.
An invitation to the Antal College campus.
This was a great opportunity to reconcile, and he couldn't wait any longer, so he stopped all his treatments and rushed back to school.
He must perform well and not disappoint Ah Ci.
However, what he didn't know was that this seemingly ordinary celebration had already exceeded his expectations.
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Author's note: Xiao Lu was influenced by the previous playthrough, haha [doge emoji]
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