After the minor character transforms into a beauty, she steals the heart of a tycoon's son.

The little girl sat upright, her hands folded on her knees, her posture very well-behaved.

But the look in her eyes was serious; there was none of her usual coquettishness or cunning.

Si Lin thought, so this is what she's like when she gets serious.

Ruan Tang lowered her eyes. "I want to get better, so I'll drink it properly and won't waste any."

Si Lin didn't speak, holding the opened box of chocolates in her hand, her thumb rubbing the edge of the tin box.

He knew that Chinese medicine was bitter, and he thought that with her delicate nature, she would act coquettishly, look up at him softly, tug at his sleeve, and complain about the bitterness of the medicine, making him want to tease her.

This box of chocolates was the tool he used to tease her.

But this time she didn't, because the medicine was very precious to her.

There was a moment of silence in the lounge.

Oss yawned and put his head back on his paw.

Si Lin took the chocolate out of the tin box, but instead of teasing her as expected, he didn't play pranks on her.

He peeled off the outer foil, held the chocolate by the edge, and brought it directly to her mouth.

Open your mouth.

She opened her mouth, and he put the chocolate in it.

"You don't have to put up with it anymore." Si Lin's tone was casual, but his gaze didn't leave her face.

"If you're suffering, just say so. If you want to be cute, just be cute. No matter how expensive the medicine is, it won't make a difference if you take one."

Ruan Tang, with chocolate in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, blinked her eyes.

"Did you understand?" he asked.

She nodded, her lips slightly pouting, the chocolate shifting in her mouth, her cheeks puffing out on the other side.

Si Lin looked at her puffed-up cheeks and poked the puffed-up side of her face.

She mumbled a "hmm" and then subtly moved aside.

It was as if that moment of seriousness had never happened.

But Si Lin felt a slight sourness rising in his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

-

For the next two weeks, Shenglan was much quieter.

Lin Xiaokui stopped using the previous methods of secretly filming, exposing, and accusing others. She changed the name of the resistance group to "Civilian Group".

Subsequently, she and her entourage gave an interview to off-campus media, focusing on the unity and cohesion within the school and the excellent treatment received by students admitted through special admissions programs for ordinary citizens.

She smiled in front of the camera, saying that Saint Lan provided them with the best educational resources, that the noble students were friendly and enthusiastic, and that the student council deacons were fair and impartial.

Every word is dignified and elegant, and every sentence is flawless.

These interviews were not intercepted by the conglomerate and were successfully published online.

Suddenly, the mysterious and unapproachable academy of Shenglan in the eyes of outsiders seemed to have a crack torn open, revealing its harmonious and friendly inner world.

The comments section was full of praise and envy.

Some people say, "Shenglan is indeed a top-tier university; even its specially admitted students enjoy such good treatment."

Some people said, "I've long heard that the noble students of Shenglan are of high quality, and it's true that their reputation is well-deserved."

Some parents have even started inquiring about the special admission quotas for next year, hoping to send their children in as well.

Lin Xiaokui's name was mentioned repeatedly, and screenshots of her standing in front of the camera with neither arrogance nor servility were posted everywhere.

Coupled with gimmicks like "a model of special admissions", it has become somewhat famous.

-

In the deacon's office, Wen Yan leaned against the window, holding a tablet in his hand, on which was Lin Xiao Kui's latest interview video.

His subordinates stood in front of the desk, heads bowed.

That was the team leader in charge of public opinion monitoring, a young man wearing glasses, surnamed Lu.

"The system's blocking rules only target malicious content for intensive review, and will block it without issuing it," Team Leader Lu replied cautiously.

"Lin Xiaokui's interviews were all positive, and the keywords did not trigger the blocking mechanism."

"It was our oversight. From now on, we will strictly control all information about them, and block it regardless of whether it is positive or negative."

Wen Yan put his glasses back on and glanced at him.

That glance was indifferent, without any anger, but Team Leader Lu lowered his back even further.

"Go out."

Team Leader Lu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, bowed, and quickly retreated.

Pei Heng lounged on the sofa, legs crossed, playing with a lighter in his hand. "This Lin Xiaokui, she's learned her lesson after getting her school uniform ripped off last time."

"We're no longer going to engage in direct confrontation; we're switching to a public opinion strategy."

"Do you think she's truly been beaten into submission and become a lackey, or is she trying to elevate Shenglan high only to bring her crashing down?"

Si Lin lazily lifted his eyelids upon hearing this, "If she wants Sheng Lan to fall, she'll have to have the ability to do so."

"Which of those media platforms isn't controlled by the four major conglomerates? Anyone who tries to turn against them will be crushed."

Wen Yan chimed in, "Lin Xiaokui posting a few positive news articles won't hurt much. It just benefits her, though. She gets popularity for free by riding on the coattails of Shenglan's top academy."

"Let the subordinates handle this small matter."

Pei Heng thought for a moment, "That's true."

Ji Yan sat on the innermost sofa and did not participate in the discussion from beginning to end.

He had no interest in Lin Xiaokui.

Whether it was the resistance group or the civilian group, he shared Wen Yan's view that they were just a bunch of small fry who couldn't cause any trouble.

Si Lin raised his wrist to check the time; it was exactly six o'clock.

He stood up, straightened his cuffs, and walked around the desk toward the door.

Pei Heng leaned out from the sofa. "Leaving again? It's only six o'clock."

Si Lin didn't turn around, opened the office door and walked out.

Pei Heng tossed the lighter onto the coffee table and slumped back on the sofa. "He's a heartbreaker, isn't he? When has he ever ever timed his walk by perfectly?"

Ji Yan glanced at the closed door, his brow furrowing slightly. "Has he been like this lately?"

"That's right." Pei Heng sat up straight.

"You know that girl has a weak constitution; she gets fevers all the time."

"Qin Zhou wrote a prescription and obtained a bunch of rare medicinal herbs from the Si family's medicine storehouse. He decocted them and delivered them to his rest room every day."

"The key point is, even though she's getting treatment, Si Lin insists on personally overseeing it."

"Every day at six o'clock, without fail."

Ji Yan frowned even more deeply. "Is he really that bad? He's a special admission student, and one whose heart isn't with us at all."

Pei Heng leaned back on the sofa armrest, his usual playful expression gone. "I don't think it's that bad either."

"You saw what happened at the last school anniversary celebration; deep down, she still leans towards the special admissions students."

"To put it bluntly, they are not from the same class as us, nor are they of the same mind as us."

"Si Lin should only lust after someone like that and have fun with her; she shouldn't have any real feelings for her."

Ji Yan nodded, indicating his stance.

In their circle, specially admitted students are used as servants, not people to be cared about.

Like Cheng Jin, being obedient and capable is enough.

Going up another level would be an exception.

It's like they forced someone who shouldn't have been put in this position onto the throne.

Wen Yan leaned against the window, listening to Pei Heng and Ji Yan's conversation without saying a word.

His interest in Ruan Tang was never hidden from the beginning.

That face, that figure, that pure yet alluring charm—it's truly captivating.

But now he is more interested in Si Lin's changes.

Si Lin, who never cared about women, actually made exceptions again and again for a special admission student.

Besides being surprised and curious, he increasingly wanted to try it himself to see what was so special about Ruan Tang that could make Si Lin like this.

"Wen Yan, say something." Pei Heng turned to look at him.

"You've gotten quite close to that girl. What do you think is so special about her?"

Wen Yan smiled. "I'm also curious to know how she managed to control Si Lin."