I really don't have money for the ship girls.

After spending two days traveling in Binjiang City with the Prince of Wales, Ying Tian returned to school and then discovered that he was putting more pressure on the school and Fu Ya than he had imagined.

Large crowds gathered at almost every gate of Binjiang University, armed with cameras and microphones, or simply using their phones to film. Famous and unknown online celebrities and social media influencers from Binjiang all flocked to the area. Outside the university walls, rows of lighting equipment were set up, and a group of heavily made-up, V-shaped-faced influencers were livestreaming. Security guards at the gates sternly refused entry, while vendors selling boxed lunches outside the university beamed with smiles.

Yes, everyone has a bright future.

One can imagine the commotion that erupted when Ying Tian and the Prince of Wales, wearing a mask, appeared at the school gate. A surging crowd rushed forward, with all sorts of filming equipment held high, as if afraid of missing the exciting scene.

"Ms. Shi, I'm a reporter from xx Daily. May I interview you?"

"See this? See this? I finally got a picture of Ms. Shi, the guy you guys have been asking me to film these past few days! New viewers, give this a little red heart, no problem, bro!"

"Ms. Shi, would you be interested in doing a live stream at our company?"

"Ying, I want to marry you!"

……

Ying Tian saw the heavily made-up female internet celebrity in the crowd. She looked to be about thirty years old and weighed at least 130 pounds. He thought to himself, "How dare you say such a thing? If you want to gain traffic, you might as well just say you want to marry Ms. Shi. Oh right, there isn't an updated LGBT version in China yet."

The surging crowd surrounded the two of them, making it impossible for them to move. But it didn't matter. Ying Tian knew the school would intervene. The previous interview had caused such a big impact, and now that they were at the school gate, the school would definitely not allow them to be interviewed again.

However, to Ying Tian's surprise, it was not the school that took the first action.

The Prince of Wales gave the female internet celebrity who said she wanted to marry Ying a cold look, then unhappily removed her mask and said, "Please make way."

The sight of the Prince of Wales had already stunned the onlookers; seeing such a beauty in a video was one thing, but seeing her in person was even more breathtaking. Adding to the awe, the Prince of Wales's words, though not loud, carried a penetrating force like a ship's horn. All the internet celebrities and social media influencers, layered around the perimeter, heard her authoritative statement and were simultaneously stunned.

An eerie silence fell over the noisy scene after the Prince of Wales uttered a single sentence.

Xiao Li, who was squeezed at the front, was a small internet celebrity with 200,000 followers. He was originally very happy that his persistence had finally paid off and he thought he could gain 100,000 followers. But for some reason, he was stunned when he heard the Prince of Wales’ words. There seemed to be a powerful force in them, which made Xiao Li subconsciously feel that he had to obey.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, the Prince of Wales nodded in satisfaction. He stretched out his right hand and pushed forward, and the people, led by Xiao Li, felt a tremendous force that moved the entire crowd backward by a meter, creating a path through the sea of ​​people, as spectacular as Moses parting the sea.

"Handsome," Ying Tian praised after regaining his senses. He had thought these internet celebrities were just being spineless and obedient to foreigners, but little did he know it was just the Prince of Wales using force to overcome cleverness.

“I will pave the way for you.” The Prince of Wales gestured for Ying Tian to walk in front, guarding him like a knight.

"Forever and ever."

This scene was captured by countless mobile phones and cameras, winning the Prince of Wales countless fans, even though she never appeared in the public eye again afterward.

Ying Tian pursed his lips. He was truly captivated by her beauty and couldn't help but think that she was elegant and imposing. Even if the ship girl Prince of Wales really existed, she probably wouldn't be any different.

Chapter Seventeen: The eldest brother lanes mid, the commander withstands pressure in the offlane.

Security guards gathered at the school gate and, after Ying Tian and the Prince of Wales entered the campus, blocked the self-media who tried to surround them.

Without any hesitation, the two were led directly to a small conference room in the teaching building.

Ying Tian saw the counselor, the secretary of the Youth League Committee, the department head... but not the principal. However, the handsome old man in the middle wearing gold-rimmed glasses seemed to be the vice principal. He was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering or something, one of the first generation of students to study abroad. Anyway, he had only seen him in photos. The school had sent out all its elites.

Out of courtesy, Ying Tian bowed slightly to greet the leaders and teachers. To be fair, the school hadn't gone too far in this matter; it was just lazy governance, which is a common problem.

The counselor pulled Ying Tian to sit down. Ying Tian's face was expressionless, and besides, he had no right to speak at this moment. He quickly stood aside, feeling like he was just a counselor for graduate school admissions, weak, pitiful, and helpless.

The first to speak was the secretary of the Youth League Committee. He clasped his hands together and forced what he thought was a kind smile, saying, "Yingtian, I believe you know very well why we called you here."

Ying Tian nodded; of course he understood.

"Then let me start with a few words... One hundred and fourteen years ago, Mr. Liu Guming founded Liangjiang University Hall, the predecessor of our Binjiang University, to rectify the spirit of youth and save the nation from suffering. Later..."

It must be said that the Youth League Secretary is indeed a Youth League Secretary; his competence is undeniable. He first recalled the school's glorious past, inspiring a sense of pride and belonging. Then, he listed countless outstanding predecessors of Binjiang University, emphasizing their spirit of dedication. Next, he stressed the things he had done since becoming the Youth League Secretary, aligning with both policy and public sentiment. Finally, he concluded that the school treats every student equally, and that Ying Tian should seek help from the school instead of contacting the media when encountering problems, as this had a significant impact on the school's reputation. Ying Tian, ​​as a student of Binjiang University, should feel ashamed.

The Youth League Secretary had been speaking for over half an hour without any notes, and he was getting more and more excited as he spoke. Ying Tian didn't feel much guilt, but rather a sense of admiration arose spontaneously.

While Ying Tian was enduring extreme pressure, the Prince of Wales was playing a high-level game with the vice-principal.

The two communicated entirely in English, using various technical terms and complex sentences. At first, they seemed a little cautious, but now they were chatting and laughing. Midway through, the vice principal even had his small coffee machine brought over to make a cup of black coffee for the Prince of Wales, as if they were old friends.

Ying Tian suddenly remembered that this vice-principal seemed to be a PhD from Oxford University. Could it be that the Prince of Wales really graduated from Oxford?

In short, the Prince of Wales's excellent laning skills put a lot of pressure on the Youth League Secretary and his colleagues. The vice principal was all smiles, his face full of wrinkles. Could it be that he has changed his attitude?

"In short, your behavior has put the school in a very passive position, severely damaged the school's reputation, and attracted so many people to gather at the school gate, seriously affecting the school's normal teaching and living activities. Ying Tian, ​​do you admit this?"

Ying Tian calmly nodded and replied, "I admit it."

"Alright, such behavior should normally be punished, but the school has taken into consideration your difficult circumstances and the fact that you haven't committed any wrongdoings before," the Youth League Secretary said. "Besides, we already had your counselor convey the school's stance to you, right, Duan?"

The counselor quickly said, "I notified him that very day."

“That’s right, Director Duan did notify me,” Ying Tian said. “I also relayed my message back.”

You said you understand the school's decision.

“Yes, that’s what I said, but I also conveyed another attitude.” Ying Tian paused, looked around at the school leaders sitting opposite him. They were the authority figures in the school, but Ying Tian didn’t even have natural authority figures like his parents, so how could he be in awe of such authority? He smiled and said, “This attitude is that I am an orphan.”

The Youth League secretary asked, "What do you mean?"

Ying Tian said slowly and deliberately, "What I mean is that I have no family expectations, and I don't need to care about grades or face. If things don't go well, I can drop out and go out to work. I have absolutely no worries."

The Youth League secretary frowned slightly and said, "Can I understand you threatening the school?"

"Ahem, Ying Tian probably didn't mean that." The department head cleared his throat, trying to play peacemaker, after all, Ying Tian was a student from his department.

However, Ying Tian said, "Thank you for speaking up for me, teacher, but if the school is threatening me, then I am threatening the school."

The secretary of the Youth League Committee was somewhat annoyed. He said, "Ying Tian, ​​do you know how negatively you've affected the school? The school could easily postpone your graduation or even expel you."

"Oh."

Ying Tian said bluntly, "I remember that an African student from the International College once stole equipment from the school's laboratory, and in the end, he was only fined."

"What do you mean?"

Ying Tian said without fear, "What I mean is, if the school gets on the trending topics list twice in a short period of time, is that really good for everyone?"

"As sure as a gun."

At this moment, the Prince of Wales stood silently behind Ying Tian, ​​his red eyes looking down at the school leaders opposite him with disdain. "Of course I will stand on Ying's side. Your school has even less control over me."

Even though there were only two people, a man and a woman, they were not at a disadvantage in the confrontation, and the conference room fell into an awkward silence.

Finally, the vice principal broke the silence: "Alright, it wasn't a big deal to begin with, why make things so tense? Let's just explain things clearly."

Taking the upper echelons was indeed effective, and Ying Tian was very familiar with this approach of playing the good cop and the bad cop.

Seeing that the vice principal had defined the nature of the matter, the secretary of the Youth League Committee also relented: "What the principal said is true. This matter has never been a big deal from beginning to end. In that case, how about both sides take a step back?"

Ying Tian turned his head and met the Prince of Wales's gaze. The latter simply smiled, his red eyes full of trust. So Ying Tian said, "Of course, I didn't mean to target the school. I just want to clear my name and study normally. It's such a trivial request."

The vice principal said, "This is a very normal request. To be honest, the school has also made some mistakes in this matter, failing to demonstrate humanistic care. The school will hold a press conference this afternoon to clarify this matter. Yingtian, is there anything else you need?"

Ying Tian shook his head and said, "No, as long as things can be explained clearly, that's fine."

The refined vice principal asked with some curiosity, "Are you sure you don't have any other needs? Like the confession wall that restricts your speech, and those two classmates who framed you, you've persisted until now because you want them to receive the punishment they deserve?"

"I believe the school will handle this fairly. As for Fu Ya and the others..."

Ying Tian and the Prince of Wales exchanged a knowing smile, "They will soon face their own judgment."

Chapter 18 How can someone like you be changed?

Soon after, at a press conference, the spokesperson for Binjiang University released the results of the investigation into the entire incident, admitting that they had not been meticulous enough in their student management work, apologizing to the innocent student Ying, and highly praising Ms. Shi for upholding humanistic values.

The spokesperson also addressed the concerns raised by the public, stating that Ying's eligibility for the scholarship has been reinstated, the original Binjiang University confession wall account has been banned, the student operating the account has received a serious warning, and Fu and Zhang have been given major demerits and had their scholarships and postgraduate admission eligibility revoked.

Binjiang University's response essentially confirmed the whole incident, and its fair and sincere attitude immediately reversed the unfavorable situation in public opinion.

But what truly dealt Fu Ya and Zhang Ze the final blow was the latter half of Ms. Shi's interview that aired that evening.

"The program team understands that you are of mixed Chinese and British descent, with a Chinese father, but you grew up in Kent, England, and graduated from Oxford University. You can be considered an elite among elites. The next question is a bit presumptuous, but I would still like to ask, Ms. Shi, why did you come to China, and why are you so concerned about an orphan? Is that alright?"

"of course can."

Ms. Shi, as seen in the video, exudes elegance and seriousness, like the most intense sun illuminating the deepest ocean. Speaking in standard Mandarin, she says, "My English name is Wales, from the Principality of Wales. But actually, Wales literally means 'foreigner.' My mother, who named me, told me that without cultural identity, one is a foreigner regardless of nationality."

"My Chinese name is Shi Aimin. Shi means to leave a name in history, and Aimin means to love the people like one's own children. This is the name my father gave me, which embodies his people-oriented philosophy. This is what my parents expect of me. Even foreigners can be people-oriented. So I came to China not only because it is my father's country, nor only because I am obsessed with Chinese culture, but also because I want to eliminate the barriers between people."

"Darkness certainly exists in this world. In every country and every place, there are places where the sun cannot reach, where the darkness of people's hearts flows freely. This is something that no one can solve. However, a gentleman born on this very land once said, 'May the youth all cast off their apathy and strive upwards, without heeding the words of those who give up on themselves. Those who can do things should do them, those who can speak should speak. Let each contribute their share of warmth and light, like a firefly, to shine a little light in the darkness, without waiting for a torch. And if there is no torch after all, then I will be the only light.'"

“I think this gentleman hopes that everyone can become such a torch and light, and I am the same, I want to become such a light.”

Ms. Shi spoke in a calm and sincere tone, and her brilliant blonde hair was like a real torch. Many people would say such things, but her standard Chinese and dignified demeanor made almost everyone believe her without a doubt.

Almost instantly, a fan club for Ms. Shi was spontaneously formed online. They called themselves "Bangbao Shi" and began to create fan art and hand-drawn animations based on Ms. Shi's image. They also launched verbal attacks on comments that questioned Ms. Shi's authenticity.

We must protect our beloved Sister Shi!

As a result, public opinion has definitively concluded that compared to Ms. Shi's noble character, Fu Ya and Zhang Ze, these two clowns fighting like dogs, are so despicable that even Batman wouldn't bother with them; they're only fit to throw bottles in the circus.

Faced with such widespread condemnation, Zhang Ze's response seemed to be feigning death. Aside from the disdainful looks from his counselor and the senior students running the confession wall, even a casual remark from his roommate could put him on alert for a long time. In the end, Zhang Ze sheepishly moved out of the dormitory, deleted almost all his social media accounts, and pretended to be an ostrich burying its head in the sand, ignoring the overwhelming ridicule. He even became somewhat neurotic, instinctively fearing women, and now even the goddess who had been his companion on his hard drive only felt disgusting.

Fu Ya, however, seemed to want to struggle a little longer.

She arranged to meet Ying Tian at 9 p.m. through Rui Die in a secluded grove of trees next to the East Lake on campus, and Ying Tian readily agreed.

The Prince of Wales also came over. She was worried that Fu Ya had chosen such a time and place to fight to the death. Of course, she was not worried that Ying Tian could not defeat Fu Ya. She was worried that Fu Ya would use a honey trap. Even though the Prince of Wales believed that his commander would not fall for the trap, all accidents had to be prevented.

The Prince of Wales was relieved after seeing Fuya.

The woman in front of him was completely covered up, wearing a hat, sunglasses, a mask, and a long trench coat, as if afraid that others would recognize her. Even the agreed time and place were for this reason—Fu Ya no longer dared to face the gaze of others and only dared to go to places where no one was around.

To this, Yingtian could only say, "Good riddance, you damn cat."

Seeing her two former capable subordinates in this state, Rui Die felt a pang of sorrow. She forced a smile and said, "I invited you out because I wanted you to talk things out. We don't have any deep-seated hatred for each other, so why can't we talk things out?"

"Actually, there is some deep-seated hatred between us," Ying Tian said bluntly. "I only came here because of my senior. Speak quickly, I can't guarantee I'll listen."

Fu Ya stood there without saying a word, but her resentful gaze could be felt even through her sunglasses.

"If you're not going to say anything, then I'm leaving. I'm going to have a late-night snack with Sister Shi."

As Ying Tian spoke, he made a move to turn around and leave.

"Why aren't you acting like that pitiful dog on TV anymore?" Fu Ya's voice was a little hoarse, probably from crying so much that her vocal cords were worn out. She laughed somewhat hysterically and said venomously, "Say something! Why aren't you saying anything? Ying Tian, ​​are you feeling particularly smug right now? You should be the one being condemned by everyone, but now it's me, you bastard!"

Ying Tian said calmly, "I am not smug."

"You're so smug!" Fu Ya clenched her fists and said hysterically, "You've ruined everything for me, everything! People at school are talking about me, people in society are cursing me, even my family saw those videos and are asking if it's me. Are you trying to drive me to my death to be happy? Tell me, is that it?"

Ying Tian said indifferently, "Oh, if you want to die, you can jump into the lake now. Anyway, there are witnesses to prove that I didn't push you."

"Yingtian, what are you saying?" Rui Die quickly tried to mediate, "Don't say things out of anger. Fu Ya has already suffered a lot; she has paid the price."

"He just wants me dead! He just wants to destroy me! Damn it, you beast, you beast!"

Hearing Fu Ya's hoarse roar, Ying Tian couldn't help but laugh.

Fu Ya became even more agitated: "You smiled, I knew that was what you were thinking, you devil, you devil!"

"Heh, I'm laughing only at how you're still such a dim-witted person," Ying Tian said ruthlessly. "You say I wanted to ruin you, so what exactly did I do? I simply told the truth in the interview, without embellishing anything. Why would telling the truth ruin you?"

Ying Tian suddenly raised his voice: "Fu Ya, have you thought about this issue?"

Fu Ya was startled by Ying Tian's angry voice and froze on the spot.

Ying Tian resumed his usual voice and said self-deprecatingly, "You say I'm proud? I'm not proud at all. On the contrary, I feel sad. I've done nothing wrong, yet I have to use this method to prove my innocence to the public."

“Of course, you are even more pathetic, Fu Ya.” Ying Tian pointed his middle finger at the woman in front of him and said, “How can someone like you be changed? Now you don’t think about repentance, but about blaming others. I don’t think you can change anymore. You’re just a menace to society. Go die if you want to, but remember to die far away and don’t splatter your blood on me.”

"You! You!" Fu Ya clutched her chest, unable to catch her breath, and could no longer speak.

Rui Die couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Ying Tian, ​​you just..."

"Senior Sister Rui Die!" Ying Tian raised his voice, interrupting her. He then bowed to Rui Die, looking at her delicate face, and said, "You are a good person. You have helped me a lot before, and I am truly grateful. But as you have seen, I am a cold-blooded, ruthless, and two-faced person. My usual taciturn nature cannot hide my vengeful nature. So please don't waste your kindness on someone like me, senior. Thank you."

"Finally, I advise you to have less contact with Fu Ya. This is just my experience from the orphanage. Sometimes the difference between people is greater than the difference between people and dogs. Goodbye."

After saying that, Ying Tian turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

The Prince of Wales, who had been standing behind him, smiled at Rui Die, glanced coldly at Fu Ya with his disdainful red eyes, and then turned and chased after her.

Rui Die watched the two figures disappear into the distance without a word. She couldn't help but think of Ying Tian's usual taciturn demeanor. No matter what she asked him to do, he would do it silently. How much had he carried to grow into such a resolute yet lonely person?

For some reason, Rui Die felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Seeing the Prince of Wales following closely behind Ying Tian, ​​she felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

"Why did you leave? You're not allowed to leave, Ying Tian, ​​you stop right there and get back here!"

"I did nothing wrong, why should I repent? You are the one who is wrong, everyone is wrong, I did nothing wrong!"

"And you, Rui Die, you and Ying Tian are in cahoots! Why did you recruit me into the student council in the first place, and let me get to know a scumbag like Ying Tian? I'm in this state because of you. Don't even think about getting away with it!"

Looking at the crazed Fu Ya, Rui Die couldn't help but show her disgust, even though she was usually gentle. If she wasn't really afraid that Fu Ya would jump into the lake, she would have left long ago.

On the other side, the Prince of Wales patted Ying Tian on the back and said softly, "You don't need to pretend to be deep anymore, they haven't followed."

"Hoo—hehe—hahahaha—"