So What If the Beautiful Campus Belle Loves Money? (13)

Su Qingqing had only glanced over casually, but when she saw what the notice said, her pupils suddenly contracted, and the gentle expression on her face froze.

[Student Council Disciplinary Inspection Department notice]

[An investigative hearing concerning Shi Zheng, the student involved in the Forum exposé, will be held at 2 p.m. this Thursday in the conference room on the third floor of the Administration Building. Relevant members are requested to attend on time.]

A Disciplinary Committee hearing?!

They weren't issuing a disciplinary penalty outright, but... holding a Disciplinary Committee hearing?

Su Qingqing jerked her head up and looked at Shi Zheng, her voice changing pitch with shock. "Shi Zheng! Wh-what's going on? Why is the Student Council holding a Disciplinary Committee hearing for you?!"

Her loss of composure stunned both Li Wei and Wang Luning.

Li Wei leaned over to get a better look at the phone, but Shi Zheng had already picked it up.

"What Disciplinary Committee hearing?" Wang Luning asked in confusion.

Su Qingqing stared intently at Shi Zheng. "The Student Council's Disciplinary Inspection Department sent out a notice saying they're holding a Disciplinary Committee hearing... How is that possible?"

She had previously gone out of her way to find a senior she knew and discreetly sound her out about Shi Zheng's situation.

At the time, the senior had told her with certainty that, in cases with such a bad impact, there were basically no exceptions.

It was precisely because she had received such definite inside information that Su Qingqing had tacitly allowed Li Wei to mock Shi Zheng.

Her secret satisfaction and sense of superiority had all rested on the outcome that "Shi Zheng would withdraw from school."

But now... an official notice for a Disciplinary Committee hearing?

This went completely against convention!

Su Qingqing had seen with her own eyes how cold and unfeeling Gu Yanshen could be.

Why would he break with convention and initiate such an elaborate formal investigation for someone as notorious as Shi Zheng?

That was nothing like his style!

Unless... Shi Zheng used some means I don't know about to persuade Gu Yanshen?

No, impossible!

Her, of all people?

Or... did he find something out?

Shi Zheng watched Su Qingqing's face grow paler by degrees, then glanced at Li Wei and Wang Luning, who were equally dumbstruck beside her, and sneered inwardly.

She waved her phone, her tone innocently feigning surprise. "Huh? Su Qingqing, aren't you in the Student Council? Didn't you know? Oh, right, maybe your rank isn't high enough, so you didn't get the notice."

Her words were like a thorn, giving Su Qingqing a light prick.

She was indeed a member of the Student Council, but she was only an ordinary officer in the Arts Department and really wasn't qualified to know the Student Council's specific arrangements in advance.

Shi Zheng continued unhurriedly, "As for why they're holding it... apparently, the president thought the Forum exposé was full of holes, and someone was clearly pulling strings behind the scenes, maliciously slandering a fellow student and damaging the school's atmosphere."

"The president is fair and incorruptible, and he can't stand petty people who trip others up from the shadows. That's why he called this Disciplinary Committee hearing, to uncover the truth and get justice for me, the victim."

Her gaze swept pointedly over Su Qingqing's face, from which all color had vanished in an instant.

Li Wei and Wang Luning were utterly dumbfounded.

The plot had reversed too quickly. Just moments ago, they had been mocking Shi Zheng, saying she was sure to withdraw and get lost.

In the blink of an eye, not only might she not have to withdraw, she might even clear her name?

Shi Zheng put her phone away and smiled faintly at the three women, who stood there as still as wooden chickens. "So, withdraw? I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint certain people. Not only am I not withdrawing, I might even be able to root out a few nasty rats."

In the dorm room, Li Wei and Wang Luning looked at each other.

Su Qingqing's fingertips dug deep into her palms.

After hearing those words, her earlier composure was utterly shattered, replaced by startled suspicion that things were slipping out of her control.

Why on earth was this happening?

What exactly did Shi Zheng do to hook up with Gu Yanshen?!

Back on her bed, Shi Zheng picked up her phone.

[Shi Zheng]: Got the notice for the Disciplinary Committee hearing. Thursday at 2 p.m. Thank you, boyfriend~ [Cute]

[Shi Zheng]: What are you doing right now? I'm a little bored. I miss you.

It was followed by a sticker of a kitten affectionately rubbing against someone.

The messages were sent successfully.

Without waiting for his reply, Shi Zheng switched her phone to silent and set it aside.

Inside a private club.

The polished marble tabletop in front of a dark velvet sofa reflected the scattered light of a crystal chandelier.

The air was filled with the scent of cigars and the perfume of the women.

Several young masters from equally distinguished families sat around, with innocent-looking, beautiful female companions nestled beside them.

Hua Jinchen lounged in a booth, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing the sexy lines of his collarbones.

He toyed with a square whiskey glass, the ice clinking softly against its sides as he listened to the young masters beside him banter.

"Young Master Hua, seriously, we're all waiting to see when you'll start your next round! Got your eye on any new targets lately? Hurry up, your brothers are waiting to meet our new sister-in-law!"

"Exactly. Whenever Young Master Hua makes a move, he always picks the best. That little model from last time was something else in bed. She really put me through my paces. Young Master Hua, give us a hint and let us broaden our horizons too?"

"Want us brothers to introduce you to a few fresh ones? Guaranteed clean and well-behaved!"

Hua Jinchen gave a lazy snort of laughter and drained his glass without answering.

Just as everyone was preparing to keep egging him on, the screen of Hua Jinchen's phone lit up on the table.

Hua Jinchen glanced at it casually.

When he saw the familiar contact name, his brows twitched slightly, and he swiped the screen open.

Two messages popped up.

When he read them, especially the last line, a trace of amusement flashed through Hua Jinchen's eyes.

He could almost picture that little liar sending such messages with an obedient yet calculating expression on her face.

Even the sticker she had sent was so cute.

Hua Jinchen pressed and held the sticker, then saved it to his favorites.

The corners of his mouth also curved upward slightly without his realizing it.

Subtle as the change was, it didn't escape the sharp eyes of the others, who had been watching him the whole time.

"Holy shit! He smiled! Hua Jinchen, you definitely just smiled at your phone! Come on, who is it?!"

Zhao Yong's shout immediately drew the attention of the others nearby, and even their female companions looked over curiously.

As though he had discovered a new continent, Huang Siyuan immediately let out a strange cry and leaned over to look at the phone. "Oh! The contact name is Little Wildcat... Who's that? Getting our Young Master Hua to smile at his phone—has the sun risen in the west? Could it be... his destined one has appeared?"

Hua Jinchen reacted quickly, turning his wrist to keep the other man from peeking.

The hint of a smile vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by a somewhat impatient look.

"None of your damn business," he cursed lazily, tapping his fingers on the screen.

Hua Jinchen neither immediately put his phone away nor denied it.

The others exchanged knowing looks, their fires of gossip blazing.

"Something's off, very off!"

Huang Siyuan refused to let it go, waggling his eyebrows. "Young Master Hua, something new's going on and you won't share it with your brothers? That's not very sporting!"

"You definitely smiled just now! Come on, did you secretly get a girlfriend? Who is she? Why keep her hidden? Bring her out and introduce her to your brothers!"

Hua Jinchen finished replying and tossed his phone aside.

He picked up his glass again and signaled the waiter to pour him a drink. "Drink your wine and stop prying."

But he didn't deny the word "girlfriend."

With Hua Jinchen acting like that, something was clearly going on!

Huang Siyuan wanted to press him for details, but Hua Jinchen had already changed the subject, clearly unwilling to say more.