Jiang Xiaoyao never dreamed she’d see Huang Yanchen here.

She’d finally steadied her racing heart, steeling herself to get her idol’s contact info in one bold move.

Then the worst possible person appeared in the hall.

At the sight of Huang Yanchen, her heart nearly stopped. She froze at the doorway, mind utterly blank.

Many had already spotted her. The hall’s chatter died down again.

"Hm?" Huang Yanchen turned, his frown melting into a mocking smirk the moment he saw her.

"Long time no see."

"Presi—dent—Jiang."

Jiang Xiaoyao’s face paled. She forgot to reply.

*Tch. Don’t freeze now.* Chen Yuzhe’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Jiang Xiaoyao wasn’t stupid. Brilliant, even. Chen Yuzhe knew that better than anyone.

Only sharp minds became master manipulators. Understanding human nature was essential for that role.

Huang Yanchen’s appearance wasn’t catastrophic—if handled well, he could still be sent packing. Especially with Chen Yuzhe silently guarding her from the shadows.

This might even reshape Gu Chengjin’s impression of her.

Chen Yuzhe waited eagerly to see her move.

But one glance at her face sank his hopes. She wasn’t calculating a counterstrike. She looked utterly lost, like she’d already surrendered.

*What’s wrong with her?* Chen Yuzhe cursed inwardly.

If Huang seized control of this conversation, recovery would be near impossible.

*Move! Say something!*

Jiang Xiaoyao remained frozen.

She stared dazedly at Huang’s taunting smile, lips trembling soundlessly.

Something was off.

Her face wasn’t just deathly pale—it held a sickly flush, stark and unnatural.

Chen Yuzhe’s eyes narrowed.

"Hey now, President Jiang," Huang Yanchen called, wineglass in hand as he sauntered toward her. His tone dripped with false cheer. "That look like you don’t recognize me? Forgotten me already after so little time?"

"N-no..."

Jiang Xiaoyao stammered, stumbling back a few unsteady steps.

"Ah, well." He sighed dramatically. "To someone like you, forgetting nobodies like me is only natural, right?"

"I’m no heart-stopping Adonis. No billionaire to spoil you rotten. Just another trash bag you tossed aside."

"Poor me—blinded all this time, never seeing your true colors."

He shook his head with theatrical sorrow, pouting like a wounded child. "My heart broken, my money gone. You got your precious club presidency. I got scammed clean."

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Newcomers sensed drama brewing, leaning in to gossip. Seniors in the know had already pulled up chairs, popcorn-ready. Some eagerly filled freshmen in on the backstory.

Xinyu shot worried glances at Chen Yuzhe and Jiang Xiaoyao, lost in thought.

Gu Chengjin sat silently sipping wine, scrolling his phone as if uninterested—though his eyes kept flicking toward the scene.

Every gaze now burned onto Jiang Xiaoyao. Their heat felt scalding.

She flinched as if physically burned.

Panic flooded her eyes.

*What do I say?*

Her mind was white noise. Dizziness washed over her.

*No—not again... Can’t breathe. So sick.*

Her heart hammered. Nausea churned.

Huang Yanchen mistook her distress for guilt. He advanced, relishing her rabbit-like retreat, his smile turning cruel.

"Well, my loss is my own fault."

His tone shifted abruptly, sharp with false righteousness.

"But watching you poison low-grade juniors next—"

"—my conscience couldn’t bear it." He sneered.