Faced with accusations from all sides, Song Qingyi only smiled.
The smile was cold and sharp, causing the students closest to her to involuntarily step back.
"Song Yueyue," Song Qingyi said, her voice slow and measured, "the reason I was unable to attend the college entrance exam seven years ago—others might not know, but you should know better than anyone."
Song Yueyue's pupils contracted sharply, but she quickly reverted to her pitiful demeanor. "Sister... how can you say such things to me... I was only worried about you..."
"Enough!" Xia Beiji snapped. "Song Qingyi, Yueyue has always cared about you. What kind of attitude is this?"
Without so much as a glance at him, Song Qingyi addressed the staff member directly. "My advisor is Professor Richard. You can contact him directly to verify my identity."
"Professor Richard?"
Gu Li, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly spoke up. "The guest professor invited from MIT?"
He adjusted his glasses and studied Song Qingyi. "He only took on one graduate student this year, rumored to be a top student who graduated from H University in the U.S."
A wave of whispers broke out across the crowd.
Song Yueyue’s expression shifted. "Impossible... My sister never even went to university..."
Song Qingyi cast a look of weary annoyance at Song Yueyue.
Not wanting to waste any more time, she took a folder from her bag and slapped it onto the table. "This is my undergraduate diploma and transcript. Do you need me to verify their authenticity?"
A dead silence fell over the scene.
Gu Li curiously picked up the documents. After a careful examination, he raised his eyebrows in surprise. "It really is from H University... A 3.9 GPA, ranking in the top 5% of her major..."
He looked up, a hint of newfound respect in his eyes. "You completed your undergraduate studies at H University?"
Upon hearing this, many people crowded forward to take a look.
When they saw the name on the diploma and transcript, along with the H University president’s signature and the official seal, they all gasped.
"It really is an H University degree..."
"Could it be a forgery? You could print something like this off the internet easily."
"My cousin graduated from H University, and her diploma looks exactly like this. It doesn't look like a fake..."
"..."
"What H University? It must be a forgery!" Song Yueyue suddenly grew agitated. "My sister didn't even graduate from high school, how could she possibly..."
"That's enough, Yueyue," Xia Beiji interrupted, his voice low. "An H University diploma isn't so easy to forge."
He cast a meaningful glance at Song Qingyi. "It seems Qingyi has lived quite an exciting life in the U.S. over the past four years."
The remark was heavy with sarcasm.
Qiu Situ, who had been silent until now, grinned with a hint of amusement and spoke slowly.
"It seems you have a real knack for grating on Miss Song's nerves, Young Master Xia."
Qiu Situ had only recently returned to the country and had heard whispers about the goings-on between the Xia and Song families. As a bystander, however, he didn't find Song Qingyi to be the villain she was painted as. On the contrary, upon meeting her for the first time today, he was quite impressed by her demeanor.
Song Qingyi noticed this stranger for the first time.
He was half a head taller than Xia Beiji, with features so defined they were almost sharp. The black diamond stud in his left ear glinted coldly in the sunlight. Most striking were his eyes—pitch black, yet possessing a predatory gaze that seemed to see through everything.
The moment their eyes met, Song Qingyi felt a strange sense of familiarity, though she couldn't recall where they might have met.
"What is going on here?" A stern voice broke the standoff.
Director Li of the admissions office hurried over. "Who is causing a scene?"
"Director Li!" the girl who had been badgering Song Qingyi immediately started complaining. "This person brought a fake admission letter to register, and when we caught her, she refused to leave!"
Director Li frowned and looked at Song Qingyi. "Student, please show your..."
His voice trailed off abruptly.
He had caught sight of the documents on the table, as well as the subtle expressions on the faces of Gu Li and Qiu Situ standing nearby.
"Director Li," Gu Li said politely, "this student's credentials appear to be genuine. Moreover, she claims her advisor is Professor Richard."
Director Li’s expression changed. "Professor Richard?"
He hurriedly picked up his phone. "I... I will confirm this immediately."
In the few minutes of waiting, the atmosphere became stiflingly tense. Song Yueyue gripped Xia Beiji’s arm so tightly her nails seemed to dig into his skin. Xia Beiji stared fixedly at Song Qingyi, his eyes a mix of shock, confusion, and an indescribable emotion. Qiu Situ leaned against a car, fiddling with his phone, though he was taking in every detail. Gu Li looked at Song Qingyi with growing curiosity.
The person on the other end of the phone must have confirmed the details, for Director Li’s attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.
He rushed back to Song Qingyi's side. "Miss Song! My deepest apologies, this is all a misunderstanding! Professor Richard says you are his finest student and insisted we make every arrangement for you..."
A roar of shock swept through the crowd at his words.
Song Yueyue’s face turned deathly pale, and Xia Beiji stood frozen as if struck by lightning.
"Impossible..." Song Yueyue murmured. "She clearly..."
"Yueyue," Xia Beiji warned in a low voice, "don't say another word."
Song Qingyi tucked away her documents and asked calmly, "May I proceed with my enrollment now?"
"Of course! Of course!" Director Li personally led the way. "Please follow me to the VIP channel; we will handle all the paperwork right away..."
Just then, a black Maybach slowly pulled up and stopped at the edge of the crowd.
The door opened, and a man stepped out.
Song Qingyi’s breath hitched—Tang Zhiwei.
Four years had passed, and his features had grown more defined, the coldness in his expression not having faded in the slightest. His sharp eyes swept over the crowd before settling on her.
"It seems I arrived at just the right time." Tang Zhiwei’s voice was not loud, but it brought the entire scene to a standstill. "Miss Song, long time no see."
Song Yueyue gasped, Xia Beiji’s body went rigid, and Qiu Situ squinted, watching the scene with a thoughtful expression.
Song Qingyi had not expected to see Tang Zhiwei here. They hadn't been in contact since that snowy night four years ago. But the way he was staring at her now made her certain this was no coincidence.
"Mr. Tang," she said with a slight nod, maintaining a measured distance.
Tang Zhiwei walked up to her and took a document folder from his assistant. "Your lab pass and apartment keys. Richard asked me to deliver them to you."
This gesture made one thing clear to everyone present: Song Qingyi was not the murderer or fraud they had imagined her to be; she had a significant connection to the Tang family.
Song Yueyue’s expression twisted, and Xia Beiji’s face turned an ugly shade of dark. The surrounding students looked at one another in silence.
"Thank you," Song Qingyi said softly as she took the folder. "I didn't expect you to deliver these yourself."
Her advisor had mentioned someone would arrange her entry, but she hadn't anticipated it would be Tang Zhiwei. Then again, it made sense—Tang Zhiwei’s new company focused on biotechnology research, so it was only natural he would know Professor Richard.
Tang Zhiwei’s lips curled slightly. "It was on my way."
He glanced at the frozen Song Yueyue and Xia Beiji, his voice suddenly dropping to a chill. "It seems you've run into some trouble, Miss Song? Do you need any help?"
The words hung like a blade over everyone who had spoken out against her. Beads of cold sweat broke out on Director Li’s forehead, and the girl who had been harassing Song Qingyi had already retreated behind the crowd in terror.
"No need," Song Qingyi smiled indifferently. "Just a minor inconvenience. I can handle it myself."