The dark-skinned girl turned her head, looking back at Ziye with a mocking "Tsk, tsk." "Oh, oh, Professor Alpha's student is in our class? Why don't you go hug the Professor's leg and ask him to transfer you to the Design Department?"

Even Ziye, despite being naive, knew they meant no good. With an impassive expression, she stated, "I am not a student of Alpha Silei."

The girl with the flattened nose scoffed, "Since you have Li Chunyu anyway, even if you admit it, we can't steal him. What are you afraid of?"

The dark-skinned girl chimed in, "Yesterday you were saying you were Professor Alpha's student? Today you dare not admit it?"

Ziye, finding no reason to humor those she disliked, simply turned and walked away.

The girls behind her scoffed, "Hmph, so what if you're Professor Alpha's student? Big deal!"

This entire scene was observed by someone with an agenda. Within minutes, a video was circulating across the entire school, titled: Guilty Conscience! Refuses to Acknowledge Her Mentor!

After leaving the classroom, Ziye exhaled heavily. She looked at Xiao Douya, who mimicked her action, puffing out its chest and flapping its wings at her.

Ziye wanted to vent a few lines, but after opening her mouth for a long time, nothing came out. She finally said, "Let's go to a different orientation session." If one class was like this, perhaps an entire department or grade level would be similar. Ziye was in no mood, so she headed directly toward the orientation meeting set up for the upperclassmen.

She hadn't taken more than a few steps before she was surrounded by a group of girls who clamored, "Is it true you're Professor Alpha's student?"

Ziye couldn't help but let her face fall. To be treated this way right at the start of the semester soured her mood terribly. Were the so-called proud elite of Lingsi University all this unpleasant?

Ziye felt both disappointed and bored. She no longer wished to engage and merely stated before leaving, "I am not Professor Alpha's student."

"Tch! She's no fun at all," the girls dismissed her with disdain, scattering quickly. Only one remained, waiting until the others dispersed before stepping forward and intimately linking her arm with Ziye's. "They are so boring."

Ziye, unaccustomed to such closeness, withdrew her arm. "It's fine."

The girl looked slightly awkward and tried to start a conversation. "Actually, they didn't mean any harm. They just wanted to confirm."

Unsure of her true purpose, Ziye stopped and looked at her. The girl smiled 'warmly,' "How about you introduce Professor Alpha to me?"

Ziye shot her a cold glance. The girl stomped her foot in anger and loudly declared, "Shameless! Daring to impersonate Professor Alpha's protégé!"

Ziye was so provoked she almost laughed. A faint smile touched her lips. "I'm not. Are you?"

The girl's face cycled through shades of red and white. Ziye pretended not to notice, clutching Xiao Douya and continuing forward. She finally understood: if she didn't return the jab, they would surely push their luck.

However, it seemed the sophomores and juniors were also avid gossip hounds. A senior male student looked at her with curiosity. "Are you really Professor Alpha's student?"

Ziye desperately wanted to roar, "Stop asking!" But the words stuck in her throat, and she merely replied, "I am not." First, because the senior currently seemed harmless, she didn't want to take out her frustration on him; second, she realized the danger of the 'three voices make a tiger' effect—where rumor becomes accepted fact—let them say what they liked.

Only the mediocre are never envied!

The senior nodded. "I figured. Professor Alpha only accepts five students annually, and never any from the Jixiu Department. I heard he took two from the Design Department, and many went to ask them. Why don't you clarify?"

This was the first time Ziye truly felt the terror of popular consensus. She considered that this group of people were simply bored with nothing better to do, and she couldn't fight the tide of public opinion, so she decided to let it go. Why bother?

She spread her hands. "If clarifying would do any good, would things be like this?"

The senior sighed. "These people have too much free time lately."

Ziye offered no comment.

Immediately, a girl leaned in to ask, "Then who is your advisor?"

Ziye gave her a sidelong glance. "Tang Wen."

Someone nearby overheard and sneered, "You don't even draft your lies. Everyone knows Teacher Tang Wen only accepts one student. Lying so much at such a young age, what will you be like when you grow up!"

The news that Tang Wen was taking students only spread after school started. Many regretted their oversight, having missed out on this brilliant teacher. If Ziye hadn't been in the Jixiu Department, they might have believed her claim of being Alpha Silei's student. Clearly, they assumed Ziye was pretending to be Alpha Silei's student, and when caught, she tried to fraudulently claim Tang Wen instead.

Currently, Tang Wen's student had not been publicly revealed, and the advisor orientation had not yet occurred, leading to endless speculation about Tang Wen’s choice. They had no idea who Tang Wen's student was, but they confidently assumed it could not possibly be Ziye.

When Ziye claimed Tang Wen, the others managed to keep their smiles on, but in their hearts, they completely distanced themselves from this 'little liar,' unwilling to approach her further.

The senior shot a look at the sneering person. "What are you getting angry about? Whether it's true or not, we’ll see at the advisor orientation! If you can't wait, ask her to produce the acceptance letter. Do you even have the bearing of a senior?"

That senior likely held a position like class monitor and carried some authority. Many agreed with him and turned to Ziye. "That's right, show us the invitation letter!"

Ziye spread her hands. "I didn't bring it. If you enjoy arguing, you can keep going. I truly don't understand what business is it of yours whose student I am?"

The group of seniors fell silent.

Ziye added, "I thank you all for your 'kind attention'!"

The crowd of seniors burst out laughing. "What's with the attitude? If you're not Tang Wen's student, just say so. Claiming you didn't bring it—that's hilarious."

After spending time in school, students inevitably pick up gossip. It seemed as though confirming the veracity of a rumor made them feel powerful.

In short: They were all bored stiff.

Of course, this entire situation was partly fueled by Rilatice's behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

"You are going too far!" A cold, clear voice suddenly cut in. Everyone turned in surprise as Rilatice, known as the number one beauty of Dongdian Military University, approached them. Rilatice wore a sharp military uniform; the top two buttons of her jacket were undone, revealing the intricate and captivating military shirt beneath. The balance of her silhouette was exquisite, and a round, brilliant-cut white diamond sparkled just above the subtle curve of her cleavage.

The boys’ eyes glazed over when they saw her.

The girls' eyes flashed with five words: Envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Under the collective gaze of everyone, she walked straight to Ziye without looking aside, smiling lightly. "Ziye, how could you let them talk about you like that?"

Ziye didn't feel like talking much and responded calmly, "What can I say?"

Rilatice patted the back of Ziye's hand. "Ignore them. They are just sour grapes because they can't have the grapes. You are Tang Wen's protégé; say it loudly and let them envy you."

Other than Tang Wen Blan and a few professors, only Li Chunyu and Exbent knew she was Tang Wen’s student. Rilatice shouldn't know. Ziye realized Rilatice said this deliberately to solidify the accusation that she was falsely claiming to be Tang Wen's student. Ziye gave her a light, sidelong glance, maintaining her usual calm exterior. "Oh, yes, I am Tang Wen's student. So what?"

Rilatice affectionately linked her arm with Ziye's. "See? That’s more like it. Stick with me from now on, and I'll protect you."

Just as Ziye prepared to pull her hand away, Xiao Douya spoke in her mind: “Master, this great one has traced the source of the rumor. Correct, it’s this beauty beside you! Hatred level: a whopping 3.2—Rilatice!”

Ziye turned her head to look at Rilatice, who smiled faintly. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Ziye was surprised by her own composure, mostly wondering what the consequences would be if she landed a punch on the beauty's perfect nose. However, she gave a cool smile. "Thank you today. If it weren't for you, my mood would be utterly dreadful."

Rilatice’s flawless expression didn't show the slightest crack. "It’s nothing, I just came to check on you. After all, Exbent cares for you so much, and since it’s the start of term and they are busy... I am Xbent's girlfriend, so naturally, I help him share some of the burden."

Rilatice had researched Ziye's background: raised in an orphanage, no connections, and unimpressive grades. That was why she felt confident in showing off now. She believed Ziye wouldn't realize she was the instigator and would be overwhelmingly grateful for her timely appearance. Rilatice felt proud of her own cleverness.

The two exchanged words as if they were close friends.

Seeing the campus beauty present, many people tried to persuade her not to associate with someone like Ziye, calling her scum. Ziye just wanted to laugh. Scum? I'll show you what real scum looks like in a moment!

Once Rilatice left, Ziye’s expression turned cold. She asked Xiao Douya, "What's the situation?"

Xiao Douya flapped its wings. "She instigated all the rumors. This great one found the emails and messages between her and the rumor-mongers. Look, here’s a whole pile."

Ziye scanned them, gaining a clear understanding. "Help me hack her personal terminal. Get everything she has that she doesn't want anyone to see!"

Xiao Douya giggled. "This great one already handled it."

Ziye looked at its screen, which displayed stacks of files: intimate photos, video chats with some administrative official from Karga, rolling around in bed with some Admiral from the Interstellar Federation, and... Ziye pointed to one particularly imposing-looking man. "He looks very familiar. Who is he?"

Xiao Douya willingly played the encyclopedia. "Replying to Master, that is the Commander of the Interstellar Federation, Caru."

"Excellent!" A cold smile played on Ziye's lips. She pointed to a few of the most telling pictures and commanded, "Help me mosaic the man's face and post them to the Light Net. Make sure to erase all tracks."

"As you command!" Xiao Douya expressed great excitement.

Pay back debts of vengeance, repay grudges—gotta love it! (To be continued)