"Your father?" Li Yundong looked at Zhou Qin with considerable surprise, thinking to himself: Could the provincial leader inspecting them this morning be Zhou Qin's father?

Zhou Qin nodded, her brows tightly furrowed. Her father's sudden appearance here gave her a very bad feeling.

Zhou Qin's father swept his authoritative gaze across the students below the lecture platform. The accompanying Vice Principal smiled broadly and addressed the students in the classroom: "Students, Vice Governor Zhou's visit to our school to guide our work is a great honor for us. Please welcome him with applause."

"Applause roared" through the classroom, as students looked upon the middle-aged man of average height, dressed in a grey Zhongshan suit, with a strange mixture of awe and reverence.

Zhou Qin's father’s gaze swept over her. Without making any visible move, he subtly nodded, the motion so slight that only Zhou Qin could perceive it. As his eyes moved past her to Li Yundong, he frowned almost imperceptibly, giving Li Yundong a meaningful look.

Zhou Qin noticed the slightest shift in her father’s expression, and a jolt of alarm ran through her. She couldn't help glancing at Li Yundong: What did Young Master He say when he went back yesterday? He didn't come here for Li Yundong, did he?

Seeing Zhou Qin's unnatural demeanor, Li Yundong asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhou Qin managed a strained smile. "Nothing."

After Zhou Qin's father finished his speech on the platform, another round of applause accompanied the entourage seeing the Vice Governor off. Once Vice Governor Zhou departed, no one—save for Li Yundong, Su Chan, and a few others—knew that this powerful figure was the father of their classmate, Zhou Qin.

When school ended, Zhou Qin, heavy with worry, ignored Li Yundong's presence, snatched up her handbag, and hurried out of the classroom. Just outside, a young man in a sharp suit waved at her. "Qin Qin, over here!"

Zhou Qin walked over and asked politely, "Secretary Liu, where is my father?"

Secretary Liu pointed toward a rather inconspicuous Audi A6 parked across from the school gates. "He's waiting for you there."

Zhou Qin nodded, approached the Audi at the school entrance, opened the door, and slid inside. As soon as she was seated, she spoke with a tone laced with vigilance and mockery: "Well, Vice Governor Zhou Keqiang, what brings your esteemed presence here today?"

Zhou Keqiang offered a wry smile. "Qin Qin, we are father and daughter, not enemies. Must you adopt this attitude toward me?"

Zhou Qin sat far away from her father in the back seat, arms crossed tightly over her chest, and got straight to the point. "Tell me, what is the real reason you came here? Did Young Master He run crying to you?"

Zhou Keqiang scrutinized his stunningly beautiful daughter with sharp eyes. He had always been proud of having such a gorgeous girl, but as she grew older and her beauty became ever more astonishing, that pride slowly morphed into a terrifying burden. Numerous young men from influential families were already coveting her looks and charms; Young Master He was certainly not the first, nor would he be the last.

However, in Zhou Keqiang’s estimation, Young Master He was one of the more promising and acceptable among these wealthy scions. Moreover, considering Young Master He's family background, an alliance through marriage would propel him and his own family to an entirely new level.

As for Young Master He's habits of dissolute indulgence—drinking, womanizing, gambling—Zhou Keqiang dismissed them entirely. In his view, what man didn't have a few such vices? These could surely be corrected after marriage.

When Zhou Qin first learned about the arranged engagement to Young Master He, she didn't react dramatically; she remained as cold and distant as an iceberg. But recently, Zhou Keqiang noticed her resistance growing more obvious and intense. She had even publicly berated Young Master He, proclaiming she would rather die than marry him!

Such words made Zhou Keqiang feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. Thus, he used the excuse of an inspection the next day to check on what mischief his daughter was up to, and also to see what this boy—the one who had made his good daughter so rebellious and defiant—actually looked like.

"Sigh..." Zhou Keqiang sighed after observing Zhou Qin intently for a moment. "You stubbornness truly resembles your mother."

Zhou Qin let out a cold laugh. "You still remember what she looked like? That's surprising. I thought that after ten years since her death, you would have forgotten her entirely."

Zhou Keqiang suddenly grew agitated and angry. "Don't speak to me in that tone!"

The Vice Governor, long accustomed to authority, naturally exuded a terrifying aura when enraged. Yet, Zhou Qin remained unmoved, replying with a cold smile, "Then what tone should I use? Should I speak to you like your fawning subordinates? I'm sorry, I can't manage that! I only said a few harsh words to He Shao, and you rushed here from the provincial capital. On my birthday, you didn't return until everyone else had left! He Shao is just an outsider, but I am your daughter. Yet this is how you treat me. What am I supposed to think? What tone am I supposed to use? You tell me!"

Zhou Keqiang opened his mouth, intending to retort, but found himself speechless. Panting heavily, he fumbled for a cigarette in his pocket. Before he could light it, Zhou Qin’s cold voice cut in again: "If you want to smoke, go outside, or I can leave."

The hand holding the lighter froze. He glared viciously at his daughter, taking a long moment to forcefully suppress his anger, and growled in a low voice, "What exactly do you want? What has possessed you?"

Zhou Qin stated flatly, "Nothing has possessed me; you are possessed! You're completely blinded by ambition!"

Zhou Keqiang roared, "Then why the sudden, drastic change in you! And why did you acquiesce before?"

Zhou Qin replied coldly, "Before, I was obtuse. Now, I've seen clearly! I want to pursue the life I want!"

Zhou Keqiang broke into an angry laugh. "Is this all because of that Li Yundong?"

Zhou Qin's brow furrowed even tighter. She snorted, "It has nothing to do with him. Don't involve him!"

Zhou Keqiang let out a heavy snort, his voice thick with rage. "I always thought you were smart and sensible, mature beyond your years. Now, I see you are utterly foolish! A woman like you, without a powerful background, whoever marries you will invite disaster upon their entire clan! Have you read all those history books for nothing since childhood?!"

Zhou Qin burst into loud laughter. "Don't try to scare me with that nonsense! I'm not a child anymore! I'll say it one last time: I absolutely will not marry He Shao! If you want someone to marry him, you marry him yourself!"

Saying this, she pushed the car door, preparing to step out.

Zhou Keqiang was furious, nearly beside himself. "Don't forget what your surname is, and don't forget where your current life of luxury comes from! Since you enjoy all of this, you have an obligation to give back!"

Zhou Qin paused her movement and turned, looking at her father with eyes as cold as ash. "Fine, you finally told the truth! In your eyes, I am just a useful commodity, like a potted plant—you nurture it while it's young, and naturally, you expect a good price when it matures! Oh, Zhou Keqiang, you speak beautifully! But I have a word for you too: I can give up this surname, and I can give up all of this!"

A resolute expression flashed in Zhou Qin’s eyes. "You are my father, and you should know my character! So, please, don't push me!"

Zhou Keqiang was maddened with rage. He had never been challenged and contradicted by his daughter like this. He gasped for breath, gritted his teeth, and managed to say, "Don't rush off yet!" Then, he tossed a mobile phone over to her. "Listen to this yourself!"

Zhou Qin suspiciously and cautiously picked up the phone. She found it was turned off, yet a clear voice was emanating from the speaker: "Is this student Li Yundong?"

Li Yundong's voice followed clearly from the receiver: "Yes, who is this?"

"Ah, I am a colleague of Zhou Qin's father. Could I speak with you for a moment?" Zhou Qin instantly recognized the voice—it was Zhou Keqiang’s personal secretary, Secretary Liu!

Zhou Qin violently covered the mouthpiece of the phone with her hand and glared at her father. "You are shameless!!"

Zhou Keqiang sneered, "If you think I'm shameless, then hang up yourself!"

Zhou Qin stared at the phone as if mesmerized, her whole body trembling slightly, her eyes a mixture of terror and worry.

She knew her father's methods well. Several boys who had persistently pursued her in the past had all been dealt with using this exact combination of intimidation and temptation. Although her father was relatively upright as an official, he had a very wealthy younger brother, so when problems could be solved with sheer money, he never hesitated. Was he trying the same trick again this time?

Zhou Qin listened tensely as the voices on the phone came through clearly, word by word. For a moment, neither person in the car spoke, only heavy breathing and conversation filled the space.

"Can we find a more secluded place to talk?" Secretary Liu held a briefcase tucked under his arm, peering closely at the young man before him through his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze holding a touch of condescending superiority.

Li Yundong, though confused, nodded politely. He said to Su Chan, "Wait for me a moment."

Su Chan nodded obediently.

The two men walked to the long pavilion behind the teaching building. Secretary Liu surveyed the surroundings and remarked, "Tiannan University may not be famous, but the campus construction is quite decent!"

Uncertain of his purpose, Li Yundong remained silent, offering no reply.

Secretary Liu smiled, sat down by the stone table, and said, "You are quite close with Zhou Qin?"

Li Yundong frowned inwardly and nodded. "Fairly."

Secretary Liu looked around casually, his conversation meandering: "The scenery here is nice. I really miss my university days..."

Li Yundong frowned and interrupted. "What is it you wanted to discuss with me? Please be direct; I have other matters."

Secretary Liu studied Li Yundong carefully, tutting with mock admiration. "Young people nowadays really lack patience."

Li Yundong, finding his tone impolite, replied without ceremony, "That’s because I don't have the luxury of wasting time as freely as you all do!"

Secretary Liu paused, seemingly unused to being spoken to this way by an ordinary student. He felt a flicker of displeasure internally. "Very well. Since you are being direct, I shall be as well."

He took out a checkbook and a pen from his bag, looked at Li Yundong, and stated, "How much money would it take for you to leave Zhou Qin?"

Li Yundong let out a scoffing laugh. "What kind of talk is that? What do you mean, 'leave her'? I have never been with her!"

Secretary Liu seemed to completely disbelieve him, his eyes fixed intently on Li Yundong. "One hundred thousand?"

Li Yundong felt a surge of anger and said coldly, "If you plan to pull this trick of buying people off with money, you've picked the wrong person!"

Li Yundong was certain he had no relationship with Zhou Qin beyond that of casual friendship. Although the girl was exquisitely beautiful, he already had Su Chan and was perfectly content, wanting no other woman. Therefore, he was sure that using bribery against him was a complete mistake.

However, Secretary Liu misinterpreted the statement, thinking Li Yundong was expressing scorn and disdain. Secretary Liu smiled, unperturbed by the retort. In his view, everything in the world had a price, including this supposed thing called love. There were no truly faithful women, only those who hadn't faced sufficient temptation; similarly, there were no truly loyal men, only those who hadn't been offered a large enough betrayal chip.

Secretary Liu said mildly, "Two hundred thousand!"

Li Yundong grew angry and let out a contemptuous snort. "Boring!" He turned to leave in a huff.

Secretary Liu watched his departing back and shouted loudly, "One million!"

In that instant, Li Yundong's retreating figure abruptly stopped. Secretary Liu sat back, legs crossed casually, looking serenely at Li Yundong’s back, a smug smile playing on his lips.

Silence descended heavily upon the pavilion.

Inside the car, Zhou Qin watched the phone, from which no sound was coming, her body trembling involuntarily. She was tense; she was terrified!

She deeply feared that the nearly perfect, mysterious image she had constructed in her mind would suddenly shatter in this moment. Zhou Qin involuntarily recalled Li Yundong’s bitter, smiling words: Can a mere coin stop a true hero?

Yes, throughout history, when truly faced with the seduction of money and power, how many genuine heroes could hold fast and stand firm? She truly had no connection to him; might he simply accept the money and move on? If he did, she wouldn't even have the standing to criticize him! But if that were the case...