Interrogation in the President’s Office

Pan Qi, however, clearly did not put much stock in Mo Linyu’s words.

She harbored a certain prejudice against Alezno herself, which naturally extended to malicious suspicions about anyone Alezno brought along.

Coupled with the current scene, where they were ‘caught in the act,’ it seemed her conjectures had been firmly cemented into belief.

Moreover…

“Even if what you say is true, you’re not here for enrollment, are you? In that case, there’s no issue with me stopping you.”

“This is for the sake of our students, so they can account for themselves to their families.”

“If you have anything further to say, we can discuss it in my office! Escort them!”

Thus, just as Mo Linyu had painstakingly changed, applied her makeup, ascended to the rooftop, and found the perfect pose, her fingertip merely millimeters from the shutter button… their photography plan was abruptly derailed.

“Are you kidding me? Couldn’t they have just finished up and left earlier?”

This provoked a disgruntled protest from Li Yue, who felt she had already sacrificed far too much.

“I absolutely will not permit you to take photos on campus.

Should you publish any content online while wearing St. Mary’s school uniform, it would adversely affect our school’s reputation.”

“Seriously, do we really look that much like internet celebrities?” Li Yue muttered, propping her chin in her hand.

The surrounding security guards closed in with ill intent, yet she found herself unable to directly confront them here.

While she didn’t believe she would lose, she couldn’t possibly continue to implicate Alezno in such a matter.

Mo Linyu, too, sighed in resignation.

“Very well, then we’ll delay our plans… and accompany you for now.”

****

“So, the student council president actually has her own office at school?”

The ‘office’ Pan Qi referred to was no mere student council room, but her own exclusive private office.

The entire room was adorned with dark carpeting, an imposing executive chair and desk, and large bookshelves built into the walls, yet it was also softened by potted green plants.

Near the door, a coffee machine stood beside a sofa, its grandeur easily rivaling that of the Mo family estate.

“I don’t particularly enjoy such ostentation myself.”

Pan Qi gestured for the security guards to wait outside the door, then walked to the coffee machine on one side, explaining:

“However, my father is a board member of this school.

He insisted on arranging this office for me, and even this position as student council president was personally appointed.”

Pan Qi, of course, wore the same black-and-white school uniform, but her legwear appeared to be sheer pantyhose rather than knee-highs.

Her skirt hem was also higher than Li Yue’s, sitting above the knee, which accentuated her tall figure while making her legs appear even more slender.

Her crisp short hair, upright posture, and capable bearing, along with her every gesture, exuded an elite demeanor.

Her path diverged from Mo Linyu’s; while she was indeed a young lady of means, she seemed to have been groomed more as an heir.

“Hey, Ms. Connections, having to do everything yourself during summer vacation? Is it because your subordinates don’t respect you?”

Li Yue, however, sneered mockingly, causing Pan Qi’s movements to falter for a moment.

Mo Linyu, meanwhile, offered an explanation from the side.

“The Pan family… if I’m not mistaken about their identity, they are the Yuandian Group, whose industries span entertainment, real estate, aerospace, and heavy industry.

They are one of Tianyuan City’s pillar enterprises.”

Li Yue, not quite grasping the full import, simply pressed, “Are they stronger than Uncle?”

“Hard to say.

There’s some overlap, but not much,” Mo Linyu replied.

Regardless, it appeared their opponent had no intention of allowing them to continue their independent actions.

The plan to help Alezno with her photos might fail, and if the school notified her family, Alezno’s situation would become even more precarious.

“And you called her a good student council president.”

“From the perspective of a student council president and the school, her actions are not incorrect.”

“You’re still defending her.”

“Li Yue, please quiet down and let me speak with her.”

Pan Qi returned to the lounge area with several cups of coffee, only to find Mo Linyu already seated gracefully on the sofa.

This demeanor, in fact, momentarily left Pan Qi uncertain of Mo Linyu’s true identity.

“Miss, who exactly are you…?”

“I cannot say.

In any case, we are certainly not internet celebrities; all our photography is solely to help this girl.”

Pan Qi’s brow furrowed slightly as she cast a glance at Alezno.

“Since you’re aware her family sent her to St. Mary’s solely to forge connections, taking fabricated photos is merely a temporary solution, a poison to quench thirst.

It won’t prevent her family from exerting pressure…

After this time, there will be another, and what will you do when her family attempts to monetize these connections?”

Truly befitting a student council president, she had pinpointed the problem with incisive clarity.

She added, however, “Of course, I don’t entirely believe your version of events.

Who’s to say she didn’t pay you to bring you in?

Other students wouldn’t engage in such behavior, but I wouldn’t put it past her.”

‘Isn’t that practically discrimination?’

‘Though, it does sound like something Alezno would do.’

Li Yue complained, “You’re still treating us like internet celebrities?

And surely, just coming in doesn’t require payment?”

“After all, both of your appearances are quite striking; isn’t that a fundamental requirement for becoming an internet celebrity?”

‘Alezno is actually quite cute, but Pan Qi clearly didn’t even acknowledge her presence.’

“Thank you for the compliment, but we are not some common, vulgar influencers.”

“So, you are…?”

“I apologize, but I cannot say.

Precisely because I cannot disclose my identity, I was compelled to have my bodyguard impersonate a young lady of means while I took on the role of photographer myself.”

Even under these circumstances, Mo Linyu still had no intention of revealing her true identity, yet she consistently met Pan Qi’s skepticism with a pleasant smile.

‘Not revealing her identity was the correct choice.

The Pan family and her father’s enterprises had overlapping interests, meaning they were competitors.’

‘In the most extreme scenario, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Pan family had been behind the kidnappers who attacked her last time.’

‘Of course, this was merely Mo Linyu’s unfounded conjecture, but there was no need to take such a risk.

Her father had put so much effort into allowing her to remain anonymous; she couldn’t let it all be undone by such a minor matter.’

‘However, while not revealing her background, it was perfectly acceptable to subtly display her financial standing.’

“Student Council President… I cannot reveal my identity, but I assure you, I am not lacking for the paltry sums one earns as an internet celebrity.”

These words, coming from someone who genuinely worked as a streamer, naturally displeased Li Yue.

“And your proof?”

“Hmm, my phone?”

Mo Linyu placed her phone on the coffee table.

“That’s not enough.

After all, internet celebrities often buy that model to make a show, and even ordinary families can afford it.”

Mo Linyu’s phone was indeed not a luxury item aimed at average households, yet it was still insufficient to prove her status.

“If you persist in badgering me, even I will grow to dislike you.

After all, there’s a possibility I might transfer here, and I’d prefer to maintain a good relationship with you if possible.”

As Mo Linyu spoke, she elegantly retrieved a black card with a metallic sheen from her bag.

Naturally, Mo Linyu kept her card number concealed and refused to let Pan Qi take it for inspection.

“…Huh? Is that real?”

While neither Alezno nor Li Yue understood the card’s significance, Pan Qi, with her discerning eye, recognized it as a credit card that required annual review of both fixed assets and liquid capital, necessitating the fulfillment of these dual criteria for issuance.

“This is…”

Mo Linyu simply replied, “This is my father’s allowance, though I typically don’t use it.”

For a moment, Pan Qi remained uncertain about the card’s authenticity.

Yet Mo Linyu’s demeanor did not suggest deception.