Chapter 84: Framed by a Cunning Scheme

To celebrate the completion of their final project, the group decided to treat themselves to hotpot at a place near campus. There were only four of them, and since it was a neighborhood restaurant close to the school, Shiranrun, feeling flush with a little extra cash these days, declared that covering a hotpot dinner was no big deal at all.

They were in high spirits, savoring the bubbling meal, and just as Shiranrun was valiantly fishing a tripe slice from the pot, her phone suddenly rang in her pocket. She pulled it out, excused herself to Cen Huan and the others, and stepped outside to answer the call.

After all, the atmosphere inside the hotpot restaurant was far too noisy—a cacophony of voices and clattering dishes. Standing on the small steps by the entrance, Shiranrun glanced at the caller ID, her lips curving into an involuntary smile before she quickly answered.

She had barely said hello when a deep, familiar, magnetic male voice filled her ear. "Why did you take so long to pick up? What are you doing?"

"Xiao Xuezheng..." she murmured, his name slipping out almost unconsciously after a few stunned seconds.

Was it the heat outside, or the lingering exhilaration from before, or maybe the beer she'd shared with her friends? She felt a touch light-headed, her mind a bit hazy. Her heart trembled.

"Hey? Cat got your tongue? I'm asking you what you're up to. Why aren't you saying anything?" the low, masculine voice pressed again.

Shiranrun finally collected herself, pressing her lips into a small smile. "I'm having hotpot with Huanhuan and some classmates. Why are you calling me now?"

She paused, checked her phone screen, and continued, "Isn't it the middle of the night where you are?"

On the other end, the man had just returned to his room, yanked off his tie, and sprawled out on the bed, his arms spread wide as he gazed into the deep darkness outside. "I just finished work and got back. I missed you, so I called. I wanted to hear your voice."

Shiranrun was momentarily breathless, her cheeks flushing hotly. She was at a loss for words. He'd said he missed her...

"Why are you quiet again? Don't you miss me too?"

Biting her lip, Shiranrun stole a glance at the restaurant, where Cen Huan and the others were still happily enjoying their meal. Lowering her voice, she squeezed out a single word: "Yes."

"I'll be flying home in a few days. Come pick me up at the airport."

"Ah... When exactly—"

Before she could finish, the call was cut off.

Clutching her phone, Shiranrun returned to the restaurant, her face burning. Thankfully, the lighting was bright enough to mask her blush from her friends. Otherwise, she'd never be able to explain herself.

Married to Xiao Xuezheng for so long, and yet just a phone call from him still had her blushing like this... Oh, Shiranrun, how hopeless can you be...

Staring at the table laden with a colorful spread of dishes, she sat down but found her appetite gone. Her mind was filled with the memory of that man's handsome, chiseled features and the deep, captivating timbre of his voice echoing from the phone.

She had been so wrapped up in preparing for the case competition, and now, finally able to breathe, she realized just how much she truly, deeply missed him...

...

The next morning, Shiranrun woke up early. After washing up, she spent a long time getting ready.

It was the first time she had ever dressed up so carefully, but soon she and Huanhuan would be boarding the school bus for City C, where they would take part in the final round of the case competition that afternoon.

Truth be told, she had no idea how to do makeup. Relying on some online tutorials, she clumsily applied a bit of everything, then changed into a professional black suit skirt, styled her hair to look a little more mature, and finally went downstairs.

After a simple breakfast, she arrived at the school gate at eight. Cen Huan and the others had already been waiting for a while. Getting out of her family's car, she joined them, and together they boarded the bus.

The ride from the capital to City C took more than four hours. They arrived at the City C bus station just after noon, where the organizers had arranged a place for them to rest and eat.

None of them felt particularly tired, so they decided to have lunch first.

Lunch was served in the grand hall on the first floor of a luxury hotel, with all four finalist teams and every judge dining together. Each team had their own table, and the high-end setting naturally meant exquisite food.

Shiranrun’s appetite returned in force, and she ended up eating quite a bit. Only after she finished, leaning back in her chair and sighing with satisfaction, did she suddenly become aware of an intense gaze fixed on her from behind.

Turning around, she recognized a strikingly beautiful woman seated at the head of the next table, looking directly at her.

It was the elegant woman she’d met a few days ago at the organizer’s building, when they’d handed in their debate scripts.

Shiranrun offered a polite smile, which the woman gracefully returned. Then, turning back, Shiranrun began discussing with Cen Huan and the others about heading back to their room for a short rest.

The final round was scheduled for three in the afternoon.

At two thirty, all four teams gathered backstage for last-minute preparations. The venue was still this hotel, but now they were in a high-floor conference center. Aside from the teams and a dozen or so judges, the audience was large, including teachers and students from various universities. The entire activity center buzzed with excitement.

Soon, the clock on the wall struck three.

The four teams took the stage together, labeled A, B, C, and D. Shiranrun’s team was Team C.

Starting with Team A, each group took turns presenting their PPT, laying the groundwork for the upcoming defense and debate.

But as fate would have it, something went terribly wrong.

After Teams A and B had shown their presentations, it was their turn. Shiranrun plugged her USB drive into the computer, opened their PPT file, and hit play. The next instant, the entire room erupted in shock—audible gasps swept through the audience!

"What’s going on? How can this be?!"

"Yeah! Why is Team C's PPT exactly the same as Team B's? Even the cover is identical!"

A flurry of whispers and exclamations rippled through the crowd, sending the hall into chaos.

Shiranrun, still in a daze, followed the pointing fingers and stunned gazes to the screen—only to be frozen in place.

Their team’s presentation was identical to Team B’s. Even the background image, title, and table of contents matched exactly—down to the last word.

How was this possible...

Shiranrun’s face went pale, her heart trembling in panic.

After all those sleepless nights preparing their defense, how could their PPT turn out to be a duplicate of Team B’s?

Even if by some wild chance the content overlapped, how could every single word be identical?

There was only one explanation...

Shiranrun’s expression grew cold as ice.