From the moment Li Ziqing had stepped into the classroom, Shen Zeyan had noticed her. Not because he was a man easily distracted by beauty—on the contrary, faces rarely held his attention for more than a glance. But this time was different.
She was different.
She carried herself with a quiet grace that set her apart, like a single lotus blooming undisturbed in the middle of a murky pond. Even as the room boiled with whispers, jeers, and the impending weight of police intervention, she remained calm. Untouched. Unshaken.
Shen Zeyan found himself watching—not out of curiosity for the chaos, for he cared little for classroom dramas—but for her. For the way her expression never faltered, the way her presence seemed to command silence without her even raising her voice. Fearlessness radiated from her, not loud or brash, but in the understated manner of someone who knew her own strength and had no need to prove it.
He did not know what quarrel had erupted between her and the boy who was dragged away, nor did he particularly care. Yet, as she delivered her final words to the trembling class, her tone firm and resolute, something within him stirred—a faint intrigue he had not expected.
When she turned to leave, he thought the moment would end there.
But then, she paused. Her steps halted, her brow furrowed ever so slightly, and slowly, deliberately, she lifted her gaze.
Straight into his.
Shen Zeyan was caught off guard. Not because of the beauty of her face—though undeniably, she was the most breathtaking girl he had ever seen—but because of the way she looked at him.
Most people could not hold his gaze for long. His eyes carried a weight that unsettled others, a quiet sharpness that made them look away, flustered or intimidated, it was genetic. Yet this girl… she did not flinch. She did not shy away.
Her eyes locked onto his with steady calm, unhurried, unwavering. For a heartbeat, he saw the flicker of surprise in her expression—perhaps at his face, perhaps at something else she sensed in him. But unlike other girls who would have faltered, who would have tried to mask their awe with a coy smile or nervous glance, she did nothing of the sort.
Her surprise lasted only a moment before her gaze smoothed into perfect composure, her eyes becoming unreadable once more. Without another word, without a single unnecessary gesture, she broke the eye contact, turned away, and walked out of the classroom with the same poise she had entered it.
No hesitation. No lingering. No sign she had even been affected at all.
Shen Zeyan leaned back slightly in his chair, a rare smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He could not remember the last time someone had looked him in the eye like that. Fearlessly. Dispassionately. Without being ensnared by his presence.
He found the girl… intriguing.
But he was not the type to be swept away by beauty, nor the kind to indulge in fleeting fascinations. He dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come, turning back to the book that lay open on his desk. His pen moved again, steady and precise, as though nothing had interrupted his quiet.
And yet—though he told himself he had already moved on—her face lingered in his mind. Ethereal, poised, unforgettable. A portrait etched into his memory without his consent.
Shen Zeyan did not realize it yet, but Li Ziqing had already become a part of him—like a single note of music echoing in silence, impossible to unhear once struck.
---
As soon as Li Ziqing stepped out of the classroom, the heavy silence she had left behind still clinging to the walls, He Zenyu quietly followed her.
The stern, businesslike expression he had worn moments ago softened once they were alone. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Miss Li, that was brilliantly handled. I doubt any of them will dare to provoke you again."
Li Ziqing, walking a few paces ahead, did not slow her steps. Her voice was calm, measured, yet edged with weariness.
"It's not as simple as you think, Mr. He. These people are like leeches—they won't let go until they've drained you dry." She exhaled softly, her gaze fixed forward. "Follow up on the case carefully. Don't allow Ma Hua's parents, or the parents of any of the other students, to reach me directly. And don't let them off lightly. They'll all come with talk of reconciliation and compensation. Drag the negotiations as long as necessary, and settle only on terms that leave them with no choice but to regret their actions."
She was not driven by greed; money had never been her goal. But she understood one thing clearly: detaining underage students was a weak deterrent. Making their families pay—not only in money but in discomfort and public accountability—was the only lesson that would cut deep.
Her tone sharpened as she added,
"Use the compensation as capital for the Huiheng Law Firm. Expand our team. We'll need specialists—experienced litigators, corporate lawyers, criminal defense attorneys, family law experts, and a solid research and compliance department. With all seventy families paying damages, including Ma Hua's, the total sum won't be small. Let's make it work for us."
He Zenyu faltered for a moment, stunned. All of it, invested back into the firm? He had expected her to keep a portion for herself. But then again—this was Li Ziqing. Always thinking several moves ahead, never guided by momentary profit.
His thoughts flickered briefly. Since joining Huiheng under her leadership, his career had soared. The false accusations that once shadowed his name had been wiped clean, the senior who betrayed him was now behind bars, and the Huiheng Law Firm—once modest—was already rising to the top of the industry. Every step had been precise, calculated, and flawlessly executed under her and Zhou Yichen's hand.
And now, with this new influx of capital… he could already envision the next stage. Huiheng would not just be a respected law firm. It would become untouchable.
Straightening, he said with renewed determination,
"Understood, Miss Li. I'll ensure no one reaches you, and I'll see to it the settlements are handled exactly as you've instructed."
Li Ziqing gave a slight nod, then added, almost as an afterthought, though her eyes glinted with intent,
"Also, register a technology company under the Huiheng Group. Name it Huiheng Tech."
This time, He Zenyu's composure cracked. Another company? For a fleeting second, confusion flickered across his face. But he knew better than to question her judgment aloud. By now, he had learned—if Li Ziqing moved in silence, it was because she already had a plan.
He inclined his head firmly.
"Very well, Miss Li. I'll take care of the registration immediately."
And indeed, she had a plan.
Ever since receiving her "reward" the day before, Li Ziqing's mind had been working tirelessly. Seven generations of mobile phone designs, complete with full mechanisms, software frameworks, and prototypes, now rested in her memory—advanced, futuristic devices that, if released, could rival the so-called "Fruit" phones and even eclipse the dominance of foreign brands.
She knew her country's market from her past life: countless new phone companies would emerge, some even rise briefly, but none would surpass the iron grip of Fruit or their neighbor's Samsung. Unless… someone leapt far ahead, years before the industry was ready.
This was her chance.
Though the system had imprinted the designs into her mind, mastery required more than possession. She needed to study them, dissect them, and make them her own before stepping into battle with the giants.
The two parted ways shortly after. He Zenyu hurried off, already making calls in his head.
Li Ziqing, meanwhile, did not return to class. Instead, she made her way toward the canteen. Her steps, steady until now, felt just the slightest bit heavy. She realized then that she hadn't eaten all morning. From the moment she woke, she had been buried in evidence, drafting the legal complaints, and preparing seventy notices with He Zenyu. Every ounce of her focus had gone into the confrontation.
Food would steady her.
But as she sat down with a tray, unaware, chaos was erupting in the digital world. On the Renren school forum, threads were exploding—dozens of frantic posts, heated comments, and wild rumors.
The first photograph appeared on the Renren school forum just minutes after Ma Hua was escorted off campus—flanked by three uniformed officers, his face pale as ash. The caption beneath was blunt and merciless:
"Breaking: Ma Hua was the one who spread rumors about Li Ziqing, has been exposed and taken away by police. Principal Bao has personally expelled him. Li Ziqing proved her innocence."
The thread exploded instantly. Comments poured in like a flood.
"Didn't I already say our campus belle isn't that type?"
"Exactly! I always knew. Li Ziqing is so quiet and respectful—why would someone like her do anything shady?"
"And to think I actually believed those rumors… how ridiculous."
"I can't believe Ma Hua could be that vicious."
"I remember he confessed to her last semester, and she rejected him. Is that why he did all this?"
"Serves him right. His entire future is ruined. Expulsion is the least he deserves."
But soon, the tone of the forum shifted.
A new comment appeared, written in panicked haste:
"Guys, I just received a legal notice… Li Ziqing filed a complaint against me?"
Another chimed in almost immediately:
"Me too! How could she do this?"
"Same here. I only left a few comments about her—how can she be so ruthless?"
"I just got one too… My parents are going to kill me. What should I do?"
The desperation only grew.
"Li Ziqing, I'm sorry! Please let me off just this once!"
"Exactly I'll delete everything, I swear! Please forgive me!"
Some even posted pleas asking to meet her in person to apologize properly.
Then a new voice entered the thread, dismissive and arrogant:
"Ignore the notice. Nothing will happen. Do you really think the court will summon dozens of us together? Just relax."
For a moment, relief spread like wildfire. Students clung to that reassurance—until another user, more knowledgeable, uploaded a detailed explanation of the legal consequences of ignoring an official notice.
"Don't be stupid. These are notarized complaints. Even if you're minors, your parents will be held accountable. Ignore this, and the consequences will be far worse."
Panic returned in an instant.
The chaos wasn't limited to the forum. In the prestigious Second-Year Rocket Class, the tension snapped like a taut wire.
Meng Qianyi slammed her desk and shouted, her voice trembling with fury.
"How dare that bitch send me a legal notice! Does she have a death wish? Where is she?!"
Fan Yuelin, usually loud and arrogant, was already on the verge of tears.
"Even I got one, Qianyi! If my parents see this… do you have any idea what will happen to me?"
Whispers spread quickly. Nearly half the class had received notices—unsurprising, since the cruelest comments had come from this very classroom.
At the front desk, Gong Xinyue and Rong Ruxue exchanged discreet glances, both suppressing their own relief.
Gong Xinyue thought coldly, At least I stayed in the shadows. Let others burn in her fire.
But Rong Ruxue's relief was edged with bitterness. If she had been named, the wolves in the Rong family would have torn her apart instantly. She would have lost her place at this school, her carefully built standing, and most importantly—her chance to get close to Shen Zeyan.
Her nails dug into her palm beneath her desk.
Why? Why is Li Ziqing so impossible to deal with? Shouldn't she have broken down and left by now? Why must she fight back like this?
Her irritation deepened, but her mind was sharp. One thing was clear: Li Ziqing was far more dangerous than she had ever imagined. If she wanted to scheme against her, she would need to tread carefully.
Meanwhile, students who had received the legal notice now scrambled in vain. They even went to the Rocket Class, hoping to find Li Ziqing and beg for forgiveness in person. But she was nowhere to be found.
With no other option, trembling hands delivered the notices to their parents.
The next morning, the school gates buzzed with a restless crowd of parents. Anger simmered in their voices as they demanded answers, but Principal Bao met them personally.
By the time he calmly explained the situation, every parent's face burned with shame. None could stand their ground. They left quickly, some dragging their children behind, others making frantic calls.
Within days, the wave of calls reached He Zenyu's desk. These families, though powerful in their own ways, had no desire for their children's names to be dragged into court records. Compensation was the only option.
Negotiations began swiftly.
Even Ma Hua's family—humiliated, desperate—spent two full days bargaining before settling on a withdrawn case with a five-million-yuan compensation. The boy deleted the defamatory thread himself and issued a public apology on the Renren forum before disappearing from the school entirely. Neither he nor his parents had the face to even attempt to beg Principal Bao to reverse the expulsion.
And just like that, the tide turned. The name "Li Ziqing" was no longer whispered with doubt or scorn—it carried the weight of authority, power, and an edge of fear.
But the very person at the center of the entire chaos was nowhere to be seen. Li Ziqing had not stepped foot in the classroom again. That morning, after finishing a quick breakfast, she had been on her way to her class when Principal Bao called her to his office.
The old man looked uncharacteristically grave. After offering a solemn apology for everything that had unfolded, he advised gently, "Ziqing, take a short leave of absence. Go home and rest. The matter will resolve in due time, but until then, it's better if you keep a low profile."
Li Ziqing accepted without protest. That was how she ended up spending the week entirely at home.
In the quiet of her room, she immersed herself in studying the mobile phones given to her by the system. Day after day, she disassembled, reassembled, analyzed, and tested. The software, the sleek design, the array of functions—they were revolutionary, decades ahead of their time. And yet, when she looked at the bigger picture, she found flaws that gnawed at her mind.
The problem wasn't the device itself. The phone was perfect. The issue lay in the world outside—the lack of infrastructure, the absence of an ecosystem to support such technology. A phone was not merely hardware; it was an intricate web of operating systems, networks, applications, and services. Without that foundation, even the most advanced device risked becoming an isolated marvel.
She frowned, feeling as though something vital was missing, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Theoretically, the phone could be mass-produced, but something still wasn't right.
After several sleepless nights of cross-referencing her analysis with market research, the answer became clear—the SoC, the brain of the device.
In 2006, the market was still trapped in the era of single-core processors: ARM9 and ARM11 dominated, clocked between 200–400 MHz, with a pitiful 32–128 MB of RAM. Compared to that, the system phone required an entirely different beast—an octa-core chip built on 7nm or 5nm nodes, capable of running at 2.5–3.0 GHz, paired with 6–12 GB of RAM.
How could she possibly bridge such an impossible gap?
Just when doubt began to creep into her heart, the familiar system chime echoed in her mind. A new reward was triggered—a Seven-Generation SoC Technology Transfer Coupon.
Her lips parted in surprise as she read the details: the reward began with a 1 GHz quad-core processor and advanced, step by step, to a 3 GHz octa-core chip.
Relief washed over her. Not only had her IQ attribute increased by one point, but the speed of her technological comprehension had also improved—likely because she already grasped the fundamentals this time.
A week slipped by. By Friday, Li Ziqing finally set her pen down, her desk covered in neatly drawn schematics and notes. The plan was ready. The path forward was clear. Yet, her chest felt heavy.
The biggest obstacle wasn't design. It wasn't knowledge. It was capital.
This project would require staggering amounts of investment. Yes, she had steady cash flow from several ventures, but only three of them were currently profitable, and most of those earnings were already earmarked for the luxury hot spring resort project, which was just reaching its final approval phase. Once the paperwork cleared, every last cent would have to go there.
She leaned back in her chair, eyes drifting toward the corner of the room where several raw jade stones lay. They were the ones she had brought home from the night market—the same batch that had given her the Imperial Green and the rainbow-colored jade.
For a fleeting moment, she considered cutting and selling them. But she quickly shook her head. No. Those stones had come from the system's luck coupon. Each one was bound to contain something extraordinary. They weren't meant to be squandered for short-term gain. She was saving them for her uncle, once he completed his diploma and entered the jewelry business.
Still, the problem remained—how to raise the necessary funds? She pressed her forehead against her palm with a soft sigh. For perhaps the first time, she truly understood why the rich always strove to become richer. Wealth was freedom, and without it, even genius could be shackled.
Later that afternoon, as she idly scanned her system panel, her gaze fell on the attributes she rarely paid attention to. Many sections were empty, some pitifully low. But one caught her attention: Charm & Influence—72. It was second only to her Culinary attribute, which was already maxed at 100.
Her brows knitted in thought. Charm and influence… can this be cultivated?
She searched online and quickly discovered a plethora of books and courses on charisma, psychology, and social dynamics. Without hesitation, she compiled a list and decided to head for the central library.
Carrying her notebook under one arm, she walked into the living room, where her mother and uncle were seated on the sofa.
"Mom," she said casually, slipping on her shoes, "I'm going to the central library. I'll be back by evening."
But Li Jianfang didn't answer. Her face looked unusually troubled.
Li Ziqing paused, frowning. She stepped closer and asked softly, "Mom, what's wrong? You look upset."
Her gaze then shifted to her uncle, Li Jianping. He scowled in irritation before speaking. "Your eldest uncle just called. He's arranged a family gathering this Saturday."
Ziqing's brows drew tighter. "They invited us?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with suspicion.
"Exactly! They never call us to those so-called family gatherings. It's always just them and their favored relatives. So why now?" Li Jianping's tone bristled with anger, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He turned to his sister with sharp eyes. "Jie, I'm telling you—don't go. Nothing good ever comes out of their invitations."
Li Ziqing sat quietly for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Uncle's right. The Li family is far too calculating to suddenly remember us out of goodwill. If they're reaching out now, there's a purpose behind it—and I doubt it's anything kind."
Her words lingered in the air like an echo of caution, but Li Jianfang remained seated with a troubled expression. She clasped her hands together, her voice soft but resolute. "But… they're still our family. We can't just cut them off forever, can we? Ignoring them might only create more problems."
Li Jianping let out a bitter laugh. "Family? They cast us aside the moment it suited them. Tell me, jie, when was the last time they showed you even a shred of concern? They only come knocking when they need something. This gathering is no different."
"But what if not going makes matters worse?" Li Jianfang pressed, her brows furrowing. "Refusing the invitation will only give them ammunition, make us seem prideful or unfilial. I don't want A Qing and Xiao An to suffer further because of family politics."
Li Ziqing exhaled softly, her tone calm but firm. "Mother, I've never been afraid of their judgment. If they want to speak ill of us, they already do so behind closed doors. I don't need to bow my head before them to prove anything."
Li Jianfang's gaze moved between her daughter and her younger brother, determination quietly hardening in her eyes. "A Qing, you've always been strong. But not everything can be solved by strength alone. Sometimes… appearing compliant buys more peace than open defiance. And Xiao Ping, you know as well as I do that openly rejecting them will only worsen the strain. For once, perhaps it's wiser to go, endure their hypocrisy for a few hours, and leave. That way, no one can accuse us of being the ones who severed ties."
Her reasoning silenced them both for a moment. Jianping's scowl deepened, but his shoulders loosened as the edge of his anger gave way to reluctant thought.
Finally, he muttered, "I still don't trust them. But… fine. If you truly believe going is better than staying away, I'll go with you. At least if anything happens, I'll be there."
Li Ziqing studied her mother's expression, then gave a faint nod. "Alright. We'll attend. But let's be clear—we're going on our terms. We smile, we sit, and we leave. No one takes advantage of us again."