Chapter 44: A Backstab from the Best Friend

"Who is it?"

Liu Sisi's breathing suddenly turned shallow and rapid.

Although Jiang Jin had helped clear her name, the trauma she had endured could not be erased so easily. Therefore, she was desperately eager to know who was behind her back, trying to ruin her reputation.

Jiang Jin pronounced each word clearly: "Chen Qian."

"Chen Qian?" Liu Sisi repeated the name in disbelief, a flash of utter shock crossing her eyes. "Impossible! She was my best friend during college. How could she do this to me?"

"See for yourself."

Jiang Jin sighed, pulled out his phone, opened the evidence gathered by Liu Sanhai, and handed the device to Liu Sisi.

The beautiful secretary took the phone and began examining it closely. The more she read, the paler her face became.

On a screenshot of a Weibo direct message, Chen Qian's profile picture and username were clearly visible. Another screenshot displayed Chen Qian's real-name verification information.

Faced with such irrefutable evidence, no matter how reluctant Liu Sisi was to accept it, she had to face this cruel reality—she had been betrayed by her own best friend.

"Why would she do something like this?"

Liu Sisi's face was drained of color, the corners of her eyes glistening with tears.

Jiang Jin spoke slowly, every word landing like a sharp blade piercing Liu Sisi's heart: "Out of jealousy. Chen Qian has feelings for Zheng Zhong, Zheng Zhong likes you, and you happen to be so exceptionally talented."

"Besides, she's also a fan of Xue Ting. Seeing her idol get stepped on by me, she wanted to lend a helping hand."

"As it happened, you also mentioned your job offer to her. Combine these three factors, and you were sold out by her."

From this perspective, Liu Sanhai was truly a man of remarkable talent; he could unearth even something like this.

Liu Sisi swayed slightly, her pale face turning even whoch-white.

Was her friendship with Chen Qian nothing more than a mirage reflected in water and a moon mirrored in the lake?

Seeing this, Jiang Jin furrowed his brow, speaking with absolute solemnity: "Even though you treated her as a dear friend, it is an undeniable fact that she betrayed you. We cannot simply let this matter go."

"Ah?"

Liu Sisi raised her head in a daze, then lowered her eyes, dodging his gaze as she stammered, "No... let's just forget it."

However, Jiang Jin had no intention of backing down. He stared intently at Liu Sisi, his tone firm and unquestionable: "Sisi! Listen to me. Report this to the university and have them issue an official disciplinary record against her."

"If you refuse to do this, I will file a lawsuit against her myself. By then, she will be facing prison time."

"Those who do wrong must face consequences. If we don't teach Chen Qian a profound, unforgettable lesson this time, she might end up harming someone else in the future."

Liu Sisi's expression shifted through a myriad of emotions before she finally hardened her resolve.

"I know what I have to do. Since Chen Qian chose to do such a thing, she is no longer my friend. She is my enemy."

"Being merciful to an enemy is cruelty to oneself!"

Without further ado, she uploaded the relevant evidence to the Mizuki University confession wall, while tagging the official administrative accounts.

In no time at all, the post captured the attention of the entire student body at Mizuki University.

"No way, it was actually Chen Qian who framed Liu Sisi?"

"I heard Chen Qian was Liu Sisi's best friend. How could she possibly do something like this?"

"This is a real-life Palace War drama. Women playing psychological games are utterly terrifying!"

"Damn, you treat someone as your best friend, yet she stabs you in the back. Such a person is utterly shameless!"

"I suggest the university revoke Chen Qian's diploma!"

"Second the suggestion to revoke Chen Qian's diploma +1!"

The students of Mizuki were brimming with righteous indignation, and the university administration quickly took notice of the uproar.

Following an emergency meeting, the authorities made the official decision to rescind Chen Qian's graduation certificate.

Upon learning the news, Chen Qian fainted on the spot!

As luck would have it, the scene of her collapsing was captured on camera by a passerby and uploaded to the internet.

In an instant, the scandal of Chen Qian framing Liu Sisi, only to be exposed and stripped of her diploma by the university, went viral across the entire internet!

"Good grief, that's a Mizuki graduation certificate right there! If I were Chen Qian, I'd be dying of regret right now!"

"Years of bitter study in front of the window, all ruined in a single moment. It's truly tragic."

"Personally, I don't think Chen Qian deserves any sympathy. Just imagine, if Liu Sisi hadn't managed to prove her innocence, wouldn't her whole life have been destroyed?"

"Exactly, Chen Qian completely brought this upon herself!"

Shortly after Liu Sisi published her post, Wu Qingya returned to the office.

"Dean Liu has left."

Jiang Jin responded with a lighthearted joke: "Did he leave in peace?"

"Ahem, well... why didn't you let me see him off?"

"Dean Liu knew you were bogged down with 'official business,' so how could he possibly have the heart to make you walk him out?" Wu Qingya glanced at Liu Sisi, a knowing, half-mocking smile playing on her lips.

Liu Sisi's delicate face flushed slightly as she lowered her head.

Well, well. The gorgeous bodyguard must have seen her alone with Jiang Jin and gotten jealous, right?

The beautiful secretary was certainly no pushover either. Though she wouldn't admit it, the bashfulness on her face gave rise to all sorts of wild imaginations. A formidable woman indeed!

Was his personal battlefield of romantic tension arriving this quickly?

At that exact moment, his phone rang.

Jiang Jin picked it up and saw it was a call from his mother, answering it immediately.

"Hello, Mom... What? There's a young lady who wants to meet me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, both Wu Qingya and Liu Sisi instantly tensed up.

"Do I know her? Is she a childhood playmate of mine from back home?"

The moment Jiang Jin's voice fell, the expressions on Wu Qingya and Liu Sisi's faces grew even more strained.

Wu Qingya thought to herself inwardly: *If they knew each other since childhood, isn't that a childhood sweetheart?*

Meanwhile, Liu Sisi thought with mounting anxiety: *Auntie making this phone call to Jiang Jin means she must be extremely fond of his childhood sweetheart!*

In an instant, both Wu Qingya and Liu Sisi felt their hearts thrown into utter chaos!

"Oh, it's her! Yes, I remember, but..."

At this point, Jiang Jin began frantically shooting meaningful glances and subtle eye signals at the two women.

However, faced with Jiang Jin's obvious hints, Wu Qingya mistook them for deliberate provocation on his part, and a flicker of anger ignited in her chest.

Liu Sisi was equally baffled, muttering to herself in confusion: *The boss's facial expressions are quite dramatic right now... what on earth is he trying to convey?*

Seeing that neither of the women comprehended his intentions, Jiang Jin couldn't help rolling his eyes internally.

"Mom, I don't want to get into a relationship right now."

Wu Qingya and Liu Sisi let out synchronized sighs of relief.

But immediately afterward, their expressions turned slightly anxious again. If Jiang Jin didn't want to date right now, what were they supposed to do?

"Ah, I have to work overtime tomorrow."

"No way, Mom... you're going to sever ties with me as your son over something like this?"

"Fine, fine, you win. I'm afraid of you. I'll take a day off tomorrow and head back home."

Jiang Jin hung up the phone with a helpless expression and looked toward the two women.

"You both heard that, right?"

The two women nodded in unison, their mouths opening as if wanting to say something, but holding back.

Jiang Jin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Don't either of you have anything to say?"

Wu Qingya muttered inwardly: *(What status do we even hold? When is it our turn to meddle in such family matters!)* She pressed her lips together and remained silent.

On the other side, Liu Sisi was secretly crying out in despair: *(Could I possibly tell you not to go back and to cut ties with your own mother?)*

Seeing neither of them speaking, Jiang Jin couldn't help offering a bitter smile and saying, "And here I thought you two might be able to save me from the fiery depths."

At that moment, the two women finally couldn't help asking simultaneously, "What do you mean?"

Jiang Jin spread his hands and explained, "For instance, pretending to be my girlfriend and fooling my mother."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sisi's jaw dropped in astonishment: "Ah? You can even do that?"

Wu Qingya also wore a troubled expression, hesitating as she said, "But you didn't tell Auntie that over the phone. Isn't it a bit too late to bring it up now?"

Liu Sisi hastily chimed in agreement: "That's right..."

Jiang Jin let out a soft sigh, a trace of helplessness in his gaze: "So when I was signaling to you with my eyes earlier, you had no clue what it meant at all?"

Wu Qingya experienced a sudden flash of realization inside—so all those facial contortions and winks he was making earlier were for this very purpose!

Liu Sisi wore an expression of deep self-reproach, concluding that she was simply too dense and had completely failed to grasp her boss's intentions!

Jiang Jin shot them a resentful look.

"Forget it. It's too late to say anything now. I'll just have to head back myself tomorrow."

Early the next morning, Jiang Jin boarded a flight bound for Baishui City.