CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 373: THE OLDER, THE WISER

Auditorium.

The atmosphere on site had become very tense. Every person in the audience was slightly lifting their head, craning their necks, staring at every move of the three students responsible for the inspection.

How would the results turn out?

At this moment, that was all anyone from the Material Department was thinking about.

But Ji You wasn’t.

Having made the device herself, Ji You had a rough premonition about the results, so she wasn’t worried that they would be bad. Right now, she was only concerned about the 100,000 points she had been swindled out of.

100,000 points!

100,000 points!

How greedy could Director Wang be, how wicked and grasping at heart, to have the nerve to swindle such an enormous amount of points from her.

The more Ji You thought about it, the more she felt like spitting blood.

She couldn’t help but raise her hand to signal toward Cheng Jing: "Cheng Jing, could you come over for a moment, I have something I want to ask you."

When Cheng Jing saw her, she immediately came over and asked, "Ji You, is there something you wanted to ask?"

Ji You glanced around and noticed many students under the stage were focused on her, which made her face slightly uneasy. She deliberately lowered her voice to say, "Let’s step aside to talk."

Cheng Jing was startled: "Hmm?"

Ji You didn’t answer, but took a few quick steps and slipped behind a curtain, with Cheng Jing following.

Seeing that they were now alone, Ji You asked in a low voice, "Cheng Jing, I want to ask, how much does the school pay you for maintaining order here?"

Cheng Jing paused in thought after hearing this, then replied with a smile, "Oh, it’s about that. Since we from the Student Management Office have to help with various matters at school, we receive a fixed number of points every month. Besides that, for temporary events organized by students like Ji You, if we recruit people to help out, the school also provides us with additional points as a subsidy."

That is —

When Cheng Jing received this task, she had advised Director Wang that a maximum of 50 students would suffice because all of us are Military Academy students with very strong discipline. There would not be any disturbances to worry about, not to mention that there were many security robots available at the school... But for some reason, Director Wang insisted on having her recruit 500 students.

people!

That would be more than enough to maintain order even at an event with more than a hundred thousand people.

Although Cheng Jing didn’t understand the reason behind it, she thought that since Director Wang had given the order, he must have had his reasons.

But —

No matter how much Cheng Jing pondered, she could not have expected that the audience attending the event would end up being fewer than the people they had arranged to maintain order.

Embarrassing...

It was truly embarrassing.

Therefore, when she first met Ji You, Cheng Jing felt extremely awkward.

Ji You quickly asked, "May I ask, about how many points can each student get?"

Of course, if this is confidential and Cheng Jing doesn’t wish to answer, Ji You wouldn’t press the issue.

Upon hearing the question, Cheng Jing laughed, slightly embarrassed, "Each person gets 10 points, which is quite a lot, so the students from the Management Office all rushed over to register."

Ji You: "!!!"

points!

For 500 people, that’s only 5,000 points!

Yet Director Wang actually scammed her out of 100,000 points!

Although the expenses for these students accounted for only a tiny fraction, there were also the fees for the two evaluating judges, and then insurance costs among others...

But Ji You racked her brains and still couldn’t figure out where the remaining 95,000 points were supposed to go.

Ji You’s face showed the first signs of turning black—

Cheng Jing caught this and feeling slightly uneasy, she quietly explained, "These expenses, Ji You must have paid them herself, right? Just hiring students to maintain order for the event cost 5,000 points. When the students in the administration found out, they were all quite surprised. Behind your back, they all secretly call you Ji Tuhao." Whether Ji You used credit points or directly spent points, everyone thought her action was really excessive.

A twitch flickered at the corner of Ji You’s mouth.

Ji Tuhao...

It stung.

Ji You quickly pushed away the unpleasant thoughts in her head. Despite having to swallow her own teeth in resignation, she still maintained a calm and harmonious expression and asked, "Cheng Jing, senior, I have another question. Now that the designated judges have not shown up, can I request the school to waive this part of the fees?"

The fees for the two judges were estimated to at least reduce by 20,000-30,000 points, right?

At this moment, having been utterly deceived, Ji You could only try her best to minimize her losses.

"This..." Cheng Jing was in a bit of a predicament and said, "We in student management are only responsible for maintaining order, other matters are directly under the control of the Academic Affairs Office. In your case... I suggest you discuss it with the Academic Affairs Office."

At this point, Cheng Jing suddenly paused, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then leaned in a bit closer, speaking in a hushed voice, "Ji You, I advise you not to talk to Director Wang. You can talk to the other two vice directors instead. Of course, when you go to talk to them, make sure to pick a time when Director Wang is not around."

Ji You: "..."

Ji You instantly understood.

She had been completely screwed over by Director Wang. Perhaps if she hadn’t met Director Wang when she went to discuss renting the auditorium at the Academic Affairs Office, she wouldn’t have been fleeced.

After saying that, Cheng Jing straightened up and said, "That’s it, you get it."

Ji You’s face was the picture of misery as she said dejectedly, "It’s already too late, I’ve been severely exploited by Director Wang."

Out of curiosity, Cheng Jing asked quietly, "How much did you get taken for?"

Ji You stretched out one finger.

Cheng Jing guessed, "10,000?"

At these words, Ji You felt even less like laughing.

Just then—

A sudden amazement came from the whole auditorium:

"Wow!"

"The results are out!"

"God!"

Cheng Jing dashed out in one leap.

Calmly, Ji You withdrew her finger and emotionlessly answered her own question: "I spent 100,000! Not credit points, but points!"

"It was points!"

Suddenly—

A voice came from behind her, asking, "What are you muttering to yourself?"

Ji You: "..."

The voice, benign yet filled with slyness, was one that Ji You would recognize even in ashes. A surge of old and new grievances flooded her heart. Ji You turned sharply, revealing a sycophantic smile: "Director Wang, you’re here—"

Director Wang looked satisfied with the smile on Ji You’s face and said, "Since I promised to come, naturally I should come. Otherwise, some little rascals behind my back would curse me viciously, quite fiercely at that."

Ji You’s face was plastered with a forced smile as she said, "Oh! Who’s the naughty one? How could they curse Director Wang behind his back? That won’t do! If they’re caught, they must be taught a harsh lesson."

Director Wang smiled, his face full of satisfaction as he looked at Ji You, adding, "Hmm! That’s a very good idea. Of course, I know that Ji You would never do such a thing. Right?"

Ji You: "..."