Chapter 2 — Evidence That Doesn't Lie

The anniversary celebration of Jiangcheng University has descended into chaos.

"Investigate the direct graduate school admission process thoroughly!"

"Plagiarist, get off the stage!"

"Don't cry, campus belle; we support your rights!"

Just then, Lu Cheng stepped up from the side of the stage. He held a backup microphone, his eyebrows knitted tightly, his face a mask of profound disappointment.

"Lam Van."

He spoke my name, his voice heavy, as if he were delivering a final sentence.

"I do not want to believe that you would do something like this."

"But the file imported into the backstage system today was on the USB drive that you handed to me personally."

"Your name is also clearly listed on the Student Union’s sign-in sheet."

"Now, please explain yourself clearly in front of the faculty and your fellow students. Perhaps the school will still grant you a chance to clarify."

He was truly a gifted performer. On one hand, he had personally pushed me into the mud, and on the other, he had to pretend he was reaching down to pull me back up. The academic advisor had already stood up from his seat, his face ashen. The vice dean hurried to the front row, lowering his voice to speak to a staff member:

"Has the live stream been cut?"

The staff member was flustered and panicked, while Hua Thanh Le wept even more bitterly.

"Sir, I did not want to ruin her," she sobbed.

"But the university anniversary representative reflects the image of the institution. We cannot allow someone with compromised academic integrity to stand on this stage."

"Furthermore, the public announcement period for the direct admission list has not yet concluded. The school must provide fairness to the other students as well, right?"

I laughed coldly to myself. So, they had finally gotten to the graduate school admissions. This year, our department had only two direct admission spots. I held the top spot in overall ranking, Lu Cheng was second, and Hua Thanh Le was third. If I could just be branded with the label of academic fraud, my eligibility would be suspended immediately. Once the announcement period ended, the vacant spot would be filled by the next person in the rankings. She would be admitted. That was their true objective. I gripped the microphone and looked toward Lu Cheng.

"So, your assertion is that I stole Hua Thanh Le’s work and then used her achievements to give a speech at the university anniversary?"

Lu Cheng closed his eyes, appearing as if he were too devastated to speak.

"Van Van, stop trying to make excuses."

The use of the nickname "Van Van" caused the whispers in the audience to grow even louder.

"Isn’t Lu Cheng her childhood friend? If even he says so, it must be true."

"How embarrassing."

"Hua Thanh Le is ranked third, right? If her work was truly stolen, she has been treated so unfairly."

Listening to these murmurs, my palms gradually relaxed. I decided I would just play out this performance with them until the end. I nodded.

"If you claim I stole the work, then let us investigate."

Lu Cheng’s expression flickered. Hua Thanh Le’s sobbing paused for a brief second. I raised the microphone.

"Please check the department email, the school’s presentation document system, the Student Union’s handover log, the office security footage, and the operation logs of the backstage computer."

"And also..."

I looked toward the giant screen.

"...the original draft that Hua Thanh Le mentioned."

Lu Cheng immediately spoke up:

"Lam Van, this is not the time for you to divert the issue."

He wanted to silence me. But just then, someone in the front row stood up. Her voice was not loud, but it was so steady that it sent a tremor of apprehension through the room.

"She is not diverting the issue."

"Since when has this university handled academic disputes by listening to someone weep and then convicting another person?"

Every eye in the hall turned toward the front row. Tran Tri Vi stood there, her back perfectly straight. The department leaders, who had been busy trying to control the scene, felt their expressions shift the moment they saw her face. The vice dean almost ran toward her.

"Director Tran? Why are you here?"

As soon as that title was uttered, the auditorium went deathly silent. Director Tran. The business card I had seen earlier flashed through my mind. Tran Tri Vi, the former Director of Academic Affairs at Jiangcheng University. I was completely stunned. The elderly woman I had helped inside earlier was her. Tran Tri Vi did not allow the vice dean to assist her. She walked step by step toward the front of the stage, her gaze sweeping over the giant screen before settling on Lu Cheng.

"During a live-streamed university anniversary event, the head of the Student Union is publicly pronouncing the nature of a student's actions."

"Is this the new protocol for your department?"

Sweat broke out on the vice dean’s forehead.

"Director Tran, the incident happened so suddenly, we were just..."

"The more unexpected the situation, the more you must follow proper procedure," Tran Tri Vi interrupted.

"Determining academic misconduct follows a specific investigative process."

"Adjusting direct admission eligibility must be handled through department meetings and official public disclosure."

"It is not a matter of whoever cries the loudest or stands the tallest being right."

Hua Thanh Le’s face turned pale, but she still bit her lip.

"Director Tran, I did not want to force the school’s hand. I just felt so wronged."

Tran Tri Vi looked at her.