Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

Seeing that Gao Jie remained unmoved, Guo Lan'er's smile only widened. She deliberately moved even closer to Gao Jie, almost touching his body.

She said sweetly, "You young man, you're still too young. There are many things you don't understand. Opportunities in this world are fleeting. As long as we cooperate, you can gain a lot."

As she spoke, she reached out and gently placed her hand on Gao Jie's shoulder, patting it lightly twice, as if coaxing him, "Why are you so pessimistic again? Giving up such a bright future."

As Guo Lan'er spoke, she immediately moved even closer, and the strong scent of her perfume quickly entered Gao Jie's nostrils like a surging tide.

The aroma was strong and rich, mixed with a powdery scent, which was really a bit unusual. Gao Jie couldn't help but wrinkle his nose slightly.

Guo Lan'er seemed completely oblivious to Gao Jie's discomfort, continuing to move closer to him, leaning forward so much that she almost pushed him off the stool.

Gao Jie inwardly groaned. He tried to stand up and leave twice, but Guo Lan'er cleverly stopped him each time. She stretched out her arm and gently blocked him, her face still beaming with a smile.

For a moment, Gao Jie was unsure whether to stand or sit, and didn't know what to do. He was so anxious that fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

But just then, Devia's voice suddenly rang out, like a thunderclap: "Hey, why didn't you say hello before you got here? I've been waiting for you to say hello, what are you up to?"

The voice carried a hint of mockery and questioning.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jie felt as if he had grasped a lifeline. He quickly stood up and took a few steps to get behind David, hiding in the principal's shadow and secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

Faced with this situation, Guo Lan'er's face instantly turned pale, alternating between ashen and flushed. David, however, showed no intention of letting her go, pressing closer with scrutinizing eyes.

"That's really interesting. I was quite curious at first, what are you doing here during mealtime?"

David tilted his head slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I didn't expect it to be a chat with my student. I find that very strange. Why did they have to choose to chat during mealtime?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Devilla's gaze fell upon the conspicuous bank card on the bench. Quick as a flash, she stepped forward, snatched it, waved it in her hand, and gave a cold smile.

"Let me guess, there should be 50 in this card, right? You're asking him to help you deal with the other team members, and then you can keep all 50 for yourself, right?"

Gao Jie stood aside in shock, wondering to himself how the principal knew about these things so quickly before he had even mentioned them.

He stared wide-eyed at Davidra, then at Guo Lan'er, his mouth slightly open, but no sound came out.

Davidra's face remained grim, so dark it seemed it could drip water. She stared at Guo Lan'er and said without a trace of mercy:

"Guo Lan'er, we're sisters after all. Don't do things that harm others and yourself in the future, or don't blame me for exposing your past."

After saying that, she seemed to have vented her anger, and her expression softened slightly.

David turned to look at Gao Jie, his tone lighter: "Gao Jie, let's go eat." With that, he took the first step.

The two turned and walked away. Guo Lan'er stood there, her chest heaving with anger, as if it were about to explode. She shouted at their retreating figures, "You're really outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

David was furious. She walked quickly forward, gritting her teeth and puffing out her cheeks. She stormed back, walked to the roadside, opened the door of a car, and got in.

Inside the car, Kang Hao was sitting in the back seat, engrossed in a phone call with a girl, occasionally uttering sweet nothings. But when he looked up and saw Guo Lan'er storming in, he hurriedly and hastily hung up, a lingering smile on his face.

"How did it go? Did they agree?" Kang Hao asked eagerly, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Guo Lan'er threw her bag on the seat in a huff, plopped down, and said, "Agree my ass! The problem could have been solved, but then that woman came and took me away. Otherwise, I definitely could have solved it." She got angrier as she spoke, glaring fiercely at the car window.

"What the hell is going on?"

Kang Hao was filled with frustration, like a caged beast, pacing anxiously. He raised his hand and scratched his face hard, leaving several red marks on his cheek. His brows were furrowed tightly, and his facial features were all scrunched up with frustration, filled with helplessness and deep confusion.

"Forget it, things have already come to this. We can always find another opportunity."

He shrugged, trying to dispel the gloom that lingered in his heart with this feigned ease, but the slight trembling of his shoulders betrayed the unease in his heart.

"If one time can't solve the problem, then two, three times. I don't believe that if we keep going like this, there will eventually be a time when they can't hold on and can't solve it."

He waved his arms as he spoke, as if trying to encourage himself, but his weak tone made even himself unconvinced.

Guo Lan'er was already so angry that her chest heaved violently, like a volcano about to erupt. Upon hearing this, she became even more furious. Her face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe tomato, and she roared with wide, angry eyes:

"I'm warning you, don't give me that kind of sarcastic talk. I hate it when people pretend to comfort me when I'm angry!"

She gritted her teeth, each word seemingly squeezed out from between them, and continued viciously, "In short, I will make this woman pay the price. I don't care who pleads for her; I'm a person of my word, and no one can stop me!"

She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white from the force, and the anger in her eyes seemed capable of burning everything in front of her to ashes.

Seeing this, Kang Hao helplessly pursed his lips. He knew perfectly well that once this woman made up her mind, not even nine oxen could pull her back. He probably couldn't change her mind, so he could only go along with her and hurriedly replied, "Alright then, I'll do whatever you say. I'll listen to you, okay?"

Seeing Kang Hao soften, Guo Lan'er's expression relaxed slightly, and her tense body relaxed a little. She deliberately moved closer to him, instantly closing the distance between them. She stretched out her slender finger and gently tapped Kang Hao's chest, softening her tone and coquettishly saying:

"Alright, stop looking so gloomy. If you could get rid of that woman, wouldn't you become the university's president?"

She slightly raised her chin, her eyes gleaming with a seductive light. "Isn't this much better than your mediocre mage profession? You should start thinking more about your future, instead of always being so unambitious."

At this point, she narrowed her eyes slightly, her originally gentle face instantly turning serious and cold. "In short, let me tell you, only if the two of us work together can we completely bring this woman down. Otherwise, neither of us will have a chance. Don't underestimate her; after all, she has a complex network of connections behind her, and she's not so easy to deal with."

Kang Hao unconsciously scratched his chin, his fingertips rubbing against his stubble, making a soft rustling sound. After a moment of thought, he still looked troubled and said:

"Of course I know that, but we don't have any good solutions right now. You're so smart, you have to point me in the right direction. Just shouting slogans won't do."

Guo Lan'er smiled slightly, a smile that held a hint of certainty, like a strategist with a well-thought-out plan. She raised her hand and gently patted Kang Hao's shoulder.

"Look at how flustered you are. To tell you the truth, there's nothing to be afraid of."

She shook her head smugly, her long hair swaying behind her head. "I've known my junior sister for so long, how could I not know her little tricks? I know exactly what kind of moves she'll use. Just do as I say, and I guarantee it will be foolproof."

After saying that, she yawned widely, leaned back lazily in her chair, and rubbed her temples. "I'm a little tired. Take me home to rest."

Kang Hao nodded, quickly took out his car key, inserted the ignition switch, and with a low engine roar, the car slowly drove away, raising a small cloud of dust.

Meanwhile, Gao Jie and the others were having a meal with David at a noisy yet lively table in the school cafeteria.

Devilla gently put down her chopsticks, making a soft "tap" sound. Her expression was somber, as if shrouded in dark clouds. She slowly began to speak, frankly telling them:

"Now that they've set their sights on you, the situation is probably not good. Sooner or later they'll resort to any means to deal with us."

Her gaze, like a searchlight, swept across everyone's faces, finally settling on Huang Xu, where it lingered for a long time.

"What I mean is that you all need to be careful, especially you. Remember this: their methods are ruthless and vicious, and you can easily fall into their trap if you're not careful."

Huang Xu was stunned for a moment, then a defiant look instantly appeared on his face. His cheeks puffed out, and he blurted out:

"Why me? I didn't do anything wrong!" Her tone was full of grievance and resentment.

Davira rolled her eyes in annoyance and retorted without hesitation:

"Of course it's because among all these people, you're the most unreliable and impulsive. Besides, I know all too well what kind of person my senior sister is; she only likes to pick on the weak. You guys better watch out."

She looked at Gao Jie again, her eyes filled with approval. "Gao Jie is definitely fine, after all, he has self-control. But Huang Xu is a different story. You should know that yourself."

Gao Jie smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Since things have come to this, let's all listen to the principal and be as careful as possible. After all, if something goes wrong, it will be quite troublesome, and none of us can afford the consequences."

He frowned slightly, pondering and analyzing, "Furthermore, since they have already started taking action, it means they won't give up until they achieve their goal. Sooner or later, they will definitely find a way to deal with us. So the saying 'better safe than sorry' is not just an empty saying; it makes a lot of sense."

Davidla nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. If everyone were as aware as you, I wouldn't have to worry so much." She stood up briskly and lightly patted non-existent dust off her clothes. "Alright, I've finished eating. If you encounter any problems, remember to tell me in advance and don't make decisions on your own."

After everyone left, Huang Xu dared to lower his voice and mutter a few words: "What the hell is going on? Why can't you guys pay attention? Why do I have to pay attention myself? This is not fair!" His voice was full of dissatisfaction.

Huang Muran couldn't help but chuckle, teasingly saying:

"I think they have a good eye for people. We're always steady and don't make silly mistakes, but you might not be so lucky. With your carefree nature, who knows when you'll fall into someone's trap."

She stopped smiling, her expression turned serious, and she scanned everyone's faces. "To be honest, we really need to be careful. I'm afraid they might have set a trap for us, and then there would be no escaping it."

Gao Jie nodded in deep agreement: "That's right. Now they're openly targeting us. We have to be extra careful and vigilant, or we'll be in big trouble." His eyes showed some worry, and he unconsciously clenched his fist.

Xu Rourou looked at them, tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suggested:

"Since they're already preparing to make a move, let's try not to act separately these next two days. Let's stick together and support each other. If they can't find an opening or take advantage of us, they definitely won't be able to do anything to us."

She looked at Gao Jie with worry in her eyes, and gently bit her lip. "And I think they will definitely target you next. You are our backbone, so you must be careful."

Gao Jie nodded. He understood the situation perfectly well. The other party would not give up until they achieved their goal, and he had become a thorn in their side.

After chatting for a while, the group got up and left the cafeteria, heading straight to their designated classroom.

After all, they now bear a heavy responsibility and are to represent the school in the competition. So of course, they have to do what they are supposed to do well. The most important thing is to train seriously and improve their own strength in all aspects. There is no room for carelessness.

Upon arriving at the classroom, everyone sat up straight, listening attentively to the teacher's explanation. The classroom was so quiet that only the teacher's melodious voice and the scratching sound of pens on paper could be heard.

But Huang Xu seemed to be possessed by a sleepy bug. As he listened, his head would droop little by little, and he would eventually fall asleep on the table.

Gao Jie, who was standing nearby, frowned and reminded him several times. Sometimes he would gently push his shoulder, trying to shake him awake; other times he would lean close to his ear and whisper, "Huang Xu, wake up, don't sleep!"

Finally, Gao Jie was speechless and simply gave up struggling, ignoring him completely. Huang Xu, meanwhile, was sound asleep, dreaming of holding hands with his girlfriend, playing happily in a sunny amusement park. Just as they were having a great time, a slap landed hard on the back of his head, the force so great that he cried out, "Ouch!"

A bloodcurdling scream escaped his lips. He groggily opened his eyes, the scene before him instantly shifting from the amusement park to the classroom. Before he could even process what was happening, he instinctively scratched his head, looking awkwardly at David, who had somehow appeared beside him, his face so dark it seemed to drip water.

David's face darkened, and he said coldly:

"If you like sleeping, then go back to sleep! This classroom isn't your kang (heated brick bed)!" The voice was like ice shards, making the air in the classroom feel several degrees colder.