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

The classroom was warm and cozy. The afternoon sunlight, like a pair of gentle and lazy hands, pierced through the mottled windowpanes, scattering golden light and shadow across the rows of old desks, creating a pleasant atmosphere that made one drowsy.

Huang Xu was already feeling so relaxed that his eyelids were drooping, and he figured he'd just sneak a nap and no one would notice.

His head slumped down slowly, like a pendulum that had gone out of control, until it was almost about to make intimate contact with the table.

Unexpectedly, one of the sharp-eyed classmates spotted it and started shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Hey! Look at Huang Xu, he's asleep!" This shout instantly shattered the undercurrent of tranquility in the classroom.

In an instant, Huang Xu was jolted awake as if he had been electrocuted. He looked exactly like a little mouse that had been dozing off and suddenly pulled out of its hole. His face was so embarrassed that it almost overflowed. His face turned bright red in an instant, the color running from his cheeks to his ears, burning hot.

He was filled with remorse, secretly cursing himself for being so careless. Now, he had made such a fool of himself in front of everyone and had been caught red-handed.

There was no other way, so he quickly straightened his body, placed his hands neatly on the desk, sat up straight, and stared intently ahead, not daring to even glance around, for fear of causing any more trouble.

Seeing Huang Xu's embarrassing state, the expressions of everyone in the classroom were quite a sight to behold.

Many students' lips seemed to be pulled upwards by invisible lines, unable to stop themselves from laughing, but they tried their best to hold it back, their shoulders trembling slightly, as if they were struggling against that laughter.

It looked exactly like a kettle that had been boiled but had its lid forcibly covered; the inside was already boiling fiercely, with steam constantly escaping, but it dared not make too much noise.

Everyone was secretly amused, thinking that Huang Xu usually seemed very clever, but they never expected him to suffer such a big setback today. It was really hilarious.

In this subtle yet amusing atmosphere, Xu Rourou deftly closed the open notebook with a soft "snap," as if putting an end to this little episode. With a gentle push of her slender fingers, she moved the notebook to the side of the table, and with a soft "rustling" sound, the notebook slid a short distance across the surface.

She raised her head, her gaze sweeping quickly across everyone's faces like a nimble bird, and then asked a crucial question that instantly made the previously relaxed atmosphere tense:

"Are we really facing the same problem now? Of course, I mean, what should we do next?"

She frowned slightly, a small crease appearing between her delicate eyebrows, and her eyes revealed a hint of anxiety that she couldn't hide.

"Are we just going to wait for them to come to us? I feel like that's too passive, like being led by the nose with a rope, completely without any autonomy. Don't you all feel the same way?"

At this point, as if to encourage herself, she clenched her fist and gave it a light shake, "If I ever get the chance, I'll definitely expose all their little tricks and schemes. I won't give up easily on things that need to be thoroughly understood and clarified!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, seemingly frozen in place, unsure how to respond.

The classroom was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop. The only sounds were the faint whispers of each other’s breathing.

After all, the current situation was clearly a bit tricky, and everyone was on edge, unsure of what to expect. Gao Jie broke the suffocating silence first, slowly turning to look at Davidra sitting beside him. His lips trembled a few times, and he hesitated for a long while before speaking:

"Actually, it's not that we lack confidence in ourselves or doubt your abilities; it's just that we're completely clueless about the most crucial situation. If we're tricked by someone without even realizing it, we'll really fall into a deep pit and won't be able to climb out. That would be a huge problem."

Upon hearing this, David lowered his eyes, his thick eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath his eyelids. He pondered for a moment, then his slender fingers swiped quickly across the phone screen. With a few soft notification sounds, he sent some data from his phone to everyone.

Then, with an expression as calm as a bottomless lake, he slowly began to speak:

"Although I don't know where you got this information from, it seems you've quite a bit of information now. In that case, I don't need to hold back anymore. Let's open our hearts today and talk about everything that needs to be said and discussed."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each person's face like a searchlight, before continuing.

"I won't hide it from you anymore. Actually, Kang Hao's main target is me. Our school will be competing with them for a few precious spots. These spots are not easy to come by. If we get them, it's like stepping into the elite class of Jinling. Our future life trajectory will be rewritten, and our path will be completely different."

This matter was always kept top secret by Devilla, who kept it a closely guarded secret and buried it deep in the most hidden corner of his heart.

But now, circumstances are beyond his control, and he has no choice but to reveal the details. He was also very puzzled; how did Xu Rourou know about something he had kept so tightly under wraps?

Moreover, judging from her confident demeanor, she must know quite a bit about the intricacies of the situation.

The fact that Devilla was willing to reveal everything he knew secretly relieved everyone.

After all, once the information is transparent, there will be direction for what needs to be done next, and we won't have to wander around aimlessly like headless flies anymore.

Although the problem at hand is quite thorny, there is always a way to solve it, which saves everyone from worrying all day long and doing useless work and wasting their energy.

Just as everyone was thinking this, Xu Rourou suddenly threw out a question as sharp as a blade:

"Are you sure this is only a problem for the elite? In other words, do you currently qualify as an elite?"

The question seemed simple and straightforward at first glance. Just as Davida was about to open his mouth to respond, it was as if he was suddenly tripped up by some invisible rope. He opened his mouth, then slowly closed it again, and his whole body fell into a strange silence, as if he were trapped in a maze with no way out, stuck in the same place.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Xu Rourou couldn't help but urge him:

"Why aren't you saying anything? Principal, what are you keeping silent about? Is it possible that what we just mentioned is completely different from what you're thinking?"

Davidra's brow furrowed deeply, a terrifying thought flashing through his mind like lightning:

What if all of this was truly a trap meticulously set for him?

Are their every move now being calculated by others?

The more he thought about it, the more gloomy his face became, like the sky covered with dark clouds before a storm.

Seriously though, if this trap were real, it would be a huge problem. And right now, all the signs seem to indicate that the trap is indeed real.

"I understand what you mean. You mean Guo Lan'er and the others set a trap for me, and now we've all fallen into it."

Davidra's voice was somewhat low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Xu Rourou nodded solemnly.

"Actually, it's pretty much the same. I've always felt that we're passively accepting all of this. Logically speaking, we shouldn't be like this. It's not that we're incapable of dealing with it, but being constantly passive makes me feel that this problem is very difficult to handle. It's like we're tied up and can't do anything."

"So, all in all, that's the biggest problem!"

Another student frowned, his face full of anxiety and helplessness. As he spoke, he waved his hand forcefully, as if trying to dispel this annoying predicament.

"Otherwise, why would things be like this now, with everything going wrong and everything feeling like it's being held back by an invisible hand? Every step we take brings new troubles, there must be something fishy going on behind the scenes."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding classmates nodded and whispered in agreement, and the atmosphere of worry grew even stronger.

David stood there, like a silent statue, remaining silent for a long time. His tightly pressed lips gradually lost their color, turning an almost pale hue.

At this moment, his heart was like an invisible scale, with the pros and cons like weights on both sides, engaged in a fierce tug-of-war.

Every fleeting thought, whether a bold speculation or a conservative consideration, is closely linked to the future direction of everyone, affecting the whole situation from the slightest change, so he dares not make a decision lightly.

Finally, after a suffocating silence, he broke it with difficulty:

"Then you guys go back first. I need to be alone for a while to sort things out and find the answer to the problem. Once I have a clearer understanding and a definite result, I might come to find you. School will be closed for a couple of days, so everyone can relax. However, don't fall behind in your studies. You can never slack off when it comes to learning."

Huang Muran and Huang Xu, two elementary school underachievers who were usually tormented by their studies, widened their eyes instantly upon hearing this, their excitement practically overflowing.

They were like wild horses that had been unleashed, galloping wildly towards the door, kicking up a little cloud of dust.

At this moment, this oppressive place felt like a sweltering cage to them; every second they stayed was unbearable torture. They wished they could grow wings and escape this place of pressure and mystery.

As Gao Jie watched their lively figures disappear into the distance, his mouth slightly open, as if he wanted to call out to them or give them some instructions, but in the end, he couldn't utter a sound.

The fog before us seemed to come alive, spreading ever thicker and thicker, completely obscuring the path ahead.

Those thorny problems, like jagged boulders, loomed before him one after another, impossible to avoid or escape, filling his heart with helplessness and bewilderment, weighing him down.

The current complex situation is a bottomless and unsolvable mystery, and every attempt to figure it out is just groping in the dark.

Xu Rourou and Gao Jie walked silently for a long time, neither of them speaking, each lost in their own thoughts.

Suddenly, as if pulled by the same unspoken understanding, they both stopped in their tracks and exchanged a glance. In that instant, a fleeting calmness flashed in Gao Jie's eyes, like sunlight briefly peeking through a storm.

Xu Rourou seemed to have seized the perfect opportunity and immediately posed that crucial question:

"Let's talk. Are you really curious about how I know all this? Don't worry, I can tell you anything you're curious about. So, what do you want to know?"

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of cunning, yet also a sense of confidence.

Gao Jie took a deep breath, as if to inhale the air full of mystery into his lungs and then try to straighten it out.

After calming down a bit, he immediately pressed on with the question:

"How can you be so sure that we've fallen into someone else's carefully laid trap, instead of participating in a fair and square competition? The difference between the two is huge, and I really can't understand why you're so certain."

His brows were furrowed, his eyes filled with doubt and inquiry, eager to dig out the truth from Xu Rourou.

Xu Rourou raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a meaningful smile, a smile like a deep cave hiding countless secrets, but she was in no hurry to respond.

Isn't it obvious? If both sides were fully aware of the situation, and all the rules and the situation of all the opponents were laid out in the open, how could so many complicated troubles arise?

The current situation is clear to everyone. The competition on the surface is just the tip of the iceberg. As for what undercurrents and unpredictable situations are hidden behind the scenes, only the mastermind behind everything knows the truth.

Moreover, this matter has been widely discussed in the city recently, with people talking about it everywhere. It's obvious that someone is deliberately stirring things up to put unbearable pressure on both sides of the competition in order to achieve some ulterior motives.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jie's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth agape for a long time.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that this seemingly ordinary little girl actually harbored so many cunning schemes. He had truly underestimated her.

After a moment's thought, he was stumped again. The matter was too complicated and involved too many things. He was completely baffled and didn't know where to begin to analyze it. After all, the current situation was far more complicated than he had imagined, and it was filled with a creepy and eerie atmosphere.

"So what's your current perspective? I'd like to know your thoughts on the whole thing."

As Gao Jie spoke, he raised his hand and scratched his head, making his originally neat hair a little messy, which showed his anxiety and confusion.

Xu Rourou didn't reply, but walked straight to the bench next to her, her movements light and elegant.

She walked to the bench, sat down slowly, her two long, straight legs resembling two exquisite jade pillars, and gently crossed them before she began to speak unhurriedly:

"It's very simple. Now we not only have to beat our opponents, but we also have to find a way to beat them so badly that they have no chance to fight back."

Otherwise, this trouble will be like an inescapable tail, following us relentlessly, and no one will be able to live a peaceful life. Moreover, I have a strong feeling that someone else is plotting against the principal, and it is definitely not one of the characters we currently know.

There must be an even more powerful mastermind behind this, lurking in the shadows and controlling everything.

She paused, her gaze instantly turning serious, as if shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

"Anyway, we need to dig out the truth now; it's urgent. Be careful and don't mess things up during this time. If you have time, let's go and investigate beforehand; we might find some crucial clues."

The words had barely left his lips when a sudden, urgent cell phone ring broke the somewhat somber atmosphere.

Xu Rourou quickly pulled her phone out of her pocket, glanced at the caller ID—it was Huang Muran calling. She immediately swiped the screen to answer the call.

She responded with a few "uh-huhs" and "ah-ahs," her expression changed slightly, and before Gao Jie could ask anything else, she turned and hurriedly left, her steps hurried and flustered.

Gao Jie was left standing there, bewildered, with countless chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind.

He seemed to have stumbled upon a crucial clue, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it or explain it clearly, like someone lost in a maze, unable to find the exit.