Chapter 19: It Was Clearly Done for Him to See

"Shen Ci, although the teacher doesn't know exactly what's going on, the teacher still believes from the bottom of my heart that you are a good student."

"But if the content of the report is true, the school will stop issuing your financial aid."

Shen Ci nodded knowingly upon hearing this and said to Li Jianguo: "Thank you for your trust, Li Dao."

Turning around, Shen Ci looked at Li Jianguo seriously and said again: "The content of the report is indeed true, but I want to correct one point: the school aid I receive is not a subsidy for students in extreme poverty, nor is it a scholarship."

"Li Dao, you should be clear that when I first entered the university, it was because my college entrance examination scores were excellent, and the admissions office went to my hometown in Shengang to specially recruit me to the University of Science and Technology. At that time, the school gave me 20..."

The word "ten thousand" almost slipped out, but Shen Ci braked urgently and changed her words: "Gave me 20 yuan as a special recruitment bonus, and promised that after enrollment, there would be a monthly living subsidy of 15 cents. This subsidy was a condition for my entry as a special recruit, promised to me by the USTC admissions office."

"Although my family's conditions are not wealthy, they are not to the point of needing to apply for extreme poverty subsidies. My subsidy and the extreme poverty subsidy are two different things."

Li Dao nodded upon hearing this; he naturally knew about these things.

It's just that...

"Shen Ci, the teacher certainly understands what you're saying. But now someone has reported it, and you also said the content of the report is true. Think about it: you are using luxury goods while receiving school subsidies. If this spreads, it will definitely cause reactive psychology among those impoverished students, especially the voices on the internet. People on the internet won't investigate the details or the beginning and end; they will only attack you and the school groundlessly. You say, isn't this an unprovoked disaster?"

As he spoke, he sighed again: "The teacher is also considering it for you. USTC has many students in extreme poverty, and the quota for extreme poverty subsidies is limited. Many people are queuing up and can't wait for a quota. You say, if you can still receive subsidies at this time, you will become a target of public criticism in the school in the future."

Li Dao spoke earnestly, and Shen Ci could also tell that he was considering it for her.

Moreover, the Academic Affairs Office must have given Li Dao an order for this matter. Even if he didn't want to, this matter was likely already set in stone.

"Li Dao, I can do without the subsidy, but it must be that I voluntarily give it up, not that it is canceled by the school. That is the meaning I want to express."

Shen Ci didn't care about the subsidy. In the past, being able to receive a monthly living subsidy of 1500 yuan had indeed made her life during college much easier.

But now it was different. 15 cents a month had no meaning to her now, but for students with impoverished families, it could solve a lot of living pressure.

So she could voluntarily give up this subsidy, but she had to make the principled issue clear.

Once Li Dao heard that Shen Ci agreed not to take the subsidy, he didn't care whether she voluntarily gave it up or the school canceled it; this was just a procedural issue. He nodded hurriedly: "Okay, I will handle it well. It's just, Shen Ci, you..."

He looked at Shen Ci and hesitated, as if wanting to ask but afraid that his wording would be inappropriate and misunderstand Shen Ci.

She had just said that her family could not be called wealthy, and had even admitted the reported fact of her wearing luxury goods.

She was beautiful, and as a counselor, Li Jianguo was very afraid that she would not be able to withstand the temptations of society and go astray.

It's just that at this moment, he really didn't know how to speak.

Smart as Shen Ci, she naturally knew Li Dao's worries. She smiled slightly, her expression calm and frank: "Li Dao, don't overthink it. I won't degrade myself for money."

Li Jianguo smiled awkwardly upon hearing this, but he inexplicably believed Shen Ci's words: "Okay, I won't ask about anything else. Still the same sentence: if there is anything, you must tell me the first time."

Shen Ci nodded, said goodbye to Li Jianguo, and left.

She didn't need to think to know that Yu Xinxin had done the reporting, but she really didn't care about it.

Thinking carefully, with her current net worth, still receiving the school's monthly subsidy of 15 cents, it really didn't sound very good if it spread. This was just because she hadn't thought of this matter when she just came back; otherwise, she would definitely have voluntarily given up this subsidy herself, letting it be used by those who needed it more.

At noon, the school cafeteria was crowded.

Shen Ci took the umbrella and searched for a circle before seeing Qu Yang in the innermost position.

Seeing Shen Ci walking over, the surrounding boys suddenly erupted into a burst of teasing, causing surrounding students to look over frequently, not knowing why.

"Thank you, returning the umbrella."

Getting close, Shen Ci reached out and handed the umbrella to Qu Yang, a quiet smile hanging on her face.

"It's okay, you're welcome." Qu Yang was still feigning composure, and after taking the umbrella, he threw it to Shao Yu.

"Woo—"

Another burst of meaningful teasing. Qu Yang's cheeks were burned by his companions' teasing, and his heart was beating violently. If it weren't for his original wheat-colored skin, his face would definitely have turned red by now.

He pretended to be angry and frowned: "Stop shouting blindly, the girl..."

As a result, the teasing became even louder.

If it were any other girl being teased like this, she would probably have run away with a red face, but Shen Ci didn't; instead, she laughed along with them.

She was the top-ranked big sister; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

This scene was seen by many people, but there were countless students at USTC, and not everyone knew them, so they just looked twice out of curiosity.

Only one person looked gloomy, the chill around his body as if it were going to freeze the surroundings for three feet.

Gifting carnivals to his roommate, and now chatting and laughing with his roommate, this was clearly done on purpose for him to see.

She was deliberately provoking him!

Li Xiao slowly exhaled twice, trying to calm himself down. Lianxing was right; he couldn't be impulsive anymore.

Moreover, the reason Shen Ci wanted to stimulate him like this must be because she still had him in her heart and still cared about him!

Sorting out his mood and just about to step forward to apologize to Shen Ci for his words and actions last night, who would have thought that a figure would suddenly pounce up, hooking his muscular arm roughly and intimately.

A voice filled with excitement and coquettishness followed closely.

"Brother Li Xiao!"

Li Xiao subconsciously took half a step back, but was also stunned when he saw the other person, then said with an expression of surprise: "Qi... Qiqi?"

Lin Biqi had an excited smile, holding Li Xiao's arm and jumping up and down: "Surprised?"

"You... how did you run to USTC?" Li Xiao was a bit shocked.

Lin Biqi was the granddaughter of his grandfather's old friend. He used to go to his grandfather's house often during winter and summer vacations, so he had known Lin Biqi since he was a child.

But his grandfather and the Lin family were both in Shengang; how could she appear at USTC?

"Hehe, I got admitted!" Lin Biqi said proudly: "I've been in school for several days. I didn't tell you because I wanted to give you a surprise, but USTC is too big, and I haven't seen you all this time. I didn't expect to run into you today."

"I'm also in the Astronomy Department. From now on, you'll be my senior!" ===== CHAPTER 20 =====