The C University confession wall exploded with over ten thousand posts on May 20th, all because of a single lost-and-found notice.
《Found the school beauty’s dropped May 20th gift, I’m crying from jealousy!》
The original poster was a student who had witnessed a male classmate bravely fight off a motorized thief to recover some lost belongings. In the grass near where the box had been smashed, the poster discovered a small box that had flown out.
Inside the box was the Time-Turner used by Hermione in the movies.
It came with a certificate clearly stating that it was an original prop used during the filming of the movie.
The last one remaining in the world.
Feeling that it was incredibly precious, the poster shared the find to search for the owner.
Witnesses quickly replied to the thread.
【I saw the red-and-white box the OP mentioned. It belonged to a beautiful female student; a motorized thief snatched it, and a male student helped her chase it down.】
Then, someone posted a photo of the male student returning the box to Qiao Shutang.
【The owner of the box is the school beauty, Qiao. She’s so kind; she didn’t even have time to check her things before immediately hailing a cab to take the male student to the hospital.】
【The guy who chased the box is called Fan Junzhe. He’s my classmate—excellent in both academics and conduct. Maybe the school beauty wants to consider him?】
【To Fan Junzhe’s classmate: have you considered who would send the school beauty such a precious gift on May 20th?】
【The person above hit the nail on the head. Even if he’s not the boyfriend and just a pursuer, there’s no way he can compete.】
【Just one random item that fell out of the box is a one-of-a-kind piece. Can you guess what the other things are?】
The thread gradually veered off course, with the heat of the discussion focusing on the rarity of the gifts and the envy, jealousy, and hatred directed toward the school beauty.
Now, the entire school was waiting for Qiao Shutang to claim her lost property and for the gossip regarding the aftermath.
After reading the posts, Qiao Shutang broke into a cold sweat.
Only then did she belatedly check the other items in the box.
She discovered that they were all original movie props.
Many of them were unique pieces.
No wonder Ling Heng had said, “Let you experience the benefits of a long-distance relationship.”
Was he using his “insider” position to get an advantage?
Cat-Ear Xiao Qiao: 【I just realized the gifts are too precious; I can’t accept them.】
Cat-Ear Xiao Qiao: 【Give me an address, and I’ll mail them back to you.】
Ling Heng had just woken up. Seeing that Xiao Qiao said she liked the gifts, a smug smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
Then, he saw the new message she sent.
His expression darkened instantly.
Zero—: 【If you like them, keep them. If you don’t, throw them away.】
Qiao Shutang knew that the arrogant Crown Prince was angry.
She had no choice but to coax him.
Cat-Ear Xiao Qiao: 【I like them, of course I like them! I can tell you put a lot of heart into preparing this. Collecting so many originals must have taken a lot of effort, right? I’ll feel a psychological burden if I can’t reciprocate equally.】
The ice on Ling Heng’s face melted immediately.
So, Xiao Qiao had a desire to reciprocate.
What a good girl.
Zero—: 【I just got them from a classmate’s place; it wasn’t any trouble.】
This was true.
Ling Heng had a classmate named Paul, a hardcore Harry Potter fan who had spent years collecting a room full of HP merchandise. Ling Heng had simply taken a few of the rarest items.
If these things were actually auctioned, they wouldn’t fetch a massive price.
But in the eyes of a Potterhead, they were priceless.
Paul had begged him to be merciful.
Ling Heng had pulled out his experimental data: “Want it?”
Of course he did.
Paul’s family also researched intelligent robots, and his father had long coveted the technology of Ling Heng’s company. Although Paul was a playboy, he also wanted to earn credit in his father’s eyes.
“Zero, I don’t understand. You’re trading diamonds for glass beads.”
“Paul, only that which can move a beauty’s heart has value.”
Moreover, artificial intelligence iterated very quickly; he was confident in his technological moat.
As it turned out, the trade was worth it; Xiao Qiao was indeed very happy.
Ling Heng brushed his teeth happily in front of the mirror, and a mischievous idea popped into the mind of the man in the reflection.
Zero—: 【If you want to reciprocate, put on that pink dress and send me a photo.】
Qiao Shutang: Σ(д|||)ノノ
If she didn’t know Ling Heng’s family background and power, she would have truly thought the person on the other end was some punk who had stolen loot to give to his girlfriend and now wanted her to take a photo as evidence of the crime.
Cat-Ear Xiao Qiao: 【Such a precious dress, I’m afraid I’ll ruin it.】
Zero—: 【Is it that you can’t fit into it?】
Cat-Ear Xiao Qiao: 【I can! Are you subtly calling me fat?】
Zero—: 【I only saw your face in the last video. Could it be that the photos you sent me were from several years ago?】
Ling Heng was just teasing her, but he hit Qiao Shutang right where it hurt.
To impersonate a high school student, Qiao Xingye had indeed used photos of Qiao Shutang from her high school years.
This was the thing Qiao Shutang was most worried about exposing.
Cat-Ear Xiao Qiao: 【I’ll take a photo for you tonight.】
Zero—: 【Good girl.】
Ling Heng put away his phone, and the smile at the corners of the man’s mouth in the mirror reached his eyes.
Qiao Shutang went to the lost-and-found to retrieve the Time-Turner and then carried the box back to the dormitory.
The moment she entered the dormitory lobby, she attracted countless envious glances from female students.
Two female students followed her for over ten meters before summoning the courage to strike up a conversation.
“Excuse me, is your box full of Harry Potter merchandise?”
Qiao Shutang warily pulled the box behind her.
“Is something the matter?”
The female student’s eyes curved into crescents. “Don’t misunderstand, we’re Potterheads. Could we take a look at your treasures?”
The other clasped her hands together. “It would be even better if we could take a photo with them.”
While Qiao Shutang was still considering, a somewhat sturdy girl rushed forward.
“Will you sell them? I’ll pay a high price.”
Frightened, Qiao Shutang turned and bolted.
Fortunately, the dormitory matron was efficient and stopped those people from following her into the hallway.
She returned to her room panting, feeling as if her soul was still being chased from behind.
Only Ning Zhenzhen was in the room.
She closed her textbook and complained to Qiao Shutang.
“Zong Muli went on a date with her boyfriend, and Jian Chu seems to have someone she’s flirting with. Now I’m the only single dog in the whole dorm.”
Qiao Shutang said, “I’m single too.”
Ning Zhenzhen gave a gossipy, auntie-like smile. “Someone sent you such precious gifts, and you still haven’t agreed to be with them?”
Qiao Shutang had no choice but to lie. “They’re fakes.”
“I have an online friend who works in the prop department at Hengdian. Knowing I’m a Potterhead, they sent me a set to play with. Made in Yiwu.”
Ning Zhenzhen blinked.
“Yiwu is the GOAT!”
She casually flipped through the items in the box and picked up the Hogwarts acceptance letter.
“Oh, your online friend is really thoughtful. Look, the acceptance letter has your name, Miss Qiao. This wax seal is quite realistic too!”
As they were chatting, someone knocked on the door.
Ning Zhenzhen said as she went to open the door, “It’s probably someone looking for you; they’ve come several times.”
In a sudden move, Qiao Shutang hid the box under her covers.
When a few female students entered and asked to see the Harry Potter collection, Qiao Shutang spread her hands with a straight face. “They’re not here; I already gave them to my brother.”
Ning Zhenzhen: (◎_◎;)
After seeing the guests off, Ning Zhenzhen clicked her tongue at Qiao Shutang.
“I didn’t expect you to be so smooth at lying.”
Qiao Shutang thought to herself: Maybe I changed my talent tree after being reborn.
“I had no choice. There are so many Potterheads; if everyone came to see them, our dorm would become a guesthouse.”
She lightly patted Zhenzhen’s shoulder.
“It would interfere too much with your studies.”
Ning Zhenzhen gave her a thumbs-up. “You have foresight.”
Qiao Shutang said with a beaming smile, “You study; I’m going to nap for a bit.”
After getting into bed, she pulled the bed curtains tight and carefully opened the box to admire the gifts alone.
She truly found them hard to put down.
She shook out the pink dress Ling Heng had mentioned—the one Hermione wore to the ball.
It was a gradient-colored ruffle cake dress. The layers of chiffon spread out like blooming rose petals, gentle and layered.
As soon as she heard the sound of Ning Zhenzhen leaving the room, she immediately got out of bed to try on the dress.
The dress was beautiful—light, dreamy, and carrying a youthful, ethereal aura.
Qiao Shutang twirled in front of the mirror, admiring herself for a good while.
When she wanted to take a mirror selfie, she realized there was a problem.
The dress had a V-neck.
While it wasn’t particularly revealing, the line of her chest was quite clear.
She would be too embarrassed to wear it outside, let alone take a photo to send to Ling Heng.
Zero—: 【Is it dark where you are?】