No Dreaming

“Ahhh—” The team leader let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

“Wait, Wang Dahe, did you really go all out?” the team leader asked with a resentful look.

“Didn’t you tell me to pinch you awake, Teacher Wang?” Wang Dahe replied innocently. “Teacher Wang, it looks like it hurts. Are you sure you’re not dreaming?”

“Yes, yes, I’m not dreaming,” the team leader said excitedly. “We really won!”

He had thought for sure that after Lin Xuan’s series of maneuvers, he was destined to lose.

But they won—not just won, but with a perfect score.

The team leader from Yundu University was also stunned.

Wasn’t their school supposed to take first place?

How did it end up being Shangqing University?

“Well, Teacher Lin, I told you not to jump to conclusions too soon,” the team leader said with a smirk.

After being mocked for so long, he finally had the chance to turn the tables.

The Yundu University team leader was left speechless.

Lin Li clenched his fists tightly.

Amidst the incredulous gazes of everyone, the host continued to announce, “The second-place winner of this year’s National College Computer Team Competition is Zhonglan University.”

“Third place goes to Qinghai University.”

“Let’s congratulate these three universities.”

Boom!

The results shocked everyone once again.

Yundu University not only failed to secure first place but didn’t even rank second or third!

“This…” Lin Qingwan frowned.

Jiang Shuqin coldly remarked, “I never expected a computer competition to be rigged like this.”

Lin Qingwan also felt that the results were off.

The host said, “Next, let’s take a look at the scores of each school in every round.”

The screen behind him switched to display the total scores and round-by-round results of the five universities. Yundu University was at the bottom, with a glaring “0” in the final column.

“Are you rigging this? How could Lin Li possibly get zero points?” Lin Qingxiu couldn’t help but shout.

And Lin Xuan—his performance had always been poor. This time, he had only spent less than thirty minutes answering the questions.

How could he have possibly scored a perfect score?

Backstage.

The Yundu University team leader asked, “Lin Li, what’s going on here?”

“I don’t know either,” Lin Li replied, his mind buzzing.

“I’ll go ask for an explanation.”

The Yundu University team leader approached the event organizer.

“I’d like to know why our student, Lin Li, received zero points. We saw him complete seven questions and submit his answers on time. No matter what, he shouldn’t have gotten zero.”

She also wanted to ask why Lin Xuan had a perfect score.

But questioning another school’s results would damage their own school’s reputation.

“Teacher Lin, don’t worry. We’ll explain everything shortly,” the organizer said.

As Lin Qingxiu's question arose, other audience members also began to voice their doubts.

“Yeah, this doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t Lin Li have the highest score and Lin Xuan the lowest? Why is it the opposite, and with such extreme results?”

“Exactly! Tell us why! We have the right to question the fairness of this competition!”

The live stream’s comments were flooded with accusations of foul play.

By now, Lin Li had calmed down.

Lin Xuan couldn’t possibly be this good, and he couldn’t have scored so low.

This outcome had to be Su Hua’s doing—she must have helped Lin Xuan cheat.

Yes, that had to be it!

Once they investigated, Lin Xuan’s cheating would be exposed.

Lin Li smirked.

Lin Xuan would be disgraced, and this competition would also damage Su Corporation’s reputation.

Someone like Su Hua, who cared deeply about her interests, would surely abandon Lin Xuan after this.

Hmph.

Did Lin Xuan think he could do whatever he wanted just because Su Hua was protecting him?

The voices of doubt are increasing.

The host remained unfazed. With a slight smile, he said, “Since so many people have questions about the results, our organizer will now provide an explanation.”

A man in a sharp suit, Gao Yang, stepped onto the stage.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Gao Yang, the person in charge of organizing this competition.”

“The reason Lin Li received zero points is that the answers he submitted were completely erased.”

The crowd frowned.

Erased?

How was that possible?

They had all seen Lin Li submit his answers.

“Is this just some excuse you’re making up?” someone challenged.

Gao Yang remained calm.

He gestured, and a recording of Lin Li’s computer screen appeared.

“In the last eight minutes, Lin Li deleted the answer to the eighth question. The new code he entered had errors, and when he submitted his answers, a personal mistake caused all his answers to be erased.”

“This is what Lin Li wrote. We’ve verified it, and it indeed would have erased the answers.”

“We assure you that not a single word has been altered. There’s also live footage as proof. Friends in the computer industry are welcome to verify it themselves.”

“No, that’s not right.”

Lin Li rushed onto the stage. “I didn’t write that, and I didn’t delete my answers.”

He had no memory of doing any of that!

This time, the crowd didn’t side with Lin Li, as they had clearly seen him delete his answers.

“I used to have high hopes for Lin Li, but I didn’t expect him to be so unwilling to take responsibility.”

“Turns out he’s not the genius I thought he was.”

Wang Dahe leaned over to Lin Xuan and whispered,

“Xuan, it was you, wasn’t it?”

In the last few minutes, Lin Xuan had been doing something on his computer.

Wang Dahe suspected he had been tampering with Lin Li’s system.

“Yes,” Lin Xuan admitted without hesitation.

Wang Dahe was shocked. “Xuan, that’s insane! You hacked into the competition’s backend in such a short time.”

“It’s just a small trick,” Lin Xuan said nonchalantly.

“That’s ruthless, man!” Wang Dahe sighed. Lin Li was probably about to explode with anger.

“Xuan, were you getting back at him?”

“No,” Lin Xuan replied coolly. “I just didn’t want the prize money my Hua Bao offered to end up in his hands.”

Wang Dahe: “…”

Damn!

More dog food.

Wang Dahe grimaced. “Lin Xuan, I don’t care about you and Su Hua. Can you stop shoving your relationship in my face?”

It’s nauseating.

And, he was jealous!!

Lin Xuan leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow. “If you’re so bothered, go find yourself a girlfriend.”

Wang Dahe gritted his teeth.

“Fine! Just wait! When you’re single, I’ll make sure to bring my girlfriend around and rub it in your face!”

He was going to make Lin Xuan eat his own dog food!

Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. “Are you cursing me and Hua Bao to break up?”

Wang Dahe: “Huh?”

“What do you think Hua Bao would do to you if she found out?” Lin Xuan asked with a faint smile.

“Don’t,” Wang Dahe said nervously. “Xuan, I misspoke earlier. If you tell Su Hua, I’m a dead man.”

“Then call me ‘Dad,’” Lin Xuan teased.

Wang Dahe: “…Dad.”

“Good boy,” Lin Xuan chuckled.

Wang Dahe: *&%$#@!

What kind of friend does this?