Liza took a deliberate step back, increasing the distance between herself and the sobbing woman before her. Her voice was calm but firm as she asked, “Who are you? Do I even know you?” She glanced at the crowd gathering nearby. “A student mentioned that you’re a teacher in the design department. What’s your name?” The woman hesitated, her voice trembling as she replied, “I… I’m Emma.” Her expression grew more frantic. “It’s about the posts on the forum accusing you of being a kept woman. Back then, when the truth wasn’t clear, I made some careless remarks. But now the university says I’m not qualified to be a teacher and wants to fire me! Miss Liza, you’re from a wealthy family, so you probably can’t understand how hard life is for ordinary people like us. I can’t survive without this job. If I lose it… I’ll have no choice but to end my life!” Liza’s brow furrowed slightly. She vaguely recalled the incident on the forums, but the matter had been handled by Miles and Gavin. She had barely paid attention to the details and had no idea Emma was involved. Still, her timing was strange—why was this woman only confronting her now, long after the issue had been resolved? While Liza remained silent, Emma’s emotions escalated. Suddenly, she staggered and dropped to her knees. Covering her face with her hands, she began wailing uncontrollably. “Liza, I’m already begging you like this! Can’t you forgive me? What more do you want from me? Do you want to push me to the brink just over a few careless words?” Her cries grew louder as she continued her dramatic plea. “I have elders and children depending on me. I’m not like you—a privileged young lady who’s been pampered her entire life. I truly need this job. Please! I swear I won’t say anything bad about you again. Just let me live, and I’ll do anything to repay you!” The crowd of students around them exchanged uneasy glances, their whispers adding fuel to the fire. “What’s going on here? Isn’t she a teacher at Li City University? To teach here, she must be talented. Even if she got fired, she could still find work elsewhere, right?” one student muttered. “Unless Liza went out of her way to ruin her reputation,” another speculated. “What if Liza used her influence to make sure she couldn’t get another job? Psychological and physical retaliation? Look at her—she’s clearly at her breaking point.” Hearing the murmurs, Emma’s cries became even more pitiful. She shuffled forward on her knees, closing the distance between herself and Liza. Bowing her head low to the ground, she began to kowtow, her forehead hitting the pavement with each motion. “Miss Liza, please! They say saving a life is like building a seven-story pagoda. I’ll do anything—just let me go! I beg you… let me go!” The situation grew increasingly tense as Emma’s sobbing echoed through the air. The students, unsure of what to do, hesitated, their expressions a mix of confusion and unease. The students gathered around, their perspectives clouded by the simplicity of their lives within the campus bubble. Having never faced the harsh complexities of the real world, they viewed the situation with a sense of naivety. They understood that Emma had been in the wrong, but to them, Liza’s reaction seemed overly harsh. After all, the forum incident hadn’t severely affected Liza, so why did it feel like her retaliation was too extreme? Emma’s desperate pleas painted a vivid picture of someone pushed to the brink, making it hard for the crowd to ignore her plight. Just as the tension reached its peak, a figure emerged from the crowd, drawing everyone’s attention. It was Serena. Tears streaked her delicate face, and the sight of her sorrowful expression immediately tugged at the hearts of onlookers. Her beauty and demeanor had always been a magnet for sympathy, and today was no exception. Serena knelt beside Emma, her voice soft yet pleading. “Sister, it’s been so long since the incident on the forum. Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive Miss Emma?” She bit her lip, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “She didn’t know the truth at the time and only made a careless comment. There’s no need to drive her to this point.” She gestured to Emma, who looked utterly defeated, her face a mess of tears and blood. “She’s lost everything—her job, her home, and even her sense of safety. Sister, she’s already apologized. The people you sent have taught her a painful lesson. She won’t dare to make the same mistake again. Please, let her go. Withdraw the people you’ve sent after her.” The crowd, already inclined to side with the vulnerable, found themselves swayed even further by Serena’s words. Her image as a gentle and compassionate figure shone brightly in that moment, making her past misdeeds fade from memory. People whispered amongst themselves, their opinions shifting rapidly. “She’s right. Emma’s already paid a heavy price,” one student muttered. “It’s so cruel. All she did was say a few words on a forum. Did she really deserve to lose everything?” another added. Serena’s plea, coupled with Emma’s pitiful state, ignited a sense of injustice among the students. They began to voice their opinions more boldly, questioning Liza’s actions. “Liza, just let Miss Emma go. Isn’t this enough?” someone called out. “Exactly! When Emma first showed up, you didn’t even recognize her. She wasn’t directly confrontational—she just made some offhand comments online. Now she’s lost her livelihood, her home, and was even beaten up. This is too much!” Another student stepped forward, their tone firm. “She’s already apologized. Why not call off the people you sent after her? Just because you’re the wealthy daughter of a prominent family doesn’t mean you can trample on ordinary people’s lives. If this continues, I’ll report you to the police, teacher or not!” The tide of opinion was turning against Liza, with more and more voices rising to defend Emma. The accusations hung heavy in the air, painting a picture of Liza as a merciless oppressor. The atmosphere grew tense as the students waited for her response.