Judith looked utterly pitiful, slumped on the ground, her face pale with pain. The scene tugged at the sympathies of those around her, and murmurs of outrage quickly spread through the crowd. "She’s so cruel! She actually attacked someone right in front of us. If we weren’t here, who knows what she might have done—murder, maybe?” “We can’t let this slide! We have to report this to the university!” “Yes! She must be expelled. There’s no place for someone like her here!” The angry crowd seemed ready to march Liza straight out of the university, but before anyone could act, a calm yet authoritative male voice interrupted from the doorway. “And who are you planning to expel?” Everyone instinctively turned toward the voice and froze when they saw who it was.“President Mason, you have to stand up for Judith!” The speaker was none other than Mason, the president of the student council. As one of the most influential students at Li City University, Mason not only held a prestigious position but was also the only student with a role on the university board. His popularity and status made him a figure of admiration and respect on campus. Mason’s gaze swept over the scene before landing on Liza. His usually bright and playful demeanor was tinged with seriousness. “Liza… What happened here?” Despite being a year older than Liza, his wide, innocent eyes and slightly nervous expression made him appear more like a younger brother seeking an explanation. Before Liza could answer, one of the onlookers eagerly stepped forward, seizing the opportunity to explain. “President Mason, Liza attacked Judith without any provocation. Look at Judith—she’s in so much pain she can’t even move. Serena already called an ambulance for her. This kind of violent behavior is unacceptable. We’re all demanding that the university expel her immediately. Someone this dangerous shouldn’t be allowed to stay!” Mason raised an eyebrow. “She attacked her for no reason? That’s what you’re saying?” “Yes, President!” the student replied confidently, their voice brimming with righteous indignation. Mason’s eyes shifted between Judith, who was groaning dramatically on the floor, and Liza, who stood calmly, arms crossed, with a look of pure indifference. After a pause, he turned back to Liza. “Well, Liza, don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Liza rolled her eyes, her tone laced with impatience. “Are you blind? Look at what she’s holding in her hand.” Mason’s interest was piqued. “Oh? Let me check.” He strode over to Judith and crouched down beside her. The moment she heard Liza’s words, Judith’s expression twisted into panic. She clutched something in her hand and quickly tried to hide it behind her back. Mason wasn’t having any of it. Without hesitation, and with little regard for politeness, he grabbed her arm and pried open her clenched fist. In her palm was a sharp fabric-cutting knife, one commonly used by fashion design students. The room fell silent. Mason’s previously relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp glare. His large eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped into an icy tone. “Judith, would you care to explain what this is?” The students around them were visibly shocked, their gazes darting between Judith and the knife. The earlier accusations against Liza now felt flimsy in light of this revelation. One of the quicker-witted students finally broke the silence. “Wait… Didn’t Judith grab at Liza earlier? Wasn’t it with the hand holding this knife?” The realization hit like a wave, and more students began murmuring. “That’s true… She was aiming at Liza’s face, wasn’t she?” “If that knife had made contact…” The thought sent shivers through the crowd. The idea that Judith had intended to disfigure Liza made everyone uneasy. Judith’s voice trembled as she tried to defend herself. “N-No… I didn’t… I didn’t do anything…” Her weak protest only made her guilt more apparent. The room remained tense, the earlier accusations against Liza now shifting back toward Judith. The crowd began to exchange uneasy glances, the weight of the situation settling heavily over them. Mason straightened his posture, brushing off the imaginary dust from his clothes as he addressed the crowd with authority. “Students, what happened here today is clear. Judith attempted to harm a fellow coursemate with malicious intent. Such behavior is unacceptable and poses a grave threat to others. Expulsion is the necessary consequence. Let this serve as a warning to everyone—Li City University will not tolerate any violation of its rules or disregard for the safety of its students.” The gravity of his statement hung in the air, silencing the murmurs among the gathered students. Hearing the finality in his words, Judith fell into complete despair. “No, please! No!” she wailed, her voice rising in desperation. “Serena, help me! I don’t want to be expelled!” But her pleas fell on deaf ears. The security guards firmly restrained her and began escorting her out of the hall despite her frantic struggles. Meanwhile, Mason discreetly observed Liza’s reaction, curious about her thoughts. However, her calm demeanor betrayed nothing, her face as unreadable as ever. Whether she approved of his decision or not, he couldn’t tell. Serena, on the other hand, couldn’t bear to stay silent. Watching Judith being dragged away, her eyes filled with tears, and she turned toward Mason, trying to reason with him. “President Mason, please, this punishment is too harsh! Judith didn’t mean any harm—she just acted impulsively. Expelling her would destroy her future. Can’t you reconsider?” Mason narrowed his eyes at her, taking a step back and positioning himself behind Liza as if seeking refuge. His tone was resolute, but there was a trace of sarcasm as he responded. “Miss Serena, let’s make one thing clear—don’t address me so familiarly. We’re not close. And as for your defense of Judith, let me ask you this: are you suggesting the knife magically ended up in her hand? Or that it just so happened to aim itself at Liza’s face? Don’t forget, Liza is your sister. Instead of being concerned about her safety, you’re here pleading for the person who nearly disfigured her. How exactly is that supposed to make sense?” Caught off guard, Serena stammered, “B-But Liza isn’t hurt…” Mason chuckled, though his smile carried a biting edge. “Your logic is truly fascinating, Serena.” Realizing her misstep, Serena hurriedly tried to backtrack. “I didn’t mean it like that! It’s just… if Judith gets expelled, her entire life will be ruined. Isn’t that too cruel a punishment?” Her words were accompanied by a pleading look toward Liza. “Sister, please. Let me apologize on Judith’s behalf. Can you convince President Mason to revoke her expulsion? I’m begging you!” Liza, unfazed by the drama, lazily twirled one of her braids as a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. She finally broke her silence, her voice tinged with mockery. “Convince Mason? Me? Surely you’re not expecting a country bumpkin like me to hold that kind of power?” Mason blinked, immediately stunned by her words. “Country bumpkin?” he muttered under his breath, confused by her self-deprecating tone. His expression quickly shifted to one of bewildered loyalty.Did Liza just call herself a country bumpkin? And since when did she start using such crazy nicknames? Still, he wasn’t about to question her authority. If Liza really gave the command, he’d turn the entire situation around in an instant—even if it meant letting Judith back into the university.