Hugo wasn’t just a prominent figure at Governance University, he also held a significant position in Evergrand City’s political sphere. Even the wealthiest tycoons of Lioran had to show him respect! His influence was invaluable, something that money simply couldn’t buy. Yet now, he was using his prestige to publicly defend a freshman! How could that not shock everyone? Arthur hadn’t expected Hugo to say such things either. The fact that Hugo had personally sought him out as a student was already an immense honour, one that left Arthur feeling undeserving. But to see him go to such lengths to protect him, That was entirely beyond Arthur’s imagination. As the founder of Cloudia Corporation, Arthur was well aware of Hugo’s standing in Evergrand City. With this level of public support, Arthur could practically walk through Governance University without anyone daring to challenge him. There were moments when Arthur couldn’t shake the feeling that Hugo saw him differently than the rest of his students. Perhaps it was more than just appreciation, perhaps it was expectation. Meanwhile, Taylor, standing in the audience, was nearly green with envy. At some point, Mia and Sage had joined him, and the three watched the scene unfold from a distance. Taylor pouted. "Mr. Hugo is playing favourites! He’s never treated me this well." He still remembered when he first became Professor student. Back then, there had been doubts about whether he was truly qualified, and people had said all sorts of harsh things behind his back. He had been so frustrated that he went straight to Hugo, hoping he would step in and defend him. But the professor had only told him. A man must stand on his own. Once you step into society, no one will defend you unconditionally. Honor and respect must be earned through your own efforts. Over time, Taylor had learned to ignore the whispers behind his back. However, if someone dared to insult him directly, he would never hold back in clapping back. Mia rolled her eyes at him. "Mr. Hugo never treated me this well either." Sage pursed his lips. "Be mature. Arthur is younger than us. Mr. Hugo is just looking out for him." "Young?" Taylor raised an eyebrow. "He’s only a year younger than us, at most."He and Mia were the same age, while Sage was one year older. At this point, they were practically peers. Mia suddenly remarked, "Maybe Mr. Hugo sees Arthur’s past and wants to give him a bit of warmth." "His past?" At that, both Taylor and Sage fell silent. Over the past few months, they had come to learn about Arthur’s background. Neither of them could understand how parents could treat their own child the way Arthur’s had. Taylor had grown up in an ordinary household, but his parents had always loved him deeply. He owed much of his success to their unwavering support. When he was little and first showed an interest in computers, his parents had pooled together all their savings just to enrol him in programming classes. That was where his legendary journey in computing began. Their love was irreplaceable. For the longest time, Taylor had believed that all parents were like his own. After all, wasn’t there a saying? Parents' love is boundless, and no parent would ever truly harm their child. But as he grew older and saw more of the world, he realized just how lucky he had been. Mia, despite growing up in a wealthy family, had also always known that her parents loved her. They didn’t always have time to spend with her, but if she ever asked, they would do their best to be there, whether it was for material things or companionship. It wasn’t until she met Sage that she realized not all parents cherished their children. As they spoke, a commotion suddenly erupted behind them. On stage, Hugo had just begun leading Arthur down the steps when the chaos began. Shrieks of alarm echoed through the venue. "My god! How could something so important just disappear!" "Whoever took it, return it immediately!" "That’s the Queen of Eldoria’s ring! It’s priceless, who would dare steal it?!" "I definitely saw Finley wearing that ring when he arrived! I can’t believe someone would have the audacity to steal it!" "Quick! Lock down the venue, no one leaves Governance University!" "Whoever took it, just come clean! Finley won’t hold it against you!" "Who had contact with Finley tonight?"One panicked voice after another filled the banquet hall, turning the once joyful celebration into complete chaos. The excitement and warmth of just moments ago vanished entirely.