Page 425

After the fortune-telling session, Chen Xi stood up and bowed solemnly, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you, Master, for allowing me to learn the truth."

She smiled bitterly, "Otherwise... I would have blamed myself for not getting in and lived with that regret forever."

Chen Xi turned to leave. The setting sun shone through the door, casting light on her tightly held canvas bag. Amidst the fashionable Hong Kong, her attire seemed somewhat outdated.

Yet, who could have imagined that this seemingly unsophisticated girl harbored aspirations that transcended those of most men?

Seeing her departure, the neighbors anxiously inquired, "Miss Chen, what are your plans now?"

"Indeed, don't let your cousin off easily. Family ties aside, did she ever consider you when she did those things?"

Faced with the well-meaning neighbors, Chen Xi forced a bitter smile. "Everyone, please rest assured. I will definitely expose my cousin's true nature. But... what then?"

"My academic credentials have already been stolen. If there was a chance to rectify it before, there likely isn't one now."

The neighbors also hung their heads in disappointment.

It also dawned on her that Chen Xi was stating a fact.

After all, so much time had passed; Chen Xi couldn't possibly have an extra university diploma now.

As everyone was pitying Chen Xi, a faint voice echoed.

"Who said that?"

Chen Xi turned around in surprise, meeting the girl's clear, limpid eyes. "Master Chu..."

Chu Yuening calculated with her fingers and smiled slightly.

"The first Destiny Plate still has vitality. It's a matter of whether one can seize this chance to turn a desperate situation around."

4 p.m.

Jinlun Ferry Limited Trading Company.

Chen Xi checked her watch as she approached the receptionist, hesitating before asking, "Does your company have someone named Chen Xi? I need to find her for something."

At the front desk, a foreign woman with golden hair styled into a side braid over her shoulder glanced at Chen Xi and asked, "Yes, do you need me to call her down for you?"

"I do." Chen Xi's originally hopeful heart sank completely.

Ten minutes later, a woman dressed in a light blue suit and matching fitted skirt stepped out of the elevator. "Fiona, who's looking for me?"

Fiona pointed to the person in the corner. Upon seeing Chen Qixia, her expression immediately changed. She looked around before pulling Chen Xi aside.

"How did you know where my company is?"

Chen Xi was usually soft and easy to manipulate. Chen Qixia planned on coaxing her away to avoid anyone discovering the name mix-up.

Before she could touch Chen Xi's arm, it was pushed away.

Chen Qixia winced in pain, anger flickering in her eyes. "What on earth are you trying to pull!"

"What's the matter with you?"

Chen Xi's face was cold as she sneered. "I'm not the one with the problem. Are you used to using my name? And how about my university, does it give you a sense of accomplishment?"

When Chen Qixia heard about the name change, she initially wanted to argue. But after listening to the rest of the conversation, she realized it was pointless. She gave up pretending and her forced smile immediately faded.

"You knew about it?"

Chen Xi's face remained cold.

Chen Qixia crossed her arms, casting a sidelong glance at Chen Xi. "A college student, huh. How impressive. But it doesn't matter. This degree only helped me get into a British company. Next month, I'll be leaving for the UK. Anyway, this degree is useless to me now. Since we share the same name, I might as well give it back to you."

Furious, Chen Xi pointed at her nose. "You stole my identity to attend university, ruining my life. You think a casual 'I'm sorry' makes up for it? Chen Qixia, I truly feel disgusted for growing up with you!"

Chen Qixia shrugged indifferently. She even glanced up and down at Chen Xi's country bumpkin outfit, her expression showing disdain. "That's all I can do. I'll pay your rent in Hong Kong, and you can have all my branded clothes to boost your image. They won't be of use to me when I go to the UK anyway. Consider it a bargain for you."

With that, Chen Qixia turned to head upstairs.

Chen Xi grabbed her arm. "Who wants these damn things! I want an apology! I want you to personally cancel your enrollment! Couldn't you have gotten into college on your own? Did you have to steal and cheat?"

It happened to be the end of the workday, and a group of Chen Qixia's colleagues emerged from the elevator.

Chen Qixia panicked and quickly explained that there had been a misunderstanding.

Undeterred, Chen Xi exposed the incident of Chen Qixia and her uncle substituting for her grades, specifying even the number of connections involved in the manipulation.

Listening to the detailed incidents, Chen Qixia assumed that Chen Xi had concrete evidence and angrily pushed her away.

"Enough! It was just using your name to get into college, and you didn't even attend classes! I was the one who went to college! This degree is the result of my attendance in every single class!"

Her brazen statement stunned her colleagues.

"Wow, really? I've never seen someone so shameless before."

"If it weren't for your sister getting into college first, how would you have had the chance to take her place and attend university?"

"Exactly, shameless indeed."

Chen Qixia initially intended to explain, but then she thought that since she was transferring to work in the UK next week, nothing her colleagues said would affect her anyway.

She rolled her eyes and was about to leave, "Say what you will."

The next second.

She saw the boss standing in the stairwell for quite some time.

Chen Qixia's sense of crisis instantly arose, and her expression changed. She forced a smile and said, "Boss, don't listen to them. It's all a misunderstanding. I can explain."

The boss had long understood the situation. Facing the approaching woman, they raised their hand to stop her.

"Ms. Chen, integrity is of utmost importance in our company. Your diploma is fake, so we regret to inform you that we cannot continue employing you. Please gather your belongings and leave the company immediately."

"Boss," Chen Qixia panicked. "What about the subsidiary in the UK?"