### Chapter 340: Ji Shu Injured

### Chapter 340: Ji Shu Injured

The joint cultural performance between South City University and Minnan University officially began today.

All the performers arrived an hour early to rehearse and finalize their positions on stage, especially Ji Shu and Liu Ling, who were performing the opening act.

Their final decision was for Ji Shu to play the piano while Liu Ling performed a solo ballet dance.

Ji Shu wore a stunning custom-made moonlight white gown, her makeup impeccable and her figure slender. She was confident that even with Liu Ling dancing in front, the audience's attention would be fixed on her.

After all, her exceptional piano skills and breathtaking beauty would overshadow everything else.

Ji Shu glanced at Liu Ling, who was dressed in a black swan ballet costume. To her, Liu Ling’s appearance and figure were simply not worth considering.

She sneered coldly, "Liu Ling, you’d better give it your all when you dance. Don’t disgrace my music."

Liu Ling clenched her fists secretly but smiled gently, "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely surprise you and everyone tonight."

"Better be so." Ji Shu turned and walked away, just as someone returned with the coffee she had ordered.

"Ji Shu, here’s your jasmine latte."

Liu Ling watched Ji Shu walk over, open the coffee bag, and take out the cup.

"Ahh—too hot!"

As Ji Shu lifted the coffee cup, it shattered instantly, and the scalding hot coffee spilled onto her fingertips. Within moments, her delicate fingers were red and blistered.

"It hurts—my hands!"

Ji Shu’s face paled as she raised her hands, tears welling up.

Everyone was stunned by the scene before them.

Yun Mu heard the commotion and immediately approached, "What happened?"

"A-Mu, my hands, they’re all swollen!"

Ji Shu rushed to Yun Mu’s side, pleading through tears, "Quick, help me treat my hands. The performance is about to start, I can’t let them be ruined..."

Yun Mu glanced at the coffee nonchalantly and pretended not to see it as he touched Ji Shu’s fingertips, causing her to gasp in pain.

"You need to go to the infirmary to apply medicine. Your fingers are already red and blistered; you won’t be able to perform the piano piece," Yun Mu said.

Ji Shu shook her head, "No, I can’t give up this performance. I’ve always been the one to perform the opening act every year..."

"That coffee was tampered with. If you don’t treat your hands now, they will scar. Either perform or get treated; you choose," Yun Mu calmly replied.

Ji Shu glared at the coffee and then at Wu Yue, who had bought it for her.

Wu Yue shuddered, "It wasn’t me, I didn’t know it was tampered with. I bought an iced coffee..."

Ji Shu, though furious, wasn’t stupid.

Wu Yue had grown up with her, and his family relied on the Ji family for survival. He wouldn’t betray her.

The person who harmed her must be someone else.

Just then, excited screams erupted from the front of the auditorium. The eldest son of the Xuan Yuan family, Aju, had arrived!

With Aju’s arrival, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

Everyone looked up, craning their necks to see the figure entering the auditorium.

A group of South City University’s high-ranking officials in formal suits escorted a tall and imposing figure inside—none other than Aju.

Today, Aju wore a custom-made black suit, the expensive fabric perfectly pressed without a single wrinkle. With one hand in his pocket, he strode in, each step exuding a chilling, commanding presence.

The students gazed up at his godlike features, their hearts fluttering.

His deep, piercing eyes scanned the room, immediately silencing the entire auditorium.

"Mr. Yi, it’s an honor to meet you. I am Zhou Changming, the president of South City University," President Zhou said respectfully.

The president of Minnan University also greeted him, "Mr. Yi, good evening. I am Wu Chengming, the president of Minnan University."

Aju paused, giving the two presidents a brief glance before responding, "Good evening, Presidents."

President Zhou fawned, "Mr. Yi, your visit must be for your girlfriend, Miss Liu Ling. She’s performing the opening act, which starts in half an hour. Why don’t you sit here?"

Aju’s handsome face showed no emotion as he glanced at the faculty seating area and replied, "Sure."

President Wu sat down, annoyed. It seemed the Xuan Yuan family would sponsor South City University again this year. How could Minnan University compete without a student like Liu Ling?

Backstage, everyone watched the scene unfold in the auditorium.

Student Union President Zhao Mingcheng worriedly said, "Now isn’t the time to assign blame. Mr. Yi has come to watch tonight’s performance. With Ji Shu unable to play the piano, we’ll ruin the show, and the president won’t spare us!"

"Exactly, and it will make fools of us in front of those idiots from Minnan University!"

"We’re doomed. There’s only half an hour left until the performance. Where will we find someone to replace Ji Shu on the piano?"

Everyone was anxious, knowing that if Mr. Yi was satisfied with the performance, the school would receive his sponsorship.

At that moment, Liu Ling stepped forward with a smile, "Everyone, don’t worry. Aju is just here to watch my performance. How about I talk to him and ask him to play the piano instead of Ji Shu?"

"Mr. Yi playing the piano?" Zhao Mingcheng was astonished.

Liu Ling nodded, "Yes, Aju and I often practiced together at home. We have great chemistry, and we won’t ruin the performance."

Liu Ling spoke while observing Yun Mu's expression.

Unfortunately, Yun Mu was wearing a veil, making it impossible to see her expression, and there seemed to be no fluctuation in her eyes.

"Great!" Zhao Mingcheng clapped his hands excitedly. "If President Yi can perform on behalf of South City University, then we..."

"What's so great about that?" Ji Shu endured the intense pain in her hands and glared at Liu Ling. "Liu Ling, you must have planned this all along. You knew Aju would come today, so you deliberately injured my hand to give yourself a chance to publicly flaunt your relationship with him! How shameless!"

In response to the accusation, Liu Ling merely smiled lightly. "Miss Ji is overthinking. If I wanted Aju to perform with me, I could have just asked the principal. I believe the principal wouldn't refuse. Why would I go through such trouble?"

"Exactly! Having President Yi perform for our university's debut program is such an honor! Ji Shu, stop being unreasonable. You've monopolized the opening act for years; it's enough already!" Zhao Mingcheng said impatiently. "Besides, who else can step up and play the piano now besides President Yi?"

Everyone present remained silent and withdrew.

This was a cultural performance involving two universities, with many leaders and Aju present.

Who would dare to step up without any preparation?

"I will!" a clear female voice rang out.