Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 177 - 004. The three-year term has arrived, please Dragon King proceed to prison for pork chop rice.

Chapter 177: 004. The three-year term has arrived, please Dragon King proceed to prison for pork chop rice.

Twin Star University is the public institution of higher education that every Frostdale student dreams of attending. Even amidst the vast array of private colleges clustered in the capital city of Twin Star City, frequented by the offspring of high-ranking officials and magnates, to the people of Frostdale, no other institution holds a candle to Twin Star University, which was established with the personal approval of the Twin Queens.

With the best research facilities and the richest library collection, the university even has a standardized system for cultivating Biochemists, Mechanics, and other Transcendents. Due to its special political status, Twin Star University has become the only higher education institution in all of Frostdale with a Beta Rank Transcendent in residence.

Every graduation season, the doors of Twin Star University are nearly stripped off their hinges by major corporations and government agencies scouting for talent. It can be said that the university brings together the elite intellectuals of the nation, and anyone who manages to enter Twin Star University and successfully graduate seems destined to join the ruling class.

However, for Li Huixi, a sophomore in the Business Management Department, life at this university comes with immense pressure.

As soon as Professor Feismy’s lecture on National Economy ended, Li Huixi ejected the lecture chip and rushed to the restroom, taking no notice even of the rich young heiress Linda, who was usually so attentive to her.

Locked up, securing the latch, she activated her terminal, perched on the toilet lid, and dialed her home number with nerves on edge.

"Dialing... Dialing... Click."

Before hearing a voice, she shouted loudly,

"Hello! Mom! Why haven’t you sent this month’s money? Did Aozi drop dead somewhere?"

"I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently not answering."

"Tch! What is that old hag doing? Why isn’t she answering the phone at such a crucial time?!"

Impatiently, Li Huixi dialed the number again, when suddenly a knock came from the locked stall door.

Clang clang clang!

"Hey, I’m in here!"

Li Huixi yelled back over her shoulder in sheer desperation.

"We are looking for you, Ms. Li Huixi."

A sultry, low female voice sounded, and Li Huixi’s Artificial Eye pupils contracted. Her physiological health monitoring system showed her heart rate skyrocketing, reaching 135. With an apologetic turn, she unlocked the door of the restroom stall — three plainly yet tastefully dressed female students came into view.

"Sorry! Ms. Lu Lirui, I didn’t realize it was you outside." Li Huixi conjured up a strained smile. "I’ll pay back this month’s money as soon as possible—"

"No, no, no, Ms. Li Huixi, you are mistaken. That was just something we gave you to play with. Consider it a gift."

Spoken with a gentle tone, the girl taking the lead’s golden twin ponytails, her natural charcoal skin, and the high-quality artificial body’s color-changing lines that showed unintentionally, all hinted at her identity as a wealthy lady.

"Is, is that so?"

Li Huixi felt on the verge of tears.

The petite woman in front of her was Lu Lirui Aishta, the daughter of Senator Katie Aishta.

Even within this university filled with the best and brightest, she belonged to the top echelon. Next month, with the mid-term elections approaching in Frostdale, there was a high chance Katie Aishta’s People’s Choice Party would prevail over the incumbent His Excellency the President’s Progressive Party.

If that were the case, then the prestigious student before her might very well become the daughter of the next President.

With that thought, Li Huixi could hardly stand steady; she could only muster a forced smile, and even though she stood a head taller than the other, she dare not look up but hunched her shoulders, her head hung low over her chest.

"Of course, as it was I who invited you to Abor’s party. It was just a mishap that you spilled red wine on a piece of artwork, such a trivial thing. I, Lu Lirui, can easily compensate for it."

Nonsense—Li Huixi thought to herself—I’ve searched online; if that oil painting from "Tracy’s Grand Exhibition" is authentic, even the most advanced robots would struggle to restore it. To complete the restoration, it would cost at least ten million Derby.

Ten million Derby, an astronomical figure. Even as a prestigious university student, she could work for twenty years without eating or drinking and still not earn that kind of money.

"Really, thank you..."

Before Li Huixi could finish, Lu Lirui changed the subject.

"However—you see, more than the painting, there’s an important person who’s more interested in you."

She stepped forward and gently brushed Li Huixi’s hair away from her forehead. Unlike her brother’s frighteningly pale skin, Li Huixi had a soft honey-colored complexion, and her features were pretty, with an air of grandeur that closely matched the aesthetic preferences of the Frostdale upper class.

"—Are you suggesting I sell myself to pay off the debt?"

Li Huixi, hearing this, shuddered violently.

In this university filled with high-level intellectuals, she had heard about the entertainment of the upper class, even the daughter of a seemingly modest departmental official indirectly mentioned that "boys have a finer frame than girls, and their faces are more delicate," a statement that shocked Li Huixi for an entire year.

The perverse pleasures of the upper class were unimaginable to the common person, and plenty of men and women had been broken by their extravagances.

"You misunderstand. It’s just a normal social tea party. With your knowledge and poise, there’s no need for that sort of thing."

Lu Lirui chuckled and gently patted Li Huixi’s cheek.

"Think it over for yourself. Make your decision, and by Friday, come to the auditorium in the comprehensive building. The famous conductor, Mr. Carlon, will hold a fabulous exhibition there. Remember to wear the dress I sent you—not this homely sweatshirt, lest Mrs. Hofska thinks you’re a crude country bumpkin."