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Zhi Wei was unaware of the students' private discussions.
She also didn’t know that many students found her campaign strategy problematic and were eagerly preparing their own plans to compete for a spot in her campaign team.
But it wasn’t just the students who were restless.
After all, the latest updates about Zhi Wei were flooding the StarNet.
Her news was now considered priceless, and her popularity hadn’t waned—voters were eagerly following every piece of information about her.
Students from Lan Meng had shared this development on the StarNet, leaving voters just as baffled as the students.
[Her campaign team’s planning is flawed, right? Why is she focusing on schools first?]
[I checked—Zhi Wei hasn’t held any rallies??]
[Yeah, I’m a Lan Meng student. I’ve been watching every day. She’s just been distributing stuff, no speeches.]
[First it was food, and now basic living supplies. No rallies, no canvassing, not even asking us to boost her ranking on StarNet…]
It was an absurdly inefficient campaign strategy. While other candidates were busy campaigning, Zhi Wei seemed to be doing who-knows-what.
At first, people were confused.
So confused that they even questioned the competence of her campaign team.
They thought such poor planning didn’t deserve to be called a campaign team—Zhi Wei might as well join an organization. At least the organization’s leaders would offer some guidance instead of letting them run wild.
But Zhi Wei’s previous image and persona had been crafted too well—too thoroughly.
She was beautiful, capable, tragic, and shrouded in mystery.
She spoke in phrases that sounded grand but were hard to grasp at first glance—and even harder after careful thought.
This led people to analyze and overanalyze her every word, scrutinizing every action she took.
If another candidate did this, it would be seen as a campaign team blunder.
But when Zhi Wei did it? Clearly, she had a deeper meaning!
People dissected, debated, and judged until, slowly, the narrative shifted.
[Instead of rushing to hold rallies, she’s caring for students struggling to afford meals…]
[Setting aside her divine mission as a candidate, using campaign donations to give back to the voters…]
[Some always said she was different. I didn’t believe it before, but now I understand why reports keep saying she’s unlike other candidates.]
Zhi Wei stared at the StarNet updates about herself, silently covering her face without a word.
Zhi Wei: …What do you understand? Can you explain it to me too?!
She had some half-baked experience as an idol, so she paid close attention to news about herself.
Earlier, when she saw StarNet criticizing her campaign team’s lack of professionalism, she thought it was a good thing!
Let that ridiculous savior persona crumble to pieces!
But her joy was short-lived—public opinion took a sharp turn.
After this exposure, wow, she gained even more followers and prestige. She was still the noble, great candidate.
Oh, no—now she was also the selfless savior who cared for students, neglecting her own campaign to help them escape hardship.
The donations in her account surged again.
While Zhi Wei was speechless, Andre poured fuel on the fire.
Andre suddenly had an epiphany: “Ah! I get it now!”
He lowered his gaze, lost in thought as he reflected.
“My mistake—I was too hasty before. If we came to Lan Meng and immediately held rallies and speeches, wouldn’t we be just like every other candidate?”
Andre declared, “You’re thinking long-term, Chief!”
“Just think—you treat Lan Meng’s students like family, not forcing your views on them but making sure they’re fed.”
“This doesn’t just affect Lan Meng’s students. Students across the galaxy will see your actions on StarNet and eagerly await your arrival!”
He swung his arm emphatically: “This is the student outreach strategy, right?”
Zhi Wei’s fingers trembled.
Desperate, she said, “Print my campaign manifesto now! Hurry! Just do what everyone else is doing!”
Andre nodded. “Understood. The groundwork is laid—time for ideological transformation.”
Zhi Wei: “…Andre.”
“Hm?”
She spoke with genuine sincerity, word by word: “I am so honored to have you as my deputy.”
Andre, moved, replied, “Thank you.”
After expressing gratitude, he sensed something off and wondered aloud, “But your expression looks a little strange.”
Zhi Wei smirked. “Does it? Probably looks pained, right?”
Of course, Andre couldn’t detect Zhi Wei’s frustration and exasperation. He always had impeccable self-esteem.
“No, it looks like you trust me deeply.” Andre proudly lifted his chin.
---
After distributing food and supplies for three or four days, Zhi Wei still hadn’t given any speeches.
Instead, that afternoon, after finishing her mecha theory class, she was heading to the history lecture hall when she passed the mecha training field and spotted a crowd gathered around something.
Assuming Andre was handing out food, Zhi Wei squeezed through to check.
But as she got closer, she realized the person at the center wasn’t the blond, blue-eyed Andre.
It was a black-haired girl clutching her chest, struggling to breathe.
She sat on the ground, her hair—matted and clumped together—stuck to her collarbone, her face streaked with brown, viscous liquid, as if something had been thrown at her.
Zhi Wei’s sharp eyes immediately caught the girl’s distress. She raised her voice, “Stop crowding her! Can’t you see she’s having trouble breathing?”
She pushed through, crouching beside the girl to assess her condition while urging the crowd to disperse.
“Are you her classmates? What’s going on here?” Zhi Wei’s gaze swept over the group, locking onto the ringleaders.
They hesitated, stepping back, their eyes filled with disbelief and surprise as they stared at Zhi Wei.
A murmur rippled through the crowd before a boy spoke up.
“We’re not bullying her. She just doesn’t belong here.”
Zhi Wei frowned. “What?”
Not only was there food scarcity at this school, but discrimination too?
“She and her brother were only admitted half a year ago under the Protection Act,” another voice chimed in, cold and detached. “This place was never meant for them.”
“You should stand firm in your position.”
Though only one person spoke, the others’ gazes mirrored the sentiment, as if the words had come from many mouths at once.
“Don’t disappoint the voters who support you, Candidate Zhi Wei.”
They spoke as if she were already branded a certain way.
But when the crowd dispersed, Zhi Wei didn’t follow them as they’d hoped.
She stayed true to herself—remaining by the disheveled girl’s side.
Zhi Wei took out a tissue from her pocket, one she always carried with her, and gently wiped the girl’s forehead.
“No need,” the girl murmured softly. “It’s nutrient fluid. They’ve been feeding me.”
Zhi Wei’s pupils trembled.
“It’s the food you distributed. Thank you… cough… I wanted to go get some myself, but I wasn’t eligible, and my health has always been poor… cough, cough… What a shame that this is the only way I can taste your kindness.”
Zhi Wei’s mind was a complete mess.
The girl’s breathing was uneven as she spoke, punctuated by frequent coughs.
Clearly, she was frail—a sickly thing.
She lifted her hand from the ground, the back of it stained with traces of brown nutrient fluid.
Bringing it to her lips, she licked it lightly and forced a faint smile. “Chocolate-flavored.”
Zhi Wei was too stunned to speak.
The girl took a few deep breaths, then slowly stood up, her breathing still unsteady. Yet her gaze, moist and shimmering, lingered on Zhi Wei.
“No one… has ever… treated me… like this…” she gasped out, each word deliberate.
Zhi Wei instinctively asked, “Huh? Like what?”
The girl lowered her head, silent for a moment, then raised her eyes again. Her gaze burned like embers, but her answer was evasive.
“You’re right to go for the Selection of the Divine. You should go. If even someone like you can’t make it, I might as well die.”
Zhi Wei: “Huh?! How did we get to that?”
What kind of leap was that?
Suppressing a sigh, Zhi Wei forced a reassuring smile. Her heart ached for the girl, burning with pity. She steadied her and asked, “Where do you live? Let me take you back to rest.”
The girl told her, and Zhi Wei relayed the location to Andre, arranging to meet him there.
The two of them set off together.
The walk was quiet. Zhi Wei wanted to say something, but every time she opened her mouth, she couldn’t find the words.
Everything that had just happened was beyond her expectations.
When they arrived at the girl’s dwelling, Zhi Wei realized it wasn’t a normal dormitory—not in Lanmeng, a place practically its own city. Instead, it was a semi-basement in one of the laboratory buildings.
The girl twisted the doorknob—her door wasn’t even locked.
Once inside, she turned to look at Zhi Wei.
She didn’t dare invite her in outright, afraid Zhi Wei might refuse.
Zhi Wei didn’t mind. A glance told her the basement was at least clean and tidy. She’d seen far worse—this was nothing.
She stepped inside. The girl’s eyes sparkled as she washed a cup and brewed a warm drink for Zhi Wei.
Just as Zhi Wei was about to take a sip, Andre’s voice drifted in through the window.
Zhi Wei looked straight ahead—only the underground wall met her gaze.
She had to tilt her head up toward the ceiling, where a narrow strip of a window revealed the outside. There, she could see Andre’s ankles and his polished combat boots.
Andre stood there, his tone thick with confusion.
“There’s a place like this in the school? Who lives here? Stray animals?”
He took a few steps back, his boots clicking sharply against the ground, then scrutinized the area again before concluding, “No way this is for humans.”
Zhi Wei sighed and called out through the narrow window, “Over here!”
Andre glanced around, finally pinpointing the location. After circling twice, he pushed the door open and entered.
Spotting the other girl, he let out a surprised “Ah!” and politely introduced himself, “I’m Andre Itur. Hello.”
The girl remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking. “I’m Chun Huo.”
The moment the name left her lips, Andre’s eyes widened.
He lunged forward, his left arm shielding Zhi Wei while his right hand flew to the weapon at his waist. If Chun Huo so much as twitched, he’d draw and fire instantly.
“She’s a Polluted,” he growled, pulling Zhi Wei back, his expression icy. “Evacuate first, Commander.”
