Chapter 45: The Opponent is a Master

About ten minutes later, Gu Wenxuan arrived at the computer science building, her heart pounding as she approached the two adjacent lecture halls that separated the chemistry and computer science departments. The distance felt shorter than usual, perhaps because of the intense scrutiny she was under. With the afternoon classes set to start in roughly half an hour, her unexpected presence here stirred a noticeable stir among the students.

Many of the boys who had once idolized her now shifted their admiration to disdain, whispering and pointing as she walked past. Gu Wenxuan stood at the entrance of Class Two, seemingly waiting for someone. 

Before long, a short boy with glasses and a checkered shirt stepped out of the classroom. His nervous demeanor suggested he was smitten with Gu Wenxuan. As he saw her, his face flushed, and he awkwardly adjusted his thick glasses. "Goddess, did you need something from me?"

"I heard you're a top student in the computer science department. Could you help me trace the IP address of that defamatory post about me on the forum?" she requested, her voice a blend of urgency and condescension. If it weren't for the circumstances, she would never have sought help from someone she deemed so socially inept.

The boy, thrilled to be approached by his crush, nodded eagerly. "Of course! Just give me a moment. I'll grab my laptop, and we can head to the café."

As he darted off, Gu Wenxuan's gaze wandered, catching sight of the classroom next door—Class One, where Gu Yining was enrolled. Just then, Gu Yining emerged from the cafeteria, having finished a quick lunch. As their eyes met, Gu Wenxuan felt a surge of animosity; she was determined to confront her rival.

"Ugly freak! Was that defamatory post about me posted by you?" Gu Wenxuan shot at her, her tone laced with venom.

Gu Yining, an equally skilled student in computer science, wasn't about to let such an accusation slide. "Me? A slacker who constantly fails and barely scrapes by in this department? You really think I have the skills to hack into your account and post that? Wow, I didn't realize I was such a big deal in your eyes," she retorted, her voice calm yet mocking.

"Stop trying to play dumb with me! Just you wait—once I gather the evidence, it won't be as simple as just expelling you from school," Gu Wenxuan shot a sharp look at Gu Yining, before brushing past her with her male companion, leaving no room for further discussion.

Gu Yining rolled her eyes and turned back to her classroom, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all. It was the lunch break, and with fewer students around, she found a window seat and pulled out her laptop. Her fingers glided over the keyboard as she logged into a mysterious account.

Meanwhile, in the café, Gu Wenxuan was seated across from the boy, who was deeply engrossed in his laptop screen. She ordered him a coffee to keep his spirits up. He was rapidly typing, with the black screen flashing lines of code that made no sense to her.

The boy's fingers danced over the keys with impressive speed, creating an atmosphere of intensity. However, after about ten minutes of coding, his brow furrowed, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.

"Are you even close?" Gu Wenxuan's patience was waning. She crossed her arms, her annoyance bubbling to the surface. "If you can't do it, I'll just find a professional hacker to help me."

"Goddess, please don't rush me! This person has set up three firewalls, and I've just breached the second one. I'm working on the third now. This opponent is quite skilled and shouldn't be underestimated," he replied, his focus unwavering.

"Weren't you the top student everyone praises? Don't tell me you're all talk! If you can't even trace an IP address, what good are you?" Gu Wenxuan scoffed, frustration evident in her voice. Rising from her seat, she felt that placing her hope in such a disheveled tech nerd was a grave mistake.

"Wait! I think I'm onto something!" The boy's voice cut through her thoughts as he accelerated his attempts at hacking. His fingers moved with renewed vigor, and he finally cracked the last firewall, revealing the IP address.

Gu Wenxuan's heart raced with anticipation as she leaned in closer, her irritation momentarily forgotten. "Really? You did it?" she asked, hope flickering in her eyes.

"Yeah! Just give me a second," he replied, exhilarated by his progress. He clicked on the code, opening a window that displayed the elusive IP address they had been seeking. 

Gu Wenxuan peered over his shoulder, her breath catching in her throat as she realized they were on the brink of uncovering the identity of the person who had orchestrated the defamatory post. The stakes were high, and for the first time in a while, she felt a flicker of control returning to her hands. 

"Let's see who's been hiding behind the screen," she said, her voice steely and determined. With the IP address finally revealed, she prepared herself for whatever drama might unfold next. This time, she wouldn't let anyone tear her down without a fight.