Chapter 59

“Earlier, the principal said Li Ling nearly ruined your future… What exactly did he mean?”

Tang Wan was perceptive as she pointed it out. Zhou Zhi, with a more straightforward temperament, only reacted belatedly.

“Was it related to Tsinghua University?! Was that why the form teacher called you to the office yesterday?”

Tao Yi Xi nodded.

“Dammit!” Zhou Zhi could not hold back her profanity. “Is Li Ling crazy?”

Tang Wan furrowed her brows, her expression serious. “Let’s go ask her, we’ll be able to find out then.”

Tao Yi Xi took a step back, “It’s best I not go.”

“What’s wrong?”

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

“Gv y vkxl zkjl vbkp, pbl rascyczu eslpd’v oydv vs pll xl.”

“Rq pbl eked’v es kv, obu oswze pbl cl yqayke vs qynl usw? Gde kq pbl eke es kv, vbld obu pbswze usw cl vbl sdl yhskekdt bla? Ps usw pvkzz dsv vawpv xl yde Eyd Eyd?”

“Rv’p dsv vbyv.”

Ekvb y nyzx elxlydsa yde elvlaxkdle tygl, Mydt Eyd pyke, “Zk Dk, zlv’p ts vstlvbla.”

Rd vbl lde, Mys Zk Dk dseele.

Mbkp vkxl yaswde, pbl nbspl vs clzklhl kd vblka qakldepbkr.

**

Uyk Nk Nkdt’p nzyppxyvlp vsze vblx vbyv pbl oyp dsv yaswde.

Her evasion indirectly confirmed part of the truth…  

The atmosphere became increasingly tense.

“She wouldn’t dare skip class. Let’s check the school infirmary.”

Back in their first year when Cai Li Ling and Zhou Zhi were in the same class, Cai Li Ling had used the same method to skip class.

The infirmary door was left ajar, and they could hear Cai Li Ling’s voice from inside.

“Teacher, I still feel unwell. Can you issue me a sick leave?”

“Student, your condition is not serious enough to warrant a sick leave.”

“Teacher, please help me.” Cai Li Ling pleaded in a choked-up voice.

The school doctor, unable to bear it, took a step back. “I can’t grant you a sick leave without a valid reason, but you can continue resting here for another twenty minutes.”

“Teacher…” Cai Li Ling wanted to plead further, but the school doctor waved his hand, signaling the end of the conversation, and left.

The fleeing school doctor encountered the trio at the door. He quickly recognized Tao Yi Xi.

Tao Yi Xi’s exquisite appearance and resolute personality left a profound impression on him.

“Did you get hurt again?”

“Hello Teacher, I’m fine. We came to look for a classmate.”

“Are you referring to Cai Li Ling? She’s currently inside. Can you convince her to return to class as well?” The school doctor wanted to avoid dealing with female students who fussed like that.

The door was slightly ajar, and Zhou Zhi knocked.

Upon spotting them, Cai Li Ling’s expression stiffened.

“Why are you here?”

“Li Ling, we’ve heard the announcement. Were you really the one who posted those things on the school forum?” Zhou Zhi asked her straightforwardly.

“You all… let me explain, I didn’t do it on purpose. You know me… I usually like to look at gossip forums. That day I happened to see it and because of a moment of stupidity, I did such a thing.”

Such an explanation was feeble and held no weight, no one was convinced.

“Why didn’t you tell us when you first found out? You can gossip about celebrities and other trivial things and I won’t care. But Yi Xi is our friend!” Zhou Zhi angrily retorted.

Tang Wan chimed in from the side, “Li Ling, what were you thinking at that time? Don’t you know you almost caused Yi Xi to lose the opportunity to enter Tsinghua University!”

That was Tsinghua University, the dream school for all the students in the top class. Faced with such a blow, even Tang Wan believed that she would not be able to maintain her composure as well as Tao Yi Xi was currently.

Under the barrage of questions on both sides, Cai Li Ling’s expression briefly twisted.

She lowered her head as she choked back on her sobs, looking very pitiful.

“I know I’m wrong. The principal already announced it in front of the whole school without my prior knowledge. Furthermore, the teachers will definitely help Yi Xi explain this to Tsinghua University, so Yi Xi will be fine.”

Superficially, the words were correct, but why did it feel so uncomfortable listening to them? 

“All of a sudden, I have to face such criticisms, my mind is in chaos. I don’t know how to face the teachers and my classmates anymore. And when I go home, I don’t know how to face my parents too. They will definitely scold me to death. Wuu wuu wuu!”

Cai Li Ling looked teary-eyed at the key person in this incident, Tao Yi Xi. She bit her lip, squeezed her eyes, and finally tears started rolling down her cheeks.

“Yi Xi, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect this matter to blow up like this or that it would have such a big impact on you. Fortunately, it didn’t turn into an irreversible mistake. Please forgive me for the sake of our friendship, okay? Can you please talk to the teacher for me? Please help me out, I’ll really have no way of living if this continues…”

Cai Li Ling was quite clever. After she knew that Gu Jing Yuan exposed it, she immediately understood that she had to start from Tao Yi Xi in order to neutralize the situation at hand, displaying her shrewdness.

Unfortunately, this time Tao Yi Xi did not play along with her performance.

Tao Yi Xi stared at her, unmoved.

“It always slipped my mind to inform you. Your acting skills are quite lacking.”

Cai Li Ling froze, even her sobbing took a pause.

“I spared you the last time, and did you really assume that I’m easy to push around?”

Tao Yi Xi sneered, getting rid of her amicable front. Her exquisite visage emitted a chilling air, sending a shiver down one’s spine.

“Did you think you can use your death to threaten me? Sorry to say this, but I don’t buy it. A person who truly seeks death won’t beg others to come save her.”

Zhou Zhi’s heart skipped a beat as she snuck a glance at Tao Yi Xi.

Tao Yi Xi continued, “Although I don’t understand why you wanted to destroy me, I can tell you clearly that I’m not afraid of public opinion oppression. I, Tao Yi Xi, will not be ruined by anyone. Even if I don’t receive the early admission spot to Tsinghua University this time, I’ll still score well and get in through the regular college entrance examination.”

Cai Li Ling was still trying to hold her ground. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I really didn’t…”

“I don’t care if you did it on purpose or not but I won’t help you in this matter. If you dare to do it, you should be ready to bear the consequences.” Tao Yi Xi declared coldly and mercilessly.

“How could you be like this?” Cai Li Ling was genuinely panicking now. She thought Tao Yi Xi would go easy on her this time as well.

“Wan Wan, Zhi Zhi, please help me…”

After Tao Yi Xi finished speaking, Zhou Zhi and Tang Wan fell into silent contemplation, carefully pondering the hidden meaning in Cai Li Ling’s words, and everything became clear to them.

The victim was unharmed, so the one who pushed the victim becomes blameless? What kind of ridiculous logic was this?

Despite the escalation of the incident in the forum, it was fortunate that Tao Yi Xi was genuinely capable and had outstanding mental resilience. She also had the assistance of other classmates and Gu Jing Yuan to uncover the perpetrator. Otherwise, one could not begin to comprehend what the outcome would have turned out to be.

Zhou Zhi’s face turned cold as she pushed away Cai Li Ling’s hand.

Tang Wan, filled with disappointment, told her, “Li Ling, you went overboard with what you did.”

“You two are supposed to be my friends!” Cai Li Ling shouted at them.

“Yi Xi is also our friend!”

“Look at her cold and heartless appearance. Does she even treat us as friends?” Cai Li Ling could not get what she wanted and gradually began to reveal her ugly side.

“How can both of you speak up for her? Does our two years of friendship count for less than someone who just arrived?”

Cai Li Ling’s words sounded as a matter of fact which shocked Zhou Zhi. She suddenly realized that Tao Yi Xi’s concerns were not completely groundless.

“Li Ling, why did you become like this?”

“It’s all her fault! I used to be the most attractive and eye-catching one among you all, but as soon as she came, I lost everything!” Cai Li Ling felt abandoned and was pushed to voice out her inner thoughts.

Zhou Zhi could not believe her ears, “Did you befriend us with such intentions?”

In terms of appearance, Cai Li Ling was the best-looking among the three. But at most, she could be considered slightly pretty. So where did this sense of superiority come from?

Tang Wan frowned, “Li Ling, don’t say things in anger.”

Words spoken were like spilled water; once out, it could not be retrieved.

“Wan Wan, you’re also taking her side?!” 

“Li Ling, this isn’t about taking sides. You have clearly gone overboard regarding this matter.”

“I already admitted that I was wrong, and Tao Yi Xi already said that these things won’t affect her.” Cai Li Ling stubbornly clung to her skewed moral beliefs, thinking that since no one got hurt then she did not commit the mistake.

“Do you really know what you did wrong?”

“I’ve already apologized to her, and I was even publicly criticized by the principal in front of the whole school! Isn’t it bad enough already?”

Tang Wan took a deep breath, feeling utterly powerless.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the twenty minutes break. 

Zhou Zhi had nothing more to say to Cai Li Ling.

“Let’s go back to class,” she said, pulling Tao Yi Xi away.

Tang Wan looked back one last time, remembering the school doctor’s instructions, she told Cai Li Ling, “The school doctor told you to return to class as soon as possible.”

“Zhi Zhi… Wan Wan…”

No one paid attention to her cries. This time, she was truly left without anyone by her side.

Their departing steps were heavier than when they arrived. Zhou Zhi and Tang Wan had initially mentally prepared themselves to face the truth that Cai Li Ling was the one behind the incident and how they would deal with it; yet reality turned out to be much worse than expected.

Their original plan of making a trip to the convenience store together was now impossible.

“This matter is resolved just like that?” Zhou Zhi felt that it was unsatisfactory, “I should’ve asked her who were the ones who told her the rumors!”

“There’s no need to ask,” Tao Yi Xi spoke, “I already guess who they are.”

“Who are the scoundrels?! I’m going to find them and settle this score!”

“You won’t be able to find her; she’s a former classmate from my previous school.”

“Li Ling even managed to contact people from your previous school?”

Tao Yi Xi shook her head, “She probably just spread and amplified the rumors she coincidentally spotted.”

Cai Li Ling was merely horrid, she was not comparable to someone who had a long history of wrongdoing.

“Thank you both for today. It’s already good enough that the situation has developed in this direction so far.”

Regarding this matter, Tao Yi Xi originally had no expectations. In the past, when more severe cases of campus violence had occurred to her, the school had chosen to keep things quiet, let alone classmates being willing to come forward to help.

What had taken place in Fu Middle School had far exceeded her expectations.

“Is it okay to let those people on the internet slander you as they please?” Zhou Zhi expressed her frustration.

“I’m not a popular celebrity, such things will blow over quickly.”

Tang Wan sighed, “But such actions feel so passive.”

“Don’t worry, the school has already issued a statement. As long as it doesn’t affect my future further, it’s fine,” Tao Yi Xi reassured them.

Facing their shameless and despicable tactics, Tao Yi Xi also had no way of dealing with them.

They were already a bit late. Back in the classroom, the English teacher was in the middle of the lesson when their return interrupted her class. She questioned sternly, “Why are you two late?”

Spotting the disapproving expression on the English teacher’s face, Tao Yi Xi felt a bit surreal. It was as if she had returned to the first day of school where she was late with Gu Jing Yuan. At that time, despite disliking her, Gu Jing Yuan chose to protect her. Since the beginning, he had always stayed by her side.

Knowing how strict the English teacher could be, Zhou Zhi quickly explained, “We went to the washroom.”

The English Teacher glanced at Tao Yi Xi. Considering that Tao Yi Xi was her top student, she did not make things difficult for them.

“Hurry up and return to your seats.”

Tao Yi Xi could not focus for the remainder of the class because the seat next to her was empty. Although the issue seemed to be resolved, she still felt uneasy because Gu Jing Yuan had yet to return.

When class ended, she finally had a chance to check her phone and saw a message from him.

​​[Something came up, will be gone for a bit. You stay in school, see you tonight.]

However, when night fell, he still had not returned. 

It was not until Xia Yan hurried knocks sounded on her door.

“Hurry and get dressed! Follow me to the neighboring city’s police station to see Gu Jing Yuan.”