Chapter 63

The form teacher was holding his teacup and walking through the corridor when he saw Gu Jing Yuan’s actions. Subconsciously, he frowned, “Gu Jing Yuan, don’t bully your classmates.”

“…” Gu Jing Yuan was speechless.

After that, the form teacher turned and amiably signaled to Tao Yi Xi, “Yi Xi, come to my office for a bit.”

“Yes, teacher.”

**

The form teacher blew at the steam in his cup of tea before taking a sip.

In the next cubicle, Teacher Zhang from the top class, Class Eight, whom Tao Yi Xi was familiar with, greeted her.

“Yi Xi, you’re ranked first in this round of examination again. Your class teacher has really struck gold with you.”

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Mys Zk Dk pxkzle xselpvzu, “Rv’p sjyu, Ubld Hl yde R byhl pkxkzya pnsalp.”

“Ubld Hl kp yzps swvpvydekdt. Lso, vos sq vbl xspv swvpvydekdt pvweldvp sq Ww Ykeezl Fnbssz kp ycswv vs zlyhl. Rv xyjlp xl osdela obs okzz cl vbl dlmv vs pvlr wr vs vbyv rspkvksd.”

Mys Zk Dk rywple, “Zsw’al pyukdt vbyv Ubld Hl yde R okzz cl zlyhkdt? Eblal vs?”

“Psd’v usw jdso? Mlynbla Nk yal usw pvkzz vaukdt vs jllr vbkp y plnalv?”

Mbl qsax vlynbla nbwnjzle byrrkzu, “R oyp fwpv ycswv vs vlzz bla, cwv usw clyv xl vs kv.”

Uzlyakdt bkp vbasyv, vbl qsax vlynbla nsdvkdwle, “Mbl ynnlrvydnl zlvvla qasx Mpkdtbwy Bdkhlapkvu byp yaakhle.”

Mys Zk Dk wdnsdpnkswpzu blze bla calyvb, nzyprkdt bla bydep vktbvzu vstlvbla.

“Mpkdtbwy Bdkhlapkvu byp elnkele vs yexkv usw yde Ubld Hl kd vblka lyazu yexkppksd rastayx.”

“But, I…”

She hesitated and was also in slight disbelief. The form teacher knew what she was worried about.

“I sent your ranking and academic records to Tsinghua University for review. Your grades are evident for all to see. The university notified us yesterday of their decision, so you can rest assured.”

“Thank you, Teacher!” Tao Yi Xi was completely relieved. Ecstatic, she gave the form teacher a deep bow.

“These are all things Teacher should do. Now, you only need to focus on your classes and not skip them any more, okay?”

She had skipped the last self-study class but the form teacher had not approached her on that. Tao Yi Xi had thought he was unaware, but it turned out he had just decided to close an eye and let her off the hook.

“Thank you, Teacher.” Tao Yi Xi sincerely expressed her gratitude once more.

The form teacher did not have the intention to scold her too much. He gazed kindly at the student in front of him.

“Alright, go back to class now.”

“Yes!”

Gu Jing Yuan, bored, was doing exercises. When she returned, he keenly sensed her joyful mood and the spark in her eyes was different from usual.

“What good news have you received?”

“Tsinghua University has officially confirmed my early admission,” she said cheerfully. Her eyes curved into crescents of happiness, genuine joy radiating from within them.

“That’s great!” Gu Jing Yuan genuinely felt happy for her; she had finally achieved her wish.

The student in front, with sharp ears, overheard their conversation. She turned her head curiously, and asked Tao Yi Xi in a low voice, “Tao Yi Xi, since you’re admitted early into Tsinghua University, will you start attending school there next semester?”

“I think so.”

“Wow! Next semester, you’ll be a college student. Furthermore, you don’t have to take the college entrance exam too. That’s so cool!”

Gu Jing Yuan’s smile froze. “You’re not coming to school next year? Going straight to Tsinghua University?”

“It seems to be the case for the previous years.”

This news came unexpectedly. She… was already going to leave him in advance.

Tao Yi Xi was still surrounded by her joyous emotions and had not noticed his sudden change of mood yet.

Qi Yue patted his shoulder. “Brother Yuan, what are you daydreaming about? Let’s go, it’s time for lunch.”

Gu Jing Yuan came back to his senses and was about to call out to Tao Yi Xi, but she spoke first.

“I’m having lunch with Zhou Zhi and others today; you go ahead without me.”

She wanted to share this good news with her friends.

After Tao Yi Xi finished announcing her news, the two momentarily paused before they erupted in joy.

Tang Wan congratulated, “Congratulations, Yi Xi!”

“If it weren’t for that awful incident, the decision should’ve been announced earlier. But it doesn’t matter because our Yi Xi is like gold, always shining. Slander is ineffective against her! Hmph! From now on, I’m someone with connections to Tsinghua University, haha!” Zhou Zhi laughed triumphantly, her exaggerated tone amusing the other two.

The trio were chatting happily when Cai Li Ling appeared with a tray in front of them. Their conversation tacitly stopped.

Four people looked at each other in silence.

Cai Li Ling looked exhausted with blisters on her lips, indicating that she had not been doing well lately.

Of course, she had not been doing well. Students have never had a good impression of classmates who tattle, especially one who deliberately stirred up trouble and tarnished the reputation of other classmates.

She had completely lost all her friends at school. She could not hang out with Zhou Zhi and Tang Wan, and her classmates in the class wanted nothing to do with her.

After being outcasted from all sides, her academic life became extremely depressing. This time, her final monthly exam scores plummeted, and she broke down in tears, but no one came to comfort her.

In the cafeteria, seeing the three of them laughing and talking merrily, an infinite feeling of bitterness surged in her heart. She mustered the courage to approach and sat down beside them.

They looked at Cai Li Ling who acted as if nothing had happened.

“What are you talking about?”

Her tone of familiarity not only failed to bridge the gap but also made the atmosphere more awkward.

Zhou Zhi questioned her, “Why are you here?”

“Zhi Zhi, don’t treat me like this. I know I was wrong.” Tears welled up in Cai Li Ling’s eyes, appearing as though she had suffered from a great grievance. Those who did not know the truth might even think Zhou Zhi was bullying her.

“Oh, really?” Zhou Zhi mocked faintly.

For Cai Li Ling, that was a dead-end path, so she turned to the more approachable Tang Wan.

“Wan Wan, I really know I was wrong.”

Unexpectedly, Tang Wan did not respond as she anticipated.

“Are you apologizing to us?”

Although Tang Wan had a good temperament, it did not mean that she had no principles.

Cai Li Ling knew that she had no choice but to face Tao Yi Xi eventually.

Tao Yi Xi remained calm, without anger or accusation. Facing Cai Li Ling, it was as if Tao Yi Xi was facing someone who was no more than a stranger to her.

Cai Li Ling spoke, “Yi Xi, can you forgive me?”

“Sure, but on one condition.”

“Tell me, I’ll do anything as long as it’s within my means.” Cai Li Ling sounded sincere.

“Post an apology on the Baidu forum, and I will request the administrators to pin it. Also, write a self-reflection and an apology letter that you’ll read aloud during the school assembly beneath the national flag.”

Cai Li Ling’s expression was slightly twisted, “After the principal’s warning announcement last time, the whole school already knows about it. Isn’t what you’re suggesting unnecessary?”

“This is between you and me; it doesn’t matter if the whole school already knows about this matter.”

Cai Li Ling gritted her teeth, “You’re deliberately making things difficult for me! You don’t truly have the intention to reconcile with me!”

Tao Yi Xi gave her a faint smile, “Just now, you were the one who said that you would do anything you could but now you’re hesitating. How can I trust your sincerity?”

She could probably guess Cai Li Ling’s current situation. She was two-faced while trying to strike with a muckrake¹To counterattack or to make bogus accusations (against one’s victim)..

Zhou Zhi and Tang Wan did not speak up for Cai Li Ling and were waiting to see how she would respond.

Unable to resolve the situation, Cai Li Ling angrily collected her tray and stormed away.

Zhou Zhi was annoyed, while Tang Wan was thoroughly disappointed.

“Let’s not bother with her.” Zhou Zhi dispelled the gloom brought by Cai Li Ling. “Yi Xi, your birthday is coming up this weekend. Do you want to go out and celebrate together?”

Tao Yi Xi was surprised, “How did you know?”

“Last time when the teacher asked me to register your information into the class database, I noted it down.”

“Thank you, Zhi Zhi.” Tao Yi Xi’s gaze softened. “But I already have plans; I want to celebrate with my family.”

“No worries, I’m just asking.”

Zhou Zhi did not know that she did not have friends in the past, so she never thought about the possibility of celebrating her birthday with friends. 

On Saturday, just after midnight, Zhou Zhi and Tang Wan sent birthday wishes to her via text.

Tao Yi Xi felt warm in her heart. The feeling of having friends caring for her was both novel and wonderful. She fell asleep peacefully, while in the next room, Gu Jing Yuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Early in the morning, she carried a small bag and hailed a cab to the train station.

As it was the first train of the morning, the cabin was relatively empty. She sat next to another girl, who was stunned by Tao Yi Xi’s beauty. Tao Yi Xi gave her a smile before putting on an eye mask, preparing to catch up on some sleep.

However, a familiar voice sounded in her ears.

“Excuse me, can I exchange seats with you?”