Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Things escalated with startling speed.
In the school’s largest conference room, a dense crowd of people stood gathered.
The principal, the vice-principal, the dean, and the homeroom teacher were all present.
Reporters from various newspapers had also arrived.
The parents of both the Gu Family and the Zhou Family were there. Zhou Shiman’s parents stood in a corner of the room, shielding their tear-stained daughter, their faces masks of indignation and grievance.
Initially, when Mr. Gu and Madam Gu received the call saying I was in trouble, they hadn’t wanted to come.
They only rushed over once they heard that even the newly appointed Director of the Education Bureau was in attendance.
Jiangcheng No. 1 High School was the best high school in the city, and for the Education Bureau, it was a model institution they watched closely.
Mr. Gu clearly had a prior acquaintance with the Director of the Education Bureau. As soon as he entered, he approached the man’s side and spoke smoothly.
“To think such a trivial matter would actually disturb you, Director Li.”
“Actually, it’s just a little friction between children…”
However, the Director was remarkably upright and didn’t buy into the flattery at all.
“Mr. Gu, bullying is never a trivial matter.”
“I know Gu Shichu is your daughter, but to me, every child is a student-a young sapling. I cannot stand by and watch them grow crooked.”
Since the Director had put it that way, Mr. Gu couldn’t say anything more. He could only force a smile. “Yes, yes. We aren’t entirely sure what happened ourselves. Please, investigate thoroughly.”
Returning to Madam Gu’s side, the two of them silently exchanged a look.
I understood what it meant.
If the bullying charges were confirmed, the Gu Family would immediately abandon me-an adopted daughter they had little affection for-and sever all ties.
If that was the attitude of Mr. Gu and Madam Gu, then as for Gu Zhiyue…
He stood beside the sobbing Zhou Shiman, softly whispering comforts to her. From time to time, he would lift his dark eyes to cast a cold, indifferent glance my way.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the principal spoke to Zhou Shiman.
“Student Zhou, tell us what happened.”
Zhou Shiman lifted her red, swollen eyes and repeated the same story she had told Gu Zhiyue in a low voice.
The reporters were already beginning to simmer with righteous indignation.
One of them spoke up first. “According to our preliminary investigation, Gu Shichu and Zhou Shiman were once friends at the same orphanage, even calling each other sisters.”
“Later, Gu Shichu was adopted by the Gu Corporation, while Zhou Shiman’s adoptive parents are merely ordinary school staff.”
“Gu Shichu, do you think that just because you entered a wealthy family, you can bully your former companion and steal opportunities that originally belonged to her?”
A heavy silence fell.
The reporters’ eyes were fixed on me, and the red lights of the cameras flickered incessantly.
Everyone wanted to dig up a sensational scoop.
After all, this was a highly sensitive social topic. In an era where social classes were becoming increasingly rigid, if a child from a wealthy family was still stealing educational resources from a child of humble origins and blocking their path to upward mobility, it would be enough to incite massive public fury.
Not to mention, the protagonists of this news event-Zhou Shiman and I-were such a dramatically contrasting pair.
In the office, where one could have heard a pin drop, I suddenly burst out laughing. The sound was abrupt and startling.
The reporters looked at one another in confusion.
“Mr. Reporter, I’ve read in books that the information journalists receive needs to undergo cross-validation and fact-checking.”
“What? Are you so eager to report a ‘bombshell’ story that you’re willing to skip the basic steps of your job?”
The reporter’s face turned bright red instantly.
I stood up and pointed coldly at Zhou Shiman.
“Right now, she is the only source of information. Everything you’ve heard is just her side of the story.”
I looked at Zhou Shiman, whose face was pale from crying.
I truly did once consider you a sister.
But in my past life, you killed me out of jealousy.
In this life, you’re trying to climb higher by framing me.
If I destroy you now, you’ve brought it on yourself.
“Since you’re asking me now, Mr. Reporter, then I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Zhou Shiman is jealous of me. She feels that since we both started from the same place-and since she thinks she’s prettier and smarter than me-why should I be living a better life than her?”
“Resentment born of envy. That is why she made up this story to frame me.”
As soon as I said this, Gu Zhiyue spoke up to refute me.
“But clearly…”
What he wanted to say was that Zhou Shiman had clearly chosen the impoverished Zhou Family of her own accord.
Therefore, she couldn’t possibly be someone who despised the poor and loved the rich. My explanation was clearly a reversal of black and white.
But before he could finish, the door to the principal’s office was shoved open.
A thin, slight figure stood outside. She had short hair and a silent demeanor, looking like an inconspicuous weed.
Our homeroom teacher recognized her. “Song Xiaoli? What are you doing here?”
At this point in my previous life, Song Xiaoli had already committed suicide.
But in this life, she had survived.
Walking in step by step, Song Xiaoli stood by my side.
She said in a low voice, “I’m here to testify.”