Although Yin Fang was strict, she had always been a reasonable person. Since this incident happened in her class and the parties involved made such claims, she naturally wanted to thoroughly understand what had transpired.
She nodded and said, "Wait a moment."
Then she quickly walked out.
The office was left with only a few teachers still grading assignments. They didn't look up, but their ears twitched slightly.
Liu Yazhen approached in her high heels: "Gu Xue Jiao, what are you up to again?!"
"What I did, Cheng Mingjiao knows," Xue Jiao replied flatly, as if devoid of any emotion.
Li Sitong and Liu Yazhen instinctively turned to look at Cheng Mingjiao, who guiltily averted her gaze.
Li Sitong was taken aback—was there really more to Xue Jiao's actions?
"Mom... I'm fine... let's just drop it..." Cheng Mingjiao murmured softly, barely opening her mouth.
Liu Yazhen froze for a moment before immediately realizing what must have happened.
Cheng Mingjiao must have provoked Xue Jiao, and that was why Xue Jiao had lashed out!
Before Liu Yazhen could decide on her next move, Yin Fang returned with several people in tow.
Leading the group were three girls who had been nearby at the time, followed by two handsome boys—one was Xi Junyang, wearing a bright smile, and the other was Yi Tianyu, looking defiant and unruly.
Liu Yazhen didn’t recognize the others, but when she saw Yi Tianyu, she couldn’t help but exclaim, "Young Master Yi?!"
Li Sitong rarely participated in the Cheng family's business affairs, but Liu Yazhen loved making appearances. She often attended events and parties on behalf of the Cheng family, so she naturally recognized the treasured son of this city’s renowned tycoon.
Yi Tianyu often looked down his nose at people and naturally ignored Liu Yazhen standing beside Cheng Mingjiao.
His gaze shifted directly to Gu Xue Jiao, and he froze. "You got hit?!"
Before Xue Jiao could respond, Yin Fang spoke first: "Alright, I’ve called everyone here to clarify the sequence of events in the altercation between Gu Xue Jiao and Cheng Mingjiao. Can you all share what happened?"
The group hesitated, exchanging glances, but no one spoke up.
"Students, Mingjiao has always been well-behaved and sensible. Today, Mingjiao didn’t hit Gu Xue Jiao, did she?" Liu Yazhen asked with a smile. Over the years, she had gained some social experience and was confident she could easily manipulate a few teenagers.
Indeed, her question was skillfully phrased.
The students glanced at each other but remained silent.
"She didn’t hit her," Yi Tianyu said, raising an eyebrow.
Liu Yazhen immediately smiled. In that moment, she imagined many possibilities—would the Yi family’s young master stand up for Mingjiao?
She had always believed her precious daughter was both clever and beautiful—how could she not attract these young men?
Liu Yazhen couldn’t help but smirk slightly before asking her next question: "But Gu Xue Jiao hit Mingjiao, didn’t she?"
"Nope," Yi Tianyu said, still smirking. "Gu Xue Jiao didn’t hit Cheng Mingjiao."
"Nonsense!" Liu Yazhen raised her voice sharply, momentarily forgetting about "Young Master Yi." "The teacher said so herself!"
Yi Tianyu continued grinning. "But I don’t think Gu Xue Jiao hit Cheng Mingjiao at all. Honestly, given the disgusting things Cheng Mingjiao said, if it were me, I’d have grabbed a chair and swung it."
He smirked. "With Gu Xue Jiao’s slender arms and legs, all she did was grab Cheng Mingjiao’s clothes to make her stop talking. How does that count as hitting someone?"
Everyone in the office froze.
Yi Tianyu curled his lips and glanced at the others. "Right, classmates?""Yes!" Xi Junyang nodded earnestly. "Classmate Gu Xue Jiao did not hit Cheng Mingjiao. As the class monitor, I can testify that Xue Jiao has been studying diligently this past month and never caused any trouble."
The other students nodded in agreement.
"Classmate Gu Xue Jiao's grades have improved from very low scores to passing all subjects, which shows she's truly focused on her studies and has no time for mischief."
Li Sitong was completely stunned—passing all subjects? So the fight wasn't Jiao Jiao's fault?
Yi Tianyu glanced at Xue Jiao, his gaze lingering on her face. Xue Jiao was pale, with delicate skin.
Once during a boring class, he had secretly observed that her complexion looked even softer than his favorite tender tofu pudding. Now, the clear slap mark on her face stood out starkly.
Yi Tianyu's eyes turned cold as he continued, "Cheng Mingjiao didn't hit Gu Xue Jiao, and Gu Xue Jiao didn't hit Cheng Mingjiao either. But the filthy words Mingjiao said deserved a beating—it's just that Xue Jiao is too gentle to hit back. Classmates, wouldn't you be angry if someone said such things to you?"
"Yes!" Xi Junyang's voice rang clear, and the others nodded in agreement.
"What did Mingjiao say?" Li Sitong asked slowly, her eyes filling with guilt as she looked at Gu Xue Jiao.
Yi Tianyu turned his gaze to Xue Jiao, their eyes meeting.
Xue Jiao understood he was seeking her permission. She wasn't a bad person, but neither was she one to repay malice with kindness, so she nodded.
At that moment, she found this usually unlikable boy somewhat endearing.
Without him, she could have explained the situation herself, but it would have been more troublesome.
With Xue Jiao's approval, Yi Tianyu and a few students clearly recounted the scene.
Li Sitong took a step back, staring blankly at Cheng Mingjiao. "You... see me this way?"
Cheng Mingjiao shrank back, hiding behind Liu Yazhen. "N-no... that's not..."
Liu Yazhen was also stunned. Though she privately held similar thoughts, she would never voice them outright. Her earlier aggressiveness vanished.
"Ah... Sitong, this must be a misunderstanding. Mingjiao is still young—she probably just spoke in anger. She didn't mean it! She's always respected you!"
"Sixteen years old... still a baby?" Yi Tianyu muttered softly, yet loud enough for everyone to hear.
Li Sitong remained dazed. "Mingjiao... you'd say such things about me and Jiao Jiao?"
Liu Yazhen's expression darkened. "...She's not an adult yet. We're family—let's settle this at home."
"That's not what you said earlier," Xue Jiao said coldly. "You insisted the school expel me."
"Expel?!" Yi Tianyu's voice rose in shock, mirroring the other students' reactions.
Though Yi Tianyu looked displeased, he wasn't familiar with Cheng Mingjiao's behavior, unlike Xi Junyang, who stepped forward.
"Classmate Cheng Mingjiao, I often hear you telling others at school how spoiled Gu Xue Jiao is in your family. But now... your mother, as her aunt, seems anything but kind..."
Yi Tianyu sneered, "Not just unkind—downright malicious."Liu Yazhen's eyes widened as she was about to speak, but Yin Fang cut her off: "Enough! Since you're family, sort out your issues at home. Whether Gu Xue Jiao or Cheng Mingjiao was right or wrong is for you to discuss privately. But both of them must write self-criticism reports for the disruption caused!"
"Teacher, shouldn't she apologize to me? She called me a 'fox spirit'—that's slander, rumor-mongering, and stirring up trouble. And her mother just threatened expulsion..." Xue Jiao said calmly, the tables having completely turned.
"Who dares expel my daughter?!" Liu Yazhen exploded.
Yin Fang frowned slightly. She disliked Liu Yazhen, but her gaze shifted to the girl hanging her head in tears—the fifth-ranked student in her class, eighteenth in the grade.
And still improving—a promising candidate for the college entrance exams...
So she merely said, "Since you're relatives, I won't say more. Both of you will go home with your parents to reflect. Bring your self-criticism reports when you return to class tomorrow morning."
"Understood, thank you, teacher!" Liu Yazhen said hurriedly, while Cheng Mingjiao clutched her sleeve, silently weeping.
Xue Jiao watched coldly before turning to leave the office.
The afternoon classes would just review test papers—attending didn't matter. Her mood was foul; she just wanted to get away immediately.
"Jiao Jiao—" Yi Tianyu instinctively moved to follow but was stopped by Li Sitong's call.
He turned to the pursuing Li Sitong and said loudly, "Gu Xue Jiao suffered such injustice, yet as her mother, you didn't even speak up for her."
Li Sitong paused mid-step before continuing her chase.
Xue Jiao was caught up with at the school gate. Li Sitong gripped her hand tightly, face full of remorse: "I'm sorry... Jiao Jiao, I'm so sorry..."
Her expression was heartbroken, fingers clutching Xue Jiao's so tightly they turned white. So this wasn't a fight—it was... defending her...
Xue Jiao's voice was almost emotionless: "Mom, are you really my birth mother?"
Li Sitong's face drained of color, fingers trembling slightly, only able to repeat: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Cheng Mingjiao—right or wrong—her mother always stands by her. If she's hit, her mother demands justice. If she's at fault, her mother defends her immediately. And you?" Xue Jiao left the rest unsaid, but they both knew.
—Yet you slapped your own daughter without knowing the full story. And even after learning she was defending you, you just stood there dazed, not speaking up for her.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Li Sitong seemed to have lost all other words.
"I know I used to be irresponsible. But I thought my recent behavior might have earned your trust. You're my mother. If even you don't believe in me first, who else will?"
She closed her eyes slightly, reached out, and placed her hand on Li Sitong's wrist. With gentle force, she pulled free.
"I'm tired. I need to walk alone." With that, she strode away.
"Jiao Jiao—"
Li Sitong's voice was despairing as she watched that small, solitary figure grow distant, her heart filled with dread.
——
Xue Jiao wandered aimlessly through the streets. Around her, people came and went—fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, couples, friends... Their lives ordinary yet happy.People came and went in the shops on both sides of the street, creating a lively atmosphere.
At this moment, Xue Jiao felt a deep loneliness.
It was the kind of loneliness one feels when walking down a bustling street, surrounded by noise and excitement that has nothing to do with oneself.
She seemed to drift outside the world, out of place in this vibrant reality.
Xue Jiao stopped in front of a stuffed animal shop, standing quietly outside the display window as she stared at a panda plushie.
This feeling strongly reminded her of childhood—when she wanted so much but had nothing, could afford nothing.
She had been trying hard to be Gu Xue Jiao. True, the original owner had left her with a mess, but secretly, she felt somewhat grateful.
She had gained Gu Xue Jiao's identity, a family that didn't truly belong to her but could still take her in, and a mother who cared for her in misguided ways...
Yet now, everything still felt hollow.
In her own world, she had been superfluous. Now in this unfamiliar world, it seemed even more disconnected from her.
Xue Jiao turned away from the window and walked to a park, sitting down by the fountain.
After about half an hour, she suddenly covered her face, unable to hold back her tears.
Whether as her original self Xue Jiao or as Gu Xue Jiao now, she was always alone.
When she finally finished crying, a clean white handkerchief appeared before her. With reddened eyes, Xue Jiao followed the hand to see who offered it.
Author's note:
Yi Tianyu: I think I'm quite handsome.
Lin Zhihua: Heh.
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