At that moment, some students were already packing up their things while others remained seated, waiting for the teacher to come in and assign homework.
In the teachers' office.
"Teacher Li, Teacher Yin, is that... post true? How do you plan to handle this?" someone asked.
Yin Fang and Li Ping's expressions darkened simultaneously.
Especially Li Ping—if the evidence online was real, then as Gu Shiyun's homeroom teacher, he would be utterly humiliated.
During the parent-teacher meeting, he had sensed some connection between Gu Xue Jiao and Gu Shiyun. Who would have thought they were actually sisters!
And sisters with such a relationship!
Yin Fang opened her mouth: "Naturally... the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken..."
Li Ping's face was grim. No matter how much he usually liked Gu Shiyun, he had to confront the issue of her character.
"This matter is no longer up to us. It depends on the two students and their parents. The school can't intervene—at most, we can suppress the false rumors."
The Chinese teacher, Ms. Yuan, the kindest of them all, sighed and stood up. "Alright, let's go assign the homework. This is no longer a minor issue teachers can mediate."
The other teachers nodded in agreement, but just as they stood up, the sound from the school broadcast system made them freeze.
They exchanged bewildered glances.
The students in the classrooms also paused what they were doing and turned their attention to the broadcast.
Even the students outside stopped in their tracks, looking up in shock as the voice echoed across the campus.
"Regarding Gu Shiyun's recent slander against me, the forum already has a clarification post. I won't elaborate further here."
Her voice was pleasant—light and clear, as if everything she said carried no emotional weight, calm and composed.
If not this, then what did she want to say?
In that instant, many students were puzzled.
"I have filed a report with the police regarding the incident where Gu Shiyun and Li Wei conspired to harm me. I hope justice will be served."
She reported it to the police?!
Gu Shiyun lowered her head, trembling uncontrollably, her mind in chaos.
She reported it? Would she go to jail?!
"Classmates, everyone has a past. I once lived trapped in a web of schemes, becoming a version of myself I'm not proud of. But I can face my flaws openly. I never committed any heinous acts. You may look down on my past, but you cannot use it as an excuse to hurt me. I hope you can view my past rationally, just as I do. At noon in the cafeteria, Liu Yueyue and Shen Tong from Class 10, Grade 11, threw soup at me. I hope these two classmates will apologize for their actions."
Threw soup—
Instantly, the students of Class 10, Grade 11 turned in disbelief toward Liu Yueyue and Shen Tong.
They actually threw soup at Gu Xue Jiao because of that post?!
Now that the clarification post was widely circulated, many students were sympathizing with Xue Jiao for what she had endured. Learning about this act of aggression only fueled their anger.
Especially one round-faced, adorable girl who had always idolized Xue Jiao as her goddess and even written her a "love letter." She was now furious beyond words.
"Liu Yueyue! Shen Tong! How could people like you exist?! I thought you were just hot-tempered, but your character is rotten too!" the girl shouted angrily.
The two hung their heads, crying and trembling in fear.
Others were about to voice their condemnation when the broadcast continued—"That's all I have to say. I hope everyone can accept the person I am now and forget the person I was before."
Xue Jiao's voice paused for a moment.
"In life, we encounter many, many things—good and bad. No one knows what hardships lie ahead or what kind of malicious people we might meet. But please remember, as long as you stay resolute, those who harbor ill will toward you can never defeat you. In the past, I wasn’t firm enough and was knocked down by bad people. But I was able to stand up again, to leave the past behind. As long as life goes on, never give up."
Xue Jiao blinked, her eyes slightly moist.
Several young female teachers in the office burst into tears, their emotions far deeper than those of the students.
In student days, failing an exam, quarreling with a friend, or being rejected by someone you liked—
Such small things felt like the sky was falling.
Back then, we longed to grow up, imagining adulthood as a world without constraints, filled with carefree laughter.
Later, we truly grew up.
Breakups, divorce, illness, ostracism, loneliness…
Any one of these trials could bring us to tears, grief-stricken to the core.
Yet no one could solve them for us. We wiped our tears while crying, then stumbled forward through it all.
Only then did we realize how crucial it is to learn to bid farewell to the past, to learn resilience and perseverance.
That is the most precious spirit—to live well through life’s hardships.
Not everyone’s life has someone to hold an umbrella for them.
——
"I’m sorry for taking up your time. Thank you, everyone."
Xue Jiao turned off the broadcast and took a deep breath.
Today, she had finally bid a complete farewell to Gu Xue Jiao’s life. From now on, the one living would be Xue Jiao, unburdened by Gu Xue Jiao’s influence.
Gu Xue Jiao, I’m sorry. I reopened your festering wounds but also gave you the truth.
Goodbye, Gu Xue Jiao. Xue Jiao will live well for you. May your new life be free and joyful—
Loved, cherished, and cared for.
Xue Jiao felt a weight lift off her, as if something pressing down on her had vanished, leaving only ease and freedom.
A smile on her lips, she walked slowly out.
"Alright, thank you both for these past few days," Xue Jiao said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at the two.
Cheng Mingze couldn’t smile. He used to despise Gu Xue Jiao for her tantrums, sometimes finding even a glance at her unbearable.
But today, after truly understanding what Gu Xue Jiao had endured, he realized how narrow his previous perspective had been.
"I’m sorry…" Cheng Mingze spoke slowly, his hands clenched tightly.
Xue Jiao smiled gently. "I’ll accept that on behalf of my past self, but I was indeed immature. You have nothing to apologize for."
Cheng Mingze fell silent, staring at her blankly.
Yi Tianyu couldn’t smile either, his eyes red. Suddenly, he reached out and pulled Xue Jiao into a hug.
Tall as he was and short as she was, her cheek pressed against his chest, Xue Jiao froze for a moment.
"Bookworm, I still like you as you are now. Stay just like this. If anyone bullies you, tell me. I’ll fight to the death for you. Anyone who dares hurt you will have to step over me first." Yi Tianyu’s voice was firm, his chest vibrating, sending a tingle through Xue Jiao.
Cheng Mingze’s face darkened as he pulled them apart, shielding Xue Jiao behind him."Jiao Jiao, you've got me here. Don't listen to some muscle-brained idiot's nonsense."
"Hey hey hey! Who are you calling muscle-brained?!"
Cheng Mingze raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you're not?"
Yi Tianyu: "..."
Fuming with rage, he found himself speechless.
Xue Jiao chuckled softly, her eyes curving into crescents, clearly amused by their banter.
Cheng Mingze reached out and affectionately ruffled her hair.
Yi Tianyu also deflated, scratching his head with a silly grin.
Xue Jiao smiled. So what if she was called simple-minded? It didn't matter anymore.
——
As Xue Jiao walked to her classroom, people kept coming up to apologize to her along the way.
"Gu Xue Jiao, I'm sorry. I apologize for misunderstanding you before. You've always been my goddess—keep going strong!"
"Sorry, Gu Xue Jiao. I didn't dare speak up for you."
"Goddess! I like you! Stay happy every day from now on, okay?"
"Gu Xue Jiao, I'm sorry!"
"Sorry!"
...
Xue Jiao simply nodded with a smile. She didn't say "it's okay"—she didn't have the right to. The one who had endured all this was, after all, the original Gu Xue Jiao.
Today was destined to be an extraordinary day. Students were apologizing to Gu Xue Jiao, and even the teachers assigned barely any homework.
This was May Day vacation!
Yet the workload was about the same as a regular weekend.
The teachers were so shaken they'd forgotten to assign much work.
Class 2.
Gu Shiyun's tears fell incessantly, soaking the desk beneath her, but no one spoke to her. Everyone looked at her with disdain.
The same contemptuous gazes she had once directed at Gu Xue Jiao were now reflected back at her.
She had wanted Gu Xue Jiao to live forever under others' scornful eyes. Today, she experienced it herself.
What it felt like to be so despised that no one would even speak to her.
Once homework was assigned, Class 2 quickly emptied.
The girls who usually lingered with her during breaks had all bolted the moment class ended.
As if even looking at her would bring bad luck.
Faint voices could be heard outside the door—
"God, I'm seriously freaked out."
"Is that really the Gu Shiyun we knew?"
"She never said anything when we talked badly about Gu Xue Jiao before..."
"Maybe she was just biding her time!"
"I want to yell at her, but I'm scared she'll scheme against me too..."
"Same! She's like a viper!"
...
Gradually, only a few students remained in the classroom. Soon after, several police officers entered.
"Where is Gu Shiyun?"
——
"Boss, what should we do about Li Wei?" Chen Yan bowed respectfully.
Lin Zhihua wore headphones, listening intently to Xue Jiao's voice. Anyone who heard would realize he was replaying her speech from the school broadcast.
Word for word.
He removed the headphones and waved his hand.
"Send her to the same police station Xue Jiao went to. Have her bring the evidence herself and confess honestly."
"Yes!"
Chen Yan hesitated before adding, "Should the PR team disband?"
"Yes, dismiss them. Delete the posts at 8 PM tonight. Keep controlling the spread to only those in W City who know Gu Xue Jiao. Don't let it expand further. Also, make sure no current photos of Xue Jiao circulate."
"Understood."
Just then, his phone rang. Lin Zhihua's lips curved slightly as he waved Chen Yan away.
As the door closed, Chen Yan heard his usually icy boss speak two words with unexpected tenderness—
"Jiao Jiao."He closed the door, realizing for the first time that the saying "a man will risk his life in a fit of rage" could truly apply to his boss.
Today, the entire PR department was mobilized to handle this minor school incident, which could be considered the highest-level crisis management.
They had to control the spread within Xue Jiao's social circle while ensuring everyone who knew her would feel outraged on her behalf.
They couldn’t let the current photos leak, nor could they allow anyone unfamiliar with Gu Xue Jiao to learn about her or her ordeal.
The balance was delicate, and the operational cost was extremely high.
But then, Chen Yan reconsidered.
He thought the cost was steep, but the PR department existed to serve the boss. To him, this expense was nothing—hardly even worth mentioning.
The more he thought about it, the poorer Chen Yan felt.
And the more it stung.
——
"Thank you. You’ve really helped me so much," Xue Jiao said softly, her voice filled with gratitude and emotion.
Lin Zhihua chuckled, the sound resonating from deep in his throat.
"My apprentice can’t be ruined by something like this."
Xue Jiao smiled but repeated, "Thank you."
"Work hard. You can treat me to a meal when you come to Beijing."
"Okay…" Xue Jiao paused slightly. "Will you be returning to W City anytime soon?"
"I’ll be in W City during your summer break. Why?"
Xue Jiao smiled. "W City has good food too. I can treat you when you’re back."
"Deal."
A brief silence followed.
Lin Zhihua spoke again, "Jiao Jiao, happy rebirth."
Xue Jiao’s breath hitched.
For some reason, she felt as if Lin Zhihua knew something—the sensation was overwhelmingly strong at that moment.
After hanging up, she pressed the phone to her chest and shook her head.
She must be overthinking it!
——
When Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong received the call, they were bewildered. Why was Xue Jiao at the police station, and why was she accusing Gu Shiyun?
Shortly after, Cheng Mingze called.
"Dad, Mom, I’m with Jiao Jiao at the police station. Check out two posts first—I’ve sent you the links. Don’t drive yourselves; be careful on the way."
After hanging up, Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong read the posts carefully while Uncle Xing drove.
Within moments, Cheng Shuo’s eyes reddened.
Li Sitong froze briefly before suddenly bursting into loud sobs.
"Jiao Jiao—"
Cheng Shuo held her, patting her back while gritting his teeth. "Gu Shiyun… I won’t let her get away with this! How could someone so young be so vicious!"
Li Sitong bit down on Cheng Shuo’s wrist, her hatred overwhelming.
How could they? How could they?!
By the time they arrived at the police station, Gu Jingxu and Wu Wanjun were already there. Their disheveled appearances mirrored Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong’s—pale faces and messy hair.
"Gu Xue Jiao! Shiyun is your sister! How could you try to send her to prison? Are you even human?!" Wu Wanjun raged.
Li Sitong broke free from Cheng Shuo and charged at Wu Wanjun, slapping her hard.
This image-conscious woman, for the first time, completely abandoned decorum as she screamed—
"Shut your mouth! Jiao Jiao is wrong? Then what about Gu Shiyun?! She tormented Jiao Jiao at such a young age! She’s just as vile as you! Gu Jingxu, look at the trash you’ve surrounded yourself with!"
"Li Sitong! How dare you hit me!"
Slap! Li Sitong struck again. "I’ll hit you, you worthless scum! I swear, I could kill you right now!""Ahhh—" Wu Wanjun tried to fight back, but Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze stepped forward together to restrain her, while Li Sitong landed another slap.
This one-sided scuffle lasted several minutes before the female police officer standing nearby finally spoke up—
"Quiet! No physical altercations allowed in the police station!"
She had deliberately waited until Li Sitong had landed several slaps before intervening. Having just taken the case and understood the full circumstances, she too felt furious inside.
If this were her daughter, she'd also have the urge to kill this mother-daughter pair!
That's why she hadn't spoken up earlier, only issuing a stern warning after several blows had been exchanged.
"She hit me!" Wu Wanjun covered her face and appealed to the officer.
The policewoman nodded, looking calmly at Li Sitong. "Family members should control their emotions."
"But she—"
"Shut your mouth!" Gu Jingxu shoved Wu Wanjun aside, glaring at her fiercely.
Wu Wanjun immediately quieted down, though tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with Gu Jingxu: "Shiyun has her college entrance exams next year, Jingxu... please save her..."
Gu Jingxu's expression shifted through various emotions before finally settling into defeat.
"Officer, how will this case be handled?"
The policewoman maintained a stern expression as she addressed the group: "Li Wei has confessed to all charges. Gu Shiyun is currently giving her statement. If the facts are confirmed, she will face detention or control measures, with more severe circumstances warranting corresponding criminal liability."
Wu Wanjun's vision darkened, and she nearly fainted.
"Shiyun! My Shiyun!"
Gu Jingxu's face was equally ashen. After a long pause, he asked hoarsely: "Can we listen to the statement being taken? Shiyun... is still a minor."
The officer hesitated briefly before responding: "But you mustn't speak without our permission."
Gu Jingxu and Wu Wanjun were led inside, leaving only Xue Jiao and the others outside.
Li Sitong suddenly pulled Xue Jiao into a tight embrace, wailing: "Jiao Jiao—Mom failed you!!"
She had never imagined that behind Xue Jiao's past behavior lay so many hidden circumstances—that time when Xue Jiao had come home from clubbing and been beaten, she had actually been tricked into going and nearly...
Li Sitong had always considered herself a good mother, believing she cared deeply for Xue Jiao and had done everything for her.
Even when their relationship grew distant, when Xue Jiao became formal and unaffectionate with her.
She had only thought it was because she shouldn't have hit her, that her parenting methods were wrong—but she had always loved and cared for her.
Only today did Li Sitong realize she had been a complete failure as a mother!
Her marriage had been invaded by another woman, yet instead of dealing with the homewrecker, she had allowed that woman and her illegitimate daughter to nearly ruin her own child!
The contents of that post were horrifying to read. Just a little more—if Xue Jiao hadn't managed to escape that night—what kind of tragedy might have occurred?
Li Sitong couldn't bear to think about it.
She couldn't imagine what her daughter had endured. She truly was a failure as a mother.
She had never paid attention to what her daughter was going through, nor had she ever considered her psychological journey.
"Jiao Jiao—" Li Sitong's cries were heart-wrenching.
Xue Jiao said nothing. As before, she wasn't in a position to forgive on behalf of Gu Xue Jiao.
In the original story, Gu Xue Jiao had died without ever knowing she'd been living under someone else's deliberate distortions—without realizing that her annoying personality and behavior had been carefully cultivated by others.
Cheng Shuo reached out and pulled both women into his embrace.
He too was at fault—he had thought it improper to interfere too much with his stepdaughter, never paying attention to what she was truly suffering.After a long while, Gu Jingxu came out with Gu Shiyun.
"How did she get out?!" Li Sitong's eyes widened in shock.
"She's a minor and can be released on bail," the police explained.
Li Sitong gritted her teeth. "Gu Shiyun, I won't let you off!"
Gu Shiyun's face was pale. Her gaze drifted toward Cheng Mingze, only to meet eyes filled with fury and hatred.
Ah, Cheng Mingze would surely despise her from now on, wouldn't he?
She had liked him so much... but that would never be possible again...
Gu Shiyun raised her head and looked at Xue Jiao. Her voice trembled slightly but remained calm—
"I disliked Gu Xue Jiao. I was jealous of her, so I wanted Li Wei to corrupt her. I was young at the time, and my goal was just to vent my anger and ruin her grades. I never instructed Li Wei to find someone to assault her—I only wanted her to stay out all night."
"Gu Shiyun!!" Li Sitong screamed furiously, lunging forward, only to be held back by Cheng Shuo and the others.
Cheng Shuo looked at Gu Shiyun with a cold sneer. "No wonder you were capable of such things at such a young age. Your scheming is truly something."
Indeed, according to her account, she had only wanted to vent her anger and ruin Xue Jiao's grades. She wasn't the one who directly carried it out, and she had been young at the time. Even now, she was still a minor. In such circumstances, she wouldn't even need to serve detention...
Gu Shiyun said calmly, "I'm telling the truth."
"Has Li Wei confessed?" Cheng Mingze asked the police.
"She has... She admitted that Gu Shiyun instructed her to find someone to assault Xue Jiao, but there's no direct evidence." The police were also frustrated. In the screenshot, Gu Shiyun hadn't mentioned anything about the assault—it was all Li Wei's own words.
As for the other instances of instigation, they weren't severe enough to constitute a crime.
"What will Li Wei's sentence be?" Cheng Mingze pressed.
"She's already an adult, and the man she found back then has also come forward to confess. She'll face the corresponding criminal charges."
Cheng Mingze nodded, then turned to Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong. "So now, it's just a matter between Gu Shiyun and Jiao Jiao—and how to ensure Gu Shiyun is held accountable."
Gu Shiyun's heart ached. The person she liked... was thinking of ways to put her behind bars...
"Gu Shiyun, if you have any conscience left, confess on your own!" Li Sitong's voice was icy and furious.
Gu Shiyun lowered her head slightly. Why would she confess? If she did, what would become of her future?
She was still so young—she couldn't let her life be ruined!
Even if everyone cursed her, it was still better than going to prison!
"I've admitted to what I did wrong. Why should I admit to things I didn't do?"
Slap! —Gu Jingxu struck Gu Shiyun across the face.
The blow was forceful—Gu Shiyun's cheek immediately reddened and swelled slightly.
"Shiyun!" Wu Wanjun rushed forward in a panic.
Gu Jingxu's face was terrifyingly dark as he shoved Wu Wanjun aside. "This is the daughter you raised!!"
He turned and struck Gu Shiyun again, this time on the other cheek. Instantly, both sides of her face were flushed and slightly swollen.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down Gu Shiyun's face as she stared blankly at Gu Jingxu.
Slowly, resentment rose in her eyes—even her father was siding with Gu Xue Jiao!
Gu Jingxu took a deep breath and roared, "Gu Shiyun! Apologize to Jiao Jiao!!"
Gu Shiyun froze for a long moment, as if finally understanding something. Covering her face, she turned to Xue Jiao and said, "I'm sorry."
Xue Jiao said nothing.Gu Jingxu forced a difficult smile at Xue Jiao—
"Jiao Jiao, Gu Shiyun is still young. She's your younger sister. I'll make sure to teach her properly from now on. Please forgive her just this once."
"Gu Jingxu, are those words even human?!" Li Sitong's eyes widened in fury, wishing she could rush over and beat him to death.
Gu Jingxu took a deep breath. "Jiao Jiao is fine, isn't she? Jiao Jiao has grown up so outstanding now, which proves Gu Shiyun didn’t cause irreparable harm. She’s still young—if she goes to prison, her life will be ruined... Give her a chance..."
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