CM - 42

Upon seeing the message, Zhao Guqing was completely distraught.

Zhu Jiayi believed it. “I can’t believe she’s that kind of person. If Chen Fuyu was the one spreading rumors about her, I’d believe it, but Teacher Fan is such a gentle person. If she said Zhou Shuirong pushed her, then it must be true.”

Zhao Guqing found it illogical. “Why would she push Teacher Fan?”

Zhu Jiayi said, “Didn’t they say? Because Zhou Shuirong didn’t do well on the biology mini-exam and was humiliated and angry.”

Zhao Guqing still felt something was wrong. “She gets humiliated and angry and pushes a teacher? And a pregnant teacher at that. Is Zhou Shuirong crazy? Why would she do something like that? Wouldn’t she be finished if the truth came out?”

“Maybe they had an argument and she acted impulsively. What’s there to doubt? Are you saying Teacher Fan is lying?”

Zhao Guqing didn’t know, but she just didn’t think Zhou Shuirong was that impulsive. She’s so smart, why would she act so impulsively? “I think there might be a misunderstanding.”

Zhu Jiayi hooked her arm around Zhao Guqing’s shoulder. “You’re just liking her a bit more because Shen Tingwen likes her. You’re seeing her through rose-tinted glasses.”

Zhao Guqing shook her head. “Okay, let’s not talk about her being impulsive or not. To convict her, shouldn’t there be evidence? We can’t just rely on speculation, can we?”

Zhu Jiayi said, “Is Teacher Fan’s word not credible? Who is Teacher Fan? She has a zero-complaint reputation at our school. And why would she frame Zhou Shuirong? Would she use her own child to frame someone?”

Zhao Guqing was at a loss for words. Her mind was drawing a blank.

Zhu Jiayi sighed. “Don’t worry about it. You’ve already given up on Shen Tingwen anyway. Isn’t he so capable? I’d like to see how he clears his sweetheart’s name this time.”

________________________________________

When Zhou Xiyou heard about Zhou Shuirong, she lost all interest in playing the drums. Zhou Shuirong had saved her life, so she believed her unconditionally. But aside from her, no one else did, which made her feel very frustrated.

Li Gun gave her two small cookies. “You didn’t eat anything at lunch.”

Zhou Xiyou held the cookies. “Do people at your school not have the ability to think for themselves? How could such a fake story spread so much? Are they trying to persecute Zhou Shuirong?”

Li Gun said, “Because Zhou Shuirong saved you, and you don’t know Teacher Fan, you think there’s something fishy about it. Everyone at our school knows what kind of person Teacher Fan is, so no one is siding with Zhou Shuirong.”

Zhou Xiyou handed the cookies back to him. “If you also believe Zhou Shuirong pushed your Teacher Fan, then let’s break up. We’re not a good match.”

Li Gun frowned. “It’s not that I don’t believe Zhou Shuirong, but I believe Teacher Fan more. The Teacher Fan I know is a gentle person. She spoke to me in a soft voice several times and even helped me with my instrument.”

Zhou Xiyou stood up. “Zhou Shuirong didn’t even accept a thank you after she took me to the hospital. She also refused when I offered to treat her to a meal. Just because she seems a bit cold, you’re all so certain she pushed a pregnant woman? What kind of ridiculous logic is that? I don’t know your so-called Teacher Fan, but I know there are too many cases of people twisting the truth in this world. Unless Zhou Shuirong is diagnosed with a split personality or a mental illness,” she said with conviction, “I will never believe that she would push a pregnant woman at school!”

Li Gun saw her getting a bit emotional and worried about her health. “I didn’t say Zhou Shuirong pushed Teacher Fan. I’m just saying it’s impossible for Teacher Fan to lie. There might be some misunderstanding. Don’t be angry.”

Zhou Xiyou felt he was being incredibly stupid. “If you’re not using that brain of yours, you should donate it. It’s so hard to talk to you. I suddenly regret agreeing to be your girlfriend. Maybe I should reconsider?”

Li Gun didn’t seem to care. “If you want to reconsider, of course you can.”

Zhou Xiyou realized he had been joking from the start; he was never serious. She had been troubled for days, but he just treated it as a joke. She suddenly felt a little sad, feeling that her rare, serious decision hadn’t been treated with the same seriousness she had hoped for.

She packed up her instrument and put it on her back. Smiling at Li Gun, she said, “I’ve made up my mind. You can go on liking Zhao Guqing. I still like Shen Tingwen more.”

Li Gun suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Was this what puppy love was like? Or was it not love at all? Was it because they were young, casual, and pursued everything new, including love, that they just went with the crowd?

________________________________________

Zhou Shuirong didn’t take the biology teacher’s incident to heart, but the impact of this event was too significant. More and more people started to slander and curse her. Some even drew on her books, tore up her homework, and poured water on her seat.

Her homeroom teacher didn’t believe her, and the head of the department called her into the office, verbally insulting her and saying that a student like her didn’t deserve to be at National University High School.

From beginning to end, Zhou Shuirong had only done one thing: take the injured and bleeding biology teacher to the hospital. But the endless accusations and insults were relentlessly forcing her to admit that she had pushed her.

After the first class in the afternoon, the class committee member was handing out test papers. When she got to Zhou Shuirong, she threw the paper on the floor and said, “Can’t you have some shame? Would it kill you to admit it?”

Zhou Shuirong stood up, grabbed her by the collar, and pinned her to the floor. “Pick it up.”

The class committee member didn’t expect her to act out in class. She couldn’t fight her and was a little scared. Her heart was pounding, and she was on the verge of tears.

Someone nearby saw this and shouted, “What are you doing, Zhou Shuirong?! Pushing Teacher Fan wasn’t enough, and now you’re hitting people?”

Many people looked over and chimed in. They weren’t just cursing; they were saying things even worse, saying that she had a bad character for pushing a pregnant woman and now hitting their class committee member. They said Shen Tingwen was blind for liking her, and that maybe Shen Tingwen was the same kind of person, two of a kind.

The crowd grew larger, but Zhou Shuirong didn’t let go, and the class committee member refused to pick up the paper.

From the side, Jing He quietly took out his phone and recorded the scene. He sent it to Shen Tingwen with a text that read, “Zhou Shuirong is in a tough spot.”

Upon receiving the message, Shen Tingwen couldn’t stay home for another second. He didn’t even change his clothes and went to school. The sleeveless shirt showed off his good physique but also revealed his full-sleeve tattoo.

He had bad luck. The moment he entered the school gate, he ran into his homeroom teacher, who immediately shooed him back out.

It wasn’t to enforce school rules. The teacher felt that if Shen Tingwen entered the school dressed like that, it would ruin his future. It’s not easy to cultivate a talented student, and he didn’t want Shen Tingwen to throw it all away.

Shen Tingwen stood outside the school gate and watched the video again.

Zhou Shuirong was enduring so many insults without showing any fear or admitting defeat. She was so fearless, but that’s precisely why his heart ached more for her. If only she had shed a single tear, she wouldn’t be in this situation, being reviled by everyone.

But if she had cried, she wouldn’t be Zhou Shuirong.

He didn’t need to know the truth. He stood by Zhou Shuirong even more unconditionally than Zhou Xiyou. Forget that she didn’t push the teacher; even if she did, he would pay any amount of money or give his life for her.

He had waited fifteen years for her to come. Now that she was here, how could he let her leave again? Especially not when she was being wronged.