CM - 43

The camera turns back to the classroom. Zhou Shuirong didn’t let go until the class bell rang, and the homeroom teacher came in and took the two of them away, finally bringing the conflict to an end.

In the office, the homeroom teacher asked Zhou Shuirong, “Why did you hit her?”

Zhou Shuirong’s tone was flat. “She deserved it.”

The class committee member quickly spoke up, “I just accidentally dropped her test paper while handing it out, and she hit me and told me to pick it up for her.”

The homeroom teacher felt a sense of frustration. “Tell me, how many things have happened since you transferred here? Even if I believe you’re not the type to cause trouble, do you have a reason to convince me? All these incidents, one after another—if you say the students are framing you, maybe. But is Teacher Fan also framing you? Zhou Shuirong, I thought you’d be a great addition to Class 16. I even bragged to other homeroom teachers that you would be a dark horse.”

The last part was full of disappointment. “But you’ve let me down so much. It’s bad enough that you’re not making an effort, but you’re also dragging Shen Tingwen down with you.”

Zhou Shuirong looked at her, not quite understanding what she meant.

The homeroom teacher closed her eyes, and a sense of powerlessness showed in her sigh. “You’re pretty and you have a certain charm. You’ve even led my best student to start getting into fights. It seems this little school of mine can’t hold you. If you have the guts, you should talk to the school and find another path. Don’t say I’m heartless; I can’t handle students with flawed character. Even if I kept you under pressure, the others wouldn’t stand for it.”

The class committee member looked a little smug.

Zhou Shuirong remained silent.

The homeroom teacher looked at Zhou Shuirong. “This incident with Teacher Fan is too big. Many students’ parents know about it, and they think it’s dangerous for their children to be studying with such a malicious student. I tried to speak up for you, but you know that gossip is a powerful force, and I’m very weak.”

Zhou Shuirong didn’t want to hear all this. “Tell me how you’re going to handle it, and I’ll see if I can accept it.”

The homeroom teacher was stunned. She hadn’t expected Zhou Shuirong to refuse to bow her “noble” head even at a time like this. What right did she have to be so stubborn? No one believed her now. What was there to argue about?

Zhou Shuirong wasn’t being stubborn; that was just who she was. She wouldn’t back down because she hadn’t done anything wrong. Why should she back down for something she didn’t do? Just because no one believed her?

Ever since she was a child, whenever she entered a crowd, a lot of trouble would arise. That’s why she had no friends. It couldn’t be helped. People either disliked her, were afraid of her, or didn’t want to be gossiped about, criticized, or insulted along with her. How could they want to be her friend?

It seemed to be hereditary, from her maternal grandmother whom she had never met and barely heard about, to her mother, and then to her uncle—all of them were people others kept their distance from. So they were all alone from a young age.

It was as if they were just not “ordinary” like everyone else due to certain things, so they became the targets of exclusion and isolation.

Zhou Yan had said it was good to live a lonely but brilliant life if no one liked you. Being alone was truly fine. Why force yourself on others? If they don’t like you, they hate you, they despise you—why force your way into their lives?

Would that make you seem like everyone else?

Why did she have to become “the same” as everyone else? Because of loneliness? What was so bad about being lonely? Although there was no one to comfort you when you were sad, you didn’t have to share your happiness with anyone either.

She remembered Zhou Yan’s words and never forced anyone to stand by her side. Later, as more and more things happened, she realized that no one stood by her side. They preferred to stand against her.

It didn’t matter; only useless people needed companions. She was Si Wen’s daughter, and she was strong enough.

The homeroom teacher said solemnly, “You should go home and reflect for now. The school will decide on the specific handling, and I’ll inform you then. Or you can have your parents come in, and we can have a chat.”

Zhou Shuirong nodded, but then said, “I don’t accept this decision.”

The homeroom teacher stood up. “Is it up to you whether you accept it or not? When you make a mistake, you just get punished!”

Zhou Shuirong said, “I accept being sent home to reflect for fighting; I did it, and I won’t defend myself. But I don’t accept being accused of pushing someone or being of low character. You can’t assume I’m wrong just because many people are cursing me. It’s not necessarily true that the truth is in the hands of a few, but it’s definitely not in the hands of a mob. If you want to punish me, bring me evidence.”

“So you’re just taking advantage of the fact that there’s no surveillance in the stairwell, aren’t you?”

“Why don’t you say that Teacher Fan is taking advantage of that loophole to frame me?”

The homeroom teacher became agitated, her voice rising. “Why would she frame you? Give me a reason!”

Zhou Shuirong didn’t fear her. “Then why would I push her? You give me a reason!”

The homeroom teacher was so angry her blood pressure was rising. She took a few deep breaths and started coughing violently. The class committee member quickly helped her. “Teacher, are you alright?”

The homeroom teacher pushed her arm away and continued speaking to Zhou Shuirong. “Even if the King of Heaven came down, I wouldn’t keep you this time! Get out!”

Zhou Shuirong turned and left.

The class committee member felt a little delighted, but she still looked at the homeroom teacher with a worried expression, her voice trembling as she asked, “Teacher, please don’t get so worked up. It’s not worth it for one student.”

The homeroom teacher sighed. “These kids just don’t give me a moment’s peace. I swear I’ll die on the job sooner or later!”

The class committee member acted even more frightened. “Don’t say that.”

They all knew how to pretend, how to make themselves look harmless and pitiful. Only Zhou Shuirong was like an unyielding rock.