Chapter 331: Your charisma is so overpowering it feels like witchcraft.
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“That’s right. That Shen Rui fellow was so timid, so how could he possibly cheat?”
Tang Xiaoyu firmly agreed with a nod of her head.
Upon mentioning about the fat boy, she could not help but agree with Pei Ge’s description of him; he indeed looked like a glutinous rice cake.
Besides looking white and round, his personality was also like that of a glutinous rice cake: soft and timid. She had never seen a softer guy than Shen Rui.
“Actually, his sudden jump from the last 30 in the school academic ranking to being in the top 10 was a cause for suspicion.”
If it had not been for the fact that the exam halls in their school were allocated based on results and classes, as well as Pei Ge’s involvement, she would have also suspected that fat boy of cheating.
“It is impossible for Shen Rui to have cheated. I’ve always known that he is smart. I think he purposely messed up his exams, and that’s why he ranked in the bottom at first,” Pei Ge said with confidence. She had previously witnessed Shen Rui solve an extremely complex math problem.
If it had not been for that, she would not have argued so resolutely with the teachers and the discipline master.
“Is that so? Why didn’t I see that?” Tang Xiaoyu blinked and then grinned. “This also shows how charismatic you were in the past. Your words were enough to prove Shen Rui’s innocence.”
Saying this, Tang Xiaoyu shook her head and sighed in exasperation. “Tsk, tsk, tsk… You seem like a person who did witchcraft back then.”
“What are you saying?! Our classmates believed me because my argument was sound and the teachers’ accusation was unfounded,” she defended, softly adding, “You know how sad father would’ve been if a student who merely wanted to improve was falsely condemned of cheating by the teachers.”
“Mhm, that’s true, too. You suggested to the teacher to let that little fatty take a retest alone to prove his innocence, but that demon didn’t agree to it. I really wanted to strangle and spit on him right there and then!” Tang Xiaoyu exclaimed in outrage. It was also because of this that Pei Ge, in her rage, had mobilized the entire school into skipping classes as a form of protest to regain Shen Rui’s honor.
She still remembered the exceptional bravery her best friend had displayed at the time. Under everyone’s gazes, she had faced the discipline master in the hall on stage.
‘May I ask if you have solid proof that student Shen Rui cheated?’
‘He was in the last 30 in the last exam, but he placed eighth in the overall school ranking this time. There’s only a gap of two months between the two exams.’
‘Are you saying that a student making huge academic progress is proof of cheating?’
‘Pei Ge, get down right now. Otherwise, don’t blame me for punishing you, too!’
‘Sir, what you are doing is wrong. I am student Shen Rui’s tablemate. I know how much effort he has put into studying, and I also know that he will never cheat. If you really suspect him of cheating, then check by making him take a retest alone.’
‘Yes, yes! Let him take a retest!’
‘Take a retest!’
‘Take a retest!’
‘Shut up! Don’t think that ranking first in school gives you the right to disrespect your teachers!’
‘Sir, I am not disrespecting anyone here. I am just here to seek justice for my friend. He didn’t cheat. Please let him take a retest.’
‘Is the discipline master you or me?! Get down right now!’
‘No, sir! Please don’t easily brand a student with ‘cheating’. Shen Rui’s results were indeed bad before, but it doesn’t mean that he’ll forever be bad in his studies!’
‘You!’
‘You shouldn’t expel him because of this misunderstanding, too! This is not right! From a young age, our teachers have taught us to correct our mistakes. I hope that sir will be our role model and practice what he preaches!’
‘Yes, practice what you preach!’
‘Demon, quickly admit that you’re wrong!’
‘Demon, quickly get off the stage!’
‘Everyone, please calm down and hear what the discipline master has to say.’
‘We will listen to president!’
‘We will listen to president!’
‘Student Pei Ge, do you know what you are doing right now?! Do you know what punishment you will get for messing up the meeting’s procedure and for defying your teachers like this?’
‘Sir, my method may not be right, but I don’t regret it. I can’t simply sit back and watch teacher make the wrong decision and drive a student, who only wants to improve, out of the school. This will leave an indelible trauma in him and may very well affect his future.’
‘Pei Ge, I will give you one last chance; get off the stage now.’
‘No. If you don’t return student Shen Rui’s honor and withdraw his expulsion, I won’t leave this place.’
‘Alright! Just great! Pei Ge, for defying your teacher like this, I give you a high demerit!’
‘Why should she be punished?! Demon, scram off!’
‘Sir, if this is your final decision, I can only say that I am a poor student. Please expel me, too, since I can also be considered as having cheated.’
…
“Puh! Do you still remember how shock the teachers were when you said those bold words?” Tang Xiaoyu laughed boisterously.
“I don’t remember that anymore. I only remember that I was furious at that time. Shen Rui clearly did not cheat, and everything could clearly be solved with a simple retest, but…” she replied with a shrug.
“Whatever the case might be, you still won in the end!” Tang Xiaoyu giggled.
“Yes, we did.” Pei Ge also smiled at that. Once she thought of the past, she would get filled with power and energy.
“Still, Shen Rui, that stupid fellow, is the most awful person here. Not only did you openly defy the demon, you also led the whole school to protest by skipping class for his sake, but he dared to transfer schools without a word. What an ingrate!” Tang Xiaoyu huffed in anger.
“Alright, alright. It’s pretty late now, so let’s go to sleep!” She shook her head with amusement when she saw her best friend getting worked up and starting to scold Shen Rui once more.
“Mhm, you’re right. It’s time for my beauty sleep!” Tang Xiaoyu must have been drained by her outburst, as she easily agreed to her suggestion and crawled out of bed to return the photo album to its container.
Dragging the box from under the bed, she was about to put the photo album in it when she caught a glimpse of a pristine-looking white envelope.
Seeing who the sender was made her froze on the spot.
Pei Ge was puzzled by her act of freezing by the bed’s edge and asked tentatively, “Xiaoyu, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, not – nothing.” Regaining her senses, she returned the photo album into the box and then pushed everything back under the bed.