Class 2, First Grade
Except for the sound of a girl turning pages, it was still exceptionally quiet, with the entire classroom in dead silence.
However, the thoughts of everyone in the classroom were far from calm.
Some were internally hoping for class to start soon, while others were waiting for Su Cheng to return quickly to dispel this oppressive atmosphere.
Only Eddie had an indecisive look on his face, as if he had something to say but didn't dare to speak.
He wanted to strike up a conversation with Ji Qingyi, because if he could just talk to her, he could go home and boast to his parents, which would definitely earn him praise and rewards from his father and mother.
After all, his family's business was one of the subsidiaries under Ji Qingyi's family's conglomerate.
But he was also afraid that if he rashly greeted her, what if she disliked him?
So he could only struggle internally, and in the end, still couldn't muster up the courage.
At this moment, he felt like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously shaking his legs non-stop.
"That's right, Su Cheng!"
Suddenly, he realized why Ji Qingyi might be here, though he didn't know why she was looking for Su Cheng.
But Su Cheng was just a commoner, and moreover, a confession maniac. Maybe he had offended Ji Qingyi and she was here to cause trouble.
And he knew where Su Cheng had gone!
Right after finishing lunch, he had seen Su Cheng at the entrance of the teaching building. He had wanted to call out to Su Cheng to ask, but Su Cheng was staring straight ahead outside, completely ignoring him, so he had to keep his words to himself.
But unable to resist his curiosity, he followed, only to discover that Su Cheng was actually trying to escape from school.
Fleeing from punishment!
Seeing this, he was instantly overjoyed. Previously, he had been anxious about the student council matter in the afternoon, but now seeing Su Cheng actively running away, he naturally beamed with happiness.
He thought it must be because the class had inexplicably accused him, making it unbearable, so he actively ran away.
Moreover, in the past few days, he had used Su Cheng's name to ease quite a few awkward situations and troubles. This person was simply his lucky star, and he felt Su Cheng would continue to bring him good luck.
So—
"Ahem~"
A light cough broke the silence.
Everyone in the class, including Ji Qingyi, looked towards the source of the cough, only to see Eddie suddenly standing up.
"Senior."
Eddie's tone was somewhat excited, with a fawning smile on his face as he looked at Ji Qingyi.
Ji Qingyi looked at Eddie, her eyes indifferent, without any expression: "Is there something?"
Eddie glanced around at everyone in the class, summoned his courage, and then said to Ji Qingyi: "Su Cheng probably won't be coming back."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Ji Qingyi's reaction was very cold, showing no surprise or confusion at all, as if this matter wasn't important at all.
"He fled to escape punishment!"
Eddie said with feigned anger: "He threatened several girls in the class yesterday, and when he found out we were going to report to the student council this afternoon, he snuck out of school at noon. I don't know where he went."
After hearing Eddie's account, the class immediately erupted, with everyone starting to voice accusations against Su Cheng.
"Yes, Su Cheng is simply too bad, he actually threatened us girls. If we don't report to the student council, he'll only get worse."
"Su Cheng is just a scumbag!"
"That's right, such a person doesn't deserve to be our classmate!"
"He doesn't even deserve to study at this school!"
Hearing the girls in the class start to chime in, Eddie was secretly delighted, thinking to himself: "Finally got to talk to Senior Ji, next I need to make her remember my name."
Soon, the class quieted down again, and everyone looked at Ji Qingyi, waiting for her judgment.
At this moment, Eddie held his breath and stared intently, hoping to see surprise or disappointment on Ji Qingyi's face. But to his disappointment, Ji Qingyi didn't show any surprise, disappointment, or anger. She maintained her usual calm demeanor.
She just brushed her hair and looked at Eddie, slowly uttering two words: "Feigned anger."
With these two words, everyone in the classroom was stunned, their faces showing surprise and confusion.
"Pretending?"
"Eddie is pretending to be angry?"
"Why would he pretend to be angry?"
Eddie, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded, his eyes suddenly widening, his heart pounding violently, as if it might stop at any moment.
"I dislike people lying to me."
Ji Qingyi looked directly into Eddie's eyes and continued to say these words that shocked everyone.
These words made Eddie's heart instantly sink to the bottom. The originally confident expression froze on his face, and an infinite fear welled up in his heart.
These words were too frightening, causing a sense of insurmountable despair to rise in his heart.
Panic flashed in his eyes, and he even forgot to breathe. He just sat down heavily on his chair, motionless.
"Eddie actually lied?"
"Could it be that Su Cheng didn't escape from school?"
Everyone in the class watched this scene, their faces showing shock, disbelief, and other expressions.
"Speak."
Ji Qingyi uttered another word, her voice flat, as if without any fluctuation like waves.
But when Eddie heard this word, his whole body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, shaking all over.
"Why... why do you doubt me? I... I'm just telling the truth."
Eddie's voice trembled as he spoke, shaking his head, as if he were the victim.
"Li Wen."
Ji Qingyi didn't look at Eddie, but instead turned to look at the class monitor who was lowering her head in thought.
"Ah, yes, Senior, I'm here!"
Li Wen raised her head and immediately responded, her face still showing surprise and joy.
"Give this to Su Cheng. Tell him to report to my club next Monday."
Ji Qingyi took out a 'Club Application Form' from her folder and handed it to Li Wen, her tone flat but conveying an undeniable authority.
Having said this, she walked towards the classroom door.
However, seeing this, Eddie stood up with a terrified expression, looking at Ji Qingyi with fear: "Senior, I'll tell the truth!"
Hearing this, Ji Qingyi stopped at the classroom door but didn't turn around, just quietly waiting for what came next.
"None of this has anything to do with Su Cheng, I falsely accused him of everything."
Between being expelled from school and being disliked by Ji Qingyi, he chose the former without hesitation.
After saying these words, it was as if he had lost all strength in his body. He collapsed into his seat, his expression showing his extreme nervousness and anxiety.
Upon hearing this, Ji Qingyi left without further delay, while the classroom fell into dead silence, followed by an uproar, with everyone angrily looking at Eddie.
Especially some of the girls who had insulted Su Cheng before, they sat woodenly in their chairs, their minds plunging into unprecedented chaos.
Moral interrogation, infinite guilt, all suddenly surfaced in their hearts, making their faces grow paler and their bodies colder.
Regret, remorse, self-blame, guilt, and endless repentance, all sorts of complex emotions...
This kind of self-tormenting foolishness wouldn't lessen the sense of guilt with the passage of time.
Especially since it was exposed by an outsider like Senior Ji...
This kind of act of trampling on someone's dignity without evidence.
How was it any different from bullying?
Mainly because Su Cheng was an orphan...
"Slap~"
The sound of a slap rang out.
A Blonde Girl slapped Eddie hard across the face.
This made his cheek instantly swell and bleed at the corner of his mouth. He couldn't even sit steady and finally fell to the ground.
"Do you know what you've done?! Huh?!"
The Blonde Girl's eyes were filled with tears as she glared at Eddie, questioning loudly.
She remembered Su Cheng's initial bewilderment turning to silence when they had insulted him earlier.
She could imagine how wronged and hurt Su Cheng must have felt at that time.
His final act of fleeing the school probably meant he had given up hope.
Thinking of this, the Blonde Girl's tears instantly burst forth, her heart aching as if pierced by needles.
"You liar, you bastard!!"
The Blonde Girl cried out, about to rush forward again, but was held back by the class monitor, while Eddie was pinned to the ground by angry male students.
Such ugly behavior, no one could tolerate it.
Let alone her, being the second daughter of her family.
If this matter were to get back home...
The consequences would be unthinkable.
She had been trying her best to catch up with her sister, but today she had made such a stupid mistake.
"Someone go notify the student council."
"Okay, got it!"
Soon, a male student ran out of the classroom.
"Stop hitting him, the most important thing now is to make amends, not vent anger."
The class monitor advised.
"Yes."
The Blonde Girl's movements halted as she turned to look at the class monitor. The anger and hatred in her eyes gradually dissipated, ultimately transforming into deep self-reproach. The sight made everyone around her feel a twinge of sadness.
After all, she wasn't the only culprit; the entire class was responsible.
"Give me Su Cheng's home address. I'm going to chase after him now!"
"I'll go too. Give me the application form; I'll bring it to him."
A petite girl with bangs walked over, her face still streaked with tears.
These two girls had been the harshest in criticizing Su Cheng earlier, and now they felt the most remorseful, hoping to make amends.
"Alright, I'll give you the address."
The class monitor took out a piece of paper from the drawer, which contained Su Cheng's home address as well as the address of the apartment where he was currently staying.
"Please, you must bring Su Cheng back!"
The class monitor looked at the two girls and said solemnly.
Hearing the monitor's words, the two girls nodded quickly, grabbed the items, and hurriedly ran out of the classroom.