CHAPTER 191: 190: TABLE TURNOVER (4TH UPDATE)

Ji Zhongjun’s face was deathly pale, but inside he felt so nauseated he almost spat out blood. This person had clearly been here all along, yet said nothing until after he told a lie, then came out as a witness. Wasn’t this making him lose face?

Determined, Ji Zhongjun directly argued, "You’re all from the compound, naturally you’re siding with your own. I didn’t say it means I didn’t say it."

He wanted to see what they could do to him.

Shen Bin had never seen such a scoundrel. If an employee of his dared act this way, he’d have long kicked them out and locked them up for ten days or so, straightening out all their bad habits. Unfortunately, the person in front of him was Ye Ling’s teacher, and the company style simply couldn’t be applied. However, just a glare from Shen Bin was enough to quell the atmosphere, and Ji Zhongjun barely managed to maintain eye contact without looking away.

"If Mr. Ji says so, there’s nothing we can do. After all, apart from those of us present, there are no other witnesses. So let’s first resolve the issue with the love letter and the fight." Shen Bin stood firmly, turning to see Wang Ping and Xiang Weilai approaching. They were both kids from the compound, so naturally Shen Bin recognized them. Once everyone was gathered, he looked at Ye Ling, "Ye Ling, tell us the whole story."

Ye Ling didn’t say much, just recounted how from seeing Ji Hong holding an envelope to being called to the office the next day, to being stopped this morning on the way to class. The story was clear and logical. In fact, without much questioning, everyone present had a sense of it. Several teachers had already thought that Mr. Ji was handling the love letter issue too harshly, jumping to conclusions about Ye Ling’s guilt when there were so many doubts. Any little girl wouldn’t be able to accept such a blame, let alone Ye Ling, a child of the compound, who possessed the pride typical of compound kids, even if she hadn’t grown up there.

Once Ye Ling finished speaking, Shen Bin asked Xiang Weilai, "Did Ye Ling give you a love letter?"

Xiang Weilai only knew Ye Ling had gotten into a fight, not expecting this to involve him. Listening to Ye Ling now, he understood, and looked at Ji Zhongjun with a mocking smile, "Mr. Ji, it seems this is a misunderstanding. That day, it was indeed Ji Hong who wrote me a love letter saying she liked me. I asked her if she knew I was preparing for exams, she said she did. I asked then why send this knowing I’m preparing for exams, and then I left. As for the love letter she wrote, I didn’t even take it."

The mocking gaze carried a trace of sarcasm, "If Ye Ling really liked me, we’ve been together in the compound for nearly two years. When wouldn’t she have had a chance? Even if she missed confessing in high school, we’d still run into each other in the compound later. Why write me a love letter right before exams? Mr. Ji, I think you’re too busy to think about these things, but to directly blame Ye Ling without asking, do you have something against people from our compound?"

Xiang Weilai was in the second year of high school, excelling in academics and well-rounded, a favorite in the eyes of the teachers, and never had any bad incidents. The words he spoke cheerfully, however, left people feeling chilled.

"Alright, Xiang Weilai, right? This is no longer your concern, head back to your class. It’s the final push towards the exams now, focus on your studies." A teacher stepped in to dismiss him.

Xiang Weilai raised an eyebrow, "Leaving now without confronting Ji Hong, what if it’s just folks from our compound teaming up? It’s better to call her out. I don’t know if it was Ji Hong who sent the letter, only that it was someone from Ye Ling’s class."

Understanding from Ye Ling’s words, Xiang Weilai naturally recognized Shen Bin being labeled by Ji Zhongjun as part of a compound clique.

Zhao Guodong, despite looking down on Xiang Weilai and Liu Zhiyuan’s artillery squad, cooperated this time in unity, "Yes, call her out for a confrontation."

"Zhao Guodong, your issue of hitting a teacher isn’t over yet, don’t create more trouble here." Ji Zhongjun glared.

Zhang Linong picked up from Zhao Guodong’s words, ignoring Ji Zhongjun, "Why not call out a few more girls and let Xiang Weilai identify, in case the one who sent the love letter wasn’t Ji Hong."

Ji Zhongjun had been thinking of finding a way out but didn’t expect Zhang Linong to poke it open instantly, realizing that if Ji Hong was truly identified, denial would be futile. Remembering Ji Hong’s tattling, he grew even more uneasy inside.

Shen Bin looked at several teachers, "Which teacher will go call a few female students out?"

If such a confrontation occurred, it would reveal a teacher’s error. If things really went that way, it would implicate the school. Several teachers exchanged glances, "Let’s handle this in the office first and discuss it slowly."

This was the consensus.

"Right, let’s head back to the office. It’s almost time for the bell to ring; students watching won’t look good. Plus, we should bring the principal over; we need to clarify this matter." Some teachers stepped up to smooth things over.

"Calling the principal is fine, we need to clear up this issue." Shen Bin didn’t make things difficult for them, addressing Ye Ling and the others, "You all come along too."

Xiang Weilai also followed to the office.

Not long after, both the head of teaching and the principal arrived. Seeing Ji Zhongjun’s bruised face, they didn’t immediately scold Zhao Guodong and the others, but sat down with Shen Bin and discussed the matter, realizing it wasn’t as Ji Zhongjun had described. The principal and head of teaching exchanged a glance, and during the class break, they called in several female students from class one. Xiang Weilai directly identified Ji Hong among them.

Even though Ji Hong’s face was bruised, seeing the scene in the office frightened her, "Teacher..."

Still hoping to seek help from Second Uncle.

Ji Zhongjun, however, shouted with a bruised face, "Shut up! I trusted you, yet you shifted your wrongdoing onto someone else. Now you’ve stirred this into such a mess, and you still have the nerve to call me teacher? I don’t have a student like you."

In the presence of so many people, Ji Hong, being a girl, couldn’t withstand the embarrassment, and began to sob, covering her face.

The matter finally came to light; Ye Ling’s name was cleared. The next issue at hand was the fight involving Zhao Guodong and today’s incident of hitting a teacher.

Now that someone from the compound had been sent over, a notable figure it seemed, the matter couldn’t be brushed aside for the sake of a teacher’s dignity. Yet, having struck a teacher couldn’t just be dismissed, although if it led to an official reprimand, arguments would arise on the other side.

The principal and head of teaching were at a tight impasse; it was indeed a difficult decision to make. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)