Song Zhi glanced at the caller ID; it was unexpectedly his elder brother Song Yuan's call.
His brother must have cleared Tan Lina of blame, and was calling to share the good news!
Song Zhi couldn't wait to answer, quickly asking, "Brother, have you gotten my classmate out?!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yuan grit his teeth, his face turning livid with anger, and cursed, "Idiot, you actually asked me to save a woman with poor character, rotten to the core. Are you out of your mind?! If you're sick, go see a doctor; don't come to me. I'm not a doctor!"
"I advise you not to get involved with such unsavory women anymore, so the Song Family doesn't lose face because of an idiot like you!"
If he hadn't obtained evidence from the police and conducted an investigation, he'd have thought Tan Lina was wrongly accused.
Song Zhi, the fool, had him vouch for that woman without even getting the facts straight; it's really disgusting!
Finished speaking, Song Yuan angrily hung up the phone, not giving Song Zhi a chance to respond.
Song Zhi was completely bewildered, his mind digesting the words Song Yuan had just said.
Because, in order to prove Tan Lina's innocence, he'd turned on the speakerphone, so everyone heard his conversation with Song Yuan.
One classmate promptly chimed in, "Song Zhi, even your brother calls you an idiot. Are you still unwilling to accept that Tan Lina deceived you?"
"Exactly!"
Song Zhi turned red instantly upon hearing this, feeling indescribably ashamed and embarrassed.
He couldn't believe that the woman he liked for so long had been deceiving him all this time?!
Tan Lina seemed so innocent and kind, always eager to help others—how could she be that kind of person??
Impossible, he must go ask Tan Lina in person what's going on!
Song Zhi glanced at the crowd watching the spectacle, as well as the indifferent Si Fan and Gu Xiaoxiao, grit his teeth, and turned to leave...
The classroom soon fell silent.
The classmates returned to their seats, but there were still people discussing the matter.
Si Fan noticed Gu Xiaoxiao still standing there, raised an elegant eyebrow, "Why aren't you leaving?"
"Just now..." Gu Xiaoxiao fiddled with her fingers nervously, mustering her courage, "Thank you."
Si Fan flicked her fingers, lazily retorted, "Thank me for what?"
Gu Xiaoxiao looked at the lazily postured girl who seemed like a queen above all, bit her lip, and held back her nerves, "Thank you for standing up for me just now. If not for you, I'd have been misunderstood by everyone..."
She deeply understood the despair and pain of being misunderstood, maligned, and having no way to appeal.
Because, she had experienced it herself, and crumbled under it.
In some ways, she really admired Si Fan's courage.
At least, she dared to stand up and fight for herself, didn't she?
Si Fan: "You're welcome."
With that simple sentence, it ended.
Gu Xiaoxiao felt uneasy, and added, "Si Fan, I'm sorry for what I did to you earlier. I know I was wrong; can you forgive me?"
She spoke with eyes reddened, feeling helpless.
Because she really liked Si Fan and wanted to be friends with her.
But after this incident, Si Fan must blame and be angry with her, right?
Even she couldn't forgive herself.
Si Fan saw Gu Xiaoxiao's tear-filled eyes, frowned slightly, puzzled, "Why are you crying?"
She hadn't said anything to bully this little girl just now, right?!
Gu Xiaoxiao felt quite embarrassed, quickly wiped away her tears, but they kept falling, drop by drop.
"No, nothing, just really sorry to you..."
Her eyes were red and watery, resembling a wounded little deer, looking pitiful and especially sympathetic.
Though she cried quietly, standing next to Si Fan, her shoulders shook as she sobbed, drawing even more attention.
Some people had already started mocking her.
But Gu Xiaoxiao didn't realize it.
Si Fan leaned slightly, reached out to grab Gu Xiaoxiao's arm, gently tugged, and pulled her to sit beside her.
Her thin, fair fingers pinched Gu Xiaoxiao's chin, looking at her tear-streaked face, letting out a laugh with ambiguous meaning.
Gu Xiaoxiao was startled, not understanding why Si Fan was laughing; was she laughing at her ugly crying?
That must be it, especially since she had a face full of freckles, so ugly, making her crying even uglier.
Thinking Si Fan might have that thought, her mood sank further, ashamed, she turned her head, eyelashes lowering.
Si Fan released Gu Xiaoxiao's chin, then poked her tear-reddened cheek, teasing with a smile, "Oh, you're such a little crybaby, those tears falling like pearl strings, anyone who doesn't know might think I've done something to you?"
Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head, wanting to say it wasn't that.
But Si Fan continued speaking.
"Stop crying; no one cares when you cry; it just makes you appear weak and ineffective."
"In this survival-of-the-fittest world, crying solves nothing. Strength, that's the truth. Only by becoming strong can you face anything fearlessly, understand?"
Her voice was cold, indifferent, seemingly simple, yet hit the mark.
Gu Xiaoxiao was momentarily speechless.
She couldn't deny that Si Fan was right.
Crying only makes oneself weaker; those who bully won't stop because you cry; they just find you easier to hurt more.
Only by becoming stronger, more exceptional, can people view you with fresh eyes!
Gu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth; she knew everything Si Fan said, so she kept working hard, overcoming herself.
She hoped to become the next Si Fan!
Si Fan stared at Gu Xiaoxiao for a moment, tilting her head slightly, as if she had thought of something, slowly reaching into her pocket.
Then she pulled out a tissue she carried with her, handed it to Gu Xiaoxiao, her exquisite face reflecting a casual elegance, "Wipe it."
Gu Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, instinctively taking the tissue Si Fan handed over.
It carried the icy plum scent from her body, unusually pleasant.
She gave Si Fan a grateful smile, softly said, "Thank you."
Si Fan calmly parted her lips, "Since you want to thank me, tell me, how will you?"
Gu Xiaoxiao was taken aback by this, instinctively responded, "I'll treat you to milk tea?"
After speaking, she felt saying milk tea sounded too insincere, quickly added, "I'll treat you to a meal then? Is that okay?"
Si Fan had no objections, "Whatever."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but smile; Si Fan agreed to her treat. Does that mean she has forgiven her for what she did?
Thinking this, her mood couldn't help but brighten.