Chapter 99: Courting Death!
Following a furious declaration, a gloomy-faced Pan Qingfeng strode into the office, accompanied by a group of people.
The two vice-principals and other school leaders accompanying Pan Qingfeng also looked displeased.
On the one hand, it was because Director Cen was being so brazen and arrogant.
While unspoken rules and shady dealings were common knowledge—and something they themselves had engaged in to some extent—there were limits.
Publicly, as the director of the Academic Affairs Office, one was expected to maintain an impeccable image.
To so openly and shamelessly suppress and take revenge on a student in front of so many teachers was a disgrace. It was a complete corruption of a teacher's morals, a stain on their profession.
On the other hand, what was more important and worried them more was that Pan Qingfeng's anger seemed to be directly related to this student, Liu Shang.
If that were the case, things were about to get very difficult.
As for Director Cen, his expression upon seeing Pan Qingfeng and the others walk in was truly a sight to behold.
Just a moment ago, he had been the powerful and untouchable head of the Academic Affairs Office, basking in the limelight.
He could decide a student's fate—their very future—with a wave of his hand.
But in the next instant, hearing Pan Qingfeng's furious words and seeing his grim expression, Director Cen, a veteran of bureaucracy, forced a smile so ugly it was painful.
"Director Pan, Principal Li, Principal Wang, what brings you all here?"
"I... haha... I was just joking with this student..."
"Please don't take it seriously, Director Pan!"
He was, of course, very aware of who Pan Qingfeng was: the newly appointed Deputy Director of Personnel and Recruitment for Fengcheng Oilfield.
Given his position, he also knew that Pan Qingfeng had been invited to the school today for a visit.
But he never expected that Pan Qingfeng and the two vice-principals would show up here, at the Chemical Institute.
This wasn't part of the plan at all!
At this time, Pan Qingfeng glanced at Liu Shang, who remained calm and composed, and nodded to himself in approval.
The boy showed no sign of the panic or helplessness one would expect from being threatened, nor any surprise at his own arrival.
He stood firm against the wind and waves as if strolling through a garden. He had the bearing of a general.
He truly didn't know how Liu Shang's parents had raised such an excellent son.
If his own disappointing son were even half as composed as Liu Shang, he, Pan Qingfeng, would be overjoyed.
Then, without even glancing at Director Cen, Pan Qingfeng turned to the two vice-principals and took a deep breath.
"Let me make one thing clear: Liu Shang is my nephew."
"Sometimes I think of him as closer than my own son—he's certainly more pleasing to the eye!"
"Right now, don't see me as a deputy director. I am here as the parent of an ordinary student at your school!"
Just as they had feared!
Upon hearing Pan Qingfeng's words, everyone present—especially the two vice-principals—felt their heads buzz. This was a massive headache.
In their minds, they were all cursing Director Cen.
That damn fool, was he tired of living?
Even if you're going to pull some shady tricks, you should at least be discreet about it, right?
Bullying someone's child so openly and shamelessly would make anyone furious!
And putting that aside, even if you're going to deliberately take revenge on someone, you should at least check who you're targeting, right?
He went right after a member of Pan Qingfeng's own family. That bastard was really asking for it.
At that moment, Director Cen was struck dumb by Pan Qingfeng's words.
How could this be?
Before scheming against Liu Shang, he had done his homework and confirmed the student had no powerful background.
The person who had asked for this favor had promised him repeatedly that Liu Shang was just an ordinary student and there would be absolutely no repercussions.
But looking at the situation now, that clearly wasn't the case at all. He had been far too complacent and careless.
"Haha, Director Pan, my old classmate! To think a student so close to your family is at our school, why didn't you give me a heads-up?"
"This matter is really a misunderstanding..."
Before Vice Principal Li Zhi could finish, Pan Qingfeng cut him off with a wave of his hand and a cold snort.
"No. I'm not here as Director Pan. I am the parent of Liu Shang, a student at your school."
"I know this boy's character and academic abilities quite well."
"So I find it very hard to believe that he's as terrible as you claim—so terrible that he deserves to be expelled or put on probation."
Then, Pan Qingfeng's gaze fell on Mr. Zhao, Liu Shang's counselor.
"You are Liu Shang's teacher and counselor, right?"
"I want to know, what were Liu Shang's final exam results?"
Between Pan Qingfeng's sudden appearance, the tense atmosphere in the room, and the expressions on everyone's faces, Mr. Zhao understood the situation with painful clarity.
He had already offended Director Cen, and knowing the man's vengeful nature, Teacher Zhao made his decision in an instant.
He took a deep breath and said, "Director Pan, I am Liu Shang's academic counselor."
"Currently, Liu Shang's exam results for all subjects have been released. They are all at an excellent level; he even received full marks in two subjects."
"His grades rank number one in the entire Chemical Institute."
"As for Liu Shang's absenteeism, it's not what it appears to be on the surface."
"It's part of a novel teaching method our college has adopted to encourage student initiative."
"If a student has Liu Shang's ability to study independently, they are not required to attend class."
"Consequently, nearly all the teachers have a very high opinion of Liu Shang and are very supportive of his life and studies."
"I would stake my reputation on this. If you don't believe me, you can call any of Liu Shang's professors at any time to verify."
Undoubtedly, Mr. Zhao's words struck Director Cen like a knife, dealing a fatal blow.
Upon hearing this, Director Cen's face twisted in rage.
He swore to himself that if he got through this, he would never let this short-sighted Mr. Zhao off the hook.
It never occurred to him that if he hadn't been so overbearing and threatened Mr. Zhao earlier, this moment would never have come to pass.
Meanwhile, the other school leaders felt like their heads were about to explode after hearing Teacher Zhao's testimony.
Weren't you just adding fuel to the fire, Mr. Zhao?
It was as if they thought the situation wasn't a big enough deal already!
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