Lin Nian and Qin Jiao were about the same height, but Lin Nian was sturdier and stronger.
She could easily carry Qin Jiao on her back.
Lin Nian, who had been hiding by the door, couldn't hold back any longer. She immediately pushed the door open and rushed inside.
She said nervously, "Qin Jiao, you're spouting nonsense! I didn't do it! You stole the student ID from me!"
Qin Jiao retorted, "Why would I steal your student ID?"
"B-because you have a crush on Shen Yi. His family is so rich, after all. You even told me you didn't want to work hard anymore and planned on using him as a shortcut. I never thought you'd actually go through with it. And now that you've been exposed, you're trying to pin the blame on me!"
"Then tell me, why wouldn't I blame someone else? Why you, specifically? Are you special somehow, or is your heart just that filthy?"
"I..."
The two went back and forth, arguing endlessly. In the end, no conclusion could be reached.
The old headmaster raised a hand. Seeing that the argument wasn't going to produce a result, he decided to just smooth things over.
"This seems to be a misunderstanding. School's out for the holidays, so you should all head home. Everyone is to forget this ever happened. No one is to mention it again."
"Yes, Headmaster." Qin Jiao nodded obediently and turned to leave.
'She hadn't expected to take Lin Nian down with just this. The old headmaster was only trying to quiet the situation, not siding with her.'
'Still, not being expelled this time was a victory in itself for Qin Jiao.'
'She still had a lot to do.'
Lin Nian snapped back to her senses. She remembered Qin Jiao had taken her student ID and, after a moment's thought, had no choice but to follow her.
Shen Yi was the last to leave. The young master strolled out slowly with his hands in his pockets, as if what just happened had nothing to do with him.
Once the students were gone, Li Mei turned and said anxiously, "Headmaster, are we just going to leave it at that? What if the Shen Family holds us responsible?"
The headmaster snapped, "If the Shen Family has a problem, they can take it up with Qin Jiao! But you... you actually encouraged students to drink?! Go write me a self-criticism report! And another thing, if the Shen Family does blame the school, you can be the one to answer for it!"
Li Mei was utterly frustrated, but there was nothing she could do.
Meanwhile, Lin Nian caught up to Qin Jiao. The gentle expression on her face had vanished. Her normally sweet features now looked somber, an effect created by the look in her eyes.
"Qin Jiao! Give me back my student ID!"
Qin Jiao turned and looked up at Lin Nian. She dangled the student ID in her hand. "You want your student ID?"
It was now summer vacation, and a replacement ID couldn't be issued until school started again. Lin Nian needed it for the part-time job she wanted to get in the county town.
So, suppressing her rage, she said gently, "Qin Jiao, what happened earlier was a misunderstanding. In any case, please give me the student ID first."
SLAP!
Qin Jiao slapped Lin Nian right across the face, leaving her completely stunned.
Qin Jiao sneered. 'Something that ruined half my life, and you just casually dismiss it as a misunderstanding?'
Right in front of Lin Nian, she tore the student ID into tiny pieces, then smiled sweetly. "Lin Nian, does it hurt? If not, there's more where that came from."
With that, Qin Jiao turned and slowly walked away. Lin Nian, however, remained frozen in place as if she'd seen a ghost, drenched in a cold sweat.
'Does Qin Jiao know something?'
**
As Li Mei walked toward the bike shed, she suddenly recalled the last time she'd seen Shen Yi's mother.
Mrs. Shen had been wearing expensive clothes, carrying a designer bag she'd bought overseas. She was dripping with jewels, and the sight had left Li Mei feeling rather inadequate.
Back then, Shen Yi's mom had given Li Mei a large gold ring and told her to take good care of her son.
'Now that something like this has happened to Shen Yi, what if his mom holds me responsible...?'
As Li Mei was leaving the school, she happened to spot a boy playing basketball by himself on the courts. She immediately hurried over.
Li Mei said ingratiatingly, "Sh-Shen Yi, your teacher needs a word with you."