Chapter 21 — The Day the Whole School Went Wild

From desperate pleading, his expression swiftly twisted into vicious resentment. Before anyone could react, he suddenly raised his hand and shoved me violently. My mother shrieked in terror. Lam Duyet lunged forward to pull me back, but it was far too late. The next instant, a man burst through the door, his hand shooting out to grab Gia Nghien by the wrist in a vice-like grip. He wore a dark overcoat, his hair was streaked with gray, and a prominent conference guest pass still hung around his neck. He lowered his gaze to look at me, and his eye sockets instantly turned red.

Nam Qiao.

Your father entrusted you to this world not so they could trample upon you like this.

I froze in place. The man standing before me was painfully familiar. Uncle Gu. My late father’s dearest friend, and also the co-founder of the Nam Qiao Development Foundation. Ever since my father passed away, he had visited our house several times, always carrying thick stacks of documents, quietly discussing fund management and future charitable contributions with my mother. But back then, I refused to see anyone connected to my father, and eventually, he stopped pushing. He only ever sent gentle text messages during the holidays, checking in on me, though I rarely bothered to reply. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect him to appear here today. Gia Nghien’s wrist was trapped so tightly in his grasp that all the color drained from her face. Her mother let out a piercing shriek.

Let go of my daughter this instant!

Uncle Gu released her wrist, but instantly stepped in front of me, shielding me behind his broad shoulders. He looked down at Gia Nghien’s mother, his voice low and devoid of volume, yet heavy enough to suffocate everyone in the room.

Your daughter just tried to physically assault a former victim of bullying right in front of everyone.

There are surveillance cameras here, staff members, representatives from the Bureau of Education, and local police officers present.

Are you still going to sit there and claim she is just an innocent child?

Gia Nghien’s mother’s lips trembled uncontrollably. Her father finally reached his breaking point, roughly pulling Gia Nghien back to stand behind him.

Haven't you caused enough trouble yet?

Gia Nghien burst into miserable tears.

Dad, I didn’t mean to. I was just so scared.

Uncle Gu replied with chilling indifference.

Fear is never an excuse to inflict harm upon others.

With that, he turned his head to look at me, and the overwhelming, oppressive aura he had just projected vanished in an instant. His eyes were bloodshot.

Nam Qiao, I am so sorry. Uncle is late.

I shook my head slowly.

This has nothing to do with you, Uncle.

His gaze swept across every single person in the conference room.

It has everything to do with me. The Foundation bears a responsibility. We entrust our cooperation quotas to the school, yet we failed to notice that individuals within this institution had tampered with the nomination records. We naively believed that regulatory systems could protect children. But a system without watchful eyes simply becomes a convenient cloak for the wicked to hide beneath.

Director Song kept his head lowered in shame.

Mr. Gu, our review mechanism does indeed possess severe loopholes.

Uncle Gu waved a dismissive hand.

We will undergo a complete internal restructuring after this meeting. Starting today, the Nam Qiao Development Foundation is suspending all cooperative agreements with the Affiliated Middle School.

The principal snapped his head up in shock.

Mr. Gu, can we at least wait for the official investigation results...

Uncle Gu cut him off flatly.

No. The investigation results will determine what kind of legal liability you must bear. Suspending our cooperation is a decision the Foundation can make right this very second.

The principal’s face turned ashen. Uncle Gu continued without missing a beat.

At the same time, the Foundation will authorize a team of lawyers to initiate formal legal proceedings regarding the incidents where student Shen Nam Qiao had her nomination rights stolen, her evaluation results forged, her private information leaked, and her reputation dragged through the mud by online defamation.

Gia Nghien’s mother felt her legs turn to jelly, and she nearly collapsed onto the floor.

Lawyers?

Her voice finally lost its shrill, piercing edge. This is just a matter between kids; why on earth do we need to involve lawyers?

Uncle Gu looked down at her. Because you adults chose to turn a matter between children into a dirty transaction of your own.

Gia Nghien’s mother was left completely speechless, struck dumb by his words. Her husband’s face looked as though it had been rubbed in ash. He forced himself to look toward my mother, his voice strained and heavy.

Mrs. Shen, I am truly sorry. As a father, I failed to educate my child properly, and I failed to maintain order within my own family. Compensation, apologies, full cooperation with the investigation—we accept all of it.

Gia Nghien’s mother glared at him in disbelief. Have you lost your mind?

Her husband roared in fury. I would be truly out of my mind if I didn’t apologize now! Can’t you even see the truth yet? The reason Gia Nghien turned out like this is entirely because of how you raised her, not because of anyone else!

Gia Nghien’s mother turned pale, and tears finally spilled from her eyes. But no one spared her tears a single glance anymore. Cheng Hao’s father also dragged Cheng Hao forward, forcing the boy’s head down in a bow.

Apologize.

Cheng Hao’s voice was hoarse and cracked. Shen Nam Qiao, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have filmed you, I shouldn’t have led the crowd in shouting abuse, and I shouldn’t have locked you in the equipment room.

I looked at him and said, You didn’t just lead it. You incited the rest of them.

He paused for a fraction of a second, then bent his back even lower. I’m sorry.

I didn't say it was fine. Some apologies are necessary to voice, but that does not mean I am obligated to grant forgiveness in return. Lam Duyet and several other classmates who had chosen to stay silent also stepped forward. Lam Duyet’s eyes were red-rimmed. Nam Qiao, we owe you an apology too. We saw everything, but we were too cowardly to stand by your side.

I looked at them. I wanted to utter the words that it didn't matter. But as the words reached the tip of my tongue, I swallowed them and chose to say something else instead.