Chapter 4 — The Day the Whole School Went Wild

Before getting into the vehicle, my mother turned around and cast a sharp, lingering glance at Gao Lan.

Director Gao, you had better pray that my daughter is safe and sound.

Gao Lan's complexion turned utterly ghastly. Head Teacher Ma wanted to speak with Director Song, but Director Song merely left behind a single sentence.

I expect the school to prepare complete documentation regarding yesterday's excursion, including ticket-booking histories, attendance lists, class chat logs, and the history of sent and forwarded announcements.

The Education Bureau inspection team will arrive at the school at ten o'clock.

Head Teacher Ma broke out in a cold sweat all over again. The car door slammed shut, and the vehicle glided smoothly out of the residential compound. My mother gripped my hand tightly, refusing to let go even for a fraction of a second. Director Song, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned her head to look back at me.

Little Shen, according to today's itinerary, you will appear as the representative of the founder of the Nanqiao Development Fund to share your father's final wishes and the purpose behind establishing the fund.

My mother's hand suddenly tightened around mine. I lowered my gaze.

I know.

After my father passed away, a portion of the compensation and social donations was set aside by me for charitable purposes, exactly as his will stipulated. I was not the one who chose the name for the fund. My father had written it down in his personal documents while he was still alive. He had said that if a day ever came when he was no longer around, he hoped this fund could help children who were just like me. He wanted to help them receive a proper education, grow up healthy, and ensure they would never be left behind simply because of a little hardship. Yet, I never could have imagined that the very first place to leave me behind would be Affiliated High School—an institution once chosen as a cooperative partner of the fund. As the car pulled up to the city's Youth Activity Center, the parking lot in front of the entrance was already packed to capacity. Bright red banners stretched heavily across the grand stone steps. The moment I stepped out of the vehicle, I caught sight of a scrolling digital banner on the massive outdoor screen.

The Second-Phase Cooperation Signing Ceremony of the Nanqiao Development Fund and Youth Development Symposium.

Listed clearly underneath as the organizing unit was the Municipal Affiliated High School. Gao Lan had just stepped out of another car arriving closely behind us. She, too, saw those striking words. At that exact fraction of a second, all the strength seemed to drain entirely from her body, forcing her to lean heavily against the nearby metal railing for support.

05

A line of reception staff stood neatly arrayed before the grand entrance of the hall. The principal of Affiliated High School was present as well. He wore a dark, tailored suit, his hair neatly combed and parted. Upon seeing Director Song lead me closer, he let out a visible sigh of relief. Yet in the very next second, when his eyes locked onto the school uniform I was wearing, the polite smile froze completely across his face.

Shen... are you little Shen Nanqiao?

I came to a halt.

Does the principal know who I am?

His lips quivered slightly.

Of course I do; you are an exceptionally brilliant student at our institution.

I fixed my gaze upon him.

Yesterday at the school gates, when the two buses drove away, that exceptionally brilliant student was not permitted to bring along her ticket.

The principal's complexion instantly turned ashen. The various teachers standing nearby responsible for welcoming guests all lowered their heads in collective shame. Director Song offered no words to shield him from his embarrassment. She merely spoke in a calm, flat tone: The conference is about to begin; let us go inside first. The interior of the hall was already densely crowded. The front rows were occupied by municipal leaders and foundation representatives. Middle-school teachers and student delegates sat in the central sections, while journalists busily set up their camera equipment at the very back. As I walked in, the previously noisy chatter inside the hall gradually subsided into a heavy silence. Countless gazes converged upon me. My mother held my hand, her palms slick with cold perspiration. The emcee lowered his head to review his cue cards, but upon seeing us arrive, he immediately nodded to the staff standing off to the side. The massive screen at the front shifted to display the official conference backdrop. I was assigned a seat in the very front row, very close to the exact center. Printed clearly upon the desk nameplate were the words: Shen Nanqiao. Representative of the Founder of the Nanqiao Development Fund. Upon catching sight of those words, my mother's eyes suddenly flushed red. She finally seemed to understand why I had always been so reluctant to speak of it. It was the legacy my father had left behind for me, yet it was simultaneously the wound I always kept deeply hidden within my heart. The principal sat behind me and slightly to the right, while Head Teacher Ma occupied a more distant seat, continually wiping away beads of sweat from his forehead. Gao Lan had not been assigned a seat in the front rows and could only stand awkwardly near the side exit of the hall. She stared fixedly at my nameplate, her expression a mask of leaden gray. Before the conference officially commenced, an official from the Education Bureau walked over. He bent down slightly and asked me: Little Shen, how is your health holding up? I answered: I am quite well, thank you. He fell into a brief, contemplative silence.

We have already learned a fraction of what transpired yesterday.

If you are willing, we will officially listen to your account after the meeting concludes.

I raised my head and looked directly at him.

I wish to speak before the meeting begins.

He froze in place. Over by the side exit of the hall, Gao Lan abruptly jerked her head upward. The principal stiffened as well. I spoke clearly: Because today's theme is the development of youth.

If a student is ostracized from a collective at school, denied even the basic right to possess a ticket for an excursion, and yet must still sit here and speak of personal growth, I find it profoundly ironic.

Those standing nearby heard every word clearly. The atmosphere grew tense in an instant. The Education Bureau leader cast a sidelong glance at the principal, whose forehead broke out in a fresh wave of nervous sweat.