Chapter 3 — The Mistress of Moon-Gazing Pavilion

"As for that one hundred and fifty thousand, you can find a way to take out an online loan, go to a loan shark, or even sell your own blood to cover it."

"If you dare to implicate any other students in the class, I guarantee you won't be able to live in this city any longer."

Hearing these words, I let out a cold laugh and cut him off directly.

"You expect me to sell my blood to pay for the debts of scammers? Teacher, is this what you consider professional ethics?"

"Are you protecting Huo Yunting because his father slipped two cartons of high-end cigarettes into your trunk last week?"

"Or is it because he promised you a hundred-thousand-yuan bribe once Huo Yunting gets accepted into university?"

The homeroom teacher gasped sharply on the other end of the line. A moment later, he raised his voice, shouting in indignation.

"You are spitting filth and slandering me! You truly are an ungrateful wretch who knows nothing of right or wrong."

"Fine. Since you are so determined to dig your own grave, I will go to the Department of Education right now and use my connections to permanently freeze your university entrance exam file."

"I want to see how you plan to fight them when you cannot even attend college. You can just rot in the mud for the rest of your life."

He thought he could use twelve years of hard study to threaten me? I didn't bother listening to his rambling any further and hung up. Just then, a group voice call notification appeared on my screen. It seemed Huo Yunting realized that the police were indeed involved. Far from being intimidated, he invited over ten other male students into the call. The moment I connected, the line was flooded with insults.

"Wu Jianyue, you bitch, you really dared to call the cops? Are you looking to die?"

"Do you think we’re afraid of you just because you went to the police? Let me tell you, it’s not going to happen."

"We aren't paying a single cent of that one hundred and fifty thousand. You can shoulder that debt yourself."

Huo Yunting’s voice cut through the clamor.

"Everyone, grab your things. Since this ungrateful bitch has no interest in maintaining her dignity, we’re heading back to the Moon Pavilion."

"Strip her clothes off, film it, and upload it to the school forum and every major social media platform."

"I want to see how she’ll have the face to meet anyone again. Doesn't she like pretending to be so high and mighty? Then let’s make her famous in front of the entire country."

They were prepared to resort to ultimate violence. I gripped my phone tightly, preparing to retort, when a large hand reached out and pressed down on the screen. The captain stood before me, his face dark and his brows tightly knitted. The radio crackled with static. A moment later, the deputy captain’s voice echoed throughout the room.

"Report, Captain. The group responsible for the one hundred and fifty thousand in unpaid tabs has been completely intercepted at the Royal Dynasty Karaoke Bar."

"Including the primary suspect, there are forty-five individuals in total, not one missing. Evidence collection at the scene is complete."

"All subjects are under control. We are ready to proceed with the arrests at any time."

The captain stared at the radio in his hand, his facial muscles taut. He took a deep breath and pressed the transmitter button.

"Secure the scene immediately, verify the identities of everyone, and do not let anyone go."

"Bring them all to the Municipal Public Security Bureau for questioning. Anyone who resists is to be handcuffed immediately."

After giving the order, he put away the radio and looked at me.

"You are Wu Jianyue, correct? As the complainant, please accompany us to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to complete the necessary paperwork."

I nodded, grabbed my phone from the table, and followed him out of the room. Fifty minutes later, I sat in the back of a police cruiser headed toward the station. The deputy captain transmitted live footage from the scene via his body camera. I stared at the tablet screen. The scene was pure chaos. Huo Yunting had been spewing profanities while trying to bolt out of the room, only to collide head-on with a team of fully equipped tactical police officers. They didn't give him a chance to spew his nonsense, pinning him face-first onto the alcohol-slicked floor. The male student who had spread the defamatory rumors about me during the livestream was so terrified his legs gave out. Just as he tried to crawl under the sofa, a tactical officer dragged him out, twisted his arms behind his back, and slammed him against the glass coffee table. Bottles shattered everywhere. The alcohol mixed with shards of glass splashed across his face, causing him to howl in agony. Bai Weiyi screamed, cowering in a corner, her makeup smeared across her face by tears. The bracelet Huo Yunting had just given her fell to the ground during the scuffle and was trampled repeatedly. These forty-five people, who usually strutted around the school with arrogance and impunity, were now all bowing their heads in a line. With their hands clasped behind their heads, they were escorted by tactical officers onto a specialized transport bus parked at the curb. With police sirens wailing to clear the way, they drew the gaze of many onlookers who stopped to take photos. Seeing this, I felt they were simply getting what they deserved. The police vehicles arrived at the station first. The captain arranged for me to enter an observation room. Through the one-way mirror, I could clearly see the situation in the adjacent interrogation room.