Chapter 2 — The 'Poor' Girl Who Got Expelled

"Xu Promise has so kindly sacrificed her own rest time to volunteer and look after your daughter, yet you actually resort to hitting her!"

"Do you truly believe this university was built by your family?!"

The students gathered around, witnessing Xu Promise sitting on the ground and weeping, began to chime in:

"That’s right, if you didn't want to drink the water, fine, but why knock the phone out of her hand?"

"Being a volunteer is already difficult enough; this parent has such a volatile temper."

Xu Promise remained huddled on the floor, sobbing as she spoke:

"Professor, it is alright. I was only worried that the younger girl might have heatstroke, so I wanted to offer her some water..."

"Perhaps the lady simply misunderstood my intentions. It does not matter if my phone is broken, as long as the little girl is unharmed..."

I pulled Niam, who was trembling, into my arms, offering gentle reassurances. Then, I stood up and retrieved the phone from the ground. Xu Promise had not set a passcode, and the video recording interface was still glowing. I turned the screen toward the academic advisor, then held it up for the surrounding students to see. The moment they caught sight of the screen, the entire crowd fell silent. The recording interface was still active. Xu Promise had applied a distortion filter. The features of the person in the frame were stretched and contorted; the eyes appeared vacant and grossly enlarged. Around the edges of the frame were pre-selected animated tags reading "mental illness," "going crazy," and "terrifying."

"Academic advisor, please tell me."

I pointed at the image on the screen, demanding an answer:

"Using a distortion filter like this, shoving it right into the face of an autistic girl to record her, and intentionally using loud noises to trigger a breakdown—is this what you call 'kindly looking after' someone?"

"Is this what you call an act of charity?!"

I stared down at Xu Promise, who had turned deathly pale on the floor:

"Did you come here to volunteer, or are you trying to exploit my daughter’s condition to farm engagement and money online?"

The students who had sympathized with Xu Promise just moments before were now looking at the screen with expressions of profound disgust.

"This... this is just too cruel. To exploit someone’s illness just to make this kind of video?"

"I was wondering why she insisted on volunteering during the holidays instead of resting. So, it was just to stalk and film for clicks. Truly sickening."

The academic advisor looked at the screen, his face flushing deep crimson; he opened his mouth, but no words came out. Xu Promise, panicked by the scathing glares surrounding her, scrambled to her feet, snatched the phone, and covered her face as she fled. I watched her retreating back. The fox's tail would show itself sooner or later. After the military training ended, Xu Promise became an outcast in her class. With her path to secret filming blocked, she did not give up. She set her sights on the private room with an attached bathroom. On Friday afternoon, I received a call from the advisor requesting my immediate presence at the department meeting room. As I pushed the door open, I saw the advisor and several student council members sitting on one side of a long table. A suitcase sat at Xu Promise's feet. She stood in the corner, her eyes red.

"Mrs. Lam, please, sit down."

The advisor tapped the tabletop.

"We have invited you here today to resolve the matter regarding the safety of Niam Lam’s living arrangements."

"Based on our observations over the past few days, we have found that Niam Lam is highly prone to stress reactions triggered by external stimuli."

"If she is left alone in a private room, the university cannot bear the responsibility should an unexpected incident occur."

"Therefore, after a discussion within the department, it has been decided that we must arrange for an experienced and compassionate student to live with her, to look after her twenty-four hours a day."

I was about to protest when the advisor grabbed a piece of paper and slammed it onto the table.

"Mrs. Lam, do not be so quick to coddle your child."

"Take a look at this first."

It was an "Application for Voluntary Pairing and Shared Housing." At the bottom of the signature line was the signature of my daughter, Niam Lam, accompanied by a bright red fingerprint. My brow furrowed deeply. The advisor raised his voice:

"Look closely. This is an application that your daughter submitted to my office herself this morning!"

"She signed it personally, acknowledging that she feels lonely at school and desires a roommate to stay with her and assist her!"

He stood up and continued:

"Mrs. Lam, it is rare to see a child with autism willing to open her heart to the outside world!"

"As a parent, how can you force her to relinquish her right to make friends simply because you want some 'peace and quiet'?"

"Are you trying to sabotage her path to recovery?"

The student council members nodded in agreement, casting accusatory looks in my direction. Xu Promise stepped forward, wiping away tears:

"Ma'am, when Niam handed me this form herself this morning, she even smiled at me."

"She truly yearns for a companion."

"Please, set your mind at ease. I swear that I will take care of her as if she were my own little sister..."

[Ha! Once I get the key and move in, I’ll immediately install three micro-cameras at the head of that idiot's bed and on her desk.]