The school authorities called me in for a talk, hoping that I would delete the inappropriate remarks about the school. With red eyes, I said that I didn't expect things to develop like this and agreed to delete them. When I came out of the principal's office, I saw some classmates holding their phones and taking pictures of me. As if I couldn't bear it anymore, I broke down and cried, covering my face and shouting, "Stop taking pictures! Just let me graduate smoothly!"
I immediately deleted the video and said a bunch of official statements as the school required. But what they didn't know was that with my savings, I could easily transfer to another high school. Compared with exaggerating the facts, trying to cover up the truth was even more suspicious. Someone in the comments uploaded a photo of me being interviewed.
"Silenced?"
"It's so scary. They're actually threatening the student with not allowing her to graduate!"
"I've already reported it to the Education Bureau. I hope they will conduct a thorough investigation."
The relative relationship between Mr. Ma and the principal, which was originally his "imperial edict of exemption," now became something that needed to be avoided the most. In order to calm the situation, the school finally issued a notice: "Our school teacher, Ma Mingyuan, has improper words and deeds, which violate the teacher's code of conduct. His employment has now been terminated."
I went to the school on the day he packed his things and left the office. He came to the office early to avoid the students and other teachers. I got the news and waited at the school gate in advance. I saw him holding a big cardboard box, which was stuffed full of personal items accumulated over decades. The security guards and the students who came early were snickering at him. His face turned red with embarrassment, and he was sweating profusely.
I suddenly felt a bit sorry for this ordinary wage earner who had worked in the profession for decades but ended up like this. I called out to him, "Mr. Ma, do you think you were wrong now?"
When Mr. Ma saw me, he clenched his fingers and said viciously, "Oh, isn't this the internet celebrity of our school?"
"I'm out of touch. I didn't expect you to have a group of brainless fans. I was wrong. I was wrong for posting that comment."
I smiled. The slight bit of pity I had just felt vanished without a trace. I reminded him, "Mr. Ma, don't forget, you still owe me an apology."