Su Mo was stunned. For a moment, words failed him. He stepped closer, studying his niece carefully."Cici… is it really you?"
Celia's rosy lips curved into a faint smile. "Uncle, it's me. I did come that day, but you insisted I was just a transfer student and placed me in Class 28 without any explanation."
Su Mo froze. Yes… that was exactly what had happened.
"It was a misunderstanding—a terrible misunderstanding!" Su Mo suddenly bowed deeply, guilt flashing across his face. "It turns out my own niece was the senior I've admired all along. I'm so sorry, Cici!"
Celia lifted her hand gently, her eyes arching with amusement. "There's no need to be so formal, Junior Su."
Su Mo let out a hearty laugh of relief.
The Vice Principal slapped his thigh. "This is all my fault! I mixed up the genius girl with the new transfer student!"
Dean Zhu and Li Guoxiang also stepped forward, their voices filled with excitement. "So that's what happened! What a lucky mistake! President, you don't know this—when Celia was placed in Class 28, within just one week she led them to rank first in the entire grade! She truly lived up to her title as the genius girl the moment she arrived!"
"Is that so?" Elder Jiang's eyes sparkled with joy. He turned to the Class 28 students. "You kids are truly fortunate. I've been trying to persuade Cici to return and teach for years, but it's you who got to experience her brilliance firsthand."
The students of Class 28 were so moved their eyes grew misty. They had studied with Celia day and night, never realizing she was the legendary genius girl.
Zuo Ming and Li Yuting stepped forward at once. "Cici!"
Celia looked at them warmly and gave Yu Jie a playful wink. "Who says geniuses can't be friends with you? You're all my friends."
Li Yuting nearly burst into tears of joy. "This is unreal! Now I can brag to everyone—the genius girl of Tsinghua University is not only my friend but also my desk mate!"
Class 28 erupted with cheers, celebrating as if they themselves had been vindicated.
By contrast, the Rocket Class students were stiff with disbelief.
Peng Li's face burned with shame. She remembered how she had dismissed Celia again and again, only to discover now that she had been a clown flaunting a wooden knife before a true master swordsman.
Celia then walked toward the Rocket Class, her gaze sharp. Her eyes landed on Yara Lu and Ning Xiner as her brows lifted ever so slightly."Yesterday, when I left Tsinghua, I told you I would be back. And now—here I am."
Yara Lu's nails dug deep into her palm. So this was what Celia had meant by those words. She hadn't just come back—she had returned with glory, carrying the title of Tsinghua's genius girl.
Why Celia? Why her?
Yara Lu had lived her whole life basking in the spotlight, but in this moment, Celia's brilliance eclipsed her completely.
At that moment, Zuo Ming raised his voice. "Students of the Rocket Class, you all accused Celia wrongly. That review notebook didn't belong to anyone else—it was hers. You called her a thief. Now that the truth is clear, shouldn't you apologize to her?"
He turned his gaze sharply. "Yara Lu, you were the one who pushed for Celia's expulsion. Ning Xiner, you were the one who accused her first. The two of you should apologize immediately!"
The hall grew tense. Students surrounded the Rocket Class, their voices rising together."Apologize!""Make it right!""You owe her an apology!"
Ning Xiner's face was pale as a sheet. Under the weight of countless eyes, humiliation burned her cheeks. At last, she lowered her head. "Celia, I'm… I'm sorry."
Her shaky words echoed through the crowd.
Now all eyes turned to Yara Lu.
"Yara Lu, it's your turn.""Why aren't you apologizing?""Say it—apologize to her!"
Yara Lu lifted her chin slowly, her once-proud eyes dimmed with humiliation. She had been the darling of the campus, adored by teachers and admired by classmates. But in this moment, all of that had crumbled. No one was protecting her now. No one was standing on her side.