Lu Mairong stormed into the classroom, her face twisted with fury, ready to unleash another round of scolding upon Li Ziqing as she had done countless times before. But the words froze on her lips the instant her gaze landed on the scene before her.
Three uniformed police officers stood at Li Ziqing's side.
Her pupils contracted, her hands trembled uncontrollably. For a moment, she was utterly at a loss. Finally, she stammered, her voice quivering, "Y–You… you called the police?"
The disbelief in her tone was almost comical. Only moments ago, she had overheard a casual remark in the staff room—that Li Ziqing had entered the Final year Rocket Class with a lawyer in tow. She had been stunned then, puzzled why the girl would go to the class of the final year. But her irritation had quickly drowned out curiosity. How dare Li Ziqing still show her face at school after everything? Enraged, she had rushed here, determined to humiliate the girl yet again. Never in her wildest imaginings had she considered this possibility.
Li Ziqing caught the flicker of fear in her eyes and allowed herself a cold, knowing smile. Her expression sharpened into mockery as she said clearly, her voice cutting through the tense silence, "Teacher Lu, wasn't it you who declared yesterday that I had no right to remain in your class? That my very presence was a disgrace? Well then, I thought I might save you the trouble of shame. That's why I invited these officers here today—to settle the matter once and for all."
"You… you insolent child!" Lu Mairong's composure shattered, her voice rising shrill and brittle. "Have you lost your mind? How dare you summon the police over something so trivial? Apologize this instant, dismiss them, or—believe me—you won't want to face the consequences!"
Li Ziqing's smile faded. Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous chill flashing across them. With a low, humorless chuckle, she took two deliberate steps forward until she was standing close enough for only Lu Mairong to hear. She leaned in, her voice soft yet menacing, each word striking like a blade.
"Oh? A trivial matter? Then perhaps I should return the favor. Maybe I'll post something about you. About the house you live in… the LV bag you so proudly carry… or perhaps even those bank account details."
With every word, her tone grew colder, sharper, the quiet menace in it more terrifying than an outright threat.
Lu Mairong's entire body stiffened. Her eyes widened in horror. She could feel her pulse hammering in her ears, her breath coming unsteady and shallow. Yesterday, she had convinced herself that Li Ziqing's words were nothing but a bluff, a desperate act of defiance. But now, hearing each secret spoken aloud, her heart lurched violently, as though someone was pounding it against her ribcage.
How could she know? How could a mere student know this much?
She clenched her fists, her panic swiftly buried under a surge of anger. So what if Li Ziqing knew? Without proof, the girl had nothing. With newfound defiance, she glared at her and hissed, "Li Ziqing, don't overstep your bounds. This is Wuhan No.1 Middle School, not some back-alley market where you can stir up chaos as you please. You dare bring the police into our halls? If Principal Bao learns of this, do you know what will happen? You'll be expelled!"
Li Ziqing tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, taunting smile. "Oh? Wouldn't that be exactly what you've been wishing for? You've been desperate to drive me out of this school, haven't you? Consider this your chance." Her voice hardened, the smile fading into icy determination. "But make no mistake, Teacher Lu—I will not withdraw my case. Today, the culprit pays for what he did. Otherwise, I become an easy target for everyone. And that… I will never allow."
Lu Mairong trembled, her fury and unease warring visibly on her face. She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak, a firm female voice cut through the thick tension.
"You're her teacher, aren't you?" the female police officer asked coldly, her eyes fixed on Lu Mairong. "You've seen the comments online. Did you not realize how vicious they were? If this young woman weren't strong-willed, she might have already done something irreversible. Cyberbullying is no less than attempted murder. And yet you call it trivial? Do you truly intend to protect the culprit?"
The officer's words landed like hammer blows, leaving the classroom in stunned silence. Lu Mairong's lips parted, but no words came out. Inwardly, her thoughts turned venomous. If only she had… If only Li Ziqing had broken, collapsed, disappeared—why hadn't she?
Outwardly, she forced herself to take a deep breath, adopting a veneer of calm. "This is still a matter between students," she said stiffly. "Dragging the police into this will only harm the reputation of our school. Surely, it can be resolved internally without making it public—"
"Who told you it won't be made public?"
The interruption came in a calm, authoritative voice that immediately silenced the room. All eyes turned as Principal Bao Weiming entered, his presence carrying the weight of unquestionable authority. Several school administrators followed at his side, their expressions equally grave.
He swept his gaze across the room, finally letting it rest on Lu Mairong. His tone was low but firm, each word ringing with censure. "Teacher Lu, do you honestly believe that what happened on our school's forum has not already stained the school's reputation? A girl's character was dragged through the mud, without a shred of proof, only a photo and a handful of malicious words. Do you think that is not shameful enough?"
The atmosphere in the classroom thickened, heavy and suffocating. Students held their breath, watching the drama unfold, realizing for the first time that this battle was no longer just between a teacher and a student.
Ma Hua's heart, which had steadied for a moment when Lu Mairong demanded Li Ziqing withdraw the case, plummeted into despair at Principal Bao's words. His face turned ashen, his fingers trembling violently as he fumbled with his phone beneath the desk.
He typed with frantic haste, sweat dripping from his palms onto the screen.
"Meng Qianyi, didn't you say nothing would go wrong? She actually called the police! Do something—now! If I'm dragged into this, I won't let you all walk away unscathed!"
This was his last desperate lifeline.
Day before yesterday's humiliation still burned in his chest like a fresh wound. He could still see his parents' faces—ashen with shame—as they stood before the principal, forced to apologize to Li Ziqing. The memory made his teeth grind.
Yes, he was that boy. The very one whose parents had accused Li Ziqing of seducing their son.
But the truth was far different. It had been he who was infatuated with her—he who had pursued her, confessed to her, and been cruelly rejected. Yet, when the scandal came to light and his parents were summoned, how could he admit to that humiliation? Instead, he clung to Lu Mairong's narrative and added his own venom, swearing that it was Li Ziqing who had approached him, who had tried to lure him.
He had thought himself clever then. But Li Ziqing had shattered his lies without mercy, exposing him before Principal Bao. In the end, he and his parents had no choice but to bow their heads, apologize, and taste bitter disgrace.
From that moment, he had nursed his hatred. He wanted her ruined. He wanted her to suffer.
And then came Meng Qianyi.
That day, she had leaned close to him, her voice laced with scorn and temptation, telling him that Gong Xinyue wanted Li Ziqing destroyed. She whispered of a plan, a chance to strike back.
How could he refuse?
After all, this was Gong Xinyue—the heiress of the Gong family. His family's construction business was tied to theirs, dependent on their contracts and influence. To disobey her was unthinkable. Besides, hadn't he already longed for revenge? Hadn't he dreamed of making Li Ziqing pay?
To him, it had seemed the perfect opportunity: kill two birds with one stone—please Gong Xinyue and avenge his own wounded pride.
But now—now that his name was on the line, with police standing only a few feet away—his stomach twisted into knots of terror. The bravado that had carried him before crumbled into ashes. His breath quickened, his pulse pounded. His only thought was escape.
In the Sophomore year Rocket class when Meng Qianyi read the message she immediately panicked and showed the message to Gong Xinyue, all four of them were stunned and panicked also, they never in their wildest dream thought that Li Ziqing would find out the person behind the scene and will dare to call the police. But Gong Xinyue immediately composed herself and after thinking for a moment she whispered something to Meng Qianyi's ears making her relax and smirk in satisfaction. With that Meng Qianyi typed a message.
Ma Hua's phone vibrated with another message. When he saw it was from Meng Qianyi he immediately opened it.
Deny everything unless they have evidences against you. And even if they have, you are just a minor and didn't do anything severe, at most you will be penalized. And don't you dare think of exposing us, otherwise you know what Gong family will do to you right?
Reading the last line his face turned ashen. Yes how can he forget Gong Xinyue, he cannot do anything rash he remained himself. But also sighed in relief, yes he is a minor, what they can do?
On the other side, after receiving Principal Bao's subtle nod of approval, Li Ziqing tilted her chin slightly, signaling He Zenyu.
Understanding her intent instantly, He Zenyu stepped forward. Without a word, he placed a thick folder of documents onto the teacher's desk with a sharp thud. The sound echoed through the hushed classroom, pulling every pair of eyes toward him.
"Good morning, Principal Bao," He Zenyu said, his voice measured yet commanding. "I am Attorney He Zenyu, General Manager of Huiheng Law Firm, and legal representative of Miss Li Ziqing. I am here today on official business regarding an ongoing case of defamation, cyber harassment, and deliberate character assassination against my client."
He extended his hand, and Principal Bao shook it firmly. Then, He Zenyu opened the folder, revealing page after page of meticulously compiled evidence—neatly tabbed records, notarized transcripts, and printed screenshots of online threads. He carefully handed a section to Principal Bao.
"Over the past few hours," he continued, his tone crisp and precise, "we have collected and notarized a comprehensive body of evidence: digital records, user activity logs, archived comment threads. Among them are seventy individuals who posted repeated and most malicious, degrading remarks against my client—remarks which inflicted undeniable psychological distress and reputational harm. Each of those individuals will soon receive legal notices, and further proceedings will follow as dictated by law."
He tapped the folder once, his voice sharpening. "But today, we are here to address the primary instigator—the one who created the defamatory thread, deliberately inciting widespread bullying and slander. The evidence has been traced, verified, and is already admissible in court. A formal criminal complaint has been filed with the authorities."
Principal Bao's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "Who is it?"
He Zenyu's gaze swept the room before he spoke. His reply came with chilling precision:
"The name of that individual is Ma Hua. He is being charged with criminal defamation, willful cyber harassment, and malicious fabrication of falsehoods."
Principal Bao's expression hardened. "Arrest him."
At his signal, the uniformed police officers moved forward. The classroom erupted into an uneasy silence, broken only by Ma Hua's ragged breathing. The blood drained from his face as one officer firmly gripped his arm.
"No! She's lying!" Ma Hua shouted, struggling against the officer's hold. His eyes burned with desperation as he glared at Li Ziqing. "Li Ziqing, why are you doing this? Didn't I already apologize for the previous incident? Why are you making things difficult for me again?"
Li Ziqing's lips curved into a cold, mocking smile. Her voice was steady, each word deliberate.
"Apologize? Do you think parroting a few rehearsed words counted as an apology? That wasn't for me—that was for your parents to save face. An apology without accountability is nothing but another lie, Ma Hua… and lies are what you excel at."
Ma Hua shook his head wildly, his voice cracking with desperation. "I—I was just angry! You rejected me, you humiliated me—I lost my temper!"
Her smile vanished, her tone turning glacial as her words cut through the room like a blade.
"And for that tantrum, you chose to destroy my name? My dignity? You made me the target of hundreds of students' cruelty—all because you couldn't handle rejection?"
She took a single step forward, her presence so commanding that the entire class seemed to shrink back. Her eyes locked onto Ma Hua's with merciless clarity.
"Let me make this very clear, Ma Hua," she said, her voice low, resonant, and final. "I am not responsible for your wounded pride. And I will never allow your weakness to become my burden."
Ma Hua's face contorted in fury, his voice rising above the suffocating silence.
"You're lying! I didn't do anything. In fact, I… I don't even understand what you're talking about, or why you're accusing me!" His eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for support. "And what proof do you have? Nothing! There are plenty of people in this school who don't like you. How can you be so sure that I was the one who posted it? Besides, the person was using an anonymous account!"
A low chuckle escaped Li Ziqing's lips. She tilted her head slightly, her smirk both mocking and cold. "How impressive, Ma Hua," she said smoothly, "that you know so much about the one who spread malicious rumors about me—yet in the same breath claim you know nothing about it. Don't you find your own words… ironic?"
The color drained from his cheeks, then rushed back in a hot flush. He gritted his teeth and snapped back, his voice cracking.
"I—I was just guessing! Don't twist my words, Li Ziqing!"
Her laughter was soft, derisive, and dangerous. "Guessing?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disdain. "Ma Hua, are you truly that vain? Did you not hear what the police just said? They already have the evidence. They already have the grounds to arrest you. Yet here you stand, insisting you don't understand, insisting I'm lying."
The weight of her words sank into the air like a stone into water. Ma Hua faltered, his bravado collapsing as silence crept into his throat. His fists trembled, but he no longer dared to speak.
Li Ziqing's expression hardened, her eyes gleaming with a cold, unyielding light. She stepped closer, her voice lowering, calm yet cutting like a blade. "Since you're so confused, allow me to educate you. On the internet, nothing is truly hidden. Every search you make, every post you write, every malicious word you spew—it all leaves behind digital footprints. IP addresses, device IDs, access times, server logs…" She paused deliberately, letting each term sink in before continuing.
Her lips curved into a razor-sharp smile.
"All of it can be traced back—directly to you. You thought anonymity would protect you, that you could hide behind a faceless username while destroying someone else's life. But the truth is simple, Ma Hua—anonymity on the internet is nothing more than an illusion."
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper, but the words carried across the silent classroom. "And now, that illusion has shattered. Right on top of your head."
Ma Hua's lips trembled, but no words came out. His knees threatened to give way beneath him as the officers tightened their hold on his arms.
The female officer's voice cut sharply through the tension. "Let's continue this at the station. You're still a minor, we cannot arrest you outright. But we will take you in for interrogation. Since Miss Li has chosen to pursue accountability, your parents or legal guardians will be held responsible."
The words landed like a death sentence.
Ma Hua's face drained of all color, his body trembling as though the floor beneath him had collapsed. Regret clawed at his chest, choking him. Just two days ago, when Meng Qianyi had whispered her plan, he had been blinded by rage, consumed by his bruised pride. He had thought himself clever, untouchable. Never—not in his wildest imagination—had he foreseen this end.
He opened his mouth, desperate now, wanting to speak, to offer a genuine apology. But the officers were merciless, dragging him from the room before he could utter a single word. His last chance at dignity was ripped away as the heavy door closed behind him with a hollow clang.
Silence descended. A silence so suffocating it seemed to weigh down every breath.
One by one, the students' eyes turned to Li Ziqing. To the girl they had mocked, doubted, and maligned. Her slender figure stood motionless, her gaze steady, her expression unreadable. She didn't flinch, didn't gloat, didn't even blink as Ma Hua was escorted away. She watched, her calm indifference more damning than any ridicule.
At last, Principal Bao, who had been silent until now, rose to his full height. His voice was measured, but each word struck like a whip. "Do you all see now?" His gaze swept across the classroom like a blade of light, sharp and merciless. "From this moment forward, Ma Hua is expelled. And to those seventy students whose names have already been traced—you will soon receive a legal notice. Let this be a lesson you never forget."
A ripple of horror coursed through the room. Seventy. No one knew if their name was among the condemned, and the uncertainty gnawed at their insides.
Principal Bao's voice deepened, cutting into their dread. "You sit behind screens, thinking your words are harmless, that anonymity shields you. But every word carries a consequence. Every action leaves a mark. This—" he pointed toward the door Ma Hua had been taken through, his expression grim—"this is the cost of arrogance. Of cruelty."
The students bowed their heads, unable to meet his eyes. Shame prickled the air like static, heavy and unrelenting.
And then Li Ziqing's voice broke the silence.
Deceptively soft. Yet it slid across the room like steel. "You all thought I would remain silent. That I would bow my head and swallow your slander." Her lips curved into the faintest, most dangerous of smiles. "Let this be the last time anyone mistakes my silence for weakness."
Her gaze swept over the students—sharp, merciless—until even those who had not spoken against her shrank back in their seats.
Then, with measured grace, she turned, preparing to leave. Her steps were steady, deliberate. But before she reached the door, she froze.
That gaze.
She had felt it from the very moment she entered the classroom—a presence that stood apart from the rest. Among the dozens of stares, filled with fear, shame, or guilt, one gaze was different. Not hostile. Not mocking. Not fearful. Intense. Quiet. Steady.
She frowned slightly, scanning the room until her eyes finally found him.
The boy sat near the window at the last place half-bathed in morning light. His posture was composed, his expression unreadable. But his eyes—his eyes were what caught her breath. They were dark yet luminous, carrying a depth that seemed to draw the world into silence. No malice. No curiosity. Just clarity and coldness. Like a still lake untouched by the wind in arctic.
For the briefest moment, her world quieted. The shame-filled whispers, the suffocating tension—all of it faded into the background.
Li Ziqing, who had just stood tall against an entire class, who had shown no fear before police, teachers, or enemies, felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest. Not weakness. Not intimidation. But a fleeting sense of peace.
Her eyes lingered, just for a heartbeat longer, taking in the sharp lines of his face. He was handsome—strikingly so. His features carried an otherworldly quality, too refined, too ethereal to belong to the noisy crowd of students around him.
And then, just as quickly, she pulled herself back.
Her expression hardened, her lips curved into the faintest smile—as if mocking herself for being distracted at all. She straightened her shoulders, tearing her gaze away, and walked out of the classroom with unshakable poise.
Behind her, the Shen Zeyan's eyes followed her, calm and unreadable, as though he had already seen the storm that brewed within her—and chosen to remain its silent witness.
The door shut softly behind her, but the echo of that brief, unspoken connection lingered like a whisper in the air.
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Thank you so much for the review, @Mwansa0 😌 ❤️, it really means a lot to me. And also thank you Patricia_East for the comment 🙏🥰