Chapter 97: The Only Light (A Big Chapter of 5000 Words)
Despite Peng Xue’s open-minded statement that it didn’t matter if the cup was broken, Xia Yuan’s worries eventually became a reality.
After Huang Lian changed her shoes and had dinner at home, she came to the classroom early. Seeing the lax attitude of the class, she immediately flew into a rage and called out each student one by one:
“Yin Ruichao, I heard your voice in the corridor; go stand outside!”
“Jiang Yanhang, ah. You ranked twenty-something on the last pop quiz. Do you still have the nerve to brag here? You will stay standing and study tonight!”
“Our class has always been an outstanding collective in the school, but you few troublemakers have ruined it! A few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. You all just know how to joke around; I’m really so angry I could spit blood. Truly…”
Huang Lian took deep breaths, then went to look for her teacup on the podium.
Of course, there was no teacup. Huang Lian fumbled with the items on the podium but couldn’t find the cup.
Xia Yuan originally wanted to mention this when she entered, but Huang Lian’s immediate eruption left her no time. Meanwhile, Peng Xue continued to sleep soundly beside her.
There was no choice, Xia Yuan had to wake Peng Xue up first, then muster her courage and walk to the podium to explain the situation to Huang Lian.
Huang Lian’s face visibly distorted and turned very pale.
“You’re saying my glass cup shattered? Who did it? Come forward!”
Xia Yuan quickly waved her hands, “Peng Xue and I saw it already shattered.”
“What about the other students on duty? Weren’t they around?”
“They had gone down to eat, we were waiting for the hygiene committee to check.”
“If you were waiting for inspection, you should have stayed in the classroom. Where did you run off to?”
Peng Xue woke up at this moment and quickly raised her hand, “Teacher, Xia Yuan went to the restroom, I chatted with the hygiene inspector, and when I turned back, I saw the cup on the floor.”
“Did you not see anyone leave the classroom?”
“Not really, it was just the hygiene inspectors.”
Peng Xue shook her head.
“…”
Huang Lian asked some more details, and Xia Yuan answered truthfully. Knowing that only Peng Xue was present at the scene, Huang Lian remained silent with a grim face. Xia Yuan stood beside the teacher, unsure whether she could return to her seat.
“Teacher… although the cup wasn’t broken by us, Peng Xue and I do bear some responsibility for not keeping an eye on it. Shall we pool our money to buy you a new one?”
“What would I need your students’ money for? Go back to your seats.”
Xia Yuan nervously walked back to her seat.
“Of course, a cup might not be worth much, but if this teacup can reveal someone’s honesty, its significance is extraordinary.”
As a Chinese language teacher, Huang Lian often lectured them on moral principles, “For example, some people may appear beautifully dressed on the surface, but their hearts are extremely ugly and dirty. I’ve repeatedly emphasized that it’s not terrible to make mistakes, but the worst is not daring to admit them.”
“Moreover, what’s even more disgusting is when someone doesn’t mend their ways after being criticized but deliberately rebels against the teacher.”
While Huang Lian spoke, she looked toward Xia Yuan and Peng Xue. Both of them kept their heads down, writing their homework in silence. Huang Lian muttered under her breath, “What enmity or grudge do I have with you? I taught you for three years, yet none of you have ever come to visit me. Now, you rebel against me, but it’s your own future you’re ruining—”
Bang!
Finally, Peng Xue, who had been silently enduring, couldn’t take it anymore.
She slammed her pen hard on the table, causing the entire classroom to fall silent.
“Peng Xue, what are you doing? Did I say something? Are you feeling guilty?”
“I said it wasn’t me who broke it!”
“Who allowed you to sit and talk to me? Stand up! Do you hear me?”
Peng Xue unwillingly stood up, taking a deep breath to calm herself down.
“I ask you, if you say it wasn’t you, who can vouch for you? Xia Yuan! Get up too.”
Just as Xia Yuan stood up, Huang Lian approached her and questioned, “You clearly told me earlier that when you returned, you saw the cup already shattered, and Peng Xue was sweeping it?”
Xia Yuan hesitated before nodding, “But this also—”
“But what? You don’t learn good things but follow Peng Xue to do bad things? Since there’s no one else to vouch for your innocence, how can you prove it wasn’t you two who broke it? It seems like you have plenty of motive! You got scolded for cleaning up yesterday, harboring resentment?”
“Teacher, if you have a dark heart, don’t always suspect others!”
“Do you dare talk back?”
“Am I wrong?” Peng Xue shouted at Huang Lian, “I said it wasn’t me! If it was me, I would have admitted it long ago! Why must you keep holding onto me? Are you sick?”
“Alright! If you think I’m sick, then ask your classmates. Which classmate do you think would do such a thing, break my cup? Can you find one and get him to explain his motives?”
Huang Lian made Xia Yuan move from her seat and dragged Peng Xue to the podium, “Come, find it. Look up, apart from you, who in the class would break my cup? Yin Ruichao, stand up, is it you?”
Yin Ruichao stood up and waved his hands, “I was playing basketball during the big cleanup.”
“Jiang Yanhang, is it you?”
Jiang Yanhang also shook his head, “I was queuing to buy beef noodles, I don’t know anything!”
Huang Lian left Peng Xue standing on the podium as if she were on public display. She clapped her hands to signal everyone:
“Since we can’t find the culprit who broke the cup, there’s no point continuing our studies tonight. We need to learn how to be decent people first.”
“If a student lacks the courage to admit their mistakes, such troublemakers are very dangerous in our class. Let’s each write a note explaining where we were during the big cleanup today. I’ll collect them one by one.”
After a brief hesitation, the students began to take out paper and start writing.
Only Xia Yuan remained with her head down, clenching her fists tightly, motionless in her seat.
“Of course, if you have evidence, even if you only suspect someone, you can write it down.”
“You’re not harming her, you’re helping her.”
“If we can’t find the culprit, remember that tonight’s self-study was disrupted because someone held back the progress of the class.”
“Who is it? Come forward and admit it! Wasting everyone’s time…”
“How much is a cup worth? I’ll pay for it, I still need to study!”
The overlapping shouts and whispered discussions filled the entire classroom, echoing in Peng Xue’s ears.
Even she began to waver.
Huang Lian successfully spread her dissatisfaction throughout the class, focusing everyone’s anger on this “culprit.”
She felt like she was on an isolated island surrounded by pitch-black fog, with endless night.
While collecting the notes, Huang Lian shuffled them, removing names, and began reading parts of their contents aloud.
Most of the notes simply tried to clear themselves of any involvement, showing indifference.
However, a few troublemakers mentioned Peng Xue’s name among the suspects.
They mentioned Peng Xue’s strong dislike for Huang Lian and calling her a “yellow-faced woman” behind her back;
They mentioned Peng Xue’s malicious thoughts about deflating Huang Lian’s bicycle;
Some even suggested Peng Xue apologize to the teacher to restore harmony, but this directly labeled her as the culprit.
Some of the content was Peng Xue’s private complaints to her friends, now becoming sharp needles piercing her heart.
This made Peng Xue, who was used to being targeted, finally feel a sense of despair, even though she had always maintained her composure.
As Huang Lian collected the notes, she finally reached Xia Yuan’s.
“Xia Yuan, where’s your note?”
Xia Yuan lowered her head in silence.
“I asked you, did you hear me? Stand up!”
Xia Yuan remained silent, but her fists clenched tightly.
In the continuous urging, she slowly stood up, facing the pale-faced Huang Lian.
On the podium, Peng Xue, usually cheerful, now bit her lip and lowered her head. Her pretty air bangs hung limply on her forehead, revealing her uncertain mood.
“Why didn’t you write anything?”
“Because, in my view, you’re not seriously looking for the culprit.”
“You’re just finding an excuse to vent your anger at Xiao Xue.”
Xia Yuan stood tall, looking at her homeroom teacher with a full gaze of anger.
“Don’t you think it’s despicable?”
“I don’t understand… I don’t know why even classmates are following you in doing such despicable things!”
“Why do you insist on labeling her as the culprit?”
Xia Yuan, who was usually friendly and respectful to teachers, stood up for Peng Xue this time, siding with her against the teacher and classmates.
No one supported her, and no one refuted her.
Only Peng Xue, who was in a desperate situation, slightly lifted her head, her air bangs swaying gently. Her blurry vision fell on the dazzling Xia Yuan.
Huang Lian was extremely furious. She never imagined that this timid and obedient girl would defy her so brazenly.
“So, you’re refusing to listen to the teacher’s advice and deliberately joining others in wrongdoing?”
Xia Yuan gently shook her head.
“I don’t want to join in.”
Her clear eyes showed determination and anger.
“I absolutely, absolutely, will never join you guys in wrongdoing!”
Bang!
Angry and humiliated, Huang Lian slapped Xia Yuan across the face, the crisp sound making the entire classroom quiet. Xia Yuan’s fair cheek immediately showed a fresh red palm mark.
Xia Yuan, who had never been treated this way since childhood by her parents, grandmother, Lin Youxi, Mei Fang, and many other friends, did not cry on the spot this time. Instead, she stubbornly stared at Huang Lian.
Almost simultaneously, Huang Lian was suddenly pulled back a few steps.
It was Peng Xue, who was previously standing punishment on the podium.
Seeing Xia Yuan get slapped for her, Peng Xue seemed to be greatly stimulated. She burst forth with a fierce aura, grabbing Huang Lian’s collar, who was not much taller and slim, and slapped her hard. Amidst Huang Lian’s screams, they grabbed each other’s hair and fought.
The students had never seen such a scene. They were stunned for a while, and finally, under the guidance of the class monitor Chen Jiakong, they managed to separate the two.
Furious, Huang Lian pointed at Peng Xue and cursed, “Get out! Pack your bags and leave now! I don’t have students like you who lack morals and respect for elders!”
Peng Xue ignored Huang Lian after hitting her and returned to her seat, tenderly rubbing Xia Yuan’s cheek, then began packing her bag.
“I… I’ll go with you!”
Peng Xue shook her head and smiled, smoothing her messy hair, and gently patted Xia Yuan’s head, “You’ve done enough for me. Thank you, Yuan Yuan.”
“The days with you have been really happy.”
“I’ll always remember.”
In this small town, hitting a teacher was considered a serious offense. After this incident, it was nearly impossible for Peng Xue to continue her studies at the school. Therefore, she gracefully carried her bag, walked out of the classroom with her head held high, and students stepped aside due to her presence.
She was very proud.
She never sought help.
…
The commotion next door caused the homeroom teachers of Class 9 and Class 7, who were having self-study sessions, to rush over to investigate. After Li Shibing left, the students in the class became restless, with many curious students planning to sneak over to watch. It was Lin Youxi who maintained order and calmed everyone down.
Mei Fang had heard about the incident of breaking Huang Lian’s cup from Xia Yuan when he delivered beef noodles. He was already worried, and when he saw Peng Xue carrying her bag, rubbing her eyes, and walking through the corridor, he immediately realized something must have happened to Yuan Yuan.
That day, all the students in Class 8 were kept until eight o’clock by Huang Lian. When Xia Yuan, exhausted, walked out of the classroom, she saw Mei Fang and Lin Youxi waiting in the corridor. Without thinking, she threw herself into their arms.
Lin Youxi and Mei Fang didn’t ask any questions. They simply let Xia Yuan embrace them.
Exhausted, Xia Yuan accompanied them halfway, gradually sorting out her thoughts, and recounted the events of the evening to Mei Fang and Lin Youxi.
Mei Fang had many words to say and much frustration to vent. This was the first time in his life that he felt so angry at someone.
However, seeing Yuan Yuan’s haggard face, he didn’t want to make Xia Yuan relive the pain or vent his anger again.
She spoke in detail, but Mei Fang could roughly imagine the scene.
Peng Xue almost replicated her previous journey into the abyss, but this time she wasn’t alone. Xia Yuan became her only light, just as Lin Youxi was once her light. Mei Fang’s rescue of Xia Yuan became Xia Yuan’s rescue of Peng Xue, pulling her back from the brink.
“Yuan Yuan… you’re truly amazing.”
In Mei Fang’s eyes, to stand up against the world for a friend in such an atmosphere, even he, as a reincarnated person, couldn’t guarantee he could do it, but she did it, and brilliantly.
“You stood up for her in front of so many people, maintaining your stance. This kind of courage is beyond the reach of someone your age. Honestly, I might not have been as resolute. Peng Xue must be very grateful to have you as a friend, and that’s why she stood up for you at that moment.”
“I wish she hadn’t helped me…”
Xia Yuan felt deeply sad and guilty, “In this way, Xiao Xue can’t stay in our class or our school.”
“Since the root cause of the incident was a misunderstanding, if we can dispel this misunderstanding, perhaps the principal can be persuaded.”
Lin Youxi didn’t ask many questions, but she always held Xia Yuan’s hand tightly, analyzing the situation with her, “Let’s think of a solution together. Tomorrow, let’s ask more people from nearby classes. If we find the real culprit, the blame can be shifted to Huang Lian.”
“Haha, You Xi, why are you starting to call her ‘yellow-faced woman’ too?”
“Why shouldn’t I? She dared to bully our Yuan Yuan.”
Lin Youxi gently caressed Xia Yuan’s right cheek, her words full of tenderness, “We’ve grown up together, and you’ve never been hit like this…”
“It’s actually not that painful. Especially after Xiao Xue beat up the ‘yellow-faced woman,’ I actually felt quite relieved! But, do you believe that Xiao Xue isn’t the culprit?”
“Of course.”
Mei Fang gently squeezed Xia Yuan’s cheek, “Didn’t I tell you before? No matter what decision you make, I will unconditionally support you.”
“I feel the same.”
Lin Youxi held Xia Yuan’s hand.
“Hehe… Having you two here is really great.”
Xia Yuan said, then turned to look at Mei Fang.
“But… I’m really tired now. I kind of want—well, I just want Fangfang’s super energy right now, okay?”
In the past, Mei Fang would definitely have hesitated in such a situation, especially in front of Lin Youxi.
But today was a special case.
Without hesitation, Mei Fang picked Xia Yuan up and spun her around twice.
Lin Youxi watched with pursed lips, her eyes filled with warm smiles.
Xia Yuan came down from Mei Fang’s arms, but she wasn’t satisfied yet. Instead, she leaned towards Lin Youxi, opening her arms.
“Then… then, You Xi’s super energy!”
Lin Youxi seemed unperturbed by the term, which made Mei Fang feel a bit disappointed, as if he had been overly sensitive.
“Fangfang’s super energy, it doesn’t seem to be a special term after all!
But, sharing a unique nickname with You Xi… well, it’s nothing…
Mei Fang watched his favorite girls snuggle together, his smile fading as his expression grew serious.
The current priority was to clear Peng Xue’s name and find the true culprit who broke the cup, allowing Peng Xue to return to class.
Of course, this alone was not enough.
The main culprit wouldn’t disappear because of this.
Young children might not know how to resist unreasonable discipline from adults, but once they learn how to do it, they would quickly realize that students aren’t always the weaker party.
It must be acknowledged that most teachers genuinely care for their students and fulfill their duties as educators.
However, teachers like Huang Lian are not nonexistent.
When faced with such targeting, passive acceptance only fuels the aggressor’s fire.
Resistance is the only way out.
Mei Fang had made up his mind and would now begin preparing a strategic plan.
I can’t let my Yuan Yuan suffer further torment from the “yellow-faced woman.”
This chapter, if cut short, would affect the reading experience. So, let’s release this big chapter today.
It seems someone in the comments section was right!
Also, today is a special day. Everyone should try to be low-key, speak cautiously, and I’ll release a bonus chapter with pictures later.
