496: Chapter 485: Fired 496: Chapter 485: Fired “I’ll handle this matter,” Principal Wang said, with the realization that one must bow one’s head under another’s roof.
He couldn’t possibly mix in with this high school forever.
Sooner or later, he would have to enter the educational system.
If he left a bad impression at this crucial juncture, the path ahead was predictable.
“Then deal with it quickly.
Remember, they are all senior high school students.
At such a critical time, if there exists a black sheep, it would have a terrible influence on the student body,” Wang Mingdao spoke slowly and deliberately.
“How about we do it this way?
Since Shen Ji is a first-time offender and has just been involved in such a matter, we give her a warning and have her write a self-criticism report.
How does that sound?” Principal Wang asked cautiously.
Shen Ji saw how her once protective principal had become like this, and her classmaster, who was earlier defending her vigorously, had become silent.
She knew today’s matter would not be simple.
Lifting her head defiantly, she stared at Principal Wang and said, “I didn’t hit anyone.
Why should I write a self-criticism?
Why should you punish me?
The person who hit me is sitting right there, and yet you’re judging me, a student who was bullied—why?
Why?”
“Are you joking?
Our Liu Yan, hit someone?
What a sense of humor this girl has,” Liu Guo lit a cigarette and laughed coldly.
“Principal Wang, I don’t think this student has any sense of enlightenment.
A mere self-criticism won’t correct her thoughts.”
“This,” Principal Wang hesitated, “After all, Shen Ji is still a teenager.
She might have a rebellious spirit.
We’re adults, we shouldn’t hold onto every wrong word by a child and not let go.”
“Humph, I don’t think so,” Liu Guo said, eyeing Wang Mingdao sideways.
“Big brother, what’s your take on this?”
“How do I see it?
I came here today in the capacity of Yanyan’s uncle.
I don’t have many opinions on the matter, but if anyone intends to bully our Yanyan, even if it costs me my old life, I will let them know what’s what.”
After hearing this, Principal Wang’s heart plummeted like a roller coaster.
Although Wang Mingdao seemed to be making a regular statement, it contained too much information.
His readiness to risk his “old life” laid bare his intentions.
That meant if today’s incident wasn’t handled well, without a satisfactory resolution for Wang Mingdao, he could very well lose his position.
Seeing Principal Wang’s expression change like the weather and his classmaster’s incessant sighing, Shen Ji understood the meaning behind those words.
It seemed that Wang Mingdao was using his position as director to threaten Principal Wang.
If Principal Wang didn’t stand with Liu Yan, his future advancement was in jeopardy.
“This matter will certainly not wrong Liu Yan,” Principal Wang said helplessly, looking at Shen Ji standing alone.
Although he felt sorry for Shen Ji, after all, he had worked hard to reach his position.
How could he possibly trade a student’s well-being for his own career?
“Then proceed as you have suggested,” Wang Mingdao said lightly after taking a sip of tea.
“Shen Ji, when we do something wrong, we have to be brave enough to admit it.
Don’t we?” Principal Wang said.
“Since you hit Liu Yan, we hope you apologize to her and write a self-criticism report.
Depending on your repentance, we will lessen your punishment.”
“I didn’t hit her.
This morning, it was she who came looking for someone to hit me,” Shen Ji saw through the charade the adults were playing.
The director was using his position to constrain Principal Wang, Liu Guo was using his dominance to suppress him, and Liu Yan was ready with tears at the right moment, acting the weak woman.
But Principal Wang had already capitulated under their combined pressure, and her own classmaster was no longer speaking up for justice.
Shen Ji’s heart grew colder, realizing just how sordid the adult world could be.
Where there was oppression, there would be resistance.
Coupled with Shen Ji’s adolescence and her obstinate character—she hadn’t hit anyone, and she wouldn’t apologize just because of their coercion.
“Shen Ji, how do you speak?
Why don’t you show any remorse?” Seeing Shen Ji’s intractable attitude, Principal Wang couldn’t contain his anger and shouted at her.
“I haven’t done anything wrong.
Why should I show remorse?” Shen Ji retorted stubbornly, her gaze at Principal Wang full of disdain and indifference.
It was the first time Principal Wang had seen such an expression on a high school student’s face.
Although he felt a twinge of pity, he knew Wang Mingdao’s influence was undeniably significant.
So, with a heavy heart, he suppressed any sympathy he felt for Shen Ji.
“Just give Shen Ji an on-campus detention as punishment, Director Wang.
How do you feel about that?”
“That’s for Principal Wang to decide,” Wang Mingdao said.
“But in my opinion, a student should act like a student.
Engaging in violence every day, spouting lies nonstop—what kind of student is that?
But that’s just my personal viewpoint.
The final decision still lies with Principal Wang.”
Hearing this, Principal Wang felt despair.
Wang Mingdao was really making a big deal out of a minor issue, intent on expelling a top student.
He didn’t want to be the bad guy, but Wang Mingdao had passed the buck to him.
Truth be told, he was also reluctant to expel Shen Ji; after all, she was a model senior high school student.
If he expelled her now, how would that reflect on him in the eyes of those preparing for their college exams?
Besides, everyone knew it was Liu Yan’s fault.
Expelling Shen Ji would place him in the same category as Liu Yan.
Wang Mingdao was being despicable.
Principal Wang drained his teacup in one gulp, sighed deeply, and said, “After careful consideration, I think Director Wang is right.
So, we will expel Shen Ji.”
“Expel…
Expel?” Shen Ji murmured, truly not understanding how she could be punished for doing nothing wrong.
Why was it that just a few words from Director Wang swayed Principal Wang to side with Liu Yan, and now she was even being expelled?
How would she explain this to her family?
All these years of schooling were for the college entrance exams, and now, not only the exams but her future education was uncertain.