As Jiang Yuwei’s words tumbled out, Sun Ling finally came back to her senses, shaking her head and forcing a smile. “I’m fine.”
In her heart, she tried to comfort herself, perhaps she was just overthinking. Even with Chen Li Shu’s capabilities, she couldn't possibly have precognitive abilities, let alone secretly put the items back in her bag right under everyone’s noses.
“Sun Ling, what are you dawdling for? You were the one yelling about searching everyone’s bags earlier, what happened to that?” Zhang Xue urged from the side.
Sun Ling shot her a glare and, holding the bottom of her shoulder bag, tipped its contents out.
With a loud rustle, quite a few things scattered across the table, and the two thick woolen clothes were indeed among them.
Seeing the blindingly conspicuous clothes, Sun Ling froze, murmuring in disbelief, “Impossible, these clothes clearly…”
“Sun Ling, I told you long ago not to stay up so late studying, and look at you now, you’re so tired you forgot your own clothes were in your bag?”
Although Jiang Yuwei knew her excuse was a bit far-fetched, at this point, she could only attribute it to her own oversight and forgetfulness.
Sun Ling also reacted, pressing her temples and saying apologetically to everyone, “Yes, it was my oversight.”
Zhang Xue frowned, unconvinced. “You were negligent, but you didn’t figure anything out and immediately slandered Chen Li Shu. Sun Ling, that excuse of yours is just too ridiculous.”
Huang Jianjun looked sternly at Sun Ling and Jiang Yuwei. “Everyone is waiting ahead. After the performance, you two…”
Before he could finish, someone pointed to the pile of items Sun Ling had spilled out and exclaimed loudly, “These are my hairpins!”
Hearing the girl’s voice, everyone turned their heads. Suddenly, another person stepped forward, picked up the pen half-revealed beneath a scarf, and said, “Isn’t this my pen? Sun Ling, how did it end up in your bag?”
Chen Li Shu watched the accusatory gazes cast upon her, a slight smile playing on her lips.
When she had swapped the clothes earlier, she felt it wasn't enough, so she casually gifted Sun Ling two more items. While the clothes could be excused as forgetfulness, how could she explain stealing other people's belongings? Sun Ling was momentarily speechless. Catching a glimpse of the smile on Chen Li Shu’s face from the corner of her eye, she suddenly turned red-eyed and lunged towards her, only to be quickly restrained by two classmates beside her.
“It was you, Chen Li Shu! You orchestrated all of this, didn't you? What do you gain from framing me like this?”
“Enough! Are you still trying to cause trouble? Haven’t you embarrassed yourselves enough?”
Chen Yin Chu looked sternly at Sun Ling and the students present, then turned back to Huang Jianjun and sighed, “It’s my failure as a teacher to not guide them properly.”
Huang Jianjun said, “Go inform them at the front that there’s been an accident with the performing students, and they’ll need a substitute act to fill in.”
The serious moral issues among students from his department would reflect poorly on him as the department head.
“Director, I didn’t steal anything, someone framed me! It must be Chen Li Shu, she’s disliked me for a long time, so she secretly put the items in my bag. It’s just a cheap pen and hairpins, if I wanted them, I could afford to buy them myself. Why would I steal from others?”
Hearing her dismiss the hairpins and pen as cheap, their owners were incensed. One said, “If you think our things are cheap, then don’t reach out to take them!”
Another added, “Our things were neatly kept in our own bags, and everyone here can see. Chen Li Shu only just returned from the front, and you had accused her of stealing your clothes earlier. And what was the result? The thief was you all along!”
“Alright,” Huang Jianjun interrupted their exchange. “It’s clear to everyone who is right and who is wrong in this matter. Student Sun Ling will submit a self-criticism tomorrow, which will be kept in her file.”
To be recorded in her file? Sun Ling felt as if she had been struck by lightning upon hearing Huang Jianjun’s words.
A file followed a person for their entire life, crucial for future job performance reviews and promotions. If this mark was added, her future would be ruined!
“Director…” Sun Ling panicked and grew fearful, attempting to explain. However, Huang Jianjun and Chen Yin Chu had already turned and left, giving her no chance.
With their departure, Sun Ling knew the matter was settled. Her legs weakened, and she sank onto a nearby stool, soon burying her face on the table and sobbing.
“Li Shu, you put those things in there, didn’t you?” Zhang Xue asked curiously as they walked back to the dormitory.
Chen Li Shu smiled. “I’m not someone who’s stingy. It’s only natural to reciprocate.”
Although the next day was Sunday, the weather was too cold, and with exams looming, Chen Li Shu decided not to stir up trouble. She stayed in the library with Zhang Xue and Yang Lili to review their studies.
Sun Ling, due to the theft incident, had been hiding in her dormitory since submitting her self-criticism, not speaking to anyone, feeling as though everyone looked at her with disdain.
The final exams lasted two days, and after the tests, everyone could pack their belongings and head home for the holiday.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Xue and her other roommates, Chen Li Shu first went to the market to buy some groceries, then took a bus back home.
Chen Li Yuan’s school had dismissed a week earlier. Having been away from home for such a long time in her first year of college, she was eager to return. Initially, Chen Li Shu wanted her to wait a few more days until she resolved her own matters before accompanying her back. However, Chen Li Yuan was anxious to go back sooner. Coincidentally, Ding Chen also had a holiday, so Chen Li Shu arranged for Chen Li Yuan to return with him, so they could look out for each other on the journey.
When Gu Xing Dong was on his day off, they visited the Xiangyang Welfare Institute in the city together.
Despite being prepared for the welfare institute not to be in a good condition, Chen Li Shu’s heart still ached when she saw it.
A few simple, dilapidated flat houses, with large areas of peeling paint on the walls.
On the left side of the courtyard, two clotheslines were haphazardly set up, with the older children struggling to hang clothes while looking after the younger ones.
Upon seeing strangers enter, all the children looked over curiously with their clear, dark eyes.
“Children, which room is your Director Zhu in?” Chen Li Shu bent down and asked one of the slightly older girls with a smile.
The girl seemed a little shy at the sudden question and cautiously pointed to a room on the right side. “Mother Zhu is in there.”
Chen Li Shu patted her little head, glanced back at Gu Xing Dong, and they both walked towards the direction the child had indicated.
Director Zhu was contemplating the expenses in her ledger when she looked up and saw a man and a woman walking in. She recognized the woman, having seen her at the hospital when Rui Rui was ill. However, she was unfamiliar with Gu Xing Dong, who stood tall and straight beside her in a military uniform.
“Director Zhu, my surname is Chen, and this is my husband, Gu.”