At Twelve Middle School, since its establishment in 1983, there was once a period of glory. The graduating class of 2001 included the top three students in S Province, catapulting Twelve Middle School from a key municipal high school to a key provincial one.
The principal at that time was the current Principal Xiao. For Principal Xiao, who had once achieved such success, the college entrance examination results of the past few years had made him lose half his hair, earning him the nickname "Mediterranean" from the students.
Today, with the start of the senior year, Principal Xiao stood by his office window, watching the energetic senior students brimming with youthful vitality. He inwardly made a firm resolution.
This senior year, they must focus on their studies!
Just as he made his vow, the phone on his desk rang. He glanced at it – it was Vice Principal Luo.
He pressed the speakerphone.
"Old Luo, what is it?"
"Principal Xiao, it's like this. Today, when the senior year Class Four started, two female students in the class talked back to their homeroom teacher, Teacher Xue, and even physically assaulted her. Poor Xue is now lying in the school infirmary. I checked on her, and the situation seems serious. It's likely a fracture, requiring at least two to three months of rest. And the Class Four classroom is on the third floor. This situation..."
"What? Two girls assaulted a teacher?"
"Yes, the trigger was that one of the female students had permed her hair. Teacher Xue mentioned it, saying the school doesn't allow perms. Sigh, children nowadays, you can't hit them, you can't scold them. Say a few words, and they dare to lay hands on the teacher. I think if these two students aren't punished, it will set a bad precedent for our school's atmosphere!"
Principal Xiao understood. Old Luo's intention was to severely punish those two female students. Well, Class Four in the senior year wasn't a star class or an experimental class; it was just a regular parallel class. Perhaps with two fewer students, their graduation and admission rates might even improve.
With this thought, Principal Xiao continued, "Then, Old Luo, as Vice Principal, I authorize you to handle this matter fully."
"Understood."
***
Xue Miao lay on the hospital bed in the infirmary, his foot bandaged with gauze after being sprayed with Yunnan Baiyao.
After overhearing the Vice Principal's phone call, Xue Miao quickly propped himself up with both hands, saying smugly, "Then, according to your understanding, Principal, how should these two students be dealt with?"
Vice Principal Luo glanced at Xue Miao's fair leg, which looked even fairer against the hospital bed. He swallowed, coughed lightly, and said, "Ahem, children who are fundamentally corrupt like this should be expelled."
Expulsion!
For a senior year student, what did expulsion mean? It was as if the sky had fallen!
The class monitor, who had learned about Liu Chen and Hu Qian's relationship during the summer break, had considered having the two girls clear up their misunderstandings and reconcile. Now, hearing the Vice Principal's words, did he intend to expel Liu Chen?
The class monitor wanted to say that it wasn't like that. Liu Chen and Mi Zhuzhu hadn't talked back to Teacher Xue, nor had they pushed Teacher Xue. Teacher Xue had fallen herself.
But...
He didn't dare.
He was afraid that if he spoke up, Teacher Xue would also direct her anger at him, and what if he was expelled too?
Hu Qian's eyes gleamed. Expulsion? Expulsion was good! If Liu Chen was expelled, she would no longer be a classmate in Senior Year Class Four. In time, the other classmates would naturally forget about her, and she and Liu Chen could return to their previous dynamic. She pretended to try and persuade him, saying, "Teacher Xue, but it's just the start of the school year today. If Liu Chen is expelled, her mother definitely won't be able to accept it."
Xue Miao snorted upon hearing this. "Hu Qian, go and tell Liu Chen and Mi Zhuzhu to bring their parents to the infirmary."
"But... Teacher Xue, I'm worried Liu Chen won't listen to me... What if she gets angry and hits me?" Hu Qian said in a muffled voice, her head lowered.
Xue Miao became even more furious. How capable was this Liu Chen normally? Even a good student like Hu Qian was afraid of being hit by her?
"Class monitor, you go with Hu Qian!"
"Teacher Xue... actually..."
The class monitor, who had finally mustered the courage to speak up for Liu Chen, was directly pulled out of the infirmary by Hu Qian.
***
"Liu Chen, Mi Zhuzhu, Teacher Xue wants you to call your parents to handle the expulsion procedures."
Liu Chen looked up and saw Hu Qian standing at the classroom door. Their eyes met. Hu Qian quickly smiled at the corners of her mouth, then pursed her lips into a straight line.
"Expulsion?"
"That serious?"
"What do we do?"
The classroom fell silent for a second, then erupted into even greater commotion. Mi Zhuzhu, whose emotions had just calmed down, could no longer control her trembling hands.
"Wuwu, what do we do? Chenchen, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. If you weren't protecting me, you wouldn't be facing expulsion. Wuwu, what do we do, I'm so sorry..."
Liu Chen also frowned. In fact, she hadn't expected Teacher Xue to have so much authority that she could get them expelled. What she had initially thought was to take this opportunity to transfer to another class with Mi Zhuzhu. As the college entrance examination papers from her previous life became clearer in her mind, becoming the provincial top scorer was within her grasp if she wanted it. And offering the merit of cultivating a provincial top scorer to Xue Miao? He was dreaming!
Liu Chen tightly clasped Mi Zhuzhu's hand and looked earnestly at the crying Mi Zhuzhu, who had her head bowed. She said softly, "Zhuzhu, look up, look at me."
Mi Zhuzhu raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at Liu Chen. "Zhuzhu, don't worry. Let's talk first. If it doesn't work out, we'll transfer schools. It might only delay us for a week or so. I'll help you catch up on the coursework you miss."
"Really, really?"
"Really. Let's go. We'll have our parents come first, then we'll go."
The two took out their phones and called their respective parents. However, there was a difference: Mi Zhuzhu called her father, while Liu Chen called her aunt.
Upon receiving the calls, both their parents rushed to Twelve Middle School with all speed.
Hu Qian, standing at the doorway, felt a little regretful that Liu Chen hadn't obediently followed her to the infirmary. If Liu Chen had gone to the infirmary, Teacher Xue probably wouldn't have let them off so easily, and they would have surely received a few slaps.
The first to arrive at the classroom was a bald middle-aged man. Unlike Principal Xiao's Mediterranean hairline, Mr. Mi's head was cleanly shaved. He wore a polo shirt and suit trousers, carrying a black briefcase under his arm.
Mr. Mi rushed into the classroom, scanning the room. He saw Liu Chen sitting by the window, holding the hand of his dear Zhuzhu.
"Zhuzhu! Zhuzhu, are you alright!"
"Wuwu, Dad! Dad!"
Mi Zhuzhu, who had just calmed down, burst into tears and snot the moment she saw Mr. Mi. What's more, her father didn't seem to care at all and started comforting his daughter.
After crying for over a minute, Mi Zhuzhu finally stopped. Clutching Mr. Mi's shirt, she sobbed, "Dad, I'm sorry. I, I'm going to be expelled. Wuwu, and Chenchen, she, she pulled me. And the teacher wants to expel her too, wuwu..."
Just as Mr. Mi was about to speak, a steady and clear female voice rang out from behind him.
"Expel! But it's not us being expelled by them! We are expelling ourselves!!"