"I am," Mian Mian replied with a smile, looking at the principal.
The principal immediately walked in and said, "I heard that student Mian Mian was insulted by classmates. I apologize for not dealing with this sooner; it's truly regrettable that you've been wronged at school."
The principal's attitude was almost deferential, causing the teachers and students to stare in disbelief. The teacher also became nervous, realizing now that student Jiang Mian Mian had been telling the truth, and that Wu Xiao Gui and her group were the instigators.
"Teacher Zhao, what is going on? How are you managing your class? How can their thoughts be so misguided as to dare to humiliate a classmate?" the principal immediately demanded accountability from the teacher.
The teacher quickly explained, "Principal, I only learned of these matters just now. But these children are too unruly. They've been spouting nonsense, and I was just about to reprimand them."
"Is it just these few?" the principal looked at Wu Xiao Gui and the others. Wu Xiao Gui was already crying, "Clearly, I'm the one who was beaten! I want to call my dad too. You're bullying me!"
Wu Xiao Gui's family was considered a minor affluent family, and she had never suffered such indignity in her life!
She refused to believe that Jiang Mian Mian was truly a young lady of status!
Wu Xiao Gui immediately called her father, telling him she had been beaten and to come quickly, also claiming the principal had been bribed and was colluding to bully her. The principal's nose was practically steaming with anger.
Seeing the principal's displeased expression, the teacher quickly said, "Since both parents are coming, why not find a place to sit down and have the parents negotiate how to resolve this matter?"
This suggestion was exactly what the principal wanted. He also thought the same thing. He cast an unhappy glance at Wu Xiao Gui, clearly she had provoked the incident first by insulting a classmate, and now she wanted to involve parents. When her parents arrived, her family's truly unfortunate days would begin.
Since she wanted to court disaster, he wouldn't stop her.
"Student Mian Mian, please come and sit down, don't stand," the principal said courteously to Mian Mian.
Qian Xiao Guo was dumbfounded by the turn of events, but she was also puzzled. Mian Mian's principle for handling matters used to be to de-escalate. Why had she escalated the situation so drastically today, to the point where it seemed it would involve a dispute between two families?
This wasn't her usual style.
Qian Xiao Guo was completely bewildered.
Little did she know, this was exactly the effect Mian Mian desired. She had been low-key before because the matters were trivial. But today, Yun Bu Ji had stepped in to defend her by hitting Wu Xiao Gui. If she didn't seize upon Wu Xiao Gui's humiliation and make a big deal out of it, Yun Bu Ji might be expelled from school. She didn't want him to be expelled because of her.
He had avenged her in his own way, and she had to protect him from harm in her own way.
Therefore, she could only shift the focus of the conflict and make everyone forget that Yun Bu Ji had hit someone.
Seeing Jiang Mian Mian being invited to sit, Wu Xiao Gui also wanted to sit. Without waiting for the principal's invitation, she sat down herself, showing no respect for teachers or elders.
The principal shook his head as he watched. Mian Mian pulled Qian Xiao Guo to sit down. The atmosphere was somewhat stiff until Wu Xiao Gui's father and brother arrived. The two men burst in, shouting, "Who dares to bully my daughter! The principal dares to cover up, don't you know I have connections in the education bureau!"
The father and son entered with great arrogance. Seeing them, Wu Xiao Gui rushed over and began crying to her father about being bullied, harassed, and exploited.
Wu Xiao Gui's father and son were furious, and their eyes glared fiercely at Jiang Mian Mian. Qian Xiao Guo was greatly frightened and nervously squeezed Mian Mian's hand, fearing these two might resort to violence.