My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Shi Nian looked at her class' unpleasant atmosphere and heaved a sigh. She stood up and walked to Li Qing's desk. [Did you do it?]

"No!" Li Qing's head snapped up, eyes brimming with tears. "It's not me! It's not me who did it! Really!"

Li Qing didn't know what else to say except denying it. She didn't have any proof and everyone was suspicious of her. If she was in Shi Nian's position, she would doubt herself too. The light in her eyes dimmed and she lowered her head, fists clenched by her side.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Shi Nian patted her shoulder. [I trust you.]

Li Qing couldn't believe what she was seeing. She wiped her tears roughly, asking in a trembling voice. "W—What?"

Mo Ling shook off Chen Jiawei's hands and rushed forward. "What did you say? What did you just write?"

Shi Nian showed her notebook to Mo Ling. Under her astonished gaze, Shi Nian nodded firmly, a faint smile on her face. 

"You…" Mo Ling choked on her breath, then huffed as she walked away. "Fine, do what you like."

In a timely manner, the bell rang and students returned to their seats. Teacher Yao entered the classroom, but instead of starting class, she scanned her sharp gaze across each of the faces under the podium. "Shi Nian and every single person in the chat group, meet me in the office after the class ends."

The class continued amidst the weird atmosphere. Time seemed to crawl very slowly when the bell finally rang. Then Shi Nian, Mo Ling, Chen Jiawei and Li Qing stood up. Like four little chicks, they trailed behind Teacher Yao in silence.

The teacher's office was empty because it was still class time. There wasn't any other person except for one or two students who were asked to bring something to and from the office. Their eyes fell on the five people in the office, curious and speculating.

In the end, Teacher Yao chased the busybody students out. She sat in her swivel chair, leg crossed over in front of the other like an icy and ruthless queen. "So, who wants to tell me what happened?"

Chen Jiawei pushed up her glasses and explained in a concise manner. Her words were carefully chosen and didn't offend a particular party. She just stated the fact one by one, her face calm and steady.

Teacher Yao nodded, brows knitting. "So, who is the one who created the thread?"

Li Qing cried out, sobbing messily. "It's really not me!"

Teacher Yao sighed and turned to Shi Nian. "As the involved party, do you have something to say?"

Shi Nian pondered for a while and wrote in front of Yao Xiurong. [Teacher, I think this matter has to be investigated thoroughly.]

Teacher Yao nodded. "Don't worry, we will definitely find out the root of the problem and clear your name!"

Shi Nian shook her head. [I don't really care about the gossip. But I believe that Li Qing will not do something like that. If the matter continues like this, then everyone will think of Li Qing as a culprit.]

The feeling of the whole world accusing you, saying that you're cursed, that you're better off disappear from the world, that you would bring bad luck to others, Shi Nian had gone through it all. She knew exactly how revolting and repulsive it felt.

Shi Nian had gone through a period of wanting to prove herself to the world, to show that they were wrong, that she wasn't like what everyone thought she was. But it was General Jiang who dragged her out of this endless quagmire of self doubt and loathing.

It was exactly because you're doubting yourself that the whole world doubted you. If you lived with clear conscience and confidence, how could people's words affect you?

Shi Nian didn't realize how mellow and mature her gaze was, it wasn't one which a sixteen years old could have. But Teacher Yao had received Principal Mo's instruction and knew one or two things about what Shi Nian had experienced before. That's why she didn't dare to treat Shi Nian casually.

"Alright, Teacher will listen to you."

The other three didn't know what Shi Nian had written to Yao Xiurong. In the end, the latter stood up and patted their backs one by one. "This matter will be investigated further. Maybe it will take quite a long time, but don't worry, Teacher will not let you be wronged. The only thing you have to focus on is the monthly exam next week, got it?"

Mo Ling groaned and draped herself on Chen Jiawei's body.

"And, Shi Nian." Yao Xiurong's sharp eyes fell on her. "Crushes are allowed, it's very common for you young ones to develop feelings, but dating isn't. I will not ask you to divulge the other party's information, but I hope that you will make it a motivation to study harder. You can confess after you have graduated, got it?"

Shi Nian almost forgot about that thing. She lowered her head and nodded guiltily, face as red as apple.

Teacher Yao had declared her stance and it was printed on paper, stuck in the announcement board. Everyone could see it if they walked through the courtyard. 

The thread was finally deleted and the culprit was still unknown. She hoped that everyone wouldn't accuse each other. Try to maintain a harmonious atmosphere and study hard. Until then, no one was guilty and if a similar thread was found again, the consequences would be dire.

The melon eater boos collectively, disappointed. They felt that the matter was as clear as day and Teacher Yao was biased toward the students in her class. However from start to end, Principal Mo didn't appear, thus they didn't dare to cause any ruckus.

The monthly exam added to the pressure on the third year students. No matter how curious they were, studying was still the most important.

Nonetheless, the situation in the third year building didn't get any better afterward. They couldn't pretend that nothing happened. 

Thus, three different groups were formed. 

The first group thought better of Shi Nian, the second group was those who felt that problem started to crop up after Shi Nian's transfer and chose to stand with Li Qing, and lastly, the third group—which made of the majority—was melon eaters who took the stance as passerby, watching and enjoying the drama everyday.

Shi Nian never had lunch with Li Qing again after that day.

Mo Ling put on an ugly face, still angry with how Li Qing could wash her hands clean from the problem. She pulled Chen Jiawei and didn't allow the class monitor to help Li Qing this time. In her words, Li Qing had to be taught a lesson.

Actually, Mo Ling was not a bad person. Her anger was gone as soon as they came. Shi Nian even caught her sneakily looking at Li Qing a few times. Hesitant yet also wanted to approach. Mo Ling herself knew how reckless and impulsive her temper was, thus she had been looking for a chance to make up with Li Qing.

However, it wasn't clear when, but Li Qing had started to hang out with Ruo Tingran's group. The two people who argued fiercely on the day of confrontation became as close as Siamese twins.

Ruo Tingran's group consisted of the powerful and influential students. Nicely speaking, privileged and popular ones. Crudely said, the haughty, rich and arrogant ones. They were also the ones who accused Shi Nian the fastest when the gossip about her came out.

They protected Li Qing like a fragile porcelain doll, not allowing Mo Ling to get close.

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A/N: we will get to the climax of school arc in the next chappie. Hold on (/ω＼)