Hearing Chen Xiao’s exclamation, the other two people in the dorm room also gathered around.

“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?”

Chen Xiao half-covered her mouth, turned her head, pointed at her phone, and said to her roommates: “Someone posted on the forum saying that Xie Ci… he apparently assaulted a first-year underclassman and has already been reported to the school…”

The post roughly explained the time and process of what happened.

As Xu You read through it, her brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

Beside her, Chen Xiao and Liao Yuemin were talking over each other, analyzing the situation.

“It was so dark at the time—how did that underclassman know it was Xie Ci?”

“Didn’t it say? After the underclassman was rescued, although that person ran away, someone found Xie Ci’s school badge on the ground…”

“But that’s not right. During the sports festival, Xie Ci wasn’t even at school. His class and Class 4 went out to play together.”

“Look at the post. Someone from Class 4 said Xie Ci disappeared around five or six in the afternoon—no one knows where he went. Doesn’t that match up perfectly…”

“What time did something happen to that underclassman?”

“Right when Xie Ci wasn’t around, seems like it was past six in the evening. That underclassman went out to buy milk tea, and on the way back…”

“…Did something actually happen or…”

“Nothing actually happened—she was saved by someone passing by. But think about how serious this kind of thing is!! The school expelling him would be the least of the problems. If this gets blown up…” Chen Xiao’s expression was exaggerated, but she didn’t continue with the rest of her words.

Sports festival evening, five or six o’clock, a lost school badge.

No alibi witness, the timing matched up perfectly, and there was seemingly solid evidence.

Xu You put down Chen Xiao’s phone and sat quietly for a while.

She didn’t know what she was thinking about either. Her face turned pale, sweat beaded on her forehead, and her hands clenched tightly together.

—

In the afternoon class, the classmates were indeed all discussing this matter.

Xie Ci’s seat was empty, and Song Yifan was also nowhere to be seen.

The academic affairs office was in a building beside the second-year teaching building.

Xu You held the form the homeroom teacher had given her that morning and submitted it to the academic affairs office.

In the quiet corridor, only lines of light columns projected onto the tiled floor.

After submitting the form, Xu You walked out of the academic affairs office with her head down.

At a corner, passing by a door, she gradually stopped.

Principal’s office.

Sounds of intense arguing came from inside, vaguely mixed with intermittent sobbing.

“Xie Ci! You explain this to me clearly—what is going on!” A middle-aged man’s full-throated roar rang out. You could tell he was very angry right now.

A woman was very anxious, constantly urging: “Is this a joke?! Stop keeping quiet, child—say something!”

Someone was trying to mediate in a low voice.

Another somewhat shrill female voice rose higher: “You say it wasn’t you, but you can’t say what you were doing that evening?! Still won’t admit it!! My daughter went through this kind of thing, and if you still don’t speak up, I’m calling 110 right now!”

Xu You took half a step back, her hand resting on the door handle.

Suddenly someone inside exploded—not knowing if they smashed or knocked over something.

A chaos of disorder.

Xie Ci’s voice came through, cold with carelessness: “I told you I didn’t do this shit. Expel me if you want—report to the police if you want.”

Even at this point, he was still stubbornly refusing to relent, unwilling to give in.

A loud slap—a sharp crack. The force behind it sounded frightening just from the sound.

The middle-aged man said in a heavy voice: “If you don’t explain to your father clearly today what you were doing that evening from five to six o’clock, just wait for the police to come ask you!!”

“Say something, Xie Ci! Are you trying to worry me to death?!”

People kept urging anxiously, but Xie Ci remained quiet, staying silent the whole time and not explaining anything.

Xu You had an indescribable feeling in her heart. Her shoulders leaned weakly against the wall, her mind in chaotic turmoil.

…….

[About what happened today…]

[Don’t tell Xueli…]

[Mm.]

[Don’t tell anyone else either… don’t tell anyone.]

The refreshing evening breeze blowing into the car, the gentle orange-yellow sunset, the crowded throng of people…

His head leaning back against the seat, he lazily agreed with her.

Okay.

…….

Sunlight shone on her exposed skin, yet she couldn’t feel the slightest warmth.

Xu You took a deep breath, dragged her steps, and hid herself in the shadows of the corner.

She slowly crouched down along the wall, hugging her knees, her eyes staring blankly straight ahead.

The arguing continued endlessly.

The door suddenly opened—someone rushed out from inside.

Xie Ci’s eyes were cold and indifferent. He walked forward without a care, completely ignoring everyone behind him in complete chaos.

In the office were the girl’s parents, school leaders, the homeroom teacher, his parents…

In the blink of an eye, Xie Ci’s figure disappeared.

Xu You came back to her senses. After reacting for a moment, she stood up and ran down the stairs.

Chasing him downstairs, he had already walked far away, almost to the school gate.

“—Xie Ci!” Not knowing where the strength came from, Xu You stood in place and shouted out his name.

He didn’t hear her and continued walking without looking back.

Xu You gathered her energy, ran at full speed, and chased after him in one breath.

She ran until she was out of breath, bending slightly at the waist and panting.

“Xie… Xie Ci…” With great effort, Xu You grabbed his wrist.

Hearing the commotion, Xie Ci turned his head.

His gaze first stopped on Xu You’s face, which had turned red from the intense running.

Then moved downward.

Her slender white fingers gripped his wrist tightly, as if afraid he would run away.

The bell for the second period had long since rung. There were very few students in the spacious campus. The gatekeeper at the security room not far away poked his head out.

Looking over here suspiciously.

Xu You breathed heavily, her heart in her throat, unable to speak. She only knew to pull Xie Ci backward.

He frowned and just lightly tried to pull his hand away. Of course, he couldn’t.

“You… you come back with me… I’ll go with you and explain things clearly.” Xu You’s eyes were a bit red. She bit her lip hard, somewhat at a loss.

Xie Ci looked at her, staying silent for a long while.

“Say what? There’s nothing to say.”

He said in a low voice: “My parents don’t care about me anyway, so…”

“—Don’t be afraid.”

Xu You looked down at the ground, softly interrupting him, saying: “Don’t be afraid… Xie Ci.”

—

Returning to that office again, everyone inside immediately had their gazes drawn to Xu You.

Tong Dong was sitting on the sofa contacting people. Looking up, she saw her son being led in by a little girl holding his hand.

Seeing Xie Ci, the girl’s parents got agitated again.

The girl’s mother stood up abruptly, pointing at them excitedly: “You dare come back!”

Xie Ci was about to lose his temper when he felt his hand being gently squeezed. All his words got stuck in his throat.

Xu You quietly exhaled.

She inconspicuously positioned herself in front of Xie Ci. Her small frame stood with her back ramrod straight. “Hello, Auntie. My name is Xu You. I’m from Class 9, Grade 2, and I’m Xie Ci’s classmate.”

The people present didn’t know what was going on. They exchanged glances but didn’t make a sound.

You could hear a pin drop.

Only Xu You was speaking, her voice as usual very soft, but her enunciation very clear.

“On the evening of the sports festival, from five to six o’clock, Xie Ci was with me. We were in the underground parking garage at Zhengda Plaza. I believe you should be willing to check the surveillance footage. From five o’clock to eight o’clock—which is the time period when your daughter was harmed until she was rescued by a passerby—Xie Ci was with me the entire time. I can serve as a witness.”

Xie Ci’s mouth opened slightly.

It was completely quiet all around.

She stood guard in front of him, like protecting a little chick.

Yet she didn’t know that she herself was so thin and weak that it made one’s heart ache.