Chapter 13: Taking the Initiative to Show Goodwill

“My Lord, four women once died violent deaths in that building; the flesh and blood had been stripped from each of their faces. Following the traces you left behind, it seems the female ghost that appeared that night is hidden within Xinghua.”

As the ghost shadow spoke, he observed Su Yan's expression.

With My Lord's abilities, there was no need to go through the unnecessary trouble of studying; she must have calculated that there was something My Lord needed here!

Su Yan seemed to have guessed it long ago. “Have you found the specific location?”

“I have done my best; I can only sense that it is in the southeast direction.”

“Southeast,” Su Yan murmured softly.

***

The Principal's Office.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Li Weimin's expression was grave.

He had already faced immense pressure to admit Su Yan to the school, and he had only agreed after Su Jianguo repeatedly guaranteed that she could look after herself. Yet, he hadn't expected that on only her second day of school, she would skip class.

This was a direct slap in the face to the school!

When Zhou Fang came to talk to him about this yesterday, he was filled with righteous indignation, insisting that Su Yan be transferred to another class.

A blind student like this was nothing but a burden to any homeroom teacher.

“Su Yan, skipping class is a violation of school rules. Do you have any explanation?”

The nation has its laws, and the school has its rules; naturally, they could not be broken for her alone.

Su Yan tilted her head, looking toward the large locust tree not far away through the open window, and replied very calmly, “No.”

Seeing her distracted manner, Li Weimin grew even more furious. “Don't think that because of your father's status, I will treat you differently!”

“I am willing to accept punishment,” Su Yan finally withdrew her gaze, interrupting his reprimand.

“Good! Very good! A five-hundred-word self-reflection essay, to be read aloud in front of all teachers and students during the break!”

Even though Li Weimin was angry, he did not explicitly state that the essay had to be written down.

After all, asking a blind girl to write would be far too difficult for her.

Su Yan complied. “Then may I leave now?”

It was the first time Li Weimin had met a student so unafraid of him. He waved his hand dismissively.

After making the gesture, he realized she couldn't see, so he added, “Go on, get out.”

When Su Yan returned to Class Three, the noisy classroom instantly fell into dead silence.

Many students wore smirks of schadenfreude on their faces.

“Su Yan, what did the Principal call you to the office for?”

Everyone knew the answer in their hearts, yet they insisted on making her say it herself.

Looking at the faces filled with mockery, Su Yan found it somewhat laughable.

Sometimes, people are more evil than ghosts.

***

During the break, all the teachers and students of Xinghua High School gathered on the playground.

Li Weimin's stern voice came through the megaphone, falling into everyone's ears. After a bout of criticism against Su Yan, he called her up to the stage to deliver her self-reflection.

Countless gazes all fell upon the figure walking toward the podium.

Su Yan's steps were steady, without the slightest deviation.

Many were shocked; it was the first time they had seen a blind person move so freely.

Standing among the students, Su Mo's face was full of sarcasm and excitement.

Seeing Su Yan being punished finally brought a sense of balance to her angry heart.

She even hoped Gu Yang could witness this scene; he would surely find this blind girl utterly loathsome.

A moment later, Su Yan stepped onto the podium.

She showed no sign of embarrassment, remaining composed and calm.

She had no pre-written manuscript in her hand, and everyone was waiting to see her make a fool of herself, but the moment she opened her mouth, everyone was stunned.

Her self-reflection flowed like water, neither humble nor arrogant, and the vocabulary she used was even quite sophisticated.

She acknowledged her mistake in skipping class without making herself seem lowly at all.

Even Li Weimin listened with rapt attention.

When Su Yan finished speaking, there was not a single sound on the vast playground.

“This child is quite good. This is the first time I've heard such a profound and talented self-reflection.”

From the side of the podium, a voice filled with appreciation suddenly rang out.

Li Weimin snapped back to his senses, and upon seeing the newcomer, a look of being flattered and overwhelmed appeared on his face.

“Teacher, why have you come!”

An elderly man in his sixties, with a straight back, walked over with firm, measured steps.

The students hardly recognized him and looked bewildered, but Zhou Fang and several other senior teachers all assumed respectful expressions upon seeing the old man.

Wang Wenming, the most highly respected scholar in the county, and also Li Weimin's mentor.

“I had nothing to do, so I came to take a look. This child's linguistic organization is good, her foundation in Chinese is solid, and her attitude is very sincere. I think the matter of skipping class can end here!”

Li Weimin followed Wang Wenming's word implicitly and immediately announced, “All teachers and students, dismiss.”

The students who had been waiting to laugh at Su Yan were dumbfounded; they never expected such a result.

Su Mo's features twisted even further as she clenched her teeth tightly.

Wang Wenming looked at Su Yan with a smile, clearly very interested.

“What happened to this child's eyes?”

While he was observing Su Yan, Su Yan was also observing him.

However, she wasn't looking at his appearance, but at his luck and destiny.

“She cannot see,” Li Weimin answered immediately.

Wang Wenming paused slightly, then showed a look of regret.

“A disabled body but an undaunted spirit. What a good child.”

Su Yan:...

Li Weimin gave a dry laugh.

“Principal, if there is nothing else, may I go back?”

“Go back.”

Li Weimin and Wang Wenming watched Su Yan's departing figure, but Wang Wenming raised an eyebrow.

“Since she cannot see, how is her walking unaffected?”

“Her father mentioned before that her hearing and sense of smell are more acute than an average person's. I think perhaps she isn't completely blind; maybe she can see a glimmer of light.”

Li Weimin naturally found a reasonable explanation for Su Yan's peculiarities.

Although Wang Wenming did not refute him, he did not quite agree with this explanation in his heart.

Even if she could truly see a glimmer of light, wouldn't it be completely blocked by that black cloth?

This child held secrets.

“Teacher, you've come at the perfect time. I have a package of fine Da Hong Pao tea here; let me brew some for you to taste.”

Li Weimin didn't want to delve deeper into Su Yan's business and proactively changed the subject.

***

By the time Su Yan returned to the classroom, Zhou Fang had already started the lesson.

Whether it was because of Wang Wenming's praise just now, the sharpness in Zhou Fang's gaze toward her had lessened, replaced by a hint of curiosity.

He had originally thought she only got into the school through connections to coast through her days, but he hadn't expected that she had actually attended school before.

The class passed under an extremely strange atmosphere.

“Su Yan, did you really come up with that self-reflection yourself? Which school did you go to before?”

As soon as the bell rang for the end of class, a male student immediately crowded toward her desk, looking full of gossip.

Seeing his sharp, monkey-like face, Su Yan almost lost her composure.

This was the person most resembling a monkey she had ever seen.

“My name is Sun Mang, but everyone calls me Sun Monkey. Don't be afraid, I just want to be friends with you.”

Knowing she couldn't see, Sun Mang took the initiative to introduce himself.

“I don't need friends,” Su Yan refused quite curtly.

Even if this monkey... kid, was the first person at Xinghua High School to proactively show her goodwill.

(End of Chapter)