Chapter 108: Want to Confess, Right?

Seeing the principal’s grim expression, the others instinctively checked the comments on their own phones.

With one look, they realized they had been far too optimistic. They had assumed that once the surveillance footage was released, the parents on Weibo would realize they had misunderstood Gu Ci. Instead, to their utter shock, the discourse on Weibo had only intensified.

"No matter how you look at it, that transfer student from Class 12, Gu Ci, is the one bullying others. The students from Class 1 were standing in line perfectly fine; if the people behind them hadn't said something, why would they suddenly turn around to cause trouble? And buying out all the salt and pepper pork ribs and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish? Isn't that a joke?"

"Could it be that Gu Ci forced the Class 1 students to buy those salt and pepper pork ribs and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish?"

"Now that you mention it, everything makes sense! So, in reality, Gu Ci forced the Class 1 students to buy the dishes and then forced them to distribute all the food to the other students?"

"That must be the truth, right? How is this behavior any different from cornering someone in an alley to demand protection money? But this Gu Ci is even worse; she’s clearly bullying people right in front of so many students!"

"A student like this shouldn't be at No. 1 High School at all. Get her out! @Songdu No. 1 High School"

"This student doesn't look like a decent person at all. Just arrived from the countryside and got into No. 1 High School through connections; who knows what kind of sordid methods she used?"

"My child saw her go into the principal’s office one day. My child said the principal never pays attention to anything, so why would he suddenly meet with a transfer student? I suspect there’s some unspeakable relationship here!"

"Typical of someone from the countryside—this student is truly shameless!"

Looking at these increasingly vicious comments, the group exchanged uneasy glances.

"Now... what do we do?"

Originally, if they had simply pushed Jin Jiejiao and Gu Ci out to take the fall, the matter would have been easily resolved. But now, it was clear that the principal was standing behind Gu Ci like a giant, and she was untouchable. The school board members felt bitter. They had rushed over the moment they heard about the incident, thinking it would be a simple matter to fix. Yet, the scapegoat they wanted to push out was exactly the person the principal was determined to protect.

One board member spoke up, weighing his words carefully: "Does our school’s surveillance system have audio recording?"

The vice principal shook his head. Only the classroom surveillance had audio; the cafeteria and outdoor areas did not. Even if they had, the sound would not have been clear.

Gu Ci reached into her pocket, about to pull out her phone, when a clamor of voices erupted outside the door.

"Let us in! We demand an explanation for this!"

"That's right! How can you let a student like that stay in the same school as our children?"

The principal frowned, opened the conference room door, and was met by a crowd of furious parents trying to break through the security line to get inside.

Gu Ci glanced at the Weibo comments and saw one pinned to the very top:
[Inside scoop: The school is holding a meeting in the conference room right now. I overheard a bit—it seems like the school might be planning to keep them...]

That ambiguous message was likely what had caused the parents to lose their patience and storm over.

Principal Ji frowned slightly. "Dear parents, you’ve arrived at the perfect time. I was just about to discuss the situation regarding our school's Weibo page with you."

"Principal, there's no need to talk. We already know everything. You're replacing the dean of students just because of a childish bet, aren't you? I heard she can't even manage the students in her own class! How can we parents feel at ease with someone like that as the dean?"

Principal Ji replied, "Parents, I trust you have all seen the surveillance footage. Furthermore, I believe you have certain misunderstandings regarding Teacher Jin’s capabilities."

"What misunderstanding? If she can raise a student like that, what kind of good teacher could she be?"

"Exactly! The incident in the video was truly vile. Who knows what else has happened besides what was caught on camera? Whether it's this dean or this troublemaker of a student, we don't feel safe having them in the same school as our children!"

Just as the parents were denouncing the principal and the board members, a cold, clear female voice rang out beside them.

"The incident in the video really was quite vile."

Hearing this, many parents nodded in agreement, then looked suspiciously at the girl, who seemed somewhat familiar.

"Are you a student at No. 1 High School? Were you also bullied by that Gu Ci?"

Principal Ji’s eyelids twitched, and the board members couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

"No," Gu Ci looked up, smiling lazily. "I am Gu Ci."

As soon as these words were spoken, the parents were stunned. They had only seen a blurry back and a partial profile of the girl in the surveillance footage and hadn't seen her full face. Consequently, they hadn't immediately connected the person in front of them to the "vicious" student from the video.

A moment later, a surge of wordless fury washed over them. Since this student was the Gu Ci they had been talking about, what did she mean by saying the incident was "quite vile"? Was she openly mocking and provoking them?!

"You are Gu Ci? Then what do you mean by that?"

"So you’re the one who bullied my child? Just as expected from someone from the countryside—no upbringing at all! I’ve lived this long and have never seen a student as arrogant as you!"

"Bullying my child, are you? Let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!"

As they spoke, several parents, their faces full of disgust, actually lunged toward Gu Ci!

Gu Ci sidestepped instantly and, with a swift sweep of her leg, kicked each of the approaching parents away.

In an instant, all the parents stepped back in unison, their faces contorted with even greater rage.

"Principal, look at this student! What kind of behavior is this? A student who dares to strike their elders—is there anything she wouldn't do? Who knows how she’s been bullying our children at school!"

"I also heard that this student didn't even take the entrance exam and used connections to get in. How unfair is that to the children who worked so hard to get in? You must give us an explanation!"

"First of all, you are not my elders. Secondly, you tried to attack me, and I was merely acting in self-defense. Finally..."

Gu Ci looked up abruptly. "You want an explanation, right?"