Chapter 36: Why Are You Spreading Rumors? Part 1
The post was made in the afternoon, and the forum was shut down again in the evening.
The News Club group chat announced a holiday for the club. After being escorted back to the dormitory by Leon, Wen Rong stayed in his room to study. His straight, upright figure was reflected in the unclosed glass window.
As night fell, from the other side of the sky, a misty aura seeped through the cracks of the glass.
Inside the Student Council President’s office, no one dared to make a sound. The air pressure was extremely low.
Directly in front of the desk, the projection screen clearly displayed the words: “The intent is sinister, fooling the alumni, and brings hundred harms and no benefit to the school.”
Several Student Council officers exchanged nervous glances before tacitly choosing to maintain their silence.
“Alright, I understand.”
“Mm.”
Zhou Xie hung up the phone and turned around, his expression terrifyingly cold.
Everyone shuddered, instinctively wanting to step back.
Scrape—
A drawer was pulled open. Inside the neatly divided eight compartments lay unopened packs of cigarettes.
Another new pack.
His smoking frequency had skyrocketed recently.
Zhou Xie picked out a cigarette, lit it, brought it to his lips, and took a deep drag.
“The Principal has issued new instructions. All posts made before today will become anonymous, and all posts from today onwards will be real-name.”
The crowd continued to be silent.
Zhou Xie lowered his chin, his gaze sweeping over everyone’s faces. “Do none of you agree?”
Everyone: “…”
Leo: “I don’t agree.”
“Old-fashioned.”
Seeing the faces turn from fear to astonishment, the Principal’s words on the phone echoed in his ears once again.
“Zhou Xie, do you think this is an empire?”
“Do you remember how the empire was divided?”
“Democracy is the foundation of the Federation, or at least you have to act like it on the surface.”
“Learn to assess the situation.”
Zhou Xie stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette, the sparks leaving a black mark on the glass.
He lost.
Although there was no bet, nor even a way to judge victory or defeat, Zhou Xie knew clearly that he had lost. He had wanted to magnify the conflict and lead everyone to hate Wen Rong, but instead, he had created a perfect opportunity for him to show off his skills.
However, Zhou Xie would not tell Leon that he had lost.
He only had two semesters left before graduating from Floriman Academy. Entering the government as the Student Council President would save him a lot of trouble.
“President, I don’t agree either.”
Zhou Xie sneered. “Why disagree with such a reasonable suggestion?”
“Are we really going to do this?”
“Changing orders like this… what authority will the Student Council have left?”
“The Student Council’s authority is not worth mentioning in the face of everyone’s will.” Zhou Xie said to Leo, “The suggestion made by the News Club is very good. Take this opportunity to open an opinion collection column. Collect alumni’s opinions on the school system, and the Student Council will report them to the school administration later.”
That person persisted, “If the Special Recruit hadn’t made that post—”
Zhou Xie interrupted him. “Fixating on a Special Recruit to find trouble… how are you any different from Zhao Zeryang?”
“…”
“…”
“Just a Special Recruit… is he worth handing over all the chips in your hand?”
“But he’s too arrogant!”
“If you have the ability to make Shi Ye take a Yellow Card for you, you can be this arrogant too.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The air solidified.
“Everyone go out, Leo stays.”
The rest of the Student Council left the office. After the door gently closed, Leo saw Zhou Xie take out another cigarette and light it.
His deep gaze gradually turned pure black amidst the flickering spark.
Zhou Xie walked to the window and pushed it open, letting the wind in, along with his calm voice. “I understand why Leon cares so much about him.”
The wind wandered around the office, leaving with a laugh. “Such a personality really isn’t likable.”
Leo agreed with the phrase “not likable.” A rebellious spirit hidden under a soft appearance was indeed annoying.
He then asked, “What do we do next?”
“Now that both Shi Ye and Leon are protecting him, it’s not worth wasting time on him. How is the investigation team doing?”
“Currently, Zhao Zeryang is being held accountable. We also contacted the Special Recruit from three years ago. Besides compensation, he also wants to re-enroll in Floriman Academy.”
“…”
“The Principal agreed. Formalities are currently being processed.”
“…”
Zhou Xie took off his glasses and rubbed his sore eyelids.
“What’s wrong?”
“Something’s not right.”
“What’s not right?”
“Theoretically speaking, every Special Recruit who drops out of Floriman Academy has PTSD. How could he agree to return to the academy?”
“Maybe he heard that a Special Recruit helped overturn his case and mistakenly thought he could enroll and live a normal life?”
“Or perhaps it’s revenge.”
“Zhao Zeryang has already been expelled.”
“I haven’t… or rather, the person who handled this matter three years ago is still at the school.”
“Not every Special Recruit is like Wen Rong. Besides, even if this matter blows up, it’ll just be a Yellow Card penalty. It won’t have any major impact.”
Someone who dared to come back for revenge shouldn’t be underestimated. Over three years, countless grievances must have accumulated.
Zhou Xie wasn’t afraid, just found it troublesome.
He just wanted to graduate smoothly.
Zhou Xie sighed. “Go back and rest.”
The first week of school passed extremely fast for every new student. Teachers at Floriman Academy didn’t need to give students time to adapt; the intensity was high right from the start.
Even Shi Ye needed some time to complete the homework assigned by the teachers.
After morning training, he took his laptop to the library.
Just after passing through the main gate via face recognition, he happened to see a slender figure sitting upright by the window.
In early September, the morning sun was still intense. Everyone avoided the incoming beams of light like the plague, except for him, who seemed unaware.
Black bangs rested docilely on his forehead, and a striking patch of white shone between his brows—his skin.
A person’s living condition was reflected in their skin: pure white, smooth, delicate, indicating a regular lifestyle and youth.
Wen Rong was becoming more and more like Leon.
Shi Ye was startled by this conclusion and hastily looked away.
Stiffening his neck, he walked inside, inexplicably feeling nervous. Wen Rong could see him from that position with just his peripheral vision.
The arm that was writing furiously suddenly moved. Shi Ye stopped immediately, his throat tightening.
After a long while, the expected voice didn’t ring in his ear. He looked around nervously, confirming that no one was paying attention to him, including Wen Rong, before walking further inside.
Walking, his mood became inexplicably anxious.
Why didn’t he see me again? Is Wen Rong blind?
Yes, he must be blind.
He didn’t see me when we passed each other the time before last, and he didn’t see me when he was kissing Leon last time.
Recalling the scene of Wen Rong kissing Leon, Shi Ye’s breathing became difficult. He turned around and ducked into a nearby bookshelf to hide his body.
The ancient wooden shelves, made centuries ago, reached from the floor to the ceiling. Every shelf was packed with books, blocking out the light.
Further inside, a tall figure held a shorter one tightly, two faces pressed together, lips and tongues entangled, so lost in each other that they didn’t notice Shi Ye at all.
Fck!*
Shi Ye quickly retreated and hid in the opposite bookshelf.
Should I start believing in luck? Why am I so unlucky lately, always bumping into scenes like this?
Thinking this, he lifted his chin, his gaze crossing through the zigzagging gaps to see Wen Rong again.
Wen Rong was still sitting there, not even lifting his head, as if no one passing by would attract his attention.
If Leon walked by, he would probably notice, right?
Maybe he would take the initiative to sit with Leon, allowing Leon to play with his hair at will.
Leon was the one Wen Rong would pay special attention to.
Angry and flustered, Shi Ye turned his back and rubbed his hair vigorously.
What am I doing? I came to the library to do homework, yet now I want to intervene in the relationship between my good friend and his boyfriend?
No, what’s the use of wanting? Does wanting mean success? Does wanting mean getting?
Stop thinking about it.
Shi Ye took a deep breath, slowed his heartbeat, and turned back to continue looking for books.
His gaze inadvertently crossed through the gap again—the seat by the window was empty. The person sitting there had left at some point.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
An indescribable sense of loss washed over him, and Shi Ye’s heart beat slowly.
Because whether Wen Rong sat there or not had nothing to do with him.
If it were Leon, Wen Rong would probably say “I’m leaving first” or “I’m going out for a bit.” If Leon said “Stay with me a little longer,” Wen Rong might not leave.
That feeling of being held in the palm of one’s hand, that relationship of being “lovers,” was something Shi Ye couldn’t possess.
“That Special Recruit…”
Through a row of bookshelves, whispering discussions suddenly came.
“I still think he’s very good-looking. I want to—”
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