Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Gao Tian had brought some people over to interrogate Lin Shiyao before, but he hadnât expected that she would actually be linked to this case. He glanced meaningfully at his assistant next to him, and the latter rushed off to contact the intelligence department for information on Lin Shiyao.
Clenching her fists, Lin Shiyao appeared unusually nervous after Zheng Tianqiang asked her the question, and even her breathing became heavier. Under the gazes of the many teachers and nosy students at the scene, she slowly walked forward with Gao Tianâs help.
âStudent Lin Shiyao, do you know why I asked you to step forward?â Father Zheng lowered his voice as he did his best to keep it as gentle as possible. Whether it was Little Silver, Loopy Toad or Gao Tian, however, they could sense the tremor in Father Zhengâs throat which he couldnât suppress.
As if he had already waited for a very long time, Father Zheng was now extremely emotional. He was restraining himself and doing his best to hold back his emotions so that they wouldnât burst out.
The moment a person released their emotions was when they were the weakest. Hence, Father Zheng could only restrain himself.
Before the truth officially came to light, he didnât want to leave anyone an opening.
Lin Shiyao was obviously reluctant to answer Father Zhengâs question.
In the last few years, she had buried herself in study to avoid the matter between her and Zheng Jingxuan, and she had always lived in fear and on edge â she hadnât expected the day the matter was uncovered to come so soon.
âStudent Lin, you can refuse to answer this criminalâs question!â Principal Zhou Dongye stepped out once more.
âPrincipal Zhou, if you interfere one more time, Iâll have you arrested for disorderly conduct.â Gao Tian glanced at Principal Zhou, whose face darkened before he stepped back.
Lin Shiyao could be considered a star in Magic Treasure Development University, and for such an outstanding, beautiful student, who was president of the student union, to actually be involved with that âschool disgraceâ stirred the curiosity of all the teachers and spectating students present.
After a moment of silence, Lin Shiyao finally seemed to pluck up her courage as she raised her head. âThatâs right, Zheng Jingxuan was my ex.â
This answer wasnât unexpected to Gao Tian, but the teachers and students present were surprised.
Father Zheng: âCan you tell everyone, when did you break up?â
Lin Shiyao: âAfter the magic treasure design competition, Jingxuan broke up with me.â
âVery good, Student Lin Shiyao, youâre very honest. At least until now, you havenât lied to me.â Father Zheng nodded. âThen, Student Lin is used to copying beautiful handwriting.â
Lin Shiyaoâs eyes were already red. âYes⦠itâs an interest of mineâ¦â
Father Zheng: âNext, Lin Shiyao, please answer my final question: was it you who wrote Jingxuanâs suicide note for him?â
âWhat?â
All the teachers and students at the scene were stunned.
âStudent Lin, you⦠why didnât you say anything back thenâ¦â Principal Zhou Dongyeâs voice shook.
Lin Shiyaoâs heart was already on the verge of collapse, and she cried as she spoke. âAfter that case of plagiarism during the competition came out, someone lashed out at Jingxuan, and his arms were broken. After that, he came to me and wanted me to help him write a letter of apology. I never thought it would become his suicide note.â
âVery good.â
Father Zheng was very satisfied with her answer.
He had already investigated this fact earlier on, and getting Lin Shiyao to say it herself corroborated the proof for everyone here. âStudent Lin, I will remember your affection for Jingxuan! I thank you!â
âZheng Tianqiang, what on earth are you trying to do?â Principal Zhou roared.
âRelax, Principal Zhou Dongye, the next question is for you. I hope you will also answer truthfully. If you answer any questions incorrectly, I canât guarantee the safety of the hostages.â
âYouâ¦â
The corner of Principal Zhouâs mouth twitched. As the principal of a cultivation institution of higher education, no one in school had ever dared to challenge him. Gao Tian gazed at Principal Zhouâs clouded expression. Principal Zhouâs philosophy in the pursuit of higher learning was âto be impartial and incorruptibleâ; he was a very cautious person in his daily life. After the disturbance stirred up by the plagiarism of a magic treasure design plan three years ago, Principal Zhou was the first person to step out and apologize to the public on behalf of Zheng Jingxuan.
It was for this very reason that Principal Zhou wasnât affected by the case after it happened; conversely, he came across as an upright and good principal.
But since this matter had stirred up quite the fuss today, Gao Tian was well aware that the truth behind this wasnât as simple as it had appeared back then.
Father Zheng laughed coldly on the broadcast and asked, âPrincipal Zhou, I ask you, after this incident, did you personally verify the facts?â
âItâs the cultivation police who do the Investigating and verify the evidence; I donât have the qualifications to interfere.â
âVery good, I understand your meaning, Principal Zhou.â Father Zheng paused for a second before he continued, âThat is to say, Principal Zhou, you didnât watch the complete video of the competition even once?â
âThe police made all the evidence public. Is there any difference if I investigated it or not? It would just be a waste of timeâ¦â
âSo Principal Zhou didnât personally look into any of it, and just because of public condemnation, you pressured an outstanding student into publicly apologizing for something he didnât do. May I ask, Principal Zhou, is this something that a principal should do?â
âYouâ¦â
âPrincipal Zhou, you donât have to rush to refute my words. I have sufficient evidence to prove Jingxuanâs innocence.â Saying this, Father Zheng displayed a chart of a companyâs corporate representatives on the LCD screen in the schoolâs public square.
It was a chart of the corporate representatives and principal staff of the well-known magic treasure design studio called Raven Studio, and Father Zheng had highlighted a person called Liu Yi.
âPrincipal Zhou, do you remember this name?â
âLiu Yi is my disciple. So? Whatâs wrong with him?â
âPrincipal Zhouâs disciple is of course capable. Back then, Liu Yi took first prize in the design competition on behalf of Magic Treasure Development College. Principal Zhou took a shine to Student Liu Yiâs talent when the latter was a sophomore, and took him in as an inner disciple. Then, Fu Fusheng showed up, and Liu Yi planned to cooperate with him to establish a studio and create their own brand. Thus, during Student Liuâs time in university, he recruited people from all over the place and gathered together all kinds of magic treasure design talents. Student Fu Fusheng and my son Zheng Jingxuan both received Student Liu Yiâs invitationâ¦â
Father Zheng slowly recounted, âStudent Liu made a big name for himself and established Raven Studio. After recruiting Student Fu, he made him executive director, and then stepped back himself to serve as a corporate representatives and the companyâs PR. Principal Zhou, donât you think itâs strange?â
âWhat do you want to say?â Principal Zhou grit his teeth.
âWhat I want to say is actually very simple.â
Zheng Tianqiang said coldly, âI want to say that Student Liu Yi actually has no abilities at all. All his magic treasure designs in university, including the design entry for the competition, were nothing more than the works of my son Zheng Jingxuan in senior high⦠including the work in the plagiarism case three years ago!â