Chapter 8: He was certain she was getting too deep into the act.

The Yuli High School forum was usually quiet, with few people paying attention to it.

Unlike in university, high school was more strictly monitored.

Gossip couldn’t be openly discussed

If the school caught wind of it, there would be consequences.

Naturally, not many students bothered visiting the forum.

But on Sunday, the school forum suddenly exploded.

The reason?

Someone had posted a gossip thread.

The first post contained several photos taken from different angles.

In the images, Meng Xici stood beside a car

Tall and striking.

In front of him, Shen Yu handed him a bag, and he happened to take it from her.

A handsome guy and a beautiful girl standing together

That alone was enough to spark speculation.

Especially since the photos were taken at clever angles.

The way they appeared to be looking at each other gave off an ambiguous, almost intimate atmosphere.

One particular misaligned shot made them seem incredibly close

As if they had deliberately chosen a secluded location.

In short

It looked like a secret romance had just been exposed.

1L:       WTF is this? Is that Meng Xici and Shen Yu???    

2L:       HELP—ARE THEY DATING??????    

3L:       No way… my heart just shattered.    

4L:       You act like you’re a fangirl. What do you mean ‘shattered’???    

…

…

68L:       Aren’t they gonna get called in for a “tea session” with the disciplinary office?    

69L:       But it’s Meng Xici we’re talking about. Which teacher would even dare meddle with him?    

70L:       I can’t believe this. I always thought he had the whole “emotionally unavailable” persona!    

71L:       Another heartbroken soul joins the club…    

…

289L:       But didn’t I hear that Shen Yu and Jiang Jingxun were a thing?    

290L:       ??? What’s this new drama???    

291L:       Damn, Shen Yu is something else. First school genius Jiang Jingxun, now top student and campus heartthrob Meng Xici???    

292L:       First of all—she’s beautiful. Second—she’s BEAUTIFUL!    

293L:       Honestly, any pairing among these people would be acceptable to me!    

The forum blew up overnight.

Meanwhile, their homeroom teacher was troubled.

Student relationships were usually something they turned a blind eye to.

As long as it wasn’t disruptive,

And considering this was an elite school where every student came from a wealthy or powerful background

The school preferred not to involve parents unless absolutely necessary.

A bit of harmless flirting wasn’t worth the hassle.

Especially when it came to students like Meng Xici

Well-connected, top grades, and no disciplinary issues.

If he dated, it was none of their concern

As long as it didn’t affect his studies or break any ethical lines.

But this incident had now blown up on the school forum.

Now the whole school knew.

If they ignored it, they’d lose authority over the student body.

They had to step in

Or risk losing control of the school’s discipline.

But if they actually had to call Meng Peisheng about this…

Sigh.

That was precisely why the teacher was so stressed.

On Monday morning

Both Meng Xici and Shen Yu were summoned to the homeroom teacher’s office.

Meng Xici already knew about the forum post.

Ji Zhuoran had told him the night before,

So he was prepared.

The explanation was simple.

All he had to do was clarify the misunderstanding.

Both he and Shen Yu left out the detail about their classmates dumping water on her.

They simply said he happened to see her in distress and brought her home to change.

The photos were taken when she was returning the clothes to him.

Since Shen Yu didn’t want to bring up the bullying,

He respected her decision and left it out as well.

The teacher sighed in relief.

As long as it was just a misunderstanding, that was fine.

He gave them the usual “focus on your studies” speech

And was about to dismiss them

When the Director of Academic Affairs walked in.

The director called Shen Yu out separately.

A bad feeling rose in Meng Xici’s chest.

He waited at the stairwell, just around the corner.

After about half an hour, Shen Yu came out.

Her eyes were red.

He blocked her path.

“What did the teacher say to you?”

Just then, Ji Zhuoran and Xu Songyue arrived

They had been worried about the situation, so they rushed over right after class.

Ji Zhuoran was the first to speak.

“You guys are still here?

How did it go?”

Xu Songyue, on the other hand, looked exhausted.

She had barely slept the night before.

Emotionally, she was anxious.

Logically, she knew that Meng Xici and Shen Yu had never interacted before.

It was most likely a misunderstanding.

But now

Seeing one person with red-rimmed eyes and the other showing concern

She felt a strange unease settle in her chest.

Meng Xici ignored them for the moment.

He asked Shen Yu again

“Did the academic director give you a hard time?”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask him myself.”

Shen Yu quickly stopped him.

“The teacher asked me to bring my guardian .

They’re issuing me a formal warning .”

Meng Xici: “?”

Ji Zhuoran and Xu Songyue, though unaware of the full context,

Could tell something was off.

Was Shen Yu the only one being punished?

Meng Xici immediately sensed outside pressure at play.

Otherwise, why would the school single her out ?

Without hesitation, he turned and strode toward the Academic Affairs Office.

Shen Yu hurried after him, anxious.

Ji Zhuoran and Xu Songyue didn’t dare barge into the office.

They could only wait outside.

Meng Xici stood before the director’s desk.

“Director Qin

Why is Shen Yu the only one being punished?”

Director Qin remained vague.

“She violated school regulations.

This has nothing to do with you.

Go back to class.”

Meng Xici didn’t budge.

“If it’s about this incident

We’ve already explained everything to our homeroom teacher.”

Director Qin’s patience thinned.

“So whatever you say is automatically true?

The school will conduct its own investigation.”

“Then why is Shen Yu the only one being investigated?

If you’re going to investigate, I should be included as well.”

“You”

Director Qin sighed, trying to brush him off.

“Just go back.

The school will handle this matter accordingly.”

After Meng Xici left,

Director Qin immediately picked up his phone and dialed a number.

“President Xiao,

Should we drop this?

Meng Xici is insisting on helping Shen Yu.

It’ll be hard to explain this to Meng Peisheng.”

The person on the other end didn’t seem to care.

“Meng Peisheng is on a business trip.

Just call Madam Meng over for a formality .”

Madam Meng?

Would that even work…?

The newly married Madam Meng?

So she was his stepmother …

Director Qin let out a breath, feeling slightly relieved.

Sang Miao was surprised when she received a call from the school.

She hadn’t been a stepmother for long

How did they even get her number?

The call stated that there was an issue at the school requiring a parent’s attention.

Since Meng Zong was away on a business trip,

They specifically requested her presence.

When a school asks for a parent,

It’s never for something good.

And when it came to Meng Xici’s matters,

She had no authority to decide anything anyway

So there was no point in going.

She immediately called Lin Yanzhou.

Why not Meng Peisheng?

Well, he was probably in a meeting or something.

There was a chance he wouldn’t even pick up.

After a few seconds, the call connected.

“Madam, is there something you need?”

She didn’t feel anything when the butler called her that.

But hearing Uncle Zhou say it

It gave her goosebumps.

Probably because, in her mind, she already considered him an elder.

“Uncle Zhou,

The school wants a parent to go in for something regarding Meng Xici.

Wouldn’t it be better if Meng Peisheng just sent an assistant instead?”

With Uncle Zhou, she didn’t need to beat around the bush.

She spoke plainly.

The other end of the line chuckled.

“You are Madam Meng.

Since sir is away, of course, it’s most appropriate for you to go.”

Sang Miao: “…”

Damn it.

This burden wasn’t so easy to shake off.

Uncle Zhou’s words largely reflected Meng Peisheng’s own thoughts.

No way around it, then.

She’d go.

If things got too complicated,

She’d just throw the problem back to Meng Peisheng.

When Sang Miao arrived at the school,

It was during break time.

As soon as the Meng family’s car pulled onto campus,

News spread rapidly.

If Meng Xici’s father had shown up,

It would’ve caused a spectacle

Especially among the female students,

Who would’ve eagerly crowded by the windows.

After all, who wouldn’t want to catch a glimpse of a gorgeous, powerful man

A true Meng family tycoon?

However, when the car door opened,

Many were left stunned.

It wasn’t Meng Peisheng.

Nor was it an assistant.

Wait, wait, wait

Could it be…

Meng Xici’s stepmother?!      

They had already heard rumors

That his father had married a woman ten years younger than him.

That she was very young.

And now, seeing her in person…

It had to be her.

Ji Zhuoran and Xu Songyue saw her as well.

Ji Zhuoran blurted out,

“Holy sh t

Why did his stepmom show up?

Is this gonna be a problem?”

Inside the office,

Meng Xici and Shen Yu were already waiting.  

Shen Yu’s mother had arrived first.

When Sang Miao stepped inside,

She saw Shen Yu and immediately had a hunch.

So this was the reason she had been called here?

Well, she had come at the right time.

This trip wasn’t a waste.

“Madam Meng, is it?

Please, come in.”

Director Qin greeted her warmly.  

Since she was attending as Meng Xici’s parent,

She didn’t bother correcting the form of address.

Meng Xici hadn’t expected her to show up.

He had assumed his father would do what he always did

Either come himself or send an assistant to handle it.

He was caught off guard.

Shen Yu’s mother had a stern, reserved demeanor.

Seeing Sang Miao , she greeted her politely.

“Madam Meng, hello.

I am Shen Yu’s mother.

Sang Miao glanced at Shen Yu.

Shen Yu quickly looked up, as if trying to force a smile.

But her expression was troubled.

Only then did Sang Miao smile and reply to Shen Yu’s mother.

“Hello.”

Director Qin spoke next.

“Ladies, I am Director Qin from the Academic Affairs Office.”

“The reason we called you here today

Is because there have been rumors about Meng Xici and Shen Yu circulating on the school forum.”

“In order to clarify the situation,

We have questioned both students and called you here to discuss the matter.”

“The situation is rather straightforward

Meng Xici was merely being kind and helped Shen Yu once. ”

“However, it seems Shen Yu may have misunderstood his intentions.”

“She has been using this opportunity to get close to him. ”

“Recently, the situation has stirred up gossip on the forum,

which has negatively impacted the school’s environment. ”

“However, since Meng Xici has stated that he is willing to cooperate with the investigation,

we have called his guardian here as well.”

“That said, this matter is not too serious.”

“So, the school has decided to issue a minor warning to Shen Yu.”

“She has no objections to this.”

Director Qin believed that by clearing Meng Xici’s name ,

His stepmother would have nothing to say.

And the matter would be closed.

However

Sang Miao had never seen such blatant distortion of the truth.

She glanced at Shen Yu.

It seemed like she wanted to speak up.

But her mother discreetly tugged at her sleeve , silencing her.

That was even more shocking to Sang Miao.

A mother forcing her own daughter to take the blame?

Once again, Meng Xici reiterated,

“She didn’t approach me.

She was just returning my clothes.

Someone deliberately spread false rumors.”

Director Qin rubbed his temples.

“But students have reported

That they have seen Shen Yu interacting too closely with male classmates multiple times. ”

“This isn’t the first time.”

“This kind of behavior

Sets a bad example. ”

At that, Sang Miao set her teacup down with a sharp thud.

Director Qin flinched.

“Director Qin.”

“Which student reported this?”

“Who did Shen Yu supposedly get too close to?”

Director Qin hesitated .

“The identities of reporting students must remain confidential

For their privacy and protection. ”

“Do you have any evidence? ”

Sang Miao suddenly changed the topic.      

“If the school has time to issue disciplinary actions based on baseless rumors,

Perhaps it should focus on investigating bullying instead. ”

Shen Yu’s head snapped up.

Her mother’s frown deepened.

Director Qin stiffened.

“Bullying?

What bullying?

There is absolutely no such thing in our school!”

Sang Miao turned to Meng Xici.      

“You saw it happen, didn’t you?”

For a brief moment, Meng Xici was surprised by how naturally familiar she sounded.

Then he immediately responded.

“Yes.

That day, Shen Yu was doused with dirty water by another student from our school.”

Director Qin’s voice carried a warning tone.

“Shen Yu, tell me.

Did this really happen?

Did you see who did it?”

It was clear that Shen Yu knew.

She almost spoke

But her mother stopped her, gripping her arm even tighter.

Sang Miao saw that she was holding something back.      

She didn’t pressure her further.

Instead, she upped the stakes.

“If something this serious happened and even Xici witnessed it,

Then his father definitely won’t ignore it. ”

“He’d start worrying about whether his own son is safe at this school.”

Director Qin panicked.

Wait, what?

This meeting was just supposed to be about school rules.

How did it suddenly turn into a bullying scandal?!

Who the hell would dare bully Meng Xici?!

Sang Miao smiled.      

“If the school has trouble investigating,

I’m sure the Chairman of the Board and the Parents’ Committee President can help.”

“After all, Xici’s father still has some influence. ”

Not just anyone could play power games.

She had just turned the tables.

“Director, as parents,

our children’s safety and well-being are the most important things.    ”  

Meng Xici: “…”  

He was certain.

She was getting way too into this act.