At the back of the classroom, that charmingly delicate, dark-haired girl wore an impatient expression as she cracked her knuckles one by one with a series of sharp pops.
Su Wanli!? Why is she here!?
Bai Hewei’s hands, which had just been resting on his test paper, trembled uncontrollably, almost tearing the paper in half.
…So that’s how it is. She picked now, during the Examination, to try and take me down? Wang Zheng also has his own Examination to attend and can’t stay downstairs to keep an eye out for me, so the more people who get caught, the better for her…
Impressive, Miss Wanli’s methods are truly unpredictable.
Still, these are just some small tricks. As long as I don’t make a sound, I’ll slip away to the rooftop right away…
No, if I sneak off now, it’ll be too obvious. Everyone will look down on me. Since that’s the case, I’ll just face her openly.
Bai Hewei took a deep breath, placed the test paper back on his desk, then called out to Jiangtou, arranging a calm yet polite smile on his face.
“Miss J, long time no see.”
“Yes, you. The one who just turned around now.”
Su Wanli held a black gel pen in her hand, pointed toward Bai Hewei, then called over the tall girl beside her.
“Got everyone? Front, right, left-rear, right-rear, plus the one directly behind. That makes six people total, right? Heh, quite the haul this time.”
…Huh? Why does Su Wanli seem so calm? Before, when she couldn’t find me at the ancestral temple, didn’t she almost tear the place down in anger?
And what does she mean by ‘six’ and ‘quite the haul’? What’s she talking about? What do I have to do with those other people? Why count me together with them?
Bai Hewei’s scalp tingled, but he maintained his polite smile.
“Miss J, what exactly do you mean by this?”
“Oh? Why are you calling me that? Just trying to get close since you know me?”
Su Wanli’s gaze, which was merely slightly impatient before, now flashed with a hint of cold contempt. She crossed her arms and faced Bai Hewei.
“I knew there would be a few who wouldn’t admit it. Meng Huange, bring out the evidence, so no one can say I’m bullying people.”
The short-haired girl beside her, Meng Huange, smiled as she lifted her phone, aiming the screen at Bai Hewei.
On the screen was the very moment he held his test paper up on his desk, while a few of the students around him glanced over furtively.
“This is…”
Bai Hewei’s smile froze on his face.
“Well, you can’t say anything now, can you? I saw it with my own eyes just now: you blatantly opened your test paper and exchanged answers with others during the Examination. Really, people like you all think just because you have good grades you can do whatever you want.”
Su Wanli cradled her head in one hand as she walked to the other end of the classroom, pulling a Textbook out from beneath a girl’s test paper.
“And you. Instead of memorizing formulas before the test, you’re reading your Textbook during the Examination, right? What were you thinking? Meng Huange, mark this person down too.”
“Understood.”
Watching the two girls walk around the classroom, snapping photos everywhere, Bai Hewei finally noticed the bright red armband they wore.
—Disciplinary Committee Members?
Are you saying that in South City, that infamous Su Wanli—the one who can knock over a whole pile of cafeteria tables when she’s in a bad mood—is now a Disciplinary Committee Member at school?
How is that possible? Even if the Homeroom Teacher was pressured into agreeing, why would Su Wanli ever accept this job?
—Wait, no, there’s actually something only she could achieve as a Disciplinary Committee Member.
For example, striding openly into the Experimental building and causing me trouble during the Examination.
Bai Hewei grit his teeth silently, glancing at his group of friends.
Originally, the Teacher who meant to smooth things over froze in place the moment he saw that it was Su Wanli, sticking even closer to his test papers as if to avoid attention.
The other students in his group, who’d been caught on camera, glanced anxiously between Su Wanli and Bai Hewei, their faces pleading for help.
…Impressive, you’ve really grown, Su Wanli. I underestimated you before.
But just this much isn’t enough to make me lose my composure. If you think you can use this trick to ruin the network I’ve built up for so long, you’re too naive.
After circling the classroom, Su Wanli tucked her gel pen into her pocket and nodded to the girl beside her.
“Alright, that should be everyone. Let’s go, Meng Huange, on to the next classroom…”
However, just as Su Wanli was about to leave, a hesitant voice called out to stop them.
“Wait, Su Xiaoli—no, if you don’t like that, then Miss Xiaoli.”
A decently handsome male student took a deep breath, then stood up straight, looking directly at Su Xiaoli.
“If you’re here because of me, then there’s no need to get others involved. I’ll take responsibility for my own actions.”
Su Wanli turned back, glancing in that student’s direction with a deep look.
…Oh? Isn’t this the guy who just now put his test paper in the middle for others to copy? And yet he’s bold enough to try and take all the blame himself? He’s either too naive or too reckless.
Wait, something’s not right. On the one hand, he’s showing others his test paper, but on the other, he’s stepping forward to shield them… Could he be a poor soul forced to take the blame?
Su Wanli frowned in thought for a moment, then suddenly nodded in realization.
So that’s it. He must be someone being bullied, forced by the group to take the blame so their own punishment will be lighter.
She glanced at their forced smiles—Fine then. I, Su Wanli, a paragon of justice, would never pass an unfair judgment.
Su Wanli gave a cold, slight smile as she looked around at the other students in that boy’s group.
“Alright, that’s enough. For this student, I won’t record a major offense this time. Let’s say you were just helping out of kindness. The real culprits are the others here, right?”
She yawned lightly, then motioned for Meng Huange to mark him down.
“Meng Huange, give this student a special note. When reporting to the Homeroom Teacher, make it clear he was forced to participate in group cheating. By the way, student, what’s your name?”
As expected, just as she guessed, upon hearing her clear statement, the boy’s forced smile collapsed, replaced by a look of gratitude—he almost looked like he was holding back tears.
“..Su Wanli, are you…are you kidding me?”
“Oh? Afraid someone will retaliate against you? Don’t worry, our Sujia has plenty of power and influence. If anything really happens, just go find Li Zhengqi. He’ll help you get the others expelled.”
Su Wanli nodded kindly at the pitiful boy, then headed out the door with the girls beside her.
“Meng Huange, how many more do we need?”
“Miss Xiaoli, with the six just now, and the few you singled out earlier, we’re just one short of the quota.”
“Good, there really are a lot of cheaters in the Experimental Class. Maybe we should check here again during the English Examination this afternoon…”
As their voices faded into the distance, the students of Class 1, Second Year Experimental withdrew their gazes, turning in unison to look at Bai Hewei, who was still standing at his seat.
Bai Hewei forced a smile, then pulled out his chair, sitting down quietly to face the Mathematics Test Paper before him, which now seemed utterly meaningless.
Su Wanli’s words from earlier still rang in his ears—
“—Classmate, what’s your name?”
“—Oh? Afraid of retaliation?”
What does she mean? What is she getting at!?
Just one winter break, and she’s grown so sharp-tongued and skilled at making people uncomfortable!
Fine, fine, just you wait. There’ll be a reckoning for you at tomorrow’s class assembly!
Still, it seems that my standing up and taking the blame did have an effect. The classmates around me should realize I was trying to protect them, so surely they’ll be grateful…
Hmph.
Bai Hewei gave a slightly smug smile and waved to the people behind him.
“Relax, I’m fine. No need to worry about me.”
“That’s good, glad you’re alright. And please…please don’t go to Director Li Zhengqi. Let us handle things as a group…”