Rebirth from the Ashes

This was the first time Shen Xi had ever met with the principal. With a straight face, the tall and slim middle-aged man was running his mouth off, showing off quite the vocabulary. Shen Xi had to say, she kind of sympathized with the pair who were in the line of fire.

Wei Qiu, the principal of No. 4 High School, was a national personality in China. He ranked first in every high school principal’s assessment and was also a prominent educator in the country.

A star pupil to the minister of education, Mr. Song, Wei Qiu was well known for his iron-fist and tough-love approach towards education; showering kindness when dealing with good students while no holds barred from taking on bad students.

It was plain to see that Su Mushi and Su Ruowan were the bad students in this case. Only bad students had the honors of getting an earful from him.

Song Wenye was in fear yet getting a kick out of it. She even had the time to whisper to Shen Xi, “Don’t you think he’s got a knack in giving the reproach?”

Shen Xi nodded and acknowledged that. It was more than a knack; the principal had a talent. Su Mushi and Su Ruowan’s heads hung in shame as they bit their tongues.

Principal Wei Qiu gave anyone a piece of his mind when the time called for it, regardless of the person’s social status. More than a handful of No. 4 High School’s parents who were pillars of the Capital’s wealthy and powerful were once his students.

Wei Qiu took a sip of water to rehydrate and a break from the scolding. He then glanced at Song Wenye and Shen Xi, “What are you two looking at? Why aren’t you coming in?”

Song Wenye was a familiar face. She was the granddaughter of one of the teachers as well as one of his students. Song Wenye was a good kid but tended to be presumptuous. Wei Qiu would usually turn a blind eye as long as Song Wenye stayed out of any major trouble.

Shen Xi, on the other hand, blew the principal’s mind with her academic performance progressing in leaps and bounds since the end of the last term. She sat tight as the top student and won many awards for the school.

This student was beautiful and indifferent. She appeared to be Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes yet exuded the vibe not to be messed with.

Bearing the fearless cockiness, Song Wenye entered the room with her head held high. What was there to fear? She did not start the whole thing so she had no cause for concern.

Shen Xi followed her in and greeted the principal before standing in a corner.

Wei Qiu pointed at the Su siblings. “Why are you standing there? Apologize!”

Students nowadays were becoming rebellious and a handful by the day. Now they were going at it with each other.

Su Mushi and Su Ruowan lifted their chin to look at the girls and apologized in unison, “I’m sorry.”

Song Wenye scoffed. There was no way she was going to let them off the hook with an apology. However, she held her tongue following a look from Wei Qiu. Song Wenye resorted to giving them the evil eye. “I won’t forgive you even if you apologized.”

Shen Xi appeared sensible as she refrained from giving any comments.

Wei Qiu gazed at the girls. “I call you two here to ask for a favor. Let’s not make it a bigger thing than it already is and leave it to rest.”

Having been a principal at No. 4 High School for two decades, Wei Qiu had deep emotional ties with the school. The reason he wanted to put an end to the fiasco was not for anyone else but the school’s reputation.

Shen Xi knew the core of No. 4 High School’s rules was collective pride. As students, they should not give the school a bad name and tarnish No. 4 High School’s reputation. This was a place the students were supposed to feel proud to be in.

Whatever happened in the school should just stay in the school. It was a different story if words were to get out of school.

Su Ruowan and Su Mushi were aware of the school’s rules. Internal feuds should be dealt with internally and should not advance to external conflict for the whole world to watch.

Wei Qiu’s remark did not come as a surprise. The Su siblings were secretly glad that they were at No. 4 High School because no one outside of the school would ever find out about this.

Wei Qiu carried on. “Song Wenye, since both you and Su Ruowan are about to debut in a talent show, there are certain things that may affect your career if the public finds out.”

He was looking at Shen Xi rather than Song Wenye while speaking. As the principal, he was on top of the news concerning the school.

This included the two most-watched senior-year classes – the high-achieving Top Class and International Class, a.k.a the troublemakers. Wei Qiu was conscious that the International Class students took orders from Shen Xi.

His intentions were clear. Since both were at fault, they should take a step back and call it quits.

Stuck with a one-track mind, Song Wenye did not get the message and scoffed gloomily. She looked daggers at Su Ruowan, preparing to rip into her.

“Principal Wei, we understand,” Shen Xi immediately took the hint. She pulled Song Wenye who was ready to swing into action and gave her a look.

The consequence had crossed Shen Xi’s mind, but it did not matter to her. Even if haters were brazen enough to spill dirt, they would at most say that Song Wenye was arrogant and in the worst-case scenario, a school bully.

Nevertheless, it was better to let it go and take a step back after hearing the principal out. Shen Xi had gotten what she came for.

The ordeal had torn apart Su Mushi and Su Ruowan’s façade, giving the people front-row seats to their two-faced falsity. Try as they may, to sweep it under the carpet, the students would never see them in a good light.

Su Ruowan’s title as the Goddess and Su Mushi the Prince Charming was at stake. No. 4 High School students would never be on their side now that doubt and disdain toward the siblings were sown.

Song Wenye snorted. She was not afraid of Wei Qiu with Shen Xi having her back. Straightening her back, she pointed at the sibling duo and overbearingly said, “I can’t hear them. Say it one more time.”

Wei Qiu sighed to himself before taking a glance at Shen Xi. He knew Shen Xi was washing her hands off of it by the looks of her unfazed and indifferent attitude.

It was obvious that Song Wenye was not going to let it go if she did not have a way either. With the matter coming to a stalemate, Wei Qiu turned to the Su siblings. “Well, apologize!”

The Su twins were famous in No. 4 High School for their exemplary grades and interpersonal skills. They upheld themselves to high standards.

However, the unsightly comments posted from their accounts allowed a peek into their dark secrets, malicious natures, cruel spirits, and green-eyed drama-queen characters.

It would be understandable if it was only to vent grievances online like any other youngsters. Otherwise, alarm bells should be ringing if it was their human nature.

Su Mushi and Su Ruowan wished they could rip Song Wenye apart. They knew she was deliberately humiliating them yet could not do anything about it. They were in the wrong after all.

“Sorry.”

The pair gazed at Song Wenye and apologized.