On the way to Zijing Middle School, Xu Jingyin was too worried about her younger brother to notice that the guardhouse had let them pass. Recalling it now, she couldn't help but suspect that Chen Xiao had driven into the school during the rainy night when the guards were negligent. She hurriedly tried to stop it:
"Teacher Ma, Dr. Chen drove onto school grounds without permission just to pick me up. I'll take full responsibility, please..."
Pushing aside Wang Dong, who was blocking the door, without any politeness, Chen Xiao shielded Xu Jingyin and her brother behind him:
"Teacher Ma, I advise you not to blindly follow others' orders and make random calls. Because once you make this call, you will definitely regret it!"
"Are you threatening me? Hmph! I'm sorry, as a teacher, I fear threats the least! Moreover, Mr. Wang is a friend of the school board. If anything happens, he'll take responsibility!"
Instead of listening to Chen Xiao's advice, Ma Lili immediately dialed the guardhouse's landline and even turned on the speakerphone.
The call was quickly connected, and she roared aggressively:
"Old Wu, what are you guards doing? Why did you let an outside vehicle enter the school without authorization?"
The security guard on the other end was stunned for a moment, then retorted indignantly:
"Ma Lili, you're talking nonsense. The Maserati I just let in is the exclusive car of Song Yan, the richest man's daughter! Miss Song is the largest shareholder of this school, holding the livelihoods of all the staff. Half of Zijing Middle School belongs to her family. Can I, a mere security guard, stop her car from entering?"
With that, the call ended.
Ma Lili and Wang Hailong were both dumbfounded. Wang Dong, in particular, rushed downstairs immediately to check. In a flash, he returned out of breath, stammering:
"The car parked downstairs is indeed a top-of-the-line Maserati, all fiery red, costing over ten million yuan!"
"This... this... this this this..."
Ma Lili was completely flustered and instinctively cast a pleading look at Wang Hailong.
Wang Hailong was also terrified. He quickly forced a smile that looked worse than crying and asked Chen Xiao:
"Chen... Chen Xiao, tell your uncle quickly, why are you driving Song Yan's luxury car? Didn't your second aunt say you were interning at Central Hospital? Did you quit and become the Song family's full-time driver?"
Even if Chen Xiao were the Song family's full-time driver, Wang Hailong wouldn't dare offend him. He knew that the Zijing Middle School board member he was acquainted with was the youngest among more than a dozen board members, not even qualified to carry Song Yan's shoes.
Chen Xiao chuckled and said nonchalantly:
"Let's get back to the main issue. Did you have any evidence that Nurse Xu's brother stole a phone? If not, shut up, or I'll have Song Yan personally look into this matter..."
Wang Dong had already been scared out of his wits by the Maserati parked downstairs, a vehicle built with money. Before Chen Xiao finished speaking, his legs were trembling uncontrollably. He said nervously:
"Cousin... Cousin, actually... actually, I accidentally dropped my phone in the toilet. I was afraid of being beaten by my dad, so... so I slandered Xu Jingwen. I know I was wrong, please don't tell Miss Song..."
"Waaah..."
Xu Jingwen's冤屈 (injustice) was finally cleared, and she couldn't help but burst into tears. While crying, she explained to Xu Jingyin:
"Sister, did you hear that? I really didn't steal the phone, I was framed! You and Grandma always taught me that people can be poor, but their aspirations must not be low, and that wealth passed down for more than three generations will vanish, while diligence and learning passed down through generations can last forever. That's why I study hard and never bring the latest top-of-the-line Apple phone you bought me to school to show off. How could I possibly steal a classmate's phone? Wuwuwu..."
Chen Xiao's heart ached as he watched. He suddenly slapped Wang Dong hard across the face, his tone turning sinister:
"Still not apologizing?"
"You..."
Holding his burning, stinging face, Wang Dong's expression turned fierce, and he bared his teeth.
"Not convinced?"
Chen Xiao's tone became even more menacing, and he delivered a swift kick to Wang Dong's chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Ma Lili's scalp tingled, and her heart pounded. She could no longer consider Wang Hailong and his son being present and said nervously:
"Dr. Chen, please calm your anger. I... I will go and explain to the entire class that Xu Jingwen was framed."
With that, she fled the office.
Wang Hailong felt utterly humiliated and said with a forced smile:
"Chen Xiao, misunderstandings happen between classmates. Wang Dong is still just a child. I'll take him back and discipline him strictly. Why did you have to beat him in front of his classmates? Just like when you were ten and I hosted a wedding banquet, and you were accused of stealing Wang Dong's toy, didn't I, as your uncle, not hit you?"
Chen Xiao vividly remembered the incident of being falsely accused of stealing Wang Dong's toy when he was ten. It was no wonder he was so angry seeing Xu Jingwen in a similar situation.
In an instant, his expression darkened further:
"You didn't hit me then, but you forced me to kneel and apologize in public. Even though my mother found evidence that I didn't steal it in time, your whole family still spread rumors afterwards that I was a thief!"