Chapter Thirty-Seven: Is There Still Justice in This World?

The scene descended into chaos, with many students rushing onto the stage, hurling all manner of trash toward the front.

"Blind accomplices, all just to curry favor with those in power—how can you call yourselves teachers?"

"Hmph, the conduct of this school truly leaves me speechless!"

"When we return, we’ll give a full report to the Education Bureau, and make sure your 'exemplary' performance is recognized for all it’s worth!"

The visiting officials all stood up at once, unable to remain any longer.

Seeing the situation unravel before their eyes, Huang Tiancheng and the others were utterly at a loss, feeling as though everything was over.

Once the news reached the Education Bureau, what would it matter even if Jiangcheng High was under special support? All of them would be suspended and investigated, facing heavy penalties—perhaps even losing their livelihoods.

Their only backer, the Zhou family, had been toppled by that young man who seemed to come out of nowhere.

He had even exposed Zhou Ming’s misdeeds to save himself.

The PE teacher who had shoved Su Zhi so roughly earlier was now crumpled on the ground, pleading for her forgiveness.

"Miss Su, I was threatened! It was Huang who made me do it!"

The moment Huang Tiancheng heard blame being shifted onto him, he shouted, "Nonsense! This is all a misunderstanding, Miss Su—I was misled by the Zhou family! I knew it, Miss Su would never do such a thing!"

"Miss Su is generous and forgiving, surely you’ll pardon us, won’t you?"

As he finished, Huang Tiancheng’s sycophantic smile returned, much as it had been when he welcomed Zhou Hong at the door.

Now, with public opinion at its peak, only Su Zhi’s forgiveness could calm the uproar.

So all the officials present ignored the turmoil behind them and approached the stage, each apologizing to Su Zhi with the utmost respect.

"I will not forgive you!" To their surprise, Su Zhi, usually so gentle, raised her voice in uncharacteristic defiance.

"Your actions have utterly disgraced the title of 'teacher!'"

She raised her hand and slapped him across the face, repaying the humiliation she’d suffered.

"What about the school’s reputation? Shouldn’t you think of the students?" Huang Tiancheng tried to shift the blame, his mind racing.

"The students are innocent! If you have any grievances, we can resolve them privately…" He grew more desperate with his appeals.

"That won’t be necessary!"

"I will submit my resignation. From this moment on, I have nothing more to do with Jiangcheng High!" Su Zhi declared with resolute finality.

She was completely disillusioned with this place.

Without another glance at Huang Tiancheng and the rest as they floundered, she strode through the crowd.

At the school gate, Qin Mu sat in the backseat of a car, the door open beside him.

Almost without thinking, Su Zhi got in.

"What will you do now?" Qin Mu asked.

"I plan to take my mother and leave Jiangcheng, start anew somewhere else." The words seemed a heavy decision, but speaking them aloud brought her relief.

Not long ago, her father, incorrigible as ever, had stolen money and run off to the gambling dens again.

Qin Mu looked at Su Zhi, seeing the weariness etched on her features.

Ten years had passed since the days when she was a joyful girl, always in the library, her laughter echoing through the halls. Now, life seemed ready to crush her.

She was a woman born to hardship.

"If you ever face difficulties, come to me."

Qin Mu was not one for sentimental partings.

"Before you go, could you satisfy my curiosity?"

"Who are you, really?"

"You said you joined the army, but I don’t believe it… No soldier I’ve ever seen is as sharp and commanding as you."

Tears glistened in Su Zhi’s eyes as she pressed him for an answer.

She’d wondered for a long time, but never found an explanation. Curious by nature, she knew it would haunt her if she never learned the truth.

At her question, Qin Mu gazed out the window, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon.

"I am not a soldier," he said.

"I am a general."

…

Soon, the car stopped in front of Su Zhi’s home, and Qin Mu saw her safely out.

It wasn’t until she heard the thunderous roar of the Bugatti Veyron’s engine as he departed that Su Zhi seemed to come back to herself.

Watching the car disappear down the road, she smiled with newfound ease.

"I think we’ll meet again someday!"

…

In the car.

"General, the information you wanted leaked to the Lin family—they should have received it," Wu Mu reported.

Throughout the entire Jiang Alliance, no one could uncover the slightest trace of Qin Mu.

Had he not revealed himself intentionally, even Lin Qingxue’s father could never have known that Qin Mu was from the military.

Qin Mu wanted to bring the Lin family to his side, so he’d fed them tidbits in advance—it was no harm.

"Twenty years ago, the Lin family was a dominant force in Jiangcheng, weren’t they?" Qin Mu mused.

"The first to take the plunge, and then they led the whole industry," Wu Mu nodded.

The Lin family’s glory two decades past was legendary—they were among Jiangcheng’s elite clans.

But after that enchanting woman’s scandal, every person of influence in the city was eager to trample the family, hoping to claim a share of the spoils.

Only Lin’s father stayed true to his heart, believing in the woman’s innocence and standing up for her, denouncing those ungrateful wolves who’d turned on her after benefiting from her generosity.

Yet his loyalty drew the ire of the masses.

The three families at the top of the Jiang Alliance joined forces to slowly devour the Lin family.

Fortunately, Lin’s father was shrewd; he withdrew from the business world, letting his little-seen daughter take over, and so the Lin family survived.

But after twenty years of suppression, the Lin family, for all its former glory, was now on the verge of collapse, relying solely on Lin Qingxue’s determination to keep going.

"To have stood up for my mother in such dire straits—he is a man worthy of respect."

Qin Mu glanced at his watch; there was still some time before Luoshui finished work.