Chapter 72: The Self-Righteous Hand of Fate

Jiang Xiwen shook his head and sighed, “You’ll understand soon enough. I just want to remind you, Aunt Qin, no matter what Mr. Fang says, please try to remain calm.”

He knew Qin Shu’s temperament and that she’d want to say her piece, so without waiting for her reaction, he went upstairs first. Jiang Hong nodded at Qin Shu and followed his son.

Jiang Xiwen’s refusal to explain soured Qin Shu’s expression once again, but with Jiang Hong present, she couldn’t voice her irritation and could only urge her daughter to keep up.

Soon, the four of them arrived at Fang Sixiang’s office. The door was open. As soon as Fang saw them, he stood to greet them with practiced courtesy, “Both directors, what an honor. Please, have a seat. Xiaoya, you too. Xiwen, you sit over there.”

Looking at Fang Sixiang’s elegant smile, Jiang Xiwen could almost see the ugliness hidden beneath. He had never met the teacher forced out over “conduct issues,” but he’d heard from Tan Yutou that the man had been Fang’s rival for the position of Discipline Director, set up and forced out by Fang. Then Liu Dashan had helped Fang by pulling strings with an official at the Education Bureau, who in turn had hinted to Principal Li—thus Fang’s promotion.

Now, Jiang Xiwen could guess exactly what Fang intended. Puppy love—a “crime” that could be pinned on someone without evidence. Of course, Fang would put all the blame on him and wouldn’t risk offending Zhang Yong unless absolutely necessary.

Suddenly, Jiang Xiwen realized why Zhu Wen had been hovering around his class all week, pretending to observe lessons, dragging teachers aside after class, and glancing in his direction. It was all a campaign to build momentum, a petty revenge dressed up as principle.

So much effort spent targeting a mere high schooler, all for the sake of venting a grudge—he almost found it flattering.

But Jiang Xiwen was indifferent. Even if he were expelled, it would mean little to him. University wasn’t essential—he could still find a way to be with Sulai. Yet it would hurt his parents deeply. No matter how enlightened or trusting they were, traditional thinking was hard to escape. Even in his previous life’s era, few parents in China would be unconcerned if their child were expelled.

Having been reborn, Jiang Xiwen was determined never to let his parents worry so much about him again.

“Director Jiang, Director Qin,” Fang Sixiang began, pouring tea for the parents and adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. “I hope I’m wrong, but your children are far too close outside of class. I’m concerned Jiang Xiwen is pursuing Zhang Ya, and such early romance can easily distract from their studies.”

He deliberately kept his tone light, knowing the mere mention of “puppy love” would have a bombshell effect on the parents.

“What?” Jiang Hong was momentarily stunned, unable to believe his ears.

Qin Shu’s eyes widened in shock, her pupils contracting sharply, her brows knitting together. She looked from Fang Sixiang to Jiang Xiwen, then at her daughter, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger she dared not show.

Zhang Ya’s face flushed deep red. Seeing her mother’s expression, she quickly waved her hands, “Mom, I didn’t! Director Fang, you must be mistaken.” She didn’t dare meet her mother’s eyes and instead looked to Jiang Xiwen, hoping he might get her out of this predicament.

Only Jiang Xiwen remained calm. Fang Sixiang’s intentions were exactly as he’d predicted. He smiled faintly, “Director Fang, can’t you come up with something new? This trick got you promoted once, but twice? Hardly convincing.

Besides, if sitting next to Zhang Ya means I’m too close to her, should I be sitting next to you instead?”

“Xiwen, watch your mouth!” Jiang Hong scolded, though he didn’t know the full story. Still, he felt compelled to discipline his son.

Fang Sixiang understood Jiang Xiwen’s insinuation and was irritated at being exposed, but he kept his composure. “It’s all right; they’re just children…”

Had it been Zhu Wen, she’d have flown into a rage, but Fang Sixiang was far more adept. With a single sentence, he could appear impartial while making his accusation sound all the more credible.

Jiang Hong was not swayed by Fang’s facade. He continued, “Director Fang, isn’t this a misunderstanding? Early romance is a serious accusation and difficult to define.”

Jiang Xiwen glanced at his father with gratitude. Despite hearing such a thing, his father hadn’t jumped to conclusions but had shown him trust.

If Jiang Xiwen had paid closer attention, he would have realized this was his father’s way—never making judgments without first getting to the bottom of things.

Qin Shu, however, was the opposite. The more she listened to Fang Sixiang, the more convinced she was that Jiang Xiwen was at fault, that he was bullying her daughter, and that Jiang Hong was being unfairly protective.

She turned to her daughter, ignoring the others, and demanded, “Xiaoya, tell me the truth. I don’t believe Director Fang would joke about such things. Is there something you’re not telling me?” Her gaze flicked to Jiang Xiwen, the implication clear.

“No, Mom, we didn’t…” Zhang Ya’s face grew redder with every word, and her urgency only made her look more suspicious.

Jiang Xiwen interjected, “Zhang Ya, why are you blushing? Don’t be afraid. The more you rush to deny it, the more Director Fang will seize on that. Besides, there’s no psychologist here, but if there were, he’d tell you that a girl who’s wrongly accused of puppy love can blush too—out of outrage, not shyness.”

At this, Jiang Xiwen caught Fang Sixiang glaring at him. Fang had intended to make an issue of Zhang Ya’s blush, but Jiang Xiwen’s words left him nothing to say.

Fang quickly composed himself and smiled pleasantly, careful not to antagonize Jiang Hong—a department head in the municipal government. He picked up Jiang Hong’s thread, “Director Jiang, it’s not just my opinion. I don’t know much about Class Four of the ninth grade; I’m basing my view on reports from several teachers. I’m treating the matter with utmost caution.”

He took a sip of tea, then turned to Qin Shu, echoing her line of questioning to her daughter, “Director Qin, your Zhang Ya is an excellent student and very well-behaved. Of course she wouldn’t be involved in early romance. According to the teachers, it’s Jiang Xiwen who keeps bothering her, and Zhang Ya hasn’t told anyone because she’s trying to help a struggling classmate, guiding him to study harder.

Some teachers are even suspicious—Jiang Xiwen’s sudden improvement in grades lately. Did he perhaps copy Zhang Ya’s answers during exams?”

Jiang Hong frowned at this. To make such accusations based on mere suspicion was, in his view, irresponsible.

He was a straightforward man, unafraid to speak his mind. “Director Fang, if you’re not certain, why bring it up? That’s highly irresponsible, you know.” His own father had just warned him not to speak rashly, yet here was Jiang Hong, doing just that. But Jiang Xiwen knew his father’s temper—stubborn but never petty. He was thorough and only blunt when certain of someone’s wrongdoing. Now, convinced Fang was in the wrong, he didn’t hesitate to challenge him directly.

Fang Sixiang couldn’t read Jiang Hong’s character, instead projecting the usual deference he got from government officials’ families—even when criticizing their children.

Last time, Deputy Director Chen from the Municipal Policy Research Office had been far more diplomatic. After all, their children attended this school—there was no need to make enemies with the Discipline Director. That was the common logic among parents.

So Fang was caught off guard by Jiang Hong’s directness and was momentarily at a loss for words.

By now, Qin Shu had completely forgotten the old Mr. Zhang’s advice to think things through before acting. Her impression of Jiang Xiwen had never been good, and Fang’s words only confirmed her bias. To her, Jiang Hong’s defense of his son was blatant favoritism.

“Director Jiang, that’s not fair. Precisely because there’s no concrete evidence, Director Fang used the word ‘suspect.’ Besides, your Jiang Xiwen has always had poor grades—how could he suddenly improve so much? Our Xiaoya has always been a good girl; how could she get mixed up with Jiang Xiwen? Director Fang, I think Jiang Xiwen should be dealt with strictly, and Xiaoya should be given a new seat.”

Seeing Qin Shu’s attitude, Fang Sixiang laughed inwardly at his change in fortune. Once the connection between Jiang Xiwen and the Zhang family was severed, he would be free to deal with Jiang Xiwen as he pleased.

And now, not only had that connection been broken, but he had managed to sow discord so that even the vice mayor’s wife began to dislike, and even resent, Jiang Xiwen.