“Dad, how is this happening?” In the Vice-Principal’s office, a panicked Huo YeRui was looking at his father. “Now people are talking……they’re saying that I got the test answers in advance.”


  Huo YeRui’s voice became smaller and smaller, and he couldn’t help but look out the window in fear of getting heard. In the end, he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for his actions.

  There had been a printing error in the last extra question in the math test this month, making the question unsolvable. Everyone was talking about this piece of news.

  This extra question was what determined first and second place in this month’s ranking. The question was so difficult that only one person in the entire grade managed to solve it. All the math teachers even praised Huo YeRui in front of all their students. So all these students were excited when they heard the news that contradicted what the teachers said.

  The story that Huo YeRui wrote the correct answer despite there being a typo in the question was intriguing all of a sudden. Coupled with the fact that Huo YeRui got the school recommendation because of this test, students who were more familiar with the world could already guess what had happened.

  Most of these ‘hardened’ students were from Class 7 and Class 8. They were originally a bunch of little hooligans after all. But this piece of news made them especially mad. This treachery involved their new boss!

  So now, Guo DangLi and Li Gao hung around by the stairwell, blocking everyone’s way like some sort of gatekeepers. Usually, this was how they extorted students for cigarette money. This time though, they were trying to find Huo YeRui and interrogate him on just how he managed to pull off the miracle that was getting the right answer out of an inaccurate question.

  Thanks to the two, this matter spread throughout the school in the speed of light. And not only that, their vulgar words and flying accusations were circulated along with it.

  Huo YeRui, who just hours ago was the luckiest and smartest person in the entire year for solving this problem, was now in a very awkward and embarrassing position.

  But Guo DangLi and his gang were notorious for being fierce and violent, so no matter how much Huo YeRui wanted to shut them up, he didn’t dare refute any of Guo DangLi’s theories.

  Sitting behind his desk was Huo PingChuan, who sighed heavily. He then calmly replied: “It’s Zheng PingQing, that dog.”


  After the incident in the teachers’ office, Huo PingChuan’s first reaction was to block the news. All the staff members would’ve listened to him if he told them to keep quiet, but Zheng PingQing, that migraine-inducing student, had righteously said: “The teachers taught us that good students don’t lie.”


  Huo PingChuan had been so angry he almost fainted on the spot. Later, he managed to privately stop Zheng PingQing by using his authority as the Vice-Principal. With such great pressure thrust upon him, Zheng PingQing behaved, trepidation all over his face. In the end, Zheng PingQing finally whispered that he understood.

  Huo PingChuan never expected that he would instead turn around and immediately spread the news.

  Huo PingChuan didn’t know if it was just him imagining things, but he felt that the students were being especially difficult this year.

  Huo YeRui’s eyes were red with anxiety, and his voice was full of hate. “Zheng PingQing and Lin Qian are in cahoots! Zheng PingQing must’ve done it intentionally.”


  Huo PingChuan’s eyes squinted, his face full of sinister intentions. “Those two……I’m not just going to watch in the sidelines as they try and ruin all our hard work.”


  But right now, Huo YeRui was more concerned about his own situation. He timidly asked: “Dad, what’s going on? The questions you gave me were clearly correct……”


  At his words, Huo PingChuan’s face turned ugly. But seeing his son’s face, Huo PingChuan tried to calm himself. “My guess is, someone might’ve accidentally messed up the typesetting just before the papers got printed.”


  But the typesetting error was too strange. With just changing a few words, the entire meaning of the question had changed, rendering it unsolvable. Also, the change was done in a way that unless one looked carefully, they wouldn’t notice the mistake. It was so obscure that even Zhang KangBi, the teacher who wrote the question, didn’t notice it.

  After finding out that there was a mistake in the paper, Zhang KangBi checked his computer and found that his original document had no errors. No. 12 printed their test papers in-house, so everyone guessed that the mistake happened during the printing process. The most likely scenario was that somebody accidentally bumped into the keyboard while the papers were being printed, therefore changing the contents of the test.

  After hearing his father’s explanation, Huo YeRui was bewildered. “Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?”


  “Our luck was just a little too bad this time.” Huo PingChuan sighed. Truthfully, he felt just as confused. He had been working in the teaching industry for so many years, yet he couldn’t think of any other explanation other than some freak coincidence.

  Huo YeRui was upset. “Dad, what are we going to do now? I heard that Lin YaZhi is planning on reporting you. Is that true? Will you be alright?”


  Huo PingChuan saw that his son was panicking and glared at him. “Why are you overreacting? Do you think I need to be afraid of some small-time, insignificant teacher?”


  The angry Huo PingChuan subconsciously kneaded his chest. He could still feel Lin YaZhi’s kick.

  After discovering the problem with the math question, Lin YaZhi almost beat him up again. Although Lin Qian managed to stop him, the situation was enough to make Huo PingChuan miserable.

  Huo PingChuan’s voice became even frostier as he said: “Let that idiot report me. Let Lin YaZhi clearly see just who is in charge of No.12.”


  Seeing his father’s fearless eyes, Huo YeRui managed to calm down a little.” Really? Are we really going to be alright?”


  Huo PingChuan looked at his son’s cowardly appearance. It was inevitable for him to feel some dissatisfaction with his son, but worried that Huo YeRui might go into a spiral, he said: “I guess it’s time for me to tell you certain things.”


  He beckoned his son towards him, then said in a low voice: “I’ve already made good relations with the people above me. Nevermind Lin YaZhi’s rubbish; even if the entire teaching staff banded together to report me, no one could touch me.”


  Huo YeRui was stunned. “Really?”


  Huo PingChuan sneered. “How else do you think you got your recommendation? Principal Qiu is retiring next year. By then, nobody’s words can refute mine. Next year, my word will be law in this school.”


  Huo YeRui suddenly perked up. He imagined a great imperial throne that was his to inherit. “Principal Qiu won’t be able to control you?”


  Huo PingChuan replied: “You think Prinpical Qiu would dare pursue me now? That old man can see the situation better than any of those teachers. He knows that no one can go against me now.”


  The corner of Huo PingChuan’s mouth lifted. “If not for his blatant favoritism, then Lin YaZhi’s son wouldn’t even have gotten the chance to be recommended. But I didn’t expect Lin YaZhi to be so shameless. Since he dared to fight me so noticeably, then I’ll show him just what happens to people who offend me.”


  Hearing this, Huo YeRui’s heart finally stabilized, and color returned to his face. “That’s good. That Lin father-son combo really is too much. Dad, you can’t let them off so lightly.”


  “You don’t need to tell me.” Huo PingChuan looked at him with a touch of annoyance. “You just concentrate on doing your own part. Don’t drag me down.”


  Huo YeRui’s neck shrunk. Feeling wronged, he said: “But dad, my classmates are avoiding me now. What should I do?”


  Huo PingChuan had the urge to smack him on the head. “The answer is right in front of you. You were the one who copied the answers in the first place, who else can you blame?”


  Huo YeRui angrily retorted: “How would I know that this kind of thing would’ve happened……” He didn’t dare say out loud that he wouldn’t have been able to answer that last question, no matter how much he reviewed. And he only skimmed the test this time, so it would’ve definitely been impossible for him to solve.

  In the end, this was his biological son. Huo PingChuan ultimately wasn’t willing to give up on him. Taking a deep breath, he said: “You don’t need to care about what those classmates of yours think. They’re all invisible, not worth making friends with. Don’t waste your time with them. Once your school recommendation is fixed, and you’re in F University, you’ll be around better people.”


  Huo YeRui imagined the wonderful future Huo PingChuan had described to him. He couldn’t help the huge smile that grew on his face. “I know, dad.”
……

  The new rumor of Huo YeRui being suspected of cheating began circulating while people were still talking about the shady way he had gotten the school’s recommendation. This double whammy made Huo YeRui a truly unwelcome sight. Even the top students, who had always been united, became indifferent to their fellow classmate. Huo YeRui was feeling very embarrassed, but after talking with his father, Huo YeRui tried his best to follow Huo PingChuan’s instructions. He continued to tell everyone that he really did practice similar questions and that during the test, he wrote the answer without reading the problem carefully. Huo YeRui soon found that the teachers really didn’t dare pursue him, and his classmates had no way of getting the truth out of him.

  Huo YeRui was no longer panicking. He was more cautious now, no longer speaking arrogantly, but he didn’t feel guilty either. And he started speaking to his classmates as if he was in a position above them. This caused everyone to be more and more dissatisfied with him.

  But all the students’ displeased expressions didn’t shake Huo PingChuan. Within two days, news came out that the results of the provincial admissions office’s evaluation had been released– based on Huo YeRui’s excellent performance and outstanding achievements, they endorsed him to get the school’s recommendation.

  No. 12 was in an uproar. Huo YeRui had been suspected of fraud, and his excuses weren’t convincing. Everyone thought that he would be found guilty. Nobody expected that things would develop in this way.

  Not just the students, even the third year teachers were shocked. After the confrontation between Huo PingChuan and Lin YaZhi, they all thought that at least Principal Qiu would step forward and give Lin Qian justice. But when the results of the evaluation were announced, they all realized that Principal Qiu was just as helpless as they were.

  They all belatedly realized that power had already changed hands behind closed doors. Some of the teachers who had been in conflict with Huo PingChuan, like Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s homeroom teachers, had already decided to take a step back. They foresaw that their futures weren’t going to be easy and for the sake of self-preservation, could only distance themselves from the drama.

  The only one who was enjoying this turn of events was Ke CaiZhu, who had been firmly holding onto Huo PingChuan’s thighs from the very beginning. Because of Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing, her once domineering attitude had been oppressed. But now that it was clear to everyone which way the wind was blowing, Ke CaiZhu had immediately jumped out and scolded all the teachers who had been against her one by one. Hong KeYi and Bai YanZhu had taken the brunt of this, with Ke CaiZhu directly pouring dog blood on them.

  Of course, if not for her fear of getting beat up, Ke CaiZhu would long have made a move on the person she wanted to curse the most: Lin YaZhi.

  Thinking of this new change in leadership, Ke CaiZhu suddenly thought of something. She immediately asked Huo PingChuan for permission, then afterward, went and ordered two teachers: “You and you, come and help me move back to my original office.”


  Seeing this, Bai YanZhu couldn’t help but speak up. “Headteacher Ke, isn’t that office being used for tutoring sessions? What are you……”


  “I say, you’re really blind, aren’t you?” Ke CaiZhu snappily interrupted him. “That only happened because Principal Qiu had a momentary lapse of judgment. He mistakenly thought that Lin Qian was a good and upright student. But now you still want me to let such a student occupy my office?”


  “Principal Huo told me that the office is solely for the headteacher of this school. We shouldn’t continue to let students take over.” Ke CaiZhu sneered at Bai YanZhu and led the two innocent teachers to her old office.

  This was happening during the small break between classes, so there shouldn’t have been anyone inside her office. But when Ke CaiZhu pushed the door open, she saw Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing inside. The two had their heads close together and were talking in low tones. When the office door opened, the two looked up towards them.

  Lin Qian gave Ke CaiZhu a puzzled smile and asked: “Headteacher Ke, what brings you here?”


  Ke CaiZhu proudly lifted her chin and said: “This is my office. From now on, you’re not allowed to come back here.”


  Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing weren’t innocent youngsters. They didn’t bother asking why and simply stood up. Lin Qian laughed. “Headteacher Ke, are you sure you want to use this office?”


  Ke CaiZhu frowned. “What do you mean by that?”


  “Nothing.” Lin Qian replied. “If you want to use it, then we’ll happily lend it to you.”


  “Yes.” Zheng PingQing nodded. “For once, nobody’s rushing to fight over this chicken egg, ah.”


  Ke CaiZhu naturally didn’t understand what Zheng PingQing was talking about, but she did understand Lin Qian’s words. She immediately became angry. “What lending are you talking about? Don’t tell me you actually believe this office is yours?”


  Lin Qian smiled and gave Zheng PingQing a meaningful glance. The two men were both too lazy to continue caring about what Ke CaiZhu is saying. They didn’t bother saying their goodbyes and directly left.

  Ke CaiZhu had never been full of this much contempt. Furious, she turned around and shouted at them: “What’s with that attitude?! Who taught you two to be so unrespectful?”


  Zheng PingQing indifferently looked back, one hand around Lin Qian’s shoulders. “Headteacher Ke, tell me, do you actually believe that I respect you?”


  Zheng PingQing’s eyes were cold, without an ounce of emotion. They were devoid of any sort of anger, but it made Ke CaiZhu suddenly shiver.

  Ke CaiZhu had dealt with disobedient students in the past, but they had never looked at her like Zheng PingQing was looking at her now. Zheng PingQing looked like he could smash her so-called teacher’s authority and see all her vulnerabilities. With one look, Ke CaiZhu felt cold right down to her bones.

  Ke CaiZhu valiantly tried to shake herself free. It was just an illusion. How can a teenager affect her so? Anyway, the most important thing was that No.12 is about to change owners. And along with it, she would be on the pinnacle of her career.

  Like Ke CaiZhu, Huo YeRui felt like he was on top of the world. When he heard that the provincial office reiterated his claim on the school recommendation, the last lingering fears he had in his heart had disappeared. His father was telling the truth. Huo PingChuan had completely taken over No. 12, which therefore made him the prince of No.12 High School.

  Huo YeRui is also feeling quite annoyed with his classmates these days. He couldn’t help but grab them one by one and say: “The provincial admissions office have fair and impartial people. Even if some people are jealous of my achievements and try to spread malicious rumors around the school, those people still recommended me. Everyone should now believe that I truly am innocent.”


  Several people nodded and deliberately raised their voices in agreement so that the entire classroom could hear their conversation. However, some students looked at each other and kept quiet. Even if they disagreed, they didn’t dare speak up.

  Meanwhile, on the other side of the classroom, Jiang TingJun and Fu YiFei were desperately trying to hold Xu Yao back. “Ah Qian said that you can’t confront him!”


  Xu Yao slammed a hand down the desk in front of him. “That vile guy is flourishing!”


  Huo YeRui, who had been keeping an eye on Lin Qian the moment he entered the classroom, couldn’t help but approach. He gave Lin Qian a sympathetic smile. “Classmate Lin, don’t be too disappointed. With your grades, it’ll be easy for you to get into a good university anyway, as long as you do well in the entrance exams.”


  Lin Qian gave him a slightly puzzled look. “What? what entrance exams?”


  Huo YeRui replied, surprised. “Since Classmate Lin didn’t get the guaranteed spot, don’t you need to participate in the college entrance exams?”


  Lin Qian looked more surprised than Huo YeRui. “Didn’t you hear, Classmate Huo? The provincial admissions office just sent a notice that in light of the problem with the second monthly test, they’re going to review all the information again.”


  This time, Huo YeRui was really, surprised. His eyes were wide when he asked: “What did you say?”


  Lin Qian raised a brow. “Also, Principal Qiu told me just now that Student Huo is too influential in our school so he won’t be able to protect you.”


  Huo YeRui’s mind was in chaos. For a while, he didn’t understand the words Lin Qian was saying. What does his influence got to do with anything?

  However, before he could figure things out, the classroom was suddenly filled with laughter.

  Everyone turned and saw that Xu Yao, who was initially trying to break free from his friends, was now laughing uncontrollably. “Hahahaha——”


  He looked at Jiang TingJun and said: “Definitely karma!”


  Jiang TingJun fervently nodded. “The good will always triumph over evil!”


  Fu YiFei pointed towards the ceiling, and tacitly commented: “The heavens will naturally favor the good!”


  Pan QiBo stamped his feet and said: “If you don’t believe it, just raise your head and look up——”


  Huo YeRui: “.……”


  Lin Qian: “.……”


  The other students: “.……” They can’t help but applaud.

  This entire chapter is filled with wannabe villain talk. This all comes to a head next chapter! Look forward to that.