Director Zhang was furious. Bald and convinced he was the most hardworking and capable director in the entire academy, he had risen through the ranks over the years. With the old principal’s retirement approaching, he was the most likely candidate to become the next head of Zhaoge Academy.
Thus, when the valuable watch was suddenly discovered, his first thought was to frame someone.
“Who did this?” Director Zhang roared. “Is it Vice Principal Liu? Is it those people on the board? Or is the old principal trying to promote his crony and deal with me?”
The office and its surroundings were filled with academy colleagues. The old principal, who was in the corridor, turned pale upon hearing this.
Ordinarily, Director Zhang would never utter such words, but he felt cornered.
Seeing Director Zhang adopt a “we all go down together” attitude, spewing the most offensive remarks, the old principal emerged with a sigh. “Old Zhang, I’m retiring soon. I have no favorites in the academy, and I think highly of you. Look at me, I’m an old man in my eighties and have no ambitions. How could I possibly frame you?”
“And Vice Principal Liu, he’s your best friend.”
“The board has also stated that the election for the new principal will be conducted internally, and they will not interfere.”
Director Zhang’s eyes turned red. “Stop with the sweet talk. Someone is trying to bring me down!”
The police officers chuckled. “This watch has a signature on the back. It’s a limited edition luxury brand. We’ve had the manufacturer perform a professional appraisal, and it’s worth about two million yuan. The most serious part is that it was found in your pocket. Did your wife frame you? Or who could have put it in your inner pocket?”
“Director Zhang, two million yuan worth of luxury goods, if it’s stolen or from illegal gains, you’ll be prosecuted. This isn’t just a frame-up in the race for the new principal; this is an attempt to ruin you!” The head of security, a staunch supporter of Director Zhang, was anxious.
Having managed university affairs for many years, Director Zhang understood the logic of this.
His face turned ashen, and he immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, everyone, old principal. I… I was speaking nonsense just now. But I truly don’t know about this watch.”
The police officers exchanged glances, not entirely convinced.
The evidence was simply too comprehensive. They only believed in evidence. “When Song Qilin reported the crime, he was very clear. He said he didn’t lose anything except this watch.”
Director Zhang suddenly understood. “It’s Song Qilin! That bastard deliberately framed me. I knew it! He was the only one at the scene, and the surveillance cameras didn’t show anyone entering or leaving. Unless the so-called attacker flew in from the sky, this was all orchestrated by Song Qilin.”
However, Song Qilin had just received commendations from the school and was even nominated for an award for bravery. He was also slated to receive an award for outstanding youth.
Most ironically, Director Zhang himself had personally recommended him for these accolades.
At this moment, Director Zhang felt a sense of impending doom.
It wasn’t just about whether he could keep his position anymore; it was about whether he would go to jail.
If Song Qilin and the Song family behind him wanted to get rid of him, he’d likely be in prison for life.
“Wait! I want to surrender. I want to report a crime!”
Covered in sweat, Director Zhang raised his hands. “I have all the evidence regarding Song Qilin’s illegal and criminal activities!”
The crowd erupted in shock.
The academy staff were dumbfounded.
The police officers, ecstatic, thought they had caught a big fish.
They turned to the old principal and asked, “Can we trust what Director Zhang is saying?”
The old principal took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “Song Qilin is the student union president and a representative figure for all academies. But his admission scores were actually… heh. The fact that he’s become a prominent figure in the academy these past few years, I imagine it was all orchestrated by Director Zhang.”
This statement made things clear.
The police officers immediately called their superiors to report.
However, their superior’s voice was hushed. “His connection to the Song family makes this complicated. What should we do? How far should we go? It’s not up to us; we need to involve higher authorities.”
“Which department?”
“Zhaoge Oversight Institute!”
Among the five great families of Zhaoge City, the Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, and Zhou families, the Song family was an absolute behemoth.
The police officers discreetly escorted Director Zhang away.
Behind the onlookers, Zhu Tianqi, wearing a hood, watched with mixed emotions. “I initially thought Qin Yexuan’s framing plan was too childish. I didn’t expect it to bring down both Director Zhang and the Song family! He probably calculated this outcome long ago. Impressive.”
She quickly relayed the situation to Qin Yexuan.
Qin Yexuan, who was playing a game, immediately called back. “Follow Director Zhang. He’s likely to be silenced by the Song family… Save his life then, and tell him that if he hands over the evidence, his whole family can escape!”
The call ended abruptly. Zhu Tianqi shrugged and quietly followed.
Meanwhile, news of the entire incident had already leaked.
After Director Zhang turned and threatened to report Song Qilin, the powerful Song family of Zhaoge was alarmed.
Song Qilin was still in a VIP hospital room, his five fingers reattached. He was smugly giving an interview to the academy’s new media department.
Before the interview concluded, the hospital room door was kicked open with a bang.
A tall, curvaceous, incredibly beautiful woman walked in.
Dressed in a red suit, with wavy hair, a hip-hugging skirt, and high heels, she exuded an aura of dominance.
“Ah! Sister?” Song Qilin shivered in fear.
The Song family, one of the five great families of Zhaoge, had branched into four factions by this generation.
Song Qilin was the son of the youngest wife of the fourth branch. Besides him, there was an elder sister, Song Qingya.
As a traditional patriarchal family, the Song family favored men. This branch was supposed to be inherited by Song Qilin.
However, Song Qilin was a useless burden, showing no talent since childhood and only causing trouble, with over a dozen scandals in high school.
Fortunately, he had a powerful and beautiful sister.
Song Qingya rose against the tide, emerging with astonishing talent and strong methods, earning praise from everyone in the Song family. When the elder passed away, she was appointed to manage the assets of the fourth branch despite considerable opposition.
Doted on by his mother since childhood, Song Qilin feared nothing, except this formidable elder sister.
“Everyone out!” Song Qingya commanded.
Nurses and doctors alike fled in panic, while Song Qingya’s female bodyguards sealed off the corridor.
“Sister, is such a big fuss necessary?”
Song Qingya remained silent. She jumped onto a chair and stepped on his broken hand.
She pressed down hard, viciously, and without mercy!