Mianmian let out a long, sighing breath. She felt like everything was finally heading in a good direction, which brought her a sense of relief. Tonight, she felt completely at ease and could finally get a good night's sleep.
However, there was still a battle to be fought. She changed her mind and decided to clear Yun Buji's name during the school-wide flag-raising ceremony next week. She wanted everyone in the school to know that Yun Buji was innocent, that everyone else was wrong, and that they had wronged him. She wanted everyone to know he wasn't a bad person.
The next morning, Mianmian told Yun Buji about her plan and asked him to stay away from school for a few days. Yun Buji listened to everything Jiang Mianmian said. Whatever she said, he agreed with. So, he stayed at home obediently.
Mianmian had now witnessed the wickedness of human nature. This wasn't to say that all students were bad, but the fermentation of rumors was truly terrifying. After three days of escalating gossip, Yun Buji had even been demonized. All sorts of things were being said about him, some even claiming he was a pervert and responsible for a series of serial murders in Jing City over a decade ago.
Mianmian told herself not to get angry, but she couldn't help it. They were truly daring to imagine such things. Over a decade ago, Yun Buji was just a child of a few years old. How could anyone believe such a preposterous story? But she said nothing, merely listening to it all with a blank expression.
Let them make all the noise they wanted. The more they stirred up trouble now, the more resounding and painful their humiliation would be later.
Early Monday morning, after the flag-raising ceremony, school leaders began announcing the disciplinary decision regarding Yun Buji. The school had decided to expel him.
As soon as the principal finished speaking, Yun Buji walked over, holding a megaphone, and shouted, "I do not agree with your decision. I will not admit to something I did not do. You have no right to expel me."
"Yun Buji, you've come at the right time. Get up here. I've been looking for you everywhere. Get up here!" the principal said to Yun Buji.
Yun Buji wasn't afraid. He walked onto the podium with the megaphone. Li Xiang followed behind him.
The students were in an uproar, a wave of murmurs sweeping through them. At this moment, Mianmian stood up. She also held a megaphone and questioned, "Principal, you say you are expelling Yun Buji. Do you have any evidence to prove that he did what you are accusing him of?"
All the students looked at Jiang Mianmian, their expressions suggesting they thought the school beauty had gone mad. Mianmian was unfazed. She continued to question, "Do you have any evidence?"
"Many students saw it!" many people retorted.
"Then please ask those students to come up to the stage and tell us what they saw. I hope you will think carefully. Everything you say today will become evidence. I will involve the police to cooperate with the investigation. If anyone lies, they will be punished!" Jiang Mianmian said with great seriousness and sincerity.
No one doubted Jiang Mianmian's words, given her distinguished family background.
"Jiang Mianmian, what are you causing trouble for?" The principal looked at Jiang Mianmian with a headache. How could this child get involved in something like this?
"Principal, I am not causing trouble. Don't you want to reconfirm the facts? Being expelled from school for something like this concerns a student's entire life. Don't you want to present the truth for everyone to see?" Jiang Mianmian's voice was firm and powerful.
Yun Buji looked at the girl standing in the sunlight. She was soft and beautiful, but her words were firm and powerful, spoken only to defend his innocence. He felt an unprecedented shock in his heart.