Chapter 115: You Have No Evidence

He Yongshan and Duan Gaoxuan took turns speaking and echoing each other, leaving Director Wang so choked with frustration that he couldn't get a word in. Zhao Fan and Chen Tianyu exchanged a glance; they were tempted to laugh, but felt more annoyed than anything else. Director Wang’s habit of condemning students without rhyme or reason was truly unbecoming of a teacher.

After a few more minutes, Director Wang shifted his focus directly toward Zhao Fan.

"You. You were the one who did it."

Zhao Fan raised an eyebrow. Compared to Duan Gaoxuan, his demeanor was far more composed, completely unfazed by the director’s accusations.

"Director Wang, do you have any evidence?"

"What evidence?"

"Evidence that I beat up Chen Sicheng."

"This..."

"The monthly exams are in two days. It’s understandable that you’re anxious about the top-ranked student in the grade getting injured right now; after all, every exam is meant to verify a student’s standing..."

Zhao Fan laid out his reasoning, speaking at length, yet carefully avoiding the specific words "we didn't do it." He spoke with such coolness that Director Wang found himself drawn into that same calm, logical space. However, as he listened, the director suddenly snapped out of it. "You’ve said a whole lot, but you haven't denied that you were the ones who did it."

"But I haven't admitted to it, either."

"You..."

Zhao Fan smiled faintly. "Director Wang, as I said before, I understand your concern for Chen Sicheng, but you cannot point fingers without evidence. After all, Qingyang High School is a premier institution in Yangcheng. If word gets out that a teacher is making baseless accusations, I fear it will reflect poorly on the school."

"Are you threatening me?"

"How could this be a threat? It’s a reminder—a perfectly fair and open reminder."

"Fair and open? Do you dare say that in front of the principal?"

"Why wouldn't I? Let’s go. We can go to the principal’s office right now."

As long as there was no evidence, Director Wang would never be able to pin this on them.

He Yongshan looked back and forth. He wasn't stupid; Zhao Fan hadn't admitted to it, but he hadn't denied it either, and the way he kept talking made it sound like they were indeed responsible. Recalling his own earlier clash with Director Wang, He Yongshan’s face darkened—this was reckless!

Just then, Duan Gaoxuan spoke up. "Director Wang, do you want to know why I went to find Chen Sicheng to ask him a question last night?"

"What?"

"Because I find Zhao Fan annoying, and I thought I’d talk to Chen Sicheng about it. After all, Chen Sicheng had conflicts with Zhao Fan before, so I figured we’d have something in common."

"Since when did I hear that student Chen Sicheng and student Zhao Fan had a conflict?"

A voice from outside the office cut through the conversation. Everyone looked toward the doorway to see the principal standing there with several other homeroom teachers, his expression less than pleased.

Zhao Fan coughed. "It wasn't really a conflict, just a bit of loud talking."

Duan Gaoxuan looked astonished. "It was just 'a bit of loud talking,' yet he suggested I break your hand?"

Every eye in the room fell upon Zhao Fan’s hand, then traveled downward to the plaster cast on his leg.

Silence ensued.

The principal snorted. "It seems our school’s top-ranked student has quite the imagination."

Zhao Fan laughed lightly. "It was likely just a joke."

Up to this point, the narrative regarding Chen Sicheng’s beating had been entirely controlled by Zhao Fan and his two friends. Even though Director Wang knew the truth, he had no way to convict them. On the contrary, because of Duan Gaoxuan’s words, Chen Sicheng had been dragged into the fray. If the victim was also an aggressor, then the assault was no longer so straightforward.

In the end, the principal used his own authority to suppress the matter.

"Chen Sicheng should just focus on recovering; if he can't participate this time, there will be a next time. As for these three students, go back to your classrooms and don't let this distract you."

"Thank you, Principal."

Zhao Fan spoke, and Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan followed suit before the three of them left the office. As for the aftermath, Zhao Fan had no intention of getting involved; that was a matter for the school leadership, not him.

Back in the classroom, the three exchanged a look and put the matter to rest. Not long after, the school had the homeroom teachers work together to hush everything up. With the monthly exams approaching, the students’ attention was diverted, and they no longer cared about Chen Sicheng being beaten. The fact that the grade’s top student was hospitalized meant the rankings would change; if they worked hard, they might be able to achieve better results.

Amidst this bustle, the monthly exams concluded.

That evening, Zhao Fan was called into He Yongshan’s office.

"The business with Chen Sicheng being beaten—it was the three of you, wasn't it?" He Yongshan’s tone was certain.

Zhao Fan nodded, then shook his head.

He Yongshan was stunned. "You nod and then shake your head—what is that supposed to mean?"

"Some of us took action, and some of us didn't."

Because he trusted He Yongshan, Zhao Fan didn't try to hide the truth, though he didn't explain the details. Anyway, Chen Sicheng had been targeting him, so taking action was justifiable.

He Yongshan frowned. "Have you considered that this counts as school bullying?"

"I acknowledge that, but Old He, Chen Sicheng was bullying others, too."

"What do you mean?"

"There’s a student named Wang Haochen in Class 1 who has been bullied by Chen Sicheng for a year."

Truth be told, Zhao Fan hadn't intended to go that hard initially. It was only when he sent Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan to make inquiries that they accidentally uncovered Chen Sicheng’s bullying. Wang Haochen was small and thin; even in their third year of high school, he was shorter than many of the girls. By rights, this was a personal matter that shouldn't have affected anyone else, but Chen Sicheng just couldn't stand the sight of him. With a few subtle hints, he had the entire class ostracizing Wang Haochen, and there were even instances of physical violence.

Once he understood this, Zhao Fan changed his planned "small lesson" into a "hospitalization."

"Since Class 1’s homeroom teacher won't deal with it, I’ll take care of it. It’s for the best."

The wicked deserve their own punishment; Chen Sicheng was no good person, and Zhao Fan didn't consider himself one either. Of course, that wasn't the point. The key was that Zhao Fan remembered a connection he had with Chen Tianyu in his past life, where the latter had mentioned someone jumping off a building at school, specifically citing Class 1. In his past life, Chen Tianyu hadn't told Zhao Fan the name, but considering Chen Sicheng’s bullying, he guessed that the jumper was almost certainly Wang Haochen.

He Yongshan hadn't expected to hear this; he was momentarily stunned. Such things never happened in his class.

Leaning on the desk with both hands, Zhao Fan said with a smile, "Old He, why don't we bring the poor kid into our class?"

He knew He Yongshan despised such behavior; once brought up, he would definitely consider it. It was a human life, after all—if they could save him, they should.

"Ahem, you’re talking as if this is already a done deal. Go, go, go back home."

"Alright, sounds good."

Leaving the school, Zhao Fan headed home. His parents were still sitting in the living room, surrounded by notebooks.

"Dad, Mom, what are you doing?"

His father didn't even look up as he said, "Balancing the accounts. Xiaofan, come over here. I can't get these figures to match up—take a look."