After Secretly Marrying the Top Celebrity, I Fell in Love - Chapter 54

Near midnight, the lights at the entrance of the orphanage were still on.

Aunt He was standing at the gate, wearing a wool sweater and jacket that was unsuitable for the season.

The temperature in early autumn was not cold, but it was late at night and the dew was heavy. Plus, Aunt He was naturally sensitive to cold, which was why she put on the sweater.

Aunt He was slightly hunched, constantly looking into the distance and occasionally checking the time on her watch.

About five minutes later, a taxi drove over from afar, and a beam of headlights followed.

The taxi stopped in front of the orphanage gate.

In casual wear, Bai Yiyan got out of the car, strode around to the trunk, opened it, and took out her luggage.

“Aunt He,” Bai Yiyan dragged her suitcase to Aunt He and said, “It’s so late, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Aunt He was one of the teachers who watched Bai Yiyan grow up and had always been very fond of her. Knowing that Bai Yiyan rushed back late at night because of Jiang Le’s matter, she was constantly worried. Unable to sleep, she simply came to the gate to wait.

Aunt He took one of Bai Yiyan’s hands and held it tightly, looking at Bai Yiyan with heartache and saying, “Yiyan, is filming very hard?”

“Why do you look so thin? Your face is much smaller.”

Bai Yiyan explained, “I’ve lost a little weight. But actors look fat on camera, the face automatically looks a size bigger on screen, so I’m just right like this.”

Aunt He was skeptical and looked at Bai Yiyan with doubt, asking back, “Really?”

Bai Yiyan: “Mhm, really.”

“Aunt He, let’s go in. It’s cold outside.”

Aunt He: “Look at me! I almost forgot the main thing, the director is still waiting for you.”

Director Jiang was old and naturally slept little. Moreover, she was deeply worried and couldn’t sleep because of her granddaughter’s matter. Knowing that Bai Yiyan rushed back overnight, she insisted on waiting until Bai Yiyan arrived before feeling relieved.

Bai Yiyan first put her suitcase back in her bedroom, then went to the director’s room with Aunt He.

Although Bai Yiyan had been away from the orphanage for more than two years, her bedroom had always been vacant. Although the room was small, it was very cozy. The director personally cleaned it once a week to keep it neat and tidy.

The first thing Director Jiang said when she saw Bai Yiyan was also that she had lost weight. She held Bai Yiyan’s hands with heartache, her eyes red, and said, “Didn’t you eat well? Why did you lose weight?”

Bai Yiyan quickly explained, “I’ve been eating well.”

Although the meal times were often irregular when filming, Bai Yiyan ate well for every meal. However, because the intensity of filming was too high, and Bai Yiyan had a constitution that easily loses weight, she was visibly thinner.

Director Jiang turned her head and silently wiped away a tear with her wrinkled hand.

Beside her, Aunt He quickly handed her a tissue and comforted her, “Young people are busy with work, it’s normal to be a little thinner. She will gain it back if she eats more meat.”

Bai Yiyan immediately chimed in, “I will definitely eat more meat when I get back.”

Director Jiang: “Then you promise.”

Older people are like children and need to be coaxed.

Bai Yiyan used a soothing tone, “Okay! I promise.”

Next, at Bai Yiyan’s inquiry, Director Jiang told Bai Yiyan the cause and effect of Jiang Le hitting someone at school, to the best of her knowledge.

This afternoon, Director Jiang suddenly received a call from Jiang Le’s class teacher, asking the parent to go to school because Jiang Le had hit a classmate.

In the afternoon, during the first physical education class. Jiang Le suddenly lost control of her emotions and directly smashed a basketball at the girl’s head. The girl who was hit was immediately sent to the hospital. After an examination, the diagnosis was a slight bleeding in the left eardrum, and some oral medicine was prescribed.

However, the parent of the girl who was hit refused to drop the matter. Not only did she reject the apology and the compensation for medical expenses, but she also pressured the school, insisting that the school expel Jiang Le, otherwise she would report to the education bureau. She claimed the school was “sheltering” the perpetrator and ignoring school bullying.

Director Jiang had no choice but to call Bai Yiyan.

After hearing the whole story, it was indeed Jiang Le who was wrong for hitting someone first. But Jiang Le had been timid since she was a child. Not to mention hitting someone, she wouldn’t even argue with people. If she was slightly wronged, she would only know how to cry.

Therefore, Jiang Le’s act of hitting someone this time was very unusual. Based on Jiang Le’s personality, she was not the type of child who would bully others.

Bai Yiyan frowned and asked, “Why did Lele smash someone with a basketball?”

“Did she say the reason?”

Director Jiang thought for a moment and replied, “It seems to be about some photos. I didn’t quite understand it.”

Bai Yiyan’s eyes lit up, and she pressed, “What photos?”

Director Jiang: “She said it was your photo.”

Bai Yiyan: “My photo?”

Director Jiang: “Yes! It’s your photo. She said that girl stole your photo and posted it online.”

Bai Yiyan immediately fell silent, as she had probably guessed what happened and just needed to confirm it with Jiang Le tomorrow.

If it was what she guessed, then the matter would be much easier to handle. The rights and wrongs would have to be carefully discussed, and it was uncertain who would be held accountable.

…

The next day, seven o’clock in the morning.

Bai Yiyan first called Jiang Le to understand the situation in detail. After a simple breakfast, Bai Yiyan arrived at No. 1 High School.

Seven forty in the morning, the Academic Affairs Office conference room.

In the conference room, in addition to the principal and the director of the Academic Affairs Office, Jiang Le’s class teacher and the two individuals involved were also present: Jiang Le and her roommate, Xiang Min.

Bai Yiyan arrived first as Jiang Le’s guardian.

After waiting for about five minutes, the parent of the student who was hit also arrived. She was a woman dressed in designer clothes, carrying a Chanel classic quilted bag.

The woman had a heavily made-up face and an arrogant demeanor. As soon as she came in, she launched a full-scale attack, addressing Bai Yiyan sarcastically, “You are Jiang Le’s sister, that little star who was kept as a mistress?”

Bai Yiyan sat calmly, leaning against the chair behind her, flipped the phone in her hand and quickly flashed it at the woman opposite, saying intimidating words in a gentle tone.

“I have a name, I’m Bai Yiyan.”

“I’m recording on my phone. The ‘kept as a mistress’ you referred to has no evidence, and I can sue you for defamation. I will be recording the entire process, so please watch your language.”

“You…!” The woman was so angry that she was speechless. She completely didn’t expect this person, who looked delicate and weak on the surface, to immediately give her a deterrent.

Beside her, the director of the Academic Affairs Office suddenly interjected, “Two parents, please don’t start arguing as soon as you arrive. We are here to discuss and solve the problem.”

“Let’s not provoke other conflicts, alright?”

The woman pulled out a chair and sat down angrily. Her arms were crossed, and she looked haughty, saying, “Discuss? What is there to discuss?”

“It’s obvious that they were wrong for hitting someone!”

Saying that, the woman reached out and pointed at Jiang Le, who was sitting across the long table, and then pointed at Bai Yiyan beside her.

Bai Yiyan smiled softly and spoke unhurriedly, “I admit that we were wrong for hitting someone.”

“However…” Bai Yiyan suddenly changed the subject, a sharp look in her eyes, “It was your child who stole someone’s belongings and infringed upon their right of portrait first.”

“Let’s settle this score first.”

Bai Yiyan met the woman’s gaze with sharp eyes. Without needing to raise her voice, every word she uttered was highly intimidating.

As soon as she said this, Xiang Min, who was sitting opposite, swallowed nervously. She lowered her head and stared at her shoes, not daring to make a sound.

There was no way to argue, as this was the truth.

“What?!” The woman’s eyes widened, and she was instantly stunned. “We are so rich, what can’t we afford! Does my child need to steal an orphan’s belongings?”

“Hmph, that’s hilarious.”

The class teacher, unable to watch any longer, tried to maintain her professionalism as a teacher and persuaded in a gentle tone, “Ms. Xiang, let’s hear what Jiang Le’s sister has to say, alright?”

Bai Yiyan’s face was composed, and she said, “Being rich doesn’t mean having good upbringing, and it doesn’t mean she won’t steal.”

The woman was furious, pointing at Bai Yiyan’s nose and shouting, “What are you saying! Who are you calling ill-mannered?”

Bai Yiyan: “Whoever answers me, that’s who I’m talking about.”

The woman angrily slammed her hand on the table and roared, “Try saying that again if you dare?”

Bai Yiyan: “Is your hearing poor? Then I’ll say it again.”

Beside them, the principal, who had been silent, quickly intervened and said in a kind tone, “Alright, alright!”

“Two parents, please stop arguing for my sake.”

With that, the principal turned to Bai Yiyan and asked, “Jiang Le’s sister, what did you mean by… stealing just now?”

Bai Yiyan looked at the principal and explained, “This student, Xiang Min, took advantage of our Lele’s inattention, used Lele’s phone to send a photo to herself, and then deleted the record.”

“If anyone doesn’t believe it, we can ask the police to recover the chat records.” As she spoke, Bai Yiyan turned her head, her gaze fixed on Xiang Min across the table.

Xiang Min kept her head down, but when she heard Bai Yiyan’s words, her body visibly trembled. Bai Yiyan saw this subtle movement and became even more certain that her deduction was correct.

The woman scoffed sarcastically and said, “Fine, even if what you said is true, what’s the big deal about taking one of your photos.”

“Is that reason enough to hit someone!”

Bai Yiyan remained calm and continued, “First of all, stealing a photo is an infringement of someone else’s right of portrait. Furthermore, this student, Xiang Min, publicly posted my photo on the internet without my consent, disclosing my personal privacy. This has caused a huge impact on my reputation, infringing upon my right to reputation.”

“Based on this point alone, I can sue you.”

“Infringing upon someone else’s reputation requires civil liability. The less severe consequences might be a few days in the police station. If it’s more severe, it’s hard to say.”

Across the long table, the woman’s face completely changed, and she was too scared to speak for a while, yet she still insisted on being stubborn.

“But… but you hit someone!”

“Yes, we hit someone. At worst, we’ll also spend a few days in the police station.” Bai Yiyan generously admitted, looking at the woman with a smile, “No matter how much you cause trouble, you don’t have the right to demand Lele’s expulsion.”

“No one here has that right.”

After speaking, Bai Yiyan’s cold gaze lightly swept over the two school leaders present and Jiang Le’s class teacher.

At this moment, the air seemed to be frozen.

The director of the Academic Affairs Office smoothed things over, breaking the deadlock first, and said, “Our teachers’ stance is always consistent with the parents, hoping that the children study well and are healthy. Also, we don’t want them to have a blemish, as this will be recorded in the student’s personal file.”

“How about this, I propose a solution. Since both students were at fault, each of them will go back and write a three-thousand-word self-reflection. On Monday during the flag-raising ceremony, both of you will publicly read the self-reflection in front of all the teachers and students, conducting a profound self-criticism!”

The principal nodded and echoed, “Mhm, I think this solution is feasible.”

“Everyone here is a parent, we must consider the children first, right?”

“What do the two parents think?”

Bai Yiyan said calmly, “That’s acceptable.”

The woman suppressed her anger, considering that her daughter was going to be a big star in the future and could not have any blemishes. Even if she was very upset, she had to compromise.

“Fine.”

…

Leaving the conference room, Bai Yiyan led Jiang Le to the class teacher and initiated a greeting.

“Teacher Qin, hello.”

Class Teacher: “Jiang Le’s sister, is there anything else?”

Bai Yiyan: “With what happened, it’s not suitable for the two children to live in the same dormitory anymore.”

Class Teacher: “Okay, I will consider it and arrange for them to change dormitories.”

Bai Yiyan: “Then I’ll trouble you, Teacher Qin.”

Class Teacher: “You’re welcome.”

Bai Yiyan: “Also, I would like to request one day off for Jiang Le. I will bring her back before the evening self-study session.”

Class Teacher: “Mhm… alright.”

Leaving the teaching building, the two walked side by side on the deserted, tree-lined path.

Bai Yiyan immediately called Director Jiang to reassure her. After hanging up, Bai Yiyan immediately sent a WeChat message to Ye Manqing.

Bai Yiyan: [The matter has been resolved.]

As soon as the message was sent, Ye Manqing replied instantly.

Ye Manqing: [That’s good. Can I come to pick you up?]

Bai Yiyan: [It’s convenient, but I have Lele with me. I plan to take her to the amusement park.]

Ye Manqing: [You two wait at the school for a bit. I’ll have the driver come to the school to pick you up and then take you to the amusement park.]

Ye Manqing: [Shall we have dinner together tonight?]

Bai Yiyan: [Okay.]

Beside her, Jiang Le, who had been keeping her head down, finally couldn’t help but burst into tears. The sound of her crying immediately caught Bai Yiyan’s attention.

Bai Yiyan asked anxiously, “What’s wrong, Lele?”

Jiang Le lifted her tear-stained face and sobbed non-stop, “Wuu wuu wuu… Sister Bai. I was wrong, I’m sorry.”

“Wuu wuu… It’s all because of me… that you were scolded so badly.”

“You only showed the photo to Xiang Min once, and you didn’t give it to her when she asked for it, did you?” Bai Yiyan comforted softly, “So, you can’t be blamed for this.”

“But it was all caused by me.” Jiang Le was still very guilty, and large tears kept falling.

“I treated her as my best friend. She asked me if I had any photos of you when you were little, and I thought she was your fan. That’s why I showed her your photo. I didn’t expect her to be so wicked.”

Bai Yiyan: “Lele, the thing has already happened. No amount of self-blame is useful.”

Jiang Le: “…”

Bai Yiyan: “I don’t blame you. You are still too young and don’t understand people’s hearts. Didn’t you say yourself that Xiang Min was usually very nice to you, seemed kind, and you were good friends?”

Under Bai Yiyan’s comfort, Jiang Le finally felt a little better in her heart, but she was still very guilty.

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