Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 59

Directness was most disconcerting. Wei Chuan’s eyes held not just concern but also some indistinct emotion that Meng Tang couldn’t decipher.

Staring into someone’s eyes for too long was also rather awkward. Meng Tang averted her gaze and asked Wei Chuan, “Why did you go looking for Su Mian?”

Wei Chuan explained, “I know you didn’t want to trouble her, but Su Mian was willing to share the photos of your public meet-up. They could prove your whereabouts on Friday night. After I explained the situation to her, she was happy to help you.”

“She left Z City for Yanqing today. If you’d been even a step later, you might not have caught her.” Meng Tang casually probed.

“How could I have missed her? I waited outside the hotel all night.” Wei Chuan fell into the trap, his words tumbling out faster than intended.

Meng Tang looked at him and suddenly let out a soft laugh. “I knew you waited all night.”

On Saturday, while strolling through Old Fu Street with Wei Chuan, she had mentioned Su Mian in passing, saying she would leave on Monday.

Without Su Mian’s contact information, Wei Chuan had no choice but to wait like a fool by the tree stump for the rabbit.

Grateful for his effort, Meng Tang tucked it away in her heart and then asked, “How did you get out last night?”

Wei Chuan hesitated, still wanting to lie, but Meng Tang saw right through him and demanded the truth.

“…I climbed over the wall.”

“…” Meng Tang was stunned for a moment. “That’s a violation of discipline. If your coach found out, you’d be in for a scolding.”

“I know.” Wei Chuan lowered his voice to reassure her. “It’s fine. I avoided the cameras, went out through the abandoned basketball court.”

Meng Tang was silent for a few seconds before asking the question she’d been wanting to: “Are you always this warm-hearted with your friends?”

Running around, even risking disciplinary action to scale the school walls in the dead of night.

He must have been afraid Su Mian would leave Z City.

“Well, what can I say? We’re friends.” Wei Chuan forced a laugh, inexplicably unable to meet her gaze. “Besides, this does have something to do with me.”

“It doesn’t.” Meng Tang didn’t understand why he would blame himself for this. “No matter what car I took, it shouldn’t have been grounds for their rumors.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Wei Chuan was glad she thought that way. “I feel a lot better now about you going to class alone.”

Meng Tang smiled. “Then I’ll go?”

“Mm, see you.”

Because of the extra time spent talking with Wei Chuan, Meng Tang was the last to arrive in the classroom.

Just as she was about to step inside, she suddenly pulled her foot back.

This morning was a departmental lecture, crowded, which meant there would inevitably be prying, curious eyes.

Meng Tang took a step back and leaned against the wall.

She lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes for a long while, then slowly took a deep breath.

Just as she raised her foot again, the academic advisor walked up from behind. “Why aren’t you going in?”

Meng Tang turned reflexively, greeting her with some restraint while inwardly surprised that it wasn’t the professor teaching today.

“Go on in.”

Meng Tang nodded and entered the classroom with her head down. She forced a faint smile, feigning ease, but didn’t dare meet anyone’s gaze.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the lecture hall: “Meng Tang, there’s a seat here!”

Meng Tang looked up to see Tan Xi waving from the aisle seat in the third row, where she had saved a spot.

Giving Tan Xi a grateful glance, Meng Tang wound her way through the front rows and sat down beside her.

The advisor stepped onto the podium and, without preamble, took attendance.

Once confirming everyone was present, she bypassed the multimedia setup, snapped a piece of chalk in half, and wrote the class meeting’s theme on the blackboard in the most traditional way possible,

When You Become the Target of Rumors.

Meng Tang’s heart was suddenly struck, giving a fierce leap.

The counselor paused for two seconds before saying, “Let me announce that today’s afternoon class meeting has been moved up. I assume everyone knows what this is about.”

“The theme of today’s meeting was changed last minute, so I have no preparations. I’ll just speak from the heart.”

“The power of one person’s explanation is small and easily overlooked. I can’t control the overwhelming bandwagon effect online, but as my students, it’s my responsibility to protect you and to guide you.”

“If you’ve been wronged, the school’s legal team and I will do everything we can to help you. Understood?”

That resounding “Understood?” made Meng Tang’s eyes redden instantly.

The class meeting lasted two full periods. After it ended, Meng Tang was asked to stay behind by the counselor.

“Don’t worry too much about this. The school has already stepped in, even the principal has gotten involved.”

Meng Tang froze, her eyes widening. “The principal?”

“Yes, I was surprised too when I got his call in the middle of the night. Logically, it should’ve been the dean making that call, but the dean is also aware of the situation and has left it to me to handle.”

“Did the principal say anything else?” Meng Tang was stunned.

The counselor shook her head and asked, “Have you had any conflicts with anyone before?”

Meng Tang truthfully recounted her friction with Zhang Yifan and Wang Jue.

The counselor frowned. “The sports college recruited quite a few troublemakers last year.”

Meng Tang quickly interjected, “But there are plenty of good ones too.”

The counselor chuckled. “Are you referring to Wei Chuan?”

Meng Tang was taken aback. “How did you know?”

The counselor replied, “Last night, after seeing the news, I looked into it. The car in the photo looked familiar, so I asked around. A student said it belonged to Wei Chuan’s family. Later, the principal called and told me to collect the surveillance footage from the security office this morning. That’s when I found out the Wei family had intervened.”

“But don’t feel burdened. Wei Chuan has competitions coming up and can’t afford bad publicity. Their urgency to clear things up actually works in your favor.”

“In fact, I’m relieved this incident involved Wei Chuan, it made the school take it more seriously.”

Leaning in slightly, the counselor lowered her voice. “His family has influence in politics, business, and sports. No one dares to cross them.”

Meng Tang was genuinely surprised. So, the principal’s involvement was because of the Wei family?

She couldn’t think of any other reason.

“I’ve already obtained the surveillance footage and preserved some evidence. Don’t make any public statements. Once the school’s legal team gathers all the evidence, they’ll use the official school account to clarify things for you. You can comment then.”

Meng Tang nodded. “On Friday night, I attended Master Su Mian’s exchange event at Wanhe. We took a group photo, and she agreed to help clarify the situation.”

The counselor said, “That’s even better. Now there’s nothing to worry about. Go to class, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my duty. Go on now.”

As Meng Tang left the lecture hall, she realized Wei Chuan had truly done her a huge favor.

She took out her phone, intending to call and thank him, when a notification popped up from a specially followed account, Su Mian had posted a group photo from the exchange event.

In the photo, Su Mian stood in the center, with Fu Hansong and another female artist on her right. To her left was Meng Tang, followed by Li Hanjin.

The caption was simple yet touching,

Taking a group photo with fellow peers in the hotel on an early winter’s late night, this exchange shattered my prejudice that young artisans nowadays lack the essence of woodcraft.

Pure craftsmanship speaks for itself in art.

Almost at the same time, Wei Chuan also posted an update,

Just happened to drop off a friend at an exchange event. Who knew I wouldn’t go viral, but my family’s car did.

He shared twelve photos, three surveillance shots from the school gate and nine comparison images of the Maybach from every possible angle.

For no apparent reason, Meng Tang sensed sarcasm in those pictures, as if they were saying, “Open your damn eyes and take a good look.”

A faint smile tugged at Meng Tang’s lips as, with a swift motion, she set Wei Chuan as a special follow.