The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 74

Zhai Li was beginning to feel a bit annoyed by Qi Xiashan. She managed a strained reply, “No, it’s nothing like that. I just had a small misunderstanding with my family.”

Qi Xiashan looked at her skeptically. “Are you sure Yun Can’er isn’t bullying you? Don’t be afraid to speak up, I have connections here at Ocean University!”

Watching Qi Xiashan lift her chin with that boastful look, Zhai Li was speechless. Connections? Could those connections possibly be higher than her uncle, Vice President Zhai? Could they surpass Chu Ling’s father, President Yan?

Zhai Li forced a smile. “There’s no truth to that at all. How could Yun Can’er possibly bully me?”

Qi Xiashan, however, was convinced that Zhai Li was just putting on a brave face. She chatted with her a bit longer before returning to her dorm, hiding her sense of accomplishment after having already reported the “bullying” to Wang Di.

The next day, after military training concluded, the counselor, Lin Qingmei, personally came to collect Zhai Li, Chu Ling, and the other two to leave. Qi Xiashan watched from a distance, her heart racing with excitement.

Some bystanders were curious about why an entire dorm had been called away. Qi Xiashan leaned in and whispered with a frown, “It looks like Zhai Li was being bullied by the other three in her room.”

“For real?! Yun Can’er is so sweet and cute, she doesn’t seem like the type to bully anyone.”

Qi Xiashan countered, “Haven’t you heard the saying? You can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because she looks sweet doesn’t mean she actually is!”

Seeing that others still looked unconvinced despite her words, Qi Xiashan felt a surge of irritation. Was Yun Can’er’s pretty face really enough to make everyone defend her like this?

On the other side of things, Ning Xiao had already consulted someone to find an auspicious date for registering their marriage. She called Yun Can’er to share the good news, timing it for the end of her military training.

The phone rang five or six times before it was finally answered.

“Ning Ning, is something wrong?” Yun Can’er whispered.

The four roommates, along with President Yan Shanxue, Vice President Zhai, Dean of Students Wang Di, and Counselor Lin Qingmei, were all gathered in the President’s office.

The President explained that someone had reported Chu Ling, Feng Manman, and Yun Can’er to the Dean for bullying their roommate, Zhai Li, and they were there to investigate.

Since the focus wasn’t on her yet, Yun Can’er stood in the corner to watch the drama unfold. When Zhai Li heard the word “bullying,” her face went through a progression of disbelief and then fury at being betrayed. Her expression shifted from pale to green and then to red, a performance more colorful than a Sichuan opera face-change.

Yun Can’er had her phone on vibrate in her pocket. When Ning Xiao’s call came through, she checked her surroundings, saw that no one was paying attention to her, and slipped away to a corner to crouch down and answer.

She used a hushed voice to avoid being overheard.

Ning Xiao asked curiously, “Where are you? Why can’t you speak up?”

Yun Can’er replied, “Someone reported us for bullying Zhai Li. We’re all in the President’s office cooperating with the investigation.”

Ning Xiao’s gaze sharpened, her expression darkening. “Stay there. I’m coming to find you right now.”

Before Yun Can’er could say “No need,” Ning Xiao had already hung up.

Yun Can’er stood up and returned to her spot. Everyone’s attention was fixed on Zhai Li, so no one noticed her brief absence.

Yan Shanxue asked sternly, “Zhai Li, have your roommates ever bullied you?”

Zhai Li glanced at Vice President Zhai. Seeing the blatant impatience in his eyes, she felt like crying. “President Yan, no. They haven’t bullied me.”

Yan Shanxue turned his gaze to Wang Di. “Dean Wang, you heard her. Student Zhai Li says she has not been bullied.”

When Zhai Li wasn’t acting arrogant, she looked quite deceptive. Those who didn’t know her true nature could easily mistake her for being weak and exploitable, which was how Qi Xiashan had been misled. Now, as Wang Di carefully studied Zhai Li’s pathetic expression, he fell for it as well.

His expression became even more solemn than Yan Shanxue’s. “President Yan, there is clearly more to this bullying case than meets the eye. It’s only natural that Zhai Li is afraid of her roommates and doesn’t dare tell the truth in front of them. I believe it would be more reasonable to question them separately.”

Vice President Zhai said with a cold face, “Dean Wang, that won’t be necessary.”

Wang Di had always looked down on Vice President Zhai’s conduct. He ignored him entirely, waiting only for Yan Shanxue’s response.

Yan Shanxue said, “Vice President Zhai says it’s unnecessary, and I agree.”

“President Yan!” Wang Di was shocked and angry, wondering when Yan Shanxue had joined forces with Vice President Zhai.

He looked at Zhai Li, who had her head bowed, and felt a deep sense of injustice. Were these people blind? Zhai Li was clearly the victim. Wang Di fumed, “President Yan, I didn’t expect you to collude with Vice President Zhai and allow this bullying to happen. If the school won’t handle this, I’ll take it to the media and let the public see if Ocean University should be tolerating such behavior!”

Wang Di was filled with a sense of righteous indignation, looking like a persecuted hero as he glared at Yan Shanxue.

Before Yan Shanxue could react, Vice President Zhai’s face had already turned black with rage. What did he mean by “colluding”? How dare this Wang Di speak to him like that!

Vice President Zhai’s gaze swept over Zhai Li. “Zhai Li, speak for yourself. Have I ever persecuted you?”

Wang Di was about to shout that this was a threat, when he heard Zhai Li say with a sob, “Uncle, you’ve loved me most since I was a child. How could you ever persecute me?”

Wang Di’s eyes widened, and he froze on the spot.

Yan Shanxue remarked, “Dean Wang perhaps didn’t know that Zhai Li is Vice President Zhai’s biological niece, whom he has doted on like a daughter. How could he let her suffer? He isn’t worried because Zhai Li has never been wronged, though, perhaps, Zhai Li has used her connection to Vice President Zhai to wrong others.” Yan Shanxue’s words were pointed.

The only thought in Wang Di’s mind now was to drag Qi Xiashan over and ask her what the hell was going on! Because of her lies, he had ended up looking like a fool, his passion turning into a joke.

Wang Di’s face flushed a deep red. He opened his mouth several times but found he had nothing to say.

Ultimately, it was Yan Shanxue who gave him a way out. “I know your heart was in the right place, Dean Wang. However, in the future, you should investigate things thoroughly first. Calling people here without cause only invites gossip and harms the reputation of the university.”

Wang Di said shamefully, “President Yan, I wasn’t cautious enough this time. I will definitely do better in the future.”

Yan Shanxue nodded. “Mm. While this bullying incident was a misunderstanding, other matters regarding Student Zhai Li are certainly not.”

Zhai Li’s heart leaped in shock, and she instinctively looked to Vice President Zhai for help. However, his face was cold, and he refused to even look in her direction.

A wave of despair washed over her.

“The rest of this doesn’t concern the three of you. You may leave,” Yan Shanxue said to Chu Ling and the others.

Chu Ling nodded. “Alright, Dad.”

Feng Manman added, “Goodbye, Uncle Yan.”

Wang Di, who had just managed to calm down, was stunned once again. He had just accused the President’s own daughter of bullying her roommate!

Yun Can’er remembered that Ning Xiao had told her to wait, so she didn’t follow Chu Ling and Feng Manman out. Instead, she said to Yan Shanxue, “Uncle Yan, Ning Ning said she’s coming. Can I wait for her here?”

As she spoke, her cheeks turned a faint pink as if she were embarrassed.

Yan Shanxue’s tone softened. “Of course. Go sit on the sofa and wait.”

“Thank you, Uncle Yan,” Yun Can’er said sweetly.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Yun Can’er walked over to the sofa and sat down with her back to the group. Clutching her racing heart, she thought: I was so brave just now. Ning Ning has to praise me when she gets here.

After Chu Ling and Feng Manman left, the remaining people continued to handle Zhai Li’s case.

Vice President Zhai said, “I’ve watched Li Li grow up. Her personality might not be the best, but she isn’t malicious. This whole thing was caused by the person who made the report. Dean Wang, you must reveal who it was, or I’ll suspect you just made this up to cause trouble for your own amusement!”

Vice President Zhai brought up the previous matter to try and shift the topic.

“You!” Wang Di was incensed. “I won’t tell you who it was. Who knows what a person like you, who gets cozy with students, might do to them.”

Vice President Zhai’s eyes bulged. “What did you say? Say that again if you dare!”

Seeing a physical conflict brewing, Yan Shanxue stepped between them to keep them apart. Just as he was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of the top of Yun Can’er’s head peeking over the back of the sofa. Her bright eyes were full of interest as she watched the drama, and he suddenly forgot what he was going to say.

Yun Can’er didn’t realize she had been spotted. Seeing Yan Shanxue open his mouth and then stop, she became worried. After a thought, she got up from the sofa, walked over, and whispered, “Uncle Yan, are you okay?”

Yan Shanxue snapped out of it, instinctively lowering his voice to sound as kind as possible. “I’m fine, Can’er, don’t worry. Go sit back down and watch… ahem, go sit and wait for Ning Xiao.”

He had almost said “watch the show.”

Yun Can’er returned to the sofa to wait. Yan Shanxue frowned and said to Vice President Zhai, “Let’s put the previous matter aside. The most important issue now is how Zhai Li got into this university.”

He looked at the Vice President meaningfully. “Zhai Li’s college entrance exam score was only 525, which is over a hundred points below the cutoff for Ocean University. The records say she passed through the independent recruitment exam. Vice President Zhai, you were the lead interviewer for that exam, weren’t you?”

The Vice President’s expression shifted several times before settling into a calm smile. “I was indeed the lead interviewer. Is President Yan suggesting I acted with favoritism? Is there any evidence? Besides me, there were three other deputy interviewers. The candidates were decided by all four of us. Does the President think I have the ability to bribe three other people at once?”

Yan Shanxue shook his head. “Vice President Zhai, the problem is that Zhai Li never actually took the independent recruitment exam. Her files and her scores were all forged.”

There was a set quota for independent recruitment, which meant Zhai Li had surely taken someone else’s spot.

Yun Can’er had excellent eyesight. Even from a few meters away, she could see a drop of cold sweat rolling down Vice President Zhai’s temple.

“I interviewed Li Li myself. The files and scores cannot be fake,” Vice President Zhai insisted. “President Yan, it isn’t good to make accusations without evidence.”

The three people who had served as interviewers alongside him had all gone abroad for research, making evidence difficult to find. But difficult did not mean impossible.

By the time Ning Xiao arrived, the matter had essentially been settled.

Vice President Zhai was pale and could barely stand, his clothes soaked with sweat. Zhai Li and Lin Qingmei both looked like they were at a funeral.

Ning Xiao knocked and entered, and the first thing she saw was the satisfied, gossipy look in Yun Can’er’s eyes.

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