Chapter 32 – Cleaning Up the Rumours (2) (谣言澄清（二）)

The director had only said a few sentences, and the students had already begun whispering.

“Could this be about Jing Yunzhao…?”

“Of course it is. Who else would it be? No one else has caused a fuss recently. Especially since yesterday, you guys didn’t get to see her dad. He was really spiteful and aggressive, screaming his lungs out about how Jing Yunzhao was hooking up with hooligans. It was originally a rumour but after yesterday, it became real!”

Even the people around Jing Yunzhao whispered these kinds of things.

“The students down there, please be quiet!” The director raised his voice and continued, “Regarding the recent case concerning the hooligans, Jing Yunzhao and the school have already reported it to the police, and the people have already been caught. After investigations and interrogations, it has been confirmed that those hooligans have zero relation to Jing Yunzhao. The two parties don’t know each other, and therefore are not labelled under ‘early love’. So from today onwards, the school hopes you would all watch your mouths. Do not speak mindlessly. All teachers must also be watchful. If there are still students who are making trouble from nothing, strict punishment must be administered…”

(T/N: Early love (早恋) means falling in love before the age of entering college (usually teenagers), but it doesn’t necessarily involve romance. Like the way it’s used in this chapter, ‘early love’ can be used as a euphemism to describe sexual activities of a teenager.)

The director continued to admonish the students for the remainder of the assembly. And at the end, he added, “This morning, student Lu Jia from Class 2 caused a disturbance in school. Therefore, I’m warning all of you here again. If anyone causes another incident, a demerit will be permanently marked on your record!”

After he finished, the students were in an uproar.

Jing Yunzhao mentally sighed in relief, a few strong emotions flashing through her eyes.

She has finally shed off the shadow of her past life; Being dirtied with rumours but unable to speak out!

In the next row beside them stood Qiao Hongye, her body shaking violently. She was unwilling to accept this. She hated hearing others speak about Jing Yunzhao’s matters the most. Especially like this, where everyone was talking as if Jing Yunzhao had suffered a big injustice!

What injustice? Her parents had raised Jing Yunzhao all these years. She was just a dog! She should at least know how to repay a debt of gratitude!

Qiao Hongye glared angrily at Jing Yunzhao.

Jing Yunzhao suddenly had a strange feeling and turned her head, just in time to meet Qiao Hongye’s eyes. The next moment, Jing Yunzhao’s lips curved into a smirk with not a trace of warmth, a terrifying smile. It was chilling, enough to make anyone break into cold sweat.

Qiao Hongye’s heart skipped a beat. Her aura instantly became weaker, before she rolled her eyes and promptly turned her head around.

“Hongye, what’s wrong?” Seeing her pale complexion, the student beside her asked.

“It’s nothing. The sun’s rays are too strong. They’re making me dizzy,” Qiao Hongye could only hear the buzzing inside of her head, causing her to feel strangely restless, so she randomly made up an excuse.

The student only frowned and didn’t say any more.

It was so early in the morning, what sun? Even if it was noon, it wasn’t summertime. How could being under the sun make her dizzy? In addition, Qiao Hongye’s expression was too scary, almost as if she wanted to kill someone. Had someone offended her?

Jing Yunzhao saw this whole exchange. Her eyes only smiled coldly before she too turned her head around.

“Jing Yunzhao, I’m sorry. I spoke quite badly of you a few days ago, but I didn’t mean it. I only did that because I thought…” On the way back to class, a girl suddenly stopped Jing Yunzhao and apologised.

“It’s okay. Everything’s all cleared up now,” Jing Yunzhao replied with a smile.

She would be calculating and unforgiving towards her enemies, but the majority of the school originally had no malicious intent towards her. She had no reason to keep score, especially since this girl had come up to her on her own and apologized. It was enough to prove that her reputation was starting to turn for the better.

“This is the first time I’ve spoken to you! Everyone used to think that you were fierce and savage, but now I’ve realized that you’re the complete opposite! Plus, your grades are so good… Can I borrow your notes sometime in the future?” The girl instantly relaxed and exclaimed.

“No problem.” Because Jing Yunzhao wasn’t used to socializing, she spoke so little to the point that it seemed pitiful.

However, although she didn’t notice it, that faint but refreshing smile surprised a lot of people. The numerous stares of male students couldn’t help but make her blush.