Chapter 43: My Life Won't Be Ruined That Easily

Seeing who had just walked in, Shang Ying couldn't help letting out a soft gasp in her heart.

Lin Qian entered the office holding a stack of homework assignments under everyone's watchful eyes, her gaze sweeping past Shang Ying on the sofa before quickly withdrawing.

She wore a neat ponytail and her red-and-white school uniform was worn impeccably without a single crease, looking every bit like a star student straight out of an educational documentary.

Lin Qian had merely used the break after morning self-study to drop off homework at the office, unexpectedly catching a snippet of the conversation outside the door.

Although she had always lived by the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble, her life had been filled with endless drama recently... so one more thing wouldn't make a difference.

Besides, Shang Ying had shared pastries with her earlier, counting as a small connection. She couldn't bring herself to pretend she hadn't heard.

Teacher Liu, the homeroom teacher of Class 1, nearly lost his footing upon hearing those words, hurriedly shooting signaling looks to Lin Qian to put down the assignments and leave immediately.

Under his gaze, Lin Qian calmly set down the homework assignments, then turned around and continued.

"If this student can testify that they are lovers, I can also testify that they are not."

Teacher Liu's heart, hanging in suspense, finally sank completely.

‘Why were both of these students in his class, and why were both getting dragged into this mess?! Was this office some kind of whirlpool that everyone was diving headfirst into?!’

"How can you testify?"

The grade dean was getting ready to yell. He had just been on the verge of wrapping this matter up, so why did another student come to cause a disruption? What was wrong with these kids?!

Lin Qian paused, cast a quick glance at Shang Yi, and said unhurriedly.

"I'm Shang Yi's deskmate and we're on good terms. I know Shang Ying is his sister."

Shang Ying raised an eyebrow, covering her mouth with her hand to whisper to Shang Yi.

"How come I've never heard you mention this?"

Shang Yi's lips moved, answering honestly, "Don't remember."

Shang Ying: …

Fine, it wasn't surprising for a genius who only cared about studying.

The "good terms" part was just Lin Qian making things up. After all, despite being deskmates for so long, they had barely spoken. She figured Shang Yi probably didn't even remember her existence, but these teachers didn't know any better.

Seeing the situation stuck in a dead end, the grade dean shot a fierce glare at Lin Qian. He had no intention of continuing to tangle with these students. After all, the principal had already issued instructions to expel Shang Ying, so no matter how much she made a scene, it wouldn't change the outcome.

A moment ago, he had panicked due to his guilty conscience, but thinking it over, Shang Ying had no proof. What could she use to prove corruption? Besides, Shang Ying was just an ordinary student with zero background. What could she possibly do to him? Once he realized this, his mind cleared up entirely.

"The school has already issued the notice. Regardless of the details, you have been advised to withdraw, Shang Ying. I won't hold your slanderous words against you. Sign the papers and leave right now."

The grade dean issued a clear eviction order.

Seeing the matter conclude, Xia Zhi's shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, while Tian Wei revealed a triumphant smile, shooting a mocking glance at Shang Ying. As if saying all that struggling had been in vain and only invited further disgust.

Noticing the grade dean brush things off so hastily, a trace of displeasure flickered in Lin Qian's cool eyes. She looked at Shang Ying, gesturing for her to speak up further.

‘It's fine.’

Shang Ying mouthed back to her, casting a brief glance toward the door.

Lin Qian was a smart girl and understood her meaning instantly. Class time was approaching, so she gave Shang Ying a nod and left the office directly, not even bothering to say goodbye to the teachers.

"Still not signing? What are you lingering here for? You're clinging here like a stubborn dog."

Tian Wei saw Shang Ying still sitting leisurely on the sofa and raised her voice to urge her, almost stepping forward to pull her herself.

‘What a thick-skinned girl, refusing to leave even after being expelled!’

"Lock the door."

A gentle female voice fell softly.

Hearing this, Shang Yi immediately stood up, locked the office door, and stood guard right beside it like a jade statue.

"What are you doing?!" Tian Wei turned her head abruptly to question Shang Ying, a wave of baseless panic rising in her heart.

Xia Zhi also took two steps back, standing silently off to the side. Shang Ying's gaze was far too cold. The moment their eyes met, a chill ran through her, though a trace of indignation lingered in her chest.

‘What right did Shang Ying have to look at her like that? Did she say anything wrong?’ Xia Zhi clenched her fists. ‘Why was Shang Ying born with such good fortune that she could be with Shang Yi? What made her so special? Just because she was pretty?!’

Shang Ying stood up from the sofa, biting down hard to crush the lollipop in her mouth, the sweet fragments dissolving rapidly on her tongue.

She walked slowly over to the wooden cabinet, grabbing a baseball bat leaning against it. While these fools were spouting nonsense earlier, she had already spotted this bat. It had the perfect thickness and weight, making it feel exceptionally smooth to handle.

BANG!

A dull thud echoed from the solid wood desk. Materials and files scattered everywhere into the air like white birds flapping their wings before fluttering back down.

Shang Ying curled her lips in satisfaction. It was indeed smooth to handle.

Next, amidst the surrounding screams and gasps of horror, she flicked her wrist, the baseball bat whistling through the air as it struck down once, twice, making the solid wood desk groan under the heavy impacts.

The computer monitor cracked into a web of lines, keyboard keys shattered and bounced in all directions, and every smashable object on the desk was pulverized, finally scattering across the floor in a complete mess.

Terrified, the teachers tried to flee, crowding toward the door. Yet as if she had eyes on the back of her head, the moment they reached out to pull Shang Yi aside, Shang Ying spoke up.

"Whoever tries to leave gets the bat landed on them."

The teachers crowded together froze instantly, looking like zombies under a freezing spell. They knew full well how painful a strike from that baseball bat would be, and they also knew that in Shang Ying's state, she meant every single word!

Shang Ying had no intention of making things difficult for these innocent teachers, but letting them out now would inevitably spark panic, so she could only trouble them to witness a bit of "baseball sports" inside the office.

"Go about your business, I won't disturb you. I'm just here to deal with them."

Shang Ying pointed her finger at the grade dean, Tian Wei, and Xia Zhi.

The other teachers nodded hurriedly, displaying great situational awareness, though none dared return to their desks. Instead, they huddled together into a circle far away from the grade dean's desk, as if drawing safety in numbers.

Shang Ying lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting mottled shadows as she looked casually at the coward sitting in his seat, too terrified to move a muscle.

The grade dean's legs had gone soft from those few blows of the bat. His eyes widened in horror, his lips trembling as if electrocuted, yet he still tried to throw out threats.

"You... what you're doing is illegal... I'm warning you! Believe it or not, I'll sue you!"

Shang Ying nodded her head.

"Sure, go ahead and sue."

She had wanted to beat up this old bald pig for a while now. ‘Damn pretender’. Her earlier threat had merely been a ploy to bait out who had filed the report. Did a high-and-mighty guy who treated students like fools even deserve to be called a teacher?

It was a sheer insult to the word "teacher."

Shang Ying kicked the grade dean's chair over with one leg, pressing the tip of the baseball bat against his greasy face, looking as if she would stir up waves of agonizing screams the very next second.

The grade dean shouted hurriedly.

"Calm down! Student Shang, you must stay calm! Doing this will ruin your life!"

"My life won't be ruined that easily.”