Chapter 28: Truth
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Although Xue Xi’s actions looked light and she seemingly only placed her hand on Mrs. Qin’s shoulders, only the latter knew how strong this girl was. She could not break free no matter how she tried.
Mrs. Qin could only stare at her while fuming. “This is our family’s matter. A little girl like you shouldn’t meddle in our affairs!”
Just as she said that, the force on her shoulders intensified and she felt as if her bones were going to be crushed. She could only let go of Qin Shuang.
When Qin Shuang obtained freedom again, she subconsciously hid behind Sister Xi, who was “adept at fighting.”
Mrs. Qin wanted to grab her but was urged by Old Liu, “Mrs. Qin, keep your cool. We looked for you to settle the problem so don’t start a fight. Moreover, this issue isn’t so serious that there’s a need for anyone to be suspended from school.”
Stealing money was a serious matter to an 18-year-old, and getting demerit points was considered the least severe punishment.
However, Old Liu felt pity toward Qin Shuang. If she were to be brought away like this, her whole life would be ruined.
He seamlessly stood in between Xue Xi and Mrs. Qin. He was afraid that Mrs. Qin would hit the class’ obedient, sensible, and seemingly feeble Xue Xi, so he shielded her from the front.
Mrs. Qin wanted to push Old Liu aside. “Mr. Liu, please move aside and don’t defend Qin Shuang. Hasn’t she been doing things like this? Let me tell you, it’s been a long time since I’ve been bothered about her and I just pretend that I don’t have a daughter like her. Now that she dared to slander Qin Lu, I won’t let her off easily! She has been like this since she was a child. Not only does she not study well, but she wants to bring her sister down too!”
Old Liu stopped her anxiously. “Mrs. Qin, calm down…”
Seeing them quarreling, Xue Xi spoke slowly, and her calm and clear voice was heard by everyone in the office. “So, you’re certain that Qin Shuang did it?”
Mrs. Qin was stunned before nodding. “Yes.”
Xue Xi replied, “…Oh. Then we can only call the police.”
“…”
That one sentence made the office quieten down.
Mrs. Qin stopped acting crazy and looked at Xue Xi in disbelief. She then shot a glance at Qin Shuang. “Call the police? Don’t you know how Qin Shuang will end up if you call the police? She is an adult and needs to go to jail for stealing money!”
Qin Shuang shot her a glance and found her both ridiculous and pathetic.
Since she was already on Qin Lu’s side and was sure that she was the villain, why did she have to pretend to care for her?
Her cheek was burning from the pain, but her heart, which she thought was already numbed, hurt even more!
Nobody fought to speak and Xue Xi could finally open her mouth. She analyzed the situation rationally without any feelings. “The criminal investigators have great means. Since the envelope had been under Qin Shuang’s desk until it fell out and she did not touch it, the police will be able to match the fingerprints on the envelope. That way, we can find out who the thief is.”
When she said this, Qin Lu, who had been sobbing, froze.
She lifted her head in disbelief, and when her eyes met Xue Xi’s, she felt those eyes had seen her through. For some unknown reason, Qin Lu shivered.
Xue Xi did not look at her and said to Qin Shuang, “Do you dare to call the police?”
Qin Shuang straightened her back. “Yes!”
When Mrs. Qin heard their conversation, she was so angered that she laughed. “Do you think that I’ll believe you if you call the police? Qin Shuang, I didn’t want to call the police for your sake. If others wronged Qin Lu, I would have called the police long ago! Go call the police and let them come get the evidence. If you want to go to jail, I won’t stop you!”
Qin Shuang stared at her in disbelief.
She and her mother had not been on speaking terms for more than two years… She did not believe that even though her mother had just reminded her to have breakfast this morning, they would be at swords’ points right now.
It was because of Qin Lu again…
Looking at this situation, Xue Xi spoke no more and fished out her phone from her pocket. She pressed the digits 110, and just as she was about to make the call, Qin Lu exclaimed with panic, “Don’t!”
Xue Xi’s finger landed on the “call” button, and she slowly turned around to look.
Everyone in the office looked at Qin Lu as well.
She struggled to explain, “Mom, I don’t want to pursue this matter further, and you shouldn’t pursue it either. Qin Shuang is, after all, my sister, and I don’t want her to end up in jail.”
Mrs. Qin had a heart-aching expression on her face as she pointed at Qin Lu and said to Qin Shuang, “See that? She’s thinking about you even when you framed her! Qin Shuang, how can you be completely without conscience?”
Qin Shuang kept quiet.
Qin Lu hurriedly said, “Qin Shuang, as long as you don’t call the police, the matter will pass like this. Since the money isn’t lost, Mr. Liu, let’s leave it like this.”
Ms. Li was cynical. “Have a look, this is the kind of right-mindedness that students who do well in their studies have. Not only are some people immoral, but their studies are poor too.”
Shooting a glance at Qin Lu, Xue Xi saw the fear and fluster on her face just like Qin Shuang did and she tried to maintain a smile. Retracting her glance, Xue Xi said, “It’s better to call the police.”
She pressed the “call” button.
Witnessing that, Qin Lu dashed forward. “No!”
Yet Mrs. Qin grabbed her hand. “Qin Lu, don’t bother with her. Since she wants to reap the fruits of her actions, let her be!”
The call went through and Xue Xi spoke. “Hello, this is…”
Before she could finish speaking, Qin Lu shouted, “I’m the one who stole it!”
“…”
All of a sudden, the tables were turned and everyone stared at her in utter disbelief.
Listening to this, Xue Xi slowly put down her phone and her screen showed that she still had not made the call.
Moments later, Mrs. Qin rushed up to Qin Lu and grabbed her shoulders. “Lulu, what are you talking about?”
Qin Lu took in a deep breath and said while crying, “Mom, I’m the one who stole it, don’t call the police! I’ll pay the amount, alright?”
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qin paused for ten seconds. As she recovered from the disbelief, she shouted, “Lulu didn’t do this on purpose! It must have been Qin Shuang who drove her to the edge and she merely wanted to give Qin Shuang a lesson! Mr. Liu, Ms. Li, please let this matter rest. Money isn’t a problem and we can pay whatever the amount, but please don’t give the child demerit points!”
Her eyes turned red. “That will affect the child’s whole life!”
Qin Shuang stood beside Xue Xi. Seeing this scene, she did not feel the relief that she expected when the truth had been revealed.
When something happened to her, Mrs. Qin gave her a slap first.
Yet when something happened to Qin Lu, Mrs. Qin’s first reaction was to defend her.
They were clearly a pair of twins. However, children who knew how to cry would get sweets, but she was never one who would cry.
Ms. Li did not expect things to turn this way. She frowned. “Qin Lu, how can you do something like this?”
Mrs. Qin said anxiously, “This is just a squabble between two kids, look…”
At this moment, footsteps were heard coming from the door. The voice of Flame Number One rang. “Aiyo, how lively!”
Everyone turned around and saw Gao Yanchen standing at the door with Flame Numbers One, Two, Three, and Four. The four redheads were especially eye-piercing.