With a remorseful look, she said, "I'm really sorry. Please give us a chance to redeem ourselves."
They had just received a scolding from the principal.
It was because their actions caused a lot of trouble for the school.
They offended a very powerful person.
The person was angered by their actions and requested for them to be punished.
"Apologize to Jennie and ask for her forgiveness. If she doesn't forgive you, you guys will have to fend for yourselves."
As she recalled what the principal said, Bai Xiao tightened her resolve.
She had to do it even though she really didn't want to.
The more humble she appeared, the stronger her hatred for Jennie grew.
"Jennie, we're sorry. We were rash... We won't do it in the future." Zhang Yuwei apologized as well. "We've known each other for three years already. Please forgive us."
The others heard their apology and shifted their focus to Jennie.
They wanted to know her answer.
Rosé turned to Jennie as well.
Jennie stayed silent for a moment before replying coldly, "If an apology solved everything, why would we need the police for? If you really considered our friendship of three years, you wouldn't have done it. You didn't really care about our friendship at all."
"So why should I care?" Jennie said as she glanced at the two of them. Then, she bit on her lip and continued coldly, "I believe that I have made it really clear just now. We're no longer friends. I'm sorry, I cannot forgive you both."
The other students were shocked by her reply.
They really thought that Jennie wouldn't reject their apology so directly in front of everyone.
Hence, they were shocked by her reply.
But no one thought that she was being unreasonable.
No one would have been happy if something similar happened to them.
In fact, it would've been weird if Jennie forgave them just like that.
Bai Xiao frowned.
She thought that Jennie would have forgiven her after her sincere apology.
She felt humiliated.
She wanted to leave.
But thinking about what the principal said, she suppressed her anger.
The humiliation that she was going through now was nothing compared to being expelled.
No matter what happened, they could not be expelled.
"Jennie, I understand that you're really angry now. What we have done was really horrible. I understand if you don't want to forgive us. But we're really sorry. What must we do to earn your forgiveness? We're willing to do anything to be forgiven by you."
Zhang Yuwei nodded and agreed. "Yes, what must we do to earn your forgiveness? We'll do it straight away."
Zhang Yuwei was furious as well.
There were so many people watching, and everyone saw their apology to Jennie.
But her attitude was still so cold.
She wasn't going to accept their apology.
They were humiliated.
But no matter how angry they were, they couldn't leave.
If Jennie was unwilling to forgive them, they might face expulsion. Losing some face was a much better alternative to getting expelled.
Jennie looked at them coldly, her tone seemingly void of any room for negotiation. "I'm sorry, but no matter what you do, I won't forgive you."
She just didn't see any sincerity from them. They didn't appear to be truly remorseful.
Although she had no idea why these two came apologizing to her, she knew it wasn't from the bottom of their hearts.
They still didn't realize that they were wrong.
Although they appeared to be apologizing to her, they must still be scolding her in their heads.
If she hadn't found evidence that they were the ones behind some of the meanest comments on the forum, Jennie wouldn't believe that they would go that far.
She was already said to be a "vixen" and a "cheap sl*t." If she really forgave them just like that, then she really was cheap.
"Did you guys hear that." Rosé furrowed her brows at Bai Xiao and Zhang Yuwei, who looked stunned. "My Baby won't forgive you, so you can leave now. I wonder how you can bring yourselves to ask for forgiveness after doing something so despicable.
"You'd better count yourselves lucky that Jennie has a good temper. If I was the one involved, I would've punched you to death."
The people around began discussing again.
"Exactly. They actually had the face to ask for forgiveness. I would've punched them too."
"Me too. They're so b*tchy!"
"Ha. If it were me, I'd punch them once for every time I bumped into them."
"They wouldn't live to see tomorrow if I were the one in this scenario."
Bai Xiao and Zhang Yuwei turned even paler hearing these conversations.
Their hearts got even colder as they saw Jennie's aloof and unforgiving expression.
They finally got it.
They realized that Jennie wasn't going to forgive them no matter what they did.
Both of them had been so mild-tempered and polite to Jennie because they needed a chance to stay in school.
But now that they realized the situation was hopeless, their attitudes instantly changed.
Bai Xiao's expression darkened. "Jennie, are you really not willing to give us a chance? You really... want to be so heartless?"
Jennie had no idea that the principal spoke to them.
Neither did she know about the expulsion.
She raised a brow as she found their reaction odd. "You're the heartless ones, not me."
"Jennie, don't act as if you don't know anything." Bai Xiao bit her lip and glared at her. The glare was so menacing, people around felt their hairs stand.
"Yes. Yuwei and I did let you down. But haven't we already apologized in front of everyone? What else do you want? We did wrong, but are you being right for forcing us into a dead end?
"We have six people in our room, are you only going to be satisfied after chasing each of us out? Does this mean that everyone you dislike in the future will be chased out of the school by your backing?
"Look at the way you're treating your schoolmates and roommates. Don't you find yourself evil?"
Jennie thought she'd heard wrong.
She was evil?
She couldn't believe Bai Xiao could even utter this statement.
The person who'd gone against her in every way possible, and even took to slandering her, was calling her evil.
It was a joke.
Zhang Yuwei's eyes were a little red. She wasn't as angry as Bai Xiao, but her attitude wasn't as nice as before. "Jennie, we only have half a year to go before graduating. We really don't want to be expelled.
"Xiao Xiao and I were biased against you because of some misunderstandings. So, we ended up spouting some unkind words when the post was made on the forum. This was our mistake, and we're willing to admit it and face the consequences.
"But, isn't expulsion a little overboard?"
The moment she said that the discussions commenced once again.
"Expulsion?"
"Are Zhang Yuwei and Bai Xiao going to be expelled?"
"Isn't that like Shen Yueyue and the rest, then?"
"Whoa! Who exactly is Jennie's new boyfriend? Is he that powerful?"
"I'm curious too! I saw him once. He's super handsome, and he dresses like a rich guy. He's probably an ultra-rich second-generation heir."
"Don't you think that man dotes on Jennie a lot? He's always sticking up for her when something happens. And the way he does it is so imposing, it makes everyone else envious of her."
Jennie was shocked.
She asked, "Expulsion? Why are you two going to be expelled?"
Zhang Yuwei was shocked. "You don't know about it?"
But Bai Xiao simply sneered. "How could she not know? This is her request."
Zhang Yuwei looked at Jennie's reaction and felt like she wasn't feigning it.
She couldn't help but see some hope in this.
If Jennie didn't know about this, then it meant that she wasn't the one who requested this of the school.
If that was the case, then they had hope.
She took a step forward. "Jennie, this isn't your idea, right? Then, could you put in some good words for us? As long as we aren't expelled, we're willing to do anything."
Jennie was stunned for a while before slowly processing what was going on.
No wonder Bai Xiao and Zhang Yuwei were so anxious to look her up.
So, this was what was going on.
She remembered Lisa saying he'd settle this for her.
Since it wasn't her idea, then it should be Lisa's.
She didn't have any friendship with Bai Xiao and Zhang Yuwei anymore, and she didn't want to be involved with them in any way in the future. But she felt that expulsion was too heavy a punishment for them.
She decided to ask Lisa about this later.
But just as she was thinking this through, Bai Xiao said in a very unpleasant tone, "Yuwei, don't plead with her. She's out to destroy us. You're so naive, you really think she has no idea about this? Let's go, there's no use begging her.
"I'm going to expose this to the world! I want everyone to know that she's abusing her power and using it against her schoolmates, forcing each of her roommates out of school. I don't believe that her backing managed to do this all on his own!
"Expulsion? On what grounds? Just because we said a few mean things to her? Someone else said it first, and for all we know, it's all true. What's the big deal about saying some stuff about her while not knowing the full picture?
"If everyone had to be expelled for saying something bad about someone else, then this school would be empty by now."
"Jennie, don't be too smug. We'll wait and see!"
Bai Xiao said through clenched teeth and turned around to leave.
"Jennie, do you really want to be this heartless?" Zhang Yuwei tossed her a final question before leaving the classroom behind Bai Xiao.
The crowd of students slowly dissipated when they realized that the "show" had ended.
All of a sudden, the classroom filled to the brim emptied out.
Jennie stood rooted to the ground with her brows furrowed, then slowly made her way out.
"Bloody hell, I really want to punch Bai Xiao in the face! She said she's going to expose you. Something's wrong with her brain." Rosé felt upset on Jennie's behalf.
Jennie smiled. "Let them be. I didn't do anything against my conscience, so I'm not afraid of her."
"I just think she's way too shameless."
They left the classroom.
Rosé was still murmuring unhappily. "Honestly, she deserves to be expelled. We're in the same school and faculty as such a disgusting person. If she doesn't leave school, won't we have to see her often?
"It irks me."
Rosé seemed to detest them more than Jennie did.
She couldn't stop complaining about them.
Jennie listened to her silently before breaking a helpless smile. "They're really vile, and I have no intention to forgive them. But, isn't expulsion a little excessive?"
Rosé widened her eyes. "Jennie, are you trying to be a saint?"
Jennie said, "... I never thought that way."
"That's good." Rosé said, "Don't be too nice to them. Just think of what they did to you; if they hadn't been found out and threatened with expulsion, do you think they'd ever apologize to you?
"Didn't you see how insincere Bai Xiao was?
"People like them won't feel gratitude towards you at all even if you let them off.
"For all you know, they might be even more unhappy with you and find other chances to get back at you.
"Since they'll never appreciate your kindness, you might as well not treat them with any."
Jennie went quiet for a while. "I know. But, I feel like Zhang Yuwei isn't that mean."
The person who left those mean comments about her was mainly Bai Xiao.
Zhang Yuwei took part too, but she wasn't half as bad.
"Zhang Yuwei is just that wee bit better. You can consider her words and pleas. But for Bai Xiao, I don't think there's a need to think further."
As they spoke, Jennie's cell phone began to ring.
She saw that it was an unknown caller and picked it up. It was a male voice. "Hi, is this Miss Jennie?"
"I am. Uh, you are..."
"I'm the florist from Love of a Lifetime. Someone has ordered a bouquet of flowers for you. May I know where you are now, so I can send it over to you?"
A while later.
Jennie hung up.
She rubbed her temple, a little confused.
Why did Lisa send her flowers again?
Didn't he just give her a bouquet earlier that day?
Although she did like flowers, receiving them a few times a day was excessive.
The flowers were inedible and non-functional. It was too much of a waste to let them rot in her room.
"Why, who was that?" Rosé asked curiously.
"A florist."
"Flowers from Prince Charming?"
"... Yeah."
"Whoa, Prince Charming is really romantic." Rosé didn't hide her envy at all. "I thought men like him wouldn't even give women flowers."
Jennie was speechless.
Giving flowers was all it took to be romantic?
Then again, she had the same reaction as Rosé when she first received flowers from Lisa.
She felt that it was uncharacteristic of him to do something like that.
.............
Jennie gave the florist the address to her dormitory. As she and Rosé went downstairs, they saw a group of girls crowding around, as if looking at something interesting.
A few of them were even exclaiming in shock.
"What are all of them looking at?" Rosé was the sort to join in the fun whenever something seemed to be going on. She immediately dragged Jennie along and said cheekily, "Baby, let's go take a look too."
They got closer.
There was a group of men in uniform, and beside them was a gigantic bouquet of pink roses. Rosé's eyes immediately lit up.
"Whoa! Baby, are these the flowers from Prince Charming?"
Rosé's eyeballs were about to fall out from the way she looked at them. She said excitedly, "This bouquet is so huge. Prince Charming is really one of a kind. And he even gave you your favorite pink roses. Seems like Prince Charming knows you well."
Jennie didn't seem excited at all when she looked at the roses. In fact, she was frowning a little.
She didn't remember telling Lisa that she liked pink roses.
So, he had been giving her red roses so far.
Besides Rosé who knew that about her, the only guys who knew were Taehyung and Kai.
The flowers couldn't have been from Taehyung.
But... it couldn't possibly be from Kai, either.
Kai was Krystal boyfriend now, how could he give her flowers?
Who could it be, then?
Unless Lisa found out about it from Taehyung just a while ago and then decided to send her pink roses instead?
She was still wondering when her cell phone rang.
She saw one of the male employees making a call on his cell phone and hence rejected the call. She walked into the crowd instead.
"Hello, I'm Jennie. Were you calling me?" Jennie became the center of attention the moment she walked through the crowd.
The employee was stunned in awe for a few seconds.
It was no wonder that man was willing to spend this sort of money and effort to pursue her. She was too beautiful.
This was a film academy.
There was no lack of beauties.
But this girl right here was exceptional.
Her appearance made all the other beauties appear average.
"Yes, Miss Kim. This is from a customer, please sign here." The employee finally snapped out of his daze and handed her a pen and the collection receipt.
Whispers and murmurs instantly broke out.
"Damn, the flowers are for Jennie."
"Is this from her boyfriend? He came to pick her up at noon just now and gave her a bouquet too. Now there's another? And it's such a huge one? I asked the guy, he said there are 999 stalks in total. It's so good to be rich, you can splurge on stuff like flowers."
"This is a huge bouquet, it must have cost a bomb."