Chapter 426: The School’s Decision
“Don’t call again. The phone keeps ringing and it’s very noisy. Besides, can’t you see what time it is now? Do you wish to wake everyone in our house up?”
Toward the end of the conversation, upon receiving a hint from Wang Yang, the auntie simply pulled off the telephone’s wire.
In that case, even if Qiao Zijin was determined to call the Wang family, she would not be able to do so.
“Hello? Hello?” When she heard a beeping sound, Qiao Zijin’s face turned pale. She shouted into the phone that was hung up. “You’re just a nanny that the Wang family spent money to hire! Are you fit to be so snobbish in front of me? Wang Yang calls me his elder sister! When I have the ability in the future, I will definitely fire you from the Wang family!”
Qiao Zijin refused to give up and continued to dial the same number. She used all her strength each time she dialed as if she was trying to break the buttons. “Hello? Hello? Why can’t it go through now?”
The sound between a phone call that was not picked up and a line that was cut off was different. Of course, Qiao Zijin realized it and she nearly smashed the public phone upon the realization.
“Zijin, it’s already so late. Let’s go back. It’s almost ten o’clock. The Wang family must have gone to sleep. Didn’t the nanny in the Wang family say that Wang Yang has gone to the school? Why don’t we look for Wang Yang at his school tomorrow? But then again, will Wang Yang help you in this matter?”
Ding Jiayi had been accompanying Qiao Zijin all this while when she was making the phone calls.
The money Qiao Zijin used to make the calls were all from Ding Jiayi’s pocket.
“Is Wang Yang’s school one that I can enter as I wish?” Qiao Zijin was so frustrated that she slammed and hung up the phone. “Mom, tell me honestly. Before this happened, did you go to Ping Cheng High School? What did you do there?!”
“I didn’t do much. At most, I spoke some truth.” Ding Jiayi felt a little guilty.
This topic had been raised up several times this evening. Although Ding Jiayi still failed to realize how her previous words had offended the principal of Ping Cheng High School, Ding Jiayi dared not bring this matter up when Qiao Zijin asked about it.
“Mom, do you know that you’ll cause me trouble by doing that?” Qiao Zijin cried uncontrollably. “The principal of my school has always been at odds with that Principal Meng, particularly because of Qiao Nan. You don’t know that my form teacher has been giving me cold looks. In every examination, Qiao Nan scored better than the students in our first-year cohort. The principal and teachers in my school were certain that Qiao Nan did not come to my school because of me. I… I’ve been so wronged!”
“This time, our Principal Wei was so embarrassed in front of Principal Meng. Won’t he detest me even more? Mom, do you wish to see me die? You actually created such huge trouble at Ping Cheng High School. If you didn’t do that, would Principal Meng catch the chance to step on Principal Wei? Because of what you did, Principal Meng grabbed this chance to sneer at us all! When Principal Wei is angry, he will put all the responsibility and blame on me. You! Tell me what I should do!”
“Is… is it really so serious?” Ding Jiayi was stunned. “I… I really did not say much. Whatever I said was the truth. If not for Qiao Nan, would your dad be separated from me? Given our family’s situation, it’s not possible to support two college students. Qiao Nan insisted to continue her studies. Wasn’t she tiring us to death? Zijin, tell me. Which of my words were untrue? Which parts of it were false?”
At the very most, when she said all those on that day, she had exaggerated a notch. Nevertheless, this would not change the fact of the matter.
“Mom, tell me honestly. Was it during that period that Dad moved out for the second time all of a sudden?”
“Yes, yes. Your dad was too petty. I only voiced out some gossip in Ping Cheng High School. He brought Qiao Nan and moved house without informing me. I even caught a cold because of this. If your dad did not do all these and broke my heart, why would I agree to divorce with him in two years?”
In Old Qiao’s heart, there was only the wretched girl now. He had already forgotten his wife long ago.
She married a husband that did not dote on her at all. There was no happiness even if they were to continue with such a marriage.
“Mom, you’re truly my good mother!” Qiao Zijin continuously stomped her feet hard. “I’ve asked you a few times before and you wouldn’t tell me. If I had known about this matter earlier, I certainly would not have let this evening’s matter escalate!”
After giving Ding Jiayi a scolding, Qiao Zijin then ran home and locked herself in her bedroom. She refused to let Ding Jiayi enter her room.
“Zijin, don’t cry, don’t cry. What wrong did Mom do? Tell me. Won’t it do if Mom changes? Mom really doesn’t know what Mom did wrong.” Ping Cheng High School mocked her. Qiao Dongliang moved house heartlessly. Now, Qiao Zijin also wanted to blame her.
Ding Jiayi, who was at a loss of what to do, grabbed her hair and squatted down, looking extremely miserable. Even if Ping Cheng High School’s principal wished to protect his student, he could not do it in that way. She did not even have the right to voice out her opinions?
Qiao Zijin cried for an entire night in her bedroom. Ding Jiayi was so scared that she dared not leave Qiao Zijin. She squatted by the door of Qiao Zijin’s bedroom for the whole night.
The next morning, the small retail stall with a public phone in the quad shouted at the small courtyard of the Qiao family’s house. “Is Ding Jiayi at home? Your daughter’s school called. Quickly come and pick up the phone.”
When Ding Jiayi heard of it, she had a big fright.
Ding Jiayi, who just woke up, was completely confused. She had forgotten that she had squatted for the entire night. She wanted to go and receive the phone call but her legs were already numb beyond her control. Ding Jiayi, who was not prepared, fell onto the floor with a loud bang. Her teeth even bit onto her bottom lip when she fell. There was blood all over her mouth and she looked terrible.
Ding Jiayi was in so much pain that tears started rolling down from her eyes. “Zijin, quickly come and help me up.”
Qiao Zijin, who had a shock at the same time, jumped at the sight of blood on Ding Jiayi’s mouth. “Mom, what happened to you?”
However, at the thought of the phone call from the school, Qiao Zijin withdrew the hand that she reached out to Ding Jiayi. “Mom, stand up yourself and wash your wound with water. I’m going to take the call.” Having that said, Qiao Zijin put on a jacket and ran out with nary a care about Ding Jiayi’s condition. “Thank you, Auntie.”
Chapter 427: Perish Together
Upon receiving the phone, Qiao Zijin took a deep breath. Her hoarse voice said softly, “Hello?”
“Is this Qiao Zijin’s mother, Ding Jiayi?”
At the sound of a stranger, Qiao Zijin felt a little guilty as she mumbled, “Yes.”
“Hi, good day. I am the dean of students of The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China. There’s a situation in the school that we need to reflect and report to you. Qiao Zijin has been studying at our school for three and a half semesters. However, her performance is very poor and she also likes to resort to deception. We have investigated and found that Qiao Zijin had really cheated in her examinations while she was studying here. She had flouted the school’s regulations. Secondly, we had lessons yesterday, but Qiao Zijin skipped her class without a valid reason. She did not return to the school for the entire night. This had also seriously flouted the school’s rules and disciplinary policy. We’ve not had such a bad student like Qiao Zijin, who refused to change after several teachings, in more than ten years. Accordingly, our school would like to formally notify you that Qiao Zijin, this student, has been expelled from our school. I hope that you, as her parents, can quickly come to our school to settle some administrative matters. Please take away all of Qiao Zijin’s personal belongings as well. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Without waiting for a response from the student’s parent, the dean of students hung the phone up swiftly.
Qiao Zijin’s eyes turned still. The school really expelled her. After settling the administrative matters of leaving the school, she would not be a student of The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China anymore?
“Hey?” The auntie from the small retail stall looked at Qiao Zijin strangely. She placed her ears close to the phone and heard the beeping sound. “Zijin, your teacher has already hung up. Oh, right, wasn’t your school looking for your mom? Why did you pick up the phone instead? You also didn’t go to school yesterday. Why are you still at home? Did your school call to urge you to go to school?”
“Yes, yes.” Qiao Zijin’s mouth and tongue were so stiff that she did not know how to talk anymore. She went home looking stiff and frozen.
Ding Jiayi, who was cleaning her wound that was still bleeding, looked pale. “Zijin, why did your school call?”
“Ruined. I’m completely ruined by you now. Are you satisfied now? Are you happy!” Qiao Zijin vented her frustration at Ding Jiayi. “The school just called to ask me to leave the school. They said that I’m no longer a student of The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China. Now, even graduating from senior high school is an issue to me, not to mention going to college!”
If the people in the quad knew about her situation, would she still be able to step out of her house in the future? She would definitely become a laughingstock in the whole quad!
From today onward, the people in the quad would label her. She would not be able to win against Qiao Nan in her entire life!
“How did that happen?” Ding Jiayi was completely stupefied. Perhaps she was scared out of her wits, causing the blood circulation in her body to slow down and her wound to stop bleeding. “How could they expel you so casually like that? Is there really no room for negotiation? You must know that you went to The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China because of Elder Lee’s help.”
Didn’t the school take Elder Lee into consideration when they expelled Zijin?
“I’m afraid that the school had already consulted Elder Lee before expelling me. Both of us know how much Elder Zhu likes Qiao Nan. Zhu Baoguo was pulled out of dire straits by Qiao Nan. For the sake of Qiao Nan, Elder Lee will not allow me to continue to be a student in The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China.” Qiao Zijin sneered.
This world was so unfair. When Qiao Nan was in her mother’s tummy, her parents doted very much on Qiao Nan and neglected her. They left all the good things, be it food, clothing, or toys, to Qiao Nan.
Now, everyone that she wanted to be associated with was so good to Qiao Nan. All of them humiliated her for the sake of Qiao Nan.
How could she not hate Qiao Nan? How could not use all ways and means to step on Qiao Nan for her own progress?
However, at this juncture, Qiao Zijin, who was all alone and had lost all help available, was faced with a miserable situation, being unable to continue with her studies. Besides crying, Qiao Zijin did not know what else she could do. “Mom, I feel so desperate and hopeless. I will definitely be a laughingstock in the quad. I’ve been expelled. How am I going to face others in the future? I couldn’t even graduate from senior high school. How could I find a man with a good family background to be my husband? Who would take a liking to me? Mom, I don’t wish to live anymore. I might as well die. It is too painful to live.”
She had worked so hard and put in so much effort. Why couldn’t she achieve anything that she wanted? On the contrary, Qiao Nan could easily achieve everything.
Was her existence in this world a mere predestined heavenly will, forcing her to accompany Qiao Nan so as she could realize how unfortunate she was?
“Zijin, you’re scaring Mom. No, there won’t be any problem. You will definitely be able to continue with your studies. You’ll not only graduate from senior high school but also college. Mom… Mom will find a way for you.” As she said that, Ding Jiayi also cried.
What would be the next steps given the current situation?
“Zijin, why don’t we turn back and beg your dad? He knows a lot of people. It will be easier for him to seek help. If not… How about I go and beg the wretched girl? I can kneel down to her, as long as she will let you off.” Ding Jiayi ground her teeth. Zijin became so miserable all because of that wretched girl.
As long as that wretched girl was willing to let Zijin off and give her a chance, it was fine for her to go on her knees.
“Right, Mom. Go and beg Qiao Nan. Go and kneel down before Qiao Nan. Don’t go into Ping Cheng High School. Just kneel down at the entrance of Ping Cheng High School. Don’t wipe away the blood on your mouth. Let it continue to drip. As you kneel down at the entrance, you just need to cry and beg Qiao Nan. You also have to kowtow! You definitely have to kowtow. It’ll be best if you hurt your head when kowtowing!”
Qiao Zijin had a vicious and crazy look in her eyes.
If she could not continue with her studies, Qiao Nan could forget about being an outstanding student too!
Although Ping Cheng High School could not bear to expel Qiao Nan, the biological mother had to kneel down, kowtow, cry, and beg her.
She did not believe Qiao Nan could still continue to study at Ping Cheng High School afterward!
She would like to see whether Ping Cheng High School was willing to sacrifice the reputation of the school in exchange for an individual, Qiao Nan!
She could not be a student of a prominent school, and neither should Qiao Nan.
Deprived of education?
Fine. Then, everyone would be deprived of education. Qiao Nan could forget about having all the good things for herself or basking in glory as she watched her, the elder sister, cry miserably!
“Zijin, didn’t you say that it’s wrong for Mom to do that? That I’ll be creating trouble for you? It’s broad daylight…” She had to kneel down, cry, and kowtow. As a normal person with virtues, Ding Jiayi could not accept such a situation even just thinking about it. “Will this help you in any way? Will the school take you in as their student again and not dismiss you after Mom does all these?”
Chapter 428: All of Them Have Gone Crazy
If that was the case, then perhaps, she could consider changing the behavior a little and carry it out.
“Not possible. No matter who we beg now, the school will not take me in as their student anymore. Mom, you really dote on me, right? You will certainly help me, right? You definitely can’t bear to look at me suffer in pain, right?” Qiao Zijin’s eyes looked bewildered and deranged. She was certainly not in the correct state of mind. She was like a mad woman.
“Zijin, what’s wrong with you? Don’t frighten Mom.” What was the point of doing all these if it could not make the school accept Zijin as a student again?
“Hahaha! Qiao Nan harmed me. She has always wanted to harm me. I can’t let her lead a good life. We’ll all perish together. She made me lose my education. I must let her be in the same plight as me! Everyone will stop studying, then. Qiao Nan is so heartless to me… So heartless!! I’m her biological sister, but she did this to me nonetheless! Is she still a human? Since she’s heartless, I must be more heartless than her! Hahaha!!”
Qiao Zijin, who had suffered a great blow, was already incoherent in her speech.
At this moment, the world was hopeless and dark to Qiao Zijin.
In the realm of darkness, she only thought of one matter, and that was to drag whoever she could hold onto to sink with her in this bottomless abyss.
“Zijin, do we have to do this? Is there a point in doing this?” Ding Jiayi hugged Qiao Zijin tightly. She was in a panic and confused state. However, she could not agree with what Qiao Zijin said.
“Mom, you won’t help me? I’m in so much pain. I’m so miserable. You said you love me, yet you refuse to help me?! I don’t wish to live anymore. Dad doesn’t love me, and neither do you. All of you are biased toward Qiao Nan! Since that’s the case, why did you give birth to me in the past? I’ll go and die. When I’m dead, you’ll have Qiao Nan as your only daughter. You all can then be good to Qiao Nan wholeheartedly. In this way, you all will be satisfied, won’t you?! You all will be happy, won’t you?!”
Qiao Zijin’s eyes were staring straight, looking determined and vicious.
Qiao Zijin did not seem to be all talk and no action. She pushed Ding Jiayi away and then knocked her head against the wall. The sound of banging made the ears hurt.
“Zijin, don’t… don’t frighten Mom… Fine, as long as you’re happy, Mom will do whatever you ask me to. How could Mom not love you? How would I not want you? Those words of yours pierced my heart…” Ding Jiayi cried uncontrollably.
She did not understand why the situation turned out this way after just one short night. Now, Zijin even threatened to end her life. Clearly, all was fine before yesterday.
Upon hearing what Ding Jiayi said, Qiao Zijin stopped her self-torturing behavior immediately.
It was just that her forehead, which was considered quite fair, was already swollen and bruised the moment she stopped. “Mom, you can’t back out on what you have promised me. Go now. Go immediately. You also have to change your clothes. You have to wear shabbily and mess up your hair. Make yourself look as miserable as you can. Hurry, hurry and go.”
“Fine, Mom will do that now.” Ding Jiayi was really frightened out of her wits by Qiao Zijin. Qiao Zijin finally stopped knocking her head against the wall, and Ding Jiayi dared not refuse to listen to Qiao Zijin’s bidding. She turned and went to her bedroom to change.
Yesterday, Ding Jiayi was invited to the school via a phone call by the teacher in Qiao Zijin’s school. To give Qiao Zijin’s face, Ding Jiayi dressed her best.
For the sake of Qiao Zijin, Ding Jiayi searched high and low and took out the oldest and most shabby clothes that were tucked under her luggage.
When she heard Ding Jiayi searching high and low in her room, Qiao Zijin, who had been behaving like a mad demon and sitting on the floor in a foolish manner, had a flash of cold and sinister light in her eyes.
Qiao Nan was the one who forced her to do this.
If she really could not continue to study at The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and other schools would not accept her, it would be hard for her to have any success in this society without any educational qualifications.
In the time to come, no matter how much her mother liked her and hated Qiao Nan, her mother would eventually give up on her. Her mother would be gradually bewitched by Qiao Nan who graduated from a prominent school and was full of glory.
Even if her parents were failures, and she did not care much about them, but all things or humans that belonged to her… She would not let Qiao Nan benefit even if she did not want them! She would rather throw them away!
She could no longer continue with her studies. When Qiao Nan was in the same plight as her and could only take manual jobs to earn money with low education, she did not believe that her parents would still favor Qiao Nan.
At the very least, she would be on the same runway as Qiao Nan. She could still turn the tides and surpass Qiao Nan.
She could only quit school and stay at home whereas Qiao Nan could study at a prominent senior high school and even a reputable college. Qiao Nan wished to leave her behind and surpass her so much?
Dream on!
Qiao Nan could forget about having such a day!
According to Qiao Zijin’s request, Ding Jiayi spent half an hours’ time and really dressed herself as a female beggar.
Ding Jiayi tugged at her clothes in an uneasy manner. “Zijin, do you think this looks fine?”
Qiao Zijin lifted her head and looked at Ding Jiayi coldly. “It should be fine. Mom, remember what I told you just now. You must do it. You must think of a way to let Qiao Nan be like me and can’t continue with her studies. Mom, if you can’t do it, I will die. I will really die for you to see!”
“Don’t, Zijin, don’t scare Mom. Isn’t it just quitting studies? It’s no big deal. Don’t worry. Mom will do what you told me to. Mom never wanted Qiao Nan to continue with her studies ever since two years ago. To Mom, you’re the most important. Zijin, you must live on well.”
If the principal of Ping Cheng High School also covered up for Qiao Nan like he did previously, then… then she would directly beg Qiao Nan! If Qiao Nan refused, she would threaten to die before Qiao Nan. She did not believe that Qiao Nan would let Qiao Zijin and her die before her no matter how cold-blooded she was.
If the lives of her two next-of-kin were in her hands and Qiao Nan still refused to give up her studies, Qiao Nan would definitely be drowned by other’s gossip when she stepped out of home henceforth.
“Mom, I only have you now. I’m really left with you. You can’t lie to me. You have to help me.” Hugging Ding Jiayi tightly, Qiao Zijin’s face that was leaning onto Ding Jiayi’s shoulder looked sinister and gloomy.
“Sure, who will help you if Mom doesn’t? There’s no other person in this world that Mom wants to help. You… just wait. Mom will definitely do it.”
“Mom, take this along.” Qiao Zijin ground her teeth. Either she did not do it or did it all the way. She wanted Qiao Nan’s reputation to be worse than that of hers.
Having that said, Qiao Zijin passed a small and sharp knife that was used for sharpening pencils to Ding Jiayi. Qiao Zijin had been grabbing this in her hands all this while. “If Qiao Nan refuses, you know what to do. You just have to slash your hands with this a couple of times casually. You don’t need to use too much strength. The people in Ping Cheng High School will not dare to hold you back. Qiao Nan will also be scared of you.”
Chapter 429: Zhai Sheng Took Action
Ding Jiayi shivered badly. Did they have to go to this extent?
Seeing that Ding Jiayi still did not take the small knife, Qiao Zijin stubbornly forced it into her hands. “Mom, do you remember what I said?”
“R-Remember.” Ding Jiayi broke out in a cold sweat. She did not know if this cold sweat was for her own sake or Qiao Nan’s, who was at school.
Qiao Dongliang, who had suffered a great blow, had been in a deep slumber the whole morning. He even caught a cold. Besides going to school, Qiao Nan placed all her attention on caring for Qiao Dongliang.
It never came to the father and daughter’s minds that Qiao Zijin, who was dismissed by the school, would be crazy enough to want to drag Qiao Nan to the grave with her.
“Zijin, are you at home? It’s your family’s phone call again.”
The voice of the auntie from the small retail stall shocked the mother-daughter pair. Ding Jiayi was so frightened that she dropped the small knife which Qiao Zijin forced into her hands. Qiao Zijin picked it up and forced it into Ding Jiayi’s hands again. “Mom, it’s not suitable for you to go out now. I’ll go and answer it. Don’t be anxious. We will discuss in detail again about what you need to do after you reach Ping Cheng High School.”
It was either she did not do this at all or if she did, she had to do it successfully. She had to make Qiao Nan end up in the same plight as her: to be expelled from school!
“Okay, sure. Then, you go and answer it.” Ding Jiayi’s hands that were holding the knife shivered badly. At the sight of the back of Qiao Zijin, who was leaving, not knowing why, Ding Jiayi could sense a gush of coldness in her heart. Ding Jiayi quickly used her left hand to grab on her right one, which was shivering, to calm it down.
Didn’t Zijin say that she just needed to pretend? She was not really committing suicide. There was no need to fear.
“Zijin, what a busy day today. However, the person who called is a guy. Don’t tell auntie that you’re in love. You’re already in the second year of senior high school. It’s important to focus on your studies. Don’t be like other young ladies who start dating at a young age instead of focusing on their studies,” the auntie from the small retail stall said affectionately. She sounded a little like a busybody but concerned nonetheless.
Qiao Zijin forced a smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t be involved in any romantic relationship at a young age. I don’t have a boyfriend either. You said that the person who called me is a guy. Did he say who he is? I don’t even know who is calling me.”
“Oh, so that’s the case. Then, the two of you, go ahead.” The auntie sat down. She did not look at Qiao Zijin, but her ears stood up as she really wanted to know the contents of the conversation.
“Hello, who are you?” Qiao Zijin turned her body and lowered her voice.
“You are Qiao Zijin?” True enough, the voice of a man came from the other end of the phone. The other party had a nice voice. For a moment, Qiao Zijin felt slightly better. However, the voice was unfamiliar.
Most importantly, the voice might be nice, but there was a hint of coldness in it. This made Qiao Zijin’s mood, which just turned slightly better, worsened immediately.
“You called me despite not knowing who I am? I don’t know you. Did you call the wrong number? I’m hanging up!”
“It seems that you’re really Qiao Zijin. You’re already in dire straits, yet you still want to deal with Nan Nan and drag her down with you?” Listening to Qiao Zijin’s short-tempered voice, the other party seemed to have guessed what was on Qiao Zijin’s mind instantly, as if he had the ability to read minds.
Qiao Zijin’s face turned pale. “Who are you? What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Impossible. How did this man know? Even her mother had been taken in by her just now. Her mother really thought that she had gone crazy and wanted to die. That was why she agreed to go and harm Nan Nan in her panic.
Regardless of how bad the situation was, Qiao Zijin was only clear of one matter, and that was to make Qiao Nan suffer the same plight as her, especially when her mother was still devoted to her.
Although her mother said that she only loved and doted on her, once Qiao Nan managed to outdo her, within two years, her mother would also go to Qiao Nan just like her father. They would then only acknowledge Qiao Nan as their daughter.
“Since you don’t want to tell me who you are, I’m not interested to know either. I don’t wish to waste my breath on you.” Who exactly was this man? Why was he so scary? He actually could read her mind.
Impossible! It was impossible!
“You have already been dismissed from your school. Do you still wish to continue with your senior high school studies and go to college in the future?” The other party snorted without care. He completely saw through Qiao Zijin’s guilt and fear. This woman clearly refused to bend until she was faced with the grim reality. If it was not against the law to kill someone, there was no need for such a person to live on.
“You… Who exactly are you?!” Qiao Zijin started to tremble. She could not even control her teeth from chattering. A chattering sound could be heard from her mouth.
Zhai Sheng, who was making this call in the army, slammed the table impatiently. “Let me ask you. Do you want or not want to?”
Teacher Liu suddenly gave Zhai Sheng a call yesterday. Although he subsequently told Zhai Sheng not to be bothered with it anymore, how could Zhai Sheng feel at ease?
During the two years, Zhai Sheng certainly knew that Qiao Zijin was someone who refused to give up before achieving her aims.
Furthermore, Qiao Zijin most probably did not intend to plot against Nan Nan on this occasion, but coincidentally, all the matters were exposed together and Qiao Zijin was the only one that was affected badly. How could Zhai Sheng believe that Qiao Zijin would let this matter rest?
This morning, Zhai Sheng made a phone call to inquire about the decision made by The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China.
The school had a shock when they heard Zhai Sheng’s call. They thought that Qiao Zijin was related to Zhai Sheng and that they could not expel such a troublesome student.
Only heaven knew. For this matter, Principal Wei was so furious that he had a sleepless night. He could not wait for morning to arrive. The next day, Principal Wei made a call to Elder Lee first thing in the morning even before having his breakfast.
Qiao Zijin was introduced by Elder Lee into the school. If he really had to dismiss her, Principal Wei had to inform Elder Lee. It would be a problem if Elder Lee refused.
Principal Wei did not expect that once he mentioned the situation to Elder Lee, the latter expressed immediately that he would definitely respect Principal Wei’s and the school’s decision.
Once Elder Lee gave his blessings, Principal Wei immediately took action and asked the teacher in school to dismiss Qiao Zijin instantly!
He had just settled Elder Lee and now came Zhai Sheng. When Principal Wei picked up Zhai Sheng’s call, his heart crumbled.
When he was certain that Zhai Sheng did not have the intention to help Qiao Zijin and was only trying to understand the situation, he realized that Zhai Sheng actually wanted to help Qiao Nan and not Qiao Zijin.
At the thought of Qiao Zijin’s character, Zhai Sheng made the phone call as he did not feel at ease.
Once Zhai Sheng heard Qiao Zijin, he was certain that his worries were not unfounded. Qiao Zijin was as annoying as a cockroach that he could not get rid of!
Chapter 430: Banned from Ping Cheng before High School Graduation
“Whether I wish to do so or not, what has it got to do with you?” Who exactly was this person? How did he know so much about her and even called her at this juncture? It was so coincidental.
“If you wish to, I can arrange a school for you. However, given your current situation, you will not be able to choose which high school it is. If you don’t wish to, then…” Although Zhai Sheng did not wish for the latter to happen, he needed to consider about it.
Qiao Zijin was so scared that she turned pale. “You… Can you really help me find a school and allow me to continue with my studies? I know I can’t choose but I will certainly not attend schools that are too lousy and messy.”
Qiao Zijin understood herself well. She knew she lacked self-control and discipline.
If she attended a lousy school and went astray due to the influence of bad company, then she would only waste this opportunity.
At the very least, with the transfer of school this time, she needed to have a quiet and conducive environment for studying.
“Sure.” Zhai Sheng agreed. “But I have a request too. Before you graduate from high school, you must not return to Ping Cheng and neither can you look for your next-of-kin in Ping Cheng. Do you understand?”
“You did all these to help Qiao Nan?” Qiao Zijin could not help but daringly voice out her guess.
She was not allowed to come back to Ping Cheng to look for her relatives. That meant she could not meet her father or Qiao Nan.
The voice of the man at the other end of the phone sounded very young. If her father knew such a capable friend, would she still be expelled from the school? Since he knew about her situation, he must have contacted her school.
This man was neither her relatives nor friends, but he must be very capable. Otherwise, the teachers in The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China would not air their dirty linen in public and tell this man about her.
Hence, there was only one reason why this man would make such arrangements, and that was to help Qiao Nan.
“You don’t wish to collaborate anymore?” Zhai Sheng’s voice turned cold. He was not pleased that Qiao Zijin did not know her limitations.
Qiao Zijin did not have a choice now.
“I agree!” Qiao Zijin was afraid that the man would change his mind and take back the only straw that she could clutch on now. She said anxiously, “I agree. As long as you can let me continue with my studies in senior high school and take the college entrance exams, I agree to your terms. At the very least, I will not return to Ping Cheng before I graduate from senior high school. I will also not look for anyone in Ping Cheng including my family members. However, how will I know whether what you’ve said is true and that you’re not just trying to buy time?”
Qiao Zijin grabbed the phone tightly, as if she was holding on to her last hope.
“Someone will come and fetch you all tomorrow to settle all the administrative matters and send you to the high school that you’ll be studying at. I’ve arranged accommodation near the high school for you and even paid three months’ rent. As for the subsequent tuition fees and rental expenses, you have to settle them yourself. Remember. Once you try anything funny, then the school will immediately strike your name off the school roll. Understand?”
“Understood…”
When the beeping sound came from the other end of the phone, Qiao Zijin still had not regained her senses.
She was already facing an impasse, yet another straw appeared for her to clutch on. Did this mean even heaven pitied her and gave her another path of life?
“Zijin, the person from the other end has hung up. What happened to you? You’ve been acting silly today. Have you been studying too much?” The elder daughter of the Qiao family did not always do well in her studies, whereas the younger daughter’s results had never been poor. Even if the latter did not like to talk, she had never seen her looking so silly and distracted.
“It’s nothing. Thank you.” Qiao Zijin took a deep breath and hung up. She then returned home at her fastest speed.
“Zijin, do I really have to do this?” After Qiao Zijin finished her phone call, Ding Jiayi’s pale face did not seem to have returned to its normal state.
Although Ding Jiayi went to Ping Cheng High School and created a fuss before, not many people were present back then, and she also did not need to kneel and kowtow. Today, she even had to hurt herself. Ding Jiayi had never done such things.
All this while, although Ding Jiayi was very unreasonable, it was always other people who suffered. She had never done anything that harmed herself.
When she heard what Qiao Zijin said, how could Ding Jiayi not feel afraid?
Qiao Zijin took a deep breath and smiled at Ding Jiayi.
In the past, when she saw Qiao Zijin smiling, Ding Jiayi would happily follow suit and smile. However, today, Ding Jiayi did not feel happy. On the contrary, she shivered in fear as she was afraid of what scary words would come out of Qiao Zijin’s mouth again.
“Mom, you don’t need to do so anymore. Let’s forget it. My heart will ache if you have to hurt yourself in order to create trouble for Qiao Nan. There’s no such need. Mom, you don’t need to go to Ping Cheng High School anymore. It’s because I received a call from the school, telling me I’m expelled, that I… I was too confused and affected. I was very saddened by it. But I’m alright now. I’ve already calmed down. Mom, please don’t be angry with me. Everything’s fine. There’s no issue now.”
“Is it really fine? You don’t want me to go anymore?” Ding Jiayi looked at Qiao Zijin in a cautious and uneasy manner.
Qiao Zijin smiled sweetly. “Of course it’s true.”
“That’s great!” Ding Jiayi heaved a sigh of huge relief. She could finally relax that frozen mind of hers. “Then, Zijin, what should we do in the future? You can’t continue to study in senior high school. Don’t tell me you’re going to look for a job?”
The corners of Qiao Zijin’s mouth turned stiff. “No, I won’t work. I’m still young and at a good age for studying. Mom, don’t worry. I’ve already thought of a way to resolve this problem. A friend will come to pick us up tomorrow and transfer me to another school. Mom, don’t worry. I will not give up no matter what difficulty I face. I will move forward. I will persist until I am successful one day.”
“Your friend? Wang Yang!” Wang Yang was willing to pick up Zijin’s call and make arrangements for her?
Qiao Zijin forced a smile. “It has nothing to do with Wang Yang. Mom, do you think I have studied for nothing all this while? Besides Wang Yang, I also have other friends. Wang Yang, this brother, is entirely unreliable in this matter. It’s someone else and you don’t know who they are. This matter has been blown up. Most likely, the other high schools in Ping Cheng will not accept me as well. I am most concerned they will cut short my studies even if I attend other schools once these principals get together and happen to talk about me. In that case, Mom, I can only leave Ping Cheng and go to another high school to study. Mom, you will always keep me company, right?”