Chapter 33 - 30 He Remembers Everything

That noon The Foreign Language Department issued a statement. At that time, Qiao Yuxian was out having hot pot with Zhao Meng. It was Zhao Meng who noticed first: "Yu Xian, the department released a statement." "Hmm?" Qiao Yuxian was busy timing how long to cook the tripe. "To clear up your issue." Zhao Meng looked at her phone and said: "It says... Upon investigation, Qiao Yuxian has normal relations with the two men in the photo, with no inappropriate conduct. Her relationship with Jiang is also just that of ordinary classmates. A question mark popped into Qiao Yuxian’s mind. Upon investigation? Investigated with whom? Zhao Meng skipped the official jargon, highlighting the key points: "It also said the counselor reported wrong information to the department without investigation, leading to the class suspension. Because the counselor concealed facts, falsely accused, and slandered a student, making him unfit to handle school affairs, the school... dismissed him." Zhao Meng looked at Qiao Yuxian. Qiao Yuxian’s chopsticks slipped, dropping the tripe into the pot. "Is it because of us going to the Journalism Department today that stirred the department?" Zhao Meng puzzled, "No, that’s not right. We didn’t even talk about the counselor today." Qiao Yuxian put down the chopsticks and took out her phone to read the department’s statement. As soon as she finished reading, the official account of Jing University also released a statement. Zhao Meng and Qiao Yuxian both saw it. A total of ten statements. None mentioning Qiao Yuxian’s issue. Mostly talking about enhancing student quality and improving student judgment. Specifically emphasized, prohibiting rumor-mongering. Also mentioned the responsibility and moral character that teachers should have towards students. It never mentioned Qiao Yuxian, yet every sentence revolved around her issue. "This... I’ve been in college for almost four years, never seen this." Zhao Meng looked at Qiao Yuxian, staring at her, "Xian, just tell me... what’s going on with this? It’s not only stirred the department, but also the school." Qiao Yuxian looked at her phone, browsing through various posts, almost all about her now. She wasn’t exactly sure either. She planned to visit the department after finishing her meal. While browsing, she finally found an answer in a certain post. Posted just about twenty seconds ago, the photos on the post were of the car that brought her this morning. Photos of her getting out of the car at the gate, the car entering the campus, and the car parked in front of Jing University’s office building. Qiao Yuxian didn’t look at the post content, only "Gu Yanjing" flashed in her mind. Gu Yanjing came early to drive her to school just to stand up for her?! How could this be possible?! Is this even possible?! Although they got along well, and Gu Yanjing was quite tolerant of her, not kicking her out or getting rid of her, but... him personally coming to the school... This matter... That’s Gu Yanjing, a person too busy to even have a rest day. Qiao Yuxian was utterly shocked. Zhao Meng looked at her shocked face and asked, "What’s wrong with you?" Qiao Yuxian looked at her. They stared at each other through the steam for a moment, and then Qiao Yuxian suddenly touched her chin with an enigmatic air, "I feel... having someone have your back... feels quite good." Zhao Meng: "... Have you lost your mind?" Qiao Yuxian glanced at her: "Just eat. Mind your own beauty business." Zhao Meng rolled her eyes and called the waiter to add five more plates of beef. Qiao Yuxian: "........" Would this person eat her into poverty? ... The department not only issued a statement to clarify but also had the department heads personally call Qiao Yuxian to ask her to go back to class. So Qiao Yuxian went back to class that afternoon. What she didn’t expect was that the counselor would come to the classroom to apologize to her in front of nearly two hundred people. As soon as the class bell rang, he came in, said a few words to the lecturer, and then stood at the podium. Initially, Qiao Yuxian thought he was there to say goodbye. But he started with: "I came here today to apologize to Qiao Yuxian." All of a sudden, everyone looked at Qiao Yuxian. Qiao Yuxian had been resting her head on her hand, doodling a cartoon version of Gu Yanjing in her notebook. Hearing his words, she looked up at him. Everyone was waiting for Qiao Yuxian’s response. But Qiao Yuxian didn’t have much reaction, only looked up at him, without standing up. The counselor waited a while, seeing her remain still, suppressing his inner annoyance, continued: "That day because many people reported the forum incident to the department, and the department leaders asked me to understand the situation. Because of urgent matters outside, I didn’t carefully verify facts with Qiao Yuxian, and hastily reported to the department, causing great harm to Qiao Yuxian. This was my negligence. I apologize to Qiao Yuxian." After he finished speaking, everyone again looked at Qiao Yuxian. Qiao Yuxian put her hand down, sat up straight, and looked at him. In the lecture hall, she sat towards the back, giving her a feeling of overlooking him. She said with a calm expression, "Just a reminder, it’s not that you didn’t take a closer look. It’s that after I entered the office, you didn’t look into it at all. You just went through the process of calling me to the office and then directly convicted me." The classroom was abuzz. The instructor’s face also stiffened. Having been irritable all morning, he had specifically gathered his spirits to come over. He hadn’t expected Qiao Yuxian to put him on the spot in public. Qiao Yuxian, as if seeing through him, said, "I’m not putting you on the spot; I’m just stating the facts." The instructor clenched his back teeth, his jawline tense, and after a while, a smile appeared on his face: "Indeed, I was too hasty that day. I’m sorry." Qiao Yuxian looked at him blandly. She suddenly remembered how her father scolded her. Qiao Shuning had instigated, and her father initially believed her. Later, he lost faith because of the suspension handle by the Foreign Language Institute. So... After a while, she stood up, "I accept your apology." The instructor slightly breathed a sigh of relief, said no more, just spoke a word with the class teacher, and then left. Many people were looking at Qiao Yuxian. Qiao Yuxian, as if not feeling the stares, sat down and continued drawing a cartoon of Gu Yanjing. She accepted the apology, but she wasn’t planning to let go of other matters. The fact that he bribed and colluded with the school was his own doing. If he hadn’t done it, even if she had wanted to, she wouldn’t have been able to do anything to him. As for the boy who initially posted the message... as long as he clarified things, she didn’t plan to sue him. The money Qiao Shuning gave him was all spent on his grandmother’s surgery in the hospital. Saving a life could be considered Qiao Shuning’s good deed. Thinking this, Qiao Yuxian took out her phone and sent Gu Yanjing a message: [Thank you.] Followed by a cute sticker of a little white cat waving its tail. But... Mr. Gu, who was sulking at the moment, did not reply. Read! No reply! Still sulking! So... when Qiao Yuxian returned to Fenglin Villa and saw Gu Yanjing already sitting in the living room after getting off work, she threw her bag to the ground with a thud. It made a muffled sound that wasn’t too loud. Shang Chen, who was following closely behind her, stopped in his tracks: "??" Gu Yanjing also turned his head to look over. Then, under their gaze, Qiao Yuxian approached Gu Yanjing with the momentum of Jerry fighting Tom, put her hands on her hips, and stared at him. Gu Yanjing sat on the sofa, slightly raising his eyes to look at her. "I sent you a message," Qiao Yuxian said, raising her chin, "Why didn’t you reply?" Gu Yanjing: "......" "Speak," Qiao Yuxian leaned in slightly, pressing him. Gu Yanjing averted his gaze, looking somewhere else. But Qiao Yuxian’s face followed his gaze; wherever his eyes landed, she went to block it. Finally, cornered, Gu Yanjing said, "I didn’t see it." Qiao Yuxian squinted. Gu Yanjing met her gaze. A few seconds later, Qiao Yuxian smiled, eyes curving: "Just teasing you. Hehe." Gu Yanjing: "......" Shang Chen: "......" Qiao Yuxian circled to the other side of the coffee table, sat on the carpet, and reached for some grapes. Gu Yanjing said, "Wash your hands." Qiao Yuxian paused, quickly washed her hands, came back, sat cross-legged, and ate grapes. After eating a few, she asked, "Gu Yanjing, you just believe what I said because of the message? What if I..." Qiao Yuxian winked at him. Gu Yanjing said blandly, "Meng Yan and Shang Chen wouldn’t dare." Qiao Yuxian: "...Then what about Jiang Shouzhuo?" Gu Yanjing looked at her. Not getting an answer, Qiao Yuxian looked back at him, like a pure, puzzled little fox. The two stared for a few more seconds, and Gu Yanjing slightly parted his lips and said, "You said not to think of you that way." His voice was cold, without a trace of warmth. Cold, hard, dry. Qiao Yuxian was taken aback. Last time, she had gone out wearing makeup at night and said something similar. He still remembered.