There was no time to lose. Gu Chen did not even have time to handle the hospital discharge paperwork before she left the hospital.
She could come back when she had time or just make a phone call to notify them.
Otherwise, if Li Yanqiu paid for more treatment, it would be a huge waste.
Time was of the essence.
The two of them hailed a taxi waiting at the entrance and rushed toward the school, continuing to make contact on the way.
They learned that Wang Meng had already been taken away.
Fortunately, her roommates had followed secretly, fearing that something might happen.
“Jiang Lan, what’s the situation?”
The car stopped in front of a cafe near the school.
As soon as Tang Ziya stepped out, she saw a girl waiting there.
“Class Monitor, Wang Meng was taken inside. I just saw them go into Room Three; they should still be in there.”
The roommate pointed toward the entrance.
She had been careful to follow them without being noticed.
“Understood. Thank you. I’ll handle the rest,” Tang Ziya said gratefully.
After all, the person involved was the Dean of Instruction.
If the students were caught offending him, he would inevitably find ways to make their lives difficult.
The roommates did not dare to watch too closely.
Being able to do this much was already a great help.
“Let’s go.”
Gu Chen nodded and followed her into the cafe.
There were very few people inside at this time.
Business usually only picked up in the afternoon, so the lobby was empty.
Going to a private room in such a spacious, empty place clearly meant they had something to hide.
“Over there!”
Scanning the area, Gu Chen quickly spotted the place where Wang Meng had been taken. She made a move to rush inside.
“Wait! Don’t be impulsive!”
Tang Ziya immediately stopped her.
Shaking her head, she said, “We still don’t know what Director Gou’s plan is. Rushing in now will only alert them. Let’s find a nearby seat first and observe secretly while no one is looking.”
“But what if that guy tries to do something to Wang Meng?”
Gu Chen asked with a frown.
“It shouldn’t come to that. Director Gou values his reputation above all else. Since he chose a public place, he wouldn’t dare do anything to Wang Meng openly, no matter how bold he is. Don’t worry.”
Tang Ziya was certain about this.
These school leaders cared most about “image projects”—or rather, their own dignity.
Moreover, he was not the one who had committed the crime.
Her previous school strike had caused them to lose a lot of face.
However, because Li Yanqiu had issued a punishment in advance, they had dropped the matter for the sake of appearances.
To put it bluntly, as long as no one died, conflicts between students were treated as children causing trouble.
But daring to defy teachers or leaders was considered a grave sin that would 100% result in severe punishment.
Otherwise, considering the things Gu Chen had done over the past two years, she would have been expelled dozens of times…
“Fine.”
Gu Chen hesitated for a moment but managed to stay calm.
They sat down at the booth closest to the private room and ordered two drinks at random.
Once they were sure no one was watching, they walked to the door and pressed their ears against it to listen.
The voices inside were muffled and unclear.
They secretly pushed the door open just a tiny crack.
Only then could the two see clearly and hear what was being said.
“Why are there two more people?”
Gu Chen looked inside and saw Wang Meng sitting with Gou Huo.
Across the table sat a middle-aged couple.
Both sides were talking, and the middle-aged woman was crying uncontrollably.
***
“Wang Meng, I sympathize deeply with what you went through. It was indeed Teacher Wu’s fault. But as you can see, this couple only has one son. If he really goes to prison, they won’t be able to go on living. Please, show some mercy. If you provide a letter of leniency and accept compensation, Teacher Wu might receive a lighter sentence. What do you say?”
Inside the booth, Gou Huo wore a pleasant smile, his expression gentle and kind.
The air conditioning draft made the few remaining hairs on his head sway back and forth.
He signaled the other two people with his eyes.
“Young lady, I’m begging you. It’s our fault for not disciplining him strictly. We spoiled Wu Peng since he was a child, which led him to do such a heartless thing. Here, I’ll get on my knees and apologize to you myself!”
Wu Peng’s mother sobbed, tears and snot streaming down her face.
She stood up, preparing to drop to her knees.
“Ma’am, please don’t do this!”
Wang Meng could not handle an elder kneeling to her.
Startled, she immediately stood up to stop the woman, her expression filled with internal conflict.
She had received a call from the Dean of Instruction this morning, saying he wanted to talk about Wu Peng.
Normally, there was nothing to talk about; the law should take its course.
However, since he was a school leader, she felt she had to give him some face.
She had agreed to meet, but there was another matter that weighed even more heavily on her mind.
“Wang Meng, we promise to discipline him strictly from now on so he never hurts anyone again. If you agree, we will give you 200,000 yuan in compensation immediately. You just need to sign the leniency letter. Please?”
Wu Peng’s father also wore a weary, haggard expression as he sighed.
He then added, “If that’s not enough, we’ll add another 100,000! That is all our family’s savings. If it’s still not enough, we’ll even take out a loan!”
“But…”
“Even if I could sign it, Teacher Wu killed someone five years ago. That is a major crime.”
Wang Meng hesitated.
She did not want to discuss this, but looking at the pitiful parents, she felt that even if she took the money, it wouldn’t have much impact on Wu Peng’s sentencing for a murder case.
“You don’t need to worry about that. You just have to change your statement and say you identified the wrong person. It has been five years, anyway. Besides, the case was never even opened in the South Asian Country, so the impact will be minimal. Think about it—300,000 yuan is not a small amount. It could significantly lighten your family’s burden. I’m only suggesting this for your own good.”
Gou Huo chimed in from the side.
He repeatedly claimed to be looking out for Wang Meng.
Someone who didn’t know better might actually believe him.
“Don’t forget, your family is not only bankrupt right now, but you’re also burdened with heavy debt. With this money, you can pay off a large portion of it. As a daughter, you should think of your parents, shouldn’t you? Even if you kept it for yourself, you could live comfortably for many years. Don’t let your pride get in the way of the money, right?”
Seeing that Wang Meng was still hesitating, the Dean of Instruction continued to apply pressure.
He used every tactic, from playing the “good cop” to the “bad cop,” while the parents’ pleading made it seem like the deal was practically settled.
“What! Wang Meng’s family is bankrupt!”
Outside, Tang Ziya’s pupils shrunk in shock.
She quickly covered her mouth.
She had known nothing about this.
“Shh, don’t tell anyone else about this,” Gu Chen said with a grim expression.
‘Gou Huo, that literal piece of trash, has even investigated Mengmeng’s family situation; he moved fast. He’s clearly trying to exploit the fact that Wang Meng’s family needs money to make her compromise. What an absolute dog!’
“Yeah, I know.”
Tang Ziya nodded, trying to calm her heart.
No wonder Wang Meng had seemed off this semester, though she hadn’t been able to put her finger on why.
Now that she knew the truth, everything became clear.
If Wang Meng accepted the offer, it would actually be understandable.
Reality often forced people to bow their heads.
Even Gu Chen felt that it might be a viable option.
300,000 yuan was a significant sum that could at least relieve her family’s pressure, even if it meant that scum Wu Peng would spend fewer years in prison.
“I’m sorry! I… I can’t agree to this!”
Wang Meng bit her lip.
After a brief moment of internal struggle, she refused them.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.