The Shifting Tide of Opinion

Zhou Yi paused, deliberately ignoring Chen Hao’s complex gaze, and continued to articulate his points with methodical precision.

“Doubts regarding the authenticity of the evidence have already surfaced on the forums.

Should we rush to a decision before the full truth comes to light, we not only risk wrongly accusing a student, but we also create the impression that the school is swayed by public opinion, which would inflict the most significant damage to our reputation.”

He finally added with solemnity: “I firmly believe the school will uncover the truth.

However, until then, we must at least control the dissemination of false information, thereby both safeguarding our students from undue harm and maintaining the school’s authority in this matter.”

His words, lucid and utterly reasonable, were strategically framed from the perspective of safeguarding the school’s standing.

He deftly shifted the core of the issue from a student’s transgression to the institution’s reputation, effectively elevating the entire matter to a higher plane.

As the Counselor listened to his discourse, his fingers tapped a soft rhythm on the desktop, the anger on his face slowly receding to be replaced by profound contemplation.

He cast another glance at the chaotic jumble of posts on the computer screen, then turned his gaze back to Zhou Yi, and the atmosphere within the office imperceptibly began to change.

Deep within the despairing heart of Chen Hao, who had remained with his head bowed, a faint, unexpected glimmer of hope began to stir.

Just as the Counselor was lost in thought, a student’s shout pierced the silence from beyond the door: “Holy crap! Someone posted that they personally witnessed an outsider secretly taking photos at the school gate and deliberately spreading malicious rumors!”

“Is that for real? That’s utterly sickening!”

“They’re trying to tarnish our school’s reputation!”

The tide of public opinion, previously unified, began to show a subtle, yet chaotic, deviation.

The Counselor finally spoke once more, his tone remaining serious, though the word “expulsion” was conspicuously absent from his remarks.

“Chen Hao, you may return now.

Please prepare and submit a detailed report explaining the situation.

The school will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter; we will not overlook any transgressor, nor will we ever unjustly accuse any student, and we certainly will not permit any external forces to defame our institution’s reputation!”

Hearing these words, a wave of relief washed over Zhou Yi, and he nearly found himself on the verge of tears.

Chen Hao, however, only now began to fully process the immense shock and the dramatic reversal of his predicament.

He stared blankly at ‘Senior Zhou Yi’ standing beside him, his mouth parting slightly before he ultimately, with reddened eyes, offered a profound and solemn nod in Zhou Yi’s direction.

Zhou Yi gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, then turned and bowed respectfully to the Counselor. “Teacher, I won’t disturb your work any further.”

With those words, he refrained from a further glance at Chen Hao, departing the office with calm, unhurried steps.

****

It wasn’t until he had exited the student affairs building that he finally halted, leaning against a large tree by the roadside, and quietly inquired, “Xiao Qi, what’s the situation now?”

[Don’t worry, dear! The situation on the forums is under control.

Anonymous posts questioning the evidence are spreading, and public opinion is already fragmenting, ensuring the tide won’t turn decisively against us.]

Xiao Qi’s voice remained as lighthearted as always, yet Zhou Yi found no genuine relaxation in their words.

While Xiao Qi had momentarily quelled the storm of public opinion by stirring the waters, the fundamental cause of the uproar—Chen Hao’s outstanding loan—remained unchanged.

With the school’s investigation still underway, his predicament was as perilous as teetering on the edge of a precipice.

What was worse, if only he had accepted the money Lin Yating transferred to him that very morning and swiftly repaid the online loan, none of this sordid mess would have unfolded.

The guy was simply impossibly stubborn.

Zhou Yi could have easily washed his hands of the entire affair, yet how could he possibly do so?

He simply couldn’t stand by and watch his brother be expelled.

Yet with such a tangled web of interconnected problems, where was he even to begin?

Sue the online loan company? That was a dead end.

Chen Hao genuinely owed money from the online loan; there was simply no way to dispute that fact.

Relying solely on public opinion for a bailout was futile when the root debt remained firmly in place.

Persuade Chen Hao? Forget it; that was a lost cause.

To make Chen Hao see reason, he had been forcibly dragged into the simulator by the system, compelled to inhabit a female form and pour his heart out to persuade Chen Hao twice, even going so far as to lay bare his own embarrassing past as a cautionary tale.

Yet Chen Hao’s head was seemingly harder than granite.

Thus, direct persuasion was clearly not a viable path.

He needed to find an alternative point of entry.

Ultimately, the crucial pivot point remained Lin Yating.

Chen Hao needed to witness firsthand how his ‘white moonlight’ goddess—the one he scrimped and saved for, even borrowed money to support—was truly trampling on his sincere affections.

His self-proclaimed sacred love was, in her hands, nothing more than a disposable digit.

Yet, the “intimidation tactic” he had employed against Lin Yating yesterday had clearly proven ineffective.

That ‘green tea hag’ possessed a mental fortitude and acting prowess akin to an impenetrable fortress.

Even when it came to returning money, she could weave such a web of deceit that Chen Hao was left utterly bewildered, consequently missing his final repayment deadline.

He couldn’t possibly go back and confront Lin Yating again; the ‘green tea essence’ had, in fact, completed the transfer process, but Chen Hao himself had simply failed to accept the funds.

Therefore, he had to devise a method to shatter the “innocent flower” image so meticulously cultivated by that ‘green tea essence,’ thereby forcing Chen Hao to confront the truth.

Otherwise, in a few days, should Lin Yating once again feign helplessness and utter a couple of pathetic whimpers, Chen Hao would, in all likelihood, plunge right back in.

At that point, all his painstaking efforts would be utterly wasted.

But how was he to accomplish this?

Expose her directly?

Tell Chen Hao, “Hey, bro, that ‘innocent flower’ you adore is actually a max-level ‘green tea essence’?” Would he even believe him?

Continue to pressure Lin Yating? No, that was futile; this ‘green tea essence’ possessed a level of resistance that defied belief.

It was doubtful that even ten Zhou Yis working in relays could make her budge.

Perhaps… he needed a different approach?

Instead of forcing her to admit the truth, what if he made her expose herself?

But how would he even begin to do that?

What a headache! If only that damn Chen Hao hadn’t been so self-destructive, insisting on simping for her until the seas ran dry and rocks crumbled, he wouldn’t be forced to rack his brain like this!

He remained leaning against the large tree, his head tilted, chin propped, delicate brows tightly furrowed as he sank deep into the mire of these vexing problems.

He remained entirely oblivious that his quiet figure, standing beneath the tree, had long since become a striking sight in the eyes of passersby.

Several boys, walking by, unconsciously slowed their pace, their gazes fixed upon him.

Sunlight, dappled through the gaps in the leaves, cast shifting patterns across his profile.

That expression, tinged with a faint melancholy, lent him an air of exceptional intellect and refined elegance.

“Hey, hey, go on!”

“No, no, it should be you!”

“I don’t dare…”

The boys quietly egged each other on, pushing and shoving, until they finally thrust one particular bespectacled, refined-looking boy forward.

His face flushed crimson as he shuffled a few steps closer, cleared his throat, and, steeling himself, called out, “St-student!”

“Hm?” Zhou Yi’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted, and he looked up at the boy with a bewildered expression. “Can I help you?”

At her gaze, the boy’s face deepened to an even fiercer red, and he stammered, “N-nothing, it’s just… I wanted to get to know you.”

“Why would you want to know me?”

Zhou Yi blinked at the boy in confusion, but then froze as he met the boy’s eyes, which were filled with a fervent admiration.

That blatant intensity, almost enough to set him ablaze, sent a shiver down his spine.

Th-this, could this be…?

…A-a pickup attempt?!