Chapter 5 Proving Innocence

Chapter 5: Proving Innocence

In the dean’s office, facing the silent younger Shi Yu, the dean’s face flushed red with anger. “Shi Yu, why did you have to bully Zhang Linfeng like this? Don’t you know this is serious bullying? The school has the right to expel you—”

Zhang Linfeng’s parents were locals from this city, and they rushed over as soon as they heard their son was in trouble.

Now, seeing their son’s bruised face, they pointed at Shi Yu and shouted, “Expulsion is nothing compared to what he did to my son! No way!! We’ll call the police and have him sent to jail!”

Shi Yu tilted his head and glanced at Zhang Linfeng, who was hiding behind his parents. “Call the police? Fine, go ahead. But when you do, it won’t just be me getting arrested.”

Zhang Linfeng’s parents thought Shi Yu was threatening them and started shouting, “What do you mean by that? Our Zhang family is no small name in Linhai. You’re not even qualified to threaten us!”

The elder Shi Yu stopped in front of the younger Shi Yu, bowing and apologizing to Zhang Linfeng’s parents. “Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry. Please let me apologize on behalf of my brother. He didn’t mean it…”

Before he could finish, the younger Shi Yu pushed him aside.

The younger Shi Yu glared darkly at the elder Shi Yu. “Who told you to apologize for me? Did I say I did something wrong? You’re just rushing to take the blame for me.”

The elder Shi Yu shrank his neck and said timidly, “I’m sorry…”

“Shi Yu—”

Hearing a familiar voice calling him, Shi Yu turned his head but before he could see clearly, a slap landed on his face.

Feeling the burning pain on his cheek, Shi Yu’s eyes reddened as he stared at Shi Ciye in disbelief. “Dad, you hit me?”

Zhang Linfeng’s mother tried to step forward to say something, but her husband pulled her back.

Zhang Linfeng’s father obviously recognized who Shi Ciye was. He shook his head at his wife.

Shi Ciye lowered his voice and glared at Shi Yu. “You’ve caused me such a big problem. Don’t you think I deserve to hit you? If I hadn’t suppressed the news in time, the headlines about the young master of Times Group bullying a classmate would be everywhere by now.”

Shi Yu said with red eyes, “I didn’t do anything.” Then he pointed at Zhang Linfeng. “He stole from a disabled person and cursed them behind their backs. I just wanted him to apologize!”

This claim surprised everyone in the office.

Zhang Linfeng’s mother shook off her husband’s hand. “Nonsense! Our family isn’t short of money. Why would my son steal?”

Shi Yu pulled out a video from his phone. “Take a look. He admitted to stealing himself!

And the injuries on his face were self-inflicted. I didn’t lay a hand on him. At most, I said a few things. He thought we were going to do something to him and started slapping himself.”

The video only showed the first half, with Zhang Linfeng on screen. From off-screen, Shi Yu’s voice was clearly heard: “Zhang Linfeng, have you been stealing from the owner of Ping An Bun Shop? Why did you do it? As far as I know, the owner is disabled. What you’re doing is wrong.”

In the video, after Shi Yu finished speaking, Zhang Linfeng began admitting his mistake and slapping himself.

After watching the video, everyone in the room fell silent.

Although Shi Yu had taken Zhang Linfeng away, from the video’s perspective, Shi Yu hadn’t physically touched him. But what he did off-screen was unknown.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Zhang Linfeng didn’t dare raise his head.

Only Jiang Ji stepped away from the crowd and slipped out.

The dean looked at Zhang Linfeng and, aiming for objectivity, asked, “Zhang Linfeng, is what Shi Yu said true?”

Zhang Linfeng glanced cautiously at Shi Yu. When he saw the smirk on Shi Yu’s face, he immediately recalled the way Shi Yu had mimed a knife at him.

Terrified, he said, “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have stolen from the disabled person. Shi Yu didn’t bully me. The injuries on my face were all self-inflicted.”

Shi Ciye stared at Shi Yu. “He didn’t steal from you. Why did you play the hero?”

Shi Yu put on an innocent, aggrieved expression. “Dad, I know I shouldn’t have taken him away.

But he was insulting disabled people at the time. You know about my leg… So I lost control for a moment. I couldn’t help myself. Dad, I was wrong.”

Shi Yu’s explanation instantly shifted everyone’s sympathies.

After all, Zhang Linfeng had indeed stolen, and Shi Yu had a leg problem. It was plausible that Zhang Linfeng had mocked disabled people in front of Shi Yu, triggering him.

Even Shi Ciye’s expression softened at that thought.

Zhang Linfeng’s father immediately put on a fawning smile and stepped forward. “Chairman Shi, it seems this was all a misunderstanding. No fight, no friendship, right?”

Shi Ciye not only ignored Zhang Linfeng’s father’s attempt to ingratiate himself but didn’t even spare him an extra glance.

Just then, Jiang Ji returned, leading a limping woman.

The limping woman entered the office, glanced at Shi Yu first, then looked away.

The moment Shi Yu saw who Jiang Ji had brought, he quickly lowered his head.

The woman was the owner of the bun shop who had been robbed. After entering, she pointed to her mouth and waved her hands, indicating she couldn’t speak.

Jiang Ji said, “Since this auntie is the real victim, why not let her decide how to handle this?”

The owner made hand gestures, but no one in the room understood sign language.

The elder Shi Yu walked over and said gently, “Auntie, can you write?”

Just as the owner nodded, the younger Shi Yu spoke up. “She said that on the way here, she heard about what happened. She says it’s not a big deal and won’t pursue it.”

The younger Shi Yu even let out a cold snort at the end, showing his dissatisfaction with the owner’s decision.

In this situation, no one seemed to wonder why Shi Yu knew sign language.

Only Jiang Ji’s eyes flickered with suspicion.

Although the owner chose not to pursue the matter, Zhang Linfeng’s theft was too serious. The school decided to issue a school-wide notice and give him a suspension.

Zhang Linfeng was dragged out of the dean’s office by his mother. His father wanted to stay and network with Shi Ciye but was pulled along by his wife. “If you don’t care about face, I do.”

Zhang Linfeng’s father grumbled, “What do you know? That’s the richest man in Linhai…” Then he turned to his son. “You idiot! If this affects me, I’ll make your life hell. Did we ever let you go hungry? Always doing such disgraceful things…”

Their voices faded as they walked away.

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