Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Li Xingyun was the last one to come. When she received Ming Yeqing’s invitation, she already had a hunch on what that was all about.
She hesitated at first, contemplating not showing up, but she eventually decided to come.
Upon seeing Tan Mo and the other two, Li Xingyun did not appear as surprised and guilty as the other four, and she sat down without saying anything.
One of the boys, Gu Xiaonan, took the initiative to say, “Enough with the excuse that you’re celebrating the holiday when you only invited the five of us. If you have anything to say, just say it.”
Tan Mo discreetly pulled Qin Muye’s arm, who wanted to speak, and said, “Then I’ll say it precisely.”
This was her business after all. Qin Muye was willing to help her, and she was very grateful. However, she couldn’t let Qin Muye speak up for her when this had nothing to do with her.
Qin Muye had done enough for her.
Green tea was not meant to be served to people close to her.
“Before the math exam yesterday morning, Li Xingyun told me that Muye was looking for me. I was tricked to leave the classroom. However, I learned that Muye wasn’t looking for me.” Tan Mo looked serious as she continued, ” Li Xingyun knew whether or not Muye was really looking for me.”
“But, I don’t want to pursue this matter now.” Tan Mo saw that Li Xingyun was startled. She smiled at Li Xingyun and went on, “I just want to know… Who ruined my stationery while I was out?”
“The five of you were in the classroom at the time, so you must have all seen it.” Tan Mo’s gaze swept at the five of them.
“After you left, I went to the bathroom, so I didn’t see it,” another boy, Yu Zhengxuan, said as an excuse.
Tan Mo smiled and shook her head. “Yu Zhengxuan, do I need to remind you that it isn’t good to lie? You must take responsibility for your actions! You will inherit the family business in the future. You should be responsible as early as now.”
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“Although I was at Muye’s classroom at the time, it wasn’t like I couldn’t see who’s coming and going in our classroom.” Tan Mo looked and sounded calm.
“I didn’t see you come out of the classroom at the time,” Tan Mo quickly added with a smile.
“Yu Zhengxuan, lying won’t do you any good,” Qin Muye chimed in. “A man should own up to his actions!”
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Yu Zhengxuan lowered his head in shame because of Qin Muye’s scolding.
Qin Muye proudly raised her chin and urged her classmates, “If you saw who did it, just say it. I can guarantee that nothing will happen to you.”
Seeing them hesitate, Qin Muye continued, her eyebrows raised, “You don’t believe me? You’re all afraid when Qin Muxiao threatens you, but you don’t care when I say something. Could it be that I’m not as good as that girl, Qin Muxiao?”
Qin Muye sounded as if she was trying to distance herself from Qin Muxiao by emphasizing the words ‘that girl’.
All five of them were still hesitant.
It was Qin Muye who was bad-mouthing Qin Muxiao, and they did not dare to refute her. If word got out, they would be the unfortunate ones.
The five of them shook their heads in unison, but they did not dare to speak.
It was as if they were afraid that someone was secretly recording everything and would use it against them.
Qin Muye felt that this was getting boring. She sighed and said, “What if I use the Qin family as a guarantee? Tell me if anyone dares to touch you or your family’s company because of this, and my family will immediately step in. Now, are you willing to talk?”
One girl, Xu Huaiyan, had not expressed her thoughts yet. After pondering for a while, she said in a low voice, “But, do your words have any authority? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to say you are inferior to Qin Muxiao…
“The last time Young Master Qin expressed his opinion, we found out that you do not support Qin Muxiao’s way of doing things. But the reason we are apprehensive is that if Qin Muxiao wants to punish our family, she does not need to go through the Qin family and let your family know. Her parents can act privately. After all, it’s not as if they are going to bankrupt our family. To teach us a lesson, her parents can do it quietly. We don’t want to trouble our family about school matters. Even if it is just a small issue, it will still affect our families.”
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Ming Yeqing expected this kind of response from Xu Huaiyan.
“From Qin Muxiao’s temperament, we can see that her family spoils her very much, so she probably has no boundaries,” Yu Zhengxuan chimed in. “Thus, even though she is wrong, her family may not discipline her. But you are different. You never bully people. From the way you and your brother behave, it can be seen that your family is very strict. In this regard, can you really convince your parents to do something concerning a trivial matter as this?”
Xu Huaiyan, in airing her thoughts, implicitly admitted that Qin Muxiao ruined Tan Mo’s stationery.
Therefore, Yu Zhengxuan did not hide it anymore.
Upon hearing Xu Huaiyan’s words, Qin Muye was not as confident as she was earlier.
Could she really convince her parents?
“She can.” Qin Mufeng suddenly appeared behind Qin Muye. “Even if she can’t, I can.”
“Even if the Qin family doesn’t make a move, the Wei family will do something about it.” Wei Zhiqian touched Tan Mo’s head as he said, “My words have weight in my family.”
“Brother!”
“Little Uncle!”
Yu Zhengxuan and the others did not know how to react. They all looked at Wei Zhiqian and Qin Mufeng blankly.
They were indeed worried that Qin Muye’s words would not have weight.
But if Qin Mufeng came forward to assure them, things would be different.
Not to mention, there was also Wei Zhiqian.
Even if Qin Mufeng did not show up, Wei Zhiqian’s assurance would be more than enough.
Moreover, Wei Zhiqian’s and Qin Mufeng’s presence were too intimidating.
At this time, Qin Mufeng was standing behind Qin Muye, and Wei Zhiqian was behind Tan Mo.
They were like the two girls’ protectors.
“So, are you now willing to tell us everything?” Wei Zhiqian asked, his hand lightly rested on Tan Mo’s head.
He wanted to rest on Tan Mo’s shoulders.
But it was not possible because Tan Mo was too short. His hands could not reach her shoulders.
Tan Mo suddenly felt something heavy on the top of her head, and she did not dare to look up. She did not want her do to be messed up.
She could only sit still.
The five of them exchanged glances, and then made up their minds.
Li Xingyun was the first to speak, “Qin Muxiao ruined Tan Mo’s stationery.”
After Li Xingyun spoke, the remaining four followed suit.
They were worried that if they did not speak up immediately, Wei Zhiqian and Qin Mufeng would not protect them.
Gu Xiaonan rushed to say, “After Tan Mo left the classroom, Qin Muxiao broke all of Tan Mo’s lead refills.”
“Then she saw a fountain pen,” Mu Ziyi joined. “Although we don’t use fountain pens, perhaps she just wanted to make sure that Tan Mo wouldn’t have anything to use, she did something to clog the nib. Thus, the ink wouldn’t come out when Tan Mo tried to write using the pen.”