After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 12: Teacher Cao Got Really Angry

Chapter 12: Teacher Cao Got Really Angry

Chen Yitong was surprised for a moment. She looked up at Teacher Cao and asked, “Could there be a mistake? Zhou Yining is introverted and an honest good kid. She probably wouldn’t do something like turn in a blank answer sheet.”

“How could she not do it? Look at this.” Teacher Cao handed the answer sheet to Chen Yitong.

Chen Yitong took the answer sheet and glanced at it. She still felt Zhou Yining didn’t seem like a rebellious kid who would deliberately turn in a blank sheet. “Could it be she ran out of time or forgot to fill in the answer sheet?”

“How could she forget? The entire grade didn’t have anyone else turn in a blank sheet, just her. And introverted? Her love letter to a male classmate spread everywhere. It’s simply shameless. I can’t believe a student like her can still study at No. 1 High School. It really pisses me off.”

Yesterday, Teacher Cao felt humiliated by Zhou Yining in class. Now, she turned in a blank answer sheet. Wasn’t this clearly targeting him?

After thinking, Teacher Cao asked again, “What about her other subjects? Did she turn in any other blank sheets?”

Teacher Zhang and Chen Yitong exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Teacher Cao got even angrier. The veins on his forehead popped out. “What does she mean by this? Is she deliberately showing off to me? Fine, zero points in English. I’d like to see how she ranks in the grade.”

Saying this, Teacher Cao turned to the English class representative behind him and said, “Go call Zhou Yining to come here. I don’t believe it. I’ve taught for decades, and this is the first time I’ve had a student like this.”

Yu Yang jogged out of the office and then ran to the classroom. He shouted a report, and the teacher supervising the self-study session let Yu Yang enter the class.

Yu Yang spoke to the teacher and then walked to Zhou Yining’s side. “Zhou Yining, Teacher Cao wants you to go to the office.”

Zhou Yining calmly closed her math workbook. As expected, what was coming would come.

Zhou Yining nodded at Yu Yang, stood up, and followed him out of the classroom. As soon as she left, the quiet classroom started buzzing with whispers.

“What’s wrong with Zhou Yining? Why did Old Cao suddenly call her over?”

“I heard she didn’t fill in her English answer sheet. She’s definitely in trouble.”

“She’s done for. Yesterday in class, she offended Old Cao. Now he’s going to chew her out.”

The teacher at the podium heard the commotion below and immediately restored order. “Tch, quiet down. You all finished today’s exam, huh? You’ve got time to meddle in other people’s business? Mind your own.”

Sure enough, mentioning today’s exam made everyone wilt.

Zhou Yining calmly followed Yu Yang out of the class. Yu Yang couldn’t help but warn her, “Teacher Cao is really mad. Don’t argue with him later.”

“It’s fine. I can handle it.” Zhou Yining said calmly. As an author of strong female lead stories, she excelled at turning the tables in tough situations. The more people around, the better. The more public the setting, the better.

Near the office door, Zhou Yining took her phone out of her pocket and pressed the record button.

She and Yu Yang entered the office one after the other.

This was the large office for the second-year teachers. All the teachers worked in this office. Earlier, Teacher Cao’s loud voice had drawn curious glances from many teachers.

Zhou Yining walked toward Teacher Cao’s desk. Seeing her calm expression, Teacher Cao got even angrier. He threw the answer sheet on the floor in front of her.

“Look at this yourself. Zhou Yining, what do you mean by this? If you’re unhappy with me, you can say it directly. What does turning in a blank sheet mean? Don’t you know this is being irresponsible to yourself?”

Zhou Yining’s emotions didn’t waver. She looked at Teacher Cao calmly. “Last time in class, you accused me of cheating. If I hadn’t done another test, I’d probably be labeled a cheater by now. A teacher shouldn’t be so petty or casually wrong a student.”

“Zhou Yining, are you doing this on purpose?” Teacher Cao was so angry he wanted to push her.

Chen Yitong quickly pulled Zhou Yining back and stood in front of her. “Teacher Cao, if a child doesn’t listen, you can reason with her, but you can’t get physical.”

“What’s the use of a student like her, even if she studies well? Bad character, talking back to teachers, no respect for educators. Zhou Yining, don’t you have any upbringing at home?” Teacher Cao’s face turned red. In his forties, he felt utterly humiliated by a student, losing all face.

Zhou Yining stayed calm and asked, “Where’s my bad character? Just because you wrongly accused me, and I fought back, you’ve been holding a grudge against me? Teacher Cao, are you really that petty?”

“Zhou Yining, have you no shame? Do I really need to spell it out? Your love letter to a male classmate got posted on the confession wall. Anyone with a shred of dignity wouldn’t do something like that. It’s simply shameless.”

“How am I shameless? Writing is everyone’s right. Liking someone is also everyone’s right. I never approached Zhang Ye or bothered him. On the contrary, the person who stole my writing and put it on the confession wall is the one breaking the law. But I’ve already taken screenshots as evidence. I’ll use legal means to protect my privacy.”

Zhou Yining continued, sneering at Teacher Cao. “And you, as a teacher, insulted me verbally without knowing the situation, assuming based on your own bias that I posted it on the confession wall. I think my reputation has been violated. I’ll have my lawyer sue you too.”

“Listen to her, suing me? Who has time to post your love letter online? It’s you, shameless, trying to get Zhang Ye’s attention by posting it yourself.” The English teacher was furious. He hadn’t noticed how stubborn Zhou Yining was before. With so many teachers in the office, if he lost his authority today, he’d be utterly humiliated.

Chen Yitong frowned slightly. She felt Zhou Yining made sense. Grades were one thing, but a teacher personally attacking a student without evidence was wrong.

“Teacher Cao, talk about grades if you’re talking about grades. Don’t bring up other things.”

As a veteran teacher, Teacher Cao felt challenged by Chen Yitong’s words and got angrier. “Fine, is Chen Yitong backing Zhou Yining now? Great, then I won’t care if Zhou Yining’s English grades tank in the future.”

He said this, holding his head high, expecting Chen Yitong to placate him. After all, she’d only been working for two years, a junior. But Chen Yitong ignored him and looked at Zhou Yining.

“What’s going on with the forum? Was your privacy exposed? Do you want me to contact the school to get the confession wall post deleted?” Chen Yitong, being a woman, knew how damaging bad rumors could be to a girl.

“Thank you, teacher, but no need. The bigger this gets, the harsher the punishment for the person who violated my privacy. So I’m thinking of letting the confession wall post stay up a few more days.” Zhou Yining smiled at Chen Yitong and said坦然ly.

Malicious words that hurt others were like knives. They couldn’t hurt the current Zhou Yining, but what about the original Zhou Yining? The original was just a girl under 18. How helpless must she have felt facing overwhelming rumors?

Zhou Yining sighed, thinking of the original’s family. She felt sympathy for her. Facing such bullying at school, she probably had no one to confide in. After all, in that family, only Zhou Jiaming seemed like her parents’ child.

Seeing Zhou Yining’s calm demeanor, Chen Yitong couldn’t help but reassess her. Anyone would panic in this situation, but Zhou Yining was remarkably composed.

Chen Yitong gave Zhou Yining an approving look. As the two talked, they left the English teacher standing there.

His chest heaved with anger. He glared at Yu Yang. “What are you standing there for? Come help me tally the scores.”

If others wouldn’t give him face, he’d find it himself. Otherwise, being stuck here would be even more embarrassing.

Teacher Cao shot Chen Yitong a subtle glare. Protecting a student and opposing him meant they’d crossed a line today.

Chen Yitong ignored Teacher Cao and looked at Zhou Yining, advising, “Your grades are your own. What Teacher Cao said just now was wrong, but turning in a blank sheet affects you.”

“I know, teacher, but this isn’t the college entrance exam. I know what I’m doing.” Zhou Yining looked at Chen Yitong, neither humble nor arrogant.

Chen Yitong sighed and continued, “I really didn’t know about the confession wall. I heard other teachers mention it a few days ago, but I didn’t ask for details. It’s my failure as a homeroom teacher for not noticing this and letting you suffer.”

Zhou Yining shook her head. “It’s not your fault. Every wrong has its source. I’ll only go after the person who posted my diary on the confession wall. You already have enough work managing a class. You don’t need to worry about my issues. I can handle it myself.”

Looking at the mature and steady Zhou Yining, Chen Yitong suddenly felt Zhou Yining seemed more experienced than her. She looked into Zhou Yining’s eyes again and said seriously, “Come to me if you have problems. I’m your teacher. I can’t let you be bullied. Also, if you clash with the English teacher again, remember to come to me.”

“Okay, thank you, teacher.” Zhou Yining smiled坦然ly at Chen Yitong.

She thought this homeroom teacher was actually pretty good and responsible. But with over fifty students in a class, even a teacher with three heads couldn’t keep up with everyone. The original Zhou Yining was insecure and sensitive, with little presence in class. It was understandable that the teacher didn’t notice her.

“Go back. Remember, come to me right away if you have difficulties. You’re still a kid. Don’t try to handle everything yourself.” Chen Yitong instructed again.

“Okay, I’ve got it. Thank you, teacher.” Zhou Yining now looked like an obedient good student, as if she hadn’t just argued with the English teacher.