After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 51: Parent-Teacher Meeting

Chapter 51: Parent-Teacher Meeting

The leaders did not consider other people’s situations, but they thought about their own achievements. After much thought, the vice-principal decided that Zhou Yining could not leave.

He softened his tone, smiled at Zhou Yining, and said, “You know, Teacher Cao taught for decades, and it was not easy. How about this: you both compromise. I will ask him to apologize to you privately later, and next semester, I will assign another teacher to handle your class’s English. Teacher Cao will teach the first-year students. Do you think this works?”

Zhou Yining nodded, “Okay, thank you, Principal.”

“No trouble at all. Of course, Zhou, about transferring schools, could you not consider it? Our high school is a public one, so we cannot promise bonuses or things like that, but I will make a decision. I will talk to the cafeteria to put two thousand yuan on your meal card every month. That means you eat at school for free next year. Does that sound good?” the vice-principal said.

“Yes, thank you for the trouble,” Zhou Yining said, looking at the vice-principal.

“Good, I will call them now. Go to the card-charging place to top up your card, then come back. I will have Teacher Cao come over later.”

“Okay,” Zhou Yining nodded in response. She left the vice-principal’s office and went to the place to charge her meal card.

The auntie in charge asked for Zhou Yining’s name and student ID, then immediately added two thousand yuan to her card. She also said, “Student, remember to come back in September when school starts. You can keep charging it.”

“Okay, thank you,” Zhou Yining said to the auntie after taking her meal card.

Meanwhile, in the vice-principal’s office, Teacher Cao was already there.

“Old Cao, you are a veteran at this school. This time, you were indeed wrong. You wrongly accused Zhou Yining of cheating and did not apologize afterward, which led to all these messy issues. I won’t ask you to apologize publicly to save your face. Just apologize to her privately later, and next semester, you will teach the new first-year students instead of Zhou Yining’s class to avoid conflicts,” the vice-principal said.

“Principal, for one student? You want me to apologize to her?” Teacher Cao said, feeling shocked.

“Do you know that, except for English, Zhou Yining got first place in the city for all other subjects? Several private schools already have their eyes on her. We cannot let other schools poach such a good student. As a veteran employee, you should understand my position. The top scorer in the college entrance exam is very important for our school. This year’s top scorer came from Yinghua Private High School. If we let them steal the spotlight again next year, where will No. 1 High School’s reputation go? This matter is settled. You must apologize today,” the vice-principal said, his attitude becoming firm.

Teacher Cao felt upset, but to stay at the school, he did not dare offend the leadership. He held back, “Fine, I will apologize to her, but I am doing it for your sake.”

“It doesn’t matter whose sake it’s for. This matter must be resolved today in my office. Sit down and wait. Zhou Yining will be here soon,” the vice-principal said.

“Alright,” Teacher Cao said, sitting down. Although he felt unhappy, he had no choice. Besides, he actually did not want to teach third-year students, so this was a bit of a blessing in disguise, as he would teach first-year students instead.

Soon, someone knocked on the office door.

“Come in,” the vice-principal said.

Zhou Yining turned the doorknob and entered the office.

When Teacher Cao saw her come in, he stood up reluctantly. Seeing the vice-principal staring at him, he gritted his teeth, held back, and said, “I was wrong before. I shouldn’t have accused you of cheating without asking. I sincerely apologize to you here, Zhou.”

Zhou Yining’s lips curved up. She looked at Teacher Cao with satisfaction, “Alright, then this matter is over.”

“That’s right. This matter is settled today. Yining, go back to class and study well. I need to talk to Teacher Cao alone for a bit,” the vice-principal said to Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining nodded, turned, and left the office. This was already a good outcome. She would not have to see Teacher Cao next semester, so Zhou Yining felt very happy.

Back in class, Zhou Yining looked at the blackboard covered with dense homework assignments and felt shocked. Every subject had a lot of homework, including workbooks and test papers, making her eyes blur repeatedly.

With no other choice, Zhou Yining took a photo of the blackboard with her phone. Looking at the pile of test papers on her desk, she really did not want to do them.

She rolled up the test papers and workbooks and put them away. Zhou Yining then felt a little better. Her classmates were also restless, wishing they could just go on holiday.

“This is so annoying. Why did they assign so much homework? What kind of holiday is this?”

“Yeah, and we have a parent-teacher meeting this afternoon. I really want to die.”

“When is the college entrance exam? I really can’t hold on anymore.”

The teachers knew everyone’s minds were not on studying, so they simply arranged a self-study session for the last class.

Zhou Yining seized the self-study time to frantically work on her test papers. On the podium, Chen Yitong was still speaking, “I just got a notice from the school. This afternoon, all of you need to go to school. Everyone must thoroughly clean the playground and the hallways of the teaching building to prepare for the holiday.”

Hearing this, the class immediately groaned.

“Oh my gosh, we have to clean the yard during the holiday? I’m done.”

“The worst part is we might run into parents coming for the parent-teacher meeting. I’m crying.”

“I’m crying too.”

Chen Yitong laughed at the students’ reactions, “Alright, this is the last big cleanup before the holiday. Everyone, just bear with it.”

By around two in the afternoon, parents gradually arrived at Class 19, while the students were mostly outside picking up trash or cleaning the playground.

Zhao Xiuna arrived at Class 19, asked the class monitor at the door, and found Zhou Yining’s seat to sit down.

She nervously clutched her hands. In the past, her daughter’s grades were always poor, making her lose face. This time, she felt her daughter had become rebellious, so her grades might be even worse, and she felt very uneasy.

Soon, the class teacher, Chen Yitong, came with the grade reports.

Chen Yitong first said a few polite words, then continued, “This time, our class’s top student ranked 18th in the grade, which is a big improvement. I want to especially praise Zhou Yining. Except for English, her grades in all other subjects were first in the entire grade. I hope everyone in the class can learn from her. I’ll have the class monitor pass out the grade reports so parents can have a clear idea.”

Zhao Xiuna was shocked. She wondered if she had misheard. When she got Zhou Yining’s grade report, she gasped. Mathematics: 150, Chinese: 148, Comprehensive Arts: 295, English: 89, Total: 682.

Zhao Xiuna rubbed her eyes, still unable to believe it. She raised her hand and asked, “Teacher, are you sure there’s no mistake? Did my Yining really score 682?”

Chen Yitong smiled and nodded, “Yes, this final exam was harder than past college entrance exams. Zhou Yining’s score is already very impressive.”

Zhao Xiuna held Zhou Yining’s grades, her face full of joy, “That’s great, really great.”

For the next hour, Chen Yitong mostly talked about holiday arrangements and reminded parents that the third year was coming up, so they should give their children the most support.

After the parent-teacher meeting ended, the students cleaning outside were also mostly done.

Zhao Xiuna’s mind was still buzzing. She still could not believe Zhou Yining got first in the class.

Chen Yitong thought for a moment and called out to Zhao Xiuna, “Zhou Yining’s mother, wait a moment. I have something to tell you.”

Zhao Xiuna quickly walked over, nervously asking, “Teacher, did my Yining cause trouble at school?”

Chen Yitong’s brow furrowed slightly. She recalled seeing Zhou Yining’s father at the police station and realized Zhou Yining probably faced more hardship at home than she thought.

“No, Zhou Yining performs well at school. Her Chinese grades were outstanding this time, earning her a spot in a training program five days from now. If she passes the training, she can compete in the provincial contest. This is a great opportunity, and you parents must support her. She’s very motivated now, so you must not hold her back,” Chen Yitong said.

“Okay, okay, don’t worry, we’ll definitely support her,” Zhao Xiuna said, then thought for a moment and asked, “Is the training fee expensive?”

“The training is free, but you must not stop her from going,” Chen Yitong reminded again.

“Teacher, don’t worry, we’ll fully support her.”

After a few more words, Zhao Xiuna left, her mind still dazed. Only good students got to attend training programs. When did her daughter become so good at studying? She still found it unbelievable.

Zhao Xiuna was still uneasy and wanted to ask other students. She randomly stopped a student coming to the classroom to pack up and asked, “Student, Auntie wants to ask you, how are Zhou Yining’s grades in your class?”

The person she stopped was Tian Xue, whose family did not attend the parent-teacher meeting. She was just coming back to pack her things. “Her grades were average before, but these past one or two months, her studying has really improved. She did well in the last monthly exam too. Auntie, I’m her good friend, Tian Xue.”

“Oh, her grades got so good? She’s changed a lot and didn’t tell me, her mother, about any of this,” Zhao Xiuna said with a sigh.

Tian Xue nodded, “She’s not quite the same as before, but it’s pretty good. Now the teachers and classmates like her a lot. Auntie, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go pack my things.”

“Tian Xue, right? Can I add your contact information? Yining is so rebellious now and doesn’t tell us anything at home. Is that okay?” Zhao Xiuna said, taking out her phone.

Tian Xue thought for a moment, her eyes blinking behind her glasses, and nodded, “Sure.”

She gave Zhao Xiuna a string of numbers. Zhao Xiuna called back, “Student Tian, if Yining gets into trouble at school, please make sure to tell me. She doesn’t tell us anything now.”

“I’ll try, Auntie. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go now,” Tian Xue said, then went to the classroom to pack her things.

Zhou Yining had also returned home by then. Zhou Jiaming’s room door was tightly closed, but cursing sounds came from inside, as if Zhou Jiaming was playing computer games. Zhou Yining ignored him and went straight to her small bed to rest.