They Dumped Me—Now They’re Reincarnated and Obsessed? - Chapter 27
Back in the classroom, Xie Tingxue was still in a daze.
Mei Jian asked, “What happened?”
Xie Tingxue shook her head and didn’t answer.
Not long after, the homeroom teacher came and called Xie Tingxue’s roommates. “Come with me to the discipline office.”
The girls glanced at Xie Tingxue, then quietly followed him downstairs.
The fourth period was history. Hao Feng, the history teacher, was interrupted several times. Watching the girls leave, he sighed emotionally.
“You’ve probably heard this before—there’s a saying in history that women are long-haired and short-sighted, petty and fussy, always making a fuss over trivial matters.”
The boys in class hooted.
Hao Feng smiled too and motioned for silence. Then he continued, “But if you truly understand history, you’ll see how cruel this saying is. Why? Because back then, how many women had access to education? Just being literate was a huge deal.
Some never even left their homes, let alone participated in national affairs. All they could concern themselves with were the trivialities of their courtyards. How could someone with no education possibly make grand arguments about the world?”
Xie Tingxue sniffled. Mei Jian handed her a tissue.
“In my experience,” Hao Feng went on, “it’s those trivial matters that drain people the most. If a person wants to achieve great things but wastes energy on petty drama, that’s all their life will ever amount to.
So when I see girls bickering or throwing fits, refusing to hang out with one another, I feel regret. Those things just aren’t worth it. Throughout history, not a single great woman remembered in the annals of time got there by being petty.”
Yan Yaru nudged Chen Chang with her elbow. She glared playfully, while Chen Chang grinned contentedly.
“So I hope all the young women—and young men—here today can broaden your horizons. Especially since we’re in the humanities. A narrow mind is dangerous. You’ll notice I don’t emphasize memorizing dates or names in my class.
That’s not what history is. What I want you to see is the grand river of time, the waves crashing against the shore—it’s vast and magnificent.”
He looked directly at Xie Tingxue and said encouragingly, “That’s also how we should live. Even if you end up an ordinary person, don’t get stuck in triviality. Don’t lose your ambition.
Whether you’re a sparrow or a swan, I hope you all aim to fly like swans—even if life makes you a sparrow.”
Xie Tingxue nodded lightly.
Hao Feng then sighed. “Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. This kind of talk might be too early for you all. Without experience, you won’t really understand. Even if you do understand, it won’t truly stick. But if these five minutes of ‘heart-to-heart’ can help you later on in life, then they were worth it.”
________________________________________
In the discipline office, Lao Cai was stunned to see Yan Ze’s mother.
“Aren’t you Zeze’s parent?”
Yan Ze’s mother smiled. “I am. But I’m also Xie Tingxue’s godmother. I know her parents well.”
She was graceful, well-dressed, with a voice as clear and resonant as a professional host. The girls who came in with her were practically starstruck.
When the two parents asked about what had happened, the girls started explaining everything—not just what happened the night before, but the entire month and a half of tension.
“It was Li Yuyang who splashed the water first…”
“She’s always picked on Xie Tingxue, saying really nasty things to her.”
“One night, I couldn’t sleep. Xie Tingxue had a cold and was breathing loudly. I heard Li Yuyang say, ‘Why don’t you just die already?’”
“She rigged the duty roster too. She didn’t assign Xie Tingxue any evening chores, only made her take out the trash every day at noon. She told the rest of us we weren’t allowed to take out trash at night.”
Lao Cai couldn’t take it anymore. The girls’ stories felt like slaps to the face. He frowned and asked, “Why didn’t any of you speak up earlier?”
The girls all chimed in: “She’s close with some of the students in the back rows. We were scared she’d retaliate…”
“And if we told the teacher but couldn’t get reassigned to another room, she’d definitely get worse.”
“They always called Tingxue a tattletale. Said she was just pretending to be weak so teachers would feel sorry for her.”
“She has a heart condition, and they made fun of her for it. Said she had a ‘delicate girl’s body but a servant’s fate.’”
The girls had been holding back for over a month. Now that they had a chance, they poured everything out. One sentence at a time, growing more righteous.
Yan Ze’s mother clutched her chest, nearly in tears from the heartache.
Li Yuyang’s father couldn’t sit still anymore. He snapped, “So what, you’re all saying it’s my daughter’s fault? She’s the only one getting picked on? You think she just bullied your precious Tingxue for no reason?”
The girls fell silent for a moment, then one of them glanced at Yan Ze’s mother and bravely spoke up.
“Li Yuyang said Tingxue’s mom was a maid…”
“She always complained that Tingxue was fake and dramatic—just because she didn’t take gym class.”
“Honestly, it’s just jealousy,” another girl suddenly blurted. “At the start of the semester, all the boys were super nice to Tingxue. Even boys from other classes would sneak over to see her.
Yuyang got jealous and started picking on her.”
“And Tingxue’s grades are top-notch. The teachers always praise her—especially the history teacher. One time, he praised her in class and Li Yuyang made some weird mocking sound in the back. Everyone heard it. We all knew.”
Lao Cai’s expression grew darker and darker. The Discipline Director stayed quiet.
Li Yuyang’s dad exploded, pointing at the girls. “What kind of lies are you spinning? You little brats are all slandering my daughter!”
One of the bolder girls snapped back, “We were scared before. Tingxue was being bullied and we didn’t help. But now that both the homeroom teacher and the director are here, we’re telling the truth. You can ask your daughter yourself.
Yesterday, she barged into the dorm and dumped a whole basin of water on Tingxue’s bed. Tingxue had to sleep in the classroom last night.”
Yan Ze’s mother frowned but stood up calmly. She smoothed her chest, then spoke with quiet authority.
“We send our children to school to learn, not to suffer. Tingxue is so sensible. She never told her parents. If I hadn’t suspected something and asked my son, I’d have never known what she’s been going through. What kind of mother wouldn’t be heartbroken hearing this?”
Her eyes shimmered with tears, but her voice remained steady. Ignoring Li Yuyang’s father, she addressed the director instead.
“My goddaughter is kind, bright, and hardworking. Just because her family’s situation is different, just because she’s good at what she does, does she deserve to be treated like this?
Today, I want a clear resolution from the school.”
The director tried to mediate. “Let’s all calm down. We can sit down and find a reasonable solution.”
Yan Ze’s mother’s voice grew even firmer. “When my father donated to this school ten years ago, it was because of its motto: ‘Integrity and resilience, virtue and talent.’ And yet now, the child I raise as my own is being mistreated—and the reason is that she’s ‘too good’? I’m not here to pressure anyone. I just want justice.”
The director was secretly shaken. Lao Cai, still preoccupied with how to manage his class, missed the implication behind her words.
Suddenly, Li Yuyang’s dad changed his tone and asked quietly, “Excuse me… may I ask where you work?”
________________________________________
Near the end of class, Lao Cai came in and called both Xie Tingxue and Li Yuyang away.
After class, Mei Jian raced downstairs and saw Yan Ze’s mother holding Xie Tingxue as they walked toward the school gate.
A large, imposing SUV waited outside. Yan Ze’s mom opened the door for Xie Tingxue. Li Yuyang’s dad stood awkwardly by the front, dragging his daughter along, repeatedly apologizing.
The massive car made them look small and insignificant.
Dozens of students watched, whispering curiously.
Mei Jian turned to look upstairs. Yan Ze was leaning on the railing, waving at him.
Mei Jian turned around and went back up.
Yan Yaru stepped out and saw the scene at the gate. She froze. “What’s going on?”
Yan Ze, in a good mood, stretched and said lazily, “Not your business.”
Mei Jian joined him at the railing.
Yan Yaru lingered, trying to start a conversation, but they both ignored her.
Eventually, a boy from another class—someone Yan Yaru got along with—called her to go home with him. She ran off with him.
Yan Ze exhaled. “Finally.”
Mei Jian asked, “What happened?”
“I knew you’d ask,” Yan Ze replied. “Last night, Li Yuyang poured water on her bed. Tingxue had to sleep in the classroom.”
Mei Jian’s breath caught. His expression changed. “How do you know?”
“I stood outside the classroom all night,” Yan Ze said. “I told my mom everything—how Tingxue was bullied, how she fought back, how she might be called in. I also told her about Tingxue’s family. I asked her to come handle it today…”
Mei Jian’s brow remained furrowed. “Why were you there so late?”
“You think I’m a genius?” Yan Ze laughed. “I stay behind to study. I was planning to study until midnight before heading to the dorm. Luckily I did, or else…”
Mei Jian looked pained. “I thought the dorm stuff was just girl drama—petty arguments.”
“Sometimes, Professor Mei, you’re more naive than I thought,” Yan Ze said. “But honestly, I didn’t realize the extent of it until last night either.”
Suddenly, Mei Jian looked alert. “Wait—where is your mom taking her?”
“Probably to your place,” Yan Ze smiled. “She wanted to bring her to our house, but I don’t think Tingxue would go. She’s too stubborn sometimes—locked in her own little rules.”
Mei Jian chuckled. “Yeah, she’s the type to always go straight home after school.”
They both fell silent.
Eventually, Mei Jian said, “Alright, I’m leaving.”
Just as he turned, Yan Ze asked, “I’ve been wondering—if it were you in the classroom last night, what would you have done?”
Mei Jian paused, took a deep breath, and said bitterly, “Probably… just stayed to comfort her.”
Yan Ze smiled.
Then he turned to the sky. “I’ll pick her up tomorrow morning.”
Mei Jian froze for a moment, then sighed.