October 12, 1998, Monday.
After the recess exercise, Guan Xuchen, Gao Xinglang, and Ji Kaiying came to the Discipline Office. Guan and Gao were there to hand in their self-criticism letters. Ji Kaiying, on the other hand, came to testify: Gao had fought only because Ao Feifan and Wu Zhuicai had mocked them, while Guan had merely tried to break up the fight, not join in.
At the office door, they could hear Director Liu sternly scolding Ao Feifan and Wu Zhuicai. Seeing the two boys cowering, heads bowed and barely daring to breathe, Guan felt a flicker of satisfaction—they had had it coming. But the thought of facing the same scolding soon made his stomach twist.
Gao Xinglang knocked, then stood at the door with Guan and Ji, waiting.
Director Liu glanced over, motioning them in, then turned to Ao and Wu, "You two can go now. Make sure to reflect on your mistakes!"
"Yes, sir," The pair mumbled, shuffling toward the door, dejected. Passing the three, they kept their heads down, and just muttered, "Excuse me."
Gao, Guan, and Ji stepped back to let them pass before entering.
Director Liu surveyed them, then told Gao and Guan to wait aside. "Young lady, what is your business?"
Ji glanced at the boys, then spoke carefully, "Good morning, Director Liu. I'm Ji Kaiying, from Class 4, Senior Three. Last Friday, I saw those two boys— the ones who just left—mocking Gao Xinglang and Guan Xuchen. They said something really inappropriate, which is why Gao Xinglang fought with them. Guan Xuchen only tried to stop it; he didn't join the fight."
Director Liu listened, then glanced at Gao and Guan before saying flatly to Ji, "I see. You may go now."
After Ji left, Director Liu asked with a serious face, "Gao Xinglang, Guan Xuchen, have you finished your self-criticism letters?"
"Yes, sir. Please take a look." Guan Xuchen respectfully handed over his letter with both hands, and then said with a sincere face, "We are sorry for what we did. Please forgive us."
Gao followed, handing over his letter with both hands too.
Director Liu took both letters and then started reading them carefully.
As Director Liu was reading the letters, Guan Xuchen's heart raced. He had noticed that the director hadn't pressed Ji Kaiying for details before sending her off. He thought that the director didn't believe her. He feared the same harsh scolding for Gao Xinglang and himself, and worried more that Gao's demerit would ruin his college entrance exams.
When Director Liu finished, he handed Guan's letter back to him, and said in an unperturbed manner, "Guan Xuchen, take this back."
Guan Xuchen panicked and asked, "Sir, did I write it wrong? I can rewrite it if necessary..."
The director's hard expression softened. He shook his head and said calmly. "It's not like that. You did nothing wrong, so there's no need for you to write a self-criticism letter."
"Thank you, sir," Guan took the letter, with relief mixed with confusion.
Director Liu continued to explain, "Last Friday, when you insisted you didn't fight, I thought it fit—you don't strike me as the type. I talked to some onlookers I recognized. And your head teacher also came to me this morning to explain. Now I know you only tried to break it up. So you don't have to hand in this letter."
"As for you, Gao Xinglang," His tone turned sharp again. "Just now Ao Feifan and Wu Zhuicai admitted mocking you and Guan Xuchen the other day. But fighting is never right."
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Love Me in Another Universe
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