Chapter 20: Whispers in the Bushes

Behind the bushes outside the campus cafeteria, a group of mischievous girls from class chattered excitedly, including Jiang Lin, whom the class monitor had mentioned.

“Lately, Lily has been hanging out with Lin Zheng Ran all the time. Do you think they’ve uncovered something?”

“Probably not. How could they investigate this? When we put the phone in her desk, no one was around.”

“Well, no one saw, but Lin Zheng Ran is the top student in our class. I’m worried he might figure out we did it.”

“What do we do? I never thought this would blow up so big. If we tell the teacher, we’ll all get called in, and we could even get expelled!”

The more they talked, the more anxious they became, and these past few days had left them restless over the matter.

Around the corner outside the bushes, Lin Zheng Ran and Lily pressed against the wall.

Lily held the recorder and, after listening to the whole conversation, gritted her teeth: “Those girls! It was them all along! I won’t let them get away with it!”

Lin Zheng Ran shushed Lily, signaling her to stay quiet because the girls had started talking about Jiang Xiao.

So they heard the girls say: “By the way, what was up with Jiang Xiao that day? Why did she point out Lily in class? We put the phone and money there when she wasn’t around.”

Jiang Lin replied: “I forgot to tell you. Actually, Jiang Xiao saw us put the phone there that day, but she said she wouldn’t snitch and would pretend she didn’t see. I never thought she’d accuse Lily in class.”

“That makes sense. After all, Jiang Xiao likes Lin Zheng Ran, right? She doesn’t like Lily.”

Lily, listening from the corner, realized her guess was spot on. She turned off the recorder and whispered to Lin Zheng Ran: “Now everything’s clear, and we have the evidence saved.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled: “You’ll clear your name soon. So, are you going straight to the teacher, or do you want to scare them first? If you walk out with that recorder now, I bet they’d all burst into tears.”

Lily clenched her fists, fuming: “Of course I’ll scare them! We’re classmates, but this is just too mean. I won’t take this lying down!”

With a flick of her twin ponytails, Lily strode out from the corner, recorder in hand.

Her voice rang out like a dawn alarm: “Don’t you think you’ve gone too far with all this?!”

Her words startled the girls, making them jump and tremble, their eyes wide with panic: “Lily?! And Lin Zheng Ran… what are you two doing here?”

Lily held up the recorder: “What do you think? I’ve recorded everything you just said. For all your nasty deeds, you’re in for it—wait till the teacher calls your parents!”

Lin Zheng Ran stepped out too, but before they could say more.

Most of the girls turned pale and burst into tears, sobbing apologies and claiming they never meant for things to get so serious.

Especially Jiang Lin, who was the first to cry.

Lin Zheng Ran shook his head, thinking kids really couldn’t hold it together.

Of course, all the crying wouldn’t change anything—this had to go to the teacher for everyone to know, though the punishment might depend on how forgiving Lily felt.

Before telling the teacher, Lily went to find her desk mate Jiang Xiao.

This time, Lin Zheng Ran didn’t go, as Lily said: “This involves her a bit, but not really. I’ll handle it myself.”

Lin Zheng Ran shrugged: “Suit yourself. I’m just here to help.”

Lily met Jiang Xiao alone and told her she knew everything, even had the recording of their chat.

Jiang Xiao hung her head, not crying but looking twisted with guilt and pain.

It seemed she had expected this.

She said to Lily: “I knew I couldn’t hide it. With Lin Zheng Ran helping you investigate, he’s too smart—he’d find out. I’m sorry.”

Lily replied coldly: “Sorry’s too late now. I’ll ask the teacher to switch desks, so we won’t be seatmates anymore.”

As she turned to leave, Jiang Xiao suddenly cried and crouched down, covering her face.

“Lily, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I won’t do it again. I don’t know why I acted that way that day, but I really hate seeing you two together.”

“Actually…” Seeing how upset she was, Lily admitted: “Actually, at first, things weren’t that close between him and me. If you hadn’t stirred this up, we might not have spent so much time together and gotten this familiar.”

Jiang Xiao cried even harder.

Lily walked away, not realizing her words hurt more than any direct scolding.

That afternoon, Lily didn’t even bring the recorder—she just gathered the girls, Jiang Xiao, and the class monitor, and headed to the homeroom teacher’s office.

She laid out the whole story clearly.

The homeroom teacher was stunned, and after learning the truth, scolded the girls harshly and called in the parents of the students except the class monitor.

The girls faced another round of scolding, and the office filled with nothing but sobs all afternoon.

After the lecture, the homeroom teacher apologized to Lily: “I’m sorry, Lily. I shouldn’t have accused you in class last time. I’ll reinstate you as discipline committee member. My apologies.”

Lily nodded with a smile.

The next morning, all students in fourth-grade class two sat straight in the classroom.

The homeroom teacher sternly reiterated the matter from the podium:

“Last time’s theft in our class has been investigated—Lily was framed! She didn’t take the class monitor’s things or anyone’s money. I won’t name those who wronged her, but if not for her forgiveness, this wouldn’t end so easily!”

“Even though she forgave you, you all know what you did! Learn from this and remember it. And thank Lily properly! If anything like this happens again, I won’t let it slide!”

The teacher spoke passionately for over ten minutes. Though no names were mentioned, everyone knew who was involved, and those who had accused Lily looked embarrassed.

The teacher announced: “From today, I’m officially restoring Lily’s role as discipline committee member. Let’s give our committee member a round of applause!”

Applause spread through the class, and Lily sat there, a bit shy.

The theft incident, which had dragged on for a week, was finally over.

Everything returned to normal. Kids have short memories—the theft quickly faded from their minds.

Lily went back to her routine, jotting down names on the blackboard whenever she saw people talking.

A naughty boy asked: “Discipline committee, do you really like Lin Zheng Ran? If I say I’m close to him, will you let me off?”

Lily blushed: “What are you talking about?! Who said I…”

She closed her eyes and changed her tone shyly: “I like whoever I want! It’s none of your business! I’ll put your name at the top of the list!”

The class erupted in teasing: “The discipline committee really likes Lin Zheng Ran! Look, she’s blushing!”

Lily, embarrassed and angry, glanced at the indifferent Lin Zheng Ran, which only fueled her frustration until she blurted out:

“What’s it to you?! So what if I like him?! Anyone else teases, and I’ll write your names on the blackboard—all of you!”

The whole class froze, and Lily stood there, stunned.