Gu An’аn alsо toоk the opportunitу to put оn an еxpression of disbelief, directly dеnying it:
“Impоssible, I wеnt straight to thе рlаygrоund right аftеr clаss. I didn’t take thе mоnеу.”
“Someone is frаming me.”
“Hаh, Gu Аn’аn, yоu’re still trying to аrgue аt this роint.”
Zhаo Хi lookеd at Gu Аn’an with full satisfаction, slарping the сlаss fund оntо the table with a thud.
“Еvеryone saw the clаss fund bеing taken out оf уour lосker—it wаs witnessеd firsthаnd.”
“You sаy you went straight to the playground after class, but who knows if you didn’t sneak back halfway to take the money.”
“You just didn’t expect us to find out so quickly.”
“Exactly, exactly,” other classmates chimed in. “She stole things at her previous school. Who knows if she got greedy seeing how much class fund there was this time.”
“When Zhao Xi said the class fund was missing, I suspected her right away. Turns out my suspicion was right.”
“Truly, having thick skin is something else. Even with solid evidence, she still wants to argue and refuses to admit it.”
The surrounding classmates looked at Gu An’an with disgust, never expecting such a thief in their class.
Zhao Xi pressed her advantage, crossing her arms in front of her chest, her face almost openly triumphant.
“Gu An’an, will you admit your mistake yourself, or should I get the teacher to make you admit it?”
“You stole the class fund—everyone saw me find it in your locker with their own eyes.”
“You’re nothing but a thief.”
“If you admit you’re a thief and apologize to me now, I might reluctantly not report this to the teacher. Otherwise, get out of Nan City No. 1 High School.”
“Nan City No. 1 High School doesn’t have students who are thieves.”
“Right, thief, apologize! Thief, apologize!”
The classmates gathered around immediately grew agitated, forcefully demanding that Gu An’an apologize.
Zhao Xi and Gu Wanrou stood at the front of the group, both smiling as they waited for Gu An’an’s reaction.
The perpetrators demanding an apology from the victim.
No one knew better than them just how wronged Gu An’an truly was.
If she admitted to it today, the label of “thief” would stick to her tightly from then on, impossible to shake off.
Even worse, whenever something went missing in the class, Gu An’an would be the first suspect.
She was finished!
Gu Wanrou curled her lips into a smug smile as she looked at Gu An’an. So you think you’re tough, huh?
Daring to set up cameras in advance last night to trap her—don’t blame her for striking hard now.
Gu An’an remained calm and unflustered, simply raising her head and pointing toward the surveillance camera in the corner of the classroom ceiling:
“Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do? Go ahead and check the surveillance footage if you dare.”
Zhao Xi curled her lips, about to mock her, but Gu Wanrou spoke up first.
Gu Wanrou wiped her tears, walking up to Gu An’an with an expression of disbelief.
“An’an, you know perfectly well—you know the surveillance camera broke last week and still hasn’t been fixed.”
“The school can’t retrieve any footage at all.”
“Hmph,” Zhao Xi immediately snorted coldly. “I think you planned this all along, knowing the camera was broken before doing something like this.”
“You just didn’t expect us to trace it back to you so quickly, catching you red-handed.”
“Now you have two choices: either apologize or drop out. There’s no room for negotiation.”
Zhao Xi’s words rang out with conviction, and she was backed by a considerable number of students around her. “That’s right, either apologize or drop out.”
“I think dropping out is the best option. I don’t want to be in the same class as a thief.”
“Shh, dropping out requires calling in the parents. Do you think she has the nerve to tell Mr. Gu that she dropped out because she couldn’t resist stealing money out of sheer greed?”
“Tsk, she’s really far behind Gu Wanrou. Why isn’t Gu Wanrou the biological daughter of the Gu family?”
Gu Wanrou’s lips curled into a cold smile as well. Yes, she too wondered why she wasn’t the biological daughter of the Gu family.
But so what?
Gu An’an still wasn’t as favored by the Gu family as she was.
Pretending to be worried that Gu An’an might impulsively choose to drop out, Gu Wanrou grabbed Gu An’an’s hand and pleaded tearfully:
“Please, An’an, just apologize.”
“If you apologize, this matter will be over. I believe the classmates won’t spread it around. Promise your sister that you’ll never steal again, okay?”
“Dad worked so hard to get you into Nan City No. 1 High School. Your grades aren’t good to begin with—what will you do if you drop out now?”
Gu An’an coldly pulled her hand away from Gu Wanrou’s grasp, her expression indifferent:
“I said it before—I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.”
“An’an!”
Gu Wanrou cried out sorrowfully, pleased to hear the growing anger among the classmates behind her because of Gu An’an’s words.
Putting on the act of a caring older sister, she nodded with reddened eyes and sniffled:
“Alright, An’an, if you won’t apologize, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t taken your place, you wouldn’t be like this.”
After taking a deep breath, she assumed a righteous and solemn expression:
“I’ll apologize for you.”