“Animal abuse of small animals!”
Su Muzhi almost shot up from her chair. She failed to control her volume, and the voice echoed through the quiet office, drawing repeated glances from nearby teachers.
“Ms. Zhou Qing’s sister, please don’t react so strongly!”
Su Muzhi quickly sat back down and kept apologizing to Teacher Zhou.
“Sorry, teacher, I got too emotional. But I don’t believe Zhou Qing would do something like this.”
Teacher Zhou Qing patiently explained,
“Ms. Zhou Qing’s sister, I understand your feelings. But many students have reported that Zhou Qing hasn’t only harmed stray cats and dogs on campus. Some even claimed they saw her catch a weasel to satisfy some kind of disturbing habit of harming animals.
I asked you to come today to clarify the truth. If it’s false, I will make those spreading rumors apologize to Zhou Qing. But if it’s true, the school may issue disciplinary action, even expulsion…”
Su Muzhi’s expression turned serious. The last time she saw Zhou Qing was three years ago, when she was in ninth grade. Back then, Zhou Qing—like her name suggested—was like a little sun, bright and warm, illuminating everyone around her.
She couldn’t believe someone’s personality could change so drastically in just three years.
“Reporting, teacher, you asked for me…”
The voice was so soft it was almost swallowed by the surrounding noise. If Su Muzhi and the others hadn’t been facing the door, they might not have noticed at all.
Su Muzhi frowned. She couldn’t believe the timid girl who wouldn’t even lift her head was Zhou Qing.
“Zhou Qing, come here. The teacher called you in today to address the rumors about you in class.”
Even the homeroom teacher didn’t dare speak too loudly, afraid of scaring her.
Zhou Qing didn’t even have the courage to look at the two people in front of her, but she knew they were all waiting for an answer.
She seemed panicked, stepping back repeatedly, only repeating one sentence:
“No… it wasn’t me… I didn’t…”
She staggered and fell to the ground. Su Muzhi quickly stood up to help her, but the moment she touched her, Zhou Qing curled up tighter, as if even more frightened.
Something flashed through Su Muzhi’s mind. She gently comforted the collapsing girl.
“Xiao Qing, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Zhou Qing froze when she realized it wasn’t her sister’s voice, then looked up uncertainly.
“Susu… sister?”
Su Muzhi gave her a reassuring look and whispered near her ear:
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Zhou Qing tightly grabbed her sleeve.
Su Muzhi turned to the teacher:
“Teacher, as you can see, with her personality, it’s impossible for Zhou Qing to abuse animals. I want to meet the people spreading this. Whoever makes the claim should provide the evidence.”
The teacher nodded and called over all the students who had reported it, lining them up.
Su Muzhi scanned them briefly. Most looked nervous. Only one boy stood out—lazy posture, not wearing his uniform, looking completely unconcerned. She immediately suspected him.
“Tell me. Did you personally see Zhou Qing abusing animals, or did you hear it from someone else?”
All of them turned their eyes toward the boy. He didn’t care at all, acting like the leader.
“Why are you all looking at me? Just say whatever you want.”
The others hesitated, then all said in unison:
“We saw it ourselves!”
Even Su Muzhi noticed something was wrong. The teacher clearly noticed it too. As the bell rang for class, she sighed:
“You all go back to class first. Liu Shanming, you stay.”
The boy left behind was the one she suspected.
He kicked the desk beside him in annoyance and cursed under his breath.
His movement frightened Zhou Qing, who hid further behind Su Muzhi.
The teacher didn’t beat around the bush:
“Tell me. Did you spread this rumor?”
Liu Shanming admitted it easily.
“Yes, I did. So what? She did it—can’t people talk about it?”
“Do you have evidence? This is serious. Without evidence, it’s defamation.”
Without a word, Liu Shanming pulled out his phone and played a video.
From Su Muzhi’s angle, she couldn’t see the screen clearly, but she saw the teacher’s face grow darker and darker. After the video ended, the teacher slammed the phone onto the table.
She tried to calm herself, then handed the phone to Su Muzhi.
“Ms. Zhou Qing’s sister, please take a look.”
The video showed a clear but secretly recorded scene: Zhou Qing using scissors to slowly cut off a kitten’s ear while the cat screamed in pain.
The violence was brutal and without hesitation—completely unlike what one would expect from a high school student.
Su Muzhi couldn’t even bring herself to finish watching. She closed her eyes, but the cat’s screams still seemed to echo in her ears.
“It’s not over yet.”
Liu Shanming snatched the phone back and played two more videos: one of Zhou Qing carrying the bloodied kitten out of school, and another of her trapping a weasel.
Silence fell.
Tears the size of beans fell from Zhou Qing’s eyes as she kept repeating:
“No… it really wasn’t me…”
Liu Shanming mocked her:
“Still acting? The weasel is still hidden in your dorm right now!”
The teacher, though scolding him, was already half convinced. She called a few girls, and sure enough, a cage with an unconscious weasel was found under Zhou Qing’s bed.
Liu Shanming smirked:
“Evidence and witnesses. What else do you have to say?”
Su Muzhi looked at Zhou Qing. Something about her didn’t feel like a lie—but the evidence was undeniable. If only the weasel were awake, she could ask it herself.
The teacher sighed:
“Ms. Zhou Qing’s sister, take her home and let her rest for a few days. The school will decide the punishment later.
As for this…”
She looked at the unconscious weasel in difficulty.
“Teacher, I know a rescue station. I can give you the contact. You can send it there directly. Also, could you send me these videos?”
“No problem. And please try to guide the child emotionally. Senior year pressure is high—she needs healthier ways to cope.”
After a long lecture, Su Muzhi finally left.