The Unforeseen Encounter

The old professor sighed, his gaze towards Jiang Cheng filled with complexity. Jiang Cheng, however, looked up with an innocent and bewildered face, blinking at the old professor.

"You all can leave now," the old professor gestured to Qin Yi and the others. "I want to talk to them."

"Okay, okay, Professor." It was clear that Qin Yi respected the old professor greatly. Without further ado, he led his people away, leaving the office to them.

"Professor, what brings you here?" Jiang Cheng leaned in. He had an indescribable affection for the old professor, a feeling of closeness.

"If I hadn't come, you wouldn't even know you were being transferred," the old professor said, pausing. His gaze shifted towards Jiang Cheng, and after a moment, he continued, "Do you know about the swimming pool incident?"

"I know some things." Jiang Cheng recounted Yuan Xiaoyi's story to the old professor. Strangely, he felt no urge to hide anything from the old professor.

The old professor's presence instilled a sense of inexplicable trust in Jiang Cheng.

"Hoo—" the old professor exhaled, then turned to Jiang Cheng. "This is what Yuan Xiaoyi told you, isn't it?"

"Yes," Jiang Cheng replied.

"What she said is true, but not entirely," the old professor said, his voice tinged with hesitation, as if aware of the weight of this buried past. "Not all those high school girls died; some survived." The old professor looked at Jiang Cheng. "The one who survived is the Yuan Xiaoyi you see."

Jiang Cheng had already suspected this outcome, so he wasn't particularly surprised. The school actually allowed Yuan Xiaoyi to remain and continue her studies in her current state. It would be foolish to think nothing was going on. This was a form of compensation, silencing her family while keeping Yuan