Song Qianhan was the school's model teacher, a nationally renowned mathematics expert of lofty standing and an upright man who would never compromise his principles. It would not have been excessive to call him old-fashioned. Thus, when the accusation of collusion in cheating arose, everyone, including Wen Xinbai, found it hard to believe.
"That's not what I meant!"
Zhou Xue'er noticed Song Qianhan staring at her with a grim expression. Panic gripped her, and she grew anxious and angry.
Gu Chen sighed softly. "You're really contradicting yourself. You raise suspicions but don't dare admit it. If you're not questioning me or Teacher Song, then you must be questioning the school leadership. Do you think someone leaked the exam questions to me beforehand?"
"You... you!"
Under everyone's gaze, Zhou Xue'er looked at Gu Chen through gritted teeth, so anxious she was on the verge of tears. She hadn't expected Gu Chen to be so cunning, drawing Song Qianhan into the matter and even implicating the school leadership.
It was awkward for Song Qianhan to say much at that moment, but Wen Xinbai had to stand up. Wen Xinbai cleared their throat and said, "Student Zhou, we can understand your doubts, but you need to provide substantive evidence. Every classroom has a camera that runs throughout the exam. If you don't believe us, we can pull up the footage."
"Vice principal, there's no need to say any more." Gu Chen cut Wen Xinbai off and sighed. "After all, Student Zhou Xue'er has never scored above 450 points, much less gotten a perfect score. It's only natural that she can't accept it. I understand how she feels. If she finds reality too hard to accept, I can consider tutoring her so she can face her own shortcomings."
Gu Chen's condescending attitude nearly made Zhou Xue'er lose control. Although everyone knew why she had attacked him, Gu Chen's public exposure of her motives made her image crumble in an instant. She had become a complete and utter failure, a petty person who couldn't stand losing.
"Gu Chen, I'll remember this! I'll remember this!!!"
Zhou Xue'er gritted her teeth, stomped her foot hard, and turned toward the teaching building.
Gu Chen watched her leave, his gaze calm. At that moment, he felt neither sorrow nor joy, as though it had been a trivial matter.
After Zhou Xue'er left, the morning assembly came to an end as well. Yet everything that had happened that morning sent the whole school into an uproar again. Gu Chen was naturally the subject of the gossip. Not only had he fulfilled the bet and placed in the top ten in his year, he had taken first place with a perfect score and even humiliated Zhou Xue'er in public again.
The stir over Gu Chen was unlikely to die down anytime soon.
Gu Chen, the person at the center of it all, had come to the principal's office. Most of the school leaders from the morning assembly were there, including the principal, the vice principal, Song Qianhan, and others. They sat on the sofas, looking at Gu Chen as he stood in the middle of the room.
"Are you sure you want to take a leave of absence?"
The principal adjusted his glasses, looked at Gu Chen, and sighed softly.
"Of course." Gu Chen smiled faintly. "It was my bet with Teacher Song, and I've already surpassed the target. Besides, Vice Principal Wen was there at the time. Not only can he bear witness, he was also a participant."
The principal gave a bitter smile. If Song Qianhan didn't have enough standing to make that bet, Wen Xinbai certainly did.
"Gu Chen, won't you reconsider?" Song Qianhan sighed as well. "The school really doesn't want to miss out on a promising talent like you. If others find out we let you take a leave of absence, they'll probably laugh at our school for being incompetent."
In everyone's eyes, how was Gu Chen still an uncut jade? Having achieved a perfect score, he was already a rare treasure that had been fully carved and polished! If other schools found out, they'd probably go mad fighting over him!
A future pillar of society, without a doubt!
"Everyone, please don't worry," Gu Chen said. "I won't transfer schools. I promised Teacher Song I'd come back for the graduation exam, still representing Xinghua University. It's just that I have other things to deal with before then, so I can't continue staying at school."
"Gu Chen..." The principal wanted to try persuading him again.
But Gu Chen cut him off and said calmly, "Principal, do you think there's any need for me to stay at school?"
Everyone was stunned. They had no answer to that! That was right. He had already gotten a perfect score, so what was left for him to learn at school? Wouldn't keeping him there just be wasting his time?
Gu Chen's expression was calm. "So please grant my request!"
The school leaders present exchanged glances and finally nodded. The principal made the decision himself. "How about this? I'll make an exception for you. Come to school when you want, and stay away when you don't. I can handle the paperwork for you, but you must take the graduation exam."
"Thank you!" Gu Chen flashed a toothy smile.
After leaving the principal's office, Gu Chen let out a long breath. For now, he would no longer be tied down by school and could begin his revenge plan.
Gu Chen had originally intended to leave school directly, but after some thought, he decided to go to his class and say goodbye to Su Qingqing.
The first class had just ended, and the students were relaxing and playing in the corridor. When they saw Gu Chen coming, they all made way of their own accord, clearing a path for him to enter the classroom.
Su Qingqing sat at her desk reading. Gu Chen walked straight over to her.
"I came to say goodbye."
Gu Chen looked at Su Qingqing's pretty face. "I probably won't be coming back to school for classes for a while."
"I guessed as much." Su Qingqing raised her head and glanced at him, then quickly lowered it again. "You won your bet. Congratulations."
"When you have time, can I ask you out?" Gu Chen said in a low voice. "For coffee or something."
Su Qingqing's delicate body trembled, and she finally looked up at Gu Chen again. His eyes were bright, as though two suns were hidden within them, arrogant beyond compare.
"Why?" Su Qingqing asked.
Gu Chen was taken aback, then said, "Because you're my only friend in Zhou City. Even if I stop going to school, I don't want to lose you as a friend."
"Friend?" A trace of a bitter smile appeared on Su Qingqing's lips. Something had come to mind, but she suppressed the emotions in her heart and nodded. "But I don't have much time. The graduation exam is coming up, after all. She still wanted to work hard and make a bid for the research institute. If you want to go out, let me know in advance."
"All right." Gu Chen didn't stand on ceremony. With a faint smile, he slung his schoolbag over one shoulder with one hand and left without a care.
Only after Gu Chen turned and left did Su Qingqing bite the end of her pen, her face despondent and her thoughts in turmoil.
When he stepped out of the classroom, he unexpectedly saw Zhou Xue'er outside.
Before Gu Chen could speak, Zhou Xue'er said coldly, "Are you leaving?"
"What's it to you?" Gu Chen sneered. "Don't tell me you came to congratulate me?"
"Were you pretending all along?" Zhou Xue'er said coldly. "I don't believe someone can suddenly become first in the year. Your grades were good before, but you kept hiding it?"
"I'll say it again. What's it to you?" Gu Chen's face was full of contempt, and his attitude nearly drove Zhou Xue'er mad.