NOVEL WEB Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Gossip
Translator: Lonelytree
Zhou Xi was furious. She shouted without reason, “This school belongs to my family. If I claim that there is no footage, do you think they will hand the footage over to you? Let me tell you, even I really did hit you, no one will be able to touch me, because you won’t be able to get any evidence!
“What are you people standing there for? Go and grab that bitch’s phone for me! If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility!” Zhou Xi was not going to let this really go to court. If it blew up, it would be the end of her life. But Zhou Xi was not going to risk her own safety anymore, she forced her underlings to do her bidding instead.
“Sister Xi… It’s not good to resort to violence. We should get your father here, I’m sure she wouldn’t dare to do anything then.” The lackeys hesitated and did not move forward. Zhou Xi’s father was the school director, but Mo Yi’s father was as well! In fact, Mo Li’s father had the bigger share. Even though the rumor was that Mo Li had fallen out of favor with her family, what if the rumor was not true? Were they going to risk their own lives for Zhou Xi? Would Zhou Xi really take responsibility if something did happen? The answers for both were a solid no.
Mo Li watched their performance quietly. Her patience was wearing thin. They were like flies buzzing nonstop. She didn’t have time to waste on these people, she had more important things to do.
“Zhou Xi, you keep on saying the school belongs to your family but have you forgotten that the Mo family is the largest shareholder?
“Furthermore, your father might be the school director but you have to know that it was his wife who paid to buy the directorship for him. Do you think your stepmother will go through hoops to protect an illegitimate daughter of her husband?” Mo Li exposed Zhou Xi’s biggest secret because she wanted to wrap this time-wasting incident up as soon as possible. She didn’t have more time to waste on this ridiculous drama.
Zhou Xi’s expression paled than when she had first fallen to the ground.
How did Mo Li know about the secret that not even Zhou Xi’s family knew? As the daughter of an illegitimate affair, Zhou Xi was barely allowed to stay with her father. Even though she didn’t need to worry about anything over the years, Zhou Xi also knew that her father’s wife didn’t like her.
Zhou Xi panicked for real this time. She looked at the classmates around her who were discussing animatedly. It was as if everyone was laughing and pointing fingers at her.
Her classmates initially did not believe Mo Li but when they saw how flustered Zhou Xi was, they started to have second doubts.
“What happened?” At that moment, a powerful male voice boomed beyond the crowd. Zhou Xi’s eyes brightened at the ray of hope.
“Dad… I mean, director. Mo Li, Mo Li, she hit me. Look at the injuries on my body. She even accused me of framing her. She wants to sue me in court. Director, you have to help me and ensure that justice is served!” When Zhou Xi saw her father arrive, it was as if she grew a new backbone and tattled on Mo Li first. However, she conveniently skipped over the fact that her identity had been exposed. She knew how important face was important to her father and her stepmother. If they knew that her identity had been exposed, it would not end well for her.
The director’s name was Zhou Tao. He was about forty years old and looked refined and cultured. Even at his age, he maintained a good figure. Back then, it was his handsome face and perfect physique that won him the hand of the daughter from the side lineage of the Qin Family. He skipped 30 years of hard work from that marriage.
Zhou Tao and Zhou Xi’s mother were childhood sweethearts but for the sake of his future, Zhou Tao abandoned Zhou Xi’s mother and married into the Qin family. But after the marriage, Zhou Tao had an affair with Zhou Xi’s mother and that led to the pregnancy of Zhou Xi. At the same time, Mrs. Qin was also pregnant.
This matter was found out by Mrs. Qin. Under the threat of having his life destroyed, Zhou Tao heartlessly sent his mistress overseas to fend for herself. Zhou Xi was only brought back to the country after she was born. However, she was only allowed to follow the surname of her father, cutting her off from the Qin Family’s reputable lineage. To the outside world, Zhou Tao claimed that Mrs. Qin had given birth to a pair of twins, the boy followed his mother’s surname, while the girl followed his. This whole incident was incredibly secretive, other than the seniors of Qin Family, practically no one knew about it. Mo Li found out because she had read about it from the book.
Director Zhou’s heart broke when he saw the bruise on her daughter’s leg and the tears on her face. He turned to Mo Li with a cold expression. “Miss Mo, if you have a conflict with another student, you should have the teacher resolve it. How can you resort to violence? Even if your father is the most powerful school board director, it doesn’t mean that you can use that to bully others! I demand that you apologize to Miss Zhou now! If not, I’ll have to call your parents!” Director Zhou instinctively sided with his daughter. Zhou Xi’s tears were enough evidence for him.
Mo Li looked speechlessly at this imposing Director Zhou, and Zhou Xi, who was suddenly a damsel in distress, she cried like her life depended on it. Mo Li felt a headache coming. She couldn’t believe she had to waste more time on this incident. She could have used this time for far more valuable purposes.
“Director Zhou, do you think you’ve been fair to have come to the judgement without even hearing my side of the story? Hear me out. First, it was your daughter who slandered me, saying I was the one who hit my brother in a hit and run. I said slander because she has no evidence to support her claims; Secondly, after I warned her from slandering my name further, she tried to grab my phone away from me to eliminate the evidence that I have of her doing just that; Thirdly, she tripped on her own. I never even touched a single hair on her.” Mo Li made her argument succinctly and soundly.
“All the other students can be my witnesses. In fact, I believe some of them have captured the entire incident on video. Furthermore, if you still don’t believe me, feel free to check the surveillance footage.
“I have to stress that I have not done anything wrong and I will not use my father’s position to bully other students. It was your good daughter who is flaunting how this school is hers and her family’s. All I want to know is, whether Mrs. Qin knows that your mistress’ daughter is going around bullying people with the Qin Family influence?”
Mo Li’s words were sharp and powerful. Zhou Tao looked at Mo Li’s brilliant eyes and the fleeting smile on her lips. He knew in her heart that Mo Li was telling the truth, his daughter was the one in the fault. However, Zhou Tao still sided with his daughter, no one was going to bully his daughter when he was around. In fact, he was already formulating way to undermine Mo Li’s argument, when Mo Li casually dropped the bomb about Zhou Yi’s actual identity. Instantly Zhou Tao’s expression chilled.
Zhou Tao’s gaze on Zhou Xi froze. This was a family secret, if not for Zhou Xi’s big mouth, how would an outsider like Mo Li know about it? This meant the fact that he had to bend over backwards to marry into the Qin Family and his dirty laundry with Zhou Xi’s mother was also now privy to all. Zhou Tao had tried his best to construct an image of a loving husband. The public praised him for his generosity for surrendering his own son to follow his wife’s surname, not knowing that it was because Zhou Tao had been caught with an affair. Zhou Xi was Zhou Tao’s consolation prize, and his wife’s sign of mercy.
But now everything was going to crumble.