A Good-for-Nothing

101. A Button (1)

Translator: Dragon Rider

The First High School of Coastal City had one principal, but there were also four or five vice-principals.

In the ordinary course of events, it was part of a vice-principal’s duty to handle this kind of matter.

And previously, the one who had made a phone call to Qin Huai was indeed a vice-principal, whose surname was Wu, and whose sole duty was day-to-day administration. Vice-principal Wu was also the one that had been dealing with this incident of the School.

In fact, put bluntly, when it came to the administration of a school, every year executives had to handle a suicide or homicide case or two. In a key high school like this one, in particular, since both students and teachers were under great stress, there were even more such cases. As a result, when faced with an incident like this, school executives, though not so familiar with it as to handle it with ease, did know how to keep the scandal from escalating and at the same time appease teachers and students.

This was also the very reason why most students of this school were still having class as usual after the suicide case.

However, this incident was clearly somewhat unusual, especially in terms of the identity of the victim, Xu Tianhao, so Vice-principal Wu had no choice but to take it more seriously. Furthermore, Vice-principal Wu had found that this matter had attracted a lot of people’s attention. Originally, he had been accompanying some staff members from a government department who had come to the school to inquire into this case. And now he received a phone call from Qin Huai.

Vice-principal Wu saw Qin Huai first and hastened to greet him. “Childe Qin!”

“Vice-principal Wu.” Qin Huai and He Zheng walked over. “I came here with a friend to take a look.”

It was after hearing this that Vice-principal Wu noticed the young man standing beside Qin Huai, who was dressed like a childe from a rich family. Though thinking that this man probably came here to make trouble as well, Vice-principal Wu felt it inappropriate for him to make any comments.

Vice-principal Wu replied with a polite smile, “Then take your time.”

Qin Huai tossed a glance inside and saw that a guy with a bun on top of his head was walking around in the classroom with his back to them. Qin Huai furrowed his brow. “Isn’t this place supposed to be sealed off?”

This was the classroom where Class 305 of the twelfth grade used to have class, and also the very classroom where the schoolboy had committed suicide by hanging himself.

Vice-principal Wu responded, “Oh, those are staff members of the public security bureau. They’re here to investigate.”

They noticed that there was yellow police tape outside, and inside the classroom, apart from Zu Zhichong, there was indeed a man in a police uniform.

On hearing their voices, Zu Zhichong turned around and made eye contact with He Zheng on the other side of the window. Head covered with big drops of perspiration, Zu Zhichong looked exhausted. Seeing He Zheng, he was caught in a daze. “He Zheng? Why are you here?”

Also astonished, Vice-principal Wu twisted his head around and looked at He Zheng whom he had believed to be a rich so-and-so’s son. “You two know each other?”

After a fleeting moment’s embarrassment, Zu Zhichong replied, “Yeah, we work in the same department. I never expected he would come here as well.”

He Zheng raised his chin and gave a bob of his head. “Our superior sent me here to assist him.”

The man in police uniform standing beside Zu Zhichong also looked in their direction. Zu Zhichong made an introduction, “This is Sergeant Luo.”

The man gave a nod of acknowledgement.

The two of them were still inside the classroom.

Vice-principal Wu was rather dubious, but right now he didn’t have the time to give it much thought. Seeing the two of them were clearly acquainted with each other, he said, “Oh, I see. Since both of you are here to investigate, you may ask me anything you need to know. I promise I’ll give you my full cooperation.”

“We’d like you to give us a sketchy account of the incident first.”

“Here’s the thing. The deceased student was Xu Tianhao, a student of Class 305 of the twelfth grade. Currently, the suspect is Liu Lanxue, the teacher in charge of the class. We just recruited her this year.”

“How could you be so sure that she’s a suspect?”

“Liu Lanxue is a newcomer to teaching and is in charge of a class of the twelfth grade, so she’s been under great stress. Moreover, this girl’s mental endurance is not very good. Before this incident, there had been a few occasions when she overreacted in certain circumstances. Once she even locked all students in this classroom with a big padlock, and not long after that, she falsely accused Xu Tianhao for stealing money.”

A thought struck He Zheng and he asked, “How was the matter settled in the end?”

With a distressed look, Vice-principal Wu responded, “It was not the student’s fault. A teacher is not supposed to suspect a student for no good reason. Xu Tianhao and his parents were very indignant… Of course, we also held an inquiry into the matter and ascertained that Xu Tianhao was indeed wronged, so we had this teacher make an apology to Xu Tianhao.”

“And then Xu Tianhao died?”

Vice-principal Wu had a somewhat awkward expression on his face. “Yes. It was after Liu Lanxue had a talk with Xu Tianhao that the boy committed suicide.”

“A private talk?”

“Yeah. There was nobody else around when they had the talk. We don’t know the details. The surveillance camera in the teacher’s office malfunctioned, so there’s no surveillance video.”

He Zheng was somewhat puzzled. “If that’s the case, why that teacher is still in a detention house? Haven’t you already confirmed that she’s the culprit?”

“We… haven’t.” Vice-principal Wu’s tone was a shade uncertain. Suddenly, he said, “By the way, the surveillance video of the classroom is available. Do you want to see it?”

Zu Zhichong lifted the yellow police tape in a very natural way, walked out of the classroom and said to Vice-principal Wu, “All right.”

“Actually, the police have already taken this video to the station and copied it. It’s really strange. You’ll know what I mean after you see it… If it weren’t for this video, this case should’ve been solved some time ago.”

Vice-principal Wu cast Zu Zhichong a somewhat worried look, lowered his voice and said, “Little Zu, have you ever dealt with this kind of case before? To be honest, this matter really brought my world view, which had been with me for so many years, to a radical change. You may talk to Childe Qin and hear what he has to say. His family… are also affected.”

In the presence of outsiders, Vice-principal Wu put it somewhat obscurely.

Zu Zhichong knitted his eyebrows in the knowledge that this matter was definitely not as simple as it sounded, which was why he had been assigned to take care of it.

That sergeant also exited the classroom. “Let my colleagues take a look at the video. It’ll help them know more details of the case.”

“All right. Can I have a couple of minutes before we go?” Zu Zhichong said after glancing at He Zheng and Qin Huai.

“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the office,” replied Sergeant Luo.

After a few steps forward, Vice-principal Wu twisted his head around with an awkward countenance and said to Sergeant Luo, “Incidentally, Sergeant Luo, about those people of Xu family who are making a scene at the entrance… What do you suggest we should do?”

“My colleagues have already taken them away.”

“I see. Thanks a lot. Sorry to have inconvenienced you, sir,” Vice-principal Wu thanked him profusely, feeling as if a rock had just been removed from his heart. “Then we’ll go to the office first. You may take your time.”

Vice-principal Wu left Classroom 305 like the wind.