Stealing ML’s White Moonlight C24

Chapter 24

The teachers at Ming High graded exams very quickly. The test was taken on Monday, and by Wednesday, the results were out.

Shen Lihuan’s class was the top-performing class, and their overall results were excellent. Their average scores in each subject ranked first or second in the entire grade. Of course, having an overall strong performance did not mean that there were no students with poor grades.

The student who ranked last in their class was a girl named Wang Qingqing, who placed 327th in the grade. However, her previous performance had consistently been in the top 50.

Ye Lan was very dissatisfied with her results this time, but she still exercised restraint. She only called out Wang Qingqing’s name in class, instructing her to reflect on her recent performance and strive for improvement in the next exam.

While Ye Lan could hold back, the physics teacher, Ms. Chen, could not. She had a naturally fiery temper. When she was in a good mood, she could joke and put her arm around students’ shoulders, but when she was in a bad mood, her sharp tongue could make people wish they could disappear on the spot.

This time, Wang Qingqing’s physics score was the worst—only 58 points—dragging down the class’s overall ranking. Ms. Chen was already a little angry, and when she entered the classroom, she saw that all the students were sitting properly—except for Wang Qingqing, who was slumped over her desk, either asleep or lost in thought.

She immediately slammed the stack of test papers onto the podium. Everyone’s eyes turned to her, yet Wang Qingqing remained in the same position. Ms. Chen frowned.

“Wang Qingqing, are you seriously sleeping on your desk in the middle of class? What sneaky things were you up to last night? Do you not know that when the teacher arrives, you should sit up straight?”

Hearing Ms. Chen call her name, the whole class turned to look at Wang Qingqing. Her deskmate, Yang Tianlin, awkwardly reached out and nudged her, lowering her voice.

“Qingqing, wake up. Ms. Chen is here.”

Wang Qingqing groggily lifted her head and, upon realizing that everyone was staring at her, immediately jumped to her feet, her face flushed red.

“Teacher, I’m sorry…”

Ms. Chen did not tell her to sit down. Instead, she unfolded a stack of test papers, held one up, and shook it.

“Our class did fairly well in physics this time, ranking second in the entire grade. But I must criticize one student. Only one person in our class failed, and she dragged everyone down.”

“I truly don’t understand how she managed to fail. I have explained the test topics over and over again. Many of these questions were ones I have covered before. If you just pay attention in class, there’s no way you wouldn’t be able to do them.”

A few students whispered among themselves, guessing who the person might be. However, most of them suspected it was Wang Qingqing. After all, their homeroom teacher had already mentioned earlier that she had significantly dropped in rankings in this exam.

Wang Qingqing trembled slightly, the redness in her face fading. She also realized that Ms. Chen was talking about her.

“Wang Qingqing, tell me, what have you been doing lately? I’ve noticed more than once that you’re always spacing out in my class, staring blankly like a dead fish. How old are you? You’re not even at the age where you should be thinking about romance, are you?”

At this, the entire class fell silent.

Ming High did not explicitly forbid early relationships, but if a student’s grades dropped because of it, the school would call their parents. In severe cases, the student might even be suspended to reflect on their behavior.

Tears welled up in Wang Qingqing’s eyes and began falling, but she didn’t dare wipe them away.

Seeing her cry only made Ms. Chen more irritable.

“What? You cry the moment I scold you? Are you protesting because you think I’m wrong? Get out and stand outside for the whole class period. Reflect on yourself. After class, come with me to the office and write a self-criticism.”

Wang Qingqing picked up her books and pen, walked out of the classroom, and continued crying silently. She hugged her books tightly to her chest, leaned against the stark white wall, and looked up at the sapphire-blue sky. Her tear-filled eyes held a sorrow far beyond her years.

Shen Lihuan strongly disagreed with Ms. Chen’s approach. However, she knew that if she openly defended Wang Qingqing, it wouldn’t affect her much, but it would only make Wang Qingqing an even bigger target for Ms. Chen’s resentment.

In a world where teachers had absolute authority, it was best not to offend them. They had countless ways to make your life miserable, and you could never guard against them all.

Because of this, Shen Lihuan started paying closer attention to Wang Qingqing. While Ms. Chen was reviewing the test, she would occasionally glance at the classroom door to check on her. A few minutes later, when she looked again, Wang Qingqing was gone!

Recalling the way Wang Qingqing had left with tears streaming down her face, Shen Lihuan’s heart clenched. Would she do something reckless?

With that thought, Shen Lihuan immediately raised her hand.

Ms. Chen, now in a better mood, called on her with a pleasant expression.

“Yes, Shen, do you have a question?”

“Teacher, Wang Qingqing is no longer outside the classroom. I’m a bit worried. Can I go look for her?”

Shen Lihuan stood up, her tone filled with urgency.

Ms. Chen, now calmer, realized that her words earlier had been too harsh. If Wang Qingqing had a weak mental state and did something drastic, she would be held accountable. So she nodded.

“Alright, Shen, you and You Changqing go together. Find her and bring her back quickly.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Shen Lihuan and You Changqing left the classroom, deciding to split up—one searching each stairway. If either of them found Wang Qingqing, they would bring her back immediately.

Shen Lihuan ran toward the staircase on the left side of the building. She searched every possible location—corners, restrooms, the reading room, the gym, the dance studio—but Wang Qingqing was nowhere to be seen.

As she reached the end of the hallway, a sudden impulse made her glance toward the rooftop.

She froze.

Wang Qingqing was climbing over the protective railing!

Shen Lihuan’s expression changed drastically. She rushed back to the classroom.

“Teacher! Call the police! Wang Qingqing is climbing over the rooftop railing—she’s about to jump!”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and ran toward the rooftop.

At the same time, You Changqing came running toward her from the opposite direction, shaking her head.

“Lihuan, I didn’t see Wang Qingqing anywhere.”

Shen Lihuan grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

“She’s on the rooftop! I saw her climbing the railing! We need to stop her!”

Ms. Chen’s legs nearly gave out when she heard Shen Lihuan’s words. She barely managed to stay upright by holding onto the podium. Her hands trembled as she took out her phone. Instead of calling the police immediately, she first called the principal.

“Principal Cheng, this is Chen Yinxin. One of my students, Wang Qingqing, is thinking of jumping from the rooftop because I scolded her. What should I do?”

A loud crashing sound came from the other end of the line, followed by Principal Cheng’s shocked voice.

“What? What’s going on? Call the police right now! Where is she?”

“She’s on the rooftop of Wenqing Building.” Ms. Chen’s voice choked up. She turned away, not wanting the students to see her tears.

“Alright! We’ll be there immediately! Keep her calm and don’t let her do anything foolish!”

Principal Cheng hung up and rushed toward Wenqing Building with several school administrators.

Ms. Chen called the police while running toward the rooftop.

Please, let nothing happen.

Wang Qingqing was only sixteen.

If anything happened to her because of this, Ms. Chen would never forgive herself.