Chapter 28: Yaoxing Academy 28 Part 1

News of the elevator accident was quickly and completely sealed off.

There were plenty of witnesses, making the cover-up somewhat difficult. In the end, Xun Qian had to step in personally to stabilize the situation.

That night, two guests arrived at Xun Ji’s villa.

“Bro, I’m really fine.” Xun Ji leaned back on the living room sofa, reassuring the man before him. “The injury on my leg isn’t serious. I’ve already applied medicine to it.”

Xun Qian usually had a gentle and refined demeanor, but at that moment, his face was ominously dark.

“The injury on your leg is one thing; the fright you suffered is another.” He turned to the woman beside him, his words sharp. “Each must be accounted for clearly. Isn’t that right, Principal Kong?”

The woman was around fifty years old, with a composed and capable air that came from long years in a position of authority. She was none other than Yaoxing Academy’s former principal, Kong Jing.

But at that moment, her face was heavy, and she had no response to Xun Qian’s questioning.

“Bro, Principal Kong has already apologized. This wasn’t her fault.” Xun Ji tried to persuade him.

“If it wasn’t her fault, whose was it?” Xun Qian sneered. “Insisting on setting the challenge on the Bell Tower, then washing their hands of it afterward—unable to even guarantee the students’ safety!”

“It was my mistake.” Principal Kong let out a deep sigh, as if she had aged several years in an instant. “I only had people inspect the Bell Tower’s outer wall. I never imagined the elevator, unused for so long, already had safety hazards. Combined with the heavy rain from the past few days eroding it, it completely…”

“Enough!” Xun Qian interrupted impatiently. “Save those words for the Yu Family.”

At the mention of the Yu Family, Principal Kong’s face paled even further. Yu Fangbai was currently in the hospital, fighting for his life.

“That child… I let him down. I will personally apologize to the Yu Family.” Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. “As for Xun Ji, I must thank you.”

She rose from the sofa and bowed solemnly to Xun Ji.

Xun Ji was startled and hurriedly stood to support her lightly.

“If you hadn’t made that decisive choice so quickly, today’s tragedy would have been far worse.” She said sincerely, “You saved them. You’re remarkable. Not only are you smart, but you’re also kind and brave. I apologize for my previous prejudices against you.”

Prejudices? Xun Ji had no idea what she meant and could only nod vaguely.

“You do owe him an apology.” Xun Qian clearly harbored long-standing resentment toward this Principal Kong and took the opportunity to vent it all. “Xun Ji was only in his first year of high school back then. Even if he made a mistake, you should have given him a chance to correct it. But you hounded him relentlessly, forcing him to go abroad alone for a year of school.”

Xun Ji was surprised in his heart. So the original body had been absent from Yaoxing Academy during his second year because of this Principal Kong.

“Looking back now, there might really have been a misunderstanding.” Principal Kong hesitated.

“You were so harsh on Xun Ji, yet you favored your own people excessively.” Xun Qian wasn’t done. “Letting that Lu Zhou with no background enroll exceptionally and even changing the scholarship system for him—do you dare say that wasn’t out of selfish motives?”

Lu Zhou’s enrollment was also related to her? Xun Ji was shocked once more.

Principal Kong seemed to think of something, and her eyes reddened again.

“Lu Zhou’s mother was once my close friend, but unfortunately, she met the wrong person and ended up…” Her voice choked. “Lu Zhou’s matter was my nepotism, so when the Xun Family held it against me because of Xun Ji and transferred me away from Yaoxing, I left willingly. But regarding Xun Ji’s incident, based on the investigation at the time, the main responsibility was indeed his. I handled it according to school rules.”

What exactly had happened, serious enough to force the Young Master of the Xun Family—the half-master of Yaoxing Academy—to flee abroad? The original text didn’t mention this segment, and Xun Ji was truly curious.

“In the end, it’s my fault for not noticing sooner.” Principal Kong sank into memories. “That year was also the school anniversary. The Star-Plucking Championship was in full swing—it should have been Yaoxing’s most lively and joyful day… But that student jumped from the top of the Bell Tower.”

“Two years ago, one student died. Today, this one might die too.” Xun Qian looked at her coldly. “I think this Bell Tower is cursed. Might as well tear it down.”

“President Xun, no need for such words.” Principal Kong shook her head. “This time was an oversight leading to an accident—completely different from the previous incident.”

She looked at Xun Ji with affectionate eyes. “Moreover, Xun Ji is different now. I believe he would never hold that Killing Game again.”