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When they arrived at Dragon City Fourth High School, it was just after the second period in the afternoon. The hallways and playground were filled with students playing and laughing, some artistic boys and girls gazing up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, while others quietly sat at their desks studying.
The bullying incident that had caused a stir a month ago seemed to have left no trace in this campus. Everyone appeared to have forgotten about it, as if the six individuals who had been vilified like rats crossing the street were now unbothered by the flying pencil cases and textbooks aimed at them.
Li Liangcai's academic performance had always been decent. Although his parents claimed he was hopeless, he still maintained an average level of achievement. Xiao Xuanmiao was also part of this class. However, since that incident, she had rarely attended classes, aside from the six who were expelled.
According to Xiao Xuanmiao's homeroom teacher, Key High School had announced that regardless of her academic performance, she could enroll there. Recently, Xiao Xuanmiao had been quite busy, not only taking care of her sick mother but also participating in media interviews, live broadcasts, and recording programs for local television stations. Her schedule was packed.
Students generally viewed Li Liangcai in a singular light; he was quiet and introverted. He often hung out with girls, which made the boys around him feel both envious and slightly disdainful. The girls, on the other hand, saw him as a gentle and kind boy.
When asked if Li Liangcai had ever bullied Xiao Xuanmiao, both boys and girls shook their heads. With his personality, it was surprising enough that he wasn't bullied himself, let alone being a bully.
In contrast, when asked about Xiao Xuanmiao, the only impression she left on everyone was that she loved to be in the spotlight. Her grades were always excellent in class, and after this exam, she might even qualify for Rocket Class. However, if Xiao Xuanmiao could focus solely on her studies, they would likely see her as a top student rather than someone who could be domineering.
Xiao Xuanmiao wanted to excel in every field; she strived to stand out academically and actively participated in all class activities with a strong presence. This very trait made her seem less approachable.
When asked about the relationship between Xiao Xuanmiao and Li Liangcai, many believed they got along well since they often saw them together recently—though this had only been happening over the past couple of months.
These two represented extremes: one was full of presence and always around, while Li Liangcai remained an inconspicuous figure who avoided participating in class activities.
It was unclear when they started getting close.
The project team hadn't uncovered any crucial leads until just as they were about to leave.
A girl grabbed Jiang He's shirt; her expression was conflicted as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Old Shao sensed that she knew something but felt it inappropriate to speak in front of so many people. He arranged for Xu Yiman to question her privately. After some time, Xu Yiman emerged from the classroom looking troubled. She scanned the crowd and said, "Xiao Xuanmiao lied."
Contrary to what Xiao Xuanmiao had claimed, Li Liangcai had never bullied her.
The shy girl was named Xiao Xiao; she had been present three months ago.
Three months prior—just a month before summer vacation—during a self-study session where diligent students were focused on their work while those less inclined to study made various excuses to leave the classroom for fun. Xiao Xiao glanced around the quiet room before quietly slipping out through the back door to use the restroom.
After finishing up in the restroom, Xiao Xiao suddenly felt restless and decided to take a stroll around the playground. When she reached one corner of the playground, she noticed two indistinct figures under the moonlight. As she drew closer, she recognized them: one was Li Liangcai and the other was Xiao Xuanmiao.
One person knelt, while another stood.
The one kneeling was Li Liangcai, and the one standing was Xiao Xuanmiao. Due to the distance, Xiao Xiao couldn't hear what they were discussing. However, at that moment, she felt a rush of excitement as she hid in the darkness, secretly watching the two, eager to know what was happening.
What shocked Xiao Xiao was that Li Liangcai was wearing a dress.
As they spoke, Xiao Xuanmiao suddenly stepped forward and slapped Li Liangcai twice. The sound was loud and crisp, startling Xiao Xiao. She had never seen this side of Xiao Xuanmiao before. In front of their teacher, Xiao Xuanmiao was obedient and sensible; among classmates, she excelled academically and actively participated in activities. But in this secluded place, she had just slapped Li Liangcai without hesitation.
Xiao Xiao instinctively covered her face; from the sound alone, she could tell how hard those slaps had been. Her curiosity and excitement turned into an indescribable fear. Coincidentally, she had been classmates with Xiao Xuanmiao for two years, yet she had never seen her like this.
In front of their teacher, Xiao Xuanmiao always appeared gentle and kind. It was hard for Xiao Xiao to connect the past image of Xiao Xuanmiao with the one she saw that night.
After delivering the two slaps, Xiao Xuanmiao said something else, and then Li Liangcai began to take off her clothes. Afterward, Xiao Xuanmiao grabbed the clothes Li Liangcai had removed, lifted her foot, and kicked Li Liangcai down to the ground before leaving with the dress in hand, leaving Li Liangcai struggling to get back up.
Once Xiao Xuanmiao left, Li Liangcai looked around and realized there was no one on the dark playground. She dusted herself off and slowly walked away.
It was only then that Xiao Xiao emerged from her hiding spot. Since that moment three months ago, she had been carrying a heavier burden than her classmates. In daily life, Xiao Xuanmiao remained the same as before, which left Xiao Xiao feeling disoriented; it seemed as if the person who slapped Li Liangcai that night wasn't really Xiao Xuanmiao.
What made Xiao Xiao even more uncomfortable was that Li Liangcai had been wearing a dress that night. She didn't know if it was Li Liangcai's choice or if it had been forced upon her by Xiao Xuanmiao. Being a timid and kind-hearted girl, she pondered for a long time about whether to tell a teacher or her parents about what happened.
Until summer vacation arrived when she saw a video online of Li Liangcai bullying Xiao Xuanmiao.
She thought that would be the end of it; Li Liangcai had retaliated. But she never expected things would escalate so much later on—everyone labeled those involved as scum of society. Yet Xiao Xiao knew that months ago, it was exactly how Xiao Xuanmiao treated Li Liangcai.
After school started again, everyone’s gaze towards Li Liangcai and Xiao Xuanmiao changed dramatically. Suddenly, many caring friends surrounded the previously friendless Xiao Xuanmiao while Li Liangcai became a target of public scorn. Xiao Xiao wanted to explain but found herself unable to speak up.
The situation developed into an absurdity; anyone who spoke ill of Xiao Xuanmiao would be met with fierce backlash—especially when the police arrived at school. When they took someone away and Xiao Xuanmiao returned to class, everyone understood that she was no longer the same person.
Xiao Xiao felt frightened; she couldn’t explain anything to others. The only thing she could do was keep this secret buried deep inside her heart. Sometimes she wondered how things might have turned out if she had recorded that night on video. At that moment, she first realized how foolish most people were.
Xiao Xiao initially thought this matter would pass; perhaps she would carry this secret for life. But when the police came again, she finally decided to reveal everything.
Xu Yiman didn’t want anyone to know about her connection with Xiao Xuanmiao; now that there were many fans surrounding her former classmate, it became too much for her to bear. She also didn’t want to testify; from now on, this secret would no longer be hers but rather belong to the project team members involved.
Watching Xiao Xiao leave, Jiang He spoke up, "I am eighty percent sure that Xiao Xiao is not lying. From the notes of Li Liangcai, the only people who knew that Li Liangcai wore girls' skirts were his parents, and they have never spoken to outsiders about it. The other person is Ge Dongyun, but Ge Dongyun would rather die than speak out."
Jiang He looked at Old Shao. "In other words, Xiao Xiao had no way of knowing that Li Liangcai had gender identity issues, yet she mentioned the detail of Li Liangcai wearing a skirt. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't know that detail."
Xu Yiman leaned against the wall, suddenly appearing somewhat irritated. "So, the Xiao Xuanmiao in the media, the one in front of us, is just the side she wants us to see. The one who slapped Li Liangcai in the dark is her true nature. I just feel it's so frustrating; she has deceived everyone."
"Exactly," Old Shao sighed. "She has deceived everyone. She exploited others' sympathy to achieve her own goals."
Old Shao recalled how they had learned about the situation from Xiao Xuanmiao when Li Liangcai died in the hospital. Xiao Xuanmiao had casually mentioned that Li Liangcai often bullied her and claimed she had forgiven him. How kind and magnanimous—this was the image Xiao Xuanmiao wanted others to see.
Xiao Xuanmiao must have said some negative things about Li Liangcai in the corridor, becoming the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"I want what others have."
For some reason, Old Shao suddenly thought of this statement from Xiao Xuanmiao, which revealed a ruthless mindset behind it. Clearly, Xiao Xuanmiao seized this hard-won opportunity for herself.
"But what do we do now?" Yuan Jun asked. "Xiao Xiao is unwilling to testify, and all those who knew are already dead."
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