Chapter 138: Big Sponsor
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As the principal contemplated the fact that Wen Nian was only harboring suspicions about Huang Yue at this moment, he cast a quick glance in her direction before stepping forward. Speaking in a hushed tone, he cautioned, “Wen Nian, are you absolutely certain about this? It’s advisable not to make any unfounded claims without concrete evidence.”
Wen Nian raised her gaze to meet the principal’s eyes, perceiving the warning conveyed within them. She offered a bitter smile and replied, “Principal, I’m simply providing the police with a lead to investigate. Even if Huang Yue is not the culprit, she might possess information that could offer new clues to the authorities and help clear my name swiftly, thereby preventing any harm to the school. Without concrete evidence, the police won’t arrest her. Huang Yue has been my closest classmate throughout high school, and 1 find it hard to believe that she would be the one to betray me.”
Having heard Wen Nian’s response, the principal realized that there was no need for him to speak further at this moment. The police were already taking action by initiating a conversation with Huang Yue, making his earlier remarks somewhat unnecessary. All that remained for him to do was wait patiently.
Wen Nian glanced at the visibly uneasy principal from the corner of her eye and a mocking smile curled on her lips.
In her previous life, Wen Nian was aware that the principal had managed to establish all the facilities in No. 1 High School in Hai City without heavily relying on funds from the Education Bureau. One of his notable accomplishments was the upcoming construction of the auditorium, for which Huang Jian, coincidentally, served as a significant sponsor.
Once the auditorium was completed, it quickly gained recognition as the most sophisticated music venue among all the middle schools in Hai City. The principal even secured a contract to host a music festival in the city during the second half of the year, solidifying his reputation further. This accomplishment played a crucial role in his potential transfer to the Education Bureau as the director the following year.
In a disheartening turn of events, Wen Nian, as the victim, not only failed to receive any sympathy from the principal but also perceived a subtle suggestion from him to exonerate Huang Yue as a suspect.
At that very moment, Huang Yue arrived at the police station. From a logical standpoint, she was merely complying with the investigation. It was within her discretion to either respond to the police summons or not, but she chose to present herself at this critical juncture.
Upon entering the police station and spotting Wen Nian and the school teacher, Huang Yue hastily approached them, offering a dutiful greeting. “Wen Nian, I knew you would suspect me. You’ve always been so suspicious, but 1 can assure you that I have no involvement in these matters. I’m here because I am innocent, and 1 have nothing to hide or say.”
Huang Yue adopted an air of nobility and magnanimity, which led those present to waver in their judgment about whether she could be the mastermind behind the incident.
When Wen Nian observed Huang Yue’s fearless expression, she realized that the situation was even more troublesome than she had initially anticipated. She grew concerned about the progress of Shen Jun’s investigation.
In response to Huang Yue’s firm statement, Wen Nian felt compelled to provide a reply. She offered a faint smile and spoke, “It seems that I misunderstood you. By the way, has the issue of the money you were scammed been resolved? As a student, I don’t have the means to lend you 200,000 yuan at the moment. I hope you can understand my situation and not be angry with me anymore.”
Wen Nian’s tone carried a sincere undertone as she spoke, reminding Huang Yue of something that she perhaps wished to forget the most.
Huang Yue refrained from calling the police out of fear. She understood that doing so would inevitably lead the authorities to contact her guardian for further investigation. If her mother were to discover the truth, she would definitely be beaten to death.
Upon hearing Wen Nian bring up the topic, Huang Yue’s anger surged within her. However, as she encountered the suspicious gazes of Li Fang and the police, she quickly regained her composure. Even if she wants to clear her name as a suspect, she couldn’t let the truth of the matter be revealed.
Huang Yue fixed a sharp gaze on Wen Nian and raised her voice to explain, “1 wasn’t cheated out of any money. It was actually my friend who borrowed money from me. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and my urgent need for the funds to make a purchase, I asked to borrow money from you. Rest assured, the other party has already returned the money to me!”
With no other individuals present who could verify the truth of Huang Yue’s statement, everyone in the room could only rely on their own judgment and temporarily accept her explanation as true. In the absence of concrete evidence or further information, they had no choice but to believe her account, at least for the time being.
At that moment, the technicians at the police station made progress in their investigation and successfully traced the IP address to the Internet cafes involved.
After concluding his phone call, Officer Liu gathered the Wen family and school representatives to update them on the latest developments. “The individuals captured in the surveillance footage have purposefully concealed their faces, making it extremely challenging for the police to identify them. Furthermore, it seems that these individuals are acting as leaders, prompting others to spread rumors after seeing hints on the internet. Many of the comments are coming from virtual IPs, which makes the investigation even more complicated. We will continue to pursue this case, but locating the true mastermind may prove to be quite difficult.”
Officer Liu presented an option to Wen Nian and her parents, suggesting that they consider closing the case and releasing the investigation’s findings. This would allow Wen Nian to take the official results to the media to clarify the situation. Furthermore, the police’s official online account would cooperate by issuing a statement..