96 Mr. Principal
Selma Payne’s POV:
“It’s normal to be sad.” I hugged her, and Dorothy and Mara did the same. “It takes a while for the wound to heal. After being sad, you need to vent your emotions to calm down. Cry as much as you can. Just cry out all your sadness and misery.”
As expected, the matter had blown up. The principal had invited us.
“Good afternoon, Miss Payne.” The grey-haired principal gestured for me to sit down. “Please sit.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Principal. You asked us here for that b*stard Ryan, right? I knew what he was trying to do. I’ll say this first; I won’t apologize to him. This is all karma for that b*stard.”
“Mind your language, kid,” the principal said with a frown.
“Alright. I don’t care what he thinks of me. So what are you going to do? Invite his parents? Public criticism? Or do you want me to be suspended from school to reflect?”
“In fact, I don’t plan on doing any of these.” The principal shook his head. “Young people are always loyal to their friends. I understand that you were standing up for your friend, but isn’t it too much to beat someone up in public? Have you ever thought about how you and your friend will gain a foothold in school now? Have you ever thought about how Mr. Ryan would face his classmates from now on?”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, come on, Mr. Principal. There’s no need to instill in me those great rhetoric principles. It’s been a long time since you were a student, so I can tell you very clearly that your concept of honor and disgrace has long been outdated among the students.
“My girls and I will have a good time in school, better than before because those who bully people will understand that we are not to be trifled with. As for Ryan, what do his actions have to do with me? When he was bullying the other students, did he ever think about what the students would do in the future?”
The principal seemed to be a little angry. “Correct your attitude, miss. This is not the palace. You can’t throw your noble temper here!”
“So you know that I’m a noble.” I twisted my hair and looked at him casually. “Then, guess how much I know about you? Is it all just about outstanding resumes and honor on the exhibition board, or is there something more behind this?”
I leaned closer to the desk, almost sticking my entire body on the table. I looked at his twitching mouth and said, “Do you think the Queen hadn’t investigated you before I came here? Have you investigated the students and teachers in this school? Did she tell me about your shady business?
“I believe that Her Majesty is a just and kind ruler,” the principal said with a fake smile. “She won’t simply look into a citizen’s privacy.”
“Ha.” I chuckled and leaned back on the sofa. “Of course, Her Majesty is as wonderful as you said. May the Moon Goddess bless her.”
The principal looked as if he wanted me to disappear from this world.
In fact, I had lied to him. My parents were so busy every day. How could they have the time to pay attention to a small school? The security department had indeed investigated the Sivir Academy, and I was the only one who had seen the report.
The principal took a deep breath and tried his best to put on a kind smile. “Let’s not talk about irrelevant things, Miss Payne. You have to know that it’s very common for students to have small conflicts. You can’t always use violence to solve it... ”
“A small conflict?” I interrupted him. “Do you think insulting a girl in public is a ‘small conflict’? Forcefully stripping a member of a deserved role is a ‘small conflict’? To show off in front of the person you like, fighting with someone with a knife is a ‘small conflict’?”
I looked at him expressionlessly. “Forgive me for being blunt, but your judgment standard is a little low.”
“Don’t talk about those off-topic things!” A few veins bulged on the principal’s head. “Let’s just judge the matter as it is. Mr. Ryan’s words and actions are a little inappropriate, but didn’t Miss Mara provoke him first? A woman should maintain some reservation...”
“Did the rules of this year’s graduation ceremony change? Didn’t everyone have the chance to invite their favorite dance partner? How come I’ve never heard of a girl being deprived of this right?” I interrupted this rotten old man again, not having the patience to continue talking nonsense with him.
“I know why you’re so protective of Ryan. In the face of the glory he brought to the school with his pitiful talent, other students are nothing, right? After all, Ryan’s success and the increase in your political achievements are real. You won’t be able to get this benefit from other students.
“Ryan’s father seems to be keen on contributing to the school. Huh, no wonder he could serve as the drama club president for four consecutive terms since high school. I heard that you’re running for the community council seat this year. Will you sell your official position as a student official in the future?”
The principal’s eyes widened in shock, and he panted like a broken wind box. “This is slander! This is vicious slander! Miss Payne, you don’t have to threaten me with this. I...”
“Whether it’s slander or threat, what you think is your business. This is just a small lesson, dear Mr. Principal. If you still want to sit firmly in your current position, you’d better pick up what little conscience you have left and do good things for the students.
“Also, don’t provoke me.”
After saying that, I didn’t care what this old man had to say and left.