Judge of Souls - Chapter 81

Kong Su achieved success and, following Gao Yuqing’s guidance, honorably retreated without continuing to drive the narrative.

However, online developments spiraled out of control following public opinion.

Today was Saturday, and although the stock market wasn’t open, after such a scandal, Mr. Zhu’s company might survive today and tomorrow but certainly wouldn’t make it past Monday. The stock trading app was flooded with people lining up to comment “see you Monday” and “it’s over.”

Simultaneously, large numbers of people flooded City A Foreign Language School’s website, demanding explanations from the school and asking for an honest assessment of Teacher Wei’s character and whether the students’ claims were true.

These were still relatively reasonable commenters who avoided using profanity. Some netizens who had previously been misled still harbored resentment and fear, showing no mercy in their words, directly demanding that the school provide a fair explanation for why they ignored the reality of bullying among students. They insisted this matter couldn’t be forgiven otherwise and continuously tagged online police authorities, requesting them to investigate the school.

When parents learned about the situation, they immediately questioned their children about the true conditions at school.

The biggest problem with campus bullying was that students involved often didn’t realize their behavior constituted bullying. They would justify their actions as jokes, not their business, or conformity, convincing themselves their behavior was correct and normal, without any violent or malicious elements.

During the bullying process, they felt pride and excitement, without guilt or self-reflection.

Combined with the malicious guidance from school teachers, when the environment became so distorted, bullying somehow became politically correct.

Bullied students, influenced by others’ negative energy, would believe it was their own fault. They didn’t dare seek help from teachers or parents. The students who bullied them were the ones they spent the most time with, and these bullies had countless more frightening and hidden methods to deal with them.

Faced with threats, victims believed seeking help was useless. Additionally, since the bullies came from powerful backgrounds, victims worried their parents’ work and future might be affected. Self-doubt, fear, guilt, and the desire to protect their parents led them to continue concealing and enduring their suffering.

The bloody truth of campus bullying was thus hidden.

But parents were still parents, and with guidance, they discovered the truth from their children.

In their eyes, underage children were pure and needed protection, but now this facade was torn away, emitting the stench of evil.

Precisely because these young people lacked a clear sense of right and wrong, didn’t know how to express their kindness or restrain their malice, their viciousness shocked even adults.

Besides the six ringleaders in the small group, other students had more or less experienced pressure from them, creating an overall abnormal atmosphere.

Just as Kong Su said, what kind of people would they become in such an environment?

Of the thirty-two students in the class, parents of eighteen came forward stating that if the school didn’t handle this matter strictly and provide answers, they would consider transferring their children.

It’s worth noting that these students were in their third year of junior high, with enrollment restrictions based on school districts, making transfers a last resort.

The most agitated were probably parents of first and second-year students, now fearful for their own children.

Gradually, major media outlets began to voice opinions and repost content. After confirming the details with the police, official media also began to criticize the incident by name.

With official media involvement, the case was essentially settled. Netizens expressed shock and disappointment.

****

Zhu Yan casually checked online and was surprised to discover such a major incident on Weibo, all because Qin Ru had actively gone to provoke Kong.

Zhu Yan hastily put down her phone and ran out, shouting at Qin Ru, “Mom! How can you still be browsing Weibo at a time like this? Can’t you think? Why did you have to provoke Kong Su!”

Qin Ru was on the phone with her assistant, covered in cold sweat, her eyes filled with panic. She had just spoken when Zhu Yan interrupted her train of thought.

Zhu Yan scolded, “Stop arguing up there! Kong Su is just a lunatic!”

Qin Ru held the lower end of her phone and said, “If it comes to it, we can also call the police.”

“Are you crazy?” Zhu Yan widened her eyes and said, “You want to make this matter even bigger?”

Qin Ru said seriously, “This matter already can’t be contained! What’s wrong with your classmates? Have they all gone mad? They’re completely exaggerating and piling on. The school is in chaos and keeps calling me. What’s the joke? What use is calling me?”

Zhu Yan frantically stomped her foot, let out a shriek, and said, “Mom! It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t provoked Kong Su, none of this would have escalated! They wouldn’t have had that kind of courage! Now turn off Weibo!”

However, another theory flashed through Qin Ru’s mind. She pulled Zhu Yan close and stroked her hair.

Zhu Yan angrily pushed her hand away.

Qin Ru said, “Yan Yan, think about it, is it possible that the ghost haunting you has nothing to do with your classmate, but instead is related to your Teacher Wei?”

Zhu Yan gaped slightly, blinked, and following her mother’s line of thought, found it reasonable.

She had always believed the evil ghost haunting her was a female student who had left school due to depression last semester. After learning about her situation, although reluctant, she had brought gifts and gone with Qin Ru to apologize. But the other party refused to see her, let alone accept her apology.

Before this, she had never considered Teacher Wei.

She found it absurd—what great loss had Teacher Wei suffered? The school had dismissed him, and her father hadn’t demanded compensation; he could easily go to a new place and find a new job. Or was his position at A Foreign Language School his lifelong devotion?

After the incident, she hadn’t given it much thought—it seemed too ridiculous.

The mother and daughter looked at each other, with Zhu Yan’s gaze filled with hesitation.

The pair began discussing how to drive away the evil ghost, knowing that relying on those questionable Taoist priests certainly wouldn’t work.

“Qin Ru!”

Mr. Zhu forcefully pushed open the door with a loud “bang” and stormed into the computer room, angrily confronting her, “Look what you’ve done?!”

Qin Ru shrank her neck a bit, then changed the subject. “Honey, honey, I know why Yan Yan is being haunted!”

Zhu Yan also broke out in a cold sweat, rushed over and cried, “Dad, save me!”

Mr. Zhu was overwhelmed with worry and couldn’t calm down. Yet Qin Ru continued, “Honey, can you find that Teacher Wei? The one who was Yan Yan’s homeroom teacher before.”

When Mr. Zhu heard this name, his eyes immediately turned fierce, the corners lifting as he demanded, “What do you want to find him for? Kill him? Or force him to make a public confession?”

Qin Ru saw murderous intent in his eyes for the first time and was too frightened to speak.

Mr. Zhu then pulled Zhu Yan over and said through gritted teeth, “Zhu Yan, tell me clearly, is what they’re saying online about your Teacher Wei true? Huh? You falsely accused a teacher of sexual harassment?”

Qin Ru immediately embraced her daughter and said, “Why are you so harsh with our daughter?”

“It’s all your teaching! Your indulgence, your instigation, your example!” Mr. Zhu shouted at her with a voice nearly breaking, “While I still have my sanity, both of you come clean with me!”

Zhu Yan burst into tears and turned to embrace Qin Ru.

Mr. Zhu was trembling with anger. He grabbed the computer from the table and hurled it toward the doorway.

“Why are you still on Weibo? I work overtime every day, hire housekeepers so you can live like a wealthy lady, all hoping you could raise my son and daughter well, and what’s the result? You cause trouble and hurt others badly!” Mr. Zhu pointed at her and rebuked, “People used to say you were calculating, but I disagreed. Having known people for so many years, I thought you were actually simple-natured, a good woman. It turns out I was truly blind—you’re not simple, you’re truly stupid!”

Zhu Yan cried even louder, trying to drown out her father’s voice.

Mr. Zhu wanted to hit her but couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he could only slap his thigh and wail. “And you, stop crying! How could you do such an unconscionable thing? Huh? You still wanted to hide it from me? Now that it’s blown up, my fifty-plus years of reputation and company are ruined by your hands!”

Both mother and daughter continued sobbing with their heads together.

Qin Ru lowered her face slightly, tears welling in her eyes but not falling, her profile tense as she emitted low sobs.

In the past, whenever she displayed such an expression, Mr. Zhu would soften. But this time, he only felt profound fatigue.

After recognizing Qin Ru’s true nature, everything had changed. He even felt that his past self, who had disregarded all relatives’ and friends’ objections, had been under some kind of spell.

After so many years, he had finally awakened.

“Divorce,” Mr. Zhu said, “Divorce. I’m tired, Qin Ru. Let’s end it.”

Qin Ru jerked suddenly and looked up at him in disbelief.

Mr. Zhu didn’t say anything more and turned to return to the company. Qin Ru quickly followed, chasing after him and calling, “Honey, honey, I know I was wrong. Darling, darling, don’t leave me, we’ve been together for twenty-five years, twenty-five years, I remember every day of the past, think about our son and daughter, Yan Yan is only fourteen!”

Mr. Zhu: “If you truly care for our son, then we should divorce even more! His career has just begun, and the company now faces a fatal crisis because of you. Yan Yan can stay with me, I’ll give her the best education, but between us, we must divorce!”

He shook off Qin Ru and hurried down the stairs.

Qin Ru glanced at the vase on the table and rushed over to knock it over. She cried out in pain, clutching her abdomen where she had been hit, and seeing that Mr. Zhu still hadn’t turned back, she chased another step forward.

But the floor was wet, her foot slipped, and the side of her face struck directly against a shard.

From behind came a scream so shrill it sent chills down one’s spine, and Mr. Zhu finally stopped.

He went back to see, finding the stairway entrance covered in fresh blood. Zhu Yan had retreated far away, sitting on the ground covering her face in shock, while Qin Ru had already fainted.

Mr. Zhu quickly helped Qin Ru up and took her downstairs. With no time to deal with Zhu Yan and seeing her poor mental state, fearing she might get into trouble at home, he said, “You come too!”

Zhu Yan hesitated for a moment, then followed cautiously behind her father, her head deeply bowed, not daring to look at Qin Ru’s face.

Mr. Zhu drove quickly to the hospital.

Just after sending Qin Ru into the operating room, Zhu Yan hugged him and cried, “Itchy! Dad, I’m so itchy!”

Only then did Mr. Zhu remember, and he hurried to restrain her hands and feet to prevent her from scratching. His heart was nearly breaking.

“My goodness, what sin have we committed to deserve this!”

A nearby medical staff member came over and asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”

Mr. Zhu collected himself, shook his head, and said to Zhu Yan, “Let’s go home, quick, Dad will take you home first, everything will be fine when we get back.”