Chapter 37: You Want Gu Ci to Drop Out?

"Can’t you think about the consequences, or consider the Gu family, before you act?"

Chu Shixian, with her preconceived notions, was certain that Gu Ci had come to the hospital out of fear after hitting Meng Yueling and was now here to apologize. It never occurred to her that Gu Ci might not even know Meng Yueling was in this hospital.

Having been inexplicably scolded, Gu Ci’s mood soured. She stepped back with an air of calm indifference, her brow creased in impatience. "Aunt, what is it this time?"

Chu Shixian laughed in exasperation. "Gu Ci, still playing dumb with me? I already know about your little stunt!"

A flicker of amusement flashed in Gu Zhiran’s eyes as she echoed in disapproval, "That’s right, cousin. How could you hit someone and now refuse to admit it? If you’ve made a mistake, you should go in and apologize to Yueling."

Just then, Madam Bai, having heard the commotion outside, emerged from the room.

Upon seeing Gu Ci, her face immediately darkened with anger. "Little wretch, after beating up my Yueling like this, how dare you show your face here?"

Chu Shixian hurriedly interjected, "Gu Ci is here to apologize to Yueling. Please, calm yourself first."

Madam Bai snorted coldly, "My Yueling can’t bear her apology. For all I know, she’ll hit Yueling again in the name of apologizing!"

"That won’t happen, it won’t. Gu Ci is sincerely here to apologize. That sort of thing absolutely won’t happen again," Chu Shixian couldn’t bring herself to utter the words ‘hitting someone’, so she settled for ‘that sort of thing.’

Madam Bai, still putting on airs, fussed with her newly done nails and said, "My Yueling has suffered a great grievance this time..."

Gu Zhiran affectionately took Madam Bai’s arm, her voice soft and gentle. "Don’t worry, Aunt Bai. Even if Yueling wants to vent her anger on cousin, cousin won’t protest. After all, it was cousin who was in the wrong and hit Yueling. I believe cousin has realized her mistake and will be very sincere."

Chu Shixian cast Gu Zhiran an approving glance and offered her own assurances as well.

The group began discussing among themselves how Gu Ci ought to apologize to Meng Yueling.

Upon hearing Yueling’s name, Gu Ci finally grasped why Chu Shixian had been so confrontational earlier.

Her gaze swept nonchalantly toward the half-open door behind the three women, and she prepared to leave.

Madam Bai, Chu Shixian, and Gu Zhiran were all waiting for Gu Ci to enter Meng Yueling’s hospital room and apologize. None of them expected her to simply walk away.

"Gu Ci, where do you think you’re going? You must go in and apologize to Yueling today!" Chu Shixian was flustered and quickly called after Gu Ci.

Madam Bai had made it clear: they wouldn’t involve the whole Gu family in this matter, but Gu Ci had to personally apologize to Meng Yueling!

Seeing Gu Ci leaving without so much as a backward glance, Chu Shixian hastened to grab her sleeve—only for Gu Ci to deftly avoid her.

Madam Bai’s expression grew even uglier. She forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Clearly, some people have no intention of apologizing at all!"

A flash of annoyance crossed Chu Shixian’s face. With Madam Bai standing right there, she grew even more agitated. "Gu Ci, what’s with your attitude! Don’t think that just because you don’t live with the Gu family anymore, you can do whatever you please. Don’t forget, even your place at No. 1 High School was arranged by your father—your uncle pulled strings with the principal to get you in!"

Chu Shixian wasn’t entirely clear on Gu Changfeng’s connections, only that she’d heard him mention both the director of studies and the principal.

At a time like this, she naturally chose to invoke the higher authority—the principal.

After all, judging by Gu Changfeng’s tone, he seemed on good terms with the principal.

Madam Bai, surprised, asked, "Your family is acquainted with Principal Ji?"

Within Beijing’s social circle, even in the Meng family, she’d heard that the principal of Songdu No. 1 High was a person of high standing—a member of the illustrious Ji family, renowned throughout the capital.

Even the Meng family found it difficult to meet anyone from the Ji family, yet the Gu family had close ties to the Ji family’s most beloved younger son, the principal?

Seeing the look of astonishment on Madam Bai’s face, Chu Shixian realized at once that this principal was no ordinary figure. Though she didn’t actually know if the principal’s surname was really Ji, she nodded with pride.

As Gu Ci continued to walk away indifferently, Chu Shixian raised her voice, partly to show off before Madam Bai, "Gu Ci, do you believe I could call the principal right now and have you expelled from No. 1 High?"

Gu Ci arched an eyebrow and paused. "Call him?"

Her place at No. 1 High was arranged by Gu Changfeng?

How could that be?

Chu Shixian, mistaking Gu Ci’s reaction for fear, pressed on forcefully, "Are you not going to apologize to Yueling? I don’t care what Yueling wants you to do, you’ll do it! You must earn her forgiveness today! Otherwise... hmph!"

Gu Ci let out a light laugh. "Go ahead and call him right now."

Chu Shixian’s tirade halted abruptly. Meeting Gu Ci’s mocking, indifferent gaze, her face turned pale, then flushed.

She’d only mentioned the phone call as a threat. Even if she really wanted Gu Ci expelled from No. 1 High, she would need Gu Changfeng to speak to the school authorities. She didn’t have any of their phone numbers.

Gu Ci helpfully produced her phone, pulling up the principal’s contact info. "Would you like me to give you the principal’s number?"

Feeling Madam Bai’s skeptical gaze, Chu Shixian grew both embarrassed and anxious.

At this juncture, Gu Zhiran stepped in to smooth things over. "Aunt Bai, my father usually handles these matters. You know my mother doesn’t get involved with such things."

She shot a reproachful look at Gu Ci. "Cousin, even if the principal gave you special treatment because of my father, and even gave you his number, you shouldn’t treat my mother like this!"

Understanding dawned on Chu Shixian, and she nodded quickly, forcing a smile at Madam Bai. "That’s right, I’m usually not involved in these things."

With that, she confidently took Gu Ci’s phone and dialed Principal Ji’s number.

Within five seconds, the call was answered and Principal Ji’s voice came through: "What is it, Gu girl?"

Standing next to Chu Shixian, Gu Zhiran clearly heard the principal’s gentle tone—a tone reserved for Gu Ci, supposedly thanks to Gu Changfeng. If the principal ever learned she was his real favorite...

Her fist clenched slightly, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.

Chu Shixian’s manner grew somewhat formal. "Hello, Principal? This is Gu Ci’s aunt—Gu Changfeng’s wife. My husband brought Gu Ci to No. 1 High; I wonder if you remember?"

She put the phone on speaker.

Principal Ji paused, recalling Gu Ci’s uncle who’d once bizarrely wanted her transferred to another school.

But if Gu Ci’s aunt could call him from Gu Ci’s phone, perhaps their relationship was not so bad after all?

With that in mind, Principal Ji answered politely, "Yes, I remember. Is there something you need concerning Gu Ci?"

With the principal’s friendly attitude, Chu Shixian’s confidence grew.

Madam Bai, who had been skeptical, was now convinced after hearing Principal Ji’s words.

She reassessed the value of the Gu family, her look at Chu Shixian growing more cordial. "So you really are so well acquainted with the principal, Shixian. Why didn’t you mention it before? Do introduce us sometime."

Chu Shixian could sense the shift in Madam Bai’s attitude.

They’d once been close friends, both daughters of prominent families in Songdu. But when Madam Bai married into the Meng family, the balance had been shattered—Chu Shixian found herself subordinate and ill at ease every time they met.

It had become something of a sore point.

Today, though, Chu Shixian felt as if she’d finally gained the upper hand again.

Her smile widened as she straightened her posture. "Naturally."

Perhaps carried away by her own self-assurance, she ventured to say to Principal Ji on the phone, "Principal Ji, would you be available to meet with us sometime?"

Though surprised at such a strange request, Principal Ji agreed. "Of course, Mrs. Gu. Is there anything else concerning Gu Ci?"

After all, more contact with Gu Ci’s family couldn’t hurt.

Seeing that even this request was granted, Madam Bai’s attitude toward Chu Shixian grew even warmer.

Buoyed by confidence, Chu Shixian spoke into the phone with poise, "It’s like this, Principal Ji. My husband arranged for Gu Ci’s admission to No. 1 High, but this child is truly ungrateful—she doesn’t deserve my husband’s kindness. So, I think it’s best to revoke the privilege he granted her, lest she tarnish the school’s reputation."

She waited calmly for the principal’s reply.

But the other end of the line fell into a long silence.

After a while, as Chu Shixian and the others began to suspect that Gu Ci’s phone was so poor the principal hadn’t heard, Principal Ji finally spoke.

"So, you’re saying you want Gu Ci to withdraw from school?"

Lost in Madam Bai’s admiring gaze, Chu Shixian nodded with composure. "Yes, our Gu family no longer wishes to be responsible for this child."

But in the next instant, Principal Ji’s derisive laugh shattered her fantasy. "Wanting Gu Ci to withdraw? What nerve!"

With that, the call was abruptly ended.

On the other end, Principal Ji hung up with a snap, even snorting disdainfully.

They all want to get in the way of his dream of No. 1 High taking first place? Not a chance!

In his view, there wasn’t a single sensible person in the Gu family.

The three women, still stunned by the principal’s sudden rebuke, were further shocked by the loud sound of the call ending.

Gu Ci retrieved her phone in silence and walked away without a word.

Chu Shixian, Madam Bai, and Gu Zhiran remained too shell-shocked by the principal’s treatment to care about Gu Ci’s departure.

Chu Shixian simply couldn’t understand it—hadn’t the principal been perfectly polite just a moment ago? Why had his attitude changed so abruptly?

Madam Bai laughed coldly, feeling she’d been made a fool of. "So that’s the real relationship between the Gu family and Principal Ji. What an eye-opener."

Chu Shixian’s face alternated between green and white, her expression utterly wretched.

Just then, Gu Zhiran’s eyes flashed with calculation, and she hesitantly ventured, "Mother, the voice on the phone my cousin gave you just now... it seemed..."

"Seemed what? Zhiran, was there something wrong?" Chu Shixian seized on this as a lifeline, hoping her daughter would say something to save her face.

Gu Zhiran didn’t disappoint. "It’s just... the voice didn’t really sound like our principal’s... I actually wanted to mention it before..."

She trailed off, as if uncertain. "But I thought it was just the distortion from the phone, so I didn’t say anything right away..."

"I said so! The real principal is always cordial with our family; how could he say something like that?" Chu Shixian, desperate to save face, found this explanation perfectly plausible.

"I see," Madam Bai’s expression softened. "So, that wasn’t Principal Ji’s number at all—Gu Ci must have set up the call in advance?"

Gu Zhiran lowered her head, full of self-reproach. "It’s my fault for not realizing sooner that cousin would lie about something like this..."

Chu Shixian’s anger surged—not at Gu Zhiran, but at Gu Ci. "Don’t blame yourself, Zhiran. How could this possibly be your fault? It’s all that ungrateful liar Gu Ci’s doing!"

Madam Bai joined in, comforting Gu Zhiran at Gu Ci’s expense. "It’s only natural you didn’t suspect, Zhiran. You’re not like her; how could you imagine she’d stoop so low?"

"But cousin is gone again. Should I apologize to Yueling on her behalf?" Gu Zhiran bit her lip, looking earnestly at Madam Bai, still full of remorse.

Only now did Chu Shixian and Madam Bai realize Gu Ci had already slipped away.

Had it not been for Gu Zhiran’s reminder, they might have forgotten entirely.

Madam Bai frowned. "Zhiran, none of this is your fault. Don’t blame yourself."

She snorted, making her stance clear. "Whoever made the mistake should be the one to apologize. How could we let you, so blameless, apologize in her stead? Don’t you agree, Shixian?"

"Of course!" Chu Shixian was even more furious at Gu Ci’s supposed deceit than Madam Bai was.

Madam Bai added, "I think you should just let her parents handle her. If you keep cleaning up after her, people will think she’s your own daughter!"

Chu Shixian’s heart skipped a beat, a guilty feeling rising unbidden.

Madam Bai had spoken offhand, but to Chu Shixian, it struck at the very truth she’d been trying so hard to conceal...