Opening Ceremony Gift
Guo Shaojing didn’t expect Yu Song to show up.
She had thought Yu Song would be too entangled with official matters to come to school.
Startled, she quickly took a few steps back, hiding herself in the crowd.
Yu Song grabbed her arm and pulled her in front of the banner.
“Answer my question first. When did He Zilu ever help me? And how exactly did she help?”
“I… I don’t know either, I just… just heard from others, heard from He Zilu,” Guo Minpu stammered under Yu Song’s intense pressure.
She struggled to push Yu Song’s hand away, “What do you want from me? Zilu’s parents are here. If you had killed her, do you think they’d come to school to cause trouble?”
Huo Anran, who had been watching nearby, couldn’t help but step forward to clear things up on Yu Song’s behalf.
The case hadn’t been solved yet, yet these people were already treating Yu Song like a criminal.
She took a few steps closer and saw that Yu Song remained calm and unafraid, so she paused to observe before saying anything further.
Yu Song had already noticed Huo Anran.
Seeing her sending messages on her phone, she realized she wouldn’t need to report to the police herself.
At this moment, He Feng and Zhao Xue were glaring fiercely at Yu Song, raising the banner even higher together.
Zhao Xue’s voice cracked as she cried out, “Everyone, my daughter was killed by her. The police still refuse to arrest her. We only have one daughter, Zilu. She’s gone, so we have no reason to live anymore, I…”
Yu Song glanced coldly at her, “If you can’t live, then go die. Once I deal with this gossiping busybody, I’ll listen to your show.”
Zhao Xue froze for a moment, then quickly recovered, “Everyone heard that, right? She’s telling me to die again. I really don’t want to live anymore. My precious daughter is gone. When I put you in jail, I’ll follow my daughter.”
The onlookers all thought Yu Song had gone too far.
“Seriously, the poor girl was driven to death, and now she’s telling the mother to die? That’s heartless.”
“Could she be a sociopath?”
“I’m in the same class as her. She barely shows up. If there’s a group activity, she won’t join unless forced. She seems really antisocial. I think she only stayed in the dorm once in freshman year. It’s like no one in the whole dorm wants to hang out with her. Actually, she doesn’t seem to get along with anyone in the whole class.”
The girl who spoke noticed everyone looking at her.
He Zilu’s parents also encouraged her with their eyes, as if urging her to say more.
Her voice involuntarily grew louder.
“I think she was probably jealous of Zilu’s good relationships and bullied her. But I never thought she could drive Zilu to death. It’s terrifying.”
Yu Song recognized the girl as one of He Zilu’s little clique.
She grabbed Guo Tongmu’s hand and walked over, pulling her in front of the banner as well.
“Hu Feifei, have you ever reflected on whether you’re excluded because of your own faults? Listen to how many uncertain words you used just now—‘seems like,’ ‘probably,’ ‘maybe.’ Just by using those words, you try to sway public opinion? If I decide to hold you accountable, will you still try to shirk responsibility?”
Hu Feifei desperately tried to push Yu Song away but failed.
She snorted irritably, “He Zilu’s parents have already come looking for you, and you’re still being stubborn. If you didn’t drive He Zilu to death, why would they come after you?”
Yu Song released her grip and slapped Hu Feifei hard across the face.
Hu Feifei was too shocked to react, standing dumbfounded.
“How dare you hit someone?” she said.
Yu Song smiled, “If you hadn’t spread rumors and stirred up trouble, why would I hit you?”
Guo Minpu saw Yu Song dared to hit someone and immediately feared she would be next.
She tried to hide in the crowd but was pulled back by Yu Song.
Yu Song held onto Guo Tongmu’s hand and spoke to the gathered classmates, “My name is Yu Song. I see everyone has been filming since before I arrived. Please send me all those videos intact later because I need them as evidence.”
Zhao Xue sneered, “What evidence? Evidence that you drove my daughter Zilu to death?”
“Of course, evidence that you and the others slander and frame me.”
After saying this, Yu Song turned to the crowd, “From He Zilu’s parents to her clique, every single one of you, I’m suing. If anyone thinks He Zilu’s death was my doing, or thinks that their slander and forcing me to die is a reasonable and lawful act, stand up now and join me in the lawsuit.”
The murmuring crowd immediately fell silent.
Everyone stared at Yu Song in disbelief.
Could it really not be her?
Zhao Xue gritted her teeth, “Classmates, don’t listen to her lies. My daughter was driven to death by her! Yu Song, you sue me? I’ll sue you first! If it weren’t for you coming to my house, Zilu wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Yu Song released Guo Tongmu.
“Zhao Xue, I was actually going to let you be the perfect mother for a while longer. But since you’re so eager to pick a fight, I’ll deal with you first. You’re the original culprit anyway.”
Guo Shaojing, still shaken from Yu Song’s slap earlier, was even more scared when she heard about the lawsuits.
As soon as Yu Song let go, she wanted to run.
Yu Song shot her a sideways glance, “You can run, but you can’t hide. So many phones recording right now—every word and movement of yours has been recorded. Stay here quietly. Don’t wait until after I’m done scolding you to go hide like a mouse.”
Guo Minpu’s face turned red with anger, “Why are you talking about mice? I just said it casually. Why are you taking things so seriously?”
Meanwhile, Zhao Xue shoved the banner into Feng Ruirui’s hands.
Feng Ruirui looked like she was holding a hot potato, trembling badly.
He Feng comforted her, “Don’t be afraid. Just hold it for Uncle. This has nothing to do with you.”
Yu Song ignored them and noticed Zhao Xue approaching.
She flexed her wrist slightly.
“Yu Song, didn’t you admit you went to my house late at night looking for my daughter? I asked around, and your classmates all said you two never got along. You even deleted each other on WeChat. I saw her phone. You only added her right before going to my house, claiming you had something to talk about. That very night, my daughter jumped. You say you have nothing to do with it? Who would believe that?”
“It does have something to do with it,” Yu Song admitted calmly.
The crowd burst into laughter.
“So you admit you’re the reason she died?”
“Wait, what? And you want everyone to record this as evidence that you were wronged? She didn’t even slander you. You admitted it yourself.”
“Right? She talks so confidently; I thought she was truly innocent.”
Yu Song scanned everyone, “Why are you so anxious? I only said it’s related. I didn’t say I killed her.”
Her gaze landed on Zhao Xue’s face.
With a light laugh, she added, “Even if I did kill her, I didn’t lay a hand on her. Didn’t she jump herself? You were standing right behind her, but I wasn’t there.”
Zhao Xue, enraged by Yu Song’s laughter, rushed over to hit her, “You drove her crazy! I couldn’t stop her. It’s all your fault! You killed my daughter!”
This was exactly the moment Yu Song was waiting for.
As Zhao Xue’s hand swung toward her, Yu Song dodged sideways and slapped her across the face.
Several teachers who had rushed over didn’t see the situation clearly and were about to intervene when they heard the crisp slap.
Everyone, including Zhao Xue, froze.
“How dare you hit me? You killed my daughter and still have the nerve to hit me!”
Yu Song opened her palm innocently, “Weren’t you the one who tried to hit me first? I was just defending myself—and helping you wake up. Think carefully. Wasn’t it only you at the scene when He Zilu jumped? I heard you didn’t even take off your shoes—wearing heels, gracefully holding your skirt, following right behind her. When she jumped, then you cried and said you didn’t catch her.”
Zhao Xue noticed everyone staring at her.
With a grim face, she began to cry again, “I tried to chase her, but I didn’t think she would jump. I… didn’t think to take off my shoes and run after her…”
Yu Song looked at her coldly, “Then tell everyone why you went with her to the hospital?”
“Wasn’t it because you said she wanted to jump? You said the glass was already scratched by a diamond tool…”
“Exactly. I said she wanted to jump, and you accompanied her to the hospital but didn’t watch her properly. You saw her run upstairs, but you said you didn’t think she would jump. Zhao Xue, do you really love He Zilu?”
“Of course I do. But didn’t you say she felt better when listening to soothing music?”
Yu Song narrowed her eyes, “Are you sure I said that?”
Zhao Xue suddenly bit her lip, unable to continue.
If she said more, she would admit that Yu Song really saved He Zilu.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Someone caught on.
“What does this mean? Yu Song warned them that He Zilu was suicidal, but He Zilu still killed herself right under her mother’s eyes.”
“That’s how it is, but why does her mother say she was driven to death?”
Yu Song raised her voice, “Because saying that covers up her own failures. It lets her avoid blame and find someone else to shoulder the guilt. Holding up banners like this might even get some humanitarian compensation from the school.”
“You’re lying! We’re not after money! It’s all your fault!”
Zhao Xue went mad again, raising her hand to hit Yu Song.
Last time, she had no control and ended up getting hit by Yu Song.
This time, she was smarter, grabbing Yu Song’s arm with one hand and slapping fiercely at her face with the other.
Yu Song hated hitting people and only liked counterattacking.
When Zhao Xue leaned forward, shifting her weight to her upper body, Yu Song tripped her foot lightly and pushed her gently.
Before Zhao Xue’s hand could reach her face, she screamed sharply and fell to the ground.
Yu Song immediately took two steps back, “Everyone saw it. She’s faking an injury! I’m not waiting around for the police to decide this was mutual fighting.”
No one saw exactly how Zhao Xue fell.
When Yu Song said she was faking it, the others thought back to their conversation and became cautious, no longer daring to speak out of turn.
Yu Ying grabbed Zhao Xue and pulled her up.
“Aunt Zhao, your family doesn’t look like you’re struggling financially. Why bother? When your daughter was alive, you didn’t cherish her. Who are you trying to fool with that mother-daughter act?”
Zhao Xue was wearing heels and had fallen hard.
She screamed and groaned but was quickly pulled up by Yu Song.
To the onlookers, it really did look like she was faking it.
Nearby, the school principal hurried over and urged, “Zilu’s mother, Yu Song, please don’t make a scene here. It’s not good for anyone. Let’s go to the office. If we can’t resolve this, we’ll report it to the police station.”
Actually, someone had already called the police when Zhao Xue and the others came to hang the banner.
So once again, Gu Zhiya and the officers from the police station arrived simultaneously.
Yu Song glanced at him but said nothing.
When Zhao Xue saw the police, she immediately started sobbing, “Officers, she drove my daughter to death and hit me. Not only did she slap me, she pushed me to the ground and nearly killed me too.”
Now, none of the onlookers believed her.
Her words were too exaggerated.
Yu Song was only defending herself, yet she claimed Yu Song was trying to kill her.
A tall, thin female classmate stepped forward, “Officers, I have the complete video on my phone. It shows He Zilu’s mother trying to hit Yu Song. Yu Song couldn’t just stand there and get beaten. She had no choice but to defend herself.”
Others who had been filming raised their hands to confirm they could testify.
Zhao Xue had thought everyone would support her, since she was the grieving mother and the victim.
But Yu Song’s few words had dismantled her support.
She stomped her foot in anger, “Do you people have any humanity? My daughter fell from such a high place, and they wouldn’t even let me see her! They protect the killer…”
She suddenly looked up and spotted Gu Zhiya.
Immediately, she pointed at him and shouted, “It’s him! He’s the one protecting Yu Song, the murderer. I’m going to report him. Yu Song clearly isn’t a good person. Look at her hair, look at that fierce look. She’s the killer and must be punished with the death penalty!”
Yu Song smiled lightly, “Aunt Zhao, please look in the mirror. Look at the anger on your face. See who really isn’t a good person.”
She stopped looking at Zhao Xue and turned to Gu Zhiya, “Officer Gu, I want to report that Zhao Xue not only spreads false accusations against me but also slanders the police.”
Gu Zhiya hadn’t expected Zhao Xue and He Feng to come make a scene at Yu Song’s school.
He had just said to take them all back when Zhao Xue suddenly lunged at Yu Song like a madwoman.
“All I say is true. It’s not slander! Give me back my daughter. Even if the police don’t arrest you, I will get you sooner or later.”
Gu Zhiya quickly stopped her, “Ms. Zhao, please calm down.”
Seeing her frantic state, some people even pitied her and thought maybe Yu Song should let it go.
The principal from before also looked moved.
“Xiao Qiong, I think Zilu’s mother is just a grieving parent. You should reconcile. The person is dead, and it was suicide. Suing back and forth won’t help.”
“Principal, your bias is clear. She’s threatening my life, and you…”
Yu Song was about to retort when her phone rang.
She saw an unknown caller ID and glanced at Gu Zhiya.
Gu Zhiya immediately said, “Is this the call we’ve been waiting for? Answer it quickly.”
Yu Song answered.
On the other end was the same disguised voice, “Go to the sports field. I have prepared an Opening Ceremony Gift for you.”
Just those few words before the caller hung up.
Before Yu Song could say anything, Zhao Xue pointed at Gu Zhiya, “Everyone heard that, right? He said this was the call we were waiting for. He’s a Criminal Investigation Captain. Who is he siding with? He’s protecting the murderer!”