Footage

She couldn't let herself dwell on it. She had something more urgent to focus on.

From her memories, the only time she was sent to the clinic during her second year was after a headache.

What came next was a major classroom commotion: Su Yuanzhou, her classmate, had been accused of stealing a wallet.

She vividly remembered the incident because it was so unfair—she'd known him well enough to believe he would never do such a thing.

This time, she would prove his innocence.

She scrolled through her phone, finding an old copy of her high school schedule.

It was already 11:57 a.m.—PE class was still in session. She had two options to clear Su Yuanzhou's name:

First, convince the principal to release the classroom CCTV footage. Second, hack into the school's security system and retrieve the footage herself.

For now, she decided on the straightforward route.

Ren Yuxin stood up from the clinic bed, swaying slightly as dizziness washed over her.

The nurse, who had been tidying supplies, noticed immediately. "Student, are you okay now? You shouldn't push yourself too hard."

Ren Yuxin offered a polite smile. "I'm fine, Nurse Sheng. Thank you for taking care of me."

The nurse nodded but still looked concerned as Ren Yuxin exited the clinic.

The principal's office wasn't far from her classroom—conveniently located on the same floor. She knocked softly on the door, waiting for a response.

"Come in," a familiar voice called out.

Ren Yuxin pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Principal Ren, an imposing figure known for his stern demeanor, sat behind his desk. But the moment he saw Ren Yuxin, his expression softened into a warm smile.

"Xiao Yu! What brings you here?"

Ren Yuxin coughed lightly, feigning weakness. "Uncle, I need a favor."

Principal Ren raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I need access to the school's CCTV footage."

Principal Ren's smile faltered slightly. "That's a bit—"

Before he could refuse, Ren Yuxin cut in, her voice earnest. "There's a misunderstanding in my class. One of my friends is being accused of stealing a wallet. I want to clear his name."

She added a weak, trembling smile—the same "innocent" expression she had perfected during the MV shoot. Coupled with her pale face, she looked like a fragile but determined heroine.

Principal Ren's heart ached. How could he refuse such a heartfelt request? "Aiyo, Xiao Yu, you really are too kind. Friendship like this is rare. Of course, I'll help you!"

He immediately sent a message to the security team, instructing them to provide Ren Yuxin with the footage.

"Thank you, Uncle!" she said, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

Principal Ren waved her off with a chuckle. "Go ahead, but don't stress yourself too much. You still look unwell."

Ren Yuxin left the office, her steps steady despite the lingering dizziness.

As she walked back to her classroom, she couldn't help but think: If proving Su Yuanzhou's innocence could alter even the smallest ripple in the past, what else could she change?

Ren Yuxin glanced at her watch.

It was already 12:01.

The commotion must've started by now.

She quickened her pace, heading toward the office where the CCTV footage was kept.

As she entered, she approached a woman sitting at a desk, scrolling through her phone. "Hello, my name's Ren Yuxin, and I'm here to get a copy of the CCTV footage."

The woman barely looked up. "Oh, you're the girl the principal told me about? Fine, do what you want," she said dismissively.

Ren Yuxin suppressed an eye roll and forced a polite smile. "Thank you."

The woman didn't bother to explain how to transfer the footage, but Ren Yuxin didn't need her help.

Approaching the NVR system, she quickly located the correct playback screen.

The incident must've occurred between 11:00 and 12:00 during PE class.

Fast-forwarding through the footage, she paused at 11:20.

The scene was clear: a boy with messy black hair entered the empty classroom.

He approached Su Yuanzhou's desk, opened the bag on the chair in front of his, and slipped a wallet beneath Su Yuanzhou's desk.

Ren Yuxin squinted.

Not a classmate, she realized immediately.

But she recognized him.

He was always loitering with Su Yuanzhou—a bad influence if there ever was one.

This alone won't be enough to clear his name, she thought grimly.

Their homeroom teacher had always been unfair toward Su Yuanzhou.

She could already hear the teacher's scathing comment: "What if you ordered your friend to do this?"

Just as frustration started to creep in, she heard the boy in the footage mutter to himself, "With this, Su Yuanzhou should be suspended or expelled."

Ren Yuxin's lips curled into a small, triumphant smile. Jackpot.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a USB. Luckily, she always carried one for her laptop.

She quickly transferred the footage to the USB and then to her phone for backup.

Double-checking that the files were intact, she thanked the uninterested woman on her way out.

The clock read 12:10. Perfect.

Time to put this to use.

By the time she reached the classroom, the argument had already escalated.

Faint voices drifted into the hallway as she approached the door.

"Hey, stop it!" a girl's voice pleaded.

Another girl was sobbing softly, her cries muffled but enough to stir tension in the air.

Ren Yuxin froze at the doorway.

The scene unfolding before her was painfully familiar.

It was exactly as she remembered it from her previous life.

In the middle of the room stood Su Yuanzhou, his tall figure imposing yet eerily calm.

He frowned, his sharp features betraying a mix of frustration and disbelief.

"What did I do to make you cry?" he asked, his voice low but steady. "Did I raise my voice? Or did I hit you?"

The sobbing girl didn't answer, her head bowed as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Beside her, another student, Lili, stood awkwardly, clutching her friend's shoulder for support.

The door creaked open as the homeroom teacher entered, her stern expression silencing the murmurs in the room.

She scanned the class with a disinterested gaze. "What's going on here?"

One of the students stepped forward hesitantly. "Miss, Lili's wallet is missing."

The teacher's eyes narrowed, her presence making the tension in the room almost unbearable. "And?"

"We… we found it under Su Yuanzhou's table."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

Su Yuanzhou let out a bitter laugh, his scoff cutting through the silence. "I didn't steal it."

Ren Yuxin's heart clenched as she watched him.

The teacher's eyes landed on Su Yuanzhou.

Her tone was cold, almost accusatory. "What do you have to say for yourself, Su Yuanzhou?"

"I didn't take it," he repeated firmly, his gaze unwavering.

"Then how do you explain the wallet being under your desk?"

Su Yuanzhou's jaw tightened. "Someone must have put it there."