The Unraveling Truth and Its Backlash

"The laboratory was made available to Student Ji under my direct authorization. Is there any issue with that?"

Although Teacher Wu's statement that Ji Chuxing had access to a top-tier laboratory seemed to dawn on everyone present, hearing it directly from the principal still left them speechless with shock.

The principal was deeply disappointed.

"South Middle School instills in you the values of humility, truth-seeking, meticulousness, and diligence. Yet, what I witness now is arrogance, boastfulness, blind conformity, and a lack of independent thought. Is it the school's education that has failed, or are you all blinded by absurdity, unwilling to acknowledge the excellence of others?"

With a heavy sigh, the principal continued, "If the teacher is not strict, it is the teacher's failing. Student Ji, as the principal, I take full responsibility for the way your classmates have treated you today. I offer my sincerest apologies to you."

As he spoke, the principal bowed deeply, "I am truly sorry, Student Ji, for the injustice you have endured."

Ji Chuxing: "..."

She looked at the principal with a mix of emotions, thinking, *This... really isn't necessary.*

The people present were once again stunned. Lu Xing and Zhao Feifei, in particular, were so shocked they became like two silent quails, their faces blank with confusion.

*Holy crap!*

*God Ji is absolutely amazing!*

*It's like dreaming of blowing up the school when you grow up, and then actually doing it!*

Ji Chuxing waved her hand dismissively, "You really don't need to do this, Principal. It's not your fault."

But the principal had already spoken, and many of the students around, feeling ashamed, came forward to apologize. "Student Ji, we're sorry!"

"Student Ji, we shouldn't have believed rumors without knowing the truth. We're sorry."

"Sorry..."

"Uh..." Ji Chuxing felt a bit overwhelmed. She would rather get into a fight than deal with this awkward situation.

After the apologies, the principal turned his stern gaze to Wen Xinyue.

There were no cameras inside the lab, and Wen Xinyue claimed she only went back to retrieve something. Though this was highly suspicious, there was no concrete evidence that she had destroyed her own experiment and framed someone else.

"Student, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Wen Xinyue, pale-faced, couldn't utter a word. Her mind was filled with one thought—*Wen Xinyue, you're finished. You'll be condemned by everyone. Your reputation is in ruins. People will point and whisper about you. Your father and brother won't love you anymore...*

"No... I didn't..." Wen Xinyue kept shaking her head.

Teacher Liu Xiuping, the homeroom teacher of the Qihang class, who had heard about the incident on her way, arrived and immediately defended Wen Xinyue. "Principal, Teacher Wu, this must be a misunderstanding. I can personally vouch for Xinyue; she would never do such a thing!"

Liu Xiuping was determined to protect her student, especially since Wen Xinyue was from the influential Wen family. The Wens had promised her an opportunity to study abroad at a top university if she could make Wen Xinyue the top scorer in the college entrance exam.

Seeing Liu Xiuping, Wen Xinyue found her support. *Teacher Liu will definitely stand by me. Yes, she believes me!*

"Teacher Liu, please believe me. I didn't slander her."

Liu Xiuping patted Wen Xinyue's shoulder reassuringly, "Teacher Wu, this is truly a misunderstanding. Xinyue told me yesterday that she left a workbook I lent her in the lab after her experiment. She asked if she needed it today because I was going to use it, so she came to get it last night."

Zhao Feifei rolled her eyes, "Was it really necessary to come at night? Couldn't she have come this morning?"

Liu Xiuping, suppressing her temper, replied, "Teacher Wu, don't you remember? Xinyue is currently working with you on the Mill experiment. With her skills, why would she frame someone? There must be a misunderstanding."

She then turned her authoritative gaze to Lü Yang, "Did you mislead Xinyue without understanding the facts?"

Then, she asked Wen Xinyue, "Did he mislead you?"

Though Lü Yang was a good student, his family background couldn't compare to Wen Xinyue's, so Liu Xiuping was willing to sacrifice him to protect her.

Lü Yang couldn't believe what Liu Xiuping was saying. He looked at Wen Xinyue, hoping she would tell the truth. If she did, he would still consider her his goddess.

But Lü Yang was destined to be disappointed. Wen Xinyue stood by Liu Xiuping, saying nothing.

Disappointment and disbelief filled Lü Yang's eyes. He wanted to speak out, but under Liu Xiuping's warning glare, he dared not. He feared he might not be able to continue his studies at South Middle School.

At this moment, Ji Chuxing spoke, "The Mill experiment?"

Wu Fangying fell silent. The Mill experiment had indeed produced results, but only the core part was completed. The follow-up work was still ongoing, and Wen Xinyue had been assisting her. It was true that she couldn't dismiss her contribution to the experiment.

Wen Xinyue regained her confident smile. "Yes, Teacher Wu, I have no reason to do such a thing."

She finally realized that she had worn gloves in the lab, leaving no fingerprints. *So, Ji Chuxing was smart, but she didn't even know to wear gloves during experiments. How ridiculous.*

Unless, of course, Ji Chuxing had done the experiment herself. But that was absurd! Even if she had access to the top-tier lab, it was likely due to Bo Yanchen's influence. And that influence would only last as long as Bo Yanchen was alive.

Ji Chuxing tilted her head, looking at Wu Fangying with a peculiar expression. "So, it was the draft on your lab table, right? You were planning to submit that to the International Research Center?"

Wu Fangying was taken aback, stammering, "S-Student Ji, i-is there a problem with it?"

The experiment was much better than before, but in front of Ji Chuxing, Wu Fangying felt a bit uncertain.

Ji Chuxing recalled the day she returned to school, or more accurately, the day she woke up and returned to school. She had passed by the lab and saw someone working on the Mill experiment. The Mill experiment was one of the most challenging in the field of chemistry, and no one had yet claimed to have successfully completed it. The purity of the results was hard to achieve due to various factors like reagents and equipment.

She had just gone in to take a look and found the experiment in disarray. Unable to bear it, she corrected the reagent amounts slightly.

Realizing this, she nodded, looking at Wu Fangying. "So, it was you working on the experiment that day. But there shouldn't have been such a large discrepancy later, over 7%. The reagent amounts were clearly marked, and the reaction time was set to 53 seconds. How could you get such results?"

Ji Chuxing, with her meticulous standards, gave Wu Fangying a pointed look. "Teacher Wu, you slacked off!"

Wu Fangying was shocked. *No! I didn't! I wouldn't dare!*

There was a moment of silence.

After recovering from his shock, Wu Fangying's eyes lit up as he looked at Ji Chuxing. "Student Ji! So, it was you who helped complete the experiment that day?"

No wonder Wen Xinyue seemed inadequate when assisting him recently. It wasn't her who had completed the experiment initially. When he asked her about the principles, she had been vague, raising his suspicions.

Indeed, it was as he suspected!

Ji Chuxing quickly denied, "It wasn't me. I haven't been to the lab!"

As long as she didn't admit it, it wasn't her doing. She had no intention of being dragged into another experiment today. She wanted to stream and earn money!

Teacher Wu, the principal, and Director Yan: "..."