Free Web NovelChapter 157: Chapter 157: Defending
How could they not be surprised?
The people present weren’t completely clueless; they knew about the few famous universities in the Imperial City.
Huaguo Communication University. It might not be a household name to everyone, but they had all heard of it. freēwēbnovel.com
After a moment of stunned silence, someone at the teenagers’ table couldn’t hold it in any longer and started talking.
"I... I didn’t mishear that, did I?"
"No way. That’s Huaguo Communication University! It’s a top-tier, key university!"
"How did she get in?!"
"And she calls that ’doing pretty well’? That’s doing insanely good, okay?!"
"Isn’t it? Compared to Huaguo Communication University, the school Miao Zhi got into is... not even in the same league."
The tall kid’s blunt remark was shocking, but luckily, the others managed to shut him up.
Unfortunately, everyone had already heard it.
Miao Zhi’s score had just barely scraped past the admission cutoff, meaning she had gotten into a vocational college.
The college entrance exams were already difficult. Getting into a vocational college was hard, and getting into a bachelor’s program was even harder. That’s why Miao Zhi getting into a vocational college was considered such a joyous occasion at the station.
So for Su Li to get into a bachelor’s program at a key university... it was absolutely mind-blowing!
The way everyone looked at Su Li changed completely.
Su Li sighed inwardly. ’I don’t want to make this awkward atmosphere even worse.’ She had no intention of using this opportunity to get even or mock anyone.
Miao Zhi was already humiliated enough.
She decided not to say anything more. She gave Yu Zhengqing a look, stood up, and nodded toward the stunned Mr. Miao, intending to leave directly.
But Miao Zhi wouldn’t let her go.
"Su Li, you’re not going anywhere! You make yourself clear!"
Miao Zhi couldn’t stand the disparity or the fact that she had become a joke. She impulsively blocked Su Li’s path. Seeing Su Li ignore her, she flew into a rage and smashed the cup in front of her.
"I said you’re not leaving, Su Li!"
Miao Zhi glanced at the looks on everyone’s faces and felt herself on the verge of a breakdown. Her gaze toward Yu Zhengqing and Su Li was filled with hatred.
Yang Xiangyun, who was beside her, looked anxious. "Miao Zhi, don’t be like this. Su Li wouldn’t lie..."
Yang Xiangyun’s words made Miao Zhi’s eyes light up. Her hatred had found an excuse. She shoved Yang Xiangyun aside, stomped over, and pointed at Su Li, cursing.
"What do you mean she wouldn’t lie? Su Li is a liar! She must be lying! I don’t believe she really got in. If she got into such a good university, why keep it a secret? She kept it a secret because she failed!"
Miao Zhi spoke with growing, self-righteous conviction. "Liar! Su Li, if you have the guts, show everyone your acceptance letter."
The entire room fell deathly silent. This time, not even the children dared to speak.
The banquet had been utterly ruined by her. Mr. Miao trembled with anger as he looked at Miao Zhi.
"Miao Zhi, shut up! Shut your mouth!"
The more he told her to stop, the more stubborn she became. "I won’t shut up! Why should I? Su Li is a liar! She’s just some girl from the countryside. She didn’t even attend high school properly. How could she possibly have gotten in?!"
She shot a scornful glance at Yu Zhengqing. "And dragging someone along to put on a show? That’s hilarious! You think dressing like a college student makes you one?!"
When Su Li saw her drag Yu Zhengqing into it, her expression finally changed.
Without a word, she took out the acceptance letter she had been treasuring and carrying with her in her bag.
"Miao Zhi, open your eyes and take a good look!"
Su Li shot an apologetic look at Yu Zhengqing, briefly showed her acceptance letter to the crowd, and finally placed it right in front of Miao Zhi for her to see clearly.
"Miao Zhi, apologize to Senior Yu!"
Miao Zhi shrieked as she looked at the letter. "It’s fake! It’s all fake!" she yelled, suddenly lunging forward to snatch the letter from Su Li’s hand to rip it up.
Tang Yuanxiao had been standing by Su Li’s side the whole time. Seeing this, he acted with lightning speed, snatching the acceptance letter back.
He then jabbed Miao Zhi with his elbow, and she instantly fell to the ground.
"Ah..." Miao Zhi screamed.
Tang Yuanxiao’s face was grim. He only relaxed after seeing that just a corner of the letter had been torn.
"You hit me! Tang Yuanxiao, you hit me!" Miao Zhi scrambled up, wailing. "You’re helping this liar, Su Li, hit me!"
Mr. Miao swayed on his feet. After steadying himself, he stepped forward and, without hesitation, slapped Miao Zhi across the face!
Ever since she was little, Mr. Miao had doted on Miao Zhi. He had never so much as laid a finger on her, let alone slapped her.
This was the first time he had ever hit her, and he used all his strength.
Miao Zhi’s head rang from the blow. Trembling, she touched her cheek and looked up in disbelief. "Dad, you hit me!"
The blow may have landed on the child, but the pain was in the parent’s heart.
Mr. Miao was in so much pain he could barely breathe. The hand he had used to hit her was trembling uncontrollably, and tears streamed down his aged face.
With a loud WAIL, Miao Zhi burst into tears. She shot a look at Su Li, screamed, "Su Li, I hate you!" and ran out.
Yang Xiangyun called out in worry and quickly chased after her.
Mr. Miao’s body swayed, and he nearly collapsed. After the others helped him steady himself, he wiped the tears from his face, his expression full of anguish and shame.
"I... I have no face to show anyone today. I’m so sorry, everyone..."
Mr. Miao had been a proud man his entire life. He had never been so disgraced. He was utterly mortified.
"Su Li, I’m sorry, so sorry..."
He was a man who cared about his dignity, and he felt he could no longer face anyone.
Su Li closed her eyes, unable to say anything else.
She forced a smile. "I’ll be leaving now..."
Yu Zhengqing took a deep breath and apologized. "I’m sorry... I didn’t know it would turn out like this."
He was genuinely angry about what Miao Zhi had done, but he also knew that his sudden appearance was part of the reason things had escalated to this point.
After apologizing, he glanced at Su Li and was the first to walk out.
Su Li looked at Tang Yuanxiao and Little Tang Mo, then followed him out.
The feast was only half-eaten, and the atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
Tang Yuanxiao picked up Little Tang Mo, whose eyes were anxiously following Su Li, and scanned the room before speaking.
"I’ll be taking my leave as well. To everyone here, tomorrow at this same time, at the Youjing Restaurant next door, I invite you all to attend Su Li’s celebration banquet. Su Li and I will be waiting for you."
The Youjing Restaurant next door was also a restaurant, but it was two tiers higher in class, and the prices were steep.
The people present gasped. They all knew Tang Yuanxiao was doing this to reclaim his wife’s honor. Seeing him looking at them, they all nodded haphazardly.
Seeing that everyone had heard him, Tang Yuanxiao turned to Mr. Miao. He said nothing, simply gave a slight nod, and walked out holding Little Tang Mo.
For Mr. Miao’s sake, Su Li had endured it again and again today, but he truly couldn’t stand it any longer.
’Since this banquet brought Su Li such humiliation, there’s no need for me to hold back. If I’m going to ruin the party, so be it. Besides, Miao Zhi already did a pretty good job of ruining it herself, didn’t she?’
Tang Yuanxiao left, too.
Those who remained didn’t move. No one spoke.
The color drained from Mr. Miao’s face, then returned, then drained again, until finally, only exhaustion remained.
He braced himself against the table, struggling to stand steady. He looked at the mostly untouched dishes left on the table and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I’m sorry, everyone. A perfectly good meal was ruined by this scene. Let’s not waste the food. We’ll continue eating, and then you can leave."
He poured a glass of wine. "I failed to raise my daughter properly. As an apology to everyone, I will drink three cups as a penalty."
Since he had said that much, how could anyone leave? Those who drank, drank. Those who ate, continued to eat.
The children, unaware of the adult world’s complexities, were just happy they could start eating again.
The banquet continued. The atmosphere wasn’t as lively as before, but thanks to the children, it slowly returned to normal.
