C21 You will be Hated by Lu Jinhan!

Huang Jiamin descended the stairs just as the principal of Chongming Middle School arrived. She frowned slightly upon seeing him.

"Principal, has Zihann gotten into trouble again?" she inquired, her face contorted into an apologetic grin.

Lu Zihann had a history of causing trouble at school, prompting several visits from the principal to their home.

"No, I'm here to see Miss Su!" he replied, mopping the dense sweat from his brow.

Huang Jiamin realized that Su Rann must have erred during the parent-teacher conference, prompting the principal's personal visit.

"Please, come in, Principal," Huang Jiamin offered graciously, her lips curling into a sardonic smile.

It was Su Rann's first parent-teacher conference, and it had led the principal straight to their doorstep. Huang Jiamin thought it was high time to settle scores with her.

"Did Su Rann mess up at school? If she's broken the rules and upset you, I apologize."

Huang Jiamin brewed a cup of green tea herself and set it before the principal.

Upon noticing the principal's visit, Lu Zihann stormed off to Su Rann's room in a fury.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

He hammered on the door with force.

"Su Rann, open up!" he bellowed, barely containing his rage, as if he wanted to tear her apart.

Su Rann closed her laptop and sauntered to the door. "What's the matter?"

"Su Rann, haven't I warned you about causing trouble at school? Now the principal is here, and you're still claiming you haven't stirred up any issues for me?"

Lu Zihann's fists were clenched, his breath heavy with anger.

Su Rann glanced downstairs dismissively. "What's the principal's visit got to do with me?"

She reached out to tousle his hair, but Lu Zihann swatted her hand away.

"Su Rann, come downstairs. Since you've caused this mess, it's only right that you face the consequences."

Lu Zihann grabbed her hand, intent on leading her downstairs.

As Su Rann made her way down, Huang Jiamin confronted her directly.

"Su Rann, what exactly did you do at school to warrant a visit from the principal himself? You've managed to tarnish the reputation of the Lu family."

Her voice dripped with scorn.

Su Rann's expression was one of complete indifference.

"No, that's not the case."

The principal stood up hastily, his palms already slick with sweat.

"Principal, Su Rann is right here. If she's truly at fault, it has nothing to do with the Lu family! You're free to deal with her as you see fit."

Huang Jiamin quickly distanced herself from any association with Su Rann.

"You've misunderstood!" the principal said, stepping briskly over to Su Rann. "Miss Su, may I have a word with you in private?"

The principal, who had been stern before, was now showing an unexpected level of deference to Su Rann.

It wasn't just Huang Jiamin who was taken aback; even Lu Zihann was astounded.

What was happening here? What could explain such a drastic shift in behavior?

Could it be that the principal hadn't come to confront Su Rann after all?

As Su Rann and the principal headed to the study, Lin Manyin emerged.

She had witnessed the entire exchange.

"Mom, are you wondering why the principal is treating Su Rann with such courtesy?" Manyin asked, her face showing contempt.

"Do you understand what's going on?"

Huang Jiamin sensed that the situation was slipping from her grasp.

Su Rann had been her punching bag within the Lu family, her status no more significant than that of an ant.

But since her return from the hospital, it seemed as though things had subtly shifted.

Could it really be chalked up to mere good fortune?

"Mom, I attended Lu Zihann's parent-teacher conference today. You wouldn't believe what I found out. Do you know why the principal was so respectful to her today?

That lowlife Su Rann is apparently involved with School Board Member Ma! It's an undeniable fact.

With School Board Member Ma's stature, he wouldn't regard anyone in Lan City as his equal. Yet today, he was making excuses for Su Rann. Isn't that odd?

He even sought her out for a private conversation. They must be hiding some unspeakable secret," Manyin declared with conviction.

"Are you suggesting that this woman has made Lu Jinhan a cuckold?" Huang Jiamin mused, her gaze fixed on the upstairs study, a trace of inquisitiveness in her eyes.

No wonder the principal had shown such a demeanor upon meeting Su Rann.

If Su Rann had indeed caused Lu Jinhan to be unfaithful, the Lu family was in for quite the spectacle.

When Su Rann learned that the key was in Lu Jinhan's possession, she decided to search his room thoroughly.

After the principal had left, she stealthily entered Lu Jinhan's room, intent on finding the key as quickly as possible.

The room was suffused with a subtle scent of sandalwood, which was quite pleasant.

It was immaculately clean, decorated in a minimalist black, white, and gray scheme, with everything in perfect order.

Su Rann scanned the room's layout and swiftly made her way to the nightstand.

She was quick, rapidly opening the drawer to reveal an assortment of large and small document bags, which she began to sift through.

"Brother, you're finally back."

The sudden sound of conversation from downstairs prompted Su Rann to hastily restore everything to its original state.

Lu Jinhan moved quickly, and Su Rann could distinctly hear his footsteps drawing nearer.

"How did the parent-teacher conference go?" Lu Jinhan inquired.

"It was fine."

Lu Zihann, anxious that the questioning might continue, dashed off to his own room.

Lu Jinhan suspected that he was trying to hide a mistake made at school and decided not to dwell on it.

As he approached the door, he sensed a whiff of danger, his every cell on high alert.

With a click, he switched on the room's lights.

A quick glance showed everything appeared as before, but his keen intuition told him someone had just been there.

"Nan Jun, check on Su Rann's whereabouts," Lu Jinhan commanded.

No response came from the knock on the door of the room next to Su Rann's.

Nan Jun's brow furrowed; Mr. Han must be suspecting Su Rann.

She had been well-behaved, but since her return from the hospital, many things had changed, and he was unable to find any leads.

"Mr. Han, it seems Miss Su is not in her room."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jinhan's frown deepened.

"Find her!" he demanded, his tone icy.

Without knocking, Lu Jinhan strode to Su Rann's door and entered.

The blackout curtains left the room in total darkness.

He turned on all the lights, but there was still no sign of Su Rann.

At that moment, his suspicions about Su Rann's intentions deepened.

As Lu Jinhan made his way toward the room, the door creaked open.

"What are you doing in here?"

Wrapped in a bath towel, Su Rann emerged from the bathroom.