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The principal was a portly man with a round face and large ears. His slap landed with full force, hitting Pei Zhiru so hard that he nearly passed out on the spot. "Junior disciple?" Pei Zhiru's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... You're talking about Tong Qing?" Pei Na was equally stunned and blurted, "Impossible!" The principal turned to Pei Na, his eyes still flashing with lingering anger. "What do you mean, 'impossible'?" "Tong Qing is nothing but a street urchin. How could she possibly know you, let alone be your junior disciple?" It was common knowledge that the principal's senior brother was Tao Qiming, the esteemed director of the Academy of Science. Renowned for his medical research and skill, Tao Qiming was hailed as a modern-day Hua Tuo. It seemed inconceivable that he would be Tong Qing's master. Tong Nianyu chimed in from the sidelines, "Principal, my sister has lived in the slums all her life. It was only recently that our father brought her back home. Could you have mistaken her for someone else?" Her insinuation was clear: someone as unsophisticated as Tong Qing could not possibly be acquainted with the principal. "Ridiculous. I cannot recognize my own junior disciple? Do you think you know better than me?" Tong Nianyu went pale. "Principal, we... That's not what we meant." The principal, a man with a keen eye for character, saw right through Tong Nianyu's cunning. He dismissed her without a second glance, then turned to Tong Qing and asked, "Qing, have they been treating you poorly?" Tong Qing was about to respond when Pei Na cut in, "Principal, even if she is your junior disciple, that doesn't clear her of theft." "The stolen item was found in her desk. If she didn't take it, who did?" With no evidence to prove Tong Qing's innocence, Pei Na was determined to pin the theft on her. Tong Qing faced Pei Na with a cool, steady gaze. "Whether this was theft or a setup, you know better than I do." "How can you accuse me of framing you? Do you have any proof?"

Pei Na suddenly realized she had slipped up. "You..." Before she could finish her sentence, another icy voice interjected, "Who says she doesn't have evidence?" The classroom door swung open from the outside. Tong Qing turned, unguarded, and the next second, her heart pounded at the sight of the familiar figure seated in the wheelchair. The man was dressed in a stark, austere manner, radiating an air of nobility. His expression was icy, and his dark eyes held a bloodthirsty ferocity as he stared down Pei Na, who was on the offensive. Pei Na shot a sidelong glance at Fu Chijing. "And who might you be? Is it your place to speak here?" At her words, Pei Zhiru turned to the newcomer, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. Fu Chijing? What was he doing here? "Mr. Fu?" The principal looked surprised to see the new arrival. "When did you get here? Why didn't you notify the board?" "I was just passing by and heard the commotion, so I decided to take a look," Fu Chijing said coolly, his lips barely moving. "I overheard that someone was accused of theft. Can't you simply check the surveillance footage for something so trivial?" Pei Zhiru responded at once, "Mr. Fu, you may not be aware, but the classroom's surveillance camera broke last week." Fu Chijing's gaze turned steely, his voice frosty. "I allocated funds last week for the school to upgrade its surveillance system. If it's already broken, I need to look into this matter further." "Exactly, exactly. I had almost forgotten." The principal, jogged by the reminder, smacked his forehead. "I'll have someone review the surveillance footage right away." Pei Na's heart sank upon hearing this. The surveillance cameras had been replaced? When did that happen? How did she not know? With the new surveillance in place, the truth behind the heated argument was swiftly brought to light. Pei Zhiru could never have imagined that it was his own daughter who had stolen Tong Nianyu's necklace and planted it in Tong Qing's desk, only to turn around and accuse her of the theft. Tong Nianyu's face registered shock. "Na, is that really you?" Pei Na, her face ashen, shook her head vehemently. "I... I didn't mean to. It's just that I couldn't bear Tong Qing's harsh words towards you, so I..."

The principal's eyes blazed with anger. "So you falsely accused Tong Qing of theft?" "I..." "That's enough. No more explanations." The principal cut her off sharply. "In accordance with our school's regulations, I am expelling you effective immediately." Pei Na turned to Pei Zhiru with a look of desperation. "Dad, it was just a moment of confusion. I can't be expelled over this." Upon hearing the threat of expulsion, Pei Zhiru grew frantic. "Principal, Pei Na is my daughter. You can't just expel her on a whim. And let's not forget, I am a member of the board. Surely, I deserve some consideration." Fu Chijing let out a scornful laugh. "How much is your consideration worth?" "Mr. Fu..." Ignoring him, Fu Chijing continued icily, "Principal, Jiangcheng University is renowned for its stringent rules. Surely we can't bend them for certain individuals?" "Indeed," the principal agreed with a nod. "I will not coddle a student who errs." Pei Zhiru called out, "Principal!"

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