Shi Qing had expected the footage to be bad news, but she had no choice. Besides, they’d already bought and deleted the internet café video—there was no way anyone could use that as proof. They could cry “framed” all they wanted; even if some evidence existed, she could always spin black into white.
The department chair looked at her with unmistakable satisfaction. Calm, collected—exactly the kind of student their department prided itself on.
Only, there was Shi Wan.
The principal’s office had no big screen—just a computer. When the video started, Shi Qing immediately saw through it. “Principal, the footage is crude—obviously a composite. And I wasn’t at any of those places that day.”
“Oh? Where were you then? Any proof?” Shi Wan’s smile never reached her eyes.
“I went to Jiajia Internet Café to meet someone—a good friend. If you don’t believe me, bring them in. There’s also a bubble-tea shop right next to the café.” That day her friend had coincidentally been at the café; their agreed meeting times were separated by only half a minute. Shi Wan’s lips curved. “Evidence, then.”
“Sis, are you still doubting me?” Shi Qing’s expression strained into hurt. If there were other people in the room, calling her “sister” from Shi Wan’s mouth made her skin crawl.
Shi Wan nodded slowly. “I forgot to mention—the clip you just saw was the wrong one. This next one is the real thing.”
“What do you mean?” A cold dread rose in Shi Qing’s chest. The only way for Shi Wan to have the real footage before her was if Shi Wan already had it. That shouldn’t be possible. If it were true, then it meant everything was being controlled—every move, every accusation.
“Scared now?” Shi Wan’s smile sharpened.
“I’m not scared. I didn’t do anything. Stop probing me.” Shi Qing tried to hold steady.
“Shi Qing, the faculty believes you. The school will clear your name,” the department chair said solemnly. He didn’t know what spell Shi Wan had woven over everyone, but he was on Shi Qing’s side.
“Thank you, Chair. I won’t let you down.” Shi Qing’s voice was tight.
Those at the principal’s table watched in silence, amusement hidden behind polite faces. To help Shi Qing, the department chair leaned in to watch. When the new clip finished, his expression went blank, as if struck.
This footage didn’t just show Shi Qing entering the café—it recorded everything she said and did, as if someone had been standing beside her with a camera. Shi Qing turned as white as paper. The chair was still looking for signs of editing, but she knew—this was real. It hadn’t been cut. Whoever filmed it had been so close there was no other explanation. But she’d avoided everyone that day; no one had been able to approach her. So who had filmed it?
For a moment she thought of Shi Wan—but she rejected the idea as quickly as it came.
She faced the principal with a forced calm. “Principal, I don’t know who keeps pushing this, or what you want to accomplish by showing me this. I can tell you firmly—this has nothing to do with me.”
“Shi Qing,” the principal said, “the footage is here. Are you still denying it?”
“Maybe someone did this to frame me,” she shot a look at Shi Wan. “Wasn’t the earlier clip proof enough?”
If Shi Wan hadn’t directly done it, she was certainly connected.
Shi Wan’s voice was cool. “Is that so? Then how do you explain the bank transfers?”
The principal frowned. At this point, Shi Qing could hardly admit anything.
“Sis—” Shi Qing began.
“Sis, I didn’t do it. We’re sisters—would you actually accuse me? I know Mom and Dad wronged you, but this has nothing to do with me.” Her protest fell flat; her face sank.
Shi Wan’s words echoed exactly what Shi Qing had wanted to say, and the deliberate mimicry tightened something inside her. How could she—
“Really?” Shi Wan tilted her head, smiling with faux innocence. “Sister was framed, so the school had to investigate. Who knew it would lead back to you? Sister had no idea, but of course I believe you’re innocent.”
Shi Qing’s thought burst into one sarcastic snapshot: matcha-flavored green tea—sweet on the surface, bitter underneath.
The principal and others coughed once, saving their laughter behind their hands.
“We’ve reported this to the police. No one will be wronged.” One of them said it like a benediction.
Shi Qing felt a sudden loosening in her chest. If the police were involved, Shi Wan wouldn’t be able to wash this away.
“Someone’s just arrived. Teacher Lin, please go get them.” Shi Wan said casually.
Shi Qing stiffened—already cleared with the police? She’d barely had a moment to think. She met Shi Wan’s composed gaze and, hidden from everyone, shot her a defiant look.
Teacher Lin pushed the door open and in walked Officer Tian. “Principal, Officer Tian is here.” He glanced at the others. “We’ve analyzed the materials. The video hasn’t been edited; the transfer records are genuine. As for the account logins—you were right. Those were destroyed.”
“This must be a misunderstanding,” the principal murmured. Nobody could predict how far this would go.
“Are you questioning the thoroughness of our investigation, Miss Shi?” Officer Tian asked.
“Not at all,” Shi Qing said, but her voice betrayed her unease. “This just means whoever’s behind it is vicious.”
Shi Wan’s lips moved without urgency. The officer’s face hardened. “Miss Shi, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but our findings are clear.”
There was a pause. “Perhaps you’d like to hear a recording and some chat logs?”
Shi Wan had already received a call from Shen Siyuan. She was done pretending. Shi Qing swallowed and forced herself forward. She knew what the evidence would say—it would turn on her—but she had to face it.
The voice on the recording was painfully familiar. “Everything came from Shi Qing. Not only that—she even gave me money directly, telling me to release it after Shi Wan’s competition…”
“No way!” Shi Qing’s chest clenched. She was certain she’d paid in person, then sent the reporter away…
Sudden realization hit her like ice. She’d been the one walking into a trap that Shi Wan had dug long ago. From the start, every step had been set by Shi Wan, and she had walked right into it.
No matter what happened now, someone had a small, damning piece of her. That conniving snake—how could she be so scheming?
“Even if all this is what I did—so what? Do you think Shi Wan is innocent?” Shi Qing lashed out, trying to pull everyone into the mire with her.
“Such as?” Shi Wan asked, amused.
“Isn’t this because of you? Didn’t you push me into this? Everything I did was because of you!”
Shi Wan only smiled, not angry so much as amused. “Did I force you? Did I ever tell you to do anything to bury me?”
Shi Qing’s face went stone-cold. She said nothing.