Chapter 33: A Good Way to Quell Rumors

  The principal looked at Pang Guang and then at Lin Junyun: "Alright, everyone is here, let's get straight to the point. Regarding last night's incident and the heated discussions on the internet today, it has caused a lot of negative impact on the school. As for the school's attitude, it is very clear that we will not tolerate serious violations of discipline by students. We will deal with each case as soon as it is discovered, and those who cause significant losses to the school will be expelled."

  "Ah!" Kong Yue Mei had been mentally prepared, but she still couldn't accept the words from the principal's own mouth. Her heart skipped a beat and she trembled with excitement. After calming down slightly, she suddenly rushed forward and hugged the principal's leg, kneeling on the ground: "Principal, please don't! Give us one more chance, spare my brother Jun Yun..."

  "Mom, what's wrong?" Lin Junyun quickly walked over and grabbed Kong Yuemei's arm, trying to pull her up. Unfortunately, even with all his strength, he couldn't budge Kong Yuemei, who was wailing hysterically.

  "Get up, get up! What kind of nonsense is this?" The principal roared with anger. Kong Yue Mei's actions had startled him greatly, and he tried to shake her off forcefully, but Kong Yue Mei's arms were like crab claws, grasping tightly and refusing to let go. The principal furrowed his brow, and slowed down his tone: "Why don't you get up first and listen to me finish what I have to say?"

  "Principal, please, you absolutely can't expel Junyun! If you don't agree with me, I'll never get up!" Kong Yue Mei wailed and cried, her thick makeup mixed with tears and snot, making her entire face a mess of colors.

  "When did I say that Lin Junyong would be expelled?" The principal pulled out a few tissues from the tissue holder and handed them to Kong Yuemei: "Get up and wipe your face, Lin Junyong won't be expelled."

  "You're kidding, that's great!" Kong Yue Mei took the tissue in disbelief and wiped her face randomly, but it would have been better if she hadn't. The wiping motion only spread the colorful makeup on her face even more.

  "You won't be expelled, you can get up now." The principal nodded.

  "It scared me." Kong Yue Mei let go of her arms and stood up, returning to the sofa, saying apologetically: "Sorry, I was just too excited and lost my composure. Please don't mind, Principal."

  "Don't worry, don't worry, we've all been through this before. Parents' concern for their children's emotions is understandable. My kid was mischievous when he was young, and I was even more impulsive than you!" The principal chuckled to ease the tension, then looked around: "If it had happened this morning, it wouldn't have been a big deal, and not many people would have known about it. But now the situation is different. After being hyped up by various media on the internet, the rumors about Dongcheng Middle School's 'flower affair' with an official's second generation, and how our school joke became a laughing stock, have developed into a major scandal in the Dongcheng district, and even caught the attention of the Provincial Education Bureau and several other media outlets, including the Dongcheng Evening News!"

  Everyone present, except for Pang Datou and Kong Yuemei, had seen those crazy posts on the forum. Pang Datou and Kong Yuemei only knew that last night, Pang Guang and Lin Junyun slept together in a daze, then Pang Guang inexplicably got involved in a robbery case. Who would have thought that so many things happened in just one morning? After hearing this, their mouths were agape with shock, big enough to fit a boiled egg inside.

  The principal looked at Pang Guang and Kong Yue Mei: "After careful consideration and soliciting opinions from all teachers, I have decided to turn big things into small ones and small things into nothing."

  "What's going on? Has something big become small and something small become nothing?" Pang Datou asked hastily, sensing that there was more to it.

  The principal took a sip of tea: "Announce to the outside world that these two kids have been engaged for a long time, and they will get engaged on New Year's Day next year."

  "Ah!" The people present fainted, no one had expected the principal to be so... humorous.

  "No way, I disagree!" Pang Guang and Lin Junyun stood up at the same time.

  The principal, who had anticipated the reaction of those present, explained slowly and calmly: "Sensational news originates from the public's curiosity and their inner imbalance in response to the wealth gap. They are so concerned about this matter because it involves some sensitive and attention-grabbing words like 'official second-generation', 'nightclub hostess', 'school flower' and 'mistress'. To calm down their concern, we need to prove that these words were maliciously fabricated by someone. How can we do that? By telling everyone that the two students have been engaged for a long time and are even planning to get engaged soon. Engagement is not equal to marriage, there's no legal constraint. Once the public knows this, they will naturally lose interest and forget about it after some time."

  Pang Guang looked at the principal in incredulity: "You mean I have to get engaged to her? I'd rather die than do that!"

  "Principal, I strongly object." Lin Junyun also had the same opinion.

  Pang Datou slapped his palm on the tea table with a loud "pa" sound, and shouted: "You two shut up, adults are talking."

  Pang Da Hu rarely got so angry, occasionally bursting out in a tone that always showed majesty and irresistible intimidation, thoroughly subduing Pang Guang and Lin Jun Yun, who lowered their heads and didn't dare to speak.

  The principal narrowed his eyes and looked at Pang Dahu and Kong Yuemei: "What do you think of the suggestion just now, parents?"

  "I agree!" Pang Da Hu raised his hand, he thought the principal's approach was great, not only could it calm down the rumors, but also the Discipline Committee would be able to come up with a good reason. These two kids had been engaged for a long time and were already preparing for their wedding, everything being spread outside was just slander!

  "Besides, this girl is quite pretty, if she can forgive me... Hehe." Pang Da Hu thought to himself with a silly smile, his expression ambiguous.