Chapter 52: The Principal’s Predicament

Upon hearing about the incident at the gymnasium, the principal rushed over immediately.

However, the moment he saw Ji Wenyan, cold sweat involuntarily trickled down the principal’s forehead, drenching the few sparse hairs on his head until they resembled a swamp.

‘Why is it Ji Wenyan again!’

Just hearing Ji Wenyan’s name now made the principal’s heart ache. He wondered what sins he had committed in his past life to allow such a troublesome student into his school.

Then, upon seeing Xuan Li standing opposite Ji Wenyan, and recalling Ji Wenyan’s earlier phone call, the principal instantly understood the situation.

The principal had actually quite admired the former student council president.

Though a bit impetuous, Xuan Li was generally diligent and had assisted the school on numerous occasions.

Nevertheless, offending Ji Wenyan rendered all that effort moot.

He would never risk offending Ji Wenyan, a transfer student backed by formidable influence, for the sake of a minor figure like Xuan Li.

‘Even if the student council president is gone, we can always hold another election!’

‘However, a student as exceptional as Ji Wenyan would be impossible to replace.’

Ji Wenyan’s effortless transfer to First High alone revealed the formidable power of the Ji family to the principal. Yet, it wasn’t entirely a negative development.

‘If I can forge a connection with the Ji family, perhaps it could pave the way for my own promotion.’

Danger and opportunity coexisted!

“What happened? This is a crucial moment for the competition. Are you disrupting the order because you no longer wish to participate?”

After composing himself, the principal spoke with solemnity, causing the students standing before him to fall silent.

All, that is, except Ji Wenyan.

At that moment, Ji Wenyan looked over with a half-smile, nearly causing the principal’s expression to falter.

Fortunately, the principal’s facial control was excellent. He directly ignored Ji Wenyan and turned his authoritative gaze towards Xuan Li and Li Zhongyi.

He was particularly incensed by Li Zhongyi, that thoughtless student, for publicly announcing the pre-selected winner of the Campus Belle Competition. Was she trying to get him dragged away for questioning by higher-ups?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

At this point, the principal felt no goodwill towards Li Zhongyi. He only wished to quickly remove her from the competition to prevent further complications.

He regretted agreeing to Li Zhongyi’s father’s request at the banquet.

“Principal, Ji Wenyan insulted my boyfriend. I was merely reasoning with him.”

“And you have the audacity to say that? Weren’t you the one who first bothered my girlfriend? You’re so happy being a lapdog, truly the lapdog of all lapdogs!”

“You!!!”

Upon seeing the principal arrive, Li Zhongyi, unaware that Ji Wenyan had secretly reported her, brightened. She intended to seize the initiative and have the principal deal with Ji Wenyan.

However, Li Zhongyi did not know.

Her words only worsened the principal’s impression of her.

‘Trying to use someone else to achieve your ends, and so blatantly? Does she think I’m a fool?’

‘To be involved with such a girl, Xuan Li isn’t any good either.’

‘I must have been blind!’

‘I actually thought Xuan Li was worth cultivating. Now that I think about it, I shouldn’t have let him become the student council president.’

“Reasoning? Is that how you reason? Forget it, you don’t need to participate in the competition either. Leave with Xuan Li.”

“Principal! I’m not the only one causing trouble here; Bai Mengze was involved too!”

“When I arrived, I saw you making a scene by yourself. What does this have to do with Student Bai? Stop trying to stir up trouble!”

Suddenly hearing the principal’s words, Li Zhongyi froze.

This was not what had been agreed upon. Wasn’t she the pre-selected first-place winner? Why was the principal treating her this way!

‘Could it be that my father didn’t make it clear to the principal?’

“Principal, there’s no need to be so angry. If Li Zhongyi wants to compete, let her. As long as she apologizes to us, we can let this matter go.”

However, Bai Mengze did not want Li Zhongyi to leave directly.

It wasn’t because Bai Mengze was magnanimous, thinking of forgiving them after such an incident.

Rather, she intended to secretly ambush Li Zhongyi with a sack after the competition.

If Li Zhongyi were truly disqualified and left in a fit of pique, Bai Mengze wouldn’t be able to find her.

‘Perhaps this is the obsession of the sack!’

Upon hearing Bai Mengze’s words, the principal secretly glanced at Ji Wenyan, who showed no objection. He immediately knew what to do.

Following Bai Mengze’s lead would surely be the right choice!

“In that case, Student Li, please apologize!”

“I don’t… Fine, Bai Mengze, I’m sorry.”

Upon hearing the principal ask her to apologize, Li Zhongyi instinctively wanted to refuse. However, Xuan Li, standing beside her, squeezed her hand tightly, causing Li Zhongyi immense pain.

Simultaneously, she understood.

Xuan Li wanted her to apologize.

Though she felt so wronged she wanted to cry, Li Zhongyi did nothing more than apologize to Bai Mengze with red eyes.

At the same time, her hatred for Bai Mengze intensified.

‘If it weren’t for Bai Mengze, I wouldn’t have to suffer such humiliation!’

“Alright, alright, focus on the competition from now on! This competition will be fair, just, and transparent. Everything will proceed according to procedure, and we’ll even have a live online broadcast to boost our school’s popularity. All of you must do your best and bring glory to First High.”

Though he disliked Li Zhongyi intensely, the principal did not overtly show it at that moment. After speaking, he turned and left.

Before departing, his cold gaze lingered on Xuan Li, causing cold sweat to immediately break out on Xuan Li’s back.

Not entirely foolish, he connected the recent events and realized that Li Zhongyi had completely ruined him!

Li Zhongyi’s family might be wealthy and influential, but that didn’t apply to him. Now that he had angered the principal, what would become of him?

The position of student council president was irrevocably lost.

And he might even face the principal’s petty retaliation.

‘Li Zhongyi, that jinx! I never should have agreed to date her in the first place!’

‘If only it had been Bai Mengze, I definitely wouldn’t have encountered such a situation today!’

As Xuan Li was filled with trepidation, Li Zhongyi, standing beside him, suddenly had a terrible premonition after observing the principal’s attitude.

The principal’s words just now seemed like a warning to her…

‘Could it be that the pre-selection has gone awry!!!’