Chapter Fifty-Three: Suspecting Li Bufan

“Congratulations to our class leader, Zhang Liying, for winning first place in the inaugural Model Student selection for our grade!” Wei Xiaofan said with a smile, looking at Zhang Liying.

Wei Xiaoping and Zhang Xiaoyan, upon hearing Wei Xiaofan’s words, immediately wanted to congratulate Zhang Liying as well.

Zhang Xiaoyan thought for a moment, glanced at Zhang Liying, then at Wei Xiaofan, and said, “Hey! Wait a minute, Wei Xiaofan, Zhang Liying, didn’t your total score surpass the class leader’s by more than nine points? And on the announcement board, you’re ranked first. How did it end up with Zhang Liying winning first place?”

Wei Xiaoping, hearing Zhang Xiaoyan, felt she had a point and looked at Zhang Liying and Wei Xiaofan, asking, “Are there different prizes—like grand prize, first prize, and second prize?”

Seeing their questions, Zhang Liying explained what happened today when Wu Wenbin summoned her and Wei Xiaofan to the office.

“I really hoped Wei Xiaofan would win this award, because she truly has the strength. She’s much more outstanding than all twenty-four of us participants. And moreover, she really needs this award!” Zhang Liying said with a hint of sorrow.

“Wei Xiaofan, how could you be so careless? At such a crucial moment, how could something like this happen?” Zhang Xiaoyan exclaimed.

“It wasn’t intentional, just as clouds drift without purpose. Since this is the outcome, it’s still perfect in a way; after all, the top award went to our class, which is better than losing out to another class,” Wei Xiaofan replied.

“True enough, Wei Xiaofan. Since things turned out this way, what else can we do? At least the first place is ours!” Wei Xiaoping said.

“When I heard Mr. Wu Wenbin announce the decision, I was shocked and didn’t want to accept it, because it felt as if I’d stolen Wei Xiaofan’s award!” Zhang Liying said helplessly.

“Oh, class leader, don’t be like that! What difference does it make who wins? It’s all for the honor of our class!” Wei Xiaofan comforted Zhang Liying.

“Hey, hey, hey! Our dear class leader, it’s not your fault, okay? If anyone’s to blame, it’s Wei Xiaofan for being careless—and even more, that woman was vicious. She was given money yet still went to complain to the principal. Does she think she’ll get anything by complaining?” Zhang Xiaoyan said.

“Wait!” Wei Xiaoping suddenly interjected, “Zhang Xiaoyan is right. If that woman already got the money, why go to the principal? Her injury could’ve been fixed with a couple of band-aids for a few cents each, and ten yuan was more than enough. Is she hoping to get more by complaining? That’s impossible!”

Wei Xiaofan, listening to Wei Xiaoping, fell into deep thought, recalling the scene from that day.

When Li Chaoqian handed the money to the woman, he saw her walk away in another direction, not toward the school. Could she have doubled back later?

“Maybe it was something Wei Xiaofan or another student said that angered her, prompting her to complain to the principal,” Zhang Xiaoyan suggested.

“If that’s the case, this woman is truly malicious! From every angle, she has no justification. She got the money, yet still complained. That shows her true colors!” Zhang Liying declared.

“Wei Xiaofan, do you know Li Chaoqian? Why did he pay for you?” Zhang Xiaoyan asked.

“I don’t know him at all! The first time I met him was at the restaurant with everyone, and I haven’t seen him since. The day he gave money to that woman was only the second time,” Wei Xiaofan replied.

“Then he must have had some reason to pay for you?” Zhang Xiaoyan pressed.

Wei Xiaofan recounted the conversation she had with Li Chaoqian that day, word for word.

“Other than giving money to the woman without asking you, there doesn’t seem to be any issue,” Zhang Liying observed.

“Li Chaoqian helping you was a noble gesture, but doing it without your consent was improper. Still, Li Chaoqian is such a good student—why does he hang out with someone like Li Bufan, who’s known for being trouble? And Li Bufan only transferred here recently, yet already knows Li Chaoqian? We’ve been at this school for nearly three years and don’t know him!” Zhang Xiaoyan said.

“Li Chaoqian is the son of a leader, and Li Bufan’s father is a developer. Developers often connect with leaders, especially someone as prominent as Li Liangtian. After years of acquaintance, their families interact, and their children get to know each other. It’s normal. I know Li Chaoqian, too, but I simply don’t socialize with him,” Zhang Liying explained.

“So you’re saying Li Chaoqian and Li Bufan probably knew each other long ago?” Zhang Xiaoyan asked.

“Otherwise, how could Li Bufan, a recent transfer, already know a top student like Li Chaoqian?” Zhang Liying replied.

“Speaking of Li Bufan, I recall that magazine incident. People like him are truly tiresome!” Wei Xiaofan said.

“Could the incident with the woman who bumped into Wei Xiaofan also be related to Li Bufan?” Wei Xiaoping suddenly wondered aloud.

“What are you implying, Wei Xiaoping?” Zhang Liying asked.

“You mean Li Bufan knows that woman? That they conspired to set up Wei Xiaofan?” Zhang Xiaoyan said.

“It’s just a sudden idea, since Li Bufan was present. He’s transferred many times; he must have some special skills,” Wei Xiaoping said, looking at Wei Xiaofan.

“How could Li Bufan know such a rural woman?” Zhang Xiaoyan laughed.

“Even emperors have poor relatives, let alone ordinary folks like us! Yesterday when I went out to make a call, I saw Li Bufan talking to a countrywoman!” Wei Xiaoping said.

“You saw Li Bufan talking to a countrywoman? What did she look like?” Wei Xiaofan grew wary.

Wei Xiaoping described the woman’s appearance roughly, ending with, “After Li Bufan seemed to take money from his pocket and give it to her, she left.”

Wei Xiaofan felt uneasy after hearing this, thinking to herself that the woman Wei Xiaoping described seemed just like the one who bumped into her. Could yesterday’s incident have been another prank by Li Bufan?

“Wei Xiaoping, how do you know what Li Bufan gave her was money? Were you very close to them?” Wei Xiaofan asked.

“I saw the countrywoman accept something from Li Bufan, then she licked her finger and started flipping something in her other palm. If she wasn’t counting money, what else would she be doing?” Wei Xiaoping replied.

“Wei Xiaofan, does the woman Wei Xiaoping described resemble the one who bumped into you? If so, it’s quite a coincidence—so much so it arouses suspicion!” Zhang Liying asked.

“She does look very similar. But sometimes, descriptions aren’t enough; unless I see her in person, I can’t be certain,” Wei Xiaofan said.

“Isn’t this all too coincidental? When Wei Xiaofan was bumped by that woman, Li Bufan and Li Chaoqian were there. Then, in the afternoon, Wei Xiaoping saw a woman outside the school gate talking to Li Bufan who looked just like the one who bumped Wei Xiaofan?” Zhang Liying said.

“It’s certainly a coincidence! Teacher Wu Wenbin said the woman who bumped into Wei Xiaofan went to the principal’s office in the afternoon to lodge a complaint. Wei Xiaofan, you said she walked away after taking Li Chaoqian’s money. Now, Wei Xiaoping says he saw, in the afternoon, a woman talking to Li Bufan who looked very much like the same woman. Plus, Wei Xiaoping suspected Li Bufan gave her money. Could it be that after complaining, she sought payment from Li Bufan?” Zhang Liying analyzed.

Wei Xiaoping asked Zhang Liying, “Class leader, are you suggesting Li Bufan hired that woman to stir up trouble?”

“It’s just that everything seems too coincidental, so I’m only speculating,” Zhang Liying replied.

“It truly is a coincidence! But if Li Bufan really did this, what benefit does he gain?” Wei Xiaoping asked.