Chapter 127: Letter of Apology

Teacher Qin had a rather narrow face with a pointed chin. Her eyes were not small, but they lacked luster. Carrying groceries in one hand and tucking her textbook under her arm, she used her free hand to open her door. She had noticed someone standing at the end of the corridor with their back to her, but she paid him no mind.

The teachers' dormitory was not exclusively for singles; some married teachers whose living conditions were not yet ideal hadn't moved out yet. The rooms were small, so many people smoked outside. There were ashtrays by the windows at the end of the corridor, and though she didn't recognize the figure of the man, Chu Dong, she didn't think twice about it.

Just as she opened her door, Chu Dong turned around and gave her a slight smile. "You must be Teacher Qin, right?"

"Ah, yes. Do you know me?" Teacher Qin was surprised. She had never seen Chu Dong before; it had been dark the day before yesterday, and he hadn't even stepped out of his car, so he was a complete stranger to her.

"Yes, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. Is now a convenient time?" Chu Dong was very polite, his tone gentle.

"Oh, well, come on in then." Access to the teachers' dormitory was restricted, so Teacher Qin didn't suspect anything amiss. She assumed he was a relative of one of her students. Such visitors were not to be turned away—usually, they were there to offer gifts, and no teacher would dare give such parents a cold shoulder.

"It's a small place, don't mind the clutter. Please, sit anywhere." Teacher Qin was hospitable, setting down her groceries to pour him a glass of water.

The room was larger than Xiao Rou’s and included an extra small room. Seeing Teacher Qin put the groceries in that room, Chu Dong guessed it was a kitchen of sorts. The layout was similar to Xiao Rou’s, though it was more crowded with belongings. A wedding photo hung on the wall; it didn't look like they had been married for very long.

"What is it you wanted to see me about?" Teacher Qin sat down opposite him.

"It’s like this. We met briefly the day before yesterday. You might not remember me, but I remember you. You should know Xiao Rou. I came here today to find out how the rumors circulating over the last two days started." Chu Dong lit a cigarette and flicked the ash into the cup of water Teacher Qin had just poured for him.

"You—what do you mean?" A flicker of panic appeared in Teacher Qin’s eyes, and she seemed unsure of where to place her hands.

"Nervous?" Chu Dong smiled faintly. "You know exactly what I’m talking about; you just don't want to admit it. Honestly, I didn't need to come see you personally. I could have just investigated it one by one. I don't think it would be hard to find the source of the rumors in a place this small. But I felt that whoever started them might not have intended to cause harm, and I was afraid that if things spiraled out of control, the consequences would be unpredictable. So, I came here."

"What does this have to do with me? I—I don't know anything!" Teacher Qin immediately denied any involvement.

Chu Dong wasn't surprised; he remained calm. "Teacher Qin, let me analyze the situation for you. See if I’m right. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize. But if I’m right..."

Chu Dong stared into her eyes, pausing for a moment. "...then you owe me an explanation. Of course, I’ll wait for your husband to return; I have no interest in earning a reputation for bullying women. But I suggest you don't try to anger me, because I never back down from a challenge."

Chu Dong’s tone was stern this time, as he could see that Teacher Qin was becoming frightened and was on the verge of calling for help.

Perhaps cowed by his words, she sat motionless, though her expression remained unnatural.

Chu Dong watched her coldly and continued, "I was the one who dropped Teacher Xiao off the night before last. That is true, but we are just casual acquaintances; it wouldn't be wrong to say we just met. It’s hard for a young girl in an unfamiliar city, especially when dealing with a younger brother’s illness. Anyone with a shred of empathy would help where they could. Honestly, that was my only intention. But I never expected it would hurt her, which is completely unexpected. You were the only one who saw me drop her off, so I have no reason not to suspect that the rumors started with you."

Teacher Qin’s face stiffened. She wanted to say something, but the words failed her.

"Teacher Qin, your circumstances aren't exactly ideal, are they? Living here while married must be cramped, and it will be even more inconvenient when you have children. Seeing another girl living here might not have bothered you much, but seeing someone drive her home in a nice car and readily pay a large sum of money to help her—I don't know if that was envy or jealousy in your eyes. Words spoken in a moment of impulse are often not meant to be malicious, but have you ever thought about how you would feel if this happened to you?"

Chu Dong extinguished his cigarette, staring at Teacher Qin, whose face was flushing red and then turning pale. "If I wanted to force you to do something, it wouldn't be impossible, but I’d rather not resort to that. We’re all just ordinary people; everyone makes mistakes. I’m willing to overlook what can be forgiven. I’m glad you listened to me today without denying it or making desperate excuses. It makes me feel that you didn't truly want to hurt Xiao Rou, and I am very willing to give you a chance to set the record straight."

"I—I didn't mean to, I really didn't," Teacher Qin finally spoke. "I was just envious at the time, and I never said those malicious things people are spreading."

"Then what did you say?" Chu Dong’s tone was light, not wanting to pressure her too much.

"I just said, 'It’s nice to be young,' and that Xiao was pretty, and that she had someone influential to help her when she needed it. Then Teacher Liu asked me why I said that, and I told her I saw someone drop her off in a car. That was all. I really didn't say anything else." Teacher Qin was eager to explain, fearing Chu Dong wouldn't believe her.

"I understand," Chu Dong nodded. "That’s how some rumors start, but they spiral out of control as they spread, and people start adding all sorts of things. But now that it has reached this point, haven't you thought about stepping forward to clarify?"

"I’m afraid. I’m afraid Teacher Xiao will hold a grudge against me. That’s why I haven't dared to see her these past two days." Teacher Qin covered her face and began to sob.

"Why are you crying?" Chu Dong was wary of this tactic and felt at a loss. "You’re making it look like I’ve done something to you. Do you want your husband to come back and fight me?"

Stopping her tears, Teacher Qin looked up. "I really don't know what to do now."

"There is a way, it just depends on whether you're willing to do it." Chu Dong thought for a moment and lit another cigarette. "Your school should have a broadcast room. If you..."

Leaving Teacher Qin’s room, Chu Dong’s step was much lighter. He had expected it might take some effort, but once he saw Teacher Qin, he realized she wasn't truly a malicious person—it had likely been an unintentional mistake. After asking around, he found his assessment was quite accurate. Chu Dong didn't consider himself a brute; he hadn't reached the point where he needed to solve every problem with violence. Sometimes, wisdom was much more effective than fists.

It was normal for a person to feel jealousy; it all depended on how one handled it. If you saw someone with money, you should work hard to earn your own. If you saw someone with a beautiful wife and decided to steal her, that was where the trouble began.

Unexpectedly, the chubby security guard, Lao Zhu, was still waiting for him downstairs. Seeing Chu Dong emerge, Lao Zhu let out a long sigh. "Is it taken care of?"

"Yes, it's done. I'm off. Didn't cause any trouble, did I? But if you ever want to change jobs, that number I gave you is still good." Chu Dong took out his vibrating phone. "Yu'er, I'm at your school. Everything is mostly settled, so just wait for the news. I won't wait for you; we'll talk when I get home tonight."

Hanging up, Chu Dong waved to Lao Zhu, who had accompanied him to the school gate. "Let's leave it here. I'm heading back. If you need anything, give me a call." He handed him a business card he hadn't used in a long time. "That’s my number. The title on it is just for show, ignore that. Just don't hesitate to call when the time comes."

"Alright, I won't be shy. If I need something, I'll definitely call you." Lao Zhu, being quite honest, carefully tucked the card into his pocket.

"What is this? He promised he'd come, but I haven't even seen him," Xiao Yu'er wrinkled her nose at her phone.

It was past two in the afternoon, and as everyone was heading to class, the school’s broadcast system suddenly crackled to life. A sound-check echoed through the campus.

"Hello, hello..."

The students were stunned, and even the teachers were confused. The school’s broadcast room was usually only used in the mornings or during major clean-ups; why would someone be using it now?

Just as everyone was wondering, the voice returned.

"I am Qin Ling, a math teacher for the second year. I’d like to take two minutes of everyone’s time to make a... a statement." The voice was trembling, but firm. "I am deeply sorry for the harm and confusion caused to Teacher Xiao Rou. The day before yesterday, I saw someone drop Teacher Xiao off and made some thoughtless remarks. I never expected they would evolve into such harmful rumors against her. I never intended for this to happen, and for a long time, I didn't know how to handle it—I didn't even dare to see her..." At this point, Teacher Qin began to sob again. The bell for class rang, but the students remained where they were, motionless, waiting for the rest.

"Someone helped me see clearly today. It doesn't matter that I made a mistake; what matters is finding a way to fix it. So today, I mustered the courage to say: rumors stop with the wise. The situation regarding Teacher Xiao was caused by me. Please stop spreading these stories. I formally apologize to Teacher Xiao. I am so sorry..."

"My brother-in-law is amazing! Yay!" Ignoring the stares of others, Xiao Yu'er cheered aloud. She immediately took out her phone to call Chu Dong, but remembering he said they would talk when he got home, she smiled and tucked it away.

Chu Dong drove around the city for a while before heading back. Seeing a flower shop on the way, he pulled over. Even if the villa was rented, it should be comfortable. There were many beauties in the house, but it lacked flowers, and he wanted to dress it up nicely. He picked out two pots of Anthurium in the shop and headed back to the villa in high spirits. The curtains were drawn, but he didn't pay much attention. As he walked through the door with the flowers, Chu Dong froze. Did this good fortune come at just the right time? He didn't know if it was his lucky day or his cursed one, but he was very fortunate to witness a scene that was both eye-catching and agonizing...