The three students from Class 7 were stumped. After looking at each other, they decided to get together and discuss a solution.
"They say we should clear our own names... but even if that's the case, suddenly asking us to figure it out ourselves, where do we even begin?"
Zhang Yun was holding a pack of tissues in his hand, which Mu Yingying had given him.
He has a problem: the more nervous he is, the more he sweats. He's the type of person who sweats easily with the slightest movement, and now, under the stress, he's practically drenched in sweat.
Just then, Zhang Yun ran out of tissues and kept wiping himself with his hands. Mu Yingying, who had a slight obsession with cleanliness, couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"I don't know either."
Chang Xiaolu let out a deep sigh, her expression indignant: "Even if what Xia Che said is true, he has no evidence. To suspect us out of thin air is to question our character, isn't it? I don't intend to clear my name! Let him suspect me if he wants to."
"But Xia Che has a point. Maybe he just wants to find the murderer. And the person who exposed the scandal really went too far. Our school has zero tolerance for dating. If any school leader sees it, Shen will be punished, which would be the least of his worries!"
Hearing Zhang Yun say this, Chang Xiaolu, being a soft-hearted person, felt her anger subside by eight-tenths. She had originally intended to resist to the end, but after thinking for a while with a straight face, she finally said, "Forget it... Shen is usually very kind to people. I have also been falsely accused by rumors before, and only Shen was willing to believe me and comfort me for a long time. This time, I will consider it as me repaying her. It has nothing to do with Xia Che."
Chang Xiaolu is used to being alone and is a typical homebody with few friends. But as anyone who has been to school knows, the more isolated a person is, the easier it is for them to be bullied. That's how the rumors about Chang Xiaolu started to circulate.
For example, there are rumors that she seduced and abandoned male students from other schools, had ambiguous relationships with people outside the school, and that Chang Xiaolu would sleep with anyone for money, and that her aloofness was because she had to take orders after class...
Over time, Chang Xiaolu's reputation deteriorated drastically. She already had few friends, and now no one wanted to befriend her anymore.
Shen Yanxin was the only exception. Not only did she help Chang Xiaolu when she was at her lowest point, but she would also greet Chang Xiaolu loudly when they bumped into each other at school, not caring at all about the strange looks from those around them.
Chang Xiaolu never said it, but deep down she was very grateful to Shen Yanxin.
Now that even Shen Yanxin is facing a public opinion crisis, Chang Xiaolu, who has experienced all of this, feels that she should help her.
Even if there's nothing I can do, at least...
Shouldn't they clear their names as suspects?
"Xia Che, come here, I have something to say to you alone."
Chang Xiaolu made her decision, walked straight to Xia Che, took a deep breath, and said calmly.
"Can."
Xia Che had no objection to going to chat on the side. He got up and followed Chang Xiaolu out of the classroom and stopped at a corner in the corridor.
"Tell me, how did you meet Shen Yanxin, and what were you doing on Friday?"
Xia Che asked.
“Chen helped me before, so… this time it’s my turn to help her.”
Chang Xiaolu paused for a moment, then recounted in detail how she met Shen Yanxin. After hearing the rest, Xia Che's opinion of the girl in front of him changed slightly.
Although he seemed fierce just now, I didn't expect him to be such a pitiful person.
Xia Che knew all too well how terrifying public opinion could be during one's student years, and Chang Xiaolu's mental fortitude seemed quite strong to have survived this ordeal.
"As for Friday you mentioned... are you sure the photo was taken when Shen came to see you?"
Chang Xiaolu asked.
"It's confirmed that the angle from which the photo was taken and the time it was posted are indeed from that time period."
Xia Che said.
"Is that so..."
Upon hearing this, Chang Xiaolu glanced thoughtfully into the classroom, then looked at Xia Che and said, "I was helping organize the teaching materials in the teacher's office at the time, and I only heard that Chen came to see you when I returned to the class. Does that count as an alibi?"
"Which teacher's office is this? What teaching materials are they organizing?"
Xia Che raised an eyebrow and asked for more details.
"Teacher Mu, if you're worried about the monthly exam papers from this week, you can go ask her now. I didn't lie."
Chang Xiaolu looked completely at ease.
"Okay, I'll verify it."
Xia Che readily agreed, saying, "If it's true, then your suspicion has indeed been cleared. Thank you for your hard work."
Xia Che's usual caution did not immediately dispel his suspicions about Chang Xiaolu, but seeing her confident demeanor and fearlessness of being investigated, Xia Che felt that the paparazzi was most likely not her.
That leaves only two people...
Zhang Yun and Wei Guang.
"I think you can focus your investigation on Wei Guang, the great detective."
Chang Xiaolu's voice carried a slight sarcasm, clearly still harboring some resentment towards Xia Che for suspecting her without cause.
"Why?"
Xia Che ignored the other party's sarcasm, and was somewhat concerned about why the other party wanted him to focus on investigating Wei Guang.
"Him... has a crush on Shen. I don't have many friends, and because I'm bored, I've developed a habit of observing others. Wei Guang has never shown his feelings for Shen in front of his classmates, but it's not hard to tell from his behavior in class that he definitely likes Shen."
"If it's just liking someone, then he should be ruled out as a suspect, right? Who would want to ruin the person they like?"
“Wei Guang is different.”
Chang Xiaolu paused for a moment, then reached out and patted Xia Che's shoulder. "I don't have any evidence to prove that the paparazzi is him, but I suggest you focus your investigation on Wei Guang. This is a woman's intuition."
Believe it or not, it's up to you.
Chang Xiaolu shrugged and turned to walk back to the classroom.
Xia Che stood there, gazing at Chang Xiaolu's back until she walked into the classroom. He then turned to look at her freckled face through the glass, his eyes narrowing slightly.
...
Next, Xia Che questioned Zhang Yun, who said he was sleeping at the time, and other classmates could testify to this, thus clearing Zhang Yun of suspicion on the spot.
Wei Guang's statement was even more convincing. He was discussing himself and Shen Yanxin with his companions at the time, and all the classmates around him could testify, so he wasn't afraid of Xia Che investigating.
After an investigation, there was no progress at all.
Xia Che frowned and walked back to the classroom. The three suspects had already left, leaving only Shen Yanxin and a few others in the class.
Zhang Yun, Wei Guang, Chang Xiaolu.
The three individuals' explanations all seemed impeccable.
But for some reason, Chang Xiaolu's advice kept replaying in Xia Che's mind, making him vaguely feel that Wei Guang might have a serious problem. "An elderly person at home is sick, there's been an emergency... I need to go take care of them, so I'm asking for a day off. I'm really sorry, I'll make up for what I missed today."
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