Chapter 03 The mysteriously stolen painting 3
It is said that good news never travels far, but bad news travels a thousand miles. The gossip spread quickly to every corner of the campus at the speed of a tornado.
The students in our class, under the strong pressure of the "witch", communicated and discussed this matter with their eyes and small notes. And that idiot Mu Xiyue secretly slipped small notes to me from under the desk several times.
When I ignored her, she pulled my sleeve hard, which made me very nervous. Several times, I was scanned by the "witch's" powerful X-ray vision and almost fell down in the classroom.
"Xiao Ningzi, Xiao Ningzi, the president at the end of the season was wronged, right?"
After finally waiting for the get out of class to end, Mu Xiyue couldn't wait to grab me and blocked my way with a strong attitude, as if she would never give up unless I discussed with her.
"How do I know if he was wronged or not? If you want to know, go ask your family's Wei Jimo!" I picked up the press release on the table and pretended to knock on Mu Xiyue. I wanted to leave, but she stopped me again.
"How can I ask? I heard that he didn't even attend the morning class, but he was invited to the principal's office to assist in the investigation." Mu Xiyue pouted aggrievedly, but her eyes were fixed on the press release in my hand, "Uh, wait. What are you holding in your hand? Are you planning to take advantage of the opportunity to smear my president at the end of the season?"
"Tsk tsk, Idiot Yue. It seems that you have made great progress recently. You can even use four-character idioms."
I stopped and looked at her with a sneer.
Perhaps she was intimidated by my lukewarm attitude. Mu Xiyue opened her mouth but hesitated to speak.
After a long silence, she curled her lips and said awkwardly, "Don't think I don't know. The article in the school newspaper that defamed the president of the quarter-end association was written by you, right? Just now during class, you secretly wrote for so long. Are you going to do it again?"
"So what?" I laughed out of anger.
"You are not allowed to go!" Mu Xiyue opened her arms to stop me, closed her eyes, tilted her neck, and made a gesture of fearless death. "Xiao Ningzi, I, I tell you, if you really go today, I will break up with you, break up with you!"
"You idiot!" I couldn't help but laugh at Mu Xiyue's warrior-like attitude. I stuffed the freshly-published press release into her hands, then found a chair nearby and sat down leisurely. "Mu Xiyue, you didn't let me go, don't regret it later!"
"This...what's going on?" Mu Xiyue opened the press release, quickly browsed through it, and asked in surprise.
"Idiot!" I rolled my eyes and ignored Mu Xiyue's almost flattering smile.
This idiot Mu Xiyue must have been infected by that Wei fox. He has been changing his attitude faster than turning the pages of a book recently.
"Such a big thing has happened. In order to save your family, Wei Jimo, from the dire situation, of course you have to find something to divert public attention."
Although, even I don’t know how effective this will be.
"My dear little Ningzi, I really love you to death." Hearing this, Mu Xiyue rushed towards me quickly, hugged me and bit me hard, "I knew that our little Ningzi is the best."
"No, I'm a mean person who takes advantage of others' misfortune. You'd better stay away from me!" I wiped the saliva off my face with disgust and raised my hand to block Mu Xiyue's second wave of "Wolf Attack". "Aren't you going to ask your family member Wei Jimo? Do you still have the mood to dawdle here with me?"
"Yes, yes." Mu Xiyue smiled awkwardly and quickly retracted her wolf claws.
"No need to go." Someone walked in behind me. I turned around and saw that it was Mu Xue who was sitting in the row in front of me.
She pursed her lips, her pretty face was tense, there was a hint of anger between her brows, and her whole demeanor seemed very gloomy.
"I just checked. The president of Ji Mo is still in the principal's office. It is said that he has been silent since he entered until now. He has not said a word."
"How could this happen?" It wasn't just Mu Xiyue who was surprised. This time, even I almost jumped up, "Wei Jimo didn't even defend himself?"
What is this idiot doing? He obviously didn't do it, but he didn't say a word!
Having missed such a great opportunity, it would not be easy for him to prove his innocence again.
"Isn't it just a rumor?" I asked in a low voice, holding on to a glimmer of hope.
"It's not a rumor." Mu Xue shook her head and answered firmly, "Now all the students in the school know about this. They all say... they all say that President Ji Mo is guilty, so he kept silent?"
After saying that, Mu Xue kicked the table angrily.
"This bunch of fence-sitters always say they like President Ji Mo and want to follow him forever, but when the moment comes, they refuse to give him even a little trust."
"I'll go take a look." With a bad feeling in my heart, I rushed out of the classroom like a flash.
The corridors, the playground, and everywhere were crowded with people. Everyone was talking about it. As Mu Xue said, the rumors were indeed pointing to Wei Jimo.
Because of his silence, even his fans who had previously believed in him began to waver.
"They say you can judge a person by his appearance but not by his heart. Look at you guys. When you see someone is a little handsome, you treat him as a perfect treasure. What's the result?"
"Perhaps, the president has his own reasons for doing so at the end of the season?"
"Hardship? Forget it, he has already acquiesced, why are you still speaking for him?"
"I never thought that Wei Jimo would be this kind of person."
"Yes, yes, you can't judge a person by his appearance."
"I was so blind to worship a thief!"
As I walked along, my classmates' criticisms of Wei Jimo continued to reach my ears, making me feel more and more uneasy.
These stupid people!
You believe whatever others say. Are your brains just decorations?
I couldn't bear it any longer and rushed towards one of the groups of people.
"Hey, you guys!"
I had just opened my mouth when the crowd, which had been as noisy as five hundred ducks, suddenly became quiet. This strange silence made me feel inexplicably irritated.
Everyone looked at me in unison, with a strange and inquiring gaze. It felt like I was from another planet.
How is this going?
I noticed this strange look from the moment I walked out of the classroom.
What's going on, everybody?
Is there something wrong with my face? Or did I put my clothes on the wrong way this morning?
I looked down and checked quickly, but there was nothing.
Never mind, business is important!
I shook my head, shook off the uneasiness in my heart, cleared my throat, and said seriously, "Did anyone of you see Wei Jimo enter the calligraphy and painting club's exhibition room and steal last night?"
Everyone looked at each other in silence.
"But I do!" I raised my chin, and suddenly felt a little proud and fortunate in my heart.
Wei Jimo, you annoying guy, luckily I can testify for you and clear your name!
From now on, you just have to wait and be grateful to me!
"After school last night, I saw Wei Jimo walking out of the school. So, he has an alibi last night."
I glanced at the crowd proudly, expecting to see expressions of regret, self-blame and panic on their faces, but I found that everyone was looking at me with very complicated eyes.
"Come on, Lin Yining, we know you have a crush on President Ji Mo. It's such a big deal, you can't let him shirk his responsibility just by saying a few words."
"That's right! You said that President Jimo was not in school last night. Who else can prove it except you? Mr. Fang, who was on duty last night, said that Wei Jimo did not ask for leave from him. And we all know that he has always lived alone in the single apartment in the school. So except you, no one can prove that he was not in school last night."
"What? I have a crush on Wei Jimo?" For a moment, I almost couldn't believe my ears.
Do these stupid guys know what they are talking about?
"Come on, this is not funny at all," I said helplessly.
"Okay, Lin Yining, stop quibbling. We all knew it a long time ago."
"Tsk tsk, Lin Yining. I really can't tell that you actually have a crush on Wei Jimo. And you're pestering him. Don't you usually pretend to be indifferent to everything? Why do you show your true colors at the critical moment?"
"I don't understand what you are talking about!"
Lin Yining, stay calm!
Stay calm!
Now is not the time to pursue these rumors. The key is to clear Wei Jimo's grievances.
If you get angry, you will fall into their trap!
"Although I don't know who is slandering me, I swear, if I catch him, he will be dead!" I looked around slowly, took a deep breath, and raised my voice enough for everyone around me to hear clearly.
"Also, although Wei Jimo lives in a single dormitory and did not ask for leave from the teacher on duty, it does not mean that no one except me can prove his innocence. Yesterday, not only did I see Wei Jimo go out, but Wang Wei and her friends could also prove it."
"Lin Yining, what are you talking about? When did I see Wei Jimo yesterday?" As soon as I finished speaking, Wang Wei's voice suddenly sounded from behind me.
It looked like she had been here for a while.
"Yesterday, when you stopped me." I looked straight at her, my eyes burning. But I was secretly suspicious in my heart. Doesn't Wang Wei like Wei Jimo? Why didn't she help him at this time, and even add insult to injury?
"Student Lin, I did stop you yesterday to ask you some questions. But that's all. I've never seen our president before!" Wang Wei's eyes were glued to mine, full of provocation. "This is a serious matter, don't say such things casually."
"Okay! It doesn't matter if you don't admit it. I will always find out the truth and let you see who is lying!" I was full of doubts.
The inexplicable rumors, Wei Jimo’s silence, and Wang Wei’s abnormality were like an invisible net that trapped me tightly in it.
But it doesn't matter! Whether it's a conspiracy or a carefully designed game, it can't stop me, the detective genius Lin Yining.
Foolish mortals, just wait for your punishment!
