Chapter 68: Beyond Redemption (Part One)

After hearing Song Yanni’s report, Ma Qianyoung seethed with frustration. That Zhang Wenhao truly wasn’t easy to deal with. He had thought he could transfer Zhang back from Class 21 with little effort, but hadn’t expected that rascal to turn the tables on him so deftly! To think he dared to lead forty-nine students in openly defying the school’s order—Zhang Wenhao certainly didn’t lack boldness.

While the director sat there at a loss, Ma Qianyoung’s mind was churning. Now that Zhang Wenhao had outmaneuvered him, how could he dissolve this resistance and make Zhang return obediently to Class 3?

The grade director, troubled, finally spoke. “This Zhang Wenhao is really a handful! Ever since that business with District Chief Chen Ru, he’s harbored resentment toward the school. His speech in front of the school was a slap in the face for all of us. And now he’s leading the charge in defying school directives. There’s simply no handling him.”

“There’s a way,” Ma Qianyoung interjected. “No matter how stubborn Zhang Wenhao is, he’s still just a student. Why don’t you call him in, explain the consequences, threaten him a bit? With the college entrance exam looming, he won’t dare risk stirring up serious trouble.”

“Threaten him?” The director gave a wry smile. “He’s probably the one student in the whole school least afraid of threats. And what could you threaten him with? Expulsion? But Zhang Wenhao’s grades are outstanding—he even scores more than ten points above Su Ruoran. He’s a shoo-in for top scorer on the national exam. If we expel him now, principals from other schools would show up at his door with cash in hand!”

“Then let’s call a parent meeting,” Ma Qianyoung said, his anger barely contained but feeling powerless. “Right now, Zhang Wenhao is truly beyond my control. But if he refuses to return to Class 3, all my efforts will be wasted. All I'd have gained would be nine hopeless cases. I only wanted to sweep in that pile of trash because among them was a diamond! If the diamond is gone, all that’s left is rubbish to tarnish my class. Wouldn’t I just be shooting myself in the foot?”

The director sighed. “We can’t just hold a parent meeting on a whim—it would be too conspicuous. The principal would find out, and what would he think of us if we can’t handle such a minor issue in our grade department?”

He glanced at Song Yanni. “Ms. Song, please ask Zhang Wenhao to come here. I’d like to talk with him. If he needs us to make some concessions, we can consider it. He’s now the leader of Class 21, a figurehead for those students. If he can be persuaded to go back, everything else will fall into place.”

Song Yanni nodded. “Very well, I’ll go get him now.”

When Zhang Wenhao heard that the grade director wished to see him, he didn’t refuse. He followed Song Yanni to the office, and as soon as he entered, as expected, he saw Ma Qianyoung there, wearing a strange expression. Zhang Wenhao sneered inwardly: “Your clever scheme fell flat—must be eating you up inside, isn’t it?”

The grade director greeted Zhang Wenhao and, unexpectedly, invited him to sit by his side. He spoke in earnest tones: “Zhang Wenhao, the college entrance exam is just days away. Now is the time to focus—there’s no benefit to you or your classmates to remain in Class 21. Why not return to your original class and prepare properly?”

Zhang Wenhao smiled. “Director, we can study in Class 21 just as well. In fact, we’re much happier there than before—at least we’re not treated differently by the teachers.”

“That’s not true,” the director replied solemnly. “The school treats every student equally. There’s never been any discrimination. The reason we reassigned you was to put pressure on you, to make you aware of the gap between you and the other students, so you’d be motivated to catch up.”

Zhang Wenhao gave a derisive snort. Such transparent nonsense was an insult to his intelligence. He said, “Director, if the school believes we’re still trailing the other students, then let us keep striving to catch up. At least for now, we’re still quite far behind.”

The director was fuming inside—Zhang Wenhao was clearly looking for an out, leaving him no room to maneuver. But he dared not lose his temper, so he tried to persuade him: “Don’t take it so personally. This isn’t about the school forcing you back to your previous class—it’s about respecting the wishes of your classmates’ parents. All their parents hope they’ll return to their original classes. By leading them in refusing the school’s arrangements, you’re ultimately hurting those parents.”

Zhang Wenhao pretended to ponder for a moment, then looked up at Ma Qianyoung. “Mr. Ma, you once said you’d never let me stay in Class 3 again. Now the school wants me back—this must be awkward for you, right?”

Ma Qianyoung blurted, “Zhang Wenhao, I never said you couldn’t stay in Class 3. If you decide to return, I, on behalf of the whole class, welcome you.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled faintly. “I’m sorry to make you deny your own words in front of so many teachers.”

Ma Qianyoung’s anger flared—Zhang Wenhao was clearly mocking him. He was about to explode, but reconsidered and forced himself to swallow his rage, putting on a sincere face. “You must have misunderstood me. If my words or tone were inappropriate, I apologize.”

This surprised everyone in the office. Everyone knew Ma Qianyoung was hot-tempered, yet here he was apologizing so humbly to Zhang Wenhao—unprecedented.

But Zhang Wenhao wasn’t buying it. He’d long since seen through Ma Qianyoung’s ugly hypocrisy. Such a person was never truly remorseful; everything he did was for his own hidden agenda.

Zhang Wenhao said coolly, “The main reason we don’t want to return to our previous classes is that we refuse to be singled out by other teachers again. When we were moved to Class 21, all the homeroom teachers treated us as black sheep, eager to drive us out. Now, under pressure, you reluctantly want us back. But in tossing us out and pulling us back in, have you ever considered our feelings? The school has shown us not even the most basic respect. Why shouldn’t we defend our rights?”

The director’s expression darkened. In his view, Zhang Wenhao’s attitude was just like his speech the other day—showing the school no courtesy at all. If this continued, they’d get nowhere. He said coldly, “Since you refuse to comply, we’ll have to call a parent meeting and consult the parents.”

Zhang Wenhao gave a scornful laugh. At that moment, his phone suddenly vibrated. Seeing the caller, he realized it was Chief Han himself. The matter he’d entrusted to him must have borne fruit!

Zhang Wenhao said to the director, “Excuse me, I need to take this call.”

He stepped out into the corridor and answered. “Chief Han, is there any progress on that matter?”

Chief Han chuckled, not answering directly. “No need for such formality. I’m probably older than your father—just call me Uncle Han.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled. “Uncle Han, how did it go?”

Chief Han replied, “Our investigators tracked down the sales location of that SIM card early this morning. Based on the estimated time, we found the surveillance footage, and the owner positively identified the card holder. At the moment, we only have an image, not his identity, but don’t worry—we’re pursuing it and should have results soon.”

Zhang Wenhao was delighted. “Uncle Han, could you send me a color image of the card holder?”

“No problem,” Chief Han replied. “Give me a moment. I’ll have someone send it right over.”

Zhang Wenhao thanked him and hung up. Two minutes later, a picture arrived via MMS. He downloaded it, and as he’d suspected, the man in the photo was Ma Qianyoung!

He hadn’t misjudged—Ma Qianyoung was the puppet master behind it all. This two-faced hypocrite thought everything was under his control? Zhang Wenhao grinned coldly. This time, let’s see how you wriggle out of this.

He strode back into the office and addressed the director. “Director, would you please invite the principal here? On behalf of my classmates, I have a few words for him.”