Chapter 55
After the morning exam ended, He Zhen and Lin He still had not returned.
On his way back to class, Yu Chen passed by Lin He’s classroom and found everyone discussing what had happened in Exam Room One.
The first- and second-ranked students in the grade being caught for cheating and having their papers confiscated was absolutely explosive news.
“I heard them say He Zhen forced Lin He to cheat.”
“What would He Zhen even gain from that? Isn’t he already the top student in the grade?”
“Haha, who knows, maybe He Zhen’s number-one ranking has always come from things like this.”
Unable to hold back, Yu Chen clenched his fists and strode over. “Stop talking nonsense! He Zhen didn’t cheat!”
Everyone looked at him strangely, their eyes full of ridicule. “Are you the tapeworm in his stomach? How do you know he didn’t cheat?”
“Yeah. You’re so close to He Zhen—did you help him cheat too?”
Yu Chen was trembling with anger and was just about to argue when Lin Jiashu suddenly pulled him away from behind.
Lin Jiashu was much taller than Yu Chen. Gently steadying him by the shoulders, he said, “There’s no point explaining to them. Those people lost to He Zhen in the basketball game last time. They’re probably taking the chance to vent on purpose. Let’s go back to class and talk.”
Lin Jiashu had also been in Exam Room One, sitting in the tenth seat. The eye contact between Zhang Xiao and Lin He had already struck him as strange before the exam even began. Based on his guess, if He Zhen had really been framed, then the person Lin He had actually been cheating for was most likely Zhang Xiao.
At that moment, Yu Chen was furious beyond belief. Even though Lin Jiashu was dragging him away, he still felt deeply unconvinced. Once He Zhen’s name was cleared, he was definitely going to stand outside Class Three holding up a banner.
It was lunchtime now, and most of the class had already left. Only Xiao Yu and the others stayed behind to think of ways to help Yu Chen.
“I heard both of their parents were called in, and they’re discussing it in the principal’s office right now.” Xiao Yu handed Yu Chen a hamburger. “Eat first. If you end up fainting, how are you supposed to help He Zhen?”
“Could it be that Brother Zhen is already fine?” Fang Jingrao was worried sick. “What if Lin He admitted he framed him?”
“That chance is pretty low.” Lin Jiashu frowned lightly. “A friend of mine is in Lin He’s class. I heard Lin He cares a lot about saving face. Since he already decided to frame He Zhen, how could he possibly admit it?”
“Why would he frame Boss?” Yu Chen was so angry his chest hurt. “Just because my boss is outstanding? I never thought he was that kind of person.”
“Stop talking.” He Zhi’an’s face was dark. “If he doesn’t let up and keeps insisting He Zhen made him cheat, I’m dragging him into an alley tonight and beating him up. Let’s see if he still dares run his mouth after that!”
“Don’t mess around.” Sitting across from Yu Chen, Lin Jiashu analyzed calmly. “Legally speaking, there’s the principle of presumed innocence. The school will definitely check the security footage. If He Zhen didn’t make any improper moves at all, then no matter how much Lin He talks out of thin air, it can’t be established as fact. Besides, He Zhen is that outstanding, and everyone’s seen his grades. Most people will still believe him.”
“Exactly! The person accusing has to provide proof.” Yu Chen frowned. “But why would Lin He do this?”
Lin Jiashu glanced around and then told everyone about the small movements he had noticed between Zhang Xiao and Lin He.
After hearing this, Yu Chen felt Zhang Xiao was indeed the most suspicious.
“So the person Lin He was really passing notes to might have been Zhang Xiao? He doesn’t want to expose Zhang Xiao, so he made up this nonsense instead.” Yu Chen turned to Xiao Yu for help. “Xiao Yu, you know a lot of people. Hurry and help me figure out how to get in touch with Zhang Xiao.”
Xiao Yu was looking through the school group chat messages, his brows knitted seriously. “Okay, give me a minute.”
Yu Chen’s eyes fell on Xiao Yu’s phone screen, and he leaned closer. “Are they saying something in the group?”
Afraid Yu Chen would get even angrier if he saw the messages, Xiao Yu blocked the screen with a hand. “It’s nothing. I’ll go look into Zhang Xiao first. Once the afternoon exam is over, He Zhen will probably be back too. Then we can all think of something together.”
Fang Jingrao helped Yu Chen open a bottle of cola. “Eat something. You’ll still need your brain for the exam this afternoon.”
Yu Chen stared dejectedly at the desktop, then glanced at the friends around him. “Thank you.”
“Oh my, Fat Chencheng’s being pretty polite.” Xiao Yu stuffed two hamburgers into his hands and hurried off. “I’m going to handle something. You guys hurry up and eat too.”
Yu Chen had no appetite at all. Alone, he made his way to the principal’s office in the administrative building and hovered outside, pacing back and forth. He Heng seemed to be inside too. He had no idea whether the school had already cleared He Zhen’s name.
Meanwhile, after following Xiao Yu closely, Fang Jingrao finally understood why Xiao Yu was called the school’s little know-it-all.
In every class at school, Xiao Yu had informants who supplied him with a huge amount of gossip. While gathering information on Zhang Xiao, more than ten of Xiao Yu’s informants also reported to him on what other students in their classes were thinking.
For example, among the first-year students, almost everyone overwhelmingly believed Lin He’s version of events and had already decided that He Zhen was the mastermind behind the cheating.
Fang Jingrao did not understand. “Why?”
A boy with glasses said, “He Zhen’s family is powerful and influential. A lot of people can’t stand him. If He Zhen’s grades were trash, that would be one thing, but he’s firmly sitting in first place in the whole grade. Those boys are insanely jealous, and they’re taking this chance to say all kinds of awful things about him.”
Xiao Yu was not surprised. What concerned him most was Zhang Xiao. “Do any of you know Zhang Xiao well?”
“My deskmate is Zhang Xiao’s neighbor. I heard his mom was hospitalized not long ago. Seems like it was a pretty serious illness and needs a lot of money.”
“Zhang Xiao is good at physics and is planning to enter the national physics competition, but he needs to enroll in prep classes. I heard those classes cost two thousand per session. His family’s situation is probably pretty rough.”
At that point, Xiao Yu more or less understood.
“What’s Zhang Xiao’s relationship with Lin He like?”
“Just ordinary classmates. Nothing special.”
Before leaving, Xiao Yu told them, “If anything else comes up, keep updating me in the group.”
“Don’t worry.”
On the way back, Fang Jingrao looked at Xiao Yu with pure admiration. “How do you get all of them to listen to you?”
With his hands behind his back, Xiao Yu said, “Money makes the world go round. I’m the one who tops up the money in all their game accounts.”
Fang Jingrao gave an “oh.” “The guy just now said Lin He and Zhang Xiao aren’t close. If they’re not close, then why would Lin He take the risk of passing Zhang Xiao the answers?”
Xiao Yu gave him a meaningful look. “My dad always says people come together for profit. If they’re not close and still cheated together, then there must have been some kind of deal between them.”
Fang Jingrao said sincerely, “You’re really smart.”
Praised like that, Xiao Yu proudly raised his brows. “Come on, let’s go tell Fat Chencheng.”
When Yu Chen heard about Zhang Xiao, he was crouching outside the principal’s office eavesdropping. After seriously thinking it through, he formed a guess in his mind.
Since he could not hear anything from inside anyway, he simply ran back to class, took out the grade rankings from every previous exam, and started comparing them one by one.
He discovered that in every other subject, Lin He was not that far behind He Zhen—at most four or five points lower. But in physics alone, he was always around fifteen points behind He Zhen.
Then he looked at Zhang Xiao’s grades and, sure enough, from the second half of first year onward, Zhang Xiao had repeatedly ranked first in the grade in physics alone.
If Lin He and Zhang Xiao had been working together to cheat…
He had a feeling that Zhang Xiao might be the real breakthrough point in this whole matter.
Inside the principal’s office, both sides were locked in a stalemate.
Lin He’s parents shielded Lin He and hysterically shouted at He Heng, “Your family just has a bit of money, that’s all! But no matter what, you can’t just twist black into white like this! Now I see why your He Zhen always gets first place on every exam—turns out there’s this kind of reason behind it!”
He Zhen sat with a cold expression, glanced at Lin He’s parents, and let out a contemptuous laugh.
He Heng, however, still looked fairly calm. Holding his tea, he said flatly, “We’ve all watched the surveillance footage just now. Our young master did not commit even the slightest cheating behavior or show any intention of cheating. On the contrary, Lin He’s actions were suspicious and sneaky. If you insist on smearing us, then there’s not much more to say. Let the court handle it. Our legal team will be waiting.”
“You—” Lin He’s parents were furious. Pointing at Lin He, they snapped, “Do you have any proof? Show it to the principal right now! They’re about to sue us!”
Sitting on the sofa, Lin He’s face was pale, as if every bit of strength had been drained from him. The moment he heard the case might go to court, he panicked even more. He had never imagined that one lie from him would spiral into something this serious.
“I… I really don’t have proof. When He Zhen and I went to Beijing for the exam, we stayed in the same room. That night, he suggested I help him cheat during the exam, but I refused. But this semester he came to me again and said his Chinese grades were weak, and that he hoped I’d help him cheat. Otherwise… otherwise he said he’d make me pay for it.”
By the time Lin He finished speaking, he was trembling all over.
He had no way out now. The only thing he could do was keep insisting it was all at He Zhen’s instigation.
Otherwise, his parents would definitely hate him to death.
“Since it’s come to this, we’ll see each other in court.” He Heng stood and looked at He Zhen. “Principal, there’s no need for our two families to keep talking. I’m requesting three days of leave for Xiao Zhen. We’re leaving first.”
“Mr. He, for the sake of both children, it would be best if we didn’t make this matter so big.” The principal was full of worry and wanted to calm He Heng down first. “Once it goes to court, no one will look good.”
In truth, based on what the principal knew of He Zhen, his ability spoke for itself, and it seemed unlikely he would do something like this.
But Lin He’s parents were so worked up that if he spoke up for He Zhen, he would undoubtedly be accused of currying favor and sucking up.
At this age, it was normal for children to feel jealous—but why did Lin He hate He Zhen this much?
Seeing this, Lin He’s mother stared at He Heng with open hostility in her eyes. “I know that if your lawyers get involved, we’ll definitely lose the case. But we won’t just let you bully us.”
Lin He’s father took over. “Right. I heard your He Zhen turned down guaranteed admission to Qingbei. Which Ivy League school is he planning to go to?”
He Heng’s expression instantly turned icy, his gaze sharp.
“Let me guess—Harvard or MIT? Even if we lose this lawsuit, we’ll appeal. We’ll drag it out all the way until He Zhen applies to foreign universities. If Harvard finds out that He Zhen is carrying a cheating lawsuit on his back, and that he used his family background to bully and intimidate innocent classmates, do you think they’d still accept him?”
“Parent of Lin He, please calm down.” The principal quickly stepped in to mediate. “If you act like this, it won’t benefit either side. Let’s sit down and talk calmly.”
“They were the ones who struck first and then acted like victims!” Lin He’s mother shrieked. “If you want to ruin my son, then He Zhen won’t have it easy either!”
He Heng suddenly laughed. “If you want to go report him to Harvard, then feel free. The He family doesn’t lack ways of getting into Harvard. Donate tens of billions or a building, and a child gets in just the same. By then, we’ll see whether that school is even willing to pay attention to you. As for your side, you’d better start worrying about how you’re going to compensate our young master for damage to his reputation and emotional distress.”
Lin He panicked. Tugging urgently at his parents’ sleeves, he said, “Dad, Mom! Then maybe just forget it… Let’s just say I framed He Zhen. I’ll apologize to him. Please, stop arguing about it.”
Lin He’s father’s eyes widened, and without warning he slapped Lin He hard across the face.
“We may not be as rich as them! But that doesn’t mean we can let them trample us like this! If you take the blame for slander, where are your mother and I supposed to put our dignity?”
“We worked our fingers to the bone to support your education and give you the best conditions possible—not so you could humiliate yourself like this!”
Lin He covered his burning cheek, his breathing growing heavier and heavier.
His parents’ hysteria felt like ropes tightening around his neck, making it impossible for him to breathe.
Like a fish on the brink of death, his breathing quickened, and his vision gradually darkened.
Then suddenly, Lin He closed his eyes and collapsed limply to the floor.
The moment the last exam of the afternoon ended, Yu Chen flew out of the classroom, planning to call He Zhen.
Xiao Yu stopped him and told him about the ambulance that had come to school that afternoon. He had heard Lin He’s parents had become extremely agitated and had almost hurt He Zhen.
“Do you know which hospital they’re in?”
“Who was the one taken away in the ambulance?”
Yu Chen’s hands and feet turned icy cold, and anxious red rings rose around his eyes.
“How could they lay hands on a child?”
“It was Lin He. I heard he fainted.” Xiao Yu comforted him. “Check with your family first and see how He Zhen is doing.”
With his schoolbag in hand, Yu Chen ran as fast as he could, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. All along the corridor, everyone was discussing Lin He and He Zhen. Without exception, they all believed that He Zhen had used his family background to bully the weak, intimidate classmates, force Lin He to confess, and even frighten him into fainting.
Yu Chen was terrified. How miserable must He Zhen feel having to face all these misunderstandings?
No matter how He Zhen explained himself, as long as that dazzling family background stood behind him, he would still be painted as the bully in everyone else’s eyes.
At the school gate, Li Huan was personally waiting in the car for Yu Chen.
“Dad!”
Yu Chen ran over. “How is that whole thing being handled?”
“Get in the car first.” Li Huan drove toward the hospital. “Lin He is already fine. The doctor said he was just overly frightened.”
“That’s good.” Yu Chen let out a breath of relief, but immediately afterward worry returned to his face. “What about Boss? Is he alright? I heard Lin He’s parents almost hurt him.”
Li Huan sighed softly. “How could Xiao Zhen possibly be alright? Old Master He heard what happened at school, got so furious it affected his heart, and was hospitalized.”
“What? Is Grandpa serious?” Yu Chen suddenly felt utterly miserable. Why had every bad thing happened all at once?
“It’s not critical, but the condition isn’t exactly optimistic.” Stopping at a red light, Li Huan lightly patted Yu Chen’s hand. “I heard from He Heng that Lin He’s anxiety is very severe, probably related to school. And judging from how Lin He’s parents looked, they seemed a little… abnormal.”
“Chencheng, from now on Dad won’t push you so hard about studying anymore. As long as you’re happy, that’s enough. It doesn’t matter whether you go to MIT or not.”
Afraid Li Huan might start overthinking, Yu Chen knitted his brows tightly. “Dad, don’t worry. Every single day I spend with you and Boss, I’m happy. I want to achieve my dreams through studying.”
Li Huan squeezed Yu Chen’s hand. “Good. If you’re tired, tell Dad.”
In the hospital, Old Master He was clutching his chest and coughing nonstop. His face carried an unnatural flush, yet his lips were deathly pale.
“He Heng! Call the police right now! They dared hurt my grandson—I won’t let them off!”
He Zhen rubbed Old Master He’s back, constantly reassuring him that he himself was fine.
“Grandpa, they didn’t hurt me. Don’t worry.”
Old Master He panted heavily and gripped He Zhen’s hand. “He Heng, file the case immediately. This Lin He—I will not let him go. His parents too. Find out where they work!”
He Heng nodded repeatedly. “Leave this matter to me. You just focus on recovering. I will absolutely clear the young master’s name.”
“They actually dared threaten me with Harvard?” Old Master He’s voice trembled with furious urgency. “I’ll make sure they regret ever being born!”
Even out in the corridor, Yu Chen and Li Huan could hear that thunderous roar of anger. Through the glass pane in the door, Yu Chen quietly looked at He Zhen.
“Grandpa, Lin He isn’t what matters. It’s not worth it for you to make yourself sick over this.”
He Zhen’s usually deep eyes were slightly lowered, dim and without light, entirely missing their former vitality.
With Old Master He’s furious curses echoing beside him, he sat there at the bedside looking despondent, comforting his grandfather while his brows remained faintly knit.
By the time Yu Chen entered, Old Master He had already been persuaded by the doctor to lie down and had also been given an injection to calm his emotions.
He Zhen looked over at Yu Chen, and for a split second there was a blankness in his expression.
Seeing that Yu Chen had arrived, He Heng lightly patted He Zhen on the shoulder. “You don’t need to worry about school at all. I’m getting you leave for the next couple of days. Just focus on taking care of Grandpa.”
He Zhen nodded lightly. “Then I’ll trouble you to handle this matter. I’ll keep in close contact with Auntie about Grandpa’s condition here. If there are any more updates from school, don’t tell Grandpa first—tell me. If he asks, just say it’s already been resolved.”
“Alright. Take care of yourself.” He Heng knew He Zhen was hurting.
Not only had he been threatened and intimidated by Lin He’s parents today, but when he was leaving, even the students in the corridor had pointed fingers at him and whispered.
He did not know who it was, but someone had even shouted that He Zhen was a bully.
Someone as proud as He Zhen had probably never before been misunderstood like this, with people pointing at his back.
The word bullying carried a heavy and sensitive weight.
He Heng understood that this matter would not be easily wrapped up.
He had already looked into Lin He’s parents. That couple ran two small restaurants. If he wanted to retaliate, he would not even need to lift a finger himself—others would naturally take care of it for him. As for the court case, he was one hundred percent certain they would win.
But when it came to He Zhen’s state of mind, he truly had no leverage.
Before leaving, Yu Chen chased after him and asked what he planned to do.
He Heng gave Yu Chen a rough outline of what he was thinking, then reminded him, “Chencheng, can you try to talk He Zhen through this? Don’t let him leave a knot in his heart because of this matter.”
Yu Chen nodded. “Don’t worry.”
He Heng sighed. “Then I’ll go first.”
“Wait—” Yu Chen called him back. “Uncle, I have an idea. I don’t think simply suing Lin He in court will solve this. Even if we win, people will only think we used power and money to bully Lin He. If that happens, when brother goes back to school, people will still gossip about him.”
He Heng nodded. “I know. But Lin He just won’t change his story. Other than that, there’s no other way.”
“Uncle, can you help me investigate a student in Lin He’s class named Zhang Xiao? I want to know what changes his family has had recently, and which hospital his mother is being treated in.”
“No problem. I can get it to you tonight. But what are you looking into him for?”
Yu Chen was still not completely certain that the person Lin He had really been cheating for was Zhang Xiao. Over the next few days, he would need to investigate more clues.
“I’m not sure yet. Please just help me check first.”
He Heng patted Yu Chen on the head. “I ordered food for the two of you. Xiao Zhen hasn’t eaten a single bite all day. Remember to persuade him.”
“No problem.”
At nine that night, Li Huan went home to help pack some clothes for He Zhen. Only Yu Chen, He Zhen, and a doctor remained in the hospital room.
The meal He Heng had ordered was unagi rice, one of He Zhen’s favorites. Yu Chen opened the lunchbox and fanned the smell toward He Zhen. “Boss, do you want to eat the eel first or the broccoli first?”
He Zhen looked slightly haggard. Leaning back in his chair, he patted Yu Chen’s head. “You eat first. I’m not hungry. Don’t worry about this matter. Keep your mind on your studies. Leave the rest to He Heng and me. Lin He is talking out of thin air—people can’t just believe whatever he says.”
“You haven’t eaten all day. How could you not be hungry?” Yu Chen picked up a piece of eel and held it to He Zhen’s mouth. “Boss, if you don’t eat, then I won’t eat either.”
A small light returned to He Zhen’s somewhat dim eyes, and he opened his mouth to eat the eel.
“I’ll take the bones out of the ribs for you—you have to try one bite.” Yu Chen simply sat right across from him and fed him bite after bite. “Boss, the innocent stay innocent. You don’t need to be too anxious right now. The one who ought to be anxious is Lin He, who knows he’s guilty.”
“Mm.” In fact, He Zhen thought the same.
He looked lightly at Yu Chen and said with a smile, “Chencheng, I want to ask you something.”
“You can, but first eat the quail egg.” Yu Chen popped one into He Zhen’s mouth and chewed one himself.
After swallowing it, He Zhen let out a deep breath. “If one day my grades got worse, would you be very disappointed in me?”
What he had seen today in Lin He’s parents—their obsessive desperation over their son’s success—had shaken him deeply.
Even though he had confidence in himself, he worried that one day, if he failed somehow, the people who placed their hopes on him would be disappointed.
Yu Chen smiled and fed him another bite of eel. “Of course not. Even if your grades got bad, wouldn’t you still be my boss? At worst, I’d tutor you and help you improve.”
He Zhen chuckled softly. “Mm.”
At that point, Yu Chen seemed to understand what He Zhen was really bothered by.
All these years, in order to become a successor worthy of everyone’s expectations, He Zhen had always been extremely strict with himself. No matter the subject, he had to be the very best.
Seeing what had happened with Lin He today had probably stirred something in him.
So Yu Chen put down his chopsticks and said solemnly, “Boss, no matter what you become, I’ll still be willing to believe in you and stay by your side. I didn’t become your little brother because you’re excellent. I became your little brother because you’re He Zhen. You are you. Whether it’s the flawed you or the outstanding you, all of that is still part of He Zhen as a person, and I’m willing to accept it. Even if one day you turned into someone collecting trash for a living, I’d still work hard to earn money for you to spend.”
Warmth gradually returned to He Zhen’s eyes.
Grandpa would probably think the same way Yu Chen did, right?
For once, He Zhen found the mood to tease. “You said that. Don’t go back on your word later.”
“Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t. As for this whole matter, just leave it to me.” Yu Chen smiled as he fed him another piece of meat. “Trust me. I’ll definitely clear your name. Right now, your only job is to eat well and rest well.”
Slowly chewing the food Yu Chen fed him, He Zhen looked at him steadily. “Why?”
“Because I found the key information.” Using the same chopsticks he had been feeding He Zhen with, Yu Chen picked up a piece of eel for himself. “You just have to trust me.”
In truth, He Zhen did not really believe in whatever plan Yu Chen claimed to have. He had seen with his own eyes today how unhinged Lin He’s parents were, and he was afraid Yu Chen might get hurt.
“Don’t go looking for Lin He. His parents are dangerous. This matter is already in the past. Leave the rest to He Heng.”
“I’m not going to find him. I’m going to find Zhang Xiao.”
Yu Chen pushed his half-eaten chicken wing into He Zhen’s hand, his brows and eyes full of smug confidence. “Trust me. Just wait peacefully for my good news.”
