Chapter 54 Adhering to Principles

This is the most crucial stage, and she must remain entirely focused, making sure nothing else interferes with her studies.

She is still young, and the road ahead of her is long. Some things can wait until after she is admitted to a prestigious university; it will not be too late to consider them then.

She must not make a single misstep at this juncture.

Shi Zhaodi remained silent from beginning to end, quietly listening to the teacher's earnest and well-meaning advice.

Yet in her mind, she kept replaying what Jiang Haoen had once said to her—We will not part.

Tears slipped uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Zhaodi, the teacher knows you are a good child and a fine student. It is enough that you now realize your mistake and are willing to correct it. From now on, you must pour your entire heart and soul into preparing for the high school entrance exams." Seeing Zhaodi cry, the head teacher was startled for a moment, but immediately assumed her words had taken effect, and pressed the advantage. "I will also have a serious talk with Zou Kai, and you won't need to tutor him for the time being."

"Teacher, Zou Kai and I are just ordinary classmates. We are not involved in puppy love as people are saying. I tutored Zou Kai simply because, as the class monitor, I have a duty to help my classmates make progress together. We walked back together because we live very close to each other. So please, teacher, do not misunderstand me and Zou Kai." Zhaodi raised her head and spoke with a firm tone.

"Zhaodi—" The head teacher was stunned, never expecting Zhaodi to make a complete one-eighty and flatly deny the puppy love. "Actually, people your age are right in the middle of puberty. It's completely normal to feel curious about or attracted to the opposite sex, and the teacher understands that.

The teacher didn't mean anything else by this; it's simply a critical period for the entrance exams, and I just hope the two of you can temporarily shift your focus to your studies and leave other matters for the future."

"Teacher, both Zou Kai and I are currently studying very hard and preparing for the exams. I don't know why such rumors started, but Zou Kai and I are both innocent, and I trust that the teacher will investigate the matter thoroughly." Zhaodi insisted.

"Rest assured, Zhaodi, the teacher will definitely investigate. The teacher also believes that both you and Zou Kai are good students who will prioritize your academics." The head teacher said with a somewhat stiff smile.

In the end, Zhaodi left the head teacher's office.

She knew the teacher did not entirely believe her.

It was much like assuming a suspect is guilty from the very start—no matter how the suspect tries to argue, it is viewed as mere sophistry.

Even so, she walked out of the office with her head held high, because she firmly believed that a straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe!

It mattered little if she was misunderstood, but she did not want Zou Kai to face the same unfair treatment.

In the past, she had always thought Zou Kai was a thoroughly obnoxious guy.

Yet after spending time together, she came to realize that he was just someone who put on a cold exterior, while actually being very fragile inside.