C15 The Matter Was Settled

When the school doctor arrived to escort the injured students out, a buzz of disbelief rippled through the onlookers.

"No way, only the first day and already three injuries? This dorm has some serious mojo!"

"It's incredibly intense. I thought they'd last a few more days, but here we are on day one, and it's already chaos."

"Thank goodness I'm not in that dorm. If I were, I'd probably be considering dropping out by now!"

The dormitory was already a topic of much debate, its number considered unlucky. Now, with such an incident on the very first day, it seemed unlikely anyone would dare to live there in the future.

Zhang Heng, the catalyst of the incident, was also taken in by the school authorities.

The three of them stood before the principal's office. Despite being the principal's office, it had a rather ordinary appearance but with a touch of antiquity.

They stood in line, awaiting their questioning.

"I'm Wang Yi. Just out of curiosity, did you really go all out just now?" In the absence of others, someone finally broke the silence.

"Hi there, I'm Lee Jie. Yes, I did give it my all. This academy really is a den of hidden talents!" Lee Jie said with a guileless grin.

Wang Yi looked at Zhang Heng with a newfound respect after hearing Lee Jie's words.

He tugged at Zhang Heng's sleeve and exclaimed, "Wow, you're incredibly skilled. Don't worry, we won't spread rumors. We'll only speak the truth and won't falsely accuse you of anything!"

Zhang Heng nodded in acknowledgment.

He then brushed Wang Yi's hand away and whispered, "Quiet, someone's coming!"

The footsteps outside grew louder, suggesting the approach of three people. Then came the sound of the doorknob turning.

An elderly man appeared before them and took a seat on the couch.

"Our academy has never seen anything like this before. Tell me, what exactly happened?" the old man inquired.

"Really, it was nothing major, just a misunderstanding," Lee Jie explained, recounting the events that had unfolded.

The debate commenced with a sense of formality.

"That's exactly it. I can vouch for Lee Jie; everything he said is true."

The elder pondered for a moment while seated on the couch. Fiddling with his pen, he continued, "Given the situation, there's no need for your involvement. However, since Zhang Heng is primarily at fault, you'll be responsible for covering their medical expenses."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng felt as though he'd been struck by lightning. His own tuition was still unsettled, and now he was expected to pay for their medical bills.

"I noticed the first one is quite severely hurt. Just the medical bills alone must be substantial, and I doubt the school can handle it. What's the total cost?" inquired Zhang Heng.

The old man assessed Zhang Heng and replied, "It's not excessive. Our institution is fully capable of treating him. You must be a freshman, unaware of our school's customs. Generally, unless the soul is beyond saving, our school can heal just about anyone. As for the specific amount, it might be in the six-figure range."

Zhang Heng's spirits plummeted at this revelation. Six figures were out of the question when he didn't even have four.

Yet, those around him seemed delighted by the news, chuckling as they reassured him, "Don't worry, he'll certainly cover the medical costs, as long as no one is held accountable."

"Absolutely, Zhang Heng isn't the type to shirk his responsibilities. He'll definitely handle the medical fees, and if the school doesn't pursue any action against him, that's more than fair."

Zhang Heng had hoped to negotiate, but it seemed unlikely after the others' comments.

Left with no alternative, as the sum was beyond his means, he queried, "When is this amount due?"

"Only after he's fully recovered. We wouldn't dream of taking your money if the treatment is unsuccessful," the elder stated.

After some thought, Zhang Heng nodded in agreement. Given the circumstances, if the school chose not to hold him accountable, that would be a considerable relief. His current priority was to come up with the six-figure sum.

Zhang Heng had always been focused on how to make money, but now he was presented with an opportunity to earn even more, so he decisively accepted the offer.

As they were about to depart, the elderly man called out to them.

"Zhang Heng, isn't it? You seem to have quite good interpersonal skills," the old man observed.

Zhang Heng, puzzled by the principal's comment, wondered if his dorm mates had interceded on his behalf. Did that mean his social connections were actually decent?

"Oh, it's nothing really. They were just speaking the truth; it has little to do with my interpersonal skills," Zhang Heng replied with a humble smile.

"Did my grandfather mention this?" a voice suddenly asked from behind.

Zhang Heng recognized the voice immediately.

"Su Meng?" he exclaimed, surprised.

"I was at home, sleeping soundly with my grandfather, when this incident occurred. I never expected to find out that you were involved," Su Meng explained.

She then moved to stand beside the principal.

Zhang Heng took a moment to look at Su Meng. She was dressed in a floral nightgown, clearly not her attire for the day. It seemed she had come over in a hurry because of the incident and hadn't had time to change. The principal's attire was also more on the casual side.

"You really should thank my granddaughter. She pleaded on your behalf for quite some time," the principal said, chuckling.

"Yes, indeed. Even though I know what kind of person you are, I don't believe you would harm someone without cause," Su Meng added, smiling.

"Moreover, you've been kind to me in the past. I couldn't just ignore that. Let's consider this matter settled," she concluded.

Zhang Heng had pegged Su Meng as a capricious heiress, but she had unexpectedly come to his aid, smoothing things over for him. Even if Zhang Heng wasn't to blame, he would have expected some repercussions, not just getting off with paying medical expenses.

"A favor? What did he do for you before?" the principal inquired, looking confused.

"It's nothing, really. Grandpa, let's consider the issue resolved. You should head back and get some sleep," Su Meng said, gently urging the principal toward the door.

"Indeed, Principal. It's quite late, and we regret disturbing your rest. Please, go home and get some sleep so Su Meng won't worry," Zhang Heng added.